World Captain America's Political Views

[TJByrum]

Would you say Cap is more left-wing or right-wing? Democrat or Republican?

What do you think his stance on taxes, immigration, abortion, gay marriage, etc is?

 

[pr0xyt0xin]

Cap lives in a nation that is both democratic and a republic. He's a democrat and a republican. The bipartisan system is a joke. A big distraction for the common people. And Cap would more than likely realize this.

Cap would probably be in favor of small government across the board - "right-wing"

But he would probably be pro-freedoms and civil liberties such as, pro gay marriage, pro-choice, pro legalization of marijuana. Allowing the individual the right to decide how to live their own lives as long as they aren't hurting others. - "left-wing"

Not to mention he would be all for allowing immigrants and refugees asylum within our walls. God damn, he's a hero for cripes sake. As if he'd let people suffer when there's space and resources available.

And for that matter do you really think he'd be a climate change denier? There's no upside to denying climate change except to save money/tax dollars/keep oil costs high. He'd fight it.

The guy may be judeo-christian in his own faith, but seeing as how he's so pro-freedom, he'd likely understand why we've established a foundation of separating church and state, so that all people could practice their religions equally.

(I am however stumped on hypothesizing his views on the death penalty and gun control)

 

[AvengerPA]

Captain America is a Democrat of the 1940s. That doesn't mean that he is a Democrat today. Ronald Reagan was a Democrat in the 1940s.

 

[Lantern Venom]

Cap lives in a nation that is both democratic and a republic. He's a democrat and a republican. The bipartisan system is a joke. A big distraction for the common people. And Cap would more than likely realize this.

Cap would probably be in favor of small government across the board - "right-wing"

But he would probably be pro-freedoms and civil liberties such as, pro gay marriage, pro-choice, pro legalization of marijuana. Allowing the individual the right to decide how to live their own lives as long as they aren't hurting others. - "left-wing"

Not to mention he would be all for allowing immigrants and refugees asylum within our walls. God damn, he's a hero for cripes sake. As if he'd let people suffer when there's space and resources available.

And for that matter do you really think he'd be a climate change denier? There's no upside to denying climate change except to save money/tax dollars/keep oil costs high. He'd fight it.

The guy may be judeo-christian in his own faith, but seeing as how he's so pro-freedom, he'd likely understand why we've established a foundation of separating church and state, so that all people could practice their religions equally.

(I am however stumped on hypothesizing his views on the death penalty and gun control)

Good post, and I feel similar. I don't think he would back any particular candidate and those who did know his political leanings would be those closest to him. We've seen him become disillusioned with the powers that be at times, ala the Nomad period, so he certainly thinks for himself and isn't swept along by the political zeitgeist of any particular age.

We could make a few educated guesses about Steve Rogers' world view. When he balked at SHIELD asking him to help with the SHRA, it was obvious that he's wary of government agencies. Although he seems contemplative about when violence should be used, his insistence on joining the fight against the Nazis is shows he's not a pacifist. On these issues, he seems to have a conservative leaning.

On the flip side, he seems to welcome diversity and will protect people's right to choose their own path. He's fought alongside gods, monsters, mutants, and robots. It's safe to say that he would see intrinsic value in any human, regardless of religion, national origin, or sexual orientation. He speaks multiple languages, at least prior to Marvel Now. He's had a special relationship with Wakanda over the decades, so he's certainly not an isolationist. In these areas, he seems to be liberal.

So it's safe to say that he's a mix of both viewpoints. He seems slightly more liberal to me, but that could be colored by my own perception. He's surely a tough character to write given the political divide of the nation.

 

[Decepticonus]

Captain America is a Democrat of the 1940s. That doesn't mean that he is a Democrat today. Ronald Reagan was a Democrat in the 1940s.

Yes, a New Deal Democrat which yes Regan was one and so was Orson Welles. It was the party to be with at the time. But it is not today's Democratic Party. Their foreign policy was much more hawkish, they were more restrictive on immigration as they favored the white working class, rather neutral on civil rights. They increased taxes, created government work programs, social security, farm subsidies, cartelization of businesses who can set prices and wages, favored labor unions. The coalition was formed of pro-labor Southern Jacksonian Democrats and Northern ex-republican progressives.

