THE ichigan eview MThe Journal of Campus Affairs at theR University of Michigan www.michiganreview.com VOLUME XXVII November 4, 2008 ELECTION EXCLUSIVE Tough Decisions & Changing Conservatism EXCLUSIVE The Candidates’ Positions After the Bush Years, Where Does the A Summary of the Presidential Conservative Movement in America Candidates on Iraq, the Economy, Go? Does It Need a Facelift? Should It OBAMA SPEAKS Health Care, Trade, Energy, Harken Back to Past Ideals? Or Should Education and Drugs It Stick to Its Guns and Ride Out the WITH JANE COASTON Storm? PAGES 6 & 7 PAGES 8 & 9 ON BACK Jumping the Education Hurdle How Alma Mater Matters

ILLUSTRATION JONATHAN SLEMROD & EUN LEE / MR STAFF

BY BRITTANI KAGAN ‘11

In today’s education-obsessed society, a U.S. days of Abraham Lincoln who did not even graduate Probably when it started mattering to the rest of presidential candidate could never make it past the from college. These days, however, the American pub- us. primaries without an Ivy League degree. With Presi- lic has come to associate higher capability with high The U.S. Census Bureau reports that in 2006 en- dent Bush holding an undergraduate degree from Yale levels of education. This almost unrecognized transi- rollment reached 20.5 million students in two- and University and a M.B.A. from Harvard University, aca- tion begs the question – when did college start matter- four-year colleges and universities, including those in demic expectations have certainly increased since the ing for candidates? EDUCATION Continued on PAGE 5 Controversy Over Voter Registration The Road to the White House Across the Nation Full of Potholes and Voter Registration A Look at Voting Out of State Misleading Road Signs BY VALIANT LOWITZ ‘12 BY CHRISTINE HWANG ‘10 BY NATHAN TORREANO ‘12

With Election Day less then one week away, most Being the eighth largest state in electoral votes During the Presidential voters feel secure in their choices for President of the gives plenty of reason for out-of-state students to vote debates of the 2008 elec- . in Michigan. This year, in particular, many out-of-state tion, both Senators Obama But can they feel secure that their votes will actu- students based their decisions on where to vote on the and McCain were guilty of ally count? fact that Michigan was initially considered a swing state several factual errors that Fraudulent voter registration applications have and is more of a swing state than their home states. impugned the character or actions of their opponent. ACORN Continued on PAGE 13 Some of the people who decided to vote in Michi- These errors, as reported by the non-partisan website mail to gan come from the South, the generally “red” portion factcheck.org, related to tax policy, Social Security, the of the country. candidate’s histories, and the presidential hopeful’s “I am voting in Michigan because at the time of plans for leadership in the White House. Factcheck.org registration it was a battleground state, meanwhile my put together a comprehensive list of these mistakes and home of Alabama was and is conservative and will not allegations. “John McCain is George Bush III.” change anytime soon,” commented LSA Senior Adam “ pals around with terrorists.” VOTING Continued on PAGE 13 CONTRADICTIONS Continued on PAGE 13 & 14 www.michiganreview.com PAGE 2 10.30.20084.1.08 THE MICHIGAN REVIEW An Announcement from The Michigan Review www.michiganreview.com The Michigan Review was awarded the “Best New Media” award by the Collegiate Editorial Board Lindsey Dodge Network at the Western Division Editor’s Conference on October 25th. Editor-in-Chief Jane Coaston The paper was recognized for its use of blogs, its imaginative design and website, Executive Editor Adam Pascarella and its podcasts with such figures as Joe Lieberman and John McCain. Managing Editor Eun Lee Graphic Design Editor A Letter to the Editor Jonathan Slemrod Editor-at-Large DEAR MICHIGAN REVIEW: After reading the treated, tell somebody. I do believe you can have an ef- article on the UHS by Anna Dickey (10/14/08), I would fect if you provide feedback quickly and clearly. If you Nathan Stano like to contribute some information and responses. I’m don’t feel very clear on the diagnosis and plan before Assistant Editors glad to see an article about the UHS. This is obviously you leave, ask questions. an important and highly utilized resource serving a vi- I’d encourage every health care consumer to go to tal role. appointments prepared with questions, ask for what First, I think the headline is misleading; almost all they need, and state when they are not satisfied. usiness taff B S the information in the article is positive, but the head- Finally, regarding the med student who could not Karen Boore line leads one to believe that any conclusion is very access the appropriate care, I think she presents an ex- Publisher much up in the air. ample of one of the most fragile, ineffective, and prob- A question: Who are the “many” that claim that the lematic areas in health care in general. Obviously it is Jonathan Slemrod UHS “tosses out these diagnoses...”? (The “many” who not OK for anyone - but particularly those who may Anna Malecke are “greatly appreciative” is more clear, given the per- be especially vulnerable - to experience such difficul- Associate Publishers centages of thoose who gave positive responses.) There ties in accessing appropriate care. Unfortunately, this is are very good reasons for testing for pregnancy (and the case for almost everyone in this country who has a sexually transmitted infections) and mono in college psychological or psychiatric condition requiring treat- Michael O’Brien populations. Young people newly away from home ment. Mental health care is hard to find, get, and pay Editor Emeritus experience new behavioral norms and freedoms as for: providers are often booked or don’t accept certain well as exposures to new infections. College students payment forms; insurance and public plans rarely pro- generally have higher risks for and higher incidences vide adequate coverage for psychotherapy and coun- of behaviorally-related and contagious illness, at least seling; and of course ongoing stigma obstructs access taff riters hotographers S W & P as newcomers. to accurate and helpful information and services. Given (in alphabetical order) Given the size of the UHS and the volume of visits, the high incidence of mental illness, all of us - directly I’m not at all surprised that some students have had or through a friend or family member - will be affect- Alex Chiriyath, Anna Dickey, Zack Divozzo, bad experiences. Health care providers do have differ- ed in some way by mental illness at some point in our Austyn Foster, Christine Hwang, Brittani Ka- ent styles, and some “relate” much better than others lives; we had all better push for better access to good gan, Valiant Lowitz, Megan Lytle, Alissa Ng, (and they have bad days like other folks). It is not ac- care and sufficient care. Katie Singer, Eden Stiffman, Nathan Torre- ceptable to treat patients/students badly under any cir- Thanks for your time. ano, Sreya Vempatti, Joseph Xu cumstances. Students: if you didn’t like how you were Michelle O’Grady

Letters & Viewpoints Corrections The Michigan Review accepts and encourages letters to the editor and viewpoints. Letters to the editor The October 14th article was titled “Zatkoff understand that they were no longer employees and should be under 300 words. Viewpoints can be Loses Position, Steals Literature.” A more appropriate had no authority to move those boxes. Once that was arranged by contacting the editorial board. We title could be “Michigan GOP Infighting Turns Ugly clarified the boxes were put back.” reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Over Campaign Literature.” The original article reported that Zatkoff was fired The original article indicated that Justin Zatkoff by the Republican National Committee’s ‘Victory 08’ Send all correspondence to [email protected]. attempted to steal campaign materials. However, the program after McCain pulled his campaign out of Michigan Republican Party has filed no charges. MRP Michigan. In actuality, Zatkoff’s position was with the Spokesman Bill Nowling has been quoted in Michigan Michigan Republican Party. MR About Us Information & Research Service, “Some people didn’t

The Michigan Review provides a broad range of in-depth coverage of campus affairs and serves as the literary voice of conservatism and at Letter from the Editor the University of Michigan. The Review is published What you have in your hands is the Michigan election politics in a satirical spread starting page 12. bi-weekly September thru April. Review’s special extended election issue. We hope We counteract the liberal trend in children’s books to engage our readers in the important specific is- by playing on the traditional beloved tale of Babar sues facing conservatives in the upcoming election, (and you can see where this is going). We also in- onate ubscribe D /S as well as the broader cultural developments of con- clude a mini-glossary of political terms, parodying The Michigan Review accepts no financial support servatism. our famous summer Glossary just in time for elec- from the University. Therefore, your support is critical Addressing four of the key themes that affect tion season. and greatly appreciated. Donations above $40 are the changing conceptions of conservative voters, A standout element of the issue is our confer- eligible for a 1-year (12 issues) subscription. we look into religion, economics, the polling base, ence call with Barack Obama. Although we may Donations can be made on our website at and foreign policy past and present. Continuing to not agree with his policies, it’s difficult to ignore his www.michiganreview.com, or mailed to: analyze this perception among U-M students, Nate impressive efforts in reaching out to young voters. Stano‘11 analyzes the development of conservative Speaking with him during a Press Conference re- 911 N. University, Suite One intellectualism. flects the growing openness of candidates in speak- Ann Arbor, MI 48109 This issue is not a purely theoretical tract. In ing with college publications.

The Michigan Review is the independent, student-run journal of some of our news pieces, we discuss the Bradley It is always up for discussion in the office what conservative and libertarian opinion at the University of Michigan. effect that may be taking place in Obama’s polls role we play on Michigan’s campus. We all bring di- We neither solicit nor accept monetary donations from the University. (Valiant Lowitz ’12). Another important issue dis- verse viewpoints, but what is generally agreed upon Contributions to The Michigan Review are tax-deductible under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code. The Michigan Review cussed is the media’s treatment of republican and is that the Review serves to bring a contrarian, often is not affiliated with any political party or any university political group. east-of-center politicians by Alex Chiriyath’12. As conservative articulation to a decidedly liberal uni-

Unsigned editorials represent the opinion of the editorial board. Ergo, a traditional voting guide, we provide bullet points versity. In this election issue, we hope above all else they are unequivocally correct and just. Signed articles, letters, and for U-M students of the major election points for to engage conservative thought in one of our most cartoons represent the opinions of the author, and not necessarily those of The Review. The Serpent’s Tooth shall Obama, McCain, and . important civic duties. represent the opinion of , anonymous contributors to The Political controversy is unavoidable during So to quote Jane Austen, “From politics, it was Review, and should not necessarily be taken as representative elections. We investigate the repercussion of the an easy step to silence.” I will leave the rest to your of The Review’s editorial stance. The opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the advertisers or the Acorn voter registration scandal (Valiant Lowitz judgment. University of Michigan. ’11) as well as the sometimes insupportable claims Copyright © 2007, The Michigan Review, Inc. All rights reserved. made by both Obama and McCain (Nathan Torre- Best, The Michigan Review is a member of the Collegiate Network. ano’11). Lindsey Dodge Speaking of Bob Barr, we have some fun with Editor-in-Chief 4.1.0810.30.2008 PAGE 3 Editorials

