Students discuss the issues getting them to the polls
Posted on November 15, 2007
What candidates and issues are young voters concerned about?
A consistent issue is the war in Iraq, although student political leaders have differing opinions on whether or not it will be a deciding factor in the 2008 election.
“The war on terror is in the back of everyone’s mind,” Mike Sargent, the first vice chair of the JMU College Republicans, said. “If Giuliani does win the nomination I would be surprised if Democrats ever wanted to talk about the war on terror. Because of 9/11, you can’t attack Giuliani.”
Kevin Bolling, the chair of Dukes for Romney, said that the declining action in Iraq will eventually benefit Republicans.
“I’m not sure how it will factor, but I have noticed that in newscasts they’ve said that deaths are going down and are at the lowest level,” Bolling said. “I think that by next November, it might be an issue, things might settle down and Bush is bringing the troops out. If a year from now, the war is looking good and taxes are going down, it will benefit Republicans.”
While both Republicans interviewed seemed confident that the war in Iraq will not be a defining issue, two student political leaders who identify as Democrats felt differently.
“I think the war in Iraq will be an issue – what are we going to do, how are we going to get out?” Mary White, president of the JMU College Democrats, said. “It’s interesting because it affects everything, including the economy and the rising gas prices.”
Yvonne Tinsley, former chapter director of Students for Barack Obama, feels as if the opposing party is using the war incorrectly.
“As far as Republican candidates – there is no deadline or any plans to withdraw troops from Iraq,” Tinsley said. “For other candidates their priorities are not in withdrawing troops but maintaining fear in the war on terror and sustaining reasons for the war.”
When asked about their top three campaign issues, only one student leader focused on education.
“Education is a big issue to me as a student,” Tinsley said. “Obama wants to provide more money to public institutions where students can’t afford to attend college.”
Common to all the student leaders was the discussion of health care.
“Someone who is willing to go against conventions for health care and not play the game of politics,” Tinsley said. “It’s not about being a conflict, but about a resolution, something to solve our national problem.”
Sargent agreed, citing the different health care plans that several of the candidates have offered up to the public.
“Health care is a big issue, Clinton has a plan and Romney has a counter offer,” Sargent said.
Despite the issues, most of the student political leaders were more eager to talk about the candidates.
“They [Republicans] are shaped by their parties and not by their issues,” Tinsley said. “I want someone who can represent me and think of the greater good.”
Sargent was eager to analyze the behavior of the candidates.
“We have Mitt who is the golden boy – no bad side, married to the same wife for years, never been divorced, doesn’t drink or smoke - he’s complete and utter perfection,” Sargent said. “Giuliani has been divorced and remarried twice and is an ill-practicing Catholic – those are his glaring weaknesses.”
Although Sargent supports the Republican Party, he could not deny the magnetism that he feels Barack Obama presents to the public.
“As a black man, he is bulletproof, because you cannot use negative politics against him,” Sargent said. “You can’t win a feel good politics game with that guy because he’s too good of a public speaker and has been campaigning on different types of politics for the better part of a year.”
Bolling bases his faith in Romney due to the candidate’s experience as a successful public servant and problem-solving CEO.
“In Massachusetts Romney balanced the budget without raising taxes, cut spending, provided universal healthcare and solved other problems while working with a hostile legislature,” Bolling said. “I also think having experience in the private sector as a CEO is better than time in legislature – it helps build executive management skills.”
White encouraged students not to discount candidates that aren’t receiving intense media hype.
“I think Edwards has a good shot at it [the nomination],” White said. “He’s doing pretty well in Iowa and I think it’ll be interesting to see how he does. Obama has a lot of hype, but does he really have what it takes to be president because he’s so young and hasn’t had much experience.”
In the end, Bolling revealed that he bases his opinions on the abilities of the candidate.
“Personally, it’s not about how they look at the issues,” Bolling said. “It’s someone who can bring both parties together and get the job done.”
This article is the first in a four part series that will closely examine how members of the JMU community feel about the issues raised in the upcoming presidential election. Check back in the middle of January for the next installment of the series.
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