The Voters Have Spoken: Election Day Results

BY, EMMA FRANKLIN

Voters flocked to their local voting locations on Tuesday to elect various candidates to office. Three of the most heavily watched races were for governor of N.J., governor of Va., and mayor of New York City.

The candidates for N.J. governor included Republican incumbent Chris Christie and Democrat Barbara Buono. Christie won the election by a landslide with 60.4% of votes to Buono’s 38.1%. Although N.J. has been a historically Democratic state, Governor Christie won the support of voters through his moderate policies and quick response to last year’s Hurricane Sandy disaster. Governor Christie’s mounting bipartisan support would potentially strengthen his potential bid for the 2016 presidential election, if he chooses to run.

GW College Republicans Chairman Alexander Miller said he was, “Very proud of Chris Christie in his incredible victory in New Jersey. He received a record number of votes from women and minority groups and seems well positioned for 2016.”

The race for Va. governor included the state Attorney General, Republican Kenneth Cuccinelli, and former Democratic National Committee chairman, Democrat Terry McAuliffe. Although the race was very tight, McAuliffe came out on top with 48.0% of the vote compared to Cuccinelli’s 45.5%.

“I kept a watchful eye on Virginia. Cuccinelli was predicted to lose by 7-12 points. However, the closeness of the elections proves that Americans are upset with the failed Obamacare and refutes claims that the government shutdown was the fault of, and ultimately hurt the GOP,” said Miller.

Cuccinelli, a Tea Party supporter, was not predicted to receive as much of the vote as he did. However, due to negative public opinion surrounding the Republican Party following the government shut down, McAuliffe’s campaign received a bit of an energy boost and increased voter turnout. These results have prompted the Republican Party to reevaluate how it chooses nominees in an effort to lessen the number of extremely radical candidates.

The GW College Democrats were active in the campaign. “Mr. McAuliffe's victory is particularly heartening because we invested so much effort in helping him win. These results mean real, material improvement in people's lives because now Medicaid expansion appears more likely in Virginia,” said GW College Democrats president Omeed Firouzi.

The race for mayor of New York City, widely considered the second most powerful political position within the United States, included Democrat Bill de Blasio and Republican Joseph J. Lhota. De Blasio was the overwhelming winner with 73.3% of the vote compared to Lhota’s 24.3%. 

“I’m thrilled at the results in New York City,” said Firouzi. “Stop and frisk may come to a close now, so obviously that is a good thing because it means progressive policy outcomes.”

New York City consistently votes liberally and considering the not-so-popular term of current moderately conservative mayor Michael Bloomberg, de Blasio’s win was no big surprise.

The Great Debate: Two Professors Square Off

BY MICHAEL SCARBOROUGH

Two political science professors, Henry Nau and Vincent Stine, faced off Wednesday in a debate sponsored by the GW chapters of College Republicans and College Democrats. 

Stine, who has taught on topics ranging from religion’s influence on politics to the nature of political parties, represented the Democratic side. Nau, who has been a professor of international affairs since 1973 and was a senior staff member on President Reagan’s National Security Council, represented the Republicans. 

The debate featured very little back-and-forth banter reminiscent of last year’s presidential and Republican primary debates. Instead the professors answered questions from moderator and fellow GW professor Daniel Ericson, and once opinions were given, the discussion moved on to new topics. 

On the question of the country’s fiscal situation, both professors agreed that deals should revolve around reforming entitlements and closing tax loopholes, with Nau taking a stand against “agricultural and industrial subsidies.” 

The professors also agreed that the problematic implementation of The Affordable Care Act has reflected poorly on the Obama administration. 

“I think it is a big embarrassment for the administration,” said the left-leaning Stine, “but I don’t think (Secretary of Health and Human Services) Sebelius should resign.”

Nau expressed his belief that many provisions of the ACA could have been worked out in the private sector, and that government only makes healthcare reform less efficient. 

“Insurance companies easily could have solved the pre-existing condition problem on its own…don’t wait for government to solve your problem. Go out there and solve them.”

Ending the debate, Professor Ericson asked the participants to predict the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees in 2016. Nau and Stine were reluctant to give predictions, noting that there are no clear front runners. 

Both agreed that in every election cycle, it is impossible to predict circumstances and events that lead to candidate nominations.

