The Politics Of Excitement
By Megan Biscieglia
Whether you like it or not, this year’s election represents a historic change, and it will take place in the ballot box where more young people than ever before will be voting -- many for the first time. Evidence of this change was seen in the 2008 primary elections where young voters increased a whopping 103% from the 2004 primary elections.
So why are the young people getting more involved this election season?
Abby Jones, 21, a first time voter believes it is because of the access they have to political information, either from a nominee’s official site or a friend’s Facebook status. “I think that because people are so connected young people are getting more involved (in the election),” Jones said. “We have Facebook, MySpace, LiveJournal, blogs, etc. to share our own individual view and you can Google either nominee and find out anything you want about them. Young people don’t have an excuse to not know what’s going on in the election.”
Mary McGee, 20, agrees, “There are more ways of expressing yourself politically.”
The amount of information about the election being presented is hard to deny. Information, fact or fiction about the nominees can be found on every channel, in every newspaper, and in every magazine.
“Celebrities are endorsing their favorite candidates and because so many people read gossip magazines with celebrities in them, the election is everywhere,” says Jones. “There’s so much gossip surrounding the nominees.”
Mcgee says, “This is a very explosive election. Obama is being presented by the media as a rock star. He’s on the cover of Rolling Stone and he’s young, intelligent, and handsome.”
Many young people feel let down by the Bush presidency and it’s driving them straight to the voting booths. Paul Dakin, 20, another first time voter says that he’s voting because, “There’s more awareness. I don’t want to go through what we’ve already had. It’s been one bad thing after another for the past eight years.”
Jones agrees, “I want to feel good about being an American. I want to be able to look up to our president. We’ve become the laughing stock of the world.”
Young voters believe that this election is about people getting people involved and that Obama and Palin represent something refreshing and new in politics, which excites people. “This is history in the making,” Dakin says.
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Decision 2008
Political Conservatives At Marymount? They Do Exist
By Mary McGee
Students and faculty at Marymount Manhattan College often take pride in what they feel is a very open and accepting atmosphere, but not everyone feels so accepted. This being an election year, politics is often the subject of conversation both in and out of classes. Often, the conversation is friendly because most of the participants agree and support the same candidate: Barack Obama.
Class discussions may start with the professor, possibly expressing a grievance. Students then chime in, agreeing with the liberal minded professor. More students nod in approval.
Diane Zambrotta is not nodding. She’s remaining silent. Zambrotta knows quite a bit about winning elections, as she is the president Marymount’s Student Government Association. She knows quite a lot about politics as well, but is afraid to voice her opinion.
“I’ll just get shot down,” she says. “A teacher even once said, ‘you’re not voting for McCain, are you?’”
Zambrotta is not sure who she’s voting for yet, and she feels that is something her peers should respect her for, rather than ridicule.
SGA vice-president Zach Harrel, also politically moderate agrees with that sentiment. “People claim to be so open, and they’re not. Conservatives are automatically seen as unintelligent, and that’s not true.”
But whose responsibility is it to make conservative students feel accepted?
It’s a fine line professors have to walk between expressing themselves and making sure all students feel they can do the same.
“I once had a student write on an evaluation that I talked personal politics too much, but I really think it was mostly the other students,” says professor Michael Backus. The specific case he speaks of regards a conservative, gay student. And while he admits the other students may have responded strongly to his opinions, he says he never ridiculed the student or his opinions. “It’s completely appropriate for a professor to express views provided they don’t suppress others.”
“Are we saying that someone with world experience shouldn’t have an opinion?” asks Dr. Kent Worcester, the chair of the Social Sciences division. Based on his own observations, he’s broken down Marymount students into three political categories: “Progressives, Liberals, and East Coast Republicans.”
Moderates like Zambrotti and Harrell will most likely agree with his assessment of their views. “Socially liberal and alienated by their party. They are more up for grabs this election than they have been in years,” Worcester says. He encourages students to speak up, only intervening because “my tolerance does not extend to intolerance,” from members of either party.
Although Marymount is a college for the liberal arts, not everyone is liberal, which is something both students and faculty will need to keep in mind.
By Mary McGee
Students and faculty at Marymount Manhattan College often take pride in what they feel is a very open and accepting atmosphere, but not everyone feels so accepted. This being an election year, politics is often the subject of conversation both in and out of classes. Often, the conversation is friendly because most of the participants agree and support the same candidate: Barack Obama.
Class discussions may start with the professor, possibly expressing a grievance. Students then chime in, agreeing with the liberal minded professor. More students nod in approval.
Diane Zambrotta is not nodding. She’s remaining silent. Zambrotta knows quite a bit about winning elections, as she is the president Marymount’s Student Government Association. She knows quite a lot about politics as well, but is afraid to voice her opinion.
“I’ll just get shot down,” she says. “A teacher even once said, ‘you’re not voting for McCain, are you?’”
Zambrotta is not sure who she’s voting for yet, and she feels that is something her peers should respect her for, rather than ridicule.
SGA vice-president Zach Harrel, also politically moderate agrees with that sentiment. “People claim to be so open, and they’re not. Conservatives are automatically seen as unintelligent, and that’s not true.”
But whose responsibility is it to make conservative students feel accepted?
It’s a fine line professors have to walk between expressing themselves and making sure all students feel they can do the same.
“I once had a student write on an evaluation that I talked personal politics too much, but I really think it was mostly the other students,” says professor Michael Backus. The specific case he speaks of regards a conservative, gay student. And while he admits the other students may have responded strongly to his opinions, he says he never ridiculed the student or his opinions. “It’s completely appropriate for a professor to express views provided they don’t suppress others.”
“Are we saying that someone with world experience shouldn’t have an opinion?” asks Dr. Kent Worcester, the chair of the Social Sciences division. Based on his own observations, he’s broken down Marymount students into three political categories: “Progressives, Liberals, and East Coast Republicans.”
Moderates like Zambrotti and Harrell will most likely agree with his assessment of their views. “Socially liberal and alienated by their party. They are more up for grabs this election than they have been in years,” Worcester says. He encourages students to speak up, only intervening because “my tolerance does not extend to intolerance,” from members of either party.
Although Marymount is a college for the liberal arts, not everyone is liberal, which is something both students and faculty will need to keep in mind.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Decision 2008
This Year’s Election Won’t Be Decided By Advertising
By Eric Meron
Why should I vote for you, let me count the ways. Newspapers, television, radio and the Internet are all displaying ads that tell voters who they should chose for President and why. But are the ads really helping voters decide who is the right candidate?
Cheryl Latimore, 54, of Harlem doesn’t seem to think so. “There is nothing going to change me from voting for my man,” she said.
More money has been spent on advertising in the 2008 Presidential Campaign than any other campaign in history, according to opensecrets.org. There are less than 30 days remaining before the election, yet the Associated Press reported that 18 percent of voters were either undecided or willing to change their minds about who they were voting for.
This is a high percentage considering there are only 34 days until November 4, and how much advertising the average person is exposed to for the election in one day. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 126 million people voted in the presidential election of 2004. That means that there are more than 22.5 million people who have not decided who they are voting for in 2008, using the bureau’s 2004 numbers. If voters’ decisions were based on election ads this percentage would likely be lower.
Many voters like Latimore have already chosen a candidate and, like she, may have decided without the help of ads. “I know what I know from word of mouth, the things I hear. I know what’s going on. I don’t need ads to tell me about voting and the Internet is for the kids,” Latimore said.
Other voters are focusing on a specific issue and choosing the candidate they believe would be best suited to handle that particular problem. Johnny Cardoso 42, of Queens said the economy is what has his attention. He recently lost his job at Citi Bank because of cut backs and said this fact was the biggest influence on his decision.
Cardoso said that statistically, Democrats have done better with the economy than Republicans. “Clinton left office with a surplus, can Bush say that?” he said. When asked if he received any of his information from ads or debates, he said he was laid off from his job and he didn’t need any more information than that.
The majority of the people seem as if they will vote the party line. Frank Fanene, 68, of Queens, who is originally from Hawaii said, “I would vote Republican no matter what their platform is.”
Fanene said he became a Republican because he was a Marine and nothing would ever sway him from his party.
George Hemon, 53, of the Bronx had an opposing view. “I am a Democrat. Why would I vote any other way than that?”
The reaction was the same from the old to the young. All of those who said they were either Democrat or Republican would vote that way and no ads or debates would persuade them differently.
Both Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama have websites and they email potential voters with updates. The Obama campaign has even used text messages to reach its intended voters. Are people using these new methods to help them decide who to vote for or are they already so overwhelmed with email and text messages and commercials that most of these ads fall to the way side?
The husband of an elderly couple on Greenpoint Ave. in Queens put it best, “A television ad? I can’t change her mind and I’m married to her. You think the TV will do that?”
By Eric Meron
Why should I vote for you, let me count the ways. Newspapers, television, radio and the Internet are all displaying ads that tell voters who they should chose for President and why. But are the ads really helping voters decide who is the right candidate?
Cheryl Latimore, 54, of Harlem doesn’t seem to think so. “There is nothing going to change me from voting for my man,” she said.
More money has been spent on advertising in the 2008 Presidential Campaign than any other campaign in history, according to opensecrets.org. There are less than 30 days remaining before the election, yet the Associated Press reported that 18 percent of voters were either undecided or willing to change their minds about who they were voting for.
This is a high percentage considering there are only 34 days until November 4, and how much advertising the average person is exposed to for the election in one day. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 126 million people voted in the presidential election of 2004. That means that there are more than 22.5 million people who have not decided who they are voting for in 2008, using the bureau’s 2004 numbers. If voters’ decisions were based on election ads this percentage would likely be lower.
Many voters like Latimore have already chosen a candidate and, like she, may have decided without the help of ads. “I know what I know from word of mouth, the things I hear. I know what’s going on. I don’t need ads to tell me about voting and the Internet is for the kids,” Latimore said.
Other voters are focusing on a specific issue and choosing the candidate they believe would be best suited to handle that particular problem. Johnny Cardoso 42, of Queens said the economy is what has his attention. He recently lost his job at Citi Bank because of cut backs and said this fact was the biggest influence on his decision.
Cardoso said that statistically, Democrats have done better with the economy than Republicans. “Clinton left office with a surplus, can Bush say that?” he said. When asked if he received any of his information from ads or debates, he said he was laid off from his job and he didn’t need any more information than that.
The majority of the people seem as if they will vote the party line. Frank Fanene, 68, of Queens, who is originally from Hawaii said, “I would vote Republican no matter what their platform is.”
Fanene said he became a Republican because he was a Marine and nothing would ever sway him from his party.
George Hemon, 53, of the Bronx had an opposing view. “I am a Democrat. Why would I vote any other way than that?”
The reaction was the same from the old to the young. All of those who said they were either Democrat or Republican would vote that way and no ads or debates would persuade them differently.
Both Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama have websites and they email potential voters with updates. The Obama campaign has even used text messages to reach its intended voters. Are people using these new methods to help them decide who to vote for or are they already so overwhelmed with email and text messages and commercials that most of these ads fall to the way side?
The husband of an elderly couple on Greenpoint Ave. in Queens put it best, “A television ad? I can’t change her mind and I’m married to her. You think the TV will do that?”
Decision 2008
Young Voters Unite
By Elis Estrada
Energetically shouting phrases such as, “Register to Vote!,” “Fill out your absentee ballots!,” and a simple but boisterous “VOTE!,” members of Marymount Manhattan College’s Student Political Association assembled around decorated event tables on September 22 in the Black and White Galleries, adjacent to the college’s Hewitt Gallery of Art in the main corridor.
