2012 ELECTION COVERAGE
MOVING FORWARD BY HANNAH SCHROER CORRESPONDENT
P
resident Barack Obama has maintained his seat at the White House after defeating Gov. Mitt Romney last night in a tight race that rested on the battleground states. Obama landed electoral votes that made the difference for him in states like Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin and Colorado. “While our road has been hard, though our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America, the best is yet to come,” said President Barack Obama last night in his victory speech. SEE
FORWARD ON PAGE E2 GETTY IMAGES
E2
NOVEMBER 7, 2012
ME ME 4
Electoral Map A look at the electoral votes for each state.
AK A K 3
HI HI 4
WA A 12 12 O OR 7
CA 55 55
MT M T 3 ID ID 4
NV N 6
WY 3
ND N D 3 SD S D 3
IA IA 6
KS 6
NM 5
IL IL 20 2
TX 38 3 8
IN 11 11
LA A 8
MS 6
AL A L 9
270 to win
303 Obama
29
undecided
VA 13
OH O 1 18
TN TN 11 1 1
AR AR 6
OK O 7
PA A 2 20
MI MI 1 16
WII W 10
MO O 10
CO CO 9
AZ A Z 11 1 1
MN MN 10
NE E 5
UT 6
VT VT 3
NY NY 29 2 9
Romney 206
KY KY 8
WV 5
NJ 14 14 MD MD 7
NH NH 4
MA MA 11 1 1 CT 7
RII R 4
DE D E 3 DC DC 3
NC C 15 SC SC 9
GA A 1 16
FL 29
AS OF PRESS TIME SOURCE: POLITOCO.COM
OBAMA SECURES SECOND TERM Electoral votes in swing states give President Barack Obama edge needed to lock down second term in The White House
FORWARD CONTINUED FROM FRONT Despite winning the election in a clash of economic visions, Obama will have a hard time passing legislation with Republican opposition in the U.S. House, said David Greenberg, associate professor of journalism and media studies at the University. Greenberg said Obama won because of a historical trend to reelect presidents who oversee economic growth and because Mitt Romney was a weak candidate. “A lot of people made much of the fact that Obama had high unemployment rate, that growth was less than desired ... but, like Clinton said, he inherited the mess and things got better,” Greenberg said. Obama managed to carr y the message that had made forward progress but had more to go, he said. Greenberg said Romney was not a good messenger in times of economic distress because he seemed out of touch with the average American’s economic needs, ultimately a formula for failure. “Romney’s fatal weaknesses as a candidate made Obama a good
bet all along,” Greenberg said. Connor Montferrat, chairman of the New Jersey College Republicans, said the election results were disappointing but presented an opportunity to rebuild the Republican party. “The outcome shows that Republicans can still win the popular vote,” Montferrat said, adding that Democrats won the Electoral College using a handful of battleground states. Montferrat said Democrats made Romney out to be a vicious venture capitalist who did not care about the American public, and it showed in exit polls. “Romney, you know, he tried his best,” Montferrat said. “He was battling until the end.” The election was close in part because of disenfranchised voters who turned out in smaller numbers for Obama than in 2008, Montferrat said. “Surprisingly, as precincts were reporting, you had Obama up by only 15 points in New Jersey where New Jersey is usually a blowout state,” he said. Montferrat said the close
BATTLEGROUND STATE RESULTS
COLORADO
These nine swing states were crucial to the outcome of this year’s presidential election. President Barack Obama’s victory became clear as results from Ohio, Virginia and Colorado came out in his favor.
