Miami Student

Issue date: 2/5/08 Section: OpEd Page

Senator Hillary Clinton

It seems almost as though after eight years of President George W. Bush, the electorate is clamoring for any change that it can muster. The nation seemed swept by support for newcomer, Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.), but he has failed to truly build on his momentum. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), with her solid New Hampshire and Florida victories, seems poised to lunge ahead on Super Tuesday. In a campaign season stacked with colorful personalities, this election needs to be powered by the candidates' depth of knowledge and experience on a variety of issues-not on an untested and overly hopeful reliance on charisma.

Between the two remaining candidates in the Democratic camp, Hillary Clinton's policy experience and personal political connections are unmatched. Eight years as first lady, senator since 2001, a wife of former President Bill Clinton and a policy expert in the field of healthcare, Hillary Clinton is in an amazingly unique position to fill a future cabinet with Bill Clinton-era policy advisers who have already proven their expertise in both the domestic and foreign spheres. To examine but a subsection of these possibilities, Bill Clinton's foreign policy experts forged an unmatched liberalized international atmosphere of close government-to-government cooperation, but have since been displaced by Bush's neoconservative entourage.

Unlike Obama, Hillary Clinton has maximized her international exposure and has connections in more than 80 different, vital countries and her exposure to the process of executive power and action will better allow her to handle a successful force drawback in Iraq while continuing to hold strong against radicalized elements across the globe. Many people seem to think that Obama is the only hope for renewing United States influence and respect in the world, but his goals are vague and show dangerous signs of na'veté with relation to our allies and other partner nations. We are at a dangerous time internationally, with our military on the verge of overstretch and important, historic partnerships like the North Atlantic Treaty Organization facing fracture-we cannot risk placing an uninitiated senator into the White House on the hopes that his apparent charisma will solve the fundamental problems that plague our policies.

I understand, however, the importance of domestic issues over that of international affairs. Obama, while an expert in constitutional law, does not have the proven experience in social areas that Hillary Clinton brings to the table. In the flurry of candidate proposals for economic stimulus, only Hillary Clinton was able to provide the American people with a detailed, specific plan for targeting different socioeconomic groups in order to minimize a future recession-Obama has only been able to offer vague alternatives, and largely ignores the middle class in his recovery plans. While her expertise on healthcare allowed for a substantial debate of smart solutions to be produced, Obama's chose to engage her instead in a copycat Republican manner, skirting the issues so as to not be drawn into a detailed policy debate.

Unfortunately, the news media framing of Hillary Clinton has bathed her in an unfavorable light. The Clinton family's historic reluctance to openly deal with the press has resulted in a media unwilling to truly open up to her-unfairly characterizing a strong woman leader as the stereotypical ice queen. Simultaneously, the endorsements behind Obama are weakly attempting to attach credibility to a candidate who only has his personality, but which the media loves to bandwagon.

Charisma alone does not help reverse the course that our country has been down for the past eight years. It seemed there was a point in time not too long ago that all Democrats would have given anything for the Bill Clinton years once again; it is unfortunate that the multitude of successes achieved during the 1990s have been largely ignored. This election is a watershed moment where we can either recover from the national decline of the past eight years, or suffer for four more. We must choose carefully in this election, and choose an individual who can couple a proven record of multiple inroads into bipartisan support with true knowledge of policy areas.

Jonathan Gair
gairjm@muohio.edu

Senator Barack Obama

Since announcing his candidacy last year, Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has infused presidential politics with renewed vigor and a fresh sense of possibility. Obama has laid down comprehensive and forward-looking policy prescriptions on issues ranging from healthcare to leveraged diplomacy. Yet, the need for the Democrats to nominate Obama rests not only upon his progressive policies and his willingness to work to bridge partisan congressional divides, but also upon his judgment, leadership and ability to inspire and renew faith in the political process.

Obama is the right candidate for the Democratic Party, and the right president for the United States. His campaign has sparked positive interest in presidential politics, and he has the unique potential to electrify the Democratic base, as well as to win over independents and moderate Republicans.