COMIC ZACK RAWSTHORNE

The Status Quo Has Got to Go With the determination of the election fast approaching, it’s a good idea to think about what the future holds. “W” has held power for the last eight

years, for eight years before that, and now it’s time for something PHOTOS extraordinary: conservatism in the government. The concepts of conservatism

are changing. The subtle effort of recent Republican candidates to separate JOSEPH XU themselves from the current Presidential administration shows that the trend of big government neo-conservatism has done little to lower taxes, keep America

competitive, and generally do anything that conservative voters want. Let’s face / MR STAFF it, it has been twenty years since left office and true conservative values have been left on the backburner by Republicans and Democrats alike. Barack Obama may not be our candidate of choice, but he’s got a point: it’s time for change. Conservatism isn’t what you probably think it is. It’s not new spending bills Change in Which We Don’t Believe or massive national security departments. Ronald Reagan once said, “Govern- ment exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond Unfortunately, the vast majority of dialogue on campus regarding its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves”. Conservatives think that the presidential election has little to do with policy. The truth is that a Barack you are smart enough to decide what to do with your time and money. Con- Obama presidency, veiled in “change” isn’t change at all – it is the same po- servatives think that politicians have enough trouble avoiding sex scandals and litical agenda that the current Democratic Congress has tried to push on the not accepting gifts from donors, and probably shouldn’t be able to decide where American people. What makes Obama different from Nancy Pelosi and Har- your children go to school. ry Reid? Hope and change, the vapid buzz words that they are, are simply a The Michigan Review has always offered a critique towards Republicans, bright candy coating on the politics as usual that the American people have and of course Democrats, who deny the vital importance of conservatism. For refused to swallow for the last two years. Truth is many on campus haven’t example, , a former Republican Governor of Arkansas and the slightest idea what an Obama presidency would do to America. An end to Presidential hopeful, claims that he is a conservative, yet this is simply not the the secret ballot for union elections, tax hikes that could cripple the economy, case. According to the , the Governor consistently sponsored the appointment of Supreme Court Justices who value “social and economic a plethora of tax increases in Arkansas including internet sales taxes, gas and justice” over the Constitution, and no end in sight to the gushing tap that is the cigarette taxes, and even a sales tax hike to fund the Arkansas Games and Fish- government’s wasteful spending. Is this the man that we want running our ing Commission. Tax and spend, tax and spend. country, and do we want this the government running our lives? The story is similar for Republican Senator Ted Stevens. Legal issues aside, The Employee Free Choice Act is a piece of legislation that would require Stevens has consistently slipped earmarks into legislation in order to please his employees to put a signature on a ballot to unionize, making their opinion on friends and political allies in . In the 2008 Appropriations Omnibus Act, the union plain for all to see. You hardly have to look outside Michigan to find Stevens allocated $25 million for sewage projects in Alaska Native villages, as evidence of massive union corruption, see Jimmy Hoffa. It is no stretch to imag- well as $4 million for a volcano observatory based in Alaska. Tax and spend, tax ine the kind of coercion that the unions might apply to make people unionize. and spend. The Act has been cosponsored in the Senate by Obama, as well as McCain is not a convictional politician. He does not follow a developed and other 44 other major Senate Democrats. An Obama administration, with a political philosophy, and many have found critique with the myth of the mav- filibuster proof Senate, would definitely pass this act. That would allow unions erick. Despite this, let the record show that he has been the most consistent and to prop up their sagging memberships and likely serve as a jumping off point effective sheriff in the Senate against excessive government spending. to regain the political clout, not to mention fundraising capacity, that they once The issue of government taxation and waste is this: When you justify spend- had. Could this lead to a closer marriage of the Democrats and Big Labor? Is ing in one area, you justify spending in another. It may be towards a conserva- it possible we may see something like the British Labour Party, where union tive purpose, such as No Child Left Behind, but if it unnecessarily redirects vot- leaders have a numerical share of party leadership? ers’ dollars into the hands of elected officials and unelected bureaucrats, it is not Congressional Democrats have been itching to reinstitute the Fairness conservative enough for us. We should decide. We should have the power, not Doctrine, which forced media outlets to present both sides of a political issue the government. in the interest of “fairness”. This is not only completely unconstitutional, but Granted, there are some politicians like Senator Jim DeMint of South Caroli- also a petty attempt to derail , the only media outlet na that stand their ground and practice what they preach, like voting against the that has a conservative lean. Silencing political dissent is un-American. Does Senate’s bailout bill and President Bush’s Comprehensive Immigration Plan in Obama, who has never stood against his party on any substantive issue, have 2007. Unfortunately, for the most part conservatism is lost in the stranglehold of the courage and the sense to stand up for free speech? His campaign has tried the political status quo, and it’s our duties as citizens and voters to fish it out. to silence, smear oer cut off people like or the news stations It’s a rebellious concept. Fighting the status quo is rebellious by definition, that have asked tough questions. Not a good track record so far. and people fight back because it’s their policies and their control over spend- Finally, it is likely that Obama will initiate the greatest tax hike this na- ing that they are protecting. Yet those thirteen colonies that invented the idea tion has ever seen. Obama plans to dramatically raise taxes on the rich, Social of conservatism were rebellious too, and it’s our duty to deny attacks on the Security, capital gains, estates and energy. There’s definitely a pattern here. ideology from both sides of the political spectrum and preserve its values in our The last time a president raised taxes and tried protectionist policy to protect government and on our campus. MR American industry, the United States slipped into the Great Depression, and Herbert Hoover became known as the worst president. This is change in which we don’t believe. MR P.PAGE 4 10.30.20084.1.08 The Model Minority A Time for Choosing

Going Out on a Limb An End to the Secret Ballot?

BY JANE COASTON ‘09 BY ADAM PASCARELLA ‘10

I’M VOTING FOR Senator Barack Obama for It has been called a piece of legislation that “gives work- President of the United States of America. There, ers back their voice,” by Senator Patty Murray of Wash- I said it. It’s a difficult point to admit within the ington. Senator Ted Kennedy declared that the bill would pages of a libertarian, right-leaning newspaper, “help restore the economic security that has been lost dur- but I believe that it is one that I hope to have de- ing the Bush years.” It has been sponsored by 234 Congress- veloped intelligently and thoughtfully. I’m not men and 47 Senators, and while it has failed to be enacted voting for Barack Obama because he and I share into law this year, it is likely to be re-considered when the a common racial heritage. Though it is intriguing newest Congress assumes its duties in 2009. Opinion and historically salient, I believe that the era of The fact of the matter remains, however, that this piece “firsts” has passed (and thank heavens for that). of legislation, while pitched as assistance to the “working The last time a black candidate stood a chance of man,” has a deep, dirty secret. While most citizens are pre- jane reaching the highest office in the land, Jesse Jack- adam paring to cast their votes in the next Presidential election, coaston son revealed himself to be, once again, an enor- pascarella the right to cast a secret vote may simply disappear for mous jerk. This is a little different. I’m also not some members of our society. The Employee Free Choice voting for Barack Obama because I have fallen in Act (EFCA) gives workers anything but free choice while love with his constant message of “change”. Let’s face it, its inexcusably participating in an election to decide if their shop is to become unionized. amorphous and thus largely meaningless. I changed shoes this morning, It’s such an insult to the democratic process that former Presidential candidate but that doesn’t make me a paradigm shifter. It’s political—effective, but political. George McGovern claimed that “It’s hard to believe that any politician would agree Liberals who forget that are setting themselves up for a disappointment not seen to a law denying millions of employees the right to a private vote.” This coming from since Lyndon Johnson broke their hearts in ’67. I’m voting for Barack Obama for McGovern, no such enemy of organized labor in America, is especially telling. two reasons—the policies that he suggests (and the encompassing subtext), and the The EFCA would entail that instead of private elections determining if a union is opposition. to be created in a certain business, employees would simply have to sign a card stat- The conceptualization that Barack Obama uses of what “government” should ing that they wish to be unionized. If at least 50 percent of employees consent to join- be is unlike that of any Democratic frontrunner in recent presidential elections, and ing a union during this “card check” process, the union would then be established. because of recent circumstances, that might be the best possible option. The Secre- Herein lies the problem, though. By having a worker publicly sign a card declar- tary of the Treasury got down on his knees in front of the Democratic House Major- ing their desire to establish a union, abuse within the system is undoubtedly going to ity leader and begged her to help pass a multi-billion dollar bailout package. John become commonplace. It is not ludicrous to think that union bosses could intimidate McCain advocates buying bad mortgages from homeowners and both candidates workers into signing the cards by using strong-arm tactics and subtle persuasion. advocate stronger oversight of Wall Street firms. These are strange times for advo- Legislation that was originally designed to benefit the worker turns 180 degrees in cates of , but it’s a little easier to think of an increase in govern- the opposite direction. The worker is prone to coercion while the democratic process ment oversight when private corporations have run amuck with your retirement as a whole is completely shunned. fund. I believe that the government has responsibilities to the larger populace that What is truly troubling is that while numerous politicians from the left and right it must fulfill in order for the quality of life of everyday to improve, and have publicly chastised the EFCA, it is almost certain to have a chance of passage, members of McCain’s campaign, no matter how much his advocates might deny it, especially if the Democrats achieve a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. While would agree. The federal government has the capability to better people’s lives and the EFCA has not been mentioned frequently on the campaign trail, Barack Obama allow them to act independently and intelligently. That’s my take. has praised the Democratic-sponsored legislation, promising to sign the legislation At one time, I’ll admit, John McCain was an intriguing candidate for the Presi- if elected President. dency. His willingness to challenge the Bush Administration on issues of torture Obama has certainly been close with organized labor in America, stating on and other matters of deep importance to those who believe in the American ideal April 2 to the AFL-CIO that “It’s time we had a president who didn’t choke saying is worthy of commendation. But he has fallen so far from those lofty concepts of his the word ‘union.’ A president who strengthens our unions by letting them do what 2000 Presidential run that it’s almost difficult to recognize him. Pat Shortridge of they do best: organize our workers.” SEIU, one such labor union, has contributed the wrote, “In 1980, Ronald Reagan wasn’t campaigning on Billy over $7.1 million to the Obama campaign and hundreds of other unions have offered Carter or the killer rabbit. With the misery index through the roof and the Soviets him similar support. on the march, he was campaigning on the economy and a strong America. He knew Ultimately, if Obama signs the EFCA, the average, hard-working American intuitively what Americans were concerned about; he knew what needed to be done worker will potentially be open for abuse. It is true that some business owners have and he focused on it incessantly. And he won in a landslide.” So why has McCain intimidated and threatened to fire workers if they wish to organize. In the end, sidestepped the major issues of the day and spent an inordinate amount of time con- though, the right to a secret election was present. cerning himself with largely inconsequential matters? By not focusing on the issues That fundamental right, one that we take for granted in America, will simply and instead throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Obama, he is losing once disappear if passed in 2009. unflappable members of his own base. McCain is running the 2004 Kerry Campaign For a preview of what is to come under the EFCA, consider the case of Allen to the letter, and we all know how effective that was. In his much-maligned piece for Smith. An employee of the Good Samaritan Hospital in California, Smith was intimi- , Christopher Buckley wrote: “McCain rose to power on his personal- dated by union members for backing a decertification effort for an election, which ity and biography. He was authentic. He spoke truth to power… Your heart went would remove a union as the exclusive bargaining negotiator for employees. Smith out to the guy. I thought at the time, God, this guy should be president someday.” was verbally and physically threatened for his support for decertification, and he Since those moments in the mid-nineteen-nineties, McCain has fallen from his previ- was even offered a chance to become a keynote speaker at a Jesse Jackson rally if he ous perch as gadfly of the Republican Party. That might be the most depressing fact complied with the union’s wishes. of this election. Conservatives and Republicans have never been farther from one There will ultimately be more cases like Allen Smith’s if the EFCA is passed next another in recent political history, and this candidate does nothing to ease the divide. year, especially since “convincing” a worker to join a union is now going to be that To quote an old friend of mine, “We are going to need an extraordinarily flexible much easier. In the end, after looking at all of the facts, the right to a secret vote is president and McCain has shown himself to be short of the task at hand.” truly at stake during this election. Is this truly change that we can believe in? MR Take from this what you will. Call me a tax-and-spend liberal, or leftist shill. I don’t mind. I just know that what I believe is possible for American government is best served by an Obama presidency. I think it’s time that government did what it was designed to do and governed. And for that, I refuse to apologize. MR THE MICHIGAN REVIEW is now in your ear. Check out our award-winning podcasts online with guests and commentary!