WRGW News at 6 for October 3, 2012

WRGW News at 6 for October 3, 2012 by Wrgw_News on Mixcloud

MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell Talks Socialism, Marijuana and Obama

MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell - WRGW News Interview by Wrgw_News on Mixcloud

DC Census Results Hold GW Ramifications

Some may remember the University's campaign last Spring to get students to fill out U.S. Census forms. Though many students may not have seen the significance of the effort at the time, population data has a large effect on the District, as evidenced by the recently released Census 2010 data. Students have helped propel Washington DC's population to upwards of 600,000 people for the first time ever and GW's on campus population climbed to 20,000, up from 17,000 in 2000.

However, some of the most interesting insight gained from this data is that DC needs to redistrict. By law each of DC's eight wards must have roughly equal populations, plus or minus 5%. Currently Ward two, the home of GW, is too large, while Wards seven and eight, located mostly south of the Anacostia River, are too small. While the ideal ward size should be around 75,000 people, ward two has almost 80,000 residents.

The impending redistricting and shrinking of ward two may affect campus life in the future. As a result of redistricting, Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) district lines will be redrawn. It is these commissions, which could most impact campus life. ANC's provide representation for their population to various parts of DC government, giving input on new laws and regulations.

DC Council Chairman Vincent Gray to come to GW Campus

Vincent Gray, Chairman of the DC City Council and Democratic nominee for DC mayor will be coming to the School without Walls Thursday, October 14th as part of a series of town hall meetings in  each of the city's wards.

The meeting, one of eight scheduled, is intended to provide a forum for Ward 2 residents to come together and share ideas, according to Gray's campaign website.  The Chairman and presumptive mayor will be joined by each ward's councilmember and neighborhood advisory committee.  

Speaking at the School without Walls holds special significance for Gray; education policy was a central point of contention in his campaign against Adrian Fenty, and the fate of Fenty's prominent Chancellor for Public Schools in a Gray administration remains in doubt.

Ward 2 was not friendly territory for the Democratic nominee during the hotly-contested September primary - Fenty won the area by a 45-point margin, Gray's second worst showing after Ward 3.

Regardless of the possible opposition, Gray plans to speak with members of the community as part of his "One City" campaign mantra.  Gray's spokesman acknowledged in an statement to the Washington Post that the nominee realized he had a lot of work to do to win over his predecessor's supporters.

For anyone who cannot make the 6:30 meeting, WRGW News will be providing wall-to-wall coverage of the event right here at wrgwnews.com, including a liveblog and analysis of the forum.  For those who do wish to attend, the town hall is open to the public and will take place at the School without Walls, which is at 2130 G street across from the GW Delicatessen, and should last from 6:30 to 8:30pm.

DC Mayor, MD Governor Races Heat Up

With primary elections only five months away, races at every level are beginning to heat up, DC and Maryland included.

In DC, Mayor Adrian Fenty's reelection bid appears to dace a formidable challenge in DC Council Chairman Vincent Gray. Gray, who officially announced his candidacy to be the Democratic nominee for Mayor on Tuesday, appears poised to mount a campaign challenging Fenty's sway over African American voters, a group with which Fenty has recently struggled.

Due to DC being an overwhelmingly Democratic city, the Democratic party's primary is widely considered the true competitive race for mayor. Despite this sentiment, Rob Noel, GW college Republicans communications director refused to rule out the possibility of a strong Republican candidate.

"The citizens of DC are beginning to warm to many republican positions, perhaps most notably the school choice program that republicans advocate," Noel said in an email to WRGW, "Parents are tired of sending their children to DCs (sic) failing public schools and would greatly benefit from the ability to send their children to thriving private schools. A Republican mayor would likely work hard to give them that opportunity."

Michael Garber, Noel's counterpart in the College Republicans, denied to throw support behind a particular candidate in the primary, vowing to support whoever wins that election during the general contest.

In a more traditional partisan race, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, a Democrat, appears to most likely face Republican Robert Ehrlich in a rematch of the 2006 contest. The Washington Post reported Tuesday that Ehrlich plans to ride a wave of "anti-incumbent, anti-spending" sentiment among voters to the statehouse.

Despite these sentiments, polls show Ehrlich behind O'Malley by 6.5 points, a margin similar to his loss in the 2006 election.

The College Republicans described Ehrlich as "a strong candidate...[with] a strong platform to run on," specifically noting his previous stint as governor of Maryland. They demurred when asked to explicitly support him, however, electing to await the result of the state's Republican primary.

