Lately all we've heard about is students voting, why is it so important that they vote, and why they believe they should vote. Why should students support one candidate more than the other, what issues are important to them? But what about the faculty at Quinnipiac and others not considered part of the youth group, are they the forgotten group in this election?
Why has the focus shifted to the youth vote, and how does the faculty at Quinnipiac and the others that no longer fit into the youth vote category feel about the election and politics. After speaking to some faculty members at Quinnipiac about how they see the election playing out Associate Professor of Journalism Paul Janensch summed up each of the candidates very well. When asked how he feels about each of the candidates Janensch said, "Obama is smooth, almost too smooth. He sometimes comes across as professorial. McCain comes across as a friendly uncle with a bit of a temper. He's effective at fielding questions in town hall forums but is not nearly as a good as Obama in delivering a formal speech. I think the televized debates will be crucial in determing who will win."
Of course there is concern too around the vice-presidential candidates. There have been many questions raised about Sarah Palin and her experience in politics. While the focus has been on her many people have not heard about Joe Biden, Obama's vice-presidential pick. When asked how he feels about the picks by the presidential candidates for their running mate, Janensch pointed out that each candidate picked somebody who made up for what they lacked. He stated that "Obama, a fresh face, picked Joe Biden, an old pro who is especially strong on foreign policy. McCain, who is 72 and has been in Washington for decades, picked Sarah Palin, a fresh face who actually draws bigger crowds than McCain."
The publicity of the election and the campaign commercials by each of the candidates explaining to the country why they are the better pick for the next president that will help the nation and solve all the problems it faces as a whole are also very important in the election. There are also those reports on the news and in the papers that make a scandal out of all the candidate's private lives. When asked how he felt about the publicity of the election Janensch said, Both campaigns have issued their share of half-truths and outright falsehoods in their speeches, ads and news releases. But a review of fact-checking by news organizations, independent policy groups and Internet campaign watchers shows that the McCain campaign is doing more lying than the Obama campaign. Even when news stories say a claim is false, McCain, Palin and their camp keep repeating the lie. One example is the charge that when he was an Illinolis state senator, Obama supported a bill under which kindergarteners would be taught sex education even before they could read. Actually, the bill called for instructing youngsters how to watch out for predators."
What it comes down to in this election year is that every vote is important and although the focus may be on one group more than another every person needs to vote. There are many reasons why one person supports a certain candidate more than the other, and why they believe one candidate is better for the country than the other. Whether your are voting for McCain and Palin or Obama and Biden everybody needs to have a say in the election. As Janensch said in closing, "The backgrounds, programs and temperaments of the candidates are dramatically different. If you don't vote, you shouldn't gripe afterwards."
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
The All Important Youth Vote
As the presidential race heats up, and Election Day grows near youths aged 18 to 24 are finding that the spotlight is on them. With such a historical election coming up it is becoming clear that the decision can be made by the youth vote. With all that is going on in the world today and all the promises of the presidential candidates most first time voters are not sure who to vote for. Some are not even sure that they should vote, thinking that their vote won’t make a difference.
So how are these first time voters being encouraged to vote? How are they being encouraged to make a difference in the future of this nation?
Voting has become fashion; it has become something that is cool to do because each candidate has their celebrity supporters. You can now walk into a clothing store and buy a shirt with “Vote” written across it. It has become fashion to wear clothes that show who you support. It has always occurred in elections that pins were worn, but never has it been so publicized who an individual is voting for.
First time voters are also encouraged to vote by the use of website such as, RockTheVote.com, which shows first time voters celebrities endorsing a certain presidential candidate, and contains music videos, and videos of celebrities speaking to youth voters about the importance of each individuals vote. Artists like Against Me and Christina Aguilera have videos posted to stress to the first time voters how important it is to vote.
Another website used, is ChooseorLose.com, started by MTV. This website shows other youth voters in the same position as a lot of us. They are first time voters trying to decide who to vote for. Choose or Lose is also taking over MTV the channel, encouraging youth voters that they need to vote. They have representative from each state, so each person looking at the website can relate to somebody else on the site.
Overall in this election the pressure is on the first time voters to decide the future of the nation. Even though some think that their vote will not count with all the encouragement from celebrities and musicians it is hard to keep thinking this way.
So how are these first time voters being encouraged to vote? How are they being encouraged to make a difference in the future of this nation?
Voting has become fashion; it has become something that is cool to do because each candidate has their celebrity supporters. You can now walk into a clothing store and buy a shirt with “Vote” written across it. It has become fashion to wear clothes that show who you support. It has always occurred in elections that pins were worn, but never has it been so publicized who an individual is voting for.
First time voters are also encouraged to vote by the use of website such as, RockTheVote.com, which shows first time voters celebrities endorsing a certain presidential candidate, and contains music videos, and videos of celebrities speaking to youth voters about the importance of each individuals vote. Artists like Against Me and Christina Aguilera have videos posted to stress to the first time voters how important it is to vote.
Another website used, is ChooseorLose.com, started by MTV. This website shows other youth voters in the same position as a lot of us. They are first time voters trying to decide who to vote for. Choose or Lose is also taking over MTV the channel, encouraging youth voters that they need to vote. They have representative from each state, so each person looking at the website can relate to somebody else on the site.