Urging students to take action and exercise their legal right to vote, young student voters provided voter registration forms and absentee ballots for those who may be reluctant to participate in the nation’s historical presidential election.
Young adults ages 18 and older were granted the constitutional right to vote in 1972 and since then the struggle to maintain voter participation among young people has caused other members of society to deem them unreliable. Yet, young voters have had enough and are rising to do something about the apathy that has afflicted them for so long.
Jessica Merkel, 19, a sophomore photography major at Marymount, and first time voter, said voting is important to her because, “I mainly believe I shouldn’t criticize the government if I’m not a part of it.”
Independent young people of the Millennial generation, equipped with the most incredible resources—newspapers, television, Internet, and hi-tech cellular phones that act as personal assistants—are fighting to be heard among the powerful politicians and media giants who do not take them seriously.
Movements and groups, large and small, have been working hard to persuade young people that their vote does count in an election where it could actually determine the outcome. Government and politics does not take precedence at Marymount Manhattan College; clubs and organizations catering to the college’s population of theater, dance, and communication majors are favored instead. But the Student Political Association exemplifies the initiative of individuals young and old advocating for youth voting participation.
Websites including, DoSomething.org, DeclareYourself.org, and RocktheVote.org have been successful in campaigning for young voter interest in government. The individuals behind DoSomething.org believe that young people can make a difference and aim to inspire Generation Y. Their website encourages young people to look beyond what they believe is a media saturated culture where one’s abilities are judged by ownership of brands and consumer products and not true intellect and contributions made to society. Tools and resources provided by such organizations create a grassroots effort with forces leading to engage individuals to actively participate in the Nation’s government of the people.
Cassandra Neville, 21, a senior dance major at Marymount said, “You can’t always grasp the information from what the media tells you online or on television.” Neville continued: “Sometimes you just need to listen to what other people have to say, it helps to form your own opinion about issues.”
One of the reasons attributed to young voter apathy is they assume their vote will not matter. Sam Carcamo, 21, a senior communication arts major at Marymount is determined not to vote, saying, “Perhaps in the future my vote might make a difference, but right now as a kid coming from a low rent paying urban family, no matter what people say, my vote will not make a difference.”
When asked for whom he would have voted, he replied, “Barrack Obama, only because he is a minority and I’m a minority.”
According to the “History of Voting” fact sheet at DoSomething.org, the Millennial generation is the largest and most ethnically diverse in U.S History, comprising one-fifth of the electorate vote, and by 2012, is expected to comprise one-third of the electorate.
Young voters whose lives were shaped by the tragedies of September 11, 2001, may have a unique perspective of the world and their responsibility to make a difference. Meghan Pilling, 21, a senior dance major at Marymount, is going to vote but has not made a decision for whom yet.
When asked about her indecisiveness, Pilling said, “I’m still trying to learn about each side. I think it’s irresponsible to not be informed, and I fall into that category, but I’m trying to get better at it.” After a brief pause she added, “But, young people are more involved than ever and I think we can make a difference.”
A simple gathering of the Student Political Association at Marymount ignited a spark in young individuals to stop—on the way to class, or to the fourth floor café to meet with friends—and spend a brief period doing something so simple, yet so decisive to their futures.
By Elis Estrada
Energetically shouting phrases such as, “Register to Vote!,” “Fill out your absentee ballots!,” and a simple but boisterous “VOTE!,” members of Marymount Manhattan College’s Student Political Association assembled around decorated event tables on September 22 in the Black and White Galleries, adjacent to the college’s Hewitt Gallery of Art in the main corridor.
Urging students to take action and exercise their legal right to vote, young student voters provided voter registration forms and absentee ballots for those who may be reluctant to participate in the nation’s historical presidential election.
Young adults ages 18 and older were granted the constitutional right to vote in 1972 and since then the struggle to maintain voter participation among young people has caused other members of society to deem them unreliable. Yet, young voters have had enough and are rising to do something about the apathy that has afflicted them for so long.
Jessica Merkel, 19, a sophomore photography major at Marymount, and first time voter, said voting is important to her because, “I mainly believe I shouldn’t criticize the government if I’m not a part of it.”
Independent young people of the Millennial generation, equipped with the most incredible resources—newspapers, television, Internet, and hi-tech cellular phones that act as personal assistants—are fighting to be heard among the powerful politicians and media giants who do not take them seriously.
Movements and groups, large and small, have been working hard to persuade young people that their vote does count in an election where it could actually determine the outcome. Government and politics does not take precedence at Marymount Manhattan College; clubs and organizations catering to the college’s population of theater, dance, and communication majors are favored instead. But the Student Political Association exemplifies the initiative of individuals young and old advocating for youth voting participation.
Websites including, DoSomething.org, DeclareYourself.org, and RocktheVote.org have been successful in campaigning for young voter interest in government. The individuals behind DoSomething.org believe that young people can make a difference and aim to inspire Generation Y. Their website encourages young people to look beyond what they believe is a media saturated culture where one’s abilities are judged by ownership of brands and consumer products and not true intellect and contributions made to society. Tools and resources provided by such organizations create a grassroots effort with forces leading to engage individuals to actively participate in the Nation’s government of the people.
Cassandra Neville, 21, a senior dance major at Marymount said, “You can’t always grasp the information from what the media tells you online or on television.” Neville continued: “Sometimes you just need to listen to what other people have to say, it helps to form your own opinion about issues.”
One of the reasons attributed to young voter apathy is they assume their vote will not matter. Sam Carcamo, 21, a senior communication arts major at Marymount is determined not to vote, saying, “Perhaps in the future my vote might make a difference, but right now as a kid coming from a low rent paying urban family, no matter what people say, my vote will not make a difference.”
When asked for whom he would have voted, he replied, “Barrack Obama, only because he is a minority and I’m a minority.”
According to the “History of Voting” fact sheet at DoSomething.org, the Millennial generation is the largest and most ethnically diverse in U.S History, comprising one-fifth of the electorate vote, and by 2012, is expected to comprise one-third of the electorate.
Young voters whose lives were shaped by the tragedies of September 11, 2001, may have a unique perspective of the world and their responsibility to make a difference. Meghan Pilling, 21, a senior dance major at Marymount, is going to vote but has not made a decision for whom yet.
When asked about her indecisiveness, Pilling said, “I’m still trying to learn about each side. I think it’s irresponsible to not be informed, and I fall into that category, but I’m trying to get better at it.” After a brief pause she added, “But, young people are more involved than ever and I think we can make a difference.”
A simple gathering of the Student Political Association at Marymount ignited a spark in young individuals to stop—on the way to class, or to the fourth floor café to meet with friends—and spend a brief period doing something so simple, yet so decisive to their futures.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Decision 2008
Poll: Marymount Students Say They’re Planning To Vote
By Mark Galarrita
A majority of Marymount Manhattan College students said in a recent poll that they will be voting in the presidential election, either as New York residents or by absentee ballots, and that they are were generally enthusiastic about their choices.
In a poll of 167 of Marymount Manhattan College’s 2,000 students, results show that many students will be voting in the general election this November, or at least they want to. Conducted on September 22, the same day the college’s political student union held its Get Out The Vote Drive, the poll sought to determine if Marymount students would be voting this November and for whom.
The poll showed that 124 students said they would be voting. Only 21 said they would not, and 16 said they were ineligible due to various reasons, including age and citizenship. Six were not yet registered but said they intended to vote.
However, when Marymount students were asked who they would be voting for, their voices were loud and clear. A whopping 103 students picked Senator Barack Obama of Illinois as their choice for president in the general election.
Sophomore pre-med major Sarah Conestabile said she picked the young senator for one clear reason. “I don’t want another Bush in office. The financial situation is just a mess and I don’t like the way the war in Iraq is being handled.”
Other students who intended to vote for Obama cited various issues they believed he addressed. “Economic policy will help us in the long run,” says sophomore Matt Whitt. “His diplomatic skills will help in foreign affairs, as well as his experience in domestic reform.”
It is clear that Marymount Manhattan students favor Obama their general opinion of him is high. When asked why they were voting for him, many cited the word change several times. Many students agreed that the word “change” and a new seat in government seemed like a cliché, but they believed it was "necessary".
In a related poll, only seven students picked Arizona Senator John McCain as their choice. Although clearly outnumbered by Obama voters on campus, McCain voters were not swayed. A majority of the polling was taken in large groups, and showed at least one McCain voter in every individual group. Students who were for McCain did not give a reason for choosing him.
The poll also unearthed a number of undecided voters. Twenty-two students who said they were voting said they were undecided. When asked why they remained undecided, the consensus response was,”you’re damned if you do, you’re damned if you don’t.” ks Elyssa Maldonado, a senior art history major, said, “I don’t like McCain’s policies and Obama seems too preachy for me. All talk.”
Some undecided voters choose a more direct approach -- apathy. Twenty-one students said they will not be voting at all. Sam Carcmo, a senior communications major, said simply, “I don’t care enough.”
However, apathy was not rampant among those who said they wouldn’t vote. Some were too undecided or too busy. Others said they should not vote because of lack of knowledge. A few students said they were too busy to commit the time to vote in the general election.
A majority of the students polled, 127 out of 167, said they voting were enthusiastic about the future whether they were for McCain, Obama or another party member. Results of the polls are likely to change. The U.S. Board of Education shows that more than 29 million people aged 18-24 are eligible to vote in 2008. However, in the 2004 presidential election, only 47% of eligible voters between the ages of 18-24 actually voted. Still, that number was about 11% higher than young voters in the 2000 general election.
While apathy may be a stereotypical trend among young potential voters, a majority of Marymount’s 2,000 students are expected to take the time from their busy lives to vote.
By Mark Galarrita
A majority of Marymount Manhattan College students said in a recent poll that they will be voting in the presidential election, either as New York residents or by absentee ballots, and that they are were generally enthusiastic about their choices.
In a poll of 167 of Marymount Manhattan College’s 2,000 students, results show that many students will be voting in the general election this November, or at least they want to. Conducted on September 22, the same day the college’s political student union held its Get Out The Vote Drive, the poll sought to determine if Marymount students would be voting this November and for whom.
The poll showed that 124 students said they would be voting. Only 21 said they would not, and 16 said they were ineligible due to various reasons, including age and citizenship. Six were not yet registered but said they intended to vote.
However, when Marymount students were asked who they would be voting for, their voices were loud and clear. A whopping 103 students picked Senator Barack Obama of Illinois as their choice for president in the general election.
Sophomore pre-med major Sarah Conestabile said she picked the young senator for one clear reason. “I don’t want another Bush in office. The financial situation is just a mess and I don’t like the way the war in Iraq is being handled.”
Other students who intended to vote for Obama cited various issues they believed he addressed. “Economic policy will help us in the long run,” says sophomore Matt Whitt. “His diplomatic skills will help in foreign affairs, as well as his experience in domestic reform.”
It is clear that Marymount Manhattan students favor Obama their general opinion of him is high. When asked why they were voting for him, many cited the word change several times. Many students agreed that the word “change” and a new seat in government seemed like a cliché, but they believed it was "necessary".
In a related poll, only seven students picked Arizona Senator John McCain as their choice. Although clearly outnumbered by Obama voters on campus, McCain voters were not swayed. A majority of the polling was taken in large groups, and showed at least one McCain voter in every individual group. Students who were for McCain did not give a reason for choosing him.
The poll also unearthed a number of undecided voters. Twenty-two students who said they were voting said they were undecided. When asked why they remained undecided, the consensus response was,”you’re damned if you do, you’re damned if you don’t.” ks Elyssa Maldonado, a senior art history major, said, “I don’t like McCain’s policies and Obama seems too preachy for me. All talk.”