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BANDWAGON Continued on PAGE 14 4.1.0810.30.2008 PAGE 5 EDUCATION Continued from FRONT PAGE graduate or professional schools – a statistic up by 17 percent since 2000. Almost 40 years ago, there were US Presidents The Media & fewer than 9 million students in degree-granting insti- tutions, as revealed by the U.S. Department of Educa- & Their Alma Maters Presidential tion. (in order of terms served) (institutions attended) The controversial 2004 U.S. Presidential election Campaigns fueled much reporting about the unimpressive C-aver- George WashingtonCollege of William & Mary (withdrew) age that both Bush and John Kerry received at Yale in John Adams Harvard College BY ALEX CHIRIYATH ‘12 the mid 1960s. College education became quite topi- Thomas Jefferson College of William & Mary cal as media outlets all over the country publicized the James Madison College of New Jersey The media has played a powerful role lackluster candidates and their mediocre grades. The (now Princeton Univeristy) in politics. Beginning with print media widespread fascination with such poor performance James Monroe College of William & Mary and continuing with the rise of television, displayed the great increase in value that Americans John Quincy Adams University of Leiden (transferred) media outlets have used their visibility to place on academic excellence. A college degree has be- Harvard College inform and persuade voters. Presidential come a pre-requisite to enter the work force, not just an Andrew Jackson NONE candidates recognize the need for a strong achievement reserved to wealthy white males. The sub- Martin Van Buren Kinderhook Academy media presence and since the first American stantial increase in college enrollment reflects a society William Hampden-Syndey College (undergraduate) (withdrew) elections have used media to win elections. that accepts continued education after high school as Harrison University of School of Medicine The radio served as a good means of get- commonplace rather than optional. With a generation (M.D.) (withdrew) ting the policies of candidates to the general almost required to go to college, the American people John Tyler College of William & Mary public but the public had to decide whom would expect nothing less from their president. James Polk University of North Carolina to vote for based on what they heard. But The 2008 Presidential election has brought the same (now the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) then campaigns discovered a new media type of scrutiny upon the candidates. Barack Obama Zachary Tyler NONE outlet in television. Before the development graduated from and received his Millard Fillmore NONE of commercial television, voters had no way law degree from Harvard, while John McCain gradu- Franklin Pierce Bowdoin College of knowing the candidates as people. Tele- ated from the U.S. Naval Academy with an astonish- James Buchanan Dickinson College vision brought political candidates into the ingly low ranking. Educational background makes for Abraham Lincoln NONE living rooms of America. What a candidate two very different candidates. Once again, the Ameri- Andrew Johnson NONE MEDIA Continued on PAGE 14

can people must decide how much value they place on Ulysses S. Grant United States Military Academy Election & Continuations “the college experience” when it comes to choosing the Rutherford B. Hayes Kenyon College (undergraduate) next president. CollegeBoard contends that “students Harvard Law School (Law) who attend institutions of higher education obtain a James Garfield Hiram College (transferred) Net Neutrality wide range of personal, financial, and other lifelong Williams College Issue Lurks in Shadows benefits,” including several direct and indirect benefits Chester A. Arthur Union College for society as a whole. Furthermore, in an article on NONE BY ALISSA NG ‘10 NPR, Katherina Haley Will asserts that “the real bene- Benjamin Harrison Miami University of fits of higher education are difficult to calculate: to learn William McKinley Alleghany College Swirling among the other “hot-but- how to learn and how to flourish as a free human be- Albany Law School ton” issues during this intensely competi- ing for a lifetime; to be a good citizen in a democracy.” Theodore Roosevelt Harvard University (undergraduate) tive campaigning period is the matter of These intangible benefits of higher education suggest Columbia Law School (Law) (withdrew) net neutrality, an important topic of con- certain unexplainable strengths that a president may William Taft Yale University (undergraduate) troversy, in recent legislation and presi- possess over one who had never experienced college. University of Cincinnati Law School (Law) dential candidates’ speeches. But with the Interestingly, John McCain graduated from the Woodrow Wilson Davidson College (transferred) economy, energy, abortion, tax, foreign U.S. Naval Academy in 1958 when Dwight D. Eisen- Princeton University (undergraduate) policy and education issues posing to be hower, who attended the U.S. Military Academy, was University of Virginia Law School (Law) (withdrew) more worrisome to the average American, president. During the Cold War, the American people Johns Hopkins University (Ph.D.) net neutrality has faded from the focus of looked to a president who had a military background. Warren Harding Ohio Central College Senator Barack Obama and Senator John Perhaps the same idea will guide voters in our time of Amherst College McCain’s hard-hitting speeches. Neverthe- war to elect John McCain due to his military experi- Herbert Hoover Stanford Univeristy less, the two candidates have been clear in ence. Franklin Roosevelt Harvard University (undergraduate) their stance on net neutrality, which which The reasoning that guides the American public to Columbia Law School (Law) is the principle that Internet users should vote one way or the other involves a complex array of Harry Truman University of Missouri have the freedom to control what content factors. Though the education of many presidents and Kansas City School of Law they view. Obama favors the preservation of candidates has been increasingly impressive, recent (Law) (did not receive degree) the Internet and opposes government cen- reports about their performance at these institutions Dwight Eisenhower United States Military Academy sorship and telecommunication giants act- might way more heavily to voters. Perhaps the name- John Kennedy London School of Economics ing as “gatekeepers” to content we receive. brand schools will enter the minds of Americans with (undergraduate) (transferred) Conversely, McCain rejects net neutrality as a grain of salt. Perhaps the generational difference in Princeton University (undergraduate) (transferred) a “prescriptive regulation”, favoring a safe what college meant will be investigated. However, a Harvard University (undergraduate) (International Affairs) Internet with government intervention to presidential candidate without those name-brand di- Stanford Graduate School of Business protect consumers and safeguard children plomas might not bode well to the young people trudg- (M.B.A.) (did not graduate) from harmful online content. Obama, too, ing through college and their parents trudging through Lyndon Johnson Southwest Texas State has advocated “strengthening of privacy paying for it. For better or worse, college does matter Teachers College (undergraduate) protections for the digital age”, but also sup- and it will be interesting to see which candidate’s aca- Georgetown University Law Center ports “harnessing the power of technology demic chops (or lack thereof) lead to a win. MR (Law) (withdrew) to hold government and business account- Whittier College (undergraduate) able for violations of personal privacy”. Duke University School of Law (Law) Net neutrality has been the focus of re- Conservatives Leap onto University of Michigan (undergraduate) cent legislation, the 2007 Dorgan-Snowe bi- Yale Law School (Law) partisan bill and the 2008 Internet Freedom Barack Bandwagon Jimmy Carter Georgia Southwestern College (transferred) Preservation Act, both of which are cur- BY EDEN STIFFMAN ‘12 Georgia Institute of Technology (transferred) rently undergoing review in the Committee United States Naval Academy Union College of Commerce, Science and Transportation. “Let me be the latest conservative/libertarian/what- Ronald Reagan Eureka College (Economics) The Dorgan-Snowe bill proposes banning ever to leap onto the Barack Obama bandwagon,” said George H. W. Bush Yale University companies from restricting lawful content; Christopher Buckley on October 10th, in his blog on the (undergraduate) (Economics) and is supported by Senator Hilary Clinton news website The Daily Beast where he announced his Bill Clinton Georgetown University and Barack Obama. The Internet Preserva- support of the candidate. (undergraduate) (Foreign Service) tion Act, also known as the Markley-Picker- Buckley, son of William F. Buckley, one of the intel- University of Oxford ing bill, also advocates net neutrality and the lectual founders of modern conservatism and founder Rhodes Scholarship Yale Law School (Law) establishment of broadband policy. Vari- of the political magazine National Review, chose not to George W. Bush Yale University (undergraduate) (History) ous telephone and cable companies such publish his support of Obama in his usual back-page Harvard Business School (M.B.A.) as Verizon and Comcast are some of a few column in the magazine. His announcement came as opponents to these proposed bills. These a shock to Republicans, and due to the overwhelming two companies have come under academic amount of disapproving feedback he received, he re- The Current Candidates & Their Alma Maters and Federal Communications Commission signed from his father’s publication. (FCC) scrutiny: Verizon has been guilty of Buckley mused that Obama has “the potential to John McCain United States Naval Academy (undergraduate) redirecting their customers’ mistyped web- be a good, perhaps even great leader. He is, it seems Barack Obama Occidental College (transferred) site addresses to their own search engine clear enough, what the historical moment seems to be Columbia University (undergraduate) (Political Science) page, while Comcast had been found to de- calling for.” Harvard Law School (J.D.) lay Internet traffic of consumers using peer- He explained that his betrayal of the Republicans Bob Barr George Washington University to-peer networks. Company executives in this election is due to his view that “this campaign (M.A.) (International Affairs) have claimed that this is to ensure smooth has changed John McCain…, made him inauthentic. A Georgetown University Law Center (J.D.) Internet flow for consumers’ benefit. once-first class temperament has become irascible and To sum up his position on net neutral BANDWAGON Continued on PAGE 14 NET Continued on PAGE 14 & 15 P.PAGE 6 10.30.20084.1.08 ENERGY DRUGS EDUCATION

1. Producing more power, 1. Believes Mexico should 1. Emphasizes choice for parents pushing technology to help free extradite drug dealers to the US. and accountability for schools. our transportation sector from its use of foreign oil. 2. Supports death penalty for 2. Wants to drop the policy of drug dealers. group averages from No Child 2. Cleaning up our air and Left Behind but retain the addressing climate change, and 3. Increase funding for border standards for teacher and school ensuring that Americans have security to stop flow of drugs. accountability. 60% of Title II dependable energy sources. will go towards bonus 4. Restrict methadone treatment incentives, 30% in scholarships 3. Lead the effort to develop programs. and technology advances, and advanced transportation 5% to states in directly recruiting technologies and alternative fuels qualified teachers. to promote energy independence and cut off the flow of oil wealth to repressive dictatorships like Iran.

John McCain Republican

1. Provide short-term relief to 1. Expand use of drug courts 1. Intends to reform George W. American families facing pain at Bush’s No Child Left Behind by the pump. 2. Eliminate sentencing increasing education funding to 2. Help create five million new disparities, such as those early childhood education and jobs by strategically investing between crack and powder increasing the number of $150 billion over the next ten cocaine. federally-funded charter schools years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future. 3. Provide support to ex- 2. Intends to develop a 3. Within 10 years save more oil offenders. comprehensive “Zero to Five” than we currently import from program to encourage states the Middle East and Venezuela 4. Partial decriminalization of to develop voluntary preschool combined. marijuana. programs. 4. Put 1 million Plug-In Hybrid cars -- cars that can get up to 150 3. Will work to simplify the miles per gallon -- on the road college application and federal by 2015, cars that we will work aid process. to make sure are built here in America. 5. Ensure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025. 6. Implement an economy-wide The Candidates The cap-and-trade program to reduce Barack greenhouse gas emissions 80 Obama percent by 2050. Democrat

1. End subsidies and restrictions 1. End the War on Drugs. 1. Wants to abolish the to energy production. Department of Education as well as eliminate federal grants 2. End subsidies on ethanol. 2. Favors legalization of and regulations. marijuna 3. Allow for expanded energy for medicinal purposes. 2. Wants tax credits for parents exploration. who homeschool and he would 3. Would implement a return of promote a competitive private 4. “The , driven by drug policy control to state sector of schools. consumer choice and reflecting law enforcement and legislature. the real cost of resources, should 3. Does not believe that No be the foundation of America’s Child Left Behind was effective. energy policy.” 4. Discourages government control of education.

Bob Barr Libertarian 4.1.0810.30.2008 PAGE P.7 TRADE IRAQ ECONOMY HEALTH CARE

1. The U.S. should engage in 1. Plan highlights the 1. Extend all Bush tax cuts. 1. Savings in Medicare without multilateral, regional and importance of victory in Iraq compromising on benefits. bilateral efforts to reduce as the only means by which 2. Cut corporate tax rate from 35 barriers to trade, level the the Iraqi government can gain to 25 percent. 2. Expand benefits of Health Sav- global playing field and build credence and stability within ings Accounts.

effective enforcement of global the region. 3. Phase-out Alternative Vice President trading rules. Minimum Tax (AMT). 3. Promote flexibility for states and 2. Microfinance programs to encourage them to lower costs. 2. Supports ethanol, but by encourage the development of 4. First-year tax deductions for exporting, not by subsidies. small businesses and pressure business equipment and 4. Make insurance more portable. on Syria and Iran to discourage investments. 3. Rated 100% by the CATO their involvement in Iraq are 5. Believes families should have Institute, a libertarian important means by which Iraq 5. Reduce estate tax to 15 more control. think-tank, indicating a can gain independence. percent. pro- voting record. 6. Reform Tax Code to offer more 6. Has promised over $92 billion choices. 4. Consistently supported in new spending, according to NAFTA and has not favored to the . 7. Develop a Guaranteed Access renegotiate the agreement. Plan for states.

