Too Good to be True?

Posts By: Brandon Kamin, Roger Lee, & David Yourgrau

Do college students truly understand the politics that separate Obama and Clinton? Or has Obama been able to gain the support of college students simply on personal appeal?

Pennsylvania college students will especially play a vital role in determining the Democratic Party’s candidate at the Pennsylvania Primary on April 22, 2008. A recent poll taken in December 2007 shows that 43% of college students support Senator Barack Obama of Illinois while only 23% support Senator Hillary Clinton of New York. While many analysts and political scientists are unable to justify and explain the large discrepancy in support, Bill Woodman a professor of sociology at Iowa State University told The Politico that he believes that students have grown weary of the longtime political actors. “They seem more interested in character, a fresh view of the future… Many students feel that Hillary Clinton is not a change. She may be a woman but she is not a fresh face.” It is that inherent need for change that has allowed Obama to gain so much support from college students.

Although it would be a massive generalization to equate this attitude to all college students who support Obama, it is very prevalent trend. Tony Aquilino a junior at Ursinus College, who plans on voting for Obama, said that “no basis for this vote but from what I remember I heard I liked. Plus I’ve heard he’s good”. Other students seem to be portraying similar naïveté. As one student who requested to remain nameless said when asked about why he likes Obama more than Hillary, “He looks younger and his speeches aren’t traditional. Plus he acts like he wants us involved. I don’t really get that feeling from her”.

There clearly is a non-political element of appeal for Obama and it may just be the youth’s lack of understanding towards politics that helps Obama garner so much support from them. As Tuggelin Yourgrau president of the film company Powderhouse Productions said “Obama represents a change against the established way of doing things…youth voters are attracted to candidates who shake up the establishment. He is especially going to attract many young people who are bright-eyed idealists. They see Hillary as too much of a power person. She’s been around too long”.

Politicians, such as Obama who are labeled as idealists are often accused of following policies that are in themselves good ideas but are politically unrealistic. College students, who are often uneducated in politics are more attached to the ideas and principles that Obama preaches rather than their actually practicality. As one blogger stated, “Part of Obama's appeal is a promise to transcend the conflicts which roil American politics, but this actually suggests a disturbing naiveté”. While this blogger obviously sees fault with college students’ endorsement of Obama’s idealistic policies, Yourgrau thinks otherwise. “I love it that college students are embracing idealistic ideas. College students are almost always the ones to expand the lines of social and political possibilities that the old time politicians have drawn”.

Doctor May Ail Republican Party

The fate of the Republican Party’s candidate, Senator John McCain, may rest squarely on the shoulders of a gynecologist. The Pennsylvania Primaries on April 22, 2008 will show Pennsylvania Republican voters how great of a thorn Ron Paul is in the side of John McCain.

Ron Paul a Texas Representative, gynecologist and member of the Republican Party has gained notoriety throughout the nation for his outspoken beliefs that go against the Republican party’s mantra, his enthusiastic supporters and his refusal to end his candidacy despite facing sure defeat.

Although Ron Paul will most certainly not receive enough votes to earn the Republican nomination once the primaries end he will most likely follow the likes of Ross Perot, Ralph Nader and run as a third party candidate. However as history has proven third party candidates generally effect only one party. Paul’s campaign is no different as it will only effect the Republican Party. Paul’s politics are classically conservative he is against increasing taxes and believes in strictly following the constitution.

Even his social policies such as being pro-life and against legalizing gay marriage are staple points of the conservative party; therefore, he only appeals to people who would have voted for Republican candidates if they had not voted for Paul. It is where Ron Paul strays from current conservative policies that makes him such a threat to Republican’s. Paul’s most notorious policy is his endorsement of an immediate evacuation from Iraq, which is completely opposite to the strategy that nearly every Republican in office has taken. Paul represents Republicans who tire of the direction their party has taken, which is most notably the courses of actions taken by the Bush Administration.

With Paul nearly having no chance at yielding enough votes to win the presidency he allows himself to be far more honest than other candidates who must worry to appease the general public. McCain on the other hand must make sure his policies appeal to the Conservative base, which means that his aims are very similar to that of the Bush administration. By offering alternatives to the Republican’s current policies he is in many ways reemphasizing its flaws. Such as when Paul was asked, during a GOP debate in Dearborn, Michigan, whether he was going to end his campaign he responded, “Not unless they're willing to end the war and bring our troops home, and not unless they're willing to look at the excessive spending. No, I'm not going to support them if they continue down the path that has taken our party down the tubes.”

Sorry Republicans, but like the primaries, your candidate wont be the only conservative on the ballot. As one conservative blogger stated, “Ron Paul is a great guy and I agree with much of what he says , but in order to best serve the interests of the Constitution it is important that he not run against the main republican candidate as an independent. He will siphon to many votes and cause to much grief.”