Some undecided voters choose a more direct approach -- apathy. Twenty-one students said they will not be voting at all. Sam Carcmo, a senior communications major, said simply, “I don’t care enough.”
However, apathy was not rampant among those who said they wouldn’t vote. Some were too undecided or too busy. Others said they should not vote because of lack of knowledge. A few students said they were too busy to commit the time to vote in the general election.
A majority of the students polled, 127 out of 167, said they voting were enthusiastic about the future whether they were for McCain, Obama or another party member. Results of the polls are likely to change. The U.S. Board of Education shows that more than 29 million people aged 18-24 are eligible to vote in 2008. However, in the 2004 presidential election, only 47% of eligible voters between the ages of 18-24 actually voted. Still, that number was about 11% higher than young voters in the 2000 general election.
While apathy may be a stereotypical trend among young potential voters, a majority of Marymount’s 2,000 students are expected to take the time from their busy lives to vote.
Decision 2008
Politics And Music: Joy To The Ears Or Painful Noise?
By Alex Catarinella
To most voters, knowing presidential candidates and what they stand for before the election is essential. Many want to know their stances on subjects like health care or the war in Iraq. But how about learning that Barack Obama listens to Marvin Gaye and the Rolling Stones while John McCain prefers ABBA and The Beach Boys?
Music plays quite a role in the upcoming presidential election, according to Blender Magazine, which recently released the top 10 music picks of Obama and McCain. There’s a long history with political expression in music, but of late, musicians are making their voices heard louder than ever before.
But are they making beautiful music, or is it time to turn the microphone off?
Kip Berman, 28, of Brooklyn’s indie-rock band “The Pains of Being Pure at Heart” thinks while musicians should do whatever they can to contribute, they shouldn’t expect much. “Even Oprah, supposedly the most powerful media figure in America, can't really impact people to such a huge extent,” said Berman. “People might buy a book she recommends, but it's likely their political views are a bit more entrenched than their literary curiosity.”
However, one’s musical tastes may indicate their political views, Berman believes. “If you like Nirvana, chances are you’re not going to grow up to be a fascist,” Berman quips. “I don't know that an ardent Bush supporter listening to Green Day's ‘American Idiot’ is suddenly going to reassess their worldview. However, the process by which someone gets turned on to Green Day, or Punk in general, is a lot more important to the kind of person they become,” Berman added.
Neil Scibelli, 22, an indie-musician and a student at Marymount Manhattan College, thinks musicians should stick to singing because “sometimes musicians’ popularity just wins voters over, rather than the importance of the actual issue,” he said.
Scibelli admits that being a musician doesn’t equate to political knowledge. Politically-charged expression can be a risky career move for musicians. The Dixie Chicks come to mind. Their songs were pulled from some radio play lists after singer Natalie Maines told concert goers she was “ashamed” President Bush was from Texas.
Universal Record’s recording artists Your Vegas lead singer and Obama supporter, Coyle Girelli, 25, believes that political expression in music “will always be important,” that music can be educational and is “an expression of being human.”
“People’s views in today’s world are strong,” Girelli says. “There is so much wrong with it, so much injustice, so much greed and violence from the sandy streets of Afghanistan to downtown LA. From the economy, to the environment, health care to war, we are at a stage where a serious change is needed. People know this and sometimes they need a voice, someone they respect and trust and who, through music, expresses how they feel,” Girelli said.
While Girelli admits political expression in music can be a “curse” at times, he insists that “the most important thing is that their voice is always heard.”
Well-known musicians are able to have a voice much more so than lesser-known ones. Besides the star-studded, positive message of Will.I.Am’s “Yes We Can” video clip, which Your Vegas’ Girelli calls a “beautiful, classy and a deeply inspiring piece of art,” other musicians are opting for a more controversial approach.
Madonna, who is no stranger to courting controversy, compares McCain to Adolph Hitler and Obama to Mahatma Gandhi in her current “Sticky and Sweet” international tour. In rapper Ludacris’ case, he supports Obama in his video clip “Politics (Obama Is Here)” but also blasts Senator Hillary Clinton, Rev. Jesse Jackson, President Bush and McCain. In the song, Ludacris refers to Clinton as a “bitch” and says “McCain don't belong in any chair unless he's paralyzed...Yeah, I said it, 'cause Bush is mentally handicapped...You the worst of all 43 presidents.”
Obama, who once told Rolling Stone he was a fan of the rapper, is now doing damage control. His spokesman Bill Burton says that while the rapper is a “talented individual,” he should be “ashamed of these lyrics.” Burton continues: “As Barack Obama has said many, many times in the past, rap lyrics today too often perpetuate misogyny, materialism, and degrading images that he doesn't want his daughters or any children exposed to."
Following months of unofficial music videos posted on YouTube supporting Obama, the presidential candidate recently released an official campaign soundtrack. “Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement” features Stevie Wonder, Kanye West, Sheryl Crow and others. McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds told The Guardian, “It’s ironic that on a day when the economy is in turmoil, Barack Obama fails to release an economic plan, but instead chooses a celebrity rock album.”
McCain, who hasn’t had nearly as much musical support and compares Barack’s “celebrity” to Britney Spears in a campaign video, was asked by Democratic musician John Mellencamp to discontinue using his songs during his campaign trail. Songs that were used at McCain events included “Our Country”, in which Mellencamp sings “There’s room enough here for science to live, and there’s room enough for religion to forgive.”
Mellencamp's publicist Bob Merlis doubted McCain could relate to his songs. “You know, here’s a guy running around saying, ‘I’m a true conservative’ ” Merlis told The Associated Press. “Well, if you’re such a true conservative, why are you playing songs that have a very populist pro-labor message written by a guy who would find no argument if you characterized him as left of center?”
According to the Barack Obama Music Coalition, “Music has been a potent force for social transformation since the days of Plato who declared, ‘When the mode of the music changes, the walls of the city shake.’”
Mark Redfern, who formed the magazine Under the Radar, agrees. He addresses the intersection of music in politics in several of his magazine issues. Redfern told Gen Art Pulse concerning him and his wife’s 2004 protest issue that “One of us came up with the idea to photograph musicians holding protest signs of their own making. Not only did it look cool, it gave the musicians another avenue to express themselves to our readers.”
But perhaps politically-charged music should be looked at more closely. Berman of The Pains of Being Pure at Heart says that because this campaign has focused on cultural divides, music has become symbolic of this rift.
“I mean, think of the music that Obama probably listened to growing up and think about the music of John McCain’s generation, it’s so culturally removed from each other. It’s like, people are either going to vote for a candidate who thinks that Elvis’ hip gyrations would lead to the moral downfall of America, or one that can quote Jay-Z.”
With Obama and McCain sharing a single similarity in their Blender Magazine Top 10 Music pick with Frank Sinatra, politically charged music and its influence on the upcoming election has yet to be determined.
By Alex Catarinella
To most voters, knowing presidential candidates and what they stand for before the election is essential. Many want to know their stances on subjects like health care or the war in Iraq. But how about learning that Barack Obama listens to Marvin Gaye and the Rolling Stones while John McCain prefers ABBA and The Beach Boys?
Music plays quite a role in the upcoming presidential election, according to Blender Magazine, which recently released the top 10 music picks of Obama and McCain. There’s a long history with political expression in music, but of late, musicians are making their voices heard louder than ever before.
But are they making beautiful music, or is it time to turn the microphone off?
Kip Berman, 28, of Brooklyn’s indie-rock band “The Pains of Being Pure at Heart” thinks while musicians should do whatever they can to contribute, they shouldn’t expect much. “Even Oprah, supposedly the most powerful media figure in America, can't really impact people to such a huge extent,” said Berman. “People might buy a book she recommends, but it's likely their political views are a bit more entrenched than their literary curiosity.”
However, one’s musical tastes may indicate their political views, Berman believes. “If you like Nirvana, chances are you’re not going to grow up to be a fascist,” Berman quips. “I don't know that an ardent Bush supporter listening to Green Day's ‘American Idiot’ is suddenly going to reassess their worldview. However, the process by which someone gets turned on to Green Day, or Punk in general, is a lot more important to the kind of person they become,” Berman added.
Neil Scibelli, 22, an indie-musician and a student at Marymount Manhattan College, thinks musicians should stick to singing because “sometimes musicians’ popularity just wins voters over, rather than the importance of the actual issue,” he said.
Scibelli admits that being a musician doesn’t equate to political knowledge. Politically-charged expression can be a risky career move for musicians. The Dixie Chicks come to mind. Their songs were pulled from some radio play lists after singer Natalie Maines told concert goers she was “ashamed” President Bush was from Texas.
Universal Record’s recording artists Your Vegas lead singer and Obama supporter, Coyle Girelli, 25, believes that political expression in music “will always be important,” that music can be educational and is “an expression of being human.”
“People’s views in today’s world are strong,” Girelli says. “There is so much wrong with it, so much injustice, so much greed and violence from the sandy streets of Afghanistan to downtown LA. From the economy, to the environment, health care to war, we are at a stage where a serious change is needed. People know this and sometimes they need a voice, someone they respect and trust and who, through music, expresses how they feel,” Girelli said.
While Girelli admits political expression in music can be a “curse” at times, he insists that “the most important thing is that their voice is always heard.”
Well-known musicians are able to have a voice much more so than lesser-known ones. Besides the star-studded, positive message of Will.I.Am’s “Yes We Can” video clip, which Your Vegas’ Girelli calls a “beautiful, classy and a deeply inspiring piece of art,” other musicians are opting for a more controversial approach.
Madonna, who is no stranger to courting controversy, compares McCain to Adolph Hitler and Obama to Mahatma Gandhi in her current “Sticky and Sweet” international tour. In rapper Ludacris’ case, he supports Obama in his video clip “Politics (Obama Is Here)” but also blasts Senator Hillary Clinton, Rev. Jesse Jackson, President Bush and McCain. In the song, Ludacris refers to Clinton as a “bitch” and says “McCain don't belong in any chair unless he's paralyzed...Yeah, I said it, 'cause Bush is mentally handicapped...You the worst of all 43 presidents.”
Obama, who once told Rolling Stone he was a fan of the rapper, is now doing damage control. His spokesman Bill Burton says that while the rapper is a “talented individual,” he should be “ashamed of these lyrics.” Burton continues: “As Barack Obama has said many, many times in the past, rap lyrics today too often perpetuate misogyny, materialism, and degrading images that he doesn't want his daughters or any children exposed to."
Following months of unofficial music videos posted on YouTube supporting Obama, the presidential candidate recently released an official campaign soundtrack. “Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement” features Stevie Wonder, Kanye West, Sheryl Crow and others. McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds told The Guardian, “It’s ironic that on a day when the economy is in turmoil, Barack Obama fails to release an economic plan, but instead chooses a celebrity rock album.”
McCain, who hasn’t had nearly as much musical support and compares Barack’s “celebrity” to Britney Spears in a campaign video, was asked by Democratic musician John Mellencamp to discontinue using his songs during his campaign trail. Songs that were used at McCain events included “Our Country”, in which Mellencamp sings “There’s room enough here for science to live, and there’s room enough for religion to forgive.”
Mellencamp's publicist Bob Merlis doubted McCain could relate to his songs. “You know, here’s a guy running around saying, ‘I’m a true conservative’ ” Merlis told The Associated Press. “Well, if you’re such a true conservative, why are you playing songs that have a very populist pro-labor message written by a guy who would find no argument if you characterized him as left of center?”
According to the Barack Obama Music Coalition, “Music has been a potent force for social transformation since the days of Plato who declared, ‘When the mode of the music changes, the walls of the city shake.’”