Overall in this election the pressure is on the first time voters to decide the future of the nation. Even though some think that their vote will not count with all the encouragement from celebrities and musicians it is hard to keep thinking this way.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Politics 101
How Each Candidate Views Major Issues
Barack Obama
Gun Control- Supports that it is the right of the state and cities to set local gun laws while respecting the Second Amendment. Obama voted no on legislation that would prohibit lawsuits against gun manufacturers. Obama would like to pass a bill that would limit the purchase of a gun to one a month. He would like to provide some common-sense enforcing of gun licensing.
Abortion- A supporter of Roe v. Wade and believes it is a woman’s right to choose. While supporting a woman’s right to choose he would expand access to contraception, health and preventive services to women. He co-sponsored the Prevention First Act which would increase funding to family planning, sex education, end insurance discrimination against contraceptives and improve awareness to emergency contraceptives. This bill will also provide compassion and assistance to rape victims.
Iraq- Opposed the war in Iraq when it was started, wants to get the troops out safely. As President he would completely remove troops in 16 months, in the summer of 2010. To do this he would safely redeploy 1 to 2 combat brigades from Iraq a month. A residual force will remain in Iraq performing counter-terrorism missions against Al Qaeda. He will not build permanent military bases, but will help to train and support security forces in Iraq.
Environment- Will implement a cap and trade program which will set a cap on carbon emissions, and companies are free to buy and sell allowances that were set for them in order to operate in a manner that is profitable to them. Each year the number of allowances will decline to match the targeted reduction. He will make energy conservation a top priority and start by making Federal buildings more efficient. He wants to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by the year 2050. He will also develop domestic incentives that would reward farmers, forest owners, and ranchers when they plant a tree, restore grassland, and capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere using farming practices.
John McCain
Abortion- Believes that the ruling of the court is Roe v. Wade needs to be overturned. If this decision was overturned it would become the decision of the states to ban or allow abortion. If abortion is banned by states McCain wants to promote adoption. He would like to make it easier to adopt interracially and inter-ethnically, and would like to allow tax-deductions to those who have adopted.
Iraq- Believes that we must support the Iraqi government and help them become capable of governing itself and safeguarding the people. McCain will not pull troops out of Iraq until Al Qaeda is defeated there and a capable, competent and trained security force is functioning there. He wants to establish a stable and democratic Iraq.
Environment- Along with Senator Lieberman he introduced the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2007, designed to reduce greenhouse gases through trading markets and the use of advanced technology. He proposes the use of alternative energy sources, including nuclear energy. By 2012 he wants to return emissions to the levels they were at in 2005. He would like to employ a cap and trade system to set limits on gas emissions and encourage the development of low-cost compliance options.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
This is a political blog because the election is so very soon and it is going to be historic no matter who wins. These are a few links that I believe are important for people to read to know what is going on in this election.
This first link is to an article from CNN written by Jeffrey Toobin and I belive that it is important that people read this article because he explains in a way that is easy to understand and it reminds people of what each of the candidates plans are. I think that people forget what the candidates would do if they became the President because of all the media coverage about where they are speaking, or what the latest campaign commercial says and people might forget what each candidate wants to achieve.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/27/toobin.election/index.html
This next link I feel is important because it outlines a lot of the issues facing the United States today and tells the reader what each candidate would do if elected President. It is not a big article and it is separate links that the reader can click on to find out what McCain or Obama would do if elected next to each other which I feel people would prefer instead of trying to compare the two themselves. This article is also from CNN.
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/
The next website I believe people should look at to learn about the election is the entire Rock the Vote website. This is an interactive website aimed at a younger crowd, it shows celebrities getting involved in the election which I feel motivates younger people to get involved. If they see their favorite celebrity doing something important I feel that we as the younger generation will get involved. It has music videos telling people how important it is to vote so I feel that this site makes the younger generation feel that it is important to vote and that they need to.
http://www.rockthevote.com
This first link is to an article from CNN written by Jeffrey Toobin and I belive that it is important that people read this article because he explains in a way that is easy to understand and it reminds people of what each of the candidates plans are. I think that people forget what the candidates would do if they became the President because of all the media coverage about where they are speaking, or what the latest campaign commercial says and people might forget what each candidate wants to achieve.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/27/toobin.election/index.html
This next link I feel is important because it outlines a lot of the issues facing the United States today and tells the reader what each candidate would do if elected President. It is not a big article and it is separate links that the reader can click on to find out what McCain or Obama would do if elected next to each other which I feel people would prefer instead of trying to compare the two themselves. This article is also from CNN.
http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/issues/
The next website I believe people should look at to learn about the election is the entire Rock the Vote website. This is an interactive website aimed at a younger crowd, it shows celebrities getting involved in the election which I feel motivates younger people to get involved. If they see their favorite celebrity doing something important I feel that we as the younger generation will get involved. It has music videos telling people how important it is to vote so I feel that this site makes the younger generation feel that it is important to vote and that they need to.
http://www.rockthevote.com
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