As the Democratic and Republican Conventions draw to a close and the election gains even more prominence in the news, Binghamton University students share a mix of opinions on presidential candidate John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin for vice president.
“I feel like they’ve been making cracks at Obama’s expense about his lack of experience, and she has none,” said Marisol Maddox, an environmental studies major.
Palin, who has been investigated for corruption and reportedly wanted to ban books in her hometown library, is extremely pro-life, according to Maddox. She has also initiated programs that support the aerial gunning of wolves.
“McCain would be the oldest person elected as president and he’s had skin cancer and heart problems,” Maddox said. “Being president is stressful, and if something happened she would be our president.”
“That’s terrifying,” she added.
Some students also feel strongly about the issue of gender and its presentation in the media.
“The emphasis is on her being a woman, not her political experience,” said Chelsea Zhao, a finanace major. “She hasn’t shown an ability to lead; they’re just trying to attract Hillary supporters.”
David L. Cingranelli, a professor of political science at BU, also shared his opinion.
“I think that she is an effective politician, but I worry about her values,” Cingranelli said. “Should she become the president of the United States, she could take us down a road of social conservatism that I don’t think the country wants.”
Cingranelli listed Palin’s views on a woman’s right to choose, sex education in schools, gay marriage and civil unions as issues of concern.
“The whole issue with her lack of experience really comes down to the fact that she hasn’t spoken on a bunch of issues,” he said.
Other students have a different opinion on Palin.
“I love Sarah Palin,” said John Donovan, an engineering major. “When I heard her speak [at the Republican National Convention], I immediately felt that this woman will be our first woman president sometime in the near future.”
Donovan also remarked that the criticism Palin has been receiving because of her speeches is unjustified, as Obama and other candidates have speech writers as well.
“She has a great history and seems like the perfect defender of the everyman,” Donovan added.
Ian Swan, a biological sciences major, had a similar view of Palin’s policies.
“[Palin is] exactly what Washington needs, with all the corruption and hundreds of billions in wasteful spending,” he said. “She’s also an inspiration for rising to the top on her own, not fueled by a lust for power but to improve society for future generations, all while raising a family.”
Swan added that the inclusion of Palin on the ticket has increased his enthusiasm for the fall campaign.
“It’s unfortunate that her liberal opponents and the MSM [mainstream media] had to attack her family, spread false rumors and lies about her and attack her for not being a ‘real’ woman because she’s against abortion,” he said.
Some students, like Adam Shamah, a business and economics major, only decided to vote for McCain after he picked Palin as his running mate.
“When I pull the lever on election day I will not be voting for John McCain, who is in no way a principled conservative. I will be voting for McCain-PALIN,” he said.
One student saw it a different way.
Michael Manganiello, a finance/MIS major stated, “McCain made a great choice, she’s smoking hot.”