Mark Redfern, who formed the magazine Under the Radar, agrees. He addresses the intersection of music in politics in several of his magazine issues. Redfern told Gen Art Pulse concerning him and his wife’s 2004 protest issue that “One of us came up with the idea to photograph musicians holding protest signs of their own making. Not only did it look cool, it gave the musicians another avenue to express themselves to our readers.”
But perhaps politically-charged music should be looked at more closely. Berman of The Pains of Being Pure at Heart says that because this campaign has focused on cultural divides, music has become symbolic of this rift.
“I mean, think of the music that Obama probably listened to growing up and think about the music of John McCain’s generation, it’s so culturally removed from each other. It’s like, people are either going to vote for a candidate who thinks that Elvis’ hip gyrations would lead to the moral downfall of America, or one that can quote Jay-Z.”
With Obama and McCain sharing a single similarity in their Blender Magazine Top 10 Music pick with Frank Sinatra, politically charged music and its influence on the upcoming election has yet to be determined.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Decision 2008
Election 2008: Know Your Role
By Alejandro M. Fernandez
The 2008 presidential election has all the ingredients of a Hollywood action-thriller. This year’s blockbuster contains three main characters. Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona plays himself, the older man who represents the status quo. Though he is not the main villain, he seems to stand in the hero’s way. The hero is none other than Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois. He is young, charismatic, and handsome.
Of course, no hero would be complete without a sidekick, no male protagonist would be complete without the female gaze, and no good cop would be complete without a bad cop. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York defies this multifaceted role, but the casting director will not budge. The director and main villain is, as usual, the media.
So why does this election matter? Why watch a remake of previous films?
Somewhere along the line, the casting director decided to improvise. For the first time a black man and a white woman share the spotlight with the usual White male suspect. Voters understand this. Young voters especially realize that their votes can affect this country’s future in Iraq, the fate of a diminished economy, and much more.
According to both Time Magazine and the Los Angeles Times, “the youth vote already has played a key role in earlier primaries. In South Carolina, 18- to 29-year-olds accounted for 14% of voters, up from 9% in 2004. And in Iowa, young voter turnout rose 135% from the previous presidential primary.”
Rita Biggers, a 22-year-old graduate student, did not vote because of scheduling conflicts. However, she has followed the media’s election coverage diligently. Biggers believes “the media’s need to constantly broadcast breaking stories, as seen through the creation of the new breed of 24-hour news stations like CNN, has caused the media to do more report now, confirm later type of journalism.”
_edited.jpg)
Rita Biggers says her
main concerns are
health care,
education costs, and
foreign affairs
Maria-Leonor Castilla, a 20-year-old Ivy Leaguer, exercised her right to vote for the first time by voting for Hillary Clinton. “I see myself in Hillary—a woman who is driven, educated and passionate with clear goals and plans to execute those goals,” she says. “Besides,” she adds, “we all know that it has been the first ladies that are the pillars, inspirations, and ultimate advisors of their husbands (many of whom have served our country well), so who better than a former first lady to lead our country?”
Pablo Guevara, a 21-year-old engineering student, voted for a fellow Hispanic. “Richardson is my boy,” he says. “He’s the only politician I’ve met that gave me good vibes. Plus, I have to represent the Hispanics,” he adds.
Like moviegoers, voters connect with candidates that make them feel comfortable and safe. William P. O’Neill, a 32-year-old U.S. Air Force Public Affairs Specialist, is no different. “I feel more secure and confident regarding the safety and future of America with Senator McCain as its Commander in Chief,” he says. Adding, “I agree with Sen. John McCain’s stances on the war on terror (especially regarding Iraq and Afghanistan), economy, and immigration.”
Some, like Marcello Pacheco, 21, an architecture student, are more critical of this year’s villain. “The media’s coverage is sickening. It is completely biased for Obama and tries to trap or demonize Hillary every chance they get,” he says.
.jpg)
Marcello Pacheco's biggest
concerns are education and
infrastructure spending
James Darley, a 20-year-old student at Holy Cross favors the hero. “I admire the courage that it took for Obama to not vote for the war in Iraq. He risked everything, including his political career by not jumping on the bandwagon.”
Unlike previous years, the 2008 presidential election appeals to many people, if not everyone. Men and women of all ages, races, and creeds have someone to root for.
How will the blockbuster end?
No one knows for sure. The only certainty is that everyone is playing a role.
By Alejandro M. Fernandez
The 2008 presidential election has all the ingredients of a Hollywood action-thriller. This year’s blockbuster contains three main characters. Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona plays himself, the older man who represents the status quo. Though he is not the main villain, he seems to stand in the hero’s way. The hero is none other than Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois. He is young, charismatic, and handsome.
Of course, no hero would be complete without a sidekick, no male protagonist would be complete without the female gaze, and no good cop would be complete without a bad cop. Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York defies this multifaceted role, but the casting director will not budge. The director and main villain is, as usual, the media.
So why does this election matter? Why watch a remake of previous films?
Somewhere along the line, the casting director decided to improvise. For the first time a black man and a white woman share the spotlight with the usual White male suspect. Voters understand this. Young voters especially realize that their votes can affect this country’s future in Iraq, the fate of a diminished economy, and much more.
According to both Time Magazine and the Los Angeles Times, “the youth vote already has played a key role in earlier primaries. In South Carolina, 18- to 29-year-olds accounted for 14% of voters, up from 9% in 2004. And in Iowa, young voter turnout rose 135% from the previous presidential primary.”
Rita Biggers, a 22-year-old graduate student, did not vote because of scheduling conflicts. However, she has followed the media’s election coverage diligently. Biggers believes “the media’s need to constantly broadcast breaking stories, as seen through the creation of the new breed of 24-hour news stations like CNN, has caused the media to do more report now, confirm later type of journalism.”
_edited.jpg)
Rita Biggers says her
main concerns are
health care,
education costs, and
foreign affairs
Maria-Leonor Castilla, a 20-year-old Ivy Leaguer, exercised her right to vote for the first time by voting for Hillary Clinton. “I see myself in Hillary—a woman who is driven, educated and passionate with clear goals and plans to execute those goals,” she says. “Besides,” she adds, “we all know that it has been the first ladies that are the pillars, inspirations, and ultimate advisors of their husbands (many of whom have served our country well), so who better than a former first lady to lead our country?”
Pablo Guevara, a 21-year-old engineering student, voted for a fellow Hispanic. “Richardson is my boy,” he says. “He’s the only politician I’ve met that gave me good vibes. Plus, I have to represent the Hispanics,” he adds.
Like moviegoers, voters connect with candidates that make them feel comfortable and safe. William P. O’Neill, a 32-year-old U.S. Air Force Public Affairs Specialist, is no different. “I feel more secure and confident regarding the safety and future of America with Senator McCain as its Commander in Chief,” he says. Adding, “I agree with Sen. John McCain’s stances on the war on terror (especially regarding Iraq and Afghanistan), economy, and immigration.”
Some, like Marcello Pacheco, 21, an architecture student, are more critical of this year’s villain. “The media’s coverage is sickening. It is completely biased for Obama and tries to trap or demonize Hillary every chance they get,” he says.
.jpg)
Marcello Pacheco's biggest
concerns are education and
infrastructure spending
James Darley, a 20-year-old student at Holy Cross favors the hero. “I admire the courage that it took for Obama to not vote for the war in Iraq. He risked everything, including his political career by not jumping on the bandwagon.”
Unlike previous years, the 2008 presidential election appeals to many people, if not everyone. Men and women of all ages, races, and creeds have someone to root for.
How will the blockbuster end?
No one knows for sure. The only certainty is that everyone is playing a role.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Decision 2008
A Work Force Too Busy To Vote
By Alexa Breslin
Are American workers too busy to vote?
The primaries leading to the November election will help to determine which candidates are nominated by their parties to run for president. However, a recent informal poll in New Jersey shows that many workers can’t fit voting in primaries or even the general election into their daily schedules.
The poll, which I conducted, of 25 New Jersey citizens in February, ranging in age from 21 to 57, sought to determine who voted in the primaries and if so, for which candidate, and whether they plan to vote in the general election. Basic information was gathered as from each participant, such as name, age, occupation, and party affiliation. Depending on their answers, some participants were chosen for a follow-up interview.
Only three of the 25 participants voted in the primaries, however, all 25 participants said they would vote in the general election in November.
Kristi Jahnke, 23, a second-year law student at Seton Hall University in New Jersey, is a registered Republican and one of the three participants who voted in the primaries. “I voted for Mitt Romney, though it was a last minute decision because I really like McCain too,” Jahnke said in a recent interview.
“Since Romney is out, I’ll be voting for McCain in November. McCain has been in the Senate since 1987, he has tons of experience, he knows what works and what doesn’t, and most importantly, he’s a veteran and former prisoner of war. I think we agree on a lot of issues,” Jahnke added.
The remaining 22 participants who did not vote in the primaries had various reasons why they decided to stay home on February 5, otherwise known as “Super Tuesday,” the largest day of the presidential nomination process when 24 states went to the polls.
“I just ran out of time,” said stay-at-home mother of four, Jayne Lewandowski, 45, of Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. “The Primaries aren’t as important as the presidential election anyway,” she added.
Most of the participants polled who did not vote agreed with Lewandowski that the primaries are not as important as the presidential election.
“I feel as though my vote will count more in November because more voters will turn out to the polls,” said Ryan Donde, 21, a third-year business student at Montclair State University and the youngest of the polled participants. Although Donde follows politics, he did not vote on Super Tuesday because “there are too many elections and candidates for Americans to follow and partake in,” he said.
The majority of the 22 participants who did not vote are over 40 and work full-time. One of them, Susan Nissen, 56, a manager of sales operations at Stryker Orthopedics, said, “I didn’t get out to vote, I worked all day.”
This informal poll confirmed a suspicion that the majority of the U.S. work force does not have time in their daily schedules to get out to the polls and vote in many of the elections. The daily grind appears to be crushing individual political participation.
By Alexa Breslin
Are American workers too busy to vote?
The primaries leading to the November election will help to determine which candidates are nominated by their parties to run for president. However, a recent informal poll in New Jersey shows that many workers can’t fit voting in primaries or even the general election into their daily schedules.
The poll, which I conducted, of 25 New Jersey citizens in February, ranging in age from 21 to 57, sought to determine who voted in the primaries and if so, for which candidate, and whether they plan to vote in the general election. Basic information was gathered as from each participant, such as name, age, occupation, and party affiliation. Depending on their answers, some participants were chosen for a follow-up interview.
Only three of the 25 participants voted in the primaries, however, all 25 participants said they would vote in the general election in November.
Kristi Jahnke, 23, a second-year law student at Seton Hall University in New Jersey, is a registered Republican and one of the three participants who voted in the primaries. “I voted for Mitt Romney, though it was a last minute decision because I really like McCain too,” Jahnke said in a recent interview.
“Since Romney is out, I’ll be voting for McCain in November. McCain has been in the Senate since 1987, he has tons of experience, he knows what works and what doesn’t, and most importantly, he’s a veteran and former prisoner of war. I think we agree on a lot of issues,” Jahnke added.
The remaining 22 participants who did not vote in the primaries had various reasons why they decided to stay home on February 5, otherwise known as “Super Tuesday,” the largest day of the presidential nomination process when 24 states went to the polls.
“I just ran out of time,” said stay-at-home mother of four, Jayne Lewandowski, 45, of Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. “The Primaries aren’t as important as the presidential election anyway,” she added.
Most of the participants polled who did not vote agreed with Lewandowski that the primaries are not as important as the presidential election.
“I feel as though my vote will count more in November because more voters will turn out to the polls,” said Ryan Donde, 21, a third-year business student at Montclair State University and the youngest of the polled participants. Although Donde follows politics, he did not vote on Super Tuesday because “there are too many elections and candidates for Americans to follow and partake in,” he said.
