A COLUMN DIVIDED: Candidates debate economy, budget plans
FROM THE LEFT: Mike McPhie
Big Bird? Donald Trump? Believe it or not, that was the first Presidential debate. In this auspicious meeting between the candidates, the viewer certainly got a crash course in public policy. The President came with a calm though sometimes weary demeanor. Romney was energetic, though perhaps too brash. At any rate, it was not the delivery, but policy positions that provided substance to Wednesday’s debate.
The economy is the largest issue in this election, and when it comes to economics, Obama has history on his side. His plan is strikingly similar to Bill Clinton’s, which proved itself by creating 23 million jobs and turned a federal deficit into a surplus, benefiting businesses and individuals. It is a balanced approach that reduces the deficit, raises revenue and closes unnecessary tax loopholes. He then compared Romney’s proposals to those of George W. Bush, who turned a surplus into massive deficit, lost jobs, and ultimately triggered the largest economic crisis since the Great Depression. As a rule, if you try the same approach, you will get the same outcomes. The president gave the voters a choice, noting that we have seen the results of both options before.
Both candidates agreed about the importance of education, at least until it came to the details. Romney revealed that he liked good teachers, but it was Obama who gave specifics about his plan to hire 100,000 new math and science teachers, expand job training programs, and build upon the successes of public universities. It is through growing and enriching our education system that we ensure America’s success in the future, particularly in a competitive and quickly changing world.
The biggest issue was over the differing plans for taxes and revenue. Obama, like most Americans, favors providing relief for the middle class and small businesses, as well as ending large tax breaks for millionaires in order to reduce the deficit and promote economic growth. Romney was unclear about his policy, but denied the plan he has promoted, which entails $5 trillion in tax breaks and $2 trillion in military spending. How would these be paid for? Romney suggested cutting off PBS’s small budget, but experts say it would require a tax hike on the middle class.
Romney’s main line of attack was based on jobs, a strategy which immediately eroded after the debates. Fact checkers discovered that he exaggerated the number of unemployed Americans by more than 10 million. He criticized the President for an unemployment rate of more than 8 percent, but the monthly jobs report proved this number to be false.
I’m willing to concede that Romney had the more vibrant performance and outshone Obama in stage presence, however it was the president who prevailed in his experience and understanding of the issues that affect America. The debate proved more than ever that the voters have a choice in the upcoming election: a choice between a plan that helps the few at the expense of the many, or a balanced approach that moves the country forward to a prosperous future for all Americans.
– Mike McPhie is a senior from Toole, Utah, majoring in law and constitutional studies. During the spring semester, he interned in Washington, D.C. Send him comments at mike.mcphie@aggiemail.usu.edu.
FROM THE RIGHT: Casey Saxton
Last week’s debate probably couldn’t have gone much better for Mitt Romney. Unlike so many debates during the Republican presidential primary, the candidates got to talk about actual policy on a variety of domestic issues. This gave Romney a very good opportunity to present his pro-growth, pro-jobs, pro-energy and pro-small business message and has even resulted in a small bounce for him in a handful of swing-state polls.
On a scale
from one to five, I’d give Romney a four-and-a-half and President Obama a three. Romney presented himself as knowledgeable and confident. Obama presented himself as calm and somewhat reserved.
The political pundits were in the process of writing Romney off as lost cause before the debate and now, once again, they say the race is neck and neck. The one-on-one contrast was good for Romney, especially with much of the debate focused on the stagnant economy.
Romney was very effective at relating to people who are struggling in the current economy. He told stories of people he’s met who are in tough financial situations and he emphasized his overall point when he said, “My priority is putting people back to work in America. They’re suffering in this country … Going forward with the status quo is not going to cut it for the American people who are struggling today.”
Social programs are generally a strong point for Democrats; however, I thought Romney quite effectively laid out his vision for the future of Medicare while assuring seniors that no changes would be made for them. He was also able to point out that it was Obama who took $716 billion out of Medicare to pay for parts of “Obamacare,” which effectively makes the liberal talking point about how Republicans want to cut Medicare quite useless. This made the healthcare discussion a positive one for Romney.
Obama played more time on defense and Romney more on offense. When Obama would try to throw something Romney’s way, Romney generally had a pretty good answer. An example of this would be when the President accused Romney of wanting to cut education funding. Romney fired back with one of his most effective lines of the night: “Mr. President, you’re entitled as the president to your own airplane and your own house, but not to your own facts. All right, I’m not going to cut education funding. I don’t have any plan to cut education funding.”
Undoubtedly, Romney won the first debate. I’m sure President Obama will make the adjustments he needs to for the following two debates and will attempt to put Romney on the defense a little more often. Likewise, Romney will continue to draw contrasts with the President which will make the choice for Americans a clearer one.
– Casey Saxton, a sophomore majoring in business administration, is the president of the USU College Republicans. He can be reached at caseysaxton@hotmail.com.