Opinion: Editorial
Obama for president
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Also by Badger Herald Editorial Board:
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- The People's Choice Award: Jacqueline Hitchon et. al (May 7, 2009)
- The Lifetime Achievement Award: ASM (May 7, 2009)
- Honest representation (May 5, 2009)
- Junger for ASM Chair (May 5, 2009)
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While this is the first election many University of Wisconsin undergraduates are eligible to vote in, it will likely prove to be one of the most important in their lifetime. The United States faces incredible challenges right now — from the goal of salvaging long-term success in Iraq to ordinary Americans’ struggles to keep their homes. We have reached a pivotal moment in American history, and the choice you make at the polls on Tuesday is one of utmost importance that requires the most careful of consideration.
Democratic Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona are two qualified and sound individuals. But at a time when government desperately needs a change of tone and direction, we endorse Obama for president.
With the economic crisis at the forefront of this presidential campaign, we are more confident in Obama’s abilities to lead us through the struggles we are facing. Although Republicans have had a field day describing Obama’s tax plan as “socialist,” we support tax cuts for the middle class and tax hikes for the wealthiest Americans. Obama would raise the upper-level income tax rates 3 to 5 percent to similar levels that existed before George W. Bush took office. Furthermore, Obama calls for an additional $25 billion from the federal budget to prevent state property tax increases. And we agree with Obama that the time has come for a type of universal health care program.
While the economy rightfully remains at the forefront of the presidential campaigns right now, both candidates have let education take a backseat in this election, and we are concerned at the minimal level in which it has been discussed. After initially being receptive to the idea, both candidates later declined to participate in a national interview focusing on education with questions submitted from college newspapers across the country, including The Badger Herald. Education should be one of the federal government’s top priorities, and neither candidate has given this issue adequate attention. Despite this, we support Obama’s education agenda, which includes wide reform of the No Child Left Behind Act, increases in Pell Grant funding for college students and wide-ranging benefits for college students who go into the education field.
Obama’s stances on social issues are also much more in line with what the future of this nation needs. He recognizes the need to provide equality and fairness to same-sex couples who deserve the same benefits as a traditional married couple — although he and McCain do not support gay marriage. While McCain was part of a small minority in his party to reject a constitutional ban on gay marriage, Obama remains the candidate who will be a leader in providing equal rights for homosexuals. Obama supports an amendment to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act similar to the one crafted by Wisconsin’s own Rep. Tammy Baldwin that would have extended the law to include gender identity.
On foreign policy, we appreciate Obama’s call for troop withdrawal from Iraq within a year-and-a-half of his presidency. While we don’t find this plan entirely realistic — and feel Obama is proposing such a short time frame to appeal to liberals who wanted troops to be withdrawn long ago — it is time to start thinking about an exit strategy. We must acknowledge that McCain was one of the first supporters of the troop surge in Iraq, and that has proven to be successful up to this point.
However, Obama is the candidate who can bring sound diplomatic efforts to foreign policy in general. We recognize the United States must remain an ally of Israel and endorse a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. The next president must bring diplomacy to the region, and we feel Obama’s openness to meet with Middle Eastern leaders could prove to be a safer solution than premature military operations. In Afghanistan, we appreciate both candidates recognizing the need for greater troop presence there, but it was Obama who earlier recognized our greatest efforts should be focused there, the center of the War on Terror. However, we are disappointed by Obama’s support of immunity for telecoms through the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act.
This country will forever be indebted to John McCain. From his bravery and courage as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War to his decades of service in the United States government, McCain is truly an American hero. However, we question some of his actions during this campaign, particularly the selection of Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. While a first-term governor may have the capabilities to serve as president, Palin does not, and she has proven that during recent weeks. Her lack of knowledge and inability to articulate policies in an interview shows she is simply not prepared to lead. To be qualified to be vice president, a candidate must be qualified to be president as well. Palin is not, and has proven she would likely be incapable of serving in either role at this time.
Throughout the course of his campaign, Obama has been able to rally support from young people and those who have never voted before. Much of this can be attributed to Obama’s eloquent oratorical abilities, which we feel Obama has been given too much credit for. His never-ending calls for simple “change” were able to propel him through the primary process, but we hope Obama will take his words and turn them into action if elected.
