Election 2008: What is at Stake
February 15, 2008
The 2008 Presidential Election comes at a time of transition for the United States. Globally, the end of the “unipolar era” of the United States brought on by the rise of China, India, and the European Union will have great ramifications for international prosperity and security. The next president will not only have to reformulate American strategy in a changing international system, but he or she will also inherit the same problems that have plagued the current administration, including the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, increasing turmoil in Pakistan, and the ongoing genocide in Darfur. The only guarantee for the future is that America’s role in these conflicts, the key determinants of President Bush’s legacy, will ultimately find resolution once he leaves office.
At home, the president-elect will preside over a debt of nine–trillion dollars, the pending retirement of the baby-boomer generation, and a failing healthcare system in need of reform. While such issues may not seem relevant to the general Tufts student body, a lack of progress in fixing these national problems could dramaticaly effect our way of life in the coming decades. Most importantly, the next president will play a decisive role in questions that will affect our political culture in the 21st century, as his (or her) judgment on illegal immigration, reproductive rights, and religion may well change perceptions on how Americans define “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Are the presidential candidates addressing issues that matter not only to college students, but to the public as well? The Observer solicited responses to this question from several politically involved students on campus, and students on both the left and right seem satisfied by the policy discourse this election season. Sofia Nelson, a supporter of Senator Hillary Clinton, believes that the candidates have done an admirable job of addressing the issues. “Issues of college affordability, environmental justice, healthcare, the war, and social justice are being addressed by both Democratic candidates in a way I don’t think we have seen in the past,” she said. Tufts Republicans President Daniel Hartman agreed, although he added that, “I think the problem of illegal immigration has not been addressed enough [by Democratic candidates], as well as the threat posed by Islamic terrorists. I would like to hear from the Democrats more on how they would solve each of those issues.”
That said, not all Tufts students were pleased with the campaign this electoral cycle. Stephanie Brown, a former member of Tufts Students for Mitt Romney, a group supporting the former governor of Massachusetts who recently ended his bid for the GOP nomination, believes that some important issues were upstaged by less noteworthy discussions. “I find it especially interesting that things like the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, not to mention several tense relations with other countries around the world, have taken a backseat to squabbles over a candidate’s race or religion,” she noted.
Of the students contacted by The Observer for this article, several expressed their desire to see the issue of poverty, a rallying cry for former presidential candidate John Edwards, take greater precedent in the coming months of the campaign. Students also called for a greater emphasis on generational challenges, including the need for a frank discussion on social security reform. “One issue I have been disappointed in is that they have not addressed the problem of social security,” said Hartman, “and if our current system continues, young people will never receive a social security check, and both parties will admit that there is a problem, but where are the solutions?”
The Promise of Change
Echoing the transitional moment for the United States, “change” has become the underlying theme for the 2008 election. “Change” is predominately associated with Senator Barack Obama and his pledge to end the divisive, red state-blue state brand of politics that has dominated recent electoral cycles. While rhetorically pleasing, is “change” just a buzzword, or can candidates use “change” to deliver real, tangible results?
Tufts students differed in their opinions on the importance of “change” and its meaning in practical terms. While students surveyed defined change along the same lines of Senator Obama, others saw change in the form of new policies rather than a fundamental departure from the usual politics in Washington.
Brown, for one, sees “change” as lacking any substance or significance. “I am wary of any politician who goes about touting change without giving specific examples. Candidates like Obama rally around the word, but again, I see very little substance.”
Samantha Goldman, a member of the student organization Tufts Students for Barack Obama, believes that “change” goes beyond the rhetorical significance described by Brown and represents a fundamental goal for the country. “I strongly believe that [change] is not just about a change in party. A lot needs to change: the way America projects herself, how we think about engaging with our enemies, how we treat our children, our poor, our elderly, our immigrants, how the parties interact, and really how politics are done as usual.”
A main focal point of the Democratic nomination race between Senator Obama and Senator Clinton has been the clash of Senator Obama’s promise for “change” versus Senator Clinton’s advocacy of the importance of her “experience.” For some Tufts students, though, the two are not mutually exclusive: “Change requires hard work,” argued Nelson, “and often, not always, experience working within the system one is trying to change allows one to more effectively effect change.”