Obama: 48.8 percent Romney: 47.3 percent
NORTH CAROLINA
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Obama: 46.2 percent Romney: 49.2 percent
Obama: 49.9 percent Romney: 47.9 percent
election was a warning to Democrats to improve during Obama’s second term. “People will look at this last term to see Obama’s true legacy,” he said, adding that his administration will adjust key domestic policies to better define his legacy. The president already had a hard task, but now has to deal with American cynicism in the wake of forgotten issues such as Guantanamo Bay and the Afghan War, Montferrat said. “They have a lot of work to do,” Montferrat said. Greenberg said even though tonight was a decisive Obama win, it was hard to imagine a Republican congress conceding to the victory and cooperating during the next term. “I don’t think we have any reason to expect the Republicans to capitulate to Obama,” Greenberg said. “We’re stuck, at least for the time being, with this very divided country when it comes to issues like taxes and social spending.” Greenberg said the ideological division between Democrats and Republicans is traditionally over
FLORIDA
Obama: 48.2 percent Romney: 49.7 percent
OHIO
Obama: 50.0 percent Romney: 47.1 percent
differences in social issues, while economic policies made the critical difference in this election. “Virginia is a new battle state,” he said. ‘It used to be a Republican state.” Battleground states change with every election, though Ohio almost always appears on the list because it represents such a diverse section of the American public, Greenberg said. Virginia became a swing state because its demographics changed, with an increase in Latino voters who tend to vote Democratic and in secular whitecollar voters in the Washington D.C. area. The dilemma of difference has existed throughout American history — racial, ethnic, political and ideological diversity that has been a challenge in every election, and Obama has struggled because of the sharpness of these differences, Greenberg said. “I admire Obama in a lot of ways, but I’m not sure he’ll be able to pull this off in a satisfactory way [because of past difficulties with Republican concessions],” he said.
Greenberg said Obama has not demonstrated he has the political savvy to win against obstructing Republicans, passing the stimulus and healthcare bills without Republican support. “He really struggles,” Greenberg said. The Romney campaign underestimated Ohio’s importance in the election until after the first debate when Romney gained in polls everywhere except Ohio. Ohio voters supported Obama’s stimulus and the auto bailout, which Romney opposed, setting up a clash of economic policies that swayed the vote for Obama, he said. “It really was a choice between two very different economic visions,” Greenberg said. John Connelly, Rutgers United Student Assembly president, said Obama’s key to re-election was a well-organized campaign strategy that operates more effectively than most campaigns. Obama For America centers did not close after the 2008 election but kept active, engaging citizens and registering voters, Connelly said.
IOWA
NEVADA
Obama: 48.7 percent Romney: 46.3 percent
Obama: 50.2 percent Romney: 47.4 percent
VIRGINIA
WISCONSIN
Obama: 48.0 percent Romney: 47.7 percent
Obama: 50.4 percent Romney: 46.2 percent AS OF PRESS TIME, SOURCE: POLITICO.COM
E3
NOVEMBER 7, 2012
Eagleton Poll head talks of popular vote BY JULIAN CHOKKATTU STAFF WRITER
WASHINGTON, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS — President Barack Obama is sounding a conciliatory tone after his re-election victory, saying he has learned from those who supported him and those who opposed him. He said he is hoping to work with Republicans to solve the nation's problems. He spoke to a cheering crowd in Chicago shortly after Mitt Romney told supporters in Boston that it is time for the nation to unite behind the president. Obama said he wants to meet with Romney to discuss how to work together. As he starts his second term, Obama will once again be dealing with a Republican-controlled House and a Senate led by Democrats. GETTY IMAGES
Mitt Romney thanks his supporters in a hotel ballroom in Boston after conceding defeat in the presidential election. GETTY IMAGES
Mitt Romney concedes defeat in narrow race THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BOSTON — Republican Mitt Romney conceded defeat in the presidential contest early Wednesday, saying the nation had chosen Barack Obama to remain president for another term and that it was time for the nation to unite behind him. “This is a time of great challenges for America, and I pray that the president will be successful in guiding our nation,” Romney said. Romney spoke to cheering supporters in a hotel ballroom in Boston. The former Massachusetts governor said he
was proud of the campaign he had run but that voters had made another choice. Romney thanked his running mate Paul Ryan, saying that besides his wife, Ann, the Wisconsin congressman was “the best choice I've ever made.” Romney predicted Ryan would have a bright future ser ving the nation. Romney struck a note of bipartisanship after the bitterly fought contest, saying elected officials must find common ground. “We can't risk partisan bickering and political posturing. Our leaders have to work across the aisle to do the people's work,” Romney said.
It was a bitter loss for Romney, who lost decisively to Obama after por traying the Democrat as out of his depth and unsuited to steer the nation's limping economy. Romney hoped to convince voters that his background as a successful private equity investor gave him the experience Obama lacked to boost the slow economic recover y. Instead, Romney saw nearly all the major battleground states tip Obama's way including Iowa, Wisconsin, Virginia and Ohio, the hardest fought prize. Romney supporters cheered a win in North Carolina, which
Obama captured four years ago. But it was a rare prize in an evening that broadly favored the president. The Republican nominee spent Election day campaigning in Ohio and Pennsylvania, a Democraticