Students for Clinton, Obama debate primary candidates
Bobby Pierce
Issue date: 2/29/08 Section: Front Page
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Students for Barack Obama and Students for Hillary Clinton filled Laws 100 Thursday night for a debate between the heads of their respective organizations. The end vote resulted in a close win for Obama with 101 votes in his favor and 94 for Clinton.
The debate touched on subjects of electability, health care policies and the candidates' plans for Iraq.
"Change is coming," said senior Mike Maffie of Students for Hillary. "Jan. 20 (2009, the last day President Bush is in office) is not that far away."
Maffie argued that the primary is between a good candidate, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), and a great candidate, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.).
He called Obama divisive, and claimed that he will be swiftboated like John Kerry was in 2004, when a conservative political group left a lasting impression on the voting public with harsh ads criticizing Kerry's military record.
When sophomore Paul Struebing, representing Students for Obama, asked how Obama would be swiftboated but not Clinton, Maffie cited Clinton's experience.
"She has defined herself as a fighter," Maffie said. "Obama has not been tested by negative criticism."
Struebing then got his chance to argue for Obama, calling him the candidate of hope. He said that there isn't a great deal of policy difference between the two candidates, but that Obama can move beyond left and right politics in order to move forward.
Struebing also said that Obama is a unique candidate in that he is not taking money from federal lobbyists or political action committees.
However, Maffie criticized Obama's claim to unify America.
"His vision of unity is vague, and he will have to compromise," Maffie said. "How will he unify America on Iraq? How will he unify America on health care? How will he unify America on social issues like gay rights?"
Maffie cited Clinton's endorsement by 27 flag-rank military officials as one reason she stands out. Maffie also said that job creation is of utmost importance to college students, and that Clinton has a policy to create "green collar" jobs, which are related to environmentally friendly work.
"All I am asking for, all Hillary is asking for, is to give her a second look," Maffie said as he closed his first argument.
After the two students were finished with the first part of the debate, the floor was opened to audience members.
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