Really the whole point of the New Deal was to create a safety net for Americans, that government is here for you, to look out for you and to save capitalism from itself as FDR tried to put it. Since before it was never seen as government's role to intervene in the economy at all... at least not to this scale. And Whedon was originally going to have a scene in Avengers with Cap talking about this loss of a safety net to Americans but cut it.

Now is Cap 100% on all what I described? I would say no, for example the cartelization or corporatism of businesses. Under the National Recovery Act where big companies of the same product could set prices and wages (let's use McDonalds & Burger King for example could say you have to charge $3 for a double cheeseburger, no more no less because that is unfair). This hurt small businesses of the same trade who could not compete and could only afford to pay their employee less and often this caused jail time for small business owners. This system was also used in Italy & Germany at the time. The NRA was struck down by the courts. But overall, this act hurt the little guy and Cap is all for the little guy.
In addition, I don't see Cap being neutral on civil rights, but being more well.. liberal. Which probably makes him something of a Truman Democrat. But Cap certainly ain't no Henry Wallace.

 

[Goshdarn Batman]

But he would probably be pro-freedoms and civil liberties such as, pro gay marriage, pro-choice, pro legalization of marijuana. Allowing the individual the right to decide how to live their own lives as long as they aren't hurting others. - "left-wing"

It doesn't matter if you're pro-life or anti-life, abortion does hurt individuals. It is killing, pure and simple. Before you say: "you only say that because you're a Christian"...that's not entirely true. I was skeptical when it came to abortion when I was a socialist, and became a pro-lifer as an atheist. So the pro-life view came before my conversion.

Why is it okay to rip a person to pieces when it's inside of the womb, but not when he or she is outside of it? It's the same person. Why is it wrong to punch a pregnant woman in the stomach so that the child dies, but at the same time a woman can remove the child herself? Is it up to the mother to decide the child's worth? Society?

I know a lot of anti-lifers who admit that it's killing. "It is murder, but sometimes necessary", they say. "It's either the mother or the child...self defense". You have to break a few eggs to make an omelet. I've also seen some of them who supports infanticide, the killing of newborn babies or children up to 1 years old.

I don't agree, but I think all people who support abortion, eugenics and stuff should be honest.

But to answer the question in the thread: Captain America's politics depends on the writer. I think comics in general should be apolitical. We don't need to see Bruce Wayne campaigning for the legalization of drugs, or Superman high-fiving Ronald Reagan. It's not interesting, just distracting...I'd rather see my heroes fight the Joker and Lex Luthor.

 

[BullMcGiveny]

Cap's compassionate idealism is a defining characteristic of Cap's. His stance on small or big government, whatever it is, I'm guessing it doesn't trump his idealism. I'd wager he's a liberal.

 

[chamber-music]

It doesn't matter if you're pro-life or anti-life, abortion does hurt individuals. It is killing, pure and simple. Before you say: "you only say that because you're a Christian"...that's not entirely true. I was skeptical when it came to abortion when I was a socialist, and became a pro-lifer as an atheist. So the pro-life view came before my conversion.

Why is it okay to rip a person to pieces when it's inside of the womb, but not when he or she is outside of it? It's the same person. Why is it wrong to punch a pregnant woman in the stomach so that the child dies, but at the same time a woman can remove the child herself? Is it up to the mother to decide the child's worth? Society?

I know a lot of anti-lifers who admit that it's killing. "It is murder, but sometimes necessary", they say. "It's either the mother or the child...self defense". You have to break a few eggs to make an omelet. I've also seen some of them who supports infanticide, the killing of newborn babies or children up to 1 years old.

I don't agree, but I think all people who support abortion, eugenics and stuff should be honest.

But to answer the question in the thread: Captain America's politics depends on the writer. I think comics in general should be apolitical. We don't need to see Bruce Wayne campaigning for the legalization of drugs, or Superman high-fiving Ronald Reagan. It's not interesting, just distracting...I'd rather see my heroes fight the Joker and Lex Luthor.