The College Democrats expressed support for O'Malleys candidacy, and are "looking forward to the challenge" posed by his reelection campaign.

CDs and CRs React to President Obama's First State of the Union Address

Almost a year after taking the oath of office, President Obama made his first annual State of the Union Address in front of Congress Wednesday night. Amid 10% unemployment, a struggling healthcare bill, two unpopular wars, and a spiraling deficit, the president took the stage.

After discussing the historical significance of his speech and of the times the American people live in, President Obama got down to business addressing the nation’s faltering economy. He stated that he supported the measures passed at the end of the Bush Administration and early in his term, those of the bailout and stimulus plan, keeping true to his campaign pledge to do the unpopular but necessary, while likening the bailout to “ a root canal.”

Spending a considerable amount of time on his jobs bill and the middle class, Obama presented his small business plan to promote growth through tax credits, eliminating the capital gains tax, and using the repaid TARP funds for lending through community banks.

Obama then proceeded by explaining the need for bills addressing energy independence and climate change, in addition to improvements to our nation’s education system, all of which will promote job growth and keep America ahead of an advancing world, citing India, China, and Germany as potential rivals in these fields.

However, though it was the cornerstone of his agenda through his first year, the president only touched on healthcare, explaining its need and asking members of Congress to “take a second look at the bill.”

One-Stop Shop for Info on Political Careers Launched

The George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management launched a new website this month, PoliticsUnder30.org, in an effort to promote the dissemination of information about careers in politics.

A recent press release by the school said that recent polling indicated that "85% of respondents answered yes when asked if having a comprehensive Web site with information about jobs in politics would encourage them to pursue a career in politics." To help satiate this desire for more information, PoliticsUnder30 hopes to provide a central location for "job seeking tips, resume building advice, and a support structure, for young people in politics" said Bryce Cullinane, founder of the website and a graduate student in the School of Political Management.

The website features interviews with such luminaries as Obama Campaign Manager David Plouffe and New York Representative Tim Bishop, along with other behind-the-scenes functionaries from across Washington. So dedicated is the website to obtaining first-hand knowledge from current and former politicos that it has declared the goal of interviewing all 535 members of the 111th Congress by the end of 2010.

Also available are daily political job postings, a calendar dedicated to various political events happening around the city, and a central listing of scholarships categorized by state of origin.

F. Christopher Arterton, dean of the School of Political Management, described the purpose of the website in the press release as "[helping] the young people of today become the political leaders of tomorrow."

First WRGW News Poll Released

Over the course of the year, WRGW News will be conducting opinion polling to gauge the general opinions and sentiments of the student body. The polls will focus on what GW students think about national issues, campus issues, and will also survey students on their views on the Student Association, including its leaders and potential SA presidential election match ups later in the school year.

View the results of the WRGW News Poll here.

The first WRGW News Poll shows that students overwhelming reject YAF's (Young Americans Foundation) charge that Michelle Obama and the University are politicizing community service stemming from Obama's community service challenge.

The WRGW News Poll also finds that a plurality of non-freshmen feel that Kyle Boyer was unfairly kicked off the ballot by the JEC last year, and an overwhelming majority of students have a very poor opinion of the job performance of former SA president Vishal Aswani from last year.

There are many other questions in the poll, including questions on the swine flu, health care reform, and President Obama's approval rating, so check them out.

Amnesty Debate Streches Campuses

Amidst the rush of last-minute get out the vote campaigns, members of the GW College Democrats and Georgetown Students for McCain-Palin got together on Monday to debate a topic which has been largely ignored by the presidential campaigns in the wake of the failing economy and the war on terror:  human rights issues, both domestically and abroad.

Choosing a New America:  Human Rights and the Presidential Election,” which was hosted by the GW chapter of Amnesty International and was moderated by GW professor and CNN special correspondent Frank Sesno, focused on a wide variety of topics, including wiretapping, Guantanamo Bay, same-sex marriage, and the genocide in Darfur.

On some issues, the students representing both presidential candidates - Senators Barack Obama and John McCain – seemed to agree for the most part.  For instance, both sides recognized their candidate’s desire to shut down Guantanamo Bay.  Allison Wagner, who represented the Georgetown Students for McCain-Palin, said that Guantanamo is a “symbol of degradation of human life.”