1. Use trade agreements to 1. Plan focuses on a gradual exit 1. Raise taxes on income earners 1. Coverage of pre-existing condi-

spread good labor and from Iraq, with a residual force over $250,000, including capital tions by insurance companies. The Candidates environmental standards intended to conduct “targeted gains and dividends. around the world. counter-terrorism” missions 2. Establish a National Health Insur- and to protect American 2. Up to $1,000 tax credit for ance Exchange with a public plan

2. End tax breaks for personel. “working families.” and various private options. Vice President companies that send jobs overseas. 2. 1 to 2 brigades would leave 3. $50 billion in new 3. Lower costs for businesses in per month over an estimated infrastructure spending. exchange for lower premiums on 3. Provide a tax credit to period of a year and a half. employees. companies that maintain or in- 4. Has promised $293 billion in crease the number of full-time 3. Intends to press Iraqi new spending, according to the 4. Create a Small Business Health workers in America.. politicians to work towards National Taxpayers Union. Tax Credit to help small businesses developing a more effective and provide health care. 4. Pressure the World Trade independent political structure. Organization to enforce trade Joe Biden agreements and stop countries 4. Permanent US bases in the from continuing unfair region would not be government subsidies to for- encouraged. eign exporters.

5. Oppose Central American Free Trade Agreement.

1. Wishes to withdraw from 1. Plan focuses on immediate 1. Flat tax or national sales tax. 1. Regulations which mandate the WTO. withdrawl from Iraq. insurance coverage and increase premiums should be eliminated. 2. Cut or eliminate corporate Vice President 2. Claims that free trade, not 2. A timetable would not be and capital gains taxes. military intervention, will released for fear that it might 2. Federal healthcare programs preserve peace. provide too much 3. “Every area of federal spend- should be fundamentally information to insurgent forces ing can and should be cut.” reenvisioned. Market principles 3. Reduce trade barriers in in the region, but the exit would should be applied to bring better order to allow America to be planned and executed 4. Has promised to reduce quality health care at less cost. become more competitive in quickly. spending by over $200 billion the global market. in spending, according to the 3. Controls which unduly restrict 3. The War in Iraq has National Taxpayers Union. competition within the health care emasculated the Iraqi industry, and that limit access to government and encouraged insurance across state lines, should America’s enemies in the be ended. Middle East. P.PAGE 8 10.30.20084.1.08 Changing Conservatism The Michigan Review takes a look at conservative thought: the past, the present and the foreseeable future. on Foreign Policy on Polling Base BY ANNA DICKEY ‘12 BY ALISSA NG ‘10

America’s involvement in the Second World War gave the US a new As the nation waits for the votes to be tallied and the winner to be an- take on the topic of foreign relations. The world wars bestowed upon nounced, many Americans and political commentators have already predicted America a new dimension of interventionism, along with more per- the result. Nationally, presidential candidate Barack Obama leads in the Gallup sonal experience with foreign relations than the nation had ever before polls in terms of aggregate candidate support, with 52 % of the vote compared encountered; conservatives took a stance that has remained relatively to John McCain’s 42% in the week ending October 19. No one can say for sure consistent through the duration of the twentieth century. But now, who Americans will vote for come election day; the history of voting patterns with dauntingly complex international issues at hand, the lines of con- in the United States is a testament to this fact. Bill Nowling, Communications servative versus liberal stances on America’s relationship within other Director of the Michigan Republican Party, says that there is “no way to gauge, nations may be blurring. but in Michigan, [voting patterns] haven’t changed that much.” The questions of when, how, where, and why to intervene in other countries within the traditional conservative stance was said to be pri- marily dependent on if the other country was threatening the “There’s definitely a trend in of US citizens. This was clearly iterated in a document titled “The Sha- ron Statement,” developed in 1960 within a conservative movement of urban areas towards Democratic American youth, which established and defined the principals of the movement. The final sentence of the Sharon Statements proclaimed, support, but there is a high “…American foreign policy must be judged by this criterion: does it serve the just interests of the United States?” With this, conservative rural support for the GOP.” mindset on foreign relations was henceforth set, and remained the core belief through the rest of the major US events in the twentieth century, Voting results are greatly dependent on geography. “There’s definitely a namely the Cold War and Vietnam, among others. trend in urban areas towards Democrat support, but there is high rural support What exactly has changed since “The ” isn’t nec- for the GOP,” Nowling says. Gallup polls echo this, indicating that the South essarily the conservative or liberal philosophies, but there has indeed and West regions have traditionally supported the GOP since 1980 with high been an increase of paradoxes, contradictions, and overlapping within support from rural and suburban areas. Central cities are mostly Democratic. each stance in regards to the different international situations at hand. Political commentator and Fellow of the Brookings Institution Ruy Teix- Each situation is not necessarily a black or white argument between eira has observed that “white working class voters on average favor the GOP”. interventionism versus isolationism; there are arguments of what con- Michigan has a large white working class population, but like in other states stitutes American benefit, and how helping other countries can help or such as Minnesota and Pennsylvania, this is slowly changing as minorities and hinder both America and the rest of the world. educated increase. He has also noted an increase in Democratic According to University of Michigan history professor Dr. J. Mills votes among college graduates and fall in rural bases, but he also suggests that Thornton, the changes that have been occurring may be due in part to Democrats may distance ethnic majorities if they focus on obtaining the white the Bush administration. middle and working class vote. Nowling says, “Again, it’s hard to gauge who “I think that Bush’s intervention [in Iraq] has damaged the cause of college graduates will vote for. It’s been [trending towards] Democrats, espe- an America that sees itself as having an obligation to actively liberate all cially this year, but over the years—and I’m talking about several decades back of mankind,” he stated. “However, there is a strong sense that we have here—it breaks even.”

Changing Conservatism Changing an obligation that we have to intervene in Darfur and Sudan…” Gallup Blogs predict that voting bases for both parties will be roughly simi- Indeed, the Bush administration, which has been markedly con- lar to the 2000 and 2004 elections; with the Democratic Party base made up of troversial in foreign relations, has earned much scorn beyond the liber- Hispanics, the youth, low-income earners, as well as those less religious. 91% of als—many conservatives are angered with his actions in the Middle African-Americans have indicated their preference for Obama in the October East. His “regime change” plans for the Iraq have allegedly become too 19 weekend. The GOP, on the other side of the political spectrum, traditionally interventionist and burdensome for the United States to handle. has a non-ethnic demographic base 65 and older, those who are married with The truth may be that within the coming years conservative isola- children living at home, military personnel, and religious Christians. In fact, tionism and liberal interventionism will become too archaic and sim- conservative Christian vote identification with the GOP increased from 64% in plistic to apply to current United States foreign policy. The changes the 1970s to 90% in the 21st century, according to the American National Elec- that are occurring may lead citizens to take on newer stances that don’t tion Studies. As for race, the GOP has retained its predominantly white elector- completely abandon the old views; while still maintaining similarities ate while the Democratic Party has been more ethnically diverse and has main- to conservatism and liberalism, there may be increased sophisticated tained the Jewish and Muslim votes (more so since the Iraq War). philosophies. America’s involvement within the rest of the world is In Michigan, everyone is wondering how McCain’s withdrawal will affect now irreversible and arguably imperative, and conservatives fully ac- the vote on November 4th. Nowling says that it is uncertain until the votes are knowledge that isolationism is no longer possible when it comes to for- actually cast. “It’s a tough election year for Republicans, especially in Michigan, eign policy--yet their changes cannot be said to have transformed into and looking back at the past two presidential cycles at the high amount of activ- a more liberal group. ity and intensity put into the campaigns, and comparing it to this year’s, I would “I don’t think that there’s a philosophical issue, more situational say that it has decreased [due to his withdrawal]. The Michigan Democratic Par- [within foreign policy and conservatism],” stated Thornton. “The ty has to scramble to fill in the resource [vacuum] created by his withdrawal.” non-interventionists are identified with , but on the left But Nowling maintains a positive outlook. “McCain took with him resources there are many people who were opposed to intervention in Vietnam that can now be used for other programs. He can now focus on the ‘ground and Iraq. I don’t see a liberal vs. conservative line at a philosophical game’ [in swinging states].” level…” McCain’s withdrawal certainly has had an effect in Michigan, but it isn’t the Philosophically, then, conservatives within the realm of foreign only thing playing on voters’ minds. How the presidential candidates will deal relations will continue to take the traditional stance that prioritizes with pertinent issues such as the economy, foreign policy and energy are crucial the safety and well-being of our nation. However, the complexities of in deciding whom to vote for, especially for undecided or swinging voters. what constitutes a threat to our nation, and the safety of the future, are More locally, Nowling sees the economy as being ‘the issue’ for both Re- undeniably tethered to our relationships with the other countries that publicans and Democrats in Michigan for the last five and a half years. “There’s occupy the globe. And conservatives are thinking actively to accom- really not much else on everyone’s minds, not even education or the environ- modate our country’s growing role in the world, and theirs in ours. ment”, he remarks. MR MR 10.30.2008 PAGE 9 on Religion on Economics BY JANE COASTON ‘09 BY JONATHAN SLEMROD ‘10

The phenomenon of Christian conservatives as a powerful voting bloc Fiscal conservatives have always been an integral part of the for Republican candidates dates back to the foundation of the coalition that has brought the Republican Party years of electoral suc- in the mid-1980s. Ronald Reagan recognized their power in 1984, and the elec- cess, from the Ronald Reagan until George W. Bush. Their message has tion of George W. Bush in 2000 marked a high-water point for their political been quite simple. Less government intervention in the economy – low ascendancy. But the role of Christians in the 2008 election is more amorphous. taxes, less spending, , and free trade – will lead to prosper- John McCain has utilized many of the same Christian conservative resources ity. For years, the GOP successfully branded themselves the party of as George W. Bush, including receiving an endorsement from the Christian fiscal restraint, driving an important wedge between themselves what organization and its influential founder, child psycholo- they call “tax-and-spend” Democrats. The 1994 Contract with America gist Dr . His selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his vice called for spending reforms such as a balanced budget requirement presidential candidate was another important move to gain credence among and a line-item veto aimed at giving the President additional power Christian conservatives, as her affiliations with charismatic churches and op- to target wasteful spending. On taxes, the Contract required that Con- position to gay marriage, abortion, and other key issues are well-known to vot- gress have a three-fifths majority for any tax increases. While none of ers. But recent polling data shows that for younger Christians, the traditional these reforms were ultimately adopted by Congress, Republicans so- controversies of the past may hold less weight in the 2008 election. lidified the notion that they were the party of , and The non-partisan organization Faith in Public released a survey on Octo- made sure that President George W. Bush felt the same way. He did, ber 8th indicating that 60 percent of voters who attended religious services on and with help of a Republican-led Congress, cut taxes not once, but a monthly basis supported the Democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama. twice, in 2001 and 2003, respectively. Robert Jones, president of Public Religion Research and lead analyst of the poll,

