Debate (blogpost 13.0)

The town hall style Presidential debate took place at Hofstra University in New York on October 16th. President Barack Obama and opposing candidate Governor Mitt Romney went head to head in heated arguments over education, taxation, and womens' rights. The debate was moderated by CNN news anchor Candy Crowley. There were many points of controversy in which the two candidates spoke over each other in an attempt to make the most of their time. Crowley did her best to appease the roar, but that did not stop Obama and Romney from frequently saying "just one more thing". 

One of the more memorable moments from the evening occurred when Romney was asked how he plans to improve equality for women in the workplace. Romney proceded to speak about the cabinet that served him as Governor of Massachusetts. "I went to a number of women's groups and said, 'Can you help us find folks?' and they brought us whole binders full of women." 

This line was widely received, processed, and thrown back in Romney's face by the internet. Within minutes of "binders full of women" leaving Romney's lips, several parody facebook, twitter and tumblr accounts were activated and spitting political satire. 

Obama repeated his past criticism of Romney's unclear tax plan, saying "when he's asked how are you going to do it, which deductions, which loopholes are you going to close, he can't tell you." The Obama campaign even set up this anti-Romney website humorously declaring plan to be purposefully delivered vague. 

But when it comes to statistical evidence, Romney has no shortage. "We don't have to settle for what we're going through," Romney said at one point. "We don't have to settle for gasoline at four bucks. We don't have to settle for unemployment at a chronically high level. We don't have to settle for 47 million people on food stamps. We don't have to settle for 50 percent of kids coming out of college not able to get work. We don't have to settle for 23 million people struggling to find a good job."

Obama waited until his final statement to hone in on Romney's statement about the 47%. "Think about who he was talking about," Obama said, "who've worked all their lives," veterans "who've sacrificed for this country," students, soldiers and "people working hard every day." The president said he wanted to fight for those people "because if they succeed, I believe the country succeeds."

Obama and Romney continuously tried to win over the audience members asking questions. If one candidate gave a seemingly disappointing answer, the other attempted to reassure the asker with information supporting their own possible presidential term, whether or not the facts were true. They battled back and forth about the cost of education and immigration. Both candidates played politics during this debate. According to CNN, Obama is viewed as the overall winner, with 46% of watchers agreeing. 

Biased piece (aka: Why I Am Moving to Sweden if Romney is Elected): 

When it comes to some politicians these days, it seems their policies reflect their own beliefs, rather than the interests of the American public. This gets in the way of good, clean politics. In fact, the words "good" and "clean" hardly seem fit to describe politics any more. Most campaign ads are designed to shoot down the opposing competitor instead of build one up. Politicians scuttle around details of their plans to cover up what may be controversial. But these controversial details are the ones that we, the American people, need to be aware of if we want the next 4 years to be as successful as possible. 

Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney is no exception. Romney's campaign party has maneuvered around tax plans and teetered on the fence of telling media exactly what Romney's stance on issues like abortion are. This untruthful approach to Presidency makes me uncomfortable and fearful for what might come should Romney be elected in a week and a half. 

Let's talk about an issue that has been presented, faulted, denied, covered-up and restated again and again. Romney has issued a statement(s) that, should he become President, he would cut funding for Planned Parenthood. 

“I’ve said time and time again, I’m a pro-life candidate, I’ll be a pro-life president. The actions I’ll take immediately are to remove funding for Planned Parenthood. It will not be part of my budget."

I would like to remind Governor Romney that Planned Parenthood is not an abortion factory. They also specialize in cancer screenings, vaccinations, sexual health education, STD testing, adoption referrals and so many other services that both women and men depend on in the United States. 

But just because a law is passed or funding is cut, that will not stop some women from performing unsafe, unsanitary abortions that could be permanently damaging and potentially lethal. Abortion was unaffordable or even illegal, sure, some people would have children they didn't ask for, and perhaps are not ready for. That is another mouth to feed, a mind to school, a bed to occupy, a job to give. Is that beneficial to your economy plans, Governor Romney?


Something needs to be clarified here: Romney isn't cutting Planned Parenthood for money/tax/economy issues. Romney wants to cut Planned Parenthood because he, personally, does not believe that abortion should be legal. This is a perfect example of politicians enforcing their beliefs on citizens. It is, in a way, an abuse of power. Their beliefs should not be treated as our beliefs. 

I've never been fond of the categories entitled "pro-life" and "pro-choice". Since I am pro-choice, it makes me feel like I am categorized, somehow, as anti-life. I am the furthest from. I understand the fragility and sacredness of the life that these politicians are trying to protect. But here is what I want to protect: the stability and happiness of people who are alive right now. I believe that no one has the right to enforce anything on someone's body, whether that be a fetus or a politician. Abortion is a personal choice, and no one should have the right to take that choice away.