On the right, Hartman sees the promise of “change” as not being the exclusive property of the Democratic Party. “I think Senator McCain, as well as Senators Obama and Clinton, will clearly bring change to Washington, but it depends on what kind of change you want.” In his view, Washington politicians have “not secured our borders, brought about an end to pork-barrel spending, and have not insured every American with affordable healthcare,” meaning that voters will decide if the solutions to these problems lies with the government or the free market, a source of conflict between Democrats and Republicans.
Ali Meyer, a freshman and supporter of libertarian Congressman Ron Paul, believes it makes sense that the theme of change has been one that has resonated throughout this election cycle. “Young people as a whole tend to be more eager to introduce changes, so it’s natural that Ron Paul’s campaign was largely centered around the efforts of young people,” she noted, adding, “In the context of our current administration, change seems like the one thing that most Americans can agree on.” However, in Meyer’s opinion, many of the presidential candidates appear to be all talk and no action when it comes to making actual changes. “I am inclined to believe that ‘change’ is mostly just a buzzword, an appeal to the voting populace so that the same politicians can get into office and make the same mistakes all over again,” she said.
Living Up to a Tufts Tradition:
The Election and Active Citizenship
If the American electorate will ultimately determine the breadth of change resulting from the election, it is important to determine whether Tufts students are engaged in this electoral cycle. As every undergraduate knows, the university prides itself on the “active citizenship” of its students, and taking an active role in politics is just one of the many ways Tufts students facilitate the tradition of the university. Has Tufts lived up to its goal of producing active citizens in the political realm? The verdict is mixed according to those closely involved with politics on campus.
Goldman questions just how closely students understood the candidates’ different policy proposals and the importance of their primary vote. “What disappoints me, though, is that many students… did not really see a huge difference in the two democratic candidates, and instead think that the November general election will be more important.” She added that, “If you’re from a Democratic leaning state such as Massachusetts, New York, or California, your Democratic vote means little in November, and was hugely influential on February 5.”
Meyer believes that when it comes to the election, Tufts’ reputation for active citizenship is somewhat unfounded. “Tufts students are absolutely not as active as they ought or claim to be,” she opined. “It seems many students are apathetic, and the majority of ‘active’ students illustrate their political awareness by wearing Obama stickers on their lapels. Political engagement at Tufts seems to extend only to unbased criticism of the Primary Source and changing Facebook profile pictures to Obama.”
Others interviewed, though, saw the campus as living up to its reputation, albeit in an overwhelming show of support for Senator Obama. “I have been somewhat surprised to see how involved students are under Senator Obama,” observed Hartman, “and I predict that you will see a steep drop in involvement on the Democratic side if Senator Clinton ends up being the nominee.” Nelson also cited the support for Senator Obama as forcing her to seek other outlets of support for her candidate of choice, Senator Hillary Clinton. “It has been frustrating as someone who is organizing for Hillary. I found myself turning more to the communities of Somerville and Medford for support.” She admitted, however, that she found the experience of “working with the members of our host communities to be very rewarding…It was almost a blessing that the lack of support for Hillary on campus drove me in that direction.” Fulfilling a certain civic duty will play a critical role in evaluating the involvement of Tufts students. “I think that while a lot of students are getting out there and voting, there is always more work to do,” said Hartman, “and until every Tufts student who is an American citizen is voting, there will still be work to do.” Moreover, Goldman is skeptical that one can even judge whether the campus is properly engaged in the election season: “For an undergraduate body of 4,800 students, what is a realistic expectation of engagement? At this point, it’s quality, not quantity.”
Jumbo, the Liberal Elephant
It’s no secret that on the whole, the Tufts campus tends to lean to the left politically. As the 2008 primary season wore on and “Super Tuesday,” along with the Massachusetts primary, approached, the campus seemed awash in fliers advertising events in support of the Democratic candidates, including a visit to Tufts in support of Obama from Kal Penn, of Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle fame. Amidst such a political climate, campaign efforts from more conservative students can often go unnoticed.
For Hartman, the logistics of being in the political minority on campus can make campaigning difficult. “I don’t think it’s difficult to promote a conservative candidate,” he said. However, “We have had a diverse club this year with supporters of Senator McCain, Governor Romney, Governor Huckabee, Mayor Giuliani, Senator Thompson, and Congressman Paul. The only reason it’s difficult is because of pure numbers. If we were to divide our club into separate groups for each of our candidates, you would see very small groups with no ability to function.” The Tufts Republicans, though, have been able to effectively work with these limitations. As Hartman noted, “We have made Republicans on campus aware of various opportunities in Massachusetts [and] in New Hampshire to assist the candidate they support.” With Senator McCain all but confirmed as the Republican nominee, Hartman believes that the campus Republicans will rally together around him: “Now that we have Senator McCain as our presumptive nominee, I could see a Tufts for McCain group growing strong and competing with the Obama and Clinton groups,” he explained. “Senator McCain has an appeal to voters on both sides of the aisle, through his ‘Straight Talk Express.’”
