The Presidential Election and You

By Matt Shaw, Cristal Perriello, Christina Collins, Tine Roycroft, Sasha Fastovskiy, Alex Kantarelis, Rachel Bryson-Brockmann

It has arrived ~ the Presidential Election of 2008. On November 4, Americans will choose between the final two candidates for U.S. Presidency: Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain. So how are college campuses preparing for voting day? By offering a variety of special events, guest speakers, and other activities that will encourage young people to vote. Check out what’s happening on some of Worcester County’s campuses:

COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSS

From the podium to the classroom, College of the Holy Cross students, faculty and staff will play a major role in this pivotal election year.

Donald Brand, associate professor of political science, teaches a class called The Presidency. It’s so popular this semester, Brand has turned away more students then he has let in. “The class is heavily discussion-based and I try to give students an understanding of the historical and institutional context for the current election,” says Brand. “We study the evolution of the selection process from the American Founding to the contemporary period and we look at issues like presidential debates, campaign ads, and the Electoral College.”

The College Democrats are doing everything they can to get the campus involved. “It is crucial for college students to vote because we are the next generation responsible for running the country,” says Alicia Molt ’09, co-chair of the Holy Cross Democrats. “College students are an especially important voting group because we generally have the time and energy for activism and to stand behind the issues that affect our lives.”

Molt interned in Senator Obama’s office in Washington, D.C. last fall and has been able to maintain some connections in terms of volunteering with the campaign. She and co-chair Claire Rheaume ’09 will be leading a bunch of events including a lecture on campus by Congressmen McGovern to talk about youth voting and how important it is to get involved with the campaigns. They will also be holding signs up on College Street, phone banking with Congressman McGovern, driving voters to the polls, canvassing in N.H., co-sponsoring (with the College Republicans) an election night party with commentary from political science professors, and they even have their victory party planned.

“It is important not only to encourage young people to vote, but to make sure they are aware of and informed on the issues at hand,” says Tricia Brown ’10, co-chair of the College Republicans. Brown and co-chair Jessica Signor ’09 will lead the Republican campaign on campus.

“With the approaching election, we will be working to make sure that students are informed about both candidates and important issues by using flyers, posters, debate screenings and discussions,” says Brown. “We want students to voice their opinions and remember that even though they are away at college they can still vote using absentee ballots.”

Their main events include Freedom Week, which will take place in November and have students collecting supplies and monetary donations and then assembling care packages to send to troops stationed in Iraq; also, they are co-sponsoring a debate with the College Democrats and a result viewing party the night of the election.

The Student Government Association (SGA) at Holy Cross is working closely with the College Democrats, Republicans and the political science department as well as campus media to makes sure all bases are covered this election season. The SGA’s main goal is to register a record number of Holy Cross students to vote this year and challenge the political climate of Mount Saint James.

For more information visit holycross.edu.

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

The Student Government Association at MCPHS’s Worcester campus has been making it a priority to educate students about the election. Their efforts include a comparison of McCain and Obama’s positions on health care policies, as well as the distribution of registration sheets in order to encourage students to vote. “We have already begun these things,” says Shuli Xu, Assistant Dean of Students, “but much more is going to happen. Many student clubs and organizations are planning to do campaigns to further encourage people to register to vote.” Although MCPHS is still developing these campaigns, updates and more information are available by contacting Shuli Xu at 508-373-5640.

WORCESTER STATE COLLEGE

Not unlike at other schools, the excitement over the upcoming election stretches from the classrooms to the dining halls at Worcester State College. With the youngest voting demographic to date, college campuses are being hit especially hard for political involvement ~ not that anyone seems to mind. “This is such a highly publicized election, and such a young voting year,” says P.R. Chair of the Student Senate Lindsay Durell. “Everything is just about getting people ready.”

This time around, “ready” goes hand-in-hand with revolutionizing the way young America looks at politics. “This is it. The 2008 election is really a sign of the times. No matter the winner, history will be made. Never before have there been such intriguing dynamics,” said junior Megan Montgomery. “We’re the ones that are truly going to be affected by whatever comes up the next 8 years.” WSC is asking students to raise their own voices ~ and they are, as is evident in the hundreds of Post It notes scattered on “What Are Your Issues?” banners all over campus. There’s also a Rock The Vote concert at the college in partnership with WAAF to sponsor voter registration.