Endorsing the Future

Follow the leader…

If you are an Ursinus student that is a follower of John Edwards, pay attention because his endorsement is critical for the Democratic nomination and the future of whom will face off against John McCain, Republican nominee, for the next President of the United States.

With John Edwards now out of the race for the Democratic primaries, the decision of who to endorse will be a crucial element to both Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton’s campaigns.

Although Edwards’ decision is very much so up in the air as to who he will endorse, if Edwards decides to go ahead and support Clinton and gear his followers towards her campaign, he would be going against his word throughout his entire campaign trail and prove to be quite hypocritical.

Directly calling Clinton out in a speech last summer in New Hampshire, Edwards accused Clinton of being a “corporate Democrat willing to benefit from the crooked politics of Washington.”

Tuggelin Yourgrau, President of Powder House Productions, feels that “Edwards addresses the needs of poor Americans and pushes the idea of putting them on the agenda.

Edwards is one whom has the support of the “undecided working class families and progressive liberals,” followed Yourgrau.

Say Edwards finally makes up his mind and chooses a candidate to endorse…

Well, what do I get out it?

With what is probably in bold writing in his contract with the nominee, this essential question may very well be pondered in the mind of John Edwards upon agreeing to help endorse another for the Democratic nomination.

What can the remaining nominees offer John Edwards for his endorsement?

John Edwards could possibly decide to support the man who he approvingly claims to be advocating change, but if for some reason he decides to bring his followers to the Clinton campaign to achieve a political role such as Attorney General for the Democratic administration or an opportunity to getting a step closer towards becoming a member of the Supreme Court, Edwards would be nothing more than a politician upholds the reputation of one who will say and do anything to achieve what is in his own best interest and disregarding the citizens who have supported him throughout his campaign.

With O’Bama standing for a major change and Clinton being one who, according to Edwards, in a debate before his infamous New Hampshire speech last summer, is “aligned with the forces of status quo dead-set on blocking change in Washington,” it may seem preposterous to see Edwards endorse Clinton but it may very well happen.

Either way, Edwards will be comfortable when endorsing the candidate his chooses to endorse.
Students should realize that even if Edwards decides to support Clinton, he will have no problem arguing that Clinton would be a better president than John McCain, in the case that Hilary Clinton receives the Democratic Nominee because of where they fall on the political spectrum.

Bottom line, Obama and Clinton need to start becoming very friendly with Mr. Edwards.

Can a male-driven government handle a female president?

Men have dominated politics since its creation.


It is hard to ignore the current male influence in American politics. With the primary election underway, it is possible that a female Democrat could take the crown as our next president. Are we as a society ready for this kind of change?

“Well I feel that we are ready for a female president,” said Philadelphia native Peter Serratore.


“Hilary is fully equipped to be our president. She’s very intelligent, clear, expressive, and confronts the right issues in our world today,” stated the rising college junior. As much as he would like to see a female running the white house, this student is not so sure that America feels the same way. “Though I would love to have her be elected, I feel there may not be a female president for some odd years.”

Ursinus graduate Duncan Ramsey agreed that America may not be ready for such a drastic political change. “In a whole, no there would not be enough interest for a female president,” argued the graduate. But the question remains, just when will America be ready for such a change?

“I don’t think U.S. citizens are ready for a female president. I’m not sure if we ever will be ready for such a change even though women are becoming more present in politics. But the U.S. will never be ready for such an adjustment until the situation is thrust upon them,” argued college sophomore Rachel Azar.

Some would argue that America is all for change and inclusiveness, so of course we would be okay with a female president…but this would be living in a fairytale world. Everyone is not supportive of change in our country. This in part has stifled our political growth as a country. However, Duncan Ramsey argued, “I think the real question is who are we more ready for, a female president or a black president?” He added that if a female or an African-American won the election it would definitely force America to change.

“Not right now,” said Ursinus senior Tara Pearson. “We may be ready, but I’m not sure we have the right female for the job as of now.”


However, other students feel that having any woman as president is a step in the right direction. An anonymous junior argued that “Women know how to express themselves while thinking about the effect and outcome of things. We do things on instinct, that gut feeling and if you get a real woman who knows how to make decisions, things would work out just fine,” she laughed.

“But just how fine would things work out?” asked sophomore Michael Chovanes. He shared a similar belief to sophomore Ashley McComeskey who said, “Basically women aren’t viewed as strongly as men are.” She continued, “We might not be taken seriously. If a female cries on camera, that is a huge sign of weakness in my opinion. I don’t think the U.S. can afford to look weak right now,” said McComeskey.