Youth Radio - Topic: John McCain

Does Ruling Mark End to Campaign Finance Reform?

lhernandez — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 20:04:00 -0600

In a recent 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court Justices decided that corporations should no longer have restrictions on the amount of money they wish to spend endorsing or opposing presidential or congressional candidates. President Barack Obama said this decision only profited, “Wall Street banks, health insurance companies and the other powerful interests that marshal their power every day in Washington to drown out the voices of everyday Americans”. Senator John McCain is also against this decision as well as many others who say that by allowing corporations more access to political campaigns, the democratic system will merely become more corrupt.

A blogger from the Caucus, put it this way: “This year on the 4th of July I intend to host a funeral for the American dream as this ruling marks the end of "liberty and justice for all."

While many people condemn this decision, there are people who are in favor of this ruling.

“Today’s ruling protects the First Amendment rights of organizations across the political spectrum, and is a positive for the political process and free enterprise," says Robin Conrad of the U.S Chamber of Commerce National Chamber Litigation Center.

Although Conrad and others claim that the decision is in accordance with freedom of speech, what they fail to realize is that the more corporate endorsements there are, the more susceptible the democratic process is to promoting candidates whose interests only align with the wealthy donors supporting a candidate. That means that a candidate who may propose policies that are in the best interest for the majority of the American people (not just corporations or the welathy) may be less likely to win. What is now seen as “freedom of speech” may later becomes one person or corporation charting the course that America takes instead of the public at large making decisions about shaping America's future.

Previously:

O Captain! My Captain!

hmoorman — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:55:30 -0600

By Samuel Coronado

I have always believed that politics has the power to impact people in an important way. Although I hold this belief, I have not been moved to tears by many political events in my lifetime. On Nov. 4, 2008 one such event occurred. Along with millions of other Americans I cried, rejoicing at the election of our nation’s first African-American president. My emotions were a mixture of jubilance and teary-eyed sappiness and amid those emotions I knew others were not so pleased.

On my way to school the next day, a friend of mine told me about posts he had seen on an internet forum where Obama supporters were taunting those who had supported McCain. I couldn’t stand hearing about such behavior. On the news, reports were coming in that hate crimes were being committed against African-Americans where the attacker(s) would make it clear they were attacking as a result of president-elect Obama’s victory. Hearing these things, I remembered something I heard from a man our new president-elect reminds me of.

In Abraham Lincoln’s first inaugural address, he said, “we are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection.” These words ring just as true now as they did back then. Our political process doesn’t exist to divide the nation and promote hate. This is certainly no time for degrading our democracy into a game where the winners make fun of the losers and the losers punish the winners in any way they can. To all who believe it is, they must learn that politics is more serious than that. To keep this country running requires all of us.

We live in a country that is diverse and full of opinions. Conflicting opinions have always been healthy for keeping our country on a moderate track towards progress. Progress is halted when those with opinions refuse to work with those whom their opinions oppose. Alexander Hamilton believed that “men often oppose a thing, merely because they have had no agency in planning it, or because they have been planned by those whom they dislike.” We must prove this belief wrong.

Americans from all over the country must come together and engage in healthy dialogues over the issues that matter to them. Don’t scream at someone who feels differently than you and don’t look down on them because they feel a certain way. Reach out to them and find the middle ground you can agree on. It’s unfortunate to see proud and patriotic Americans tell others they are not patriotic because of how they voted. The Founding Fathers didn’t risk their lives to create a democracy in which petty bickering would substantiate our political dialogue.

Whoever you supported this election, make it a point to keep the person who supported the other candidate in your thoughts and actions. As an Obama supporter, I am more than willing to reach out to those who voted for McCain and to work with them to create a better country. We will never progress if we sit on our hands and refuse to work together.

We only have one America. Whoever is at the wheel still relies on a great number of workers to make the ship sail smoothly.

Lincoln also advised that “with malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds.” Let’s heed Lincoln’s advice and keep this ship sailing on.

The Bottom Line

kara — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:09:33 -0600

The results of the 2008 election caused me to wonder if McCain ever really had a chance in the first place. Truthfully, about mid September, I realized that if there was indeed a shot for a Republican to win the Presidential race, it was lost. (Mid-September was the start of the HORRENDOUS financial bailout.) Tuesday night, when I was on the air at the Christian Broadcasting Network, I didn't bash President Bush, but I did point out that there were some failed policies that have ultimately led to the political blood bath that Republicans suffered last night. The American people are responding in anger and disgust for what has happened over the past 3-4 years. It's not entirely Bush's fault. Some things could not be helped, but a leader is not judged by what happens but on how he/she responds to what happens.
br /> I believe Bush is a sincere person whose actions were based on what he felt was the right thing to do, but he was loyal to a fault to some people who advised him and/or served in his administration, and it has unfortunately ruined his legacy. Even yesterday an Obama supporter told me that he believes that Bush was sincere, but that the people around him ruined him. While this isn’t true for all Bush advisers, it is unfortunately true for many of them. The rest of this article can be read on Newt.org.

The Mood of the Democrats: Cautious Optimism

jsilberg — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:33:58 -0600

Today is the big day when all our hard work pays off. In my heavily Democratic school, excitement is rampant. Yesterday, every time the election was mentioned, cheers went out across the room featuring more than a few "Yes We Can"'s. Four years ago, the final poll said Bush 48 percent, Kerry 47 percent. The final election poll had Obama at 54 percent and McCain at 42 percent. Still, we aren't ready to announce mission accomplished just yet. After letting the last two elections slip from under our fingers, it seems the closer Obama gets to the White House, the more possible it becomes for McCain to win. It turns out that the supporters of the candidate so popular for his message of Hope are quite weary of open optimism.

Personally, I check Pollster and RealClearPolitics constantly, as if the race changed every five minutes. I think the importance of today's election is just sinking in. As I was working on my US History homework, I realized that future generations will have numerous new chapters to study all based on what happens tomorrow.