“We’re planning on doing mock elections, as well. We have cardboard cutouts of the candidates; we want to know what everyone thinks; everyone is just constantly talking,” said Durell. “We’re also very excited that we get to hold voter registration here for people who might not otherwise get the chance.” www.worcester.edu

NICHOLS COLLEGE

From October 20 to November 4, Nichols College is hosting the “Cross Campus Critical Issues Program: Focus on the Presidency and Leadership.” The opening event promises to draw the crowds: Robin Leeds, a Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellow and CEO of Winning Strategies in D.C., will be giving the Keynote Address, “Winning Strategies, Direct from the Campaign Trail.” Ms. Leeds spent several weeks preparing for and participating in the Democratic National Convention in Denver this past August. “She has a behind-the-scenes look at Obama’s campaign for President,” says Kathy Sandstrom of the Fischer Institute. “It is definitely going to be a popular event.” Ms. Leeds’s address, which is free to the public, will take place on Monday, October 22 at 7:00 pm in Davis Hall, room 205/207. Other events include a faculty debate in October (date TBA) and the “Election Night Bash” for students on November 4. To learn more, visit the Cultural Events Calendar at nichols.edu/highschool/collegelife.

ASSUMPTION COLLEGE

Assumption College is happily focusing a significant amount of energy on informing its students and encouraging them to take an active part in the upcoming historical election. No agendas here – just enthusiasm and education that are making the political spirit come alive on this campus.

Carleen Roy-Butler of Assumption’s Public Affairs department is excited by the activities that are currently in the planning stages.

“We have a committee of people who are working specifically in this area,” Roy-Butler said in a recent interview, “and one thing we are going to do is we are going to get the students registered to vote or assist them in the process of submitting absentee votes.

“There are some students who are registered to vote,” Roy-Butler noted, “but they don’t know the process of going about getting an absentee ballot. Some require applications, some require going online.”

The committee, which will consist of a number of people from various administrative departments across Assumption and at least ten student leaders who will volunteer their time and effort, will leap into action by first setting up an information booth. There, students can casually stop by and in an informal and comfortable manner learn the finer points of how to register to vote and make democracy work for them. A good amount of preparation for the booth is required, however.

“A group of students will be doing research on absentee ballots for the booth ahead of time. The rules are different in every state,” Roy-Butler explained. “If a student from Connecticut comes up, we will be ready to help him or her because we will have the research right there.”

The voter registration is the first effort of the college, but the red, white and blue adventure does not end there. According to Roy-Butler, Assumption wants to ensure that as many students as possible are familiar with the voting process. Then Assumption will hold a meeting of the minds.

“We’re going to have a main event where some of the professors will discuss the issues that make this election so complex,” Roy-Butler said.

The professors will not necessarily discuss how each candidate feels about any given issue. Rather, they will stick to the issues themselves and the ramifications they may have on the world. At the end of the presentations, the professors will be on hand to direct students to appropriate resources where they themselves can discover which candidate supports what cause.

Although not all Assumption students may consider themselves to be “in-the-know” when it comes to the 2008 election, Roy-Butler knows for certain that a number of undergrads are quite politically savvy. And for those of us who might be a little behind? Assumption College is going to great lengths to keep the youth informed and involved. www.assumption.edu

FITCHBURG STATE COLLEGE

Fitchburg State College shows the funny side of the election on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m., when “The Complete History of America (abridged) – Special Election Edition!” comes to Weston Auditorium. Tickets to the show, to be performed by the Reduced Shakespeare Company, are $25 for the general public and are available online at www.fsc.edu/cultural. Although dates have yet to be determined, Fitchburg State College will also be participating in the State School Voter Registration Contest. It will be one of ten schools to participate, says Hank Parkinson, Director of Student Development. But the college will not stop there. “We will be implementing a Presidential Election Ad Hoc Committee,” says Parkinson.

The committee will be comprised of members of the Student Government Association, the Political Science department, and Model UN. “Our main goal,” Parkinson explains, “is to educate students on the presidential election, as well as to encourage them to register to vote and, obviously, to vote.” For updates and more information, contact Hank Parkinson at 978-665-3160.