said, “We took a look at one of the historically strongest predictors of voters, Changing Conservatism and that’s religious attendance.” The organization conducted another poll that If polls are any indication, indicated that 71% of young first time voters with religious affiliations are vot- ing for Senator Obama and 52% of young, white evangelical Christians sup- Election Day will not be a ported gay marriage or civil unions, traditionally anathema to Christian con- servatives. Mr Jones: “Younger Americans, including younger Americans of pleasant one for the GOP, faith, are not the culture war generation. On issues from gay and lesbian rights to the role of government at home and around the world, young Catholics, as Democrats are likely to mainline Protestants and evangelicals are bridging the divides that entrenched their elders and ushering in an era of consensus in which the common good increase their majorities in trumps the clash of ideologies.” the House and Senate, not to “Younger Americans, including mention the White House. younger Americans of faith, are Enter 2008, and the Republican Party is arguably in shambles. If polls are any indication, Election Day will not be a pleasant one for the not the culture war generation.” GOP, as Democrats are likely to increase their majorities in the House and Senate, not to mention the White House. And although Republi- The polling data reflects a change in the issues held as vital to many Chris- cans have tried hard to extol John McCain’s fiscal conservative creden- tian conservatives. Though gay marriage initiatives and the clash regarding tials, evidence shows that voters overwhelmingly point the blame at abortion are still extremely controversial, the recent economic downturn and Republican policies. A CNN poll from late September found that forty- concerns regarding the environment are gaining importance in the minds of seven percent of registered voters attribute Republicans to the financial young voters. Michael Lindsay, a sociologist at Rice University said, “People crisis, while only twenty-four percent blame Democrats. Speaker of the are more concerned about peace and prosperity than they are about same- House Nancy Pelosi blamed the “reckless economic policies” of Presi- sex marriage and abortion. We just don’t see that same energy today [against dent Bush and Congressional Republicans in a speech shortly before same-sex marriage] that we saw in 2004.” the floor vote on the financial bailout. “They claim to be free-market The nomination of John McCain has presented new problems to conserva- advocates when it’s really an anything-goes mentality: no regulation, tive Christian voters. In the past, McCain supported federal stem-cell research no supervision, no discipline,” Pelosi stated. “And if you fail you will initiatives and opposed a constitutional ban on gay marriage. Dr. Dobson, who have a golden parachute and the taxpayer will bail you out. Those days now is a McCain supporter, denounced McCain on February 5th: “I am con- are over. The party is over in that respect.” vinced Sen. McCain is not a conservative, and in fact, has gone out of his way to Conservatives differ on how the Republican Party should refocus stick his thumb in the eyes of those who are. He has at times sounded more like on economic issues. Prominent conservative writers Ross Douthat and a member of the other party...”Given these and many other concerns, a spoon- Reihan Salam from the Atlantic Monthly, argue that the GOP should ful of sugar does not make the medicine go down,” Dobson said. “I cannot, and refocus their efforts on the working class. Their book, Grand New I will not vote for Sen. John McCain, as a matter of conscience.” MR Party, proposes social reforms such as wage subsidies, tax credits for marriage and education, and “to fix the welfare state, rather than abol- ish it; to reform the Great Society, but leave the New Deal more or less The 12 Tribes of American Politics intact,” words that would make limited-government types within the According to a Study on beliefnet.com conservative movement cringe. Chris Edwards, Director of Tax Policy Studies at the , a prominent free-market think tank in Washington, DC, is one of those types. He criticizes a Republican Party % of Voting Age Population % of 2004 Voters largely complicit with Bush Administration policies such as massive spending increases and the 2003 prescription drug benefit known as 1. THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT 12.6% 15% Medicare Part D. 2. HEARTLAND CULTURE 11.4% 14% He points to members of the conservative Republican Study Com- WARRIORS mittee (RSC) as the exception to that rule. The RSC has bucked with the Bush Administration on politically dangerous issues such as bud- 3. MODERATE 10.8% 9.0% get cuts to pay for Hurricane Katrina relief, opposing an increase in EVANGELICALS government-funded health care for children, and the recent Wall Street bailout. “I hope they look at some of their new, young leaders in Con- 4. WHITE BREAD 8.0% 7.0% gress, such as Paul Ryan (R-WI), Mike Pence (R-IN), and Jeb Hensar- PROTESTANTS ling (R-TX),” said Edwards. The GOP will hold elections of their own two weeks after Novem- 5. CONVERTIBLE 8.1% 7.0% ber 4, to determine their own leaders within Congress. Minority Leader CATHOLICS John Boehner (R-OH) could be replaced, and Minority Whip Roy Blunt 6. THE RELIGIOUS LEFT 12.6% 14% (R-MO) could retire, leaving members of the RSC well-positioned to take at least some of the party’s 7. SPIRITUAL BUT 5.3% 3.0% reigns. But placing conservatives NOT RELIGIOUS at the top may only do so much without a fundamental change 8. SECULARS 10.7% 11.0% in attitude. What direction that change will go remains to be seen. 9. LATINOS 7.3% 5.0% “It’s very sad, but I think that most people in Congress are there 10. JEWS 1.9% 3.0% because they are career climbers 11. MUSLIMS & 2.7% 3.0% who want to handle the levers of OTHER FAITHS power in Washington. They’re not there for ideological reasons, 12. BLACK PROTESTANTS 9.6% 8.0% or because they believe in ,” said Edwards. MR PAGE 10 10.30.2008 3rd Party Candidates Conservatism & Intellectualism on the Michigan Ballot From Jefferson to Joe Six Pack

BY EDEN STIFFMAN ‘12 BY NATHAN STANO ‘11 FOR THOSE WHO are still undecided and feeling the pressure to vote for the One does not have to look far or listen hard to hear of the Department of Homeland Security has seen the lesser of two evils, here is a quick run- people discussing the future of conservatism in this largest consolidation of government power in a genera- down of the four third party presidential election. The last eight years have produced visceral tion, the government can spy on US citizens with lim- and vice presidential candidates that ap- reactions on both sides of the political spectrum, and it ited judicial intervention under FISA and the PATRIOT pear on the Michigan ballot. appears that conservatism is going to have to rebrand Act, and the government has taken upon itself the role itself to garner the support that it had gained in the last of “saving” the economy. All of these actions fly in the Constitution Party decade. Portrayed as stagnant and out of ideas, conser- faces of the men on whose shoulders we stand and their Charles O. “Chuck” Baldwin & Darrell L. vatism is supposed to be in flux. This poses the ques- ideas of civil liberties and . Castle tion, what are the intellectual roots of conservatism, The message to take away here is clear. If we are Baldwin is a Baptist Pastor from and where do we go now? to examine intellectual or philosophical conservatism, Florida and wants to “restore the gov- “The political term conservative is pretty much and conservatism as it is applied in the political arena Election ernment to its biblical foundations.” His useless,” said Jack McHugh, Senior Legislative Analyst today, we find two distinct ideologies: one that has campaign opposes U.S. income taxes, the for the Mackinaw Center for Public Policy. His point been born and nurtured by men whose interests have United Nations, and the PATRIOT Act; is a stark one. “You have different meanings of conser- been the freedom of mankind, the other the product he would withdraw troops from Iraq vatism…Republican is a coalition of many different of practical men seeking reelection. “Few individuals and end illegal immigration. He strongly interests.” Since the Republican Party is a coalition of have attained success by opposing the political estab- supports the right to keep and bear arms, interests, who are the conservatives, or alternatively, lishment,” McHugh stated, and with reelection rates for homeschooling, and pro-life legislation. is conservative itself a term to be disused, as “progres- congressmen in the ninetieth percentile, it is not impos- His running mate, Castle, is an attorney sive” is on the left? sible to imagine the idea of a political class. The laws of from Tennessee. The Constitution Party is on the Certainly, most scholars would agree that modern campaign finance clearly favor incumbents, thus it is ballot in 37 states conservatism, often referred to as “”, not to the advantage of men who wish to retain power begins in the Scottish Enlightenment. Men such as to reduce the size of government and put limits on their Libertarian Party Adam Smith as well as John Locke and Edmund Burke own power. Thus, perhaps the politicians have crafted Robert L. “Bob” Barr & Wayne Allyn Root had a great deal of influence not only on the Found- a new conservatism, plastered over the old, and sold it The former Georgia Congressman’s cam- ing Fathers, but the Constitution that they produced. to the average American as folksy populism or “com- paign opposes the War in Iraq, the PATRIOT Act, They advocated for limited governments, free markets, passionate conservatism”. and gun control but advocates for a smaller gov- and a belief in the natural rights of man that have been ernment, border security, domestic drilling, fis- enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the When asked what conservatives ought to do about cal constraint, and a return to the gold standard. Constitution. Yet, despite the popularity of small gov- their problem of nomenclature, McHugh stated, “don’t Root is a businessman, television producer, and ernment, it hardly makes it into the halls of power at accept conservative as an adequate label…depending professional sports handicapper, from Las Vegas, any level. “Lots of Republicans, and even some Demo- on what you believe, you may need to find a new term.” Nevada. Barr is on the ballot in 45 states. crats, use the term conservative, it’s politically useful, In a search of what’s out there, it may seem daunting to but often has little to do with people’s ideas about gov- leave such a broad definition for a much narrower one. Green Party ernment,” McHugh put it, “[you] can’t take it at face A little research, as well as a little reading, can be a boon Cynthia McKinney & value.” to anyone looking to find out what they really believe. The Former Georgia Congresswoman’s cam- If one is to look into the philosophy of classi- That being said, if people are to break off from the con- paign advocates for widespread federal aid for cal liberalism, one would find that even the last three servative label, there is no reason why a conservative low-income families and communities, a mas- years are not an example of it. Thomas Paine famously coalition must be broken. If conservatism is to survive sive public works project, and the “greening of proclaimed, “that government is best which governs as an ideology is perhaps to hearken back to the “big our economy.” They want to nationalize the Fed- least,” and that is not the picture we have seem from tent” ideal of the past, uniting the people against the eral Reserve and have it designated as a Section a “conservative” in the last eight years. The creation government in the defense of freedom. MR or Department within the United States Treasury under the direction and supervision of the Secre- tary. They oppose the PATRIOT Act and the War on Drugs. Clemente is a “community organizer, The Bradley Effect journalist and Hip-Hop activist” from , according to the campaign’s website. The Green BY VALIANT LOWITZ ‘12 Party is on 31 state ballots. Barack Obama was supposed to win the might give preferences that are inaccurate in order Independent Party New Hampshire primary. Coming out of a victory to be perceived as upstanding members of society. & in Iowa, polls showed him with a thirteen-point White voters especially then, may be reluctant to dis- The campaign’s platform is based on fight- lead over Democratic rival . Barack play true preferences to pollsters out of a fear that if ing against corporate greed. Proposed initiatives Obama, however, did not win the New Hampshire they do they will be shunned by other members of include adopting a single payer national health primary. Was this simply an instance of flawed poll- their neighborhood. insurance plan, instituting a carbon pollution ing? However, this phenomenon occurred only at the tax, withdrawal of troops from Iraq, and strong Or was it yet another instance of the Bradley Ef- state level. It is still unclear as to whether or not any federal support of affirmative action. Gonzalez fect? sort of Bradley effect will occur on a national level, is a lawyer and political activist in San Francisco. The Bradley Effect refers to the phenomenon when much more is at stake. “People’s concerns This is Nader’s fourth official time running for first identified in the 1982 race for the Governor’s about the economy have washed out any effect,” President. Nader is on the ballot in 45 states. chair of California. Tom Bradley, the very popular claims Dr. Michael W. Traugott, a Professor of Com- According to Real Clear Politics polls, Nader African American mayor of Los Angeles, was the munication Studies at the University of Michigan. has an average of 2.5 percent of the vote in recent frontrunner in a race against white Republican can- “People’s preference for President is driven by the national polls while Barr averages 1.3 percent. didate George Deukmejian. Mayor Bradley lost the economy.” election by over 50,000 votes. Senator Obama did win the Iowa Caucuses a The odds are clearly against third parties. So The results of this race caught many analysts week before New Hampshire. However a caucus is what reasons are do people give for voting that off-guard. Polls showed Mayor Bradley with a conducted in public, with a voter’s preferences on way? strong lead over the Republican rival in what was a display for all other voters to see. The voting in the Third parties with very narrow platforms can good year for the Democratic Party as a whole. Tom New Hampshire primary was conducted behind the draw attention to issues that are ignored by the Bradley was a popular politician within the state privacy of a curtain. This could be attributed to the majority parties. When a third party gains a sig- and was apparently free of scandal. What then, was grass-roots organizational efforts of the Obama cam- nificant number of voters, the major parties may the cause of his unexpected loss? paign, which, according to Dr. Tragott, would give become aware and incorporate the party’s issue The conclusion was drawn that many white vot- Obama the “advantage in a caucus.” However, pub- into their own platforms. ers were reluctant to declare lack of support for the licly white voters were supporting Barack Obama Third parties can also help to increase voter African-American Bradley for fear of being pegged and polls in New Hampshire showed him poised turnout and registration. But, according to Gallup as prejudiced or racist by their peers. When asked for repeat. It is in private that a voter is free from the Poll Daily tracking as of October 18th, only about by pollsters who they were supporting then, many eyes of watchful neighbors, and thus is free to show 1% of registered voters said they would vote for of these voters may have claimed to be undecided their true preferences and beliefs; preferences and a specific third party candidate while 6% remain or leaning towards Bradley, when in fact they were beliefs that for one reason or another caused them undecided. Votes for 3rd party candidates may leaning towards the white Deukmejian. not to support Senator Obama. be cast as a protest, to pull votes away from a ma- This reluctance on the part of voters was This is not to say though, that all voters who jor candidate. Despite projections that voter turn- dubbed the Bradley Effect. It eventually became a claim to be supporting Obama are lying. Dr. Vincent out in this election will have increased from the proposed explanation for any discrepancy between Hutchings, an associate Professor of Political Sci- 64% who voted in 2004, the millions who do not voter opinion polls and actual outcomes, in elec- ence at the University of Michigan, is quick to point vote, have the potential to do much more harm tions that involve both a white and non-white can- out that, “the so-called ‘Bradley effect’ did not turn to major party candidates than will a protest vote didate. Stemming from the psychological social de- up in every presidential primary.” At many points for a third party candidate. MR sirability bias, it became apparent that many voters BRADLEY Continued on PAGE 15 10.30.2008 PAGE 11 O b a m a n i a