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Your editorial staff is sorely misguided! I can appreciate you are college students who are very impressionible and have not been in the “real world”. I am also a college student who first decided to put my money where my mouth was, and served my country faithfully for the past few years. You blind “trust” of Obama is sickening. You were right that this is an important election, as they all are. This is a buzz word that has accompanied all the past elections I’ve voted in. Here is what you will find over the next four years if Obama is elected. He will raise taxes. On everyone. That is the ONLY way he can pay for these programs you support, like MANDATORY healthcare INSURANCE. According to leading economists, they claim Obama’s proposal will actually affect something like 33%, not the 1-4% he claims. Also, why should the Government make it madatory for me to gamble with the legalized lottery of health insurance. What if my religion doesn’t believe in modern medicine (i.e. Amish)? Would I get a fine? I currently earn too much for welfare, and gov’t paid insurance; and I cannot afford the $5K health insurance for my wife and I. But I do not want it. Contrary to popular opinion, America cannot set a timeline for withdrawl. To do so will inspire our enemy to lay low until we leave, than destroy the country when we leave (i.e. Vietnam). Also, we were involved in a little conflict about 60 years ago, fighting Germany and Japan, maybe some of you have heard of it? But to this day, we still have many bases in those countries. I don’t think Germany is about to see a reemergence of the Nazi Party, or Imperial Japan, but yet we are still there. Maybe those bases serve a strategic purpose. I would think some bases in the center of the Middle East would be stragically valuable. Even Barack will not give those up! Obama is a young, attractive candidate, who can deliver a mezmorizing speech. That is not a good enough reason to earn my vote. The most ironic twist to Obama is this. To work in the White House, everyone must pass a background investigation. This an extremely probative inquery. They look at everyone you associate with. The ironic part is Obama COULD NOT get this clearance, because of his associations with radicals. So will he be allowed to sit in his own ‘classified’ briefings? Or will we give him another pass? Looking at history I can recall another charismatic speaker who supported socialist policies who ran for office. In fact his speeches were so captivating that he was said to hypnotize the crowds. His country was suffering from great economic hardships, and the public was looking for change. Does this scenerio sound familiar yet? Well his name was Adolf Hitler, and we saw how he turned out. To the students of UW-Madison. If you truly want to make a difference this election, look at the issues honestly, make a decision and cast a vote.
right on.
Really, th Badger Hersld supports Obama…I couldn’t tell by your stories.
Well done ed board. Pointed out the merits of both, but truly, Obama is the one for job at this point in American history.
Wow, 1:30am even threw in a Hitler reference. Does he get bonus points for that?
What’s with ending sentences with prepositions? Y’all look like a quasi-literate group of quacks who are in way over your heads.
-Chad S.
1:30 -
Trust, but verify. Do you trust everything McCain says? I think it’s more than a little insulting to insinuate that Obama supporters know nothing about their candidate just because McCain says so.
But hey, if you want to believe that Barack Obama is a Socialist Terrorist Muslim Fascist, that’s up to you.
There’s plenty out there to refute your claims, but I take issue with your attitude.
Finally, the “I served!” meme should be on its last legs. Just because you served does not make you right. I respect your service - but your condescending attitude needs a bit of work. Really? Comparing Obama to Hitler?
Get a life.
Fear not! Salvation is at hand! The One will soon sweep into office with his clouds of angels manning the bureaucracy and cure all our ills; provide free health care, free college and free homes for all; and unify us and all mankind under the benevolent government of the United Nations.
Nowhere to run to, Baby. Nowhere to hide.
Why is an objective news agency endorsing a candidate? Does that affect its ability to objectively report the issues? To my knowledge, the newspaper does not have a vote in this election, or does it.
Dear 3:39,
Please go read a newspaper or two. Then get back to us with what you’ve learned.
Love,
Everyone
9:35am - Hitler..Really? You need to get back to the books and brush up your shit.
@12:01 Word!
1:30am, your Hitler reference is right on. Just wait, people. If this egotistical socialist with ties to some of America’s most disgusting individuals becomes president, we’ll really be in for some “Change.” Whether it is good or not, we shall see.
I hope at some point you will tell your readers that Obama is for mandating national service in the form of military service. Your readers can view the transcript of this very pertinent information, which directly affects them,by accessing it from the columbia university national service forum which took place in september 2008.
Before you vote for obama view the transcipt from the sept 2008 transcript of the national service forum hosted by columbia university…obama wants government mandated service and all to serve in the military…that may mean you…you could be marching in uniform singing the praises of the One
I would prefer a non-Communist as President.