Comic books like like most literature have always expressed social and political views of the time. As much comics are fantasy it would be very difficult for writers to simply ignore what is going on in the real world around them and not reflect that in their work. The characters risk becoming irrelevant if they don't keep up with times we live in.

On ABC's Captain America 75th anniversary special they talked about what a huge political statement the first cover of Captain America was. Cap punching Hitler before the U.S was involved in WW2 was a big controversial political statement. Assaulting a real a foreign head of state. The American Nazi league was protesting outside Timely comics offices and sending Cap's Jewish creators Joe Simon and Jack Kirby threatening mail.

Cap is probably pro-gay marriage given the whole storyline about his gay childhood friend and fellow WW2 vet Arnie Roth.

I imagine he is fine with taxes as long as they aren't unjust. Cap is a child of immigrants so is most likely in favor of them being treated humanely and with dignity. He probably wouldn't like the kind of rhetoric and xenophobia spouted by the likes of Trump at the moment.

Not to turn this into abortion thread but I think most of us who are pro-abortion are being realistic and pragmatic. Abortion has always existed and always will. When it was illegal you had the horrors of back street abortion clinics. It is far safer and humane to have it legally in the hands of trained medical professionals than to go back to the awful conditions it was when abortion was underground. There is some horrific self abortion practices that take place in third world countries that mostly result in the death of the woman and her fetus.

 

[tomorrel]

Personal perspective, i have always thought that he (along with Superman to varying degrees over his long history) are unabashedly liberal and progressive in their views... with a caveat.

Captain America is consistently portrayed as anti-communist, opposed to racism, incredibly tolerant and as the child of immigrants (in both cases) stand in opposition to Xenophobic views on immigration.

However they are more faithful to the ideals of America in the case of Cap, and the greatest expression of human potential which for Supes includes great expressions of compassion and egalitarianism.

K' thesis paper over lol

 

[Herofan]

I think he is pretty left-wing, mostly from seeing the government as good from its relief programs during the Great Depression and then fighting World War II and also that after he was revived being more disillusioned by government during the Nixon and Reagan (or their stand-ins) administrations. Although he would be a strong liberal rather than necessarily a partisan Democrat given, for example, Johnson's role in Vietnam.

He would have very liberal views on immigration (believe immigrants benefit us and wanting to reduce immigration is ugly and probably racist) and taxes (you need to pay for the government to do good and the rich have enough to spare), probably pretty uneasy about abortion, think that's giving up on the future and probably selfish, but more want to reduce it than outlaw it. Not sure about gay marriage but yeah he would probably see it as an individual choice issue so support it.

Edit: Not sure his support for individual choice would extend as far as legalizing drugs, though, he could easily see that as too destructive and also feel that a lot of supporters of doing that were pretty anti-police.

 

[Jh7058622]

This question is not really fair as some people who have left leaning views can also agree with some right wing ideologies and vise versa. There is no pure left or right wing blueprint. He could always be more moderate in some views than others being very liberal(immigration) and some being very conservative (Christian values).

It's almost too complicated to give a definitive answer either way. People can also change their political leanings over time even whole parties can evolve throughout the times though Republicans hate hearing that because of the implications it causes.

 

[Samuron]

He's an honest centrist.

 

[Holiday]

It depends on who is writing the story.

 

[Herofan]

BTW, I found it memorable that Frank Miller had Captain America, guest starring in Daredevil, feel that the U.S. shouldn't have dropped the atomic bombs on Japan (although in part because it wouldn't have had to if the super-soldier program had expanded), a pretty rare view not exactly ideological but seems far-left if it's associated with any ideology.

 

[The Caped Knight]

Steve Rogers wouldn't choose a side especially of today's era of Politics. He'd be neutral saying both sides have good points of view and bad.

 

[BoredGuy]

He would see the flaws in both sides, and attempt to be a unifying force

but his actual political ideologies would be closer to what we today consider the left
mostly because the republicans have lined up with the racist a**hole wing of their party

he's a strong believer in individualism but also tolerance, he's able to forgive and give second chances to criminals and those he previously found objectionable, he's not overly nationalistic despite what the costume and the moniker would lead some to believe, and there's no chance in hell he'd try to tell a woman what to do with their own bodies. He's also an artsy (and thus, probably emotionally sensitive) type who would push for stronger environmental laws to protect the planet's beauty.

