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Johnson Center Full for VP Debate Watch

The Johnson Center Atrium was full Thursday night as students closely watched the live vice-presidential debate. Senator Joe Biden of Delaware and Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska crossed swords on issues such as the economy, international affairs, the role of the vice president and their readiness to lead.

Going into the debate, both candidates needed to overcome negative public perceptions. The bar had been set low for Palin due to recent interview gaffs and Biden needed to overcome an image of being condescending and rash.

“I expected Palin to make an a** of herself and she delivered,” sophomore Nicole MacCracken said.

Josh St. Louis, the second vice-chair of the College Republicans, agreed that Palin’s abilities had been in question. “I was really nervous coming into this debate especially because of the recent ABC, CBS interviews and the fact that Joe Biden is a beast.” But immediately after closing statements were made, St. Louis said, “I saw two things. . .Vice President Palin and Citizen Biden.”

During the debate, the crowed of almost 200, commented constantly on the debating politicians, cheering and clapping when agreeable comments where made. “I’m definitely reassured that John McCain made the right decision in picking her. You can tell by her closing remarks where she quoted Ronald Reagan, she’s ready to lead,” said freshman Vinny Prinzivalli.

Whether students liked or disliked Palin, after the debate most discussions revolved around her. “Honestly, I had a hard time focusing on [Biden] anytime [Palin] was on the screen,” said Tierney Kaine, a senior English major and Mason Votes official Blogger.

This was the first and only vice-presidential debate. The next presidential debate will be next Tuesday, Oct. 7.

VP Debate Watch Tonight

Mason Hosts Local Congressional Candidates for Health Forum

Virginia Congressional hopefuls gathered in Harris Theatre to deliver their proposals about healthcare and to respond to specific policy questions from panel members on Wednesday night.

The candidates were each given fifteen minutes to present how they would improve healthcare in Virginia and in the nation. Speeches were followed by five minutes questions formulated by healthcare experts.

The night began with a brief address by university President Alan Merten, about George Mason University’s community involvement and the importance of the work conducted by Health and Human Services.

Tim Henderson, active Deputy Director for the Center For Health Policy Research and Ethics, led the panel asking the delegates questions on health policy. He shared the results of a survey by Kaiser Family Foundation to set the mood for the forum. According to the survey, paying for healthcare remains a problem for one in four Americans.

Chairman Gerry Connolly of the Fairfax Board of Supervisors was the first to speak. The Democratic congressional hopeful for the 11^th District led off by telling an anecdote from his days as Chairman. He received a call from a woman, who said, ”I have a dead deer in my front lawn What are you going to do about it?” When he asked, ”Well, have you thought about calling animal control?,” she said. ”No, I didn’t want to bother them this early on a Sunday morning.” This story, he said, illustrates the accessibility of local politics that is lost on the federal level.

Connolly went on to address the issue of healthcare. We have to do something to make healthcare accessible and affordable to all Americans, Connolly claimed, but we cannot do that until concerns can be heard by legislators. He said that he could take that message to the federal level.

He also said that health insurance companies should not be able to cherry pick and exclude people based upon pre-existing health conditions.

“Insurance companies need a risk pool, and need to spread the risk across the board,” Connolly said. “I believe that there is a lot that can be done, I believe there is a lot that has to be done…We need to move to an electronic medical record system…the only caveat is that we need to be careful when considering rural healthcare systems and mandating an electronic medical record system because they have limited resources.”

Because of the event’s late start, Keith Fimian, the Republican congressional hopeful for the 11^th District, was only able to speak briefly before leaving for another event. He stated that patients should be in charge of their healthcare and families should have refundable tax credits to purchase health insurance but that he would make sure that every dime he spent if elected would be spent as efficiently as possible.

He also stressed that there is an urgent need to reform malpractice liability and that the healthcare system should convert to an electronic medical record system. A tax credit should be granted to health care providers to help relieve IT expenses when converting.

Fimian did not mince words when it came to the fiscal reality currently facing America, saying that the tumult on Wall Street came from foreign creditors calling on their debt and that days of free credit were over. He said it was crucial to recognize the economic reality of the situation.

Virginia Delegate Mark Sickles, of the 43rd District, spoke on behalf of Democratic Congressman Jim Moran, of the 8th District. Sickles said that Moran is passionate about expanding health care for uninsured and underinsured, and supports the statewide healthcare plan of Massachusetts.

Sickles then concentrated on Senator John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) healthcare plan. Sickles said the plan would take away the deduction for providing health insurance given to employers and give a private tax credit of up to $5,000 for a family of four. However, Sickles said, if a family is not making enough money to pay $5,000 in taxes, it will not receive the credit.

