There is no question that this presidential election is one
of the most important in recent history. After seven years of failed Bush
policies, it is clear we need a president who can redirect this country and put
our government back on the right track. For Democrats in this primary season,
the decision is a difficult one ? both candidates bring unique, impressive
qualities to this election. But after careful consideration and keeping an open
mind until recently, it has become clear to me that Sen. Hillary Clinton has
both the vision and the experience to guide our nation in the right direction.
This is why I was so disappointed in The Badger Herald?s endorsement of Sen.
Barack Obama (?Obama deserves your vote,? Feb. 14) and the troubling logic
behind it.
It cannot be denied that Ms. Clinton has put forth both
practical and innovative policies that will solve many of the problems we face
today. This is why I was surprised at the Herald editorial board?s reasoning in
their endorsement. Their lack of interest in Ms. Clinton?s concrete policies
and their seemingly flippant disregard for the important role of experience
felt inconsistent with their often thoughtful and balanced study of positions.
I found their attack on Ms. Clinton?s Senate record
unwarranted, specifically their critique of the active role she played in the
Family Entertainment Protection Act. FEPA, which was never put to a vote,
simply would have required that the same standards applied to R-rated movies be
applied to ?Mature?-rated video games. But whatever your opinion of these
restrictions, it is important to note that in a questionnaire published by
Common Sense Media ? an advocacy group for stronger parental controls ? Mr.
Obama said that if the video game industry failed to enforce these standards
themselves, ?[his] administration would.? To raise FEPA as a criticism of Ms.
Clinton seems strange considering Mr. Obama shares the same view ? not to
mention that Illinois is one of a handful of states that had sought to impose
similar restrictions.
The editorial board disparagingly described Ms. Clinton?s
Senate record as a ?mixed bag.? Unfortunately, Mr. Obama?s Senate record has
amounted to very little thus far. The unusually high percentage of instances in
which Mr. Obama voted ?present? rather than yes or no greatly concerns me. I
also take fault with the editorial board?s characterization of the two
candidate?s health care plans. We know Mr. Obama?s plan would leave 15 million
Americans uninsured. While I understand The Badger Herald?s reservations about
an imposed mandate, the fact of the matter is that completely universal
coverage is the only way to truly reduce the rates of illness and decrease the
cost of health care.
I know who I?m voting for Feb. 19, and I hope the students
of this university take a more thoughtful consideration of who to cast their
votes for than that of the editorial board.
Josh Freedman
UW senior, political science