WPI

A school known more for Engineering than Political Science, WPI is still doing its part to keep its students informed about the upcoming election. With the campus so immersed in beginning the academic year, there are not yet many events scheduled, but the school’s paper The Towers is keeping everyone up to date with weekly articles highlighting all the news about the candidates and the election ~ including opinion pieces and approval polls. www.wpi.edu

CLARK UNIVERSITY

Clark University prides itself on having politically active and aware students, and it is certainly living up to that reputation during this crucial time in the 2008 Presidential Election.

The Clark Democrats, the major Democratic student club at Clark, is very busy this time of the year. “This September and October are the most important months for our club,” says Erin Callison, the Vice President of the club and a sophomore at Clark. “This is the time that we really have to get the word out ~ encouraging students to register and vote, as well as getting off campus and spreading the word to surrounding communities.” For the entirety of September and October, the Clark Democrats are setting up tables in Clark’s University Center, where students can easily register to vote or pick up absentee ballots. Clark Democrats also hold “Issue Nights,” where groups of students meet to debate about political issues, and are planning an “Election Bash” for November 4 that Callison says will “rival the Super Bowl.”

But the Clark Democrats are more interested in spreading the word off the Clark campus. “Clark, being such a liberal campus, doesn’t need us as much as the surrounding area does,” says Callison. (Clark is ranked by Princeton Review as the seventh “Most Liberal” U.S. college.) Every Saturday, starting September 27 until the election, a group of Clark students will travel to New Hampshire to canvas for the Obama campaign; they’ll go door to door, phone bank, and do whatever tasks the Obama campaign assigns them. (They have chosen New Hampshire because it is the closest ‘swing state.’)

Clark has been politically active in the past; they hosted Hilary Clinton back in February 2008 for a pre-Super Tuesday campaign rally. She spoke to an enthusiastic crowd of about 3,500, and her visit garnered tremendous media attention. Her daughter Chelsea also spoke at Clark in January, as did Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick in February.

But what about the Republican voice at Clark? “Once we find one, then we’ll let you know,” says Callison. www.clarku.edu

How The Big Three Are Taking On The Big Election
By Jennie Fitzgerald

In case you’ve been living under a rock, The Big 3 ~ MySpace, Facebook, and YouTube ~ have basically taken over this whole internet thing. And they’re not just for the identity searching, cybersocial-life-must-haves either; they’re playing a significant role in this year’s presidential election. Why? Because these sites offer an outlet for anyone to say anything, and in this great nation, those limits are pushed…often over the line.

So, let’s start with MySpace ~ you know, the site credited with the rise of Tila Tequila and aspiring singers-actors alike? Well, its creator, Tom, is actually a pretty intelligent, socially conscious individual. MySpace partnered up with NBC news and covers every aspect of the election. The “MySpace Impact” area focuses on political events ~ from the conventions to registering to vote to activist organizations like Stand Up To Cancer. Impact has its own forums where people discuss popular questions and also a video section dedicated to important topics. Although most “MySpacers” seem to be for the Obama camp, Impact itself isn’t biased. With young adults being such an important voting group, their “citizen journalists” are average students who cover the election as it unfolds. I’ve found that Impact is a place for regular people to voice their opinions ~ whether they’re from One, who says, “[Hilary’s] support of Obama was pretty weak…she gave more of a party/policy support than personal support” or from Dez, responding to assumptions that every black person is voting for Obama with, “It is always funny to see these ‘reverse racism’ comments. Hum…NOW it is a problem…NOW voting on one’s skin color is bad, when another ethnic group does it.” Impact aims to do just that; make an impact on the 20-somethings who need to get involved.

The rising popularity of Facebook has inspired its powers-that-be to take on some political responsibility as well ~ but in a lighter form. Yes, in the form of bumper stickers, groups, and applications that we all like to add to our profiles to make us THAT much cooler. The simple act of stating whether you’re liberal or conservative in your personal information creates some political identity ~ but you aren’t truly a supporter until you add a bumper sticker of VP pick: Palin with the phrase “VPILF” under it, or perhaps you prefer the image of McCain’s striking resemblance to the Simpsons’ grandpa. Whatever your beliefs, you can find a Bumper Sticker that makes fun of it. Facebook has taken a more “give em’ what they want” approach. Some applications are made up by the very people who use it. So what does this say about college kids? Well, it’s all about a sense of humor.