Sickles stressed that Moran believes preventative healthcare would be the most efficient solution to growing costs and inefficiency. However, until people have guaranteed coverage and did not have to rely on the Emergency Room as a last resort, Moran does not think there would be much improvement.

The health forum was hosted by The Center for Health Policy Research and Ethics and The Department of Health Administration and Policy.

Instructor Cultivates Patriot Pride Among Youth Voters

By Maria Carabelli – UPI

During the 2004 presidential election, only 47 percent of youth ages 18-24 voted and only 66 percent of those aged 25 or older took to the polls, according to The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement Web site. These statistics concern Jason Warren, communication instructor at George Mason University, Fairfax, Va., who at 26 years old is a young voter himself. With 30,000 students the university is home to a plethora of young voters, many of whom will have the opportunity to vote for the first time in November.

Warren, who was recently recognized as Outstanding New Coach of the Year by the American Forensics Association, teaches students the value of their voice and the ethical obligations of their First Amendment right to free speech. This semester as the presidential campaigns heat up, his free speech and ethics class has no shortage of material to discuss.

As a student in George Mason’s doctoral program in communication, Warren understands there are many life events that might prevent a person from physically going to vote but he also says there is a false ideology that young votes do not make an impact. “Young voters feel they have no personal stake and they feel their vote doesn’t make a difference,” Warren said. He also believes that young voters are less educated about the election and he uses his position as an educator to help his students understand the importance of their vote.

Yet, he can only do so much. The candidates, he asserts, need to find ways to engage young voters and make them feel included in the democratic process. In Warren’s eyes, Democratic Party nominee Barack Obama, has an edge over his Republican Party opponent John McCain. U.S. Sen. Obama, according to Warren, put the spotlight on young voters by working to increase the number of registered young voters and by talking to them about issues that are important to them, such as the economy, education, foreign relations and the War on Terror.

U.S. Sen. McCain, however, has a slightly more uphill battle as his party must be able to convince a skeptical audience that they are a party of change, said Warren. Regardless of either candidate’s current position with young voters, the questions remain: Will young people voice their opinions? Will young people vote in November, or will they continue to give into the idea that they are a powerless demographic?

If Warren has anything to say about it, young people will vote. His students who stand with him in line at the polls will be those who understand the power of free speech, ethics and the right to vote.

From: The Voice of the Young Voter
Published: Sept. 18, 2008 at 5:36 PM

Student’s Semester Abroad Ignites Desire to Vote

by Allison Henry – UPI

George Mason University senior, Jillian Young, spent most of her life avoiding politics, despite her families’ strong conservative roots. “Growing up, I never had any interest in politics or presidential elections,” said Young. However, at age 21, her views changed after spending a semester abroad.

In 2007, Young decided to take advantage of George Mason’s study aboard program and pursued her dream of studying in London. While there she was surprised by some Europeans’ anti-American attitudes. On several occasions, strangers approached her and outwardly expressed their frustrations with President Bush and the war in Iraq.

“Studying in London sparked my interest in American politics and made me realize the importance of my own voting responsibility,” she said. “I experienced firsthand the magnitude of the American government’s impact globally on both political and social levels.” While abroad, Young spent time expanding her knowledge of American politics by reading online news reports and joining political social networking groups.

Reflecting on her experience in London, Young remarked, “Being an American student abroad ignited my own sense of national pride.” Young’s experience abroad inspired her to vote in the upcoming 2008 elections. Although she is undecided on her candidate she plans to put political parties aside and vote for the candidate who will best represent America’s interests nationally and internationally.

She identifies with U.S. Sen. Barack Obama’s statement, “The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats, Republicans, or Independents, but they have fought together, and bled together, and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a red America or a blue America; they have served the United States of America.”

Her older brother recently returned from serving his fourth tour of duty in Iraq. “It pains me to think that my brother has risked his life to protect and serve our county while others fight to discredit the war,” she said. “Regardless of one’s political views, I believe it is vital for American’s to unite in supporting the millions of American’s serving our nation.”

Young says she would like to see the war come to an end, however; not at the expense of her brother’s safety or those he served with overseas. “The last thing I want is to see is the look on my parent’s faces if he is sent back to Iraq,” she said. Young hopes the next elected president will restore America’s pride and global image.

Currently, Young is focused on completing her final year of college and hopes to move back to London for graduate school. Young said she is blessed to study at Mason, because it allows her to interact with other international students and gain a greater global understanding. She hopes by moving abroad she can help break down anti-American stereotypes and represent the America her brother has fought so hard to uphold.

From: The Voice of Young Voters

Mason Helps Students Foster Political Interest

UPI: By Katie Zohorsky, Voice of Young Voters

Many adults have a sense that young people don’t care about politics or that they don’t believe voting is important. Two young women at George Mason University have a very deep passion for politics and what they believe is right for America. Though these women have drastically different views, they are both actively participating in this election process.

