When it comes to the 2008 election, are we as an American culture, more ready to accept a black man or a woman into the Oval Office?
Many countries have had female presidents and prime ministers, so why are Americans so reticent to accept a woman in power? In our "white supremacist patriarchal society," which is more offensive: a woman or a black man? Whether Clinton wants to be labeled one or not, she is a feminist simply for the fact that she is running for office. I know, the F-word. It's scary. Or is it? "Feminism" tends to have a negative connotation of man-hater, but in reality, feminism is about pro-woman. It's about human rights. Clinton has stood up against "the man" (quite literally) and stated that women aren't going to take this abuse anymore. We are not weak victims, we are powerful individuals who can do the same things men can do and we can be treated with respect and earn the same paycheck for the same job. If Clinton were to be elected president, what are men afraid of? What is this insecurity that men have about women in power?
I've heard many people say that Senator Obama is "the right kind of black" to get votes. What the hell does that mean? Oh wait, we live in a "white supremacist patriarchal society." So if Obama's behaviors and actions are like that of a white man, he is likely to get votes.
We are at a crucial moment in American history, and yet I have a feeling that many of us will be sitting at home watching Family Guy on Election Day, in ignorance of what is going on. Not to say that all Republicans should switch their ballots to Democrat just to participate in this landmark election, but those who do vote Democrat should evaluate why they are voting for their candidate in the context of a cultural examination of American society. Voters need to be aware of the cultural influences of their decisions.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Democratic debate last night
Did anyone watch the debate last night? Did they talk about anything new or relevant?
Friday, February 22, 2008
Developments
Is anyone paying attention to the latest developments in the candidates' campaigns?
On the Republican side, McCain was recently challenged by an article in the New York Times, chronicling his relationship with a telecommunications lobbyist.
On the Democrats side, Hillary has accused Barack of plagiarizing his speeches. Clinton claimed that Obama took a speech from the current Massachusetts governor and used it at one of his rallies. Related artcles: NYT article and article about last night's debate.
What do you think about this stuff?
Will the NYT story hurt McCain's campaign, and what about Hillary calling out Barack?
On the Republican side, McCain was recently challenged by an article in the New York Times, chronicling his relationship with a telecommunications lobbyist.
On the Democrats side, Hillary has accused Barack of plagiarizing his speeches. Clinton claimed that Obama took a speech from the current Massachusetts governor and used it at one of his rallies. Related artcles: NYT article and article about last night's debate.
What do you think about this stuff?
Will the NYT story hurt McCain's campaign, and what about Hillary calling out Barack?
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Primary Update
Updates from Wisconsin!
OBAMA over CLINTON- 56% to 43%, with 40% of the precincts reporting.
MCCAIN over HUCKABEE- 55% to 37%, with 40% of the precincts reporting.
This makes Obama's ninth straight win, and McCain's victory has further sown up his position as the GOP nominee.
On to Ohio and Texas for the Dems....
OBAMA over CLINTON- 56% to 43%, with 40% of the precincts reporting.
MCCAIN over HUCKABEE- 55% to 37%, with 40% of the precincts reporting.
This makes Obama's ninth straight win, and McCain's victory has further sown up his position as the GOP nominee.
On to Ohio and Texas for the Dems....
Friday, February 15, 2008
Gun Control
In light of the shooting at Northern Illinois University yesterday afternoon, you have to wonder... where is the issue of gun control in the 2008 election? If an unstable 27-year-old can walk into a store and purchase two handguns on the same day, and then six days later burst into a lecture hall killing 5 students and himself... why aren't the candidates talking about gun control laws?
The issue is nonexistent on both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton's list of issues. Apparently, the issue is either not important or too uncomfortable for the Democrats to talk about. According to CNN.com, both support limiting the sales of handguns to one per month among other gun control laws. Is gun control such a taboo topic that even after a gunman shoots 21 people in a lecture hall, the candidates are still too afraid to tackle the issue?
Senator John McCain opposes gun control legislation, but at least he's talking about the issue. Mike Huckabee also addresses the issue on his site, saying how he supports the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. The problem on the Republican side is that, as we've seen in the NIU shooting, even law-abiding citizens can be dangerous with a gun in their possession.
The issue is nonexistent on both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton's list of issues. Apparently, the issue is either not important or too uncomfortable for the Democrats to talk about. According to CNN.com, both support limiting the sales of handguns to one per month among other gun control laws. Is gun control such a taboo topic that even after a gunman shoots 21 people in a lecture hall, the candidates are still too afraid to tackle the issue?