The majority of the 22 participants who did not vote are over 40 and work full-time. One of them, Susan Nissen, 56, a manager of sales operations at Stryker Orthopedics, said, “I didn’t get out to vote, I worked all day.”
This informal poll confirmed a suspicion that the majority of the U.S. work force does not have time in their daily schedules to get out to the polls and vote in many of the elections. The daily grind appears to be crushing individual political participation.
Decision 2008
Keeping The Faith In A Political Year
By Alexandra Kolbeck
Millions of people have died because of it, and billions of people believe in some form of it or dismiss it all together. The country was founded on its principles, it is printed hundreds of times in historical documents, and we see it every day on our currency. It’s religion, and according to a recent Time.com poll, 92% of American’s believe in God or some other higher power.
With every political election, religion causes controversy. Whether they’re for it, against it, or non-sectarian, a candidate’s religion is an important issue. With the 2008 presidential election already underway, this topic has gotten many voters thinking about religion. Whether you’re a Democrat, a Republican, an Independent, or a member of any other political party, religion may play a part in the candidate you choose to support. For some, religion plays no role at all and for others it is completely irrelevant. However, for many voters, like Ryan Fisher, 21, religion is non-negotiable. “I would never vote for someone who didn’t believe in God,” she said.
With a huge, Texas evangelical backing, Sen. John McCain sets the bar for fellow Republican candidates like Mike Huckabee who attended the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, was has been the pastor of two Baptist churches. Sen. Hillary Clinton’s prayers have not gone unnoticed either. She has made it very clear that her Methodist background plays a large role in what kind of president she would be. However, her opponent, Barack Obama, has not been very public with his affiliations with the United Church of Christ.
It may be a strategy to separate a candidate’s religious beliefs from his or her political beliefs, but it may also play in a candidates favor to associate their image with a religion, especially if it is a form of Christianity. Almost every U.S. President has been religious, or to quote John F. Kennedy, “guided by the principles of their faith.” With many crucial votes residing in the U.S. “Bible Belt,” someone like John McCain, who is a very outspoken, Republican, Episcopalian, could fair very well.
For many voters however, religion is not something that affects their vote. Nick Stauth, 24 says, “I tend to relate politics as something that I feel has more of an impact on my day to day life, instead of my overall spirituality.”
For a candidate to not publicly address his or her religion regularly could be off-putting to some voters. Many feel as though it gives them insight into what kind of person they are voting for. Kathleen Grisanti, 44 says, “The only time I’ve heard Barack Obama speak about his religion is when he was defending himself and denying he was Muslim. If it had not been such a controversial topic, I would never have known he was a Christian.”
Each individual voter’s personal beliefs are going to affect their decision as they choose which candidate they believe should lead our country. While religion is an important factor in making this decision, it is not the only one. This is why it has become even more important for a candidate to express every facet of their views on both a personal level and a political level throughout their campaign.
Some voters believe that a candidate’s individual ability to convey their message is critical in helping them win their support. While others feel that the candidate’s ability to communicate might be more important than their specific religious beliefs or the church that they follow. When it boils down to it, the extent to which candidates display their religious principles may determine how they fair in the general election.
By Alexandra Kolbeck
Millions of people have died because of it, and billions of people believe in some form of it or dismiss it all together. The country was founded on its principles, it is printed hundreds of times in historical documents, and we see it every day on our currency. It’s religion, and according to a recent Time.com poll, 92% of American’s believe in God or some other higher power.
With every political election, religion causes controversy. Whether they’re for it, against it, or non-sectarian, a candidate’s religion is an important issue. With the 2008 presidential election already underway, this topic has gotten many voters thinking about religion. Whether you’re a Democrat, a Republican, an Independent, or a member of any other political party, religion may play a part in the candidate you choose to support. For some, religion plays no role at all and for others it is completely irrelevant. However, for many voters, like Ryan Fisher, 21, religion is non-negotiable. “I would never vote for someone who didn’t believe in God,” she said.
With a huge, Texas evangelical backing, Sen. John McCain sets the bar for fellow Republican candidates like Mike Huckabee who attended the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, was has been the pastor of two Baptist churches. Sen. Hillary Clinton’s prayers have not gone unnoticed either. She has made it very clear that her Methodist background plays a large role in what kind of president she would be. However, her opponent, Barack Obama, has not been very public with his affiliations with the United Church of Christ.
It may be a strategy to separate a candidate’s religious beliefs from his or her political beliefs, but it may also play in a candidates favor to associate their image with a religion, especially if it is a form of Christianity. Almost every U.S. President has been religious, or to quote John F. Kennedy, “guided by the principles of their faith.” With many crucial votes residing in the U.S. “Bible Belt,” someone like John McCain, who is a very outspoken, Republican, Episcopalian, could fair very well.
For many voters however, religion is not something that affects their vote. Nick Stauth, 24 says, “I tend to relate politics as something that I feel has more of an impact on my day to day life, instead of my overall spirituality.”
For a candidate to not publicly address his or her religion regularly could be off-putting to some voters. Many feel as though it gives them insight into what kind of person they are voting for. Kathleen Grisanti, 44 says, “The only time I’ve heard Barack Obama speak about his religion is when he was defending himself and denying he was Muslim. If it had not been such a controversial topic, I would never have known he was a Christian.”
Each individual voter’s personal beliefs are going to affect their decision as they choose which candidate they believe should lead our country. While religion is an important factor in making this decision, it is not the only one. This is why it has become even more important for a candidate to express every facet of their views on both a personal level and a political level throughout their campaign.
Some voters believe that a candidate’s individual ability to convey their message is critical in helping them win their support. While others feel that the candidate’s ability to communicate might be more important than their specific religious beliefs or the church that they follow. When it boils down to it, the extent to which candidates display their religious principles may determine how they fair in the general election.
Decision 2008
Different Ages, Different Political Concerns
By Chris Mirarchi
Across the board, the variety of political opinion is truly being highlighted. This year, more than ever, the presidential election is very popular, and not just among the older generation. The younger generation, those aged 18-25, is putting their two cents in as well -- 59.9% of this group is registered voters.
When it comes to party voting affiliation, two big differences are age and income. It’s more likely for someone with a lesser income to vote Democrat. According to a 2006 poll, 67% people making less than $15,000 a year voted for Democrats, while 53% of people making more than $200,000 a year voted for Republicans, according to CNN.com.
Frank Lombardi, a 22 year-old Communication Arts major at Marymount Manhattan College has a strong opinion on his biggest concerns. “Personally, it's gay and lesbian rights. But for this next election it's more on health care and the war in Iraq,” he said.
When it comes to who’s voting for whom, it’s not just Democrat versus Republican, it’s Democrat versus Democrat versus Republican.
Lombardi said, “I am voting for Hillary because I like her plans for Iraq. They are more organized, thought out, and realistic. Obama I like just as well, so if he gets the bid then I will not be upset, but I feel like Obama’s plans are too unrealistic. Everyone says he is a great speaker/orator but I feel like his passion sometimes gets in the way of delivering a clear speech.”
Although Lombardi is an avid Clinton supporter, if it came down to it, he would still vote for Obama, unlike Jenny Cahak, an 18 year-old Communications Arts major at Marymount who supports Obama. She said if it’s not Obama, she wouldn’t mind the next president to be McCain. “I think we need a change. I don’t want another Republican, but I actually don’t mind McCain, I think he could do a good job.”
With different ages, come different views and concerns. Unlike the young liberals who are very concerned about the war in Iraq, the older generation is concerned about finances. “I am voting for John McCain, because I like his positions on national security, foreign policy and the economy,” said Charles Mirarchi, a 50 year-old director at Verizon. He has voted Republican in every election since he was 18, and does not agree with what the Democrats have to offer.
“The two Democratic candidates really want to expand government and penalize the biggest contributors that pay taxes,” said Mirarchi. “I hit the maximum every year in Social Security and when I hit it, that a benefit so I don’t have to pay more. I don’t think you should make national health insurance part of the government. I pay for my children’s college 100 percent. I have to earn my own health insurance because I earn too much money, and I don’t get any breaks. I have been paying the maximum in Social Security since 1990 and I won’t live long enough to get that money back,” he said.
Another concern for Mirarchi is taxes. “I also disagree with the national natural disaster insurance plan. I disagree with having to pay taxes for other people’s choice to live in national accident prone areas. All they are going to do is decrease my paycheck and increase my taxes,” Mirarchi said.
In terms of their voting patterns, Americans have a variety of opinions, and depending on age, race, background and income, it’s all a matter of what concerns hit home that will determine who they will support in this year’s election.
By Chris Mirarchi
Across the board, the variety of political opinion is truly being highlighted. This year, more than ever, the presidential election is very popular, and not just among the older generation. The younger generation, those aged 18-25, is putting their two cents in as well -- 59.9% of this group is registered voters.
When it comes to party voting affiliation, two big differences are age and income. It’s more likely for someone with a lesser income to vote Democrat. According to a 2006 poll, 67% people making less than $15,000 a year voted for Democrats, while 53% of people making more than $200,000 a year voted for Republicans, according to CNN.com.
Frank Lombardi, a 22 year-old Communication Arts major at Marymount Manhattan College has a strong opinion on his biggest concerns. “Personally, it's gay and lesbian rights. But for this next election it's more on health care and the war in Iraq,” he said.
When it comes to who’s voting for whom, it’s not just Democrat versus Republican, it’s Democrat versus Democrat versus Republican.
Lombardi said, “I am voting for Hillary because I like her plans for Iraq. They are more organized, thought out, and realistic. Obama I like just as well, so if he gets the bid then I will not be upset, but I feel like Obama’s plans are too unrealistic. Everyone says he is a great speaker/orator but I feel like his passion sometimes gets in the way of delivering a clear speech.”
Although Lombardi is an avid Clinton supporter, if it came down to it, he would still vote for Obama, unlike Jenny Cahak, an 18 year-old Communications Arts major at Marymount who supports Obama. She said if it’s not Obama, she wouldn’t mind the next president to be McCain. “I think we need a change. I don’t want another Republican, but I actually don’t mind McCain, I think he could do a good job.”
With different ages, come different views and concerns. Unlike the young liberals who are very concerned about the war in Iraq, the older generation is concerned about finances. “I am voting for John McCain, because I like his positions on national security, foreign policy and the economy,” said Charles Mirarchi, a 50 year-old director at Verizon. He has voted Republican in every election since he was 18, and does not agree with what the Democrats have to offer.
“The two Democratic candidates really want to expand government and penalize the biggest contributors that pay taxes,” said Mirarchi. “I hit the maximum every year in Social Security and when I hit it, that a benefit so I don’t have to pay more. I don’t think you should make national health insurance part of the government. I pay for my children’s college 100 percent. I have to earn my own health insurance because I earn too much money, and I don’t get any breaks. I have been paying the maximum in Social Security since 1990 and I won’t live long enough to get that money back,” he said.
Another concern for Mirarchi is taxes. “I also disagree with the national natural disaster insurance plan. I disagree with having to pay taxes for other people’s choice to live in national accident prone areas. All they are going to do is decrease my paycheck and increase my taxes,” Mirarchi said.
In terms of their voting patterns, Americans have a variety of opinions, and depending on age, race, background and income, it’s all a matter of what concerns hit home that will determine who they will support in this year’s election.
Decision 2008
Are The Primary Elections For “Real Voters?”
By Jenifer Carbonara
The next time you’re on a crowded subway, are in line at the grocery store, or even taking a languid commercial break between your American Idol marathon party, turn to the person standing next to you and ask, “Did you vote in the primaries?” Chances are that, even in politically-driven New York City, you may hear a big, fat “No.”