If you’re a frequent YouTube watcher, then most likely you’ve come across some videos that takes it to a whole ‘nother level. Have you met Obama Girl? Or how about Betty Butterfield? The Tube is notorious for regular people gaining fame from their web cams, but do these people actually make a difference? Amber Lee Ettinger, also known as “Obama Girl,” has views topping 9 million for her “I Got a Crush on Obama” music video. It’s no secret that Obama is being pinned as a pop icon and this is just more fuel for that debate. But really, I’d say people just like to watch her prance around in her bikini and booty shorts. And good old Betty Butterfield ~ she/he weighs in on everything from religion to Wal-Mart. With her white framed shades, red lipstick, drunk-slurring, and cigarette in hand, she supports Ron Paul. Why? “Because he’ll legalize everything I enjoy,” she said. YouTube does seems to support Obama, however. Try searching for some McCain supporters and you’ll be clicking through pages of opposing messages to Republicans. It’s just another form of media, one serious voters probably won’t turn to for advice, but for some entertainment, millions are tuning in.

The Big 3 have the ability to reach each one of their users. With such power, it’s no surprise they all play a role in Decision ‘08. Despite controversial opinions, funny applications, and quirky characters, the real intention is involvement. To catch our eye in politics, it takes relevance (and maybe a music video). But if we register to vote after checking our friend requests, the job is done.

Congressman James McGovern Backs Barrack
By Matt Shaw

Congressman James McGovern has hope for the future. And before you dismiss this comment as nothing more than chest-thumping Democratic tripe, understand that the way the straight-shooting McGovern tells it, the most important election in our lifetime comes down to two options: the antidote for what ails America, and Bush Part Three.

“If someone can tell me where John McCain differs from George Bush on economic policy, or energy policy, or on the issue of the war in Iraq,” McGovern says, “I’m all ears.” And if there’s anything America craves, it’s change. But apparently the Republicans aren’t listening. “Quite frankly,” McGovern says, “I believe [John McCain and Sarah Palin] are out of touch with the mainstream of America.

“I think the day that Barrack Obama becomes President, the whole world changes,” McGovern says. But, he says, change starts at home: “Barack Obama is offering a very different way to revitalize our job base by investing in clean, renewable forms of energy, creating ‘green-collar’ jobs; investing in medical research as a way to create jobs, as a way to cure diseases, and in doing so controlling healthcare costs. He wants to end the war in Iraq, which is something that I feel very strongly about. He understands the struggles that young people are having affording education, and there are more opportunities that he wants to provide to help make education affordable.”

These changes won’t be free, but Americans won’t pay for them with a huge increase in tax dollars, as Republicans imply. “[Obama] is dedicated to the concept that each and every one of us needs to give something back,” McGovern said. This concept should be familiar to many Massachusetts voters: John F. Kennedy once asked America to put aside our feelings of helplessness and ask instead what we could do for our country. “Public service,” McGovern says, “whether it’s through community organizing, enlisting in the military, or volunteering, is an important goal.”

It is important to become involved now more than ever, McGovern says. “If Barrack Obama becomes President, we could be on the verge of an era that is as bold and dramatic and as forward-thinking as any in our history.” The Congressman likens the impending Obama Presidency to the New Deal era fostered by Franklin D. Roosevelt. “The stakes have never been higher,” McGovern says.

McCain-Palin supporters have hope, too: they hope the turnout of youth voters is extremely low. “I think Republicans are counting on young people not to vote,” McGovern says. “Their calculation is that all of the youth voters that Obama and Hillary Clinton have registered will not vote. I think they’re wrong in that calculation.”

For the sake of America, McGovern had better be right. “People cannot afford to be indifferent, people cannot afford to stay home,” he says. “There’s so much at stake. We cannot lose. We have to win.”

Ballot Questions 1, 2 and 3 ~ What They Are and What They Mean
By Paul Giorgio

If voting for President and Vice President isn’t reason enough to get you off the couch and out to vote, then maybe the three questions on the ballot will get you to the polls. The following is a capsulated version of the three questions and their pros/cons.

Question 1 would repeal the state’s 5.3% personal income tax. Massachusetts would join a handful of states that have no state income tax. According to supporter Carla Howell, this would save each taxpayer about $3600 a year. While that may seem attractive, it would eliminate almost $13 billion from the state budget.