Opponents who harp on Obama's lack of "experience" overlook the key formative experiences that have shaped him as a politician. While no job can fully prepare one for the challenges associated with the presidency, Obama's atypical background has given him a unique perspective on some of the greatest challenges facing the country in the years ahead. As a young man, Obama attended elementary school in Indonesia and high school in Hawaii. After graduating from Columbia University, he returned to Chicago and worked with low-income residents in the city's South Side housing projects, fought discrimination and voting rights abuses in the courtroom, and taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago. Such a varied path to a legislative career has equipped Obama with insight into the struggles ordinary Americans face-and from that insight he has garnered wisdom that belies his age.

Elected to the Illinois state legislature in 1996, Obama brought with him a commitment to implement sensible change, and demonstrated his willingness to reach across the aisle in order to pass needed legislation. In Springfield he gained bipartisan support to help pass a major campaign finance reform law, tax credits for the working poor, increased child-care subsidies and a welfare reform package.

As a United States Senator, Obama has remained true to his progressive platform, while also co-sponsoring a host of bipartisan legislation, including: immigration legislation with Senator McCain (R-Ariz.), a cooperative threat reduction bill with Senator Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) and a government transparency bill with Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.).

Over the course of his presidential campaign, Obama has outlined a forward looking healthcare plan that will help achieve universal coverage through private insurers, thus making healthcare more affordable while maintaining consumer choice. Additionally, the senator has outlined policies that will make much needed reforms to America's education system, working to address flaws in No Child Left Behind, reward and retain accomplished teachers and make higher education more affordable. On the foreign policy front, Obama has pledged to elevate the soft-power potential of leveraged diplomacy-"sustained and aggressive diplomacy"-into a top foreign policy tool.

Yet, policy prescriptions do not amount to much without public support and Congressional action. The next president must have the vision and popular esteem to help transcend current partisan impasses in order to enact policy. After the deeply polarizing years of the George W. Bush administration, it is not revelatory to note that the best way toward a more just and prosperous future is by building consensus rather than exploiting ideological divisions. On this note Obama has struck a resounding chord, and has demonstrated that he will work to find common ground in order to implement pragmatic and principled policies.

There has not been an election in recent memory where it has been more important to return dignity to the White House, hope to the American people and to implement farsighted domestic programs and firm foreign policy. To meet the difficult challenges facing this country, to keep it secure and prosperous, and to improve it for future generations requires a transformational leader who can combat the acidic cynicism of the past and broker change. Obama has the ability to restore hope in public policy's higher goals and to implement a forward-looking agenda, and he should be the next Democratic presidential nominee.

Michael Bain
bainmc@muohio.edu

Senator John McCain

A debate over who to support in the coming election is currently raging across America. On the eve of the largest Super Tuesday in primary history, it is prudent to reflect on our beliefs, our values and our hopes for that place we call home.

After months of vacillating between Fred Thompson and Mitt Romney, my own reflections have led me to a man many are calling the "Phoenix." This summer's Republican front-runner was thought to be all but dead when our school year began. Yet, through devout passion and a zealous commitment to the oath he swore this nation Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) has resurrected himself. No longer groomed by the same architects that so carefully framed our previous eight years of government, McCain has returned to his instincts and ignited the campaign trail. There is no questioning his heroic service to this country, but does he embody the values we seek in a president? I believe he does.

After 25 years in Congress, McCain has a more proven record than any candidate in the field. He has witnessed some of the most divisive years in our nation's history and in this era so defined by political polarization, McCain has time and again bridged the aisle in hopes of creating a better tomorrow. Indeed, conservatives point to "questionable" votes-such as the senator's rejection of President George W. Bush's 2001 and 2003 tax cuts. Few, however, take time to review the spending programs passed by Congress in those same years. Programs McCain zealously orated against. If people looked at this legislation they would see that increased spending drastically outpaced the relief provided by miniscule tax cuts. Additionally, McCain critics conveniently omit the 23 years of tenure in which he approved almost every tax cut that came to a vote. Finally, they forget that McCain was part of the Republican Congress that helped balance the budget in 1999. Indeed, his brutal attacks on wasteful spending and impassioned criticism of pork-barrel legislation make him one of the staunchest and most proven economic conservatives on the hill.

