2008 Woodie Awards
Experience, a turning point in election
Adam Rocholl
Issue date: 3/13/08 Section: Iowa City
In Richard Nixon's 1968 Republican nomination acceptance speech he stated, "When the strongest nation in the world can be tied down for four years in a war in Vietnam with no end in sight, when the richest nation in the world cannot manage its economy… then it's time for new leadership for the United States."
Many Americans are seeing the 2008 presidential elections in the same light as they did the 1968 elections - as a turning point.
Heading into Tuesday, March 4, Democratic candidate Barack Obama was on a 12 state winning streak in the primaries but that night fellow Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton brought a halt to Obama's momentum with big wins in both Texas and Ohio, making them nearly neck and neck with only a handful of primaries left. On the Republican side John McCain will get the Republican nomination.
McCain is running on the grounds of experience in both the military and senate. Clinton is taking on health care as her main point and also stresses her experience in the senate.
Obama is promising a new path and an escape from the politics of the 1990s and 2000s or what he refers to as "business as usual."
Both the McCain and Clinton have attacked Obama's lack of senatorial experience.
Kirkwood student Bob Hock said, "I don't think that experience is the most important thing for a president to have, they need to be willing to work with each other because when one side won't work with the other then nothing gets done."
Kirkwood student Dan Gerjets reflected those points. "Experience isn't necessarily the most important thing; a president needs to be able to surround himself with the right people," he said.
Kirkwood political science professor Kevin Kapparos said, "Experience is important but being the governor of New York or a senator from Chicago is not enough experience to say you will be a good president, the only job that will gain the required experience is by being President or the Prime Minister of a country."
Many Americans are seeing the 2008 presidential elections in the same light as they did the 1968 elections - as a turning point.
Heading into Tuesday, March 4, Democratic candidate Barack Obama was on a 12 state winning streak in the primaries but that night fellow Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton brought a halt to Obama's momentum with big wins in both Texas and Ohio, making them nearly neck and neck with only a handful of primaries left. On the Republican side John McCain will get the Republican nomination.
McCain is running on the grounds of experience in both the military and senate. Clinton is taking on health care as her main point and also stresses her experience in the senate.
Obama is promising a new path and an escape from the politics of the 1990s and 2000s or what he refers to as "business as usual."
Both the McCain and Clinton have attacked Obama's lack of senatorial experience.
Kirkwood student Bob Hock said, "I don't think that experience is the most important thing for a president to have, they need to be willing to work with each other because when one side won't work with the other then nothing gets done."
Kirkwood student Dan Gerjets reflected those points. "Experience isn't necessarily the most important thing; a president needs to be able to surround himself with the right people," he said.
Kirkwood political science professor Kevin Kapparos said, "Experience is important but being the governor of New York or a senator from Chicago is not enough experience to say you will be a good president, the only job that will gain the required experience is by being President or the Prime Minister of a country."
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