Michael Widmer, president of the business-backed Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, has said that “Eliminating the income tax would deal a blow to the state, with ripple effects throughout state government. Efforts to cut education and Medicare would spark lawsuits with the courts likely siding against the cut.”

Opponents also claim that residents would see a drastic climb in property tax rates as well as, among other state budget cuts, cuts in essential services such as police and fire protection, larger classroom sizes, and special services for the elderly.

Question 2 on the ballot would decriminalize marijuana use for those caught with less than one ounce. This would make marijuana possession a civil offense similar to a parking ticket.

The opponents to this question have trotted out District Attorneys from thoughout the state to claim that marijuana use will lead to other drugs ~ the same claims made in “Reefer Madness” in the 60s. They have also claimed that today’s pot is stronger than pot in the 60s and 70s and should be treated as a serious drug.

Proponents of the question argue that it is time to unclog the courts. They also argue that young people who are caught with one joint stand a good chance of losing their federal college aid and ~ with a conviction on their record ~ having a difficult time getting a job, compounding costs to the taxpayers in the long run.

Interestingly enough, two years ago there was a non- binding question in several legislative districts in Massachusetts, including one in Worcester. The repeal passed in all districts by a wide margin.

Question 3 on the Massachusetts ballot deals with the permanent banning of dog racing in Massachusetts. Presently, there are two greyhound dog tracks in the state, one in East Boston and the other in Raynham. The proponents of the ban claim that the sport is cruel to the dogs, while the opponents ~ i.e. race track owners ~ claim that it is not and that it is like any other sport. They also claim that if this passes, horse racing will be the next target.

Young Republicans
By Tine Roycroft

Some might argue that being the Chair of the Greater Worcester Young Republicans Club is a tough job. Paul Ferro of Marlborough, 32, might have agreed. But as mid- September was blowing hot, blustery air around the presently desolate voting booths of Massachusetts, and two days after Tina Fey amazed SNL lovers everywhere with her spot-on Palin impersonation, Perro stepped up to face a greater challenge ~ explaining the views of the Republican party.

The Greater Worcester Young Republicans Club is a group made up of 18-40 year olds, he said, who are dedicated to promoting the party. Ferro’s own chapter is located in Central Massachusetts, but according to him, there are chapters in Boston as well as on the North and South Shores. These young people are out in the community on a monthly basis, getting involved in charity work, helping out in food banks and soup kitchens, organizing social events and meet-and-greets, all in the name of supporting their Republican views. And as election time neared, Ferro admitted that these folks had a lot on their minds.

“A large part of our membership is people who are now entering the work force. Of course, getting a good job is the first and foremost in everyone’s mind,” Ferro said, “And making sure they have secured futures for themselves and for their families. A lot of our members have started to realize that when they work hard, a large chunk of their earnings is taken away from them in the form of taxation. As they become more the tax payers as opposed to people who are receiving aid from the government ~ how that money is spent, where it’s spent and why it is spent is important.”

These young Republicans wish to come up with creative ways in which to secure Social Security for themselves and not just deal only with the foreboding crisis that exists for the Baby Boomers.

Apart from ensuring financial safety, they are looking to find victory in regards to the war in Iraq.

“A few of our members were killed in Iraq,” Ferro noted, a significant change in his voice. “My personal definition of success [in Iraq] means establishing a sovereign democratic government, as opposed to where there is a singular government that protects the right of a minority of the people.

“I think every American, whether they agreed with the reasons for going into the war,” Ferro said, “wants the United States to be successful in developing a safe and prosperous democratic society there.”

Ferro went on to say that the United States had a history of being able to go into countries that had never before experienced democracy and set up successful democratic societies.

Finally, when asked if he felt whether or not Republican Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin would be able to overcome accusations of inexperience, Ferro retorted with pride and confidence in the Alaskan governor.

“In terms of experience,” he said, “being a governor, having to govern a state and actually managing a state budget gives you vastly more experience than a number of members on the other tickets. If you want someone for good government, for clean government… vote for Sarah Palin. You’ll get a no-nonsense fighter for our people.”

