This is the first article in a series covering the 2012 Presidential Election. HC BC will utilize voices of both the College Democrats and College Republicans to keep you informed on the issues and the candidates. Do you feel strongly about politics? Let us know! Email suggestions4hcbc@gmail.com or comment below with your thoughts on the 2012 Election!
The 2012 United States Presidential Election is sure to be a pivotal moment in American history. Though many months away, things are already starting to gear up on the Heights. One group in action is the College Democrats of Boston College.
Despite the fact that Boston College is conservative school with a majority Republican population, the College Democrats of Boston College is one of the largest and most active clubs at BC. The College Dems have had a strong membership for the past few years with around 40 core members and a lengthy listserv of over 1150 names. The listserv is an indication of the Democratic presence on the Heights. Vice President Stephanie Rice says, “We try to be the liberal group on campus, which is very different than the mostly conservative campus. The College Democrats try to get people excited and interested in politics. “We try to provide a different view on campus,” says Rice.
So what is a major area of concern for this year’s election? “The economy is always an important issue. When it’s good everyone is happy, but when the economy is bad it is all on [the President],” says Rice. “There has been a lot of blame placed on President Obama. But the Republicans aren’t offering any solutions.” America is in a vulnerable situation economically and politically. In this era of recession, the restoration of the economy is one of the biggest concerns for voters. With that said, retrospective voting is likely to play a large role in the elections to come.
Retrospective voting is defined as voting on the times. If times are good, then the current President will be re-elected. However, if times are bad, then the President is out. This is the problem that Obama must face. Many political analysts believe that the upcoming elections are promising to be the hardest fought campaigns in recent years. Republicans and Democrats alike will point fingers at each other while claiming that they have all the answers. The Democrats are calling for the wealthy to start paying their “fair share” and contribute to society. They make the argument that the wealthiest Americans, including possible Republican nominee Mitt Romney, who makes over 20 million a year on interest, aren’t creating any jobs with their tax breaks.
Rice believes that if Mitt Romney is chosen as the Republican Party nominee, the election will be a very close call. Romney poses a big threat due to the high likelihood that he will win the swing vote. Though Romney is a Republican, many voters and politicians are hesitant about him. Some believe that former Massachusetts governor is closer to a Democrat than a fiscal conservative. Their basis for their hesitation can be seen in the fact that he brought healthcare reform to Massachusetts in 2006, and that he once supported abortion.
In trying to balance student life and extracurricular activities, it’s hard to break out of the BC bubble. With bio-labs, internships, and (gasp!) a social life, BC students can easily lose touch with what is going on in the fast-paced world of politics. Rice says that there is a worry that the youth won’t vote–this could result in Obama losing the re-election, since he had such strong youth support in 2008. Rice suggests that youth groups on campuses across the country need to get involved: join groups and, most importantly, register to vote!
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http://collegedemsofbc.wordpress.com/