These attacks have subsequently earned him the status of lobbyist enemy number one. Thus, he has astonishingly few ties to interest groups and owes even fewer political favors. This along with his bipartisan record and strong Christian values make him the ideal candidate for change in Washington, D.C. I have been asked why he was not able to bring change thus far. I think that he has; by fighting for tax cuts, vital campaign finance reform, the child's right to life and our military, McCain has demonstrated he can make a difference. He has voted for strict constitutionalist judges and voiced his support for small government. I admit I do not agree with the senator on his immigration stance, but in an election no one is perfect.

This is a man whose leadership was tested in the flames of combat, whose faith was solidified by five years of heroic perseverance, and whose values have been tried and consistently upheld over two and a half decades of public service. The senator's years have afforded him a tremendous amount of experience. McCain understands that in a world plagued by the divisiveness of misunderstanding it is necessary for the leader of the free world transcend these differences if he ever hopes to provide a beacon for peace. America is done with partisanship; she is searching for her soul, for that American ideal that our founding fathers spoke so fondly of. What better to unite the people and resurrect that democratic zeal than a Phoenix?

Ryan Whelan
whelantr@muohio.edu

Mitt Romney

We need to look beyond the fancy campaign rhetoric, the fiery speeches and the fresh faces that have been the story of the 2008 presidential election to realize that the purpose of this circus that we call the nomination process is to find the person who is best prepared to be the chief executive officer of the United States. Being the president of the United States requires experience with a decision-making capacity that only the executive branch can offer, and Mitt Romney is the only frontrunner with that experience. Romney preaches what he has practiced-solutions to health care, the economy and education.

Romney's various leadership positions have given him practical experience in both the private and public sectors. He knows what it takes to create an economic environment that facilitates innovation, competitiveness and cooperation. Regulations need to be harmonized, businesses need to be encouraged through tax incentives to innovate and become more efficient and America needs a president that understands what it takes to be successful in the private sector.

Just months after the September 11 attacks, the Salt Lake City Olympics were a chance for America to show our resilience, strength and courage. However, inefficient spending and controversy turned the Olympics into an almost certain embarrassment. Facing a $379 million deficit, Romney-the event's CEO- amazingly erased the deficit, organized 23,000 volunteers and made the 2002 Winter Olympics into one of the most successful Olympics in the history of the competition.

Americans began to realize that solutions to our chronic budgetary problems didn't have to involve tax increases that are detrimental to our economy. When Massachusetts faced $3 billion budget gap in 2003, Romney managed to erase that deficit every year of his term, lower the unemployment rate and bring nearly 60,000 jobs to the state on en route to becoming one of the most successful governors in history.

If we are to pick one issue that has defined the 2008 presidential race it would undoubtedly be health care. Through market-based reforms in 2006, Romney ensured that every citizen now has health care insurance. Health care reform doesn't require increased taxes and increased bureaucratic intervention and Romney chose to fix the problems that Massachusetts faced with a solution that is in line with the same free market values that founded America and made this country the economic powerhouse that it is today.

Choosing a president is not a popularity contest where we pick the candidate that we would most like to have a beer with. Choosing a president is about using the democratic process to select the president that will make this country a better place. Do we want a larger middle class? Romney does, as his plan for tax-free savings for the middle class would certainly ensure that America remains a nation of and for the middle class. Do we believe that decisions are best made at the lowest level of government? Romney does, understanding the inefficiencies that are inherit in an increasingly centralized government. We are facing a choice, to continue to believe in the free market system or to put the decisions of this country in the hands of a few politicians in Washington.

Candidates like Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Senator Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) preach about cooperation, when in practice they have proven to be the least cooperative people on the Hill. Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) preaches about his years of experience, when in practice a few anti-corruption bills can sum up his career. Romney's experience speaks for itself in both the private and public sectors that has proven itself in practice and will provide America with exactly what we need to become a better place.

Scott Lundregan
lundresm@muohio.edu

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