BY ZACK DIVOZZO ‘11 Election

HE HAS NOT only inspired an enormous volunteer base for his campaign, but he has also propelled him- self from a long-shot at winning the Democratic nomi- nation to a favorite to win the election. While other presidential candidates in the past have shared similar popularity, Barack Obama has something different go- ing for him: the support of America’s youth. Whether “youth” is defined as young children or teenagers under the legal voting age, Barack Obama seems to have it covered. One of the key factors in this expansion of influence is the entertainment world. Many of the most popular celebrities in Hollywood have made it very clear that they are voting for Barack Obama. Some, such as Sean Astin, from “The Lord of the Rings” and Adam Brody, of the television series IMAGE KIDS.BARACKOBAMA.COM BY MEGAN LYTLE ‘10 The OC, have even set time aside to register voters on college campuses, including UM. In a country where they learned from academia to make a positive impact Oliver Stone’s “W” is the suppos- the youth is heavily influenced by pop culture, these on the world,” Madriz said. “This year, the youth really edly empathetic portrayal of President celebrity gestures are an extremely large factor in in- is going to make the difference, along with all the oth- George W. Bush’s life. The film moves creasing Obama’s “cool” factor. er demographics that have been apathetic in the past. back and forth between scenes of his drunken Adrian Madriz, an LSA junior heavily involved in Obama is basing his entire campaign on the premise college years and his several short-lived careers the Obama campaign says however that Obama has not that there are enough young people to get him to vic- as an adult, culminating in his political career, inspired the youth as much as he has “taken advantage tory.” all within the framework of Bush’s desperate of their general animosity towards the government and Obama’s campaign has also made an effort to reach competition with his brother Jeb for parental turned it into a positive force for action.” out into the area of children’s support, which is evident approval. This trend is evident in a mock campaign run by by the “Kids” section of his official website. The page UR Votes Count, which allowed teenagers to vote for offers pre-made invitations to Barack Obama-themed In an awkward combination of mocking of their presidential candidate in malls across America. parties, as well as other ideas to get children excited and sympathizing with Bush, the portrait of “W” The results came out overwhelmingly in favor of Barack about the candidate. A video on the web page features – a helpless, clumsy, sad idiot caught up in fam- Obama (sixty-two percent to McCain’s thirty-three per- a group of children drawing pictures of Barack Obama ily drama and being manipulated by much more cent). Libertarian candidate Bob Barr and Ralph Nader and explaining why they would like him to be their sinister, intelligent people - was at least as sim- (running as an independent candidate) also received a president. “I like Barack Obama because...once he be- plistic and disrespectful as it was sympathetic. respectable three percent each. comes president he is going to promote the efficiency of “It also helps that Obama represents the kind of solar panels. Yay for energy!” one of the children said One scene shows a young “W” in his father’s success most students would like to emulate, where to the camera. “I like Barack Obama because he’s just office, making excuses for his wayward adult ca- they graduate from college and rely mostly on what cool,” another enthusiastic student said. MR reer and denying fathering an illegitimate baby by his girlfriend, insisting that he used a condom. George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush are shown Live from DC, It’s Political Satire! condescending to and disapproving of their son well into his political career, going as far as to tell BY KATIE SINGER ‘12 him not to run for governor because he cannot possibly win. With the country in the midst of a monumental Her co-anchor, Meredith Vieira, nonetheless, pointed presidential election, the ever-popular Saturday Night out that “when [she is] watching Sarah Palin now, it’s W’s decision to run for the Presidency is pos- Live (SNL) political skits continue to be as memorable almost as if [she sees] Tina Fey and it almost affects how ited as revenge against both Saddam Hussein as ever. The recent stream of episodes that have cari- [she watches and sees] these candidates sometimes.” and the Democrats who beat his father’s chance catured Sarah Palin, for instance, have garnered some If this is the case, as Meredith suggests, then these fa- for a second term; as he told people of his plan, he of the show’s highest ratings in the last 14 years. Yet vored Saturday Night Live spoofs may be intention- often mentioned that he felt that God was telling many would argue that their depiction serves to under- ally portraying the Republican politicians in a harsher him to run. mine her potential as a political candidate, rather than way than they do the Democrats. But, then again, they just going for laughs. didn’t seem to be big fans of Senator Hillary Clinton As to the factual reality of Bush’s family dra- It seems as though the last few episodes – one draw- during her run for the presidency. ma, has this much to say, according to ing attention to sexism in the campaign starring Tina Not all of the skits that poked fun of politicians : “The Oedipal rivalry is Fey as Sarah Palin and Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton, caught on though. For instance, the show which cara- high-grade, unadulterated hooey.” and another mocking Palin’s interview with CBS News catured Ronald Reagan as simply an actor and not a anchor – have only portrayed the vice- politician is unpopular in the public eye. In fact, none Stone’s portrayal of Bush is confused, spoiled, presidential candidate as a pretty face that is not suited of the Reagan skits caught on like those of other candi- and unintelligent even into the years of his presi- for the White House. Statements like “Anyone can be dates. Perhaps this is because he had a high approval dency, playing up the uncivilized-Southerner president,” “I can see Russia from my house,” and “I rating that only increased after he left office, or because stereotypes typical of Bush mockery. A bewil- don’t know what [the Bush Doctrine] is,” only dimin- it is hard to poke fun at someone who pokes fun at dered, bemused W is repeatedly shown caving ish her credentials. They also mock her for her lack of themself. to the whims of his cruel, manipulative Cabinet, experience, especially regarding foreign policy, and the The results of the upcoming election are, as yet, un- hardly seeming to know what is going on, often McCain campaigns frequent use of the word “maver- known, but we can be sure that as the Clinton and Bush munching on a sandwich with his mouth open. ick.” However, they don’t seem to pay much attention dynasty comes to a close, the writers of SNL will con- skulks in the shadows of Cabinet meet- to Barack Obama’s lack of experience or his overuse of tinue to take advantage of the laughable characteristics ings, grinning as Dick Cheney coldly presents the word “change.” of politicians. MR wars with Iraq and Iran as a way to dominate the Other noteworthy SNL political spoofs include world’s oil supply through “empire.” Dana Carvey as George H.W. Bush, Phil Hartman as Bill Clinton, and Dan Akroyd as Richard Nixon. Both One aspect of the film that raised eyebrows George H.W. Bush and his son, George W. Bush, seem is the choice to exclude 9-11 from the narrative, to be impersonated as either unintelligent and war-lov- instead choosing to focus on the wars started dur- ing, or, in the case of W, drunk in the Oval Office. On ing his first term. This tragedy is essential to un- the other hand, Bill Clinton is shown “mingling with derstanding Bush’s presidency; it’s glossed over. the American people” in a McDonald’s, and it is clear There was also no mention of his second term or how much (in the depiction by the SNL writers) he is his run for re-election against Kerry. adored by the people. Rather than mocking his politi- cal views or choices like they had done to the Bush fam- One of the last scenes in the movie is a press ily, they joked about his weight, or his sexual relation- conference in which he stutters, unable to think of ship with Monica Lewinsky. anything he could have possibly done differently American viewers love these presidential skits for during his first term. This choice, along with the various reasons, amnog them because they are funny, soundtrack (playing carnival music as W blun- true, or so unbelievable that they capture our atten- ders his way through an interview, or playing tion. “The Yellow Rose of Texas” as bombs blow up During an NBC Today Show special, the “Best over Baghdad), pulls the tone further away from ‘SNL’ Political Skits,” that aired on October 3, 2008, an empathetic portrait and closer to a blatantly Ann Curry casually suggested that these skits were biased hatchet job. MR simply a way for the public “to blow off some steam.” IMAGE NEWSDAY.COM P.PAGE 12 10.30.20084.1.08 For all those Right-Wingers with young children out there, there is an overwhelming problem come story-time. Increasingly, children’s books reflect a liberal agenda, shown in books such as “Why Daddy is a Democrat,” “Maybe Yes, Maybe No,” and “Sally Has Two Mommies.” To counteract this cultural insurgence, we wrote our own children’s book that will address the values of conservative parents (plot points courtesy of Jean de Brunhoff’s “The Story of Babar”)... The Adventures of BOB-BARR

WRITTEN BY LINDSEY DODGE ‘10 The Very Different Elephant ILLUSTRATED BY EUN LEE ‘10

ONCE UPON A TIME a young elephant named Bob-Barr. He lived deep in the jungle, a dangerous place full of wild animals fighting for power. He was dissatisfied with the tyranny of the jungle bureaucracy, and he went on a long, long, long journey to the West. After the death of the Elephant-King from an overdose of poisonous mushrooms, Bob-Barr returned to his chaotic home intent on civilizing the jungle. Completely independent of any government body, he argued that the elephants should not restrict people, but let them be themselves. This angered the rhinoceri, who lived in constant battle with the elephants. Their leader, LORD RAZ-TAXES, believed that elephants should not think for themselves, but let jungle law think for them. Bob-Barr knew better. Look at his special elephant glasses. He used his icy blue laser-gaze to annihilate LORD RAZ-TAXES and his horny crowd of rhinoceri. The elephants cheered, happy

to be free. Bob-Barr had saved the day! The end. MR The Glossary ELECTION EDITION

This year in our exclusive election issue, The Michigan Review publishes this compilation of various institutions and terms

Election Humour Election from politics that sum up everything a politically savvy student should possibly need to know.

“Anti-America” Towns: Probably where you live. If you’re reading this, then definitely where you live.

Chicago: Major U.S. city. Coincidentally where we’d like to be buried, for then we will continue to vote.

Electoral College: The body that elects the president, because the Founding Fathers didn’t think most people would pay attention to politics. Turns out...they were right.

Fascist: A person who supports totalitarianism. Nowadays? Any existing person with whom you disagree. Like Barbara Streisand.

Filibuster: Delaying tactic associated with the Senate and used by the Minority in an effort to prevent the passage of a bill or amendment. once filibustered for 24 hours straight in 1957. I once talked for twenty-four hours straight when I was six. Both instances were not well received.

George W. Bush: Who? What? What president? Our president? Eight years? Really?

Maverick: An unbranded range animal, particularly a motherless calf. Or Madonna’s record label. Or John McCain and Sarah Palin. It applies to a lot of things for a term for individuality.

Mugwump: Supporters of Grover Cleveland’s 1884 Presidential campaign. Not a fictional character from Winnie the Pooh, the theory posited by certain members of Editorial Board.

Likely Voter: Your grandma. And not the friendly one. The one that forgot butter in the cookies.