What gives? It seems that news outlets everywhere are boasting about the turnout for the primaries. But one day of riding the subway, walking through Central Park, and bothering my roommate during her TV time gave me a measly three affirmatives to the question ‘did you vote in the primary?’
Though it seems logical that getting to choose which person you want to represent you come November would be immensely important and exciting (especially as many voters have nothing but complaints about the candidates up for the vote come E-Day) many people shy away from the primary elections, instead voting only in the November presidential election.
“I figure that only people who are really “into” politics follow the primaries—the rest of the people just vote in the general election,” says Pamela Carbonara, 51.
Gregory Crompton, 36, said, “Only people who have money or time bother with the primaries.”
And, Amie Charlery, 21, proclaimed, “I’ll probably vote in the real election.”
Needless to say, the primary elections appear to be nothing more than an interim between “real” elections—they are reserved for people who have invested time and/or money into a candidate, not for your average Joe. Once again, America removes itself from ability to effect change.
However, it is a fact that this year boasted the highest ever turnout rates for votes in the primary election—more than 18% of eligible voters participated, setting records. In the “real” election of 2004, 64% of eligible voters nationwide voted. So why is it that the 2008 primary elections yielded three times less voters than the presidential election of 2006? Where did all the voters go?
“I think it comes down to the Democrat versus Republican race that interests people. It is easier to choose between two candidates who are so clearly opponents than to choose between two candidates who are kind of on the same side,” said Andrea Barthlow, 28. “When it’s Democrat versus Democrat or Republican versus Republican, you figure either way you win.”
If interest is what is lacking in the primary elections, the 2008 Democratic candidates should have provided more than enough interest to captivate the audience—and, as the polls show, it certainly did affect the turnout. But that does not change the fact that people are viewing the primaries with an almost highbrow trepidation that is only doing more harm than good.
“You can’t win if you don’t play the game,” said the primary voting Crompton. “It just doesn’t work like that.”
By Jenifer Carbonara
The next time you’re on a crowded subway, are in line at the grocery store, or even taking a languid commercial break between your American Idol marathon party, turn to the person standing next to you and ask, “Did you vote in the primaries?” Chances are that, even in politically-driven New York City, you may hear a big, fat “No.”
What gives? It seems that news outlets everywhere are boasting about the turnout for the primaries. But one day of riding the subway, walking through Central Park, and bothering my roommate during her TV time gave me a measly three affirmatives to the question ‘did you vote in the primary?’
Though it seems logical that getting to choose which person you want to represent you come November would be immensely important and exciting (especially as many voters have nothing but complaints about the candidates up for the vote come E-Day) many people shy away from the primary elections, instead voting only in the November presidential election.
“I figure that only people who are really “into” politics follow the primaries—the rest of the people just vote in the general election,” says Pamela Carbonara, 51.
Gregory Crompton, 36, said, “Only people who have money or time bother with the primaries.”
And, Amie Charlery, 21, proclaimed, “I’ll probably vote in the real election.”
Needless to say, the primary elections appear to be nothing more than an interim between “real” elections—they are reserved for people who have invested time and/or money into a candidate, not for your average Joe. Once again, America removes itself from ability to effect change.
However, it is a fact that this year boasted the highest ever turnout rates for votes in the primary election—more than 18% of eligible voters participated, setting records. In the “real” election of 2004, 64% of eligible voters nationwide voted. So why is it that the 2008 primary elections yielded three times less voters than the presidential election of 2006? Where did all the voters go?
“I think it comes down to the Democrat versus Republican race that interests people. It is easier to choose between two candidates who are so clearly opponents than to choose between two candidates who are kind of on the same side,” said Andrea Barthlow, 28. “When it’s Democrat versus Democrat or Republican versus Republican, you figure either way you win.”
If interest is what is lacking in the primary elections, the 2008 Democratic candidates should have provided more than enough interest to captivate the audience—and, as the polls show, it certainly did affect the turnout. But that does not change the fact that people are viewing the primaries with an almost highbrow trepidation that is only doing more harm than good.
“You can’t win if you don’t play the game,” said the primary voting Crompton. “It just doesn’t work like that.”
Decision 2008
Money And Health Care Top The List Of Concerns For Some Voters
By Brian Batista
At the Columbia University campus in New York, many students are aware of their vital impact this year, but some have yet to decide on which candidate is the best fit for president of the United States. On the other hand, there are just as many students that are decided and anxious for November to roll around so that their votes can be counted.
Statistics show that more that 29 million 18-24 year old registered voters will determine the outcome of this year’s presidential race for the White House, according to the Youth Vote Coalition. This election is already being considered a close call, and so are some of the decisions this particular demographic is making on their potential candidate. This age group, from different genders, backgrounds and majors, are trying to decide who will be the ideal candidate to determine the direction of our American society.
A number of college-age students seem to have one big issue on their mind: money. With the country in recession and various financial markets falling short of profits, many students are curious as to what kind of job market awaits them upon graduation.
“I am really concerned that by graduation this June, I will not be able to compete with others in a job market where everyone is desperately trying to hold on to their jobs” says Alexia Herrera, 24, journalism major. “I feel we have wasted a ridiculous amount of money and time on a senseless war, which is affecting our economy. I have decided that my vote will go to Hillary Clinton this year. She is clear, concise and is telling me everything I need to hear-we need to pull out of Iraq and focus on us.”
Herrera also said she supports Sen. Clinton because of her previous experience in the White House, and added, “We all know she was pretty much running the country while Bill was out in the shack with Monica”.
Mohammed Dakar, 23, political science major, agrees with Herrera. “I believe that a war with such endless resolve is draining our country of financial reserves, if we even have any money left.”
However, Dakar seems cautiously optimistic about this close race. With a large number of Obama supporters and his constant positive press, unlike Clinton, who rarely sees a day without negative stories about her, he sees this as a potential sign of trouble.
“A lot of people are being sucked into the Obama campaign because I feel like he is simply telling the public what they want to hear, and the overt use of the word “change” by his camp is luring in a lot of voters that just want the image. But they do not bother to research the facts, something I feel Obama is coming up short with.”
However, some students believe that Sen. Obama may have a solution to at least one pressing problem – health care.
Shannon Edwards, 20, an anthropology major, voted in the primaries and is anxious for her chance to vote for Barack Obama again this fall, in an already close election for power in the White House.
“I feel like he is a fine representation for our country and can fix a lot of the issues we are facing today,” she says. “To me, he seems like he is going to make changes in making health care affordable for me and my younger sister, with cancer.”
Edwards reflects on her experiences with health care providers and insurance companies that have denied her sister of coverage over the last few months. “It has been a struggle to find good health care for her, many insurance companies want nothing to do with us due to her condition, and I feel that Obama will strive to make insurance affordable for everyone, myself included.”
By Brian Batista
At the Columbia University campus in New York, many students are aware of their vital impact this year, but some have yet to decide on which candidate is the best fit for president of the United States. On the other hand, there are just as many students that are decided and anxious for November to roll around so that their votes can be counted.
Statistics show that more that 29 million 18-24 year old registered voters will determine the outcome of this year’s presidential race for the White House, according to the Youth Vote Coalition. This election is already being considered a close call, and so are some of the decisions this particular demographic is making on their potential candidate. This age group, from different genders, backgrounds and majors, are trying to decide who will be the ideal candidate to determine the direction of our American society.
A number of college-age students seem to have one big issue on their mind: money. With the country in recession and various financial markets falling short of profits, many students are curious as to what kind of job market awaits them upon graduation.
“I am really concerned that by graduation this June, I will not be able to compete with others in a job market where everyone is desperately trying to hold on to their jobs” says Alexia Herrera, 24, journalism major. “I feel we have wasted a ridiculous amount of money and time on a senseless war, which is affecting our economy. I have decided that my vote will go to Hillary Clinton this year. She is clear, concise and is telling me everything I need to hear-we need to pull out of Iraq and focus on us.”
Herrera also said she supports Sen. Clinton because of her previous experience in the White House, and added, “We all know she was pretty much running the country while Bill was out in the shack with Monica”.
Mohammed Dakar, 23, political science major, agrees with Herrera. “I believe that a war with such endless resolve is draining our country of financial reserves, if we even have any money left.”
However, Dakar seems cautiously optimistic about this close race. With a large number of Obama supporters and his constant positive press, unlike Clinton, who rarely sees a day without negative stories about her, he sees this as a potential sign of trouble.
“A lot of people are being sucked into the Obama campaign because I feel like he is simply telling the public what they want to hear, and the overt use of the word “change” by his camp is luring in a lot of voters that just want the image. But they do not bother to research the facts, something I feel Obama is coming up short with.”
However, some students believe that Sen. Obama may have a solution to at least one pressing problem – health care.
Shannon Edwards, 20, an anthropology major, voted in the primaries and is anxious for her chance to vote for Barack Obama again this fall, in an already close election for power in the White House.
“I feel like he is a fine representation for our country and can fix a lot of the issues we are facing today,” she says. “To me, he seems like he is going to make changes in making health care affordable for me and my younger sister, with cancer.”
Edwards reflects on her experiences with health care providers and insurance companies that have denied her sister of coverage over the last few months. “It has been a struggle to find good health care for her, many insurance companies want nothing to do with us due to her condition, and I feel that Obama will strive to make insurance affordable for everyone, myself included.”
Decision 2008
Voters Are Becoming Wary Of The Vision For Change
By Amber Gray
Bob Dylan wrote, “The times they are A-Changing” and this motto is close to coming true. In the 2008 presidential election, for the first time in history, a black man and a white woman have stood out among the much older, rich white men who have led the country in the past. Voters are being fed daily by the desire for “change.”
Yet, many voters believe change is something that is more comprehensive than Obama’s skin color and Clinton’s gender. Grocery store manager, Robert Gray, 43, of Boston, Massachusetts has found it hard to stand by his firm liberal values in this upcoming election. To him, Sen. Barack Obama’s lack of experience is overshadowing his devotion to change.
“It’s like they’re reading a script. They all seem to be rooting for this magical idea that change can just happen with the snap of their fingers. I get kind of frustrated because I don’t know if I see it truly happening,” said Gray.
Gray has lost hope in both candidates, and so far is standing by John McCain, pending McCain’s choice for a running mate. “Democratically, Obama just does not have the experience, but maybe next time around he would. As for Hilary Clinton, I think she has a lot of skeletons in her closet and plays the game dirty.”
Yet, the younger generation of voters, 18-25 year olds make up 14.4% of the total eligible voters and many have indeed been persuaded by the ideal vision of change. Obama and Clinton are increasingly gaining attention from this group, but will they come out to vote? The one crucial factor is if these young people really feel their vote can make a difference.
“In the past I didn’t care much for politics because I never felt I had anything in common with who was running,” says Chae Munroe, 19, a sophomore at Marymount Manhattan College. “I think that this election is going to be different, kids are going to come out because both Democrats want to fulfill our needs.” Munroe, an Obama supporter, saw him on MTV’s Special Report Election Episode and said he really made her realize that her vote can create a new beginning.
“He really has gotten the younger kids to listen up,” Munroe said. “These are the issues, this is what is going wrong with our country and this is how I can solve it. Change is necessary, this war should have never happened.”
Greg Padin, 21, a junior at Fordham University is also skeptical about change really happening. As an avid member of his school’s debate team, he and other members contemplate on the issues daily.
“I'd like to see someone who can balance the budget so we aren't in such a fragile economic state,” he said. “Also, I’d like to see a candidate who will look to a smaller government and pull away from a federal government that regulates every single social issue.”