He wouldn't choose a side, but the sides would choose him.
I mean, he promoted a black man to be the new Cap, the right would hate him.

 

[The Caped Knight]

Cap's views haven't changed. He's still the same man he was in 1940 .

 

[Dark Raven]

Cap is an independent. He's like the equivalent of protagonists you see in shows like Designated Survivor or Madam Secretary where they're neither Republican nor Democrat but embrace bits of each.

 

[Blade Hoarder]

He's a new deal liberal. Center left.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Cap's views haven't changed. He's still the same man he was in 1940 .View attachment 27656

I have really hated how this quote gets spread about. I understand how the view can be that it is inspirational and about standing up for what you believe, yada-yada... But to me I feel we are as a society filled to the brim with messages that lack nuance and boil down to self justification. When I read this quote all I hear is that it's message is one that easily gets twisted into bull headedness, often in the service of the most reactionary and regressive points of view. I just always hear the usual lack of self awareness of people online.

And... Sure that might be THE POINT. The quote is done in such a way that it can be filled with whatever message we like and most look at it and see a benign speech about standing up for your ideals.

For me... I always keep in mind that the crossover that this story where Cap is so quoted from comes to and end that Cap recants what he was fighting for and realizes that he wasn't 100% right in what he thought and how he went about making it a reality. It might have been the "right thing" but because he was acting for so long without the self awareness to question his own motives he almost realized too late that he had contributed to the last battle of the super hero Civil War where the "heroes" were rampaging across the city causing collateral damage and would eventually if not stopped probably result in massive civilian casualties.

 

[The Caped Knight]

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

He believes in truth, justice and civil liberties.

So I can't imagine him backing Trump's conspiracy theories, blue lives matter and neofascism.

I think it's safe to say he's anti-authoritarian primarily and fully supports the Bill of Rights. He believes in civil rights also. He's pro-military assuming America is helping people. He also is a bit socially conservative preferring to stay away from vulgarity and crude sexuality.

I think he's a healthy mix of RFK, Pat Tillman and Dwight D. Eisenhower (who warned against the Military Industrial Complex).

 

[Fosterson]

I can only really speak on MCU Cap, as I simply don't know enough about the comic version. Personally, I think his disgust at Project Insight (even before he found out Hydra was behind it) and his opposition to the Sokovia Accords show that he is very wary of giving the government too much power.

For that reason, I think Cap would have opposed most of America's post-9/11 wars, and the Global War on Terror especially. I can't see the invasion of Iraq, based on such flimsy evidence, sitting well with him. He'd also be opposed to the way in which Obama routinely launched drone strikes, often without even knowing the names of the targets. That being said, I think he'd want to US to be tough with both Russia and China, the former for its election interference, and the latter for its abominable human rights record while at the same time urging the US to clean up its own act and stop supporting dictatorships like Saudi Arabia.

Steve would probably also praise the work of whistle-blowers like Edward Snowden, since TWS made his opposition to surveillance pretty clear.

 

[The Caped Knight]

Cap would run as an independent

 

[tomorrel]

He would see the flaws in both sides, and attempt to be a unifying force

but his actual political ideologies would be closer to what we today consider the left
mostly because the republicans have lined up with the racist a**hole wing of their party

he's a strong believer in individualism but also tolerance, he's able to forgive and give second chances to criminals and those he previously found objectionable, he's not overly nationalistic despite what the costume and the moniker would lead some to believe, and there's no chance in hell he'd try to tell a woman what to do with their own bodies. He's also an artsy (and thus, probably emotionally sensitive) type who would push for stronger environmental laws to protect the planet's beauty.

He wouldn't choose a side, but the sides would choose him.
I mean, he promoted a black man to be the new Cap, the right would hate him.

I cant honestly say i think Cap would find good qualities on both sides, he's pretty clearly anti-fascist