Hear the Debate Watch Party’s student organizers speak about the event.
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Posted on September 26th, 2008 by Aram Zucker-Scharff
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By Christian Yingling
Caving to public and media pressure, Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain has agreed to participate in tonight’s debate at the University of Mississippi.
This announcement comes over 48 hours after his controversial campaign suspension and request for the debate to be postponed until after the economic crisis has been fixed. Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama made an announcement Tuesday in response to McCain’s request stating that he would be at the debate even if McCain was not.
The two campaigns have agreed to move the debate to 9 p.m. and George Mason University’s pre-debate discussion will now begin at 8 p.m. Join Mason Votes, CSPAN, Cox Cable and Rock the Vote in the Johnson Center Atrium tonight for a pre and post debate discussion and a watch party of the debate itself. Free food will be provided.
Posted on September 26th, 2008 by Christian Yingling
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In Professor Janette Muir’s class on presidential campaigns the question of the day was: will the presidential debate go forward on Friday? The class, which has students who will help to moderate Mason’s debate watch party, had a lot to say about presidential candidate John McCain’s surprising request for the first debate to be postponed.
“There are 98 other capable senators. I just feel that [President George W.] Bush waited too long to deal with this,” said junior history major Kaitlyn Burrough. “It is important for us to know their plans for the economy and their platforms since the problem is going to fall in their lap.”
Sophomore Catie Dugan disagreed with Burrough saying, “Despite everything Bush has or hasn’t done, he’s trying to do something now.” Dugan also said it is important for the two senators to do the job in Washington they were elected to do.
Currently, the debate is still scheduled for tonight at 8 p.m. although McCain has not yet announced if he will be in attendance. Mason Votes is co-sponsoring a watch party in the Johnson Center Atrium starting at 7 p.m. with pre-debate commentary from Mason Professors Janette Muir, Steve Klein, and Stephen Farnsworth, in conjunction with representatives from local Republican and Democratic committees.
Posted on September 25th, 2008 by Christian Yingling
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By Jamie Gage, United Press International
With less than six weeks to go, it would seem that the election is the one topic on every American’s mind. But, that’s not necessarily the case. For various reasons some students are having a hard time getting involved in the election.
“There is so much associated with the election, I find it hard to even start to educate myself about it,” said Kristen Ryan, a senior at George Mason University. “I know some of what the candidates believe in, but I don’t know everything. I have an interest but it’s not the only thing that I care about.”
There are also some students who don’t have any particular interest in the election.
“I’m not even registered to vote,” said Allie Phass, a junior. “I know what is going on, but it’s not interesting to me. I don’t want to say I don’t care, but growing up the elections were never something my parents really talked about. I think that influenced me a lot.”
On the George Mason campus, it’s hard to not get bombarded by one of many volunteers attempting to get people registered to vote. These volunteers want college students to take an active role in deciding their futures.
“Getting students registered to vote is only part of the process,” said Jacob Plumb, a volunteer. “We really are trying to get the students interested in the election and interested in their own future.”
“Many of the decisions that are made by the president will directly affect the students and we want the students to take a part in helping to decide their futures,” said Plumb. “If 100 percent of people ages 18 to 25 voted, they would completely control the election. That’s something to think about.”
Viewing the candidate’s web sites is a good way to get information and watching different political events on the television is another.
“Sometimes I go online and read about the platforms that the candidates have,” said Ryan. “I feel the need to educate myself, because I want to be able to vote and know who I am voting for. I also watch the political events that occur because they are exciting and really show the candidates what they are made of.”
“Knowing is half the battle,” said senior Melissa Devine, a nursing major. “I want to be educated, because I want to know who I am voting for and I want to make a difference.”
From: The Voice of Young Voters
Posted on September 25th, 2008 by Aram Zucker-Scharff
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Posted on September 24th, 2008 by Christian Yingling
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Posted on September 24th, 2008 by Christian Yingling
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-No Photo Available –
Website: www.indygreens.org
Party: Independent Green Party
Education: B.A., public policy, Penn State.
Political Highlights:
Virginia General Assembly: 1993, 2002
Co-founder of Independent Greens of Virginia
Key Issues:
Posted on September 24th, 2008 by Christian Yingling
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Democratic Presidential Nominee Barack Obama just finished a press conference responding to Republican Presidential Nominee John McCain’s campaign suspension and request for Friday’s debate to be postponed. In his statements, he rejected the idea that either a campaign suspension or debate postponement is necessary.
“It will be part of the president’s job to deal with more than one thing at once,” said Obama. “It’s more important than ever for us to present ourselves to the country.”
He did however offer his support and assistance to fellow legislators.
“If I can be helpful, then I am prepared to be anywhere anytime.” He does not, however want to “infuse Capitol Hill with presidential politics.”
It is not presently clear what McCain will do now that Obama plans to continue with the debate. Go to Twitter for Mason Vote’s live coverage of Obama’s press conference.
Posted on September 24th, 2008 by Christian Yingling
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Website: www.keithfimian.com
Party: Republican
Education: Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting, College of William & Mary
Political Highlights: None
Key Issues:
Energy
Ethics
Global Competition and Business
Government Spending
Immigration
National Defense and Iraq
Taxes
Veterans
Posted on September 24th, 2008 by Christian Yingling
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Website: www.gerryconnolly.com
Party: Democrat
Education:
B.A. in Literature, Maryknoll College
M.A. in Public Administration, Harvard University
Political Highlights:
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors: 2003-Present
Providence District Supervisor: 1994-2003
Key Issues:
Economy
Iraq
Health Care
Environment
Education
Posted on September 24th, 2008 by Christian Yingling
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