On the question of whether his vote will matter, Padin becomes unenthusiastic.
“I'll vote but I know it won't matter but you still gotta play the game I guess.”
The truth is, 29 million people age 18-24 are eligible to vote, which means young voters could determine the outcome of this election. Yet, as we’ve seen in the past, many don’t come out to do so. To bring the change that Obama and Clinton strive for, the younger generation needs to change their voting habits.
By Amber Gray
Bob Dylan wrote, “The times they are A-Changing” and this motto is close to coming true. In the 2008 presidential election, for the first time in history, a black man and a white woman have stood out among the much older, rich white men who have led the country in the past. Voters are being fed daily by the desire for “change.”
Yet, many voters believe change is something that is more comprehensive than Obama’s skin color and Clinton’s gender. Grocery store manager, Robert Gray, 43, of Boston, Massachusetts has found it hard to stand by his firm liberal values in this upcoming election. To him, Sen. Barack Obama’s lack of experience is overshadowing his devotion to change.
“It’s like they’re reading a script. They all seem to be rooting for this magical idea that change can just happen with the snap of their fingers. I get kind of frustrated because I don’t know if I see it truly happening,” said Gray.
Gray has lost hope in both candidates, and so far is standing by John McCain, pending McCain’s choice for a running mate. “Democratically, Obama just does not have the experience, but maybe next time around he would. As for Hilary Clinton, I think she has a lot of skeletons in her closet and plays the game dirty.”
Yet, the younger generation of voters, 18-25 year olds make up 14.4% of the total eligible voters and many have indeed been persuaded by the ideal vision of change. Obama and Clinton are increasingly gaining attention from this group, but will they come out to vote? The one crucial factor is if these young people really feel their vote can make a difference.
“In the past I didn’t care much for politics because I never felt I had anything in common with who was running,” says Chae Munroe, 19, a sophomore at Marymount Manhattan College. “I think that this election is going to be different, kids are going to come out because both Democrats want to fulfill our needs.” Munroe, an Obama supporter, saw him on MTV’s Special Report Election Episode and said he really made her realize that her vote can create a new beginning.
“He really has gotten the younger kids to listen up,” Munroe said. “These are the issues, this is what is going wrong with our country and this is how I can solve it. Change is necessary, this war should have never happened.”
Greg Padin, 21, a junior at Fordham University is also skeptical about change really happening. As an avid member of his school’s debate team, he and other members contemplate on the issues daily.
“I'd like to see someone who can balance the budget so we aren't in such a fragile economic state,” he said. “Also, I’d like to see a candidate who will look to a smaller government and pull away from a federal government that regulates every single social issue.”
On the question of whether his vote will matter, Padin becomes unenthusiastic.
“I'll vote but I know it won't matter but you still gotta play the game I guess.”
The truth is, 29 million people age 18-24 are eligible to vote, which means young voters could determine the outcome of this election. Yet, as we’ve seen in the past, many don’t come out to do so. To bring the change that Obama and Clinton strive for, the younger generation needs to change their voting habits.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Decision 2008
Promise Of Change Causing Mixed Emotions For Some Voters
By Sara Bauknecht
The battle for the White House has captivated the public due to the unprecedented diversity of its frontrunners. But just as the candidates’ diverse faces have etched themselves in Americans’ minds, the word “change” has also attracted attention.
With a costly war lingering in the Middle East and an economy dangling on the threshold of a recession, the possibility of change under the next president rouses a mixture of anxiety and hope for many Americans. As the primary season continues, the fear that the next president may not be able to deliver change as promised looms over many voters like a storm cloud.
“For the last 40 years, I feel everyone has preached change,” said Steve Valloric, 70. “Since there are certain rules presidents have to follow, and there is Congress they have to deal with, change doesn’t really seem to ever happen,” he said. Valloric, a retired Columbia gasoline employee from Ohio, has not voted in 40 years because he feels his voice is not heard. He also doesn’t think there has been a candidate in recent years that could improve America. “Candidates promise you the world, and they don’t give you anything,” Valloric said.
.JPG)
Photo by Patty Valloric
Steve Valloric says he hasn’t
voted in 40 years.
Dread Archie, a 37 year-old door attendant from New York, shares Valloric’s view that change may not likely occur after next November. “I am concerned that there may not be a change. I am concerned that things may just get worse,” Archie said.
Archie chose not to vote in New York’s presidential primary on February 5. Like Valloric, he does not feel that his voice is acknowledged when he casts his ballot. “I have a voice, but I don’t really think it is going to be heard. At the end of the day, I feel that politics is all just a game,” he said.
While some voters like Valloric and Archie doubt that change will unfurl, many first time voters are heading to the polls in spite of their uncertainties concerning change. “Every election focuses on bringing about change, but at the end of the day you are always going to have conspiracies and individuals influencing people to act in certain ways,” said Jacquelline Leva, a 19 year-old Marymount Manhattan College student from New York.
.JPG)
Photo by P. J. Leva
Jacquelline Leva is a first-
time voter.
Although Leva feels that change may not materialize exactly as presidential candidates have promised, she still decided to make her voice heard by voting for John McCain in New York’s primary. “I think I have a voice. I am part of the United States. Even though I have only one vote, it may be that one vote that a candidate needs to win the election,” Leva said.
Like Leva, Brooke McVey, a 19 year-old Ohio University Eastern student and Hillary Clinton supporter, agrees that it is important that people, especially younger voters, get involved in the political process. “People in my age group need to speak up and do something or our future will be in danger,” McVey said.
_edited.JPG)
Photo byPhyllis McVey
Brooke McVey believes young voters
should get involved in politics.
And, McVey may be correct. According to the Youth Vote Coalition, 18-30 year-olds constitute 24% of all eligible voters. Since approximately one quarter of the nation’s voting power rests in the hands of young adults, the chance to experience change may be determined by whether these individuals decide to vote.
With the general election still nine months away, the role of change in the next president’s agenda will likely remain unclear until November, and beyond.
By Sara Bauknecht
The battle for the White House has captivated the public due to the unprecedented diversity of its frontrunners. But just as the candidates’ diverse faces have etched themselves in Americans’ minds, the word “change” has also attracted attention.
With a costly war lingering in the Middle East and an economy dangling on the threshold of a recession, the possibility of change under the next president rouses a mixture of anxiety and hope for many Americans. As the primary season continues, the fear that the next president may not be able to deliver change as promised looms over many voters like a storm cloud.
“For the last 40 years, I feel everyone has preached change,” said Steve Valloric, 70. “Since there are certain rules presidents have to follow, and there is Congress they have to deal with, change doesn’t really seem to ever happen,” he said. Valloric, a retired Columbia gasoline employee from Ohio, has not voted in 40 years because he feels his voice is not heard. He also doesn’t think there has been a candidate in recent years that could improve America. “Candidates promise you the world, and they don’t give you anything,” Valloric said.
.JPG)
Photo by Patty Valloric
Steve Valloric says he hasn’t
voted in 40 years.
Dread Archie, a 37 year-old door attendant from New York, shares Valloric’s view that change may not likely occur after next November. “I am concerned that there may not be a change. I am concerned that things may just get worse,” Archie said.
Archie chose not to vote in New York’s presidential primary on February 5. Like Valloric, he does not feel that his voice is acknowledged when he casts his ballot. “I have a voice, but I don’t really think it is going to be heard. At the end of the day, I feel that politics is all just a game,” he said.
While some voters like Valloric and Archie doubt that change will unfurl, many first time voters are heading to the polls in spite of their uncertainties concerning change. “Every election focuses on bringing about change, but at the end of the day you are always going to have conspiracies and individuals influencing people to act in certain ways,” said Jacquelline Leva, a 19 year-old Marymount Manhattan College student from New York.
.JPG)
Photo by P. J. Leva
Jacquelline Leva is a first-
time voter.
Although Leva feels that change may not materialize exactly as presidential candidates have promised, she still decided to make her voice heard by voting for John McCain in New York’s primary. “I think I have a voice. I am part of the United States. Even though I have only one vote, it may be that one vote that a candidate needs to win the election,” Leva said.
Like Leva, Brooke McVey, a 19 year-old Ohio University Eastern student and Hillary Clinton supporter, agrees that it is important that people, especially younger voters, get involved in the political process. “People in my age group need to speak up and do something or our future will be in danger,” McVey said.
_edited.JPG)
Photo byPhyllis McVey
Brooke McVey believes young voters
should get involved in politics.
And, McVey may be correct. According to the Youth Vote Coalition, 18-30 year-olds constitute 24% of all eligible voters. Since approximately one quarter of the nation’s voting power rests in the hands of young adults, the chance to experience change may be determined by whether these individuals decide to vote.
With the general election still nine months away, the role of change in the next president’s agenda will likely remain unclear until November, and beyond.
Decision 2008
Are Young Voters Swayed By Celebrity Endorsements?
By Kat Piracha
The nation’s future is tied to young voters. But are politicians appealing effectively to this group?
As the November election approaches, will candidates come up with more creative methods other than celebrity endorsements to coax young voters to choose them?
Candidates are using a number of well-known people to help bring out the vote. However, many young voters appear not to care much for celebrity endorsements. In interviews with students from Marymount Manhattan College who are assumed to be the age group most affected by celebrity endorsements, none were even aware of the celebrity in the campaigns. After they were informed, they did not feel compelled to sway their vote.
When young voters were asked what about their candidates’ image made them want to vote for them, Terrence Bennett, a 21 year-old Theater Arts Major at Marymount Manhattan College, who voted for Sen. Barrack Obama in the primary, said, “Obama and his wife seemed like a better team. We’ve already seen Clinton’s administration. At first I was for either Clinton of Obama, but it was mainly Obama’s wife who’s image made me choose Obama.”
.jpg)
Terrence Bennett believes Sen. Obama
and his wife Michele make a good team.
According to the Youth Vote Coalition, an online database focusing on young and first time voters, the majority of voters for this election term are 18-30 years old. This sub-group of voters accounts for 64%, of registered voters.
Sen. Obama seems to be creating an image that he is an average guy who has come a long way thanks to the help and belief of the everyday American. Recently, Obama wrote an email to members of his mailing list comparing himself to opponents Sen. John McCain and Sen. Hilary Rodham Clinton. In it, he thanked the more than one million contributors to his campaign and highlighted that he, unlike opponents, “haven't taken a dime from Washington lobbyists or special interest PACs. Our campaign is responsible to no one but the people.”
This appeal seems to be successful. Obama won 11 consecutive primaries and caucuses before losing in Ohio and Texas on March 4.
One possible reason for Sen. Clinton’s lack of success against Obama in appealing to younger voters may be her choice of endorsements. Back in November, Clinton had Barbara Streisand send a letter to all the members in her information email list, a letter compelling them to keep supporting Clinton. Although Streisand is no obscure figure, of all the celebrities to embrace Clinton, a legendary, yet slightly retired star may not be the best person to have on her campaign given the youthful demographics of voters. Scarlet Johanson, a very popular young movie actress, has endorsed Obama, without invitation.
To make the obvious contrast, Streisand is by far a more accomplished singer and film star, who was the first female to direct a film she starred in. she is also an Academy Award winner. Appropriately, like Hillary Clinton, Streisand is a woman who has achieved much. Scarlet Johanson, a 23 year-old actress from New York City, began acting in 1994. She has been nominated for Academy Awards but has yet to win. In January, Johanson rallied for Obama in Cornell.
Anjoli Khatri says she is
drawn to Clinton’s experience.
Anjoli Khatri, a 22 year-old Psychology major said she is going to vote for Clinton if she makes it to November. “I initially compared her to Obama. But his lack of experience is what motivated me to vote for Hilary,” she said. “Hilary has been more specific about her goals as president. Where as Obama has simply used the word change and not specified to what change that would be.”