Lobbyist: Someone who loiters and lobbies. Just kidding. jk jk lolz

Politician: Second oldest profession, though not that unrelated to the oldest.

Socialist: Jane D. Coaston, LSA Senior.

Supreme Court: The nine crotchetiest old people in America divided on party lines. Basically like breaking into a nursing home and distributing gavels, gowns, some clerks, and no definitive retirement date.MR 4.1.0810.30.2008 PAGE 13P.

“I Voted Red (And I Liked It)” What to Do Before the Election Sung to the Tune of BY JANE COASTON ‘09 Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl”

1. Step. Away. From. The Blog. Seriously. 4. Don’t Talk Politics: LYRICS BY LINDSEY DODGE ‘10 Whatever just happened probably wasn’t that Everyone is tired of that kid who knows the latest important, and it doesn’t require you to check electoral polling results. Don’t be that kid. I don’t This was never the way I planned Politico.com every ten seconds. Just go on a walk. care who your dad knows or what politician you Not my intention Without your iPhone. interned with that summer (you know, when you I got so brave, ballot in hand got wasted and threw up on the National Mall). Lost my discretion 2. Don’t Read Polls: Talk about sports. Talk about Madonna. Talk about It’s not what I’m used to A quick poll of the office shows that 75% of Halloween. Talk about Uggs. Anything but politics. Just wanna try you on Americans are wearing coats and 50% of Give us all one week of pure apolitical conversa- I’m curious for you Americans drank Mojitos in the desert last tion, and you will be rewarded by not Caught my attention weekend. Seriously, check the numbers. No one being punched in the face. knows who conducts polls, and lord only knows (Chorus 1) who responds. Probably my mother. And she 5. Drink Heavily: I voted red and I liked it thinks about cats a lot. It helps. Nothing goes down smoother than Jack The thrill of lower taxes with your Election Night coverage. And who I voted red just to try it 3. Think of the Big Picture: knows, someday you can tell your children that you I hope my teach’ don’t mind it We made it through eight years of Grover have absolutely no memory of the most It felt so wrong Cleveland and people probably thought that important night in American political history It felt so right would result in Armageddon. No matter what because you tried to play Edward Forty-Hands Don’t mean I’m Republican tonight anyone says, whoever wins this election probably with Jose Cuervo and passed out on your couch. I voted red and I liked it Election Humour & Continuations won’t take your guns, tattoo a Bible on your I liked it poodle, and attempt an unprovoked raid on 6. Think About the Future: American Samoa. Unless those goddamned Four years from now, we will do all of this over No, I don’t even know your name Samoans don’t stop their assault on American again. And it will be just as annoying and It doesn’t matter, values. excessive. MR It may or may not be McCain I’m pretty sure “M”’s the first letter, It’s not what, ACORN Continued from FRONT PAGE er fraud allegations.” Good Wolverines do been popping up in both Michigan and across the coun- State Senator Nancy Casis, Republican from Novi, Not how they should behave try, tying back to an organization known as the Asso- Michigan believes “that the integrity of one persons My head gets so confused ciation of Community Organizers for Reform Now, right to vote is the most valuable right we have. The Hard to obey or ACORN. ACORN is a nation-wide activist group, integrity of the system is first and foremost. It under- which uses paid, part-time employees to register low- mines our whole system when fraudulent behavior is (Chorus 2) income voters for the November 4th election and in re- going on.” Efforts have been taken in Michigan how- I voted red and I liked it cent months has claimed to register over 200,000 voters ever, to restore voter confidence. “[Attorney General The kicks of the 2nd amendment in Michigan alone, and 1.3 million nation-wide. Mike Cox] really stepped up to the plate,” Senator Casis I voted red just to try it Among these 200,000 voters, though, lie dupli- continues, “[and] we have seen instances in Michigan I hope my grades don’t show it cate applications, or voter’s names that were simply where a person [has been charged] with six felonies.” It felt so wrong made-up. Las Vegas authorities seized records from an Recently the McCain campaign has accused Senator It felt so right ACORN office which would register the entire starting Obama of holding ties to ACORN, and possibly funding Don’t mean I’m from ‘Bama tonight lineup of the Dallas Cowboys. Other instances of voter their voter registration. The Obama campaign had paid I voted red and I liked it fraud include a seven-year-old girl in Hartford, Con- $832,000 to a group known as Citizen’s Services during I liked it, necticut being registered as a twenty-seven year old the primary season, for sound and lighting, as well as and Mickey Mouse registered in Missouri. “get-out-the-vote efforts.” Citizen’s Services contracted Us ‘Pubs we are so logical Many of the allegations have come from key swing ACORN for these efforts, giving as much as $80,000 to Thick skin, red states, so rational States such as Ohio, Missouri and Florida .Senator John the ACORN office in New Orleans, Louisiana. Hard to resist so economical Mccain, during the final presidential debate, remarked States have been working hard to root out and deal Too good to deny it that ACORN was “on the verge of maybe perpetrating with fraudulent voter applications. The FBI has also be- Ain’t no big deal, I buy it! one of the greatest frauds in voter history in this coun- come involved in some states, such as in Nevada, where try, maybe destroying the fabric of democracy.” a task force has been set up to prevent voter fraud. (Repeat Chorus 1 & 2) MR Robert Bauer, general counsel to the Obama cam- The 2000 presidential election was decided by paign retorted by claiming “Republican Party officials 500,000 votes. MR and operatives nationwide are fomenting specious vot-

VOTING Continued from FRONT PAGE find voting in Michigan more convenient. “When I registered to vote in Michigan, Frye. Many students from other states in the Midwest it was not because Kansas always votes The number of West Coasters who decide to vote in are opting to vote in their home states, some of which the same way and by a large margin, but Ann Arbor may have a large impact on the outcome of are bigger swing states than Michigan. In particular, because in the last three years, I have been elections. Many Californians, coming from a predomi- students from the state of Ohio are keeping their voter in Kansas for less than seven months,” ex- nantly blue state, had the same mindset about where to registrations in their home state. plained LSA Senior Will Patterson, “laws in vote as red state southerners. “I’ve decided to vote absentee because I believe Kansas affect my daily life about as much as “I’m voting in Michigan because I am from Califor- voting in Ohio makes my vote more ‘valuable’—Ohio those in Texas.” nia where the Democrats will win no matter what, so proves to be a swing state in nearly every recent elec- Caring more or having a better under- I figured I would vote here where my vote will count tion and Ohio also has more electoral votes at stake,” standing of issues in their home state is an- more,” said Engineering Sophomore Nona Ebrahimi said LSA Senior Reid Benjamin. other reason out-of-state students choose with similar logic as Frye. Besides finding their votes more ‘valuable’ in their to vote in their home state.“I have a better Another reason out of state students vote in Michi- home states, many out-of-state students decided where grasp of the Maryland state politics and is- gan instead of their home states is convenience. to vote based on which state’s issues effected them sues than I do about Michigan’s… the local “I’m voting in Michigan, not in Connecticut, mostly more. elections are what swayed my decision,” ex- because it’s easier,” said LSA Senior Diane Hunt. “I want to vote somewhere where my vote makes plained Engineering Junior Doug Rigterink. The complications or lack of knowing how to apply an immediate impact on my circumstances,” said LSA MR for absentee balloting, missing deadlines in their home Senior Mike Fillichichia. “If I vote back to Illinois, I’ll states, and the ease of registering to vote in Michigan vote there again, but right now, Michigan legislation were the most common reasons out of state students has a significantly greater impact on my life.”

CONTRADICTIONS Continued from FRONT PAGE There is validity in exploring how related McCain’s be a government-run, single payer healthcare insur- of McCain’s. policies are to President Bush’s, just as there is rationale ance program. This was untrue; Obama’s plan is not Obama attempted to play John McCain’s in questioning Obama’s relationships and judgment. that extreme and offers more choices than completely maverick card by stating that he opposed These men are running for the U.S. presidency. Howev- nationalized systems. However, Obama has made op- his party when he supported a bill on tort er, the charges and generalizations of these campaigns timistic exaggerations of his healthcare plan, including reform. In reality, 41% of Democrats voted have not been formulated in the spirit of truth. the extent to which it would relieve the burden on the for this bill. Additionally, the Congressio- On October 15, 2008, at Hofstra University, both average individual. nal Quarterly reports that in Obama’s three candidates generously contributed to the political mi- In the same debate, Obama claimed, “And 100 years in the Senate, he voted along party lieu of this election in what was the third and final de- percent, John, of your ads – 100 percent of them have lines nearly 97% of the time. The Obama bate. McCain claimed that the Obama healthcare plan been negative.” For one week, almost 100 percent campaign’s assertion that Obama has would mimic Canada’s system, in which there would of McCain’s ads were reported to be negative. In all reached across the aisle more than John Mc- other weeks they were not. Moreover, in some weeks Cain is thus arguable at best. Obama’s percentage of negative ads far exceeded those CONTRADICTIONS Continued on PAGE 14 PAGE 14 10.30.2008 Also in this third debate, McCain inac ‘refundable tax credit.’ It involves the federal govern- Advertisements on television have been another CONTRADICTIONS Continued from PAGE 13 ment taking money from those who do pay taxes, and prime source for consumer manipulation. One Obama curately stated that Obama’s support of a writing checks to those who don’t. Yes, yes, in the real ad claims that McCain proposes a $4 billion tax break budget resolution raised taxes on taxpayers world this is known as ‘welfare,’ but please try not to for oil companies. In reality, McCain has suggested making $42,000; in actuality, budget resolu- ruin the show.” nothing specifically of the kind. Rather, for all compa- tions set standards, but do not raise taxes. Obama’s tax plan is misleading. However, most nies he proposes a reduction in the corporate income McCain was referring to different legislation working individuals who do not pay income taxes still tax rate…not just for oil companies. In addition, www. that is required to actually implement tax in- are taxpayers; almost every worker pays Social Secu- factcheck.org reports, “In a TV ad and in speeches, creases. Nevertheless, Obama’s current tax rity and Medicare taxes. Therefore, Obama justifies his Obama is making bogus claims that McCain plans to plan lowers taxes for such individuals. tax plan by claiming the refundable tax credits are not cut $880 billion from Medicare spending and to reduce Regarding his tax plan, Obama has con- welfare, but rather that they provide a lessening of the benefits…These claims are false, and based on a single stantly repeated that it will lower taxes for total federal tax burden for many individuals. Never- newspaper report that says no such thing. McCain’s 95% of American working families. The Wall theless, McCain offers similar refundable tax credits in policy director states unequivocally that no benefit cuts Street Journal’s Kimberly Strassel stated, his healthcare plan. The difference is that, as reported are envisioned.” “To kick off our show tonight, Mr. Obama by , “The big difference with This election marks a sea change in a variety of will give 95% of American working fami- Mr. Obama is that Mr. McCain’s proposal replaces the important topics as more constituents find themselves lies a tax cut, even though 40% of Ameri- tax subsidy for employer-sponsored health insurance represented by candidates. But the tradition of politi- cans today don’t pay income taxes! How that individuals don’t now receive if they buy on their cal mud-slinging appears to have continued unabated. can our star enact such mathemagic? How own. It merely changes the nature of the tax subsidy; it MR can he ‘cut’ zero? Abracadabra! It’s called a doesn’t create a new one.”