For more information on the Greater Worcester Young Republicans Club or other Republican Party resources, go to worcestercountyrepublicanclub.com/committees.htm

Tell Us What You Really Think

Pulse writers took to the local campuses and clubs, asking students and other Pulse readers questions about the upcoming election and politics in general. Some of the answers you might agree with, others might make you take a second look at some of the issues. Regardless, here’s a sample of what your peers had to say, in their own words.

Interviews by Jennie Fitzgerald, Tine Roycroft, Annette Cinelli, Cristal Perriello, Alex Kantarelis

Are you a registered voter? If not, what would make you register? Or what has kept you from registering?

I’m not registered to vote. I’d register if things got out of hand enough where counter-votes were needed to combat mob-mentality gone wrong. I’m hesitant about registering because I don’t want jury duty. But honestly, I am sadly not informed enough about politics in general to feel comfortable holding that responsibility in my hands. Discussions about politics weren’t common in my family growing up. SM, 26, F

I’m not registered, I know, it’s awful! But it’s not what has kept me from registering; more that I don’t feel pushed to register. I’m so busy, so it would be nice if the government sent out applications and made it mandatory, I bet everyone would vote then! I’m registering this year, though, soon, I promise. Krista, F, 21

I am not a registered voter, although I love politics and preach how everyone should get involved. I love attending debates and researching issues as much if not more than the next person. Perhaps it is a fear of commitment to one party. TR, 28, F

Yes I am registered to vote. I think it’s so important for people to vote, especially women. Women have had the right to vote for less than a hundred years. Coca Cola and the Red Sox have both been around longer than women have had the right to vote! AMC, 25, F

Would you vote for a candidate who doesn’t have a family?

Absolutely. You don’t need to be a family man to be a good leader. Besides, I know people whose jobs drag them away from their families. I’m sure BEING THE PRESIDENT is one of those jobs. It might be easier to not have a family.” MJ, M, 25

Well I think that family and friends influence and make a person who they become. I would be a little skeptical to vote for someone without a family but if they had a good background and I thought they would be the best candidate then, yes I would vote for them. MG, F, 21

It’s not a definite NO. But it would make me wonder…if he/she can’t lead a family, how can they run a country? Krista, F, 21

I don’t think so. I think being able to manage a family speaks of someone’s character. Also, they will work harder to protect the future, I feel. BK, 27, M

Do candidates’ family issues factor into your voting decisions?

I think the media tends to go a little crazy with these issues sometimes, but I can understand the thought – ‘If they can’t run their own family right how can they run our country right?’ but I also believe everyone has their own battles to fight and no one is perfect. SM, 26, F

While I certainly don’t think a candidate has to be a “good person” in order to hold office, for me family issues are worth considering because it’s a window into who they are. I don’t think any of the family stuff warrants the attention that the media gives it though. ML, 24, M

Yes, family is very important in this kind of decision making because, once again, family is a big influencing part of who a person turns out to be and a supportive healthy family life would probably be best. MG, 21, F

They do to an extent, depending on how significant the issue is. AMC, 25, F

I respect Palin for her ability to raise 5 children, be Governor, and now VP. Whatever’s going on behind the scenes is personal. If it doesn’t affect her ability to lead or us as citizens then no, it shouldn’t. Shelley, F, 27

What issues would you like to see be the focus of a presidential campaign? Gay rights? The environment? Education? Health Insurance? The war?

Boy it would be nice if everyone had national health insurance, but that’s not happening any time soon. So how about we actually make a push for cars to run on something other than gas. It’s not that hard. My friend has a van that runs on vegetable oil. He did all the modifications himself for less than eight thousand dollars. If he can do that, can’t Ford or General Motors do it too? Then instead of going to the Shell station, we’d go to McDonalds to re-fuel. MJ, 25, M

Well, I’m a Marine, so the war is high on my list. I was stationed in Okinawa for five years, it’s about time to get our troops home. Lisa, F, 29

I think the environment and education should be the biggest concerns for a candidate to have plans for. There is a lot of buzz around the environment lately and it would be nice to see more government action to help develop more recycling programs and educate the public. Also, education is a big issue to me since I am a teacher. It’s important to keep ideas and movements in education innovative and research based. AVT, 26, M

I think first the war. Then environmentalism. We can always improve on healthcare and education, but I feel that they are secondary. BK, 27, M

I’d like the focus to be the candidate’s ability to think outside the box on the same issues that we have heard about over and over. You can’t get out of a problem if you’re in the same state of mind that created the problem. VS, 24, F

The economy seems to be the biggest issue these days. Gay rights and the environment, while certainly important, are blown way out of proportion in order to pacify those voters. The war is also a hot button. I’d also love to see law enforcement/drugs being addressed. AF, 25, M

We’ve now had a female candidate and an African American candidate…can you foresee an openly gay candidate running…and even winning… in the near future?