Marc Zahakos a 20 year-old Psychology major said he is voting for Clinton because he feels, “She carries herself really well, and even during her husband’s last term in office she stepped her game up, which I believe helped her popularity in gearing up for the current campaign.”
By Kat Piracha
The nation’s future is tied to young voters. But are politicians appealing effectively to this group?
As the November election approaches, will candidates come up with more creative methods other than celebrity endorsements to coax young voters to choose them?
Candidates are using a number of well-known people to help bring out the vote. However, many young voters appear not to care much for celebrity endorsements. In interviews with students from Marymount Manhattan College who are assumed to be the age group most affected by celebrity endorsements, none were even aware of the celebrity in the campaigns. After they were informed, they did not feel compelled to sway their vote.
When young voters were asked what about their candidates’ image made them want to vote for them, Terrence Bennett, a 21 year-old Theater Arts Major at Marymount Manhattan College, who voted for Sen. Barrack Obama in the primary, said, “Obama and his wife seemed like a better team. We’ve already seen Clinton’s administration. At first I was for either Clinton of Obama, but it was mainly Obama’s wife who’s image made me choose Obama.”
.jpg)
Terrence Bennett believes Sen. Obama
and his wife Michele make a good team.
According to the Youth Vote Coalition, an online database focusing on young and first time voters, the majority of voters for this election term are 18-30 years old. This sub-group of voters accounts for 64%, of registered voters.
Sen. Obama seems to be creating an image that he is an average guy who has come a long way thanks to the help and belief of the everyday American. Recently, Obama wrote an email to members of his mailing list comparing himself to opponents Sen. John McCain and Sen. Hilary Rodham Clinton. In it, he thanked the more than one million contributors to his campaign and highlighted that he, unlike opponents, “haven't taken a dime from Washington lobbyists or special interest PACs. Our campaign is responsible to no one but the people.”
This appeal seems to be successful. Obama won 11 consecutive primaries and caucuses before losing in Ohio and Texas on March 4.
One possible reason for Sen. Clinton’s lack of success against Obama in appealing to younger voters may be her choice of endorsements. Back in November, Clinton had Barbara Streisand send a letter to all the members in her information email list, a letter compelling them to keep supporting Clinton. Although Streisand is no obscure figure, of all the celebrities to embrace Clinton, a legendary, yet slightly retired star may not be the best person to have on her campaign given the youthful demographics of voters. Scarlet Johanson, a very popular young movie actress, has endorsed Obama, without invitation.
To make the obvious contrast, Streisand is by far a more accomplished singer and film star, who was the first female to direct a film she starred in. she is also an Academy Award winner. Appropriately, like Hillary Clinton, Streisand is a woman who has achieved much. Scarlet Johanson, a 23 year-old actress from New York City, began acting in 1994. She has been nominated for Academy Awards but has yet to win. In January, Johanson rallied for Obama in Cornell.
Anjoli Khatri says she is
drawn to Clinton’s experience.
Anjoli Khatri, a 22 year-old Psychology major said she is going to vote for Clinton if she makes it to November. “I initially compared her to Obama. But his lack of experience is what motivated me to vote for Hilary,” she said. “Hilary has been more specific about her goals as president. Where as Obama has simply used the word change and not specified to what change that would be.”
Marc Zahakos a 20 year-old Psychology major said he is voting for Clinton because he feels, “She carries herself really well, and even during her husband’s last term in office she stepped her game up, which I believe helped her popularity in gearing up for the current campaign.”
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Decision 2008
Hampton Roads Has A Change Of Heart On The Iraq War
By Glenn Burwell
After four years of war, the American public is most certainly ready to end the war in Iraq. No matter where one falls on the political spectrum, political philosophies or ideologies one follows, or what political party one belongs to its easy to see that the current administration doesn’t err on the side of the American public. What was once called the Iraq war is now aptly nicknamed “Bush’s War” by many people.
“I am over it now, at the start of this war I was all for it. Even when I started to realize we were there for the wrong reasons I held my tongue because in this area its never taken lightly when you criticize the war or our soldiers,” said Leah Matthews, 21, a Virginia Beach native and student at Old Dominion University. “I can’t hold my tongue any longer; we can’t hold our tongues any longer. A huge group of those men and women over there are from the area. Those are my friends and family and I want them home. The only way we are going to be able to accomplish that is to have the right people elected,” said Matthews.
We all know the devastation that the war in Iraq had caused abroad, but many people don’t realize the impact that the war has had at home. The American family has been rocked by the war in Iraq. With tens of thousands of troops deployed, many families will be missing aunts, uncles, mother, fathers, sisters, and brothers this holiday season. One of the areas most affected by the war is the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.
Hampton Roads in southeast Virginia comprises seven cities, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Newport News, Hampton, and Portsmouth. Hampton Roads is home to the largest concentration of military bases in the world and the largest population of uniformed men and women in the U.S.
In Hampton Roads, it seems, Patriotism isn’t just a word, but a way of life. The majority of the homes have American flags hanging from their porches. Almost every car is decorated with a yellow ribbon magnet, or a patriotic bumper sticker of sorts. As patriotic as Hampton Roads residents may be, they like many Americans today are furious about how long the war has lasted and are ready to have their family members back home.
“There was a time here in Hampton Roads where it felt like if you were against Bush or the war you were for the terrorists,” said Hampton roads resident Adolfo Gulden, 45. “That seems to be changing now. I see more anti-war rallies and discussion going on than I ever have in the area. The residents of Hampton Roads have separated supporting the war from supporting the troops and that shift in thinking has made all the difference in this red state,” he said.
According to the Washington Post, the president’s approval rating was at an all time high, 90%, in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attack and at the start of operation Enduring Freedom in October 2001. However, Bush’s popularity plummeted to a record low 33% by November 1, 2007. In a survey from September 2007, the World Opinion Polls showed 24% of Americans wanted to withdraw from Iraq immediately and 37% wanted to withdraw within a one-year timetable. The statistics speak loud and clear: America is ready for a new administration.
With the 2008 presidential elections looming in the not so distant future and the primaries even closer, Americans are anxiously waiting to oust the Neocons of yesteryear and welcome a new president, Democrat or Republican.
Matthews, whose 25 year-old sister has been serving in Iraq since 2004, describes her deployment there as playing the waiting game. Matthew’s feels that the current administration is to blame for what she called a long overdue withdrawal. “Virginians did their part in this war withdrawal effort in the last midterm elections by electing (Democrat) Jim Webb for senate,” said Matthews.
Matthews is doing her part to bring troops home by campaigning for Barack Obama, the candidate she thinks has the best plan for troop withdrawal. Matthews has been campaigning for him for the last three months in the hopes that he will be the one to bring her sister and so many of her friend’s home. Matthews attributes her support for Obama to a video she saw online of Obama speaking at an antiwar rally in Chicago.
“When I saw the speech he made I knew he was the candidate for me,” she said. “He said every thing that I was feeling about this war, but I could never articulate.” Matthews says she remembers an excerpt from the speech and she keeps Obama’s words with her when the outspoken warmongers in the area are combative. Matthews vehemently recites the excerpt that won Obama her support, “I don't oppose all wars. And, I know that in this crowd today, there is no shortage of patriots, or of patriotism. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war.”
Gulden said he felt that no matter who was chosen to take over the presidency next year it would have to be someone who was against the war. A retired naval officer and high school teacher, Gulden hopes young people in the area will help make a change. “I really hope young people take a look at what is going on in the White House and realize that things need fixing and then realize they can fix things by voting. That is our only hope for ending this thing - seriously.”
By Glenn Burwell
After four years of war, the American public is most certainly ready to end the war in Iraq. No matter where one falls on the political spectrum, political philosophies or ideologies one follows, or what political party one belongs to its easy to see that the current administration doesn’t err on the side of the American public. What was once called the Iraq war is now aptly nicknamed “Bush’s War” by many people.
“I am over it now, at the start of this war I was all for it. Even when I started to realize we were there for the wrong reasons I held my tongue because in this area its never taken lightly when you criticize the war or our soldiers,” said Leah Matthews, 21, a Virginia Beach native and student at Old Dominion University. “I can’t hold my tongue any longer; we can’t hold our tongues any longer. A huge group of those men and women over there are from the area. Those are my friends and family and I want them home. The only way we are going to be able to accomplish that is to have the right people elected,” said Matthews.
We all know the devastation that the war in Iraq had caused abroad, but many people don’t realize the impact that the war has had at home. The American family has been rocked by the war in Iraq. With tens of thousands of troops deployed, many families will be missing aunts, uncles, mother, fathers, sisters, and brothers this holiday season. One of the areas most affected by the war is the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.
Hampton Roads in southeast Virginia comprises seven cities, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Newport News, Hampton, and Portsmouth. Hampton Roads is home to the largest concentration of military bases in the world and the largest population of uniformed men and women in the U.S.
In Hampton Roads, it seems, Patriotism isn’t just a word, but a way of life. The majority of the homes have American flags hanging from their porches. Almost every car is decorated with a yellow ribbon magnet, or a patriotic bumper sticker of sorts. As patriotic as Hampton Roads residents may be, they like many Americans today are furious about how long the war has lasted and are ready to have their family members back home.
“There was a time here in Hampton Roads where it felt like if you were against Bush or the war you were for the terrorists,” said Hampton roads resident Adolfo Gulden, 45. “That seems to be changing now. I see more anti-war rallies and discussion going on than I ever have in the area. The residents of Hampton Roads have separated supporting the war from supporting the troops and that shift in thinking has made all the difference in this red state,” he said.
According to the Washington Post, the president’s approval rating was at an all time high, 90%, in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attack and at the start of operation Enduring Freedom in October 2001. However, Bush’s popularity plummeted to a record low 33% by November 1, 2007. In a survey from September 2007, the World Opinion Polls showed 24% of Americans wanted to withdraw from Iraq immediately and 37% wanted to withdraw within a one-year timetable. The statistics speak loud and clear: America is ready for a new administration.
With the 2008 presidential elections looming in the not so distant future and the primaries even closer, Americans are anxiously waiting to oust the Neocons of yesteryear and welcome a new president, Democrat or Republican.
Matthews, whose 25 year-old sister has been serving in Iraq since 2004, describes her deployment there as playing the waiting game. Matthew’s feels that the current administration is to blame for what she called a long overdue withdrawal. “Virginians did their part in this war withdrawal effort in the last midterm elections by electing (Democrat) Jim Webb for senate,” said Matthews.
Matthews is doing her part to bring troops home by campaigning for Barack Obama, the candidate she thinks has the best plan for troop withdrawal. Matthews has been campaigning for him for the last three months in the hopes that he will be the one to bring her sister and so many of her friend’s home. Matthews attributes her support for Obama to a video she saw online of Obama speaking at an antiwar rally in Chicago.
“When I saw the speech he made I knew he was the candidate for me,” she said. “He said every thing that I was feeling about this war, but I could never articulate.” Matthews says she remembers an excerpt from the speech and she keeps Obama’s words with her when the outspoken warmongers in the area are combative. Matthews vehemently recites the excerpt that won Obama her support, “I don't oppose all wars. And, I know that in this crowd today, there is no shortage of patriots, or of patriotism. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war.”
Gulden said he felt that no matter who was chosen to take over the presidency next year it would have to be someone who was against the war. A retired naval officer and high school teacher, Gulden hopes young people in the area will help make a change. “I really hope young people take a look at what is going on in the White House and realize that things need fixing and then realize they can fix things by voting. That is our only hope for ending this thing - seriously.”
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