BANDWAGON Continued from PAGE 5 has been tarnished in a shameless effort to gain votes ca, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities.” snarly; his positions change, and lack coher- and appeal to the lowest emotion, fear. Nothing about Like Buckley, he also noted that the nomination of ence; he makes unrealistic promises… Then McCain, except for maybe a uniform, compares to the Sarah Palin was important in influencing his decision. there was the self-dramatizing and feckless same ideology of what Goldwater stood for as a politi- He said that “we have had a chance to watch her for suspension of his campaign over the finan- cian… Nothing about the Republican ticket offers the some seven weeks, [and] I don’t believe she’s ready to cial crisis. His ninth-inning attack ads are hope America needs to regain it’s standing in the world, be president of the United States, which is the job of the mean-spirited and pointless. And finally, that’s why we’re going to support Barack Obama. vice president. And so that raised some question in my not to belabor it, there was the Palin nomi- On Sunday, October 19th, Colin Powell, a Republi- mind as to the judgment that Senator McCain made.” nation. What on earth can he have been can who served under George W. Bush as the nation’s These endorsements as well as many more, exhibit thinking?” first black secretary of state, announced on NBC’s Meet a trend in crossover voting. For Republicans specifical- Buckley’s denunciation of McCain was the Press that he would break with his party and sup- ly, this is supported by data from Gallup poll showing echoed by another descendant of Ameri- port Obama. “He has both style and substance. I think that the number of both conservative and moderate Re- can conservative thought, CC Goldwater, he is a transformational figure,” said Powell. publicans supporting Obama has continued to increase granddaughter of . In an He came to this conclusion “because of [Obama’s] since August 25th. MR article on The Huffington Post, she wrote ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his that she believes “the Republican brand campaign, because he is reaching out all across Ameri-

MEDIA Continued from PAGE 5 en boy image or George W. Bush’s swagger, character Clearly, the development and utilization of computer stood for politically appeared to become of and personality became extremely important to politi- technology by political campaigns has reached new little importance ; rather, the public’s percep- cal success. Television producer and Nixon campaign heights. tion of a candidate’s personality determined consultant Roger Alies once said, “Television is no gim- The themes covered by campaign advertising have for whom they were voting. Whether it was mick, and nobody will ever be elected to major office changed as well. The Reagan campaign ads in 1980 Ronald Reagan’s charisma, Kennedy’s gold- again without presenting themselves well on it.” were focused on trust, encouraging the public and as- In the 2008 suring them that Ronald Reagan was the antidote to a contest for the perceived malaise resulting from economic crises and presidency, both the Iranian hostage crisis. The Clinton ads of 1992 were campaigns have more focused with trying to establish Clinton as an used the media everyday American, friendly and relatable with a fo- to the fullest cus on working class issues. As the use of media has and worked to evolved, so have the campaign ads. The 1980s featured find new ways a stronger focus on specific issues. Campaign strategists to reach unde- hoped that the public would vote for the candidate with cided voters. a strong foreign policy or economic plan. Twelve years Television ad- later, Clinton campaign ads were more focused toward vertisements trying to project Clinton as an average American up to are now com- the task of overhauling welfare and cutting taxes. These monplace. The ads were more focused towards Clinton’s personality growth of col- than his policies. The increased focus on the personal laborative web- characteristics of candidates by the public, rather than site usage has their political philosophies, has continued to 2008. made Facebook Another edge the media provides to presidential a requirement races is the televised presidential debates. Voters can for major can- see how their candidates justify their policies and views didates. If email and how they handle difficult questions. These debates lists were the play an even more important role in today’s environ- highlight of pre- ment as every detail regarding the candidates is com-

Advertisements & Continuations & Advertisements vious elections, mon knowledge, meaning that the candidates will be Barack Obama asked more probing and difficult questions. For the upped the ante 2008 elections, Gallup polls show that roughly two- by text-messag- thirds of Americans reported tuning in to each of the ing his support- three presidential debates, including 63% for the Sept. ers his choice of 26 debate largely focused on foreign policy, 66% for the running mate. Oct. 7 town-hall-style debate, and 65% for the most re- Obama will cent debate on domestic policy. These numbers clearly also be target- show that the results of these debates will have a huge ing young men say in determining who goes to the White House. by placing ad- The media impact on how campaigns are conceived vertisements and run has grown to epic proportions as both parties in some video attempt to enter the minds of Middle Americans and game packages. young voters. MR

NET Continued from be considered very carefully”, while Obama has public- PAGE 5 ly declared his pro-Internet freedom stance since 2006, ity, McCain has by giving speeches (one through a podcast in 2006) and given a politi- supporting Internet Freedom Preservation Act bills. In www. cally correct an- addition, McCain has announced that he will seek a michiganreview swer, “Anything permanent ban on Internet taxes as President, accord- .com that impinges ing to his official website; Obama has a similar stance on the ability for but has not declared anything long-lasting. people to have It is unclear if the pro-net neutrality legislation will access needs to NET Continued on PAGE 15 4.1.0810.30.2008 PAGEP. 1115 NET Continued from PAGE 14 be passed, but it also depends on the candidate who is chosen to be the future President—whoever Americans pick, regulation of the Internet may be affected. MR

BRADLEY Continued from PAGE 10 during the primary season, the pre-polling conduct- ed matched the actual election outcomes in Senator Obama’s favor. “Polls are not always accurate,” Dr. Hutchings continues, “but it remains to be seen if they are more likely to be inaccurate for Obama.” Barack Obama is now running strongly in the presidential race against John Mccain, with many polls showing him with a six or seven point lead nationally. The Bradley Effect by no means diminishes this lead. It does however, provide an interesting lens through which to view the historic November 4th election, as well as the innumerable amount of polls that will assur- edly precede and follow it. MR Advertisements P.PAGE 16 10.30.20084.1.08 Little Campus, Big Election College Media & Political Campaigns BY JANE COASTON ‘09 and encouraging more investment in early childhood “I would characterize the interaction between the Re- education. He then reiterated his campaign’s platform view and the national campaigns as limited at best.” on creating jobs in the energy sector and focusing on Fara Warner is the Howard R. Marsh Visiting national infrastructure. Professor of Journalism at the University of Michi- This call acted as a special opportunity for the gan. She agreed that the Obama campaign is heav- Obama campaign to focus on college issues while offer- ily focused on young voters, and mentioned that ing an opportunity for college journalists to talk to ma- the Democratic candidate has also used “technology jor political players. It’s an easy win for the campaign. that is far more familiar to younger generations than There is a difference between the McCain and to older generations”, such as text messages and Obama campaigns’ targeting of college students. Colin Facebook.

Exclusive Binkley, copy editor of The Lantern at the Ohio State She cautioned against assumptions by mem- University, sees it as a publicity ploy. He did not par- bers of the media or candidates regarding the voting ticipate in a conference call sponsored by the Obama tendencies of those between the ages of 18 and 22. campaign, but says, “Obama’s conference calls seem, “Neither one should focus on one group of voters to to me, to be nothing more than a gimmick employed a point where they aren’t focusing on other voters. by campaign managers to increase his visibility. Mc- Not everyone of that age range is in college, in fact, Cain has made little effort to meet with college media, in many states those young people would be in a mi- so when Obama fills that void, he is more likely to get nority of the younger generation. You can’t assume- college press attention in newspapers and radio and -either the media or the candidate--that everyone television shows.” in the age group will vote the same way.” College Both Obama campaign strategists and media rep- degrees are rarer than commonly thought. Accord- resentatives believe that this is a shrewd move. Obama ing to 2007 data from the United States Census Bu- spokesman Brad Carroll wrote in an email to the author, reau, 17.5% of those civilians eighteen years old and College media writers are having their work “College newspapers serve as a major news source for over obtain bachelor’s degrees. Based on previous syndicated by outlets such as CBS, Politico, and students across Michigan and across the county, which elections and despite the best efforts of traditionally TMZ.com, and presidential campaigns have taken is why the Obama campaign has hosted several con- liberal campaign strategists, this population demo- notice. The campaigns of John McCain and Barack ference calls with college media outlets.” Ben French, graphic is least likely to vote. Obama have made young voters a strategic priority General Manager of UWire, a college newspaper syn- Vincent L. Hutchings, Research Assistant Profes- and the Obama campaign in particular has worked dicate owned by CBS, agrees. “Even with falling news- sor at the Institute for Social Research at Michigan: to contact and engage college media outlets, despite paper readership, college newspaper readership rates “Individuals under 25 are the least likely age demo- the lack of numerical support to show that college are still in the high nineties. People are still picking up graphic to vote. Their number will likely be up this students will respond. Through a series of inter- a newspaper on the way to class, grabbing a paper that year, but so too will everyone else’s. As per usual, the views with professors, student journalists, and Sena- someone left in their seat. College newspapers are able young will be the least likely to vote again this year.” tor Barack Obama, it appears that the trend towards to gain access to college-aged consumers.” The McCain A larger problem for candidates who rely on college working with college media will continue regardless campaign was unable to be reached for comment on news media is that college towns are generally im- of outcome. this article, but in an interview with National Public mune to national voting trends. In 2004, Washtenaw “Hi guys!” Barack Obama was on the phone in Radio in July, spokesman Joe Pounder said, “John Mc- County polling data shows that 63.4% of voters in Newport News, Virginia, as Josh Earnest, his deputy Cain sees young voters as a competitive demographic the county voted for John Kerry. In 1988, when Mich- press secretary, introduced him. 75 reporters from this year, and we’re going to go after them.” igan favored George H.W. Bush by 54%, Washtenaw colleges and universities had obtained media call-in Jordan Schrader was Editor in Chief of the Michi- County overwhelmingly voted for Michael Dukakis. information, including the author of this story. The gan Daily in 2004 during the Presidential campaigns of In fact, no Republican has won Washtenaw County, subject of this call and others featuring his wife, Mi- George W. Bush and John Kerry. He and his writers seat of the University of Michigan, in decades. Thus, chelle, was on voter registration and highlighting had some access to the campaigns, generally through the inherently Democratic character of many large the value of grassroots participation by college stu- student organizers on campus. “I don’t want to over- universities alters the perception of their media out- dents . “We’re at the defining moment of our his- state our importance. I don’t think ’ po- lets and skews their actual effectiveness in providing tory, and this election marks an extraordinary level litical future hinged on our editorial board’s endorse- an accurate depiction of national voting trends. of involvement”, said Senator Obama. The senator ment. But certainly we were an important source of College newspapers are incubators for journal- made a point of mentioning the upcoming dates for information for 18,000 students every day, and through ists and political thinkers, but they are not micro- voter registration in several states, including Michi- us they learned about how their choice would affect cosms of national electoral politics. It is difficult to gan. He noted the availability of absentee ballots issues that mattered to them like Pell grants and race- tell just what effect college media will have on this and early voting procedures in Ohio and other key conscious admissions.” presidential race, if any. MR battleground states. The general statement is repeated outside of the Mr. Earnest highlighted earlier in the call the Michigan campus. Jamie Klein, staff writer for the Daily pendulous nature of the election, especially in once- Nebraskan, participated in an Obama Campaign-spon- solid Republican states. “Uncertain times could sored conference call with Michelle Obama, wife of the have an even greater impact on young people.” The Presidential candidate. “The press conferences have senator spoke for a few minutes. He took questions helped us bring this year’s presidential election closer for the remaining time. The Michigan Review asked, to students. Seeing coverage in their student newspa- “What are your thoughts on the future of affirma- per makes the election easier to grasp because our ar- tive action and the 2003 Supreme Court decision that ticles are focused to students and issues that students declared the University of Michigan ‘points’ system care about.” When discussing Michigan, Jason Pesick, unlawful?” Senator Obama responded, “Well, affir- Editorial Editor of the Michigan Daily in 2004, agreed mative action can help to increase diversity, but it can and felt that the attempts by the Obama campaign to be abused if used unfairly. I think that the Supreme reach college journalists were warranted. “I think this Court got it right in 2003, and that race should be just strategy makes a lot of sense. College newspapers enjoy one of many hardships considered in the application strong, stable readership on campus. I also think such process. But here’s the broader point-- the biggest an important part of his strategy is to take advantage of challenge is how do young people afford to go to col- his appeal among students and young voters. Obvious- lege in the first place?” Senator Obama then used the ly, in order to make that strategy work, the campaign question to discuss his plans for education-- a $4,000 has to be in touch with college papers.” Michael Phil- tuition credit for 100 hours of community service lips, Editor In Chief of the Review in 2004, responded, Conservative? Libertarian? Just Sick of Political Correctness Already? If so, join... THE MICHIGAN REVIEW For 25 years, THE MICHIGAN REVIEW has been the sole voice of conservatism and rationality on campus.