Valerie Bachelor, 23, is a 2007 George Mason graduate, and now she is involved in a completely different scene. “My classes at Mason gave me the historical and theoretical foundation I needed to put my work in politics into perspective,” Bachelor said. “Before college all I thought was that the Democratic Party was right and the Republican Party was wrong. As a college student, I discovered the pros and cons of both. This allowed me to solidify my Democratic beliefs and guide my career in politics.”

Shannen Cleveland, 19, a sophomore at George Mason, came to college with her political beliefs already firmly in place. “I have been a Republican, or had Republican ideals for as long as I can remember because that was the way I was brought up, but I started to identify strongly with the Republican Party about four years ago,” said Cleveland. “That’s also when I began researching candidates for elections.”

While Cleveland researched Republican beliefs and candidates on her own, Bachelor opted to get involved on campus. “The political activities I took part in, such as being on the executive board of the GMU College Democrats and working on a gubernatorial race in 2005, have shaped the networks I am a part of as a professional in D.C.,” said Bachelor.

Bachelor’s passion for politics recently took her to Denver for the Democratic National Convention. She attended as part of the Women’s Information Network, a networking organization for progressive, pro-choice women. “I knew I would have many more opportunities to be involved if I went to Denver. So I took a chance and booked my flight,” she said.

Cleveland attended the McCain-Palin rally on Sept. 8 in Fairfax, Va. “I skipped class to go to this rally because I thought that it was very important to be there,” she said. “After all, it’s history!

“The rally itself was an amazing experience,” she said excitedly. “First, they had a couple speakers tell the audience that they were Democrats, but because of McCain’s plans for when he’s in office, they are now going to vote for a Republican candidate in this election.” When Sen. John McCain and Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin took the stage, she said, their speeches were just shortened versions of the speeches they gave at the Republican National Convention. “I thought that they did an excellent job at boosting the audiences’ confidence in the Republican candidates even more than it already was.”

Bachelor’s trip to Denver also made a big impact on her. As a former Hillary Clinton supporter, Bachelor is now supportive of Barack Obama. “I was really mesmerized by his speech,” she said. “I really think I needed to be there to realize that Obama is the guy.”

Bachelor also explained that the convention made her feel even more strongly that the country is ready for change. “We need a leader that understands how hard it is for working families these days,” she said. “He represents the change that is brewing in America as a whole whether you talk about healthcare, the economy, the environment or foreign policy. America needs a change after eight years of President Bush’s policies.”

While Bachelor seems to be mainly concerned with the economy, Cleveland has a different concern. “I believe that this election is extremely important with the country in war,” Cleveland said. “We are electing into office a new commander in chief who is ultimately responsible for making decisions that could be good or detrimental to this country.

“I am very glad I was able to see them speak, and the rally was very exciting to me,” Cleveland concluded. “I cannot wait for the election coming up in November!”

“For the first time ever in American political history a female and a minority have come out on top during the primary of a major political party,” said Bachelor. “This election has already changed American history.”

From: The Voice of Young Voters

Student Leaders at George Mason Disagree About Election

By Bridget Wagner, UPI

The newly elected members of George Mason University’s executive branch both agree that change is needed in the White House, but they disagree on what changes.

Student Body President Zack Golden of Virginia Beach, Va., and Vice President Claire Forman of Bowling Green, Ky., were elected in the spring of 2008 on the same ticket, yet they have very different opinions about the election. Both have made their decisions on who to vote for.

Golden will vote for Barack Obama because he is ready for change and he likes what the U.S. senator has to offer.

Forman is disappointed with the choices that were presented on both sides. She has decided to vote for Bob Barr, who is the Libertarian Party candidate.

Golden and Forman are among young voters who may have a large impact on the election. According to CNN exit polls, the number of voters ages 18 to 29 who voted in the 2008 presidential primaries and caucuses increased in every state. Altogether, turnout increased 109 percent compared with previous elections.

Golden, a senior at George Mason, is majoring in government and international affairs. “We will see more people our age voting,” he said. “It has been a while since we have seen two candidates in their 40s. We can relate to them better.”

Forman, also a senior who is majoring in global affairs and Latin studies, believes that the presidential nominees are lacking. “Individuals have come out of the woodwork to give better options. It is not enough to change the course the country is on. (It is) closer, but not quite there.”

Although Forman is unhappy with the candidates, Golden has an idea of what an ideal president should be. “Candidates have to be intellectual and have courage to ask questions (and) to challenge assumptions. They need to be able rely on their staff to have critical thinking abilities to make informed decisions,” he said.