Senator John McCain opposes gun control legislation, but at least he's talking about the issue. Mike Huckabee also addresses the issue on his site, saying how he supports the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. The problem on the Republican side is that, as we've seen in the NIU shooting, even law-abiding citizens can be dangerous with a gun in their possession.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Potomac primaries
Obama and McCain swept the Potomac primaries tonight, winning Virginia, Maryland and D.C.
Obama now leads the Democratic primary in delegates with 1,215, while Clinton holds 1,190.
McCain continues to pull away from Huckabee, totaling 812 delegates tonight compared to the latter's 217.
The next primaries will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 19, for Wisconsin while Hawaii and Washington will hold their Democratic primaries that same day.
Obama now leads the Democratic primary in delegates with 1,215, while Clinton holds 1,190.
McCain continues to pull away from Huckabee, totaling 812 delegates tonight compared to the latter's 217.
The next primaries will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 19, for Wisconsin while Hawaii and Washington will hold their Democratic primaries that same day.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Recent primary results
Obama won the Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington primaries last night.
Huckabee won the Kansas and Washington primaries, while McCain won the Washington primary.
Obama pulled closer to Clinton in total number of delegates achieved reaching 1,049 while she sits at 1,108. Huckabee elevated his number of delegates to 217, while McCain finished Saturday with 714. The Democrats need 2,025 total delegates to win the nomination, and the Republicans need 1,191.
The Maine Democrat primary is today, and the Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia primaries are on Tuesday. Huckabee's starting to make the race interesting, especially with Mississippi, North Carolina and Kentucky primaries coming up, and the former governor of Arkansas is looking at the Texas primary to really boost his campaign. Obama, on the other side, is really gaining momentum.
It appears that McCain will likely get the nomination, but things happen. I really don't know who's going to take the nomination in either party.
Huckabee won the Kansas and Washington primaries, while McCain won the Washington primary.
Obama pulled closer to Clinton in total number of delegates achieved reaching 1,049 while she sits at 1,108. Huckabee elevated his number of delegates to 217, while McCain finished Saturday with 714. The Democrats need 2,025 total delegates to win the nomination, and the Republicans need 1,191.
The Maine Democrat primary is today, and the Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia primaries are on Tuesday. Huckabee's starting to make the race interesting, especially with Mississippi, North Carolina and Kentucky primaries coming up, and the former governor of Arkansas is looking at the Texas primary to really boost his campaign. Obama, on the other side, is really gaining momentum.
It appears that McCain will likely get the nomination, but things happen. I really don't know who's going to take the nomination in either party.
Friday, February 8, 2008
Inspired by words
It took me a while to jump onto the "got hope?" train this election season, mostly because I thought that the train was running a little too conservative of a path for my tastes. I was seduced by John Edwards' anti-poverty platform. I was loving Mike Gravel for calling out all the mainstream candidates on pandering to various interest groups. I couldn't get enough of Dennis Kucinich preaching the progressive word in such a practical manner.
Maybe at that time Obama had not hit his stride yet. Maybe he was struggling, throughout the summer and fall to find his niche amongst the field, to define himself amongst the candidates. However, since the lead up to Iowa, and his crushing defeat in the caucus, Obama has found his place, has carved out a space for himself- his oratory.
His words are beautiful, his speeches run chills up my spine, he brings me to tears. His speech after the New Hampshire primary, which has been made into the "Yes, We Can" Song- www.dipdive.com- had me leaping on the "got hope?" Express and hanging on for dear life. He channelled RFK, MLK, and Cesar Chavez. He, for the first time since 2003 when we began a pre-emptive war, made me feel proud to be an American. He is bringing inspiration and optimism back to this nation.
God speed to the "got hope?" Express.
Maybe at that time Obama had not hit his stride yet. Maybe he was struggling, throughout the summer and fall to find his niche amongst the field, to define himself amongst the candidates. However, since the lead up to Iowa, and his crushing defeat in the caucus, Obama has found his place, has carved out a space for himself- his oratory.
His words are beautiful, his speeches run chills up my spine, he brings me to tears. His speech after the New Hampshire primary, which has been made into the "Yes, We Can" Song- www.dipdive.com- had me leaping on the "got hope?" Express and hanging on for dear life. He channelled RFK, MLK, and Cesar Chavez. He, for the first time since 2003 when we began a pre-emptive war, made me feel proud to be an American. He is bringing inspiration and optimism back to this nation.
