Has anyone else noticed that Hillary and Trump are basically the same?

Advocating enhanced counter-terrorism methods.  Building a wall along the border.  Repealing Obamacare.  Eliminating the EPA.  The list of Trump’s proposals goes on and on, and every staunch conservative is ecstatic at the fact that he could very well be the next President.  But wait a minute; isn’t Trump the guy who’s advocated for a single-payer health care system and was pro-choice up until recently?  Well, the straight answer is yes, and when examining Mr. Trump’s views and statements before 2015, it’s pretty astonishing that this is the same man who is representing the Republican Party this November.

But let’s be fair, Hillary hasn’t exactly been consistent either.  When looking at her voting record in the Senate and statements made as First Lady, it’s hard to label the former Secretary of State as the progressive she claims to be.  This isn’t news to anybody; the Sanders campaign has used this again and again against Clinton, and it’s the main reason why the Democrats are so divided heading into this election.

So if Trump is truly a liberal (moderate Republican at best) and Clinton isn’t that far-left, does that mean these two are politically the same?  Again, the straight answer is yes.  Going even a step further, it’s easy to say that another Clinton administration would be a lot like a Trump administration.  Let’s take a look at where these two candidates stand on some of the issues, and why they are so similar.

Health Care

Fifteen years ago, Mr. Trump suggested that a single payer system would be best for the country.  Even today, he admits there are portions of Obamacare he would keep and claims that the insurance companies have too much control over politicians.  When he is questioned about his previous statements regarding single payer, he claims that it works in Canada and would have worked for the U.S. fifteen years ago (because it was such a different time).  Whether or not he believes in true universal coverage we’ll never know, but it’s pretty obvious he doesn’t line up with the Republican platform on this issue.

Clinton has advocated for universal coverage since day one; this is as progressive as she gets.  As First Lady, she led the Clinton health care plan and pushed for a system where employers would be required to provide coverage to workers.  Despite the plan failing in Congress, Clinton would see comprehensive reform in Obamacare 16 years later.  Today, Hillary continues to support expanding health coverage and defending Obamacare.

Abortion

Trump has been pro-choice up until he started running; there’s no denying it.  He’s said over and over again in interviews when there were rumors of him running in the past.  Nobody says it better than Trump himself, “I’m very pro-choice… I would not ban (partial-birth abortion).”  That statement from Trump in 1999 sounds a lot different than his rants in 2016, where he has said he would punish women who have an abortion.  Then again, he retracted that statement the same week, so it’s hard to judge his positions based on claims since June 2015.  The only thing that he’s been consistent with is his defense of Planned Parenthood, much to the Republican establishment’s disapproval.  So while he may be pro-life now (and that’s a big maybe), he still doesn’t align with the Republican ideals.

Clinton has been pro-choice her entire political career.  However, she was considered a moderate when it came to abortion up until recently.  As a senator, she stood by her pro-choice position, yet called for “safe, legal, and rare” abortions.  It was a subject she rarely discussed; it wasn’t until she announced her campaign for President that she began advocating for the protection of Planned Parenthood funding and a woman’s right to choose.  So if you were to go back a couple years, Trump and Clinton practically had the same position when it came to this.

Economics

It’s all about cutting programs to save money when it comes to the Trump economy.  Everything from the IRS to the military would see a funding decrease should he be elected.  As for taxes, the business mogul is against a flat tax and released the brackets he would use earlier in his campaign, which would include closing loopholes used by corporations and the wealthy.  The Tea Party and Libertarians not only cringe at these two ideas, but also at the thought of President Trump regulating businesses to continue bringing jobs back home from overseas.

One of Hillary’s main selling points in her campaign is to close tax loopholes so the top 1% pay their fair share.  Other aspects include bringing jobs home and decreasing the military budget.  It sounds a lot like Trump’s plan, because it is a lot like Trump’s plan.  If you look past the ranting and name-calling, you’ll find that Trump isn’t the far-right lunatic he is often portrayed as.

Nobody wants to hear it, but Trump is not a conservative and Hillary is not a progressive.  This election features two of the most moderate flip-floppers in Washington, so the far-right and far-left will have to wait at least four more years to see their agenda getting passed.  I’m not saying all of this as a put down to Clinton or Trump or their supporters; I’m simply saying that if you believe these candidates accurately represent the left and right wings, you’re sadly mistaken.