The most critical issue of the upcoming election for Forman is American foreign policy. “The candidates consider foreign policy to be the situation in Iraq and nothing more,” Forman said. “Global opinion has been damaged in the last eight years. The next four years should be about damage control,” stated Forman. “The candidates are making considerable effort, but it is not enough.”

The most important issue for Golden is education. He says college should be more affordable, the loan process should be simplified, and more subsidized loans should be added. But these issues are not high on the priority list for candidates.

“The candidates do not discuss higher education, they discuss the bread-and-butter topics such as the war and gas prices,” Golden said.

With six weeks left until the election, there is sure to be more disagreement by the candidates as they try to gain control of the White House.

Mason Votes Shows Film about Abortion

1:30 pm
Wednesday, October 1

Johnson Center, Cinema

Abortion has been a deeply divisive national issue since the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, pitting pro-life against pro-choice citizens. Mason Votes is proud to present Lake of Fire, a definitive documentary covering both sides of the abortion issue. The movie will be shown in the Johnson Center Cinema on Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 1:30 p.m.

Tony Kaye directed this film and spent fifteen years gathering information, shooting interviews, and compiling footage for Lake of Fire. He was the director of other politically charged films, such as American History X. A warning to viewers, there are multiple graphic scenes in the film.

A History of Virginia in Votes

By Student Media Technology Manager Aram Zucker-Scharff

Virginia, as one of the original 13 colonies, has had a long history when it comes to presidential elections.

At its peak, 1792, Virginia controlled 15.9 percent of the nation’s total electoral votes. With a count of 25 electoral votes, Virginia had more than any other single state.

From the formation of the modern Democratic Party in 1828 until 1856, Virginia’s declining number of electoral votes went blue. Then in 1860, Virginia voted for John Bell of the Constitutional Union party. That would be the last time the state would vote for a US president until 1872. During that time, the commonwealth was embroiled in the Civil War.

After the war, the race was between Ulysses S. Grant, general, and Horace Greeley, editor of the New York Tribune. In 1872, Virginia, now with 11 electoral votes, down from a Pre-Civil War count of 15, fell to Grant, a Republican, who solidly beat out Greeley’s self-formed Liberal Republican Party.

For the next 13 elections, Virginia was once again a Democratic mainstay. However, in 1928, the Republican candidate from California, Herbert Hoover, won Virginia along with 58.2 percent of the popular vote. The state would fall from 12 to 11 electoral votes. It would be another 24 years before Virginia voted Republican again.

In 1952, Virginia, now back at 12 electoral votes, hitched itself to a winner, America’s star general Dwight “Ike” Eisenhower, a Republican. For the next 56 years, except for a flirtation that helped Democrat Lyndon “LBJ” Johnson win the 1964 election, Virginia fell solidly in the corner of the Republican Party.

Since 1992, Virginia has had 13 electoral votes, and in 7 out of the last 10 elections Virginia has been on the winning side.

In the 2004 presidential election, 54 percent of Virginia voted Republican, for George W. Bush. However, this election, it seems that nothing is certain. Three out of the four major polls list Barack Obama ahead in Virginia, but none by more then 5 percentage points, with the greatest estimate of Obama’s lead being 50 percent, in a Sept. 29th poll. NBC’s latest poll, from Sept. 25th, gives a 3 point lead to John McCain and none of the polls are definitive, with a significant enough percentage of swing voters to move the state to McCain’s column in all but the two Rasmussen polls.

This year may mark the end of a trend of almost a half-century of a red Virginia, but at this point, nothing is certain. As the race continues, one thing is sure, Virginia’s status as a battleground state in this election makes it a valuable prize for either side, be sure to expect plenty of courting.

How Can We Talk Football at a Time Like This?

The American Economy is officially in the toilet.

And now, finally, it appears that a decent amount of people have begun to realize that Sarah Palin is completely and utterly inept — and if you read the last two paragraphs of Jonathan Martin’s blog on the Politico, she may be more inept than some of us originally thought.

Jack Cafferty, CNN’s own Maverick, has even asked “Should McCain ask Sarah Palin to step aside?”

Oh, and to make McCain’s life easier, most people — right or wrong — are blaming the Bush White House and the Republican party for the economy’s woes. On the recent vote, Noah Millman said there were lots of reasons to dislike the bill in question, but that “The GOP alternative proposal was borderline illiterate.”

Ross Douthat has a number of predictions based on the current economic climate (mostly bad for the Republicans), including that “a politician running on a Ron Paul-style economic platform does very, very well in the GOP primaries of 2012.”

Is there anything to be happy about?

Yes. Thursday’s Vice Presidential Debate. Hopefully it will be as painful as it can be with two politicians prone to say all the wrong things. Palin may actually be in a position of strength seeing as many people expect absolutely nothing from her. I’ll still be praying for one more horrid, epic gaffe from Sarah Palin. That will make my year.

And, of course, this.