LANDON PHILLIPS/Cartoonist
STAFF EDITORIAL
The 2008 presidential election has proved itself to be a race that will not be easily won. With the number of unclaimed delegates dwindling, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are dragging out the Democratic race and voters can expect the fate of the ticket to be in the hands of the superdelegates. The largest amount of delegates left in a single state is Pennsylvania, which holds its primary in two weeks, and the 150 delegates there may make or break the last couple weeks of elections.
Although the contest has not been settled between Clinton and Obama, the Graphic editors have chosen to endorse Obama’s candidacy in this year’s presidential race. Along with college students all over the nation, we admire his ability to reach out to our generation and feel that his platform and image is one that will represent our country well.
Being only 46, we are automatically attracted to his youthful charisma. His energetic personality, young appeal and new ideas are strong characteristics and have taken him so far in the elections already. Obama is fresh and a new face for politics, and his liberal platform is one that is very relatable.
It is not only Obama’s personality that has sparked interest, but his stances on the issues as well. He has developed a plan to simplify the application for financial aid for college students. His plan allows families to simply apply by checking a box on their tax forms, rather than filling out the current federal financial aid application. He also plans to make college more affordable for all Americans by creating a new American Opportunity Tax Credit, which, according to his Web site, will ensure that the first $4,000 of a college education is free for most Americans. It will also lower the price of community college for most students, and could potentially make it completely free. While Clinton has developed a similar plan to Obama’s, McCain’s take on education is very different. He focuses on finding better teachers and rewarding them more, but does not offer incentives for students going to college.
Obama’s stance on the war in Iraq has been steady and firm. Clinton and McCain have both voted at some point in favor of the war, whereas Obama has been voting against it since the beginning. Bush’s strategy throughout the war has been incredibly disappointing and Obama’s firm stance against the war is playing a major part in his campaign. His plan to end the war will begin with the removal of two combat brigades each month, which would have all of our troops home within 16 months of him taking office. He has also vowed to work with borders in Iraq to ensure neighboring countries can’t “meddle” inside of Iraq, according to his Web site.
Obama has also vowed to develop a cap-and-trade system, in which pollution credits will be auctioned and polluters will be paying for their emissions. The development of the system should reduce the carbon emissions by 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, which is what scientists have deemed necessary. With the collection of funds by polluters, money will be given to the development of clean energy and energy efficiency improvements.
With a fresh face and young voice in politics, Obama has swept the college vote and acquired young supporters from voters from all over the nation. He knows exactly how to reach us and announces events on Facebook and MySpace. He has artists such as the Black Eyed Peas supporting him and music videos that go on our favorite Web sites, and he advertises the need for change.
Our generation is ready to see a change in the running of politics, and we see that Obama brings that to the table. He stands strong for what he believes in, parallels our belief systems, and offers a charisma that is unlike that of his opponents. If elected, his youthful manner will be what the youth of this nation is searching for in the next president of the United States.
04-03-2008