I think that will take some more time. Women and African Americans have been fighting for so long, but gay rights are still a fresh subject. It would be great, but I’ll give it another 10-20 years. Lauren, F, 25

Well, we already have Barney Frank on the Representative level. Unfortunately, I suspect it will take some years before the nation as a whole is ready to elect a Gay/Lesbian/Transgender President. The time will come, but it probably won’t be for another few election cycles. IW, 32, M

No. Maybe he could run. But he could not win if he was openly gay while he was running. BK, 27, M

Yes. Completely. 100%. TR, 28, F

Why not? Running, yes, probably soon, but winning may take more time. I still think there are a lot of people who are uneasy about it, but eventually! Lisa, F, 29

Do you think the candidates’ choices for VP were more strategic than anything?

Do you notice how they each chose someone who was the complete opposite of them? Way to fill the gaps, if you know what I mean. Amanda, F, 21

Where do you get most of your political information? Newspaper? Friends? Internet? TV?

Typically I get it by walking past the newspaper on the stand and glancing at the front page. That’s how I heard about Palin. MJ, 25, M

I try to balance it between CNN and Fox 25 and conservative radio talk shows so I can get both sides. BK, 27, M

Blogs, mainstream media websites, and newspapers play a significant role. With the exception of live events, I’ve usually read about something political before I’ve seen it on TV. IW, 32, M

I get it from a mix of all. Mostly Internet though. I do not have a lot of time to sit and watch TV. Or read a newspaper, but I manage to see a lot of headlines or hear about what is going on. MG, 21, F

I get most of my political information from news programs on the TV and occasionally from web articles. I also hear a lot from friends and family in discussions. AVT, 26, M

Did you watch both McCain’s and Obama’s official acceptance speeches?

I only caught short bits of both. I’ve got better things to do than watch a stadium filled with their biggest supporters cheer them on no matter what they say that night but I’ll absolutely be watching the debates. ML, 24, M

I didn’t watch them on TV but I read up on them the next day. VS, 24, F

I did, but I fell asleep during McCain’s. Is it just me or was it just past his bedtime? Obama engaged me right from the start, I was waiting for McCain to grab my attention, but it didn’t happen. Lauren, F, 25

Do you think today’s younger Americans ~ 18 – 30 ~ are less politically involved/aware than they should be?

I think that this age group is less politically involved than past generations because there aren’t as many who have fought in a war at this age. I think people who want to be involved will be and people who could care less won’t be no matter how old/young they are. VS, 24, F

At this point, I think the level of involvement is ok. I feel that the level of interest in politics rises when the country is in danger. But there are still many 18-30 year olds who are still impressionable and reliant upon their peers. There is a lack of independent research. BK, 27, M

I have no way of knowing since there seems to be no community connection in this age group about this topic. I think a person’s background would determine whether they were more active in politics or not. I do think efforts have increased to get this age group more involved (Rock the Vote etc). I don’t know whether those campaigns have been successful or not since they haven’t inspired me personally to register. SM, 26, F

What are your thoughts on a woman president or vice president? Do you think the media and the public treat female candidates the same as men?

I think any person of any gender or race who has the capability of leading a nation should have the opportunity and should be taken seriously. In the case of John McCain picking Sarah Palin as a running mate, it seems more like she is picked just because she is a woman. What has she done politically? Both Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama have shown themselves to be leaders and deserve the same recognition as any other candidate in the past. I definitely think the media plays on race and gender and feeds the public what it thinks should be for dinner. I admit that I eat it but I also consider what I learn from others who have done their homework and so the media doesn’t form my entire opinion about a candidate. AVT, 26, M

I think we are ready for a woman President or Vice President. I think that because this is a ‘new’ concept for the media, they are being a bit too concerned with a Sarah Palin’s personal life the way they might not with a man, but I think it is something that will pass as this becomes a regular occurrence. KK, 26, F