The overwhelmingly liberal trend even extends to non-partisan groups like Tufts Votes, a group dedicated to increasing voter turnout. “There are no partisan objectives to the group, but at the same time, this organization consists only of Democrats,” noted sophomore Ethan Hochheiser, who heads the group. Hochheiser would like to see the Tufts Votes membership representing both sides of the aisle: “I do hope that we can be a more diverse coalition in the future,” he said.
For her part, Romney supporter Brown has found that being one of so few Republicans at Tufts has some distinct advantages. “When you have strong convictions and an eagerness to discuss them, it is either incredibly rewarding or painfully frustrating,” she noted, adding, “I really enjoy what some may consider the disadvantage or minority political status, because it means I have an opportunity to teach someone alternative views or provide example of my opinions or beliefs. Without a doubt there are those who confront [or] attack you under the clever guise of ‘wanting to know more,’ but I’ve found the majority of my friends, classmates, and professors genuinely want to better understand different views.”
Rocking the Vote
For many Tufts students, the upcoming election has represented a chance to get involved — in some cases for the first time — in the process of political campaigning. Nationally, young people have already played a significant role in this election cycle, and the Tufts campus is no exception. “This election has engaged young people like none other in my time at Tufts, both here and elsewhere,” noted Dean of Undergraduate Education, James Glaser, who personally took a group of students to New Hampshire in the days before the state’s primary. “We always have students who are interested and engaged in the campaign, but this year stands out. I think it’s a function of the election, the context in which it is taking place, and the candidates who are running.”
During the primary season, Tufts students in support of Obama and Clinton have been particularly vocal. In the days leading up to Super Tuesday, members of Tufts Students for Obama phone-banked, calling local residents and urging them to vote for Senator Obama in the primary. It was an “incredibly passionate group of students,” noted Goldman.
Tufts Votes has also been a prominent voice on campus during the primary season. As Super Tuesday approached, the non-partisan group stepped up its efforts to get Tufts students registered to vote. Said sophomore and Tufts Votes President Ethan Hochheiser, “We’ve registered several hundred students so that they would be eligible to vote in the elections through a technique called ‘dorm-storming,’ where we simply knock on students’ [doors] in dorms and register them to vote.” Advertising also played a large role in the group’s efforts, as did education about the voting process for the Massachusetts primary. Explained Hochheiser, “It’s actually very complicated for those students registered on campus, because there are four different polling locations one would have to vote in, depending on which part of campus that individual resides. Through flyers, advertisements in the Tufts Daily, school-wide emails, our own comprehensive Tufts Votes website, and on the front page in big letters on TuftsLife, we let students know not only that the Massachusetts primaries were February 5th, but exactly how they should go about voting.” Efforts are being made to register Tufts students before they actually arrive on campus. As Hochheiser noted, “Another initiative that has been cleared to go into effect for next year’s entering class by Admissions is to include a voter registration application in the admissions packets. That way, the incoming class will be registered to vote before they come to campus, and will not face any deadline problems when elections arrive.”
As November approaches, Tufts Votes also hopes to expand its outreach efforts into the communities of Medford and Somerville. As Hochheiser explained, the group will be visiting local high schools and community colleges and helping students there register to vote. Tufts Votes will also be entering into a partnership with the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), for which Hochheiser has high hopes: “Besides already being supported by the Tisch College, Tufts Votes will be partnering with the national organization PIRG, specifically with their Massachusetts chapter, in order to have access to more resources and accomplish our goals more efficiently,” he explained.
An End in Sight
As the longest and costliest election cycle in history enters its final stage — CNN recently estimated that the amount of money the presidential candidates have spent on television advertising alone had reached a staggering three billion dollars — a deeply divided America is preparing to make a decision whose impact will be felt around the world. What will the results be? As eight years of the Bush Administration come to an end, the entire world is watching. “I still am distrustful of the American people to make the right choice,” Goldman noted. “Bush was elected twice, and I’m not sure we’ve gotten much smarter since the last presidential elections. But, I’m going to be optimistic, and have hope.”