On other issues, the two sides were in clear opposition of one another.  On the subject of how to deal with the issue in Darfur, the students for McCain-Palin stated that their candidate believed in utilizing diplomacy before sending troops to Darfur, while Matt Ingolia, speaking for the GW Democrats, argued that “the solution will require more than just talk.”  James Jones, also of the GW Democrats, went on to add that darfurscore.com, a reputable website that grades congressmen on their stance on Darfur, gave Obama an ‘A,’ and McCain a ‘C.’

The debate, which took place in the Continental Ballroom in the Marvin Center, fostered vibrant discussion between the two major political parties, thanks in part to Sesno, who made a habit of asking follow-up questions, and allowing the debaters to pose questions to one another – tactics that were not seen frequently in the presidential debates.

- Alex Laska

Politics on Campus

With the election only weeks away, GW's campus has become a center for politics. This week saw many different visitors and events, all of a political nature, focusing predominantly on the upcoming election.

On Monday, former campaign manager for Al Gore Donna Brazile, who is now a political analyst for CNN, delivered remarks to the GW College Democrats at the Jack Morton Auditorium. Her remarks focused mainly on the upcoming election.

On Tuesday, the Office of Alumni Relations and the Class Council hosted “How Do I Become a Campaign Manager,” featuring Beth Leonard, who was the Presidential State Director for the Kerry/Edwards campaign. Leonard, who is an alumnus of the Graduate School of Political Management, gave advice and anecdotes to students interested in getting involved in campaigns as a career. Her advice included networking with average people, not letting ideology get in the way when choosing who to work for and getting a dog.

Wednesday was filled with political events, including the GW mock election, which ended in a landslide victory for Obama. Other activities included a game of tug-of-war between the CD’s and CR’s, political jousting and political mocktails. Later that evening, two debate watching parties were held in the School of Media and Public Affairs - the Program Board event with the CRs and CDs in the Jack Morton Auditorium and on the third floor, a debate party for SMPA students along with faculty commentary. CNN was there to cover the event.

The political happenings on campus continue next week, when the College Republicans welcome former Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, in the Marvin Center Grand Ballroom at 8pm.

Biden vs. Palin

Thunderous applause rang out across the Marvin Center Thursday night at Vice Presidential candidates Joeseph Biden and Sarah Palin took to the stage at Washington University for the only Vice Presidential debate this election.

Hosted by the GW Program Board, College Republicans and College Democrats alike gathered in the Grand Ballroom of the Marvin Center to watch the debate together.

Going into the debate, both organizations had high hopes for their candidates. Alicia Froio, Freshman Representative for the College Democrats, said she thought Biden would do "a heck of a lot better" than Palin. On the other side, Conor Rogers, Freshmen Representative for the College Republicans, asserted that Palin "will do very well," and that when se gets to speak freely, the polls bounce for McCain.

Notably, the ballroom was divided up into two sections - the College Democrats on the left side and the College Republicans on the right, with a large aisle separating the two. As the debate progressed, it became very clear as to why the two groups were seated in separate sections.

Several times throughout the night, an accusation made by one of the two candidates would send one of the groups into bouts of applause in favor of their candidate. At one point, when Biden accused current Vice President Dick Cheney of being "very dangerous," the College Democrats cheered fro several moments. Palin's assertion that she does not support gay marriage was welcomed with equally loud applause from the College Republicans.

Next Tuesday, Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain will meet for their second of three pre-election debates in Nashville, Tennessee.

-Alex Laska

Bob Barr Interview Today

Tune in to www.gwradio.com or campus cable channel 22 at 1:15!

The Importance of the Youth Vote

In addition to bolstering party support, the convention season allowed the nation to consider important issues.  From the historic acceptance speech of the nation’s first African American on a major party ticket, to the acceptance of the Republican’s first female vice presidential candidate, both conventions were full of historical moments.  Another issue to make this political season one to remember is the importance of the youth vote.  While Barack Obama seems to draw in huge numbers of young voters, McCain’s camp realizes their importance too. 

 

While in Denver, we asked Alicia Froio, chair of the Young Democrats of America High School Caucus, about the youth vote.  She told us that she believed this election was our time in history.

 

For audio, click here:  Alicia on Youth Vote

 

Also in Denver, Cory Struble, the president of College Dems at GW, said that the youth demographic will be powerful in this election and we will make a difference.