God speed to the "got hope?" Express.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Romney Suspends Campaign
Mitt Romney made a surprise announcement today that he is suspending his presidential campaign.
There has been a lot of talk by the analysts on TV about how Romney and Huckabee have been splitting the conservative part of the republican party. I think that is an accurate statement because of their 2nd and 3rd status in many states. The question that will be answered in the future is where are Romney supporters going to go? Will they go to McCain or Huckabee in the short term? If they go to McCain, he will easily wrap up the nomination. If they go to Huckabee, the race is still on.
What if McCain wraps up the nomination, where will the conservative vote go?
McCain is not a conservative therefore it is unlikely conservatives will support McCain . McCain sponsored a campaign finance reform bill that has ban campaign ads 30 days before a primary and 60 days before a general election. He also sponsored a bill that would have granted amnesty to illegal aliens. My guess at this point is they will stay home in November or rally for an independent or third party candidate. Some conservatives may go against their principles and support McCain anyways.
Who do you think conservatives will do/support?
There has been a lot of talk by the analysts on TV about how Romney and Huckabee have been splitting the conservative part of the republican party. I think that is an accurate statement because of their 2nd and 3rd status in many states. The question that will be answered in the future is where are Romney supporters going to go? Will they go to McCain or Huckabee in the short term? If they go to McCain, he will easily wrap up the nomination. If they go to Huckabee, the race is still on.
What if McCain wraps up the nomination, where will the conservative vote go?
McCain is not a conservative therefore it is unlikely conservatives will support McCain . McCain sponsored a campaign finance reform bill that has ban campaign ads 30 days before a primary and 60 days before a general election. He also sponsored a bill that would have granted amnesty to illegal aliens. My guess at this point is they will stay home in November or rally for an independent or third party candidate. Some conservatives may go against their principles and support McCain anyways.
Who do you think conservatives will do/support?
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Super Tuesday
Was anyone surprised by the results of Super Tuesday?
I personally didn't think that Mike Huckabee was going to do so well. But, he is a Southerner, and we Southerners tend to vote for the candidate from our region.
This trend, however, hasn't proved true in the Democrat race. Hillary, who's originally from Illinois but served as the First Lady of Arkansas during Bill's terms as governor, probably appeals to many of us back home because of her connections to the region, but Barack has taken a slight majority of the Southern states -- South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Missouri -- while Hillary only prevailed in Arkansas, Florida and Tennessee (my beloved home state, which is why I was a little sad to see Fred Thompson leave the race).
So, I'm personally very interested to see who'll win the remaining Southern states for the Democrats, with Louisiana (Feb. 9), Virginia (Feb. 12), Mississippi (March 11), North Carolina (May 6) and Kentucky (May 20) left to vote.
I personally didn't think that Mike Huckabee was going to do so well. But, he is a Southerner, and we Southerners tend to vote for the candidate from our region.
This trend, however, hasn't proved true in the Democrat race. Hillary, who's originally from Illinois but served as the First Lady of Arkansas during Bill's terms as governor, probably appeals to many of us back home because of her connections to the region, but Barack has taken a slight majority of the Southern states -- South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Missouri -- while Hillary only prevailed in Arkansas, Florida and Tennessee (my beloved home state, which is why I was a little sad to see Fred Thompson leave the race).
So, I'm personally very interested to see who'll win the remaining Southern states for the Democrats, with Louisiana (Feb. 9), Virginia (Feb. 12), Mississippi (March 11), North Carolina (May 6) and Kentucky (May 20) left to vote.
Welcome!
Welcome to the Dawgnet Opinion blog! Here you will find opinion pieces written by Dawgnet staff as well as contributions from the Butler community. We encourage you to leave comments about the pieces you read. As journalism practitioners, we respect the electricity of public debate, but we also ask that you show respect for the contributors and readers of this blog.
As part of our first semester using this Opinion blog, much of it will be focused on the Republican and Democratic primaries taking place currently. Please use this blog as a forum to express your ideas about the election process. If you would like to be considered as a contributor to this blog, please e-mail dawgnet@butler.edu.
As part of our first semester using this Opinion blog, much of it will be focused on the Republican and Democratic primaries taking place currently. Please use this blog as a forum to express your ideas about the election process. If you would like to be considered as a contributor to this blog, please e-mail dawgnet@butler.edu.
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