 

For audio, click here:  Cory on the Youth Vote 

 

While he was in St. Paul, we spoke to president of the College Republicans, Brand Kroeger.  He agreed that the youth vote was enormously important, saying, “we’re making our presence known, even if we have a smaller number than the Obama camp.”

 

For audio, click here:  Brand on the Youth Vote

 

- Mallory Thompson

On Campus Politics

The next few months are going to be very busy for the College Democrats and College Republicans.

The two groups are gearing up for the upcoming presidential election. The campaign season is in full swing, with Senators Barack Obama and Joe Biden on the Democratic ticket and Senator John McCain and Governor Sarah Palin on the Republican ticket, both organizations are making plans to help their candidate take the White House in January.

According to Brandon Hines, public relations director for the College Republicans, the CRs have plans to hit the campaign trail at the grassroots level in both Pennsylvania and Virgina. In the weeks leading up to the election, task forces will be sent to key battleground states to help get out the vote. The College Democrats have similar plans, including campaign trips to Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Hampshire and frequent trips to Virginia to help out in races there.

Both organizations will be holding debate watch parties and will be hosting several get-out-the-vote events here on campus. According to Matt Ingoglia, the College Democrats have created several events to bring in freshmen – to add to their estimated membership of 1500 – including last night’s Barack-and-Bowl, a social event that took place in the Hippodrome. The College Republicans will be hosting a John McCain week, which will highlight the candidate’s accomplishments and goals for his presidency if elected.

Both groups stressed the importance of the youth vote and their dedication to reaching out to new voters. In addition to the presidential election, both organizations will be helping their parties’ candidates in local elections throughout the DC Metro area.

For more information, visit: www.gwcollegedemocrats.com or www.gwrepublicans.com

- Alex Laska

Interview at the RNC: Brand Kroeger

While WRGW wasn't able to attend the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, MN, several GW students were able to make the trek.  GW College Republican chairman Brand Kroeger was there for all of the action.  We talked to Kroeger just a few hours before McCain's speech on the final night of the convention.

Click here for audio:  Brand Kroeger Interview 

 - Mallory Thompson

Interview at Invesco: Michael Ray Huerta

On night four of the Democratic National Convention, WRGW was able to gain access to the floor of Invesco Field.  Right after New Mexico's Governor Bill Richardson spoke, we bumped into New Mexico delegate and GW student Michael Ray Huerta.  We spoke with him about the convention events and what the delegate experience has meant to him.  Click below for the audio.

Huerta at Invesco

- Mallory Thompson

Roll Call Audio

Wednesday's roll call vote was one for the history books.  Below is an audio piece that takes you to the Convention floor during the voting.  This is when Barack Obama was officially named as the Democratic Presidential nominee.  Click below for the story.

Roll Call Piece

- Mallory Thompson

Change is in the Air

[caption id="attachment_451" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Invesco Field as guest start arriving for tonight"][/caption]

Tonight is Barack Obama night here in Denver and we just arrived at Invesco Field.  The lines of people are streched all around the stadium, but luckily our press passes allowed us to zip right by.  We're seated in section 133, about 100 yards from the podium.  Because the Broncos colors are red and blue, the stadium looks very natural for a huge political rally.  The stage is surrounded by columns and blue draping.  While events don't start until 3pm Moutain time, people are beginning to pour into the stadium. 

Tonight, we'll see (in order of apperance) Olympian Shawn Johnson, actress and singer Jennifer Hudson, Howard Dean, Gov. Bill Richardson, Sherryl Crowe, will.i.am, Gov. Tim Kaine, Stevie Wonder, former Vice President Al Core, Micheal McDonald, Susan Eisenhower, Sen. Dick Durbin and of course, Barack Obama.

Today is the 45th anniversary of the March on Washington, when Martin Luther King Jr. made his famour"I Have A Dream" speech.  There will be a tribute tonight, with his son, Martin Luther King III, daughter Rev. Bernice King and Rep. John Lewis of Georgia.

One question remains....is Bruce Springsteen coming?  He's a favorite of Barack Obama's and Springsteen's "The Rising" is played constantly on the campaign trail.  The Rocky Mountain News said they have confirmation that he will perform an acoustic set, however, Springsteen's publicist says the rumours are false.  We'll just have to wait and see. 

Obama's speech is tentatively scheduled for 8pm, Mountain time.  Although we have limited Internet access, we'll do our best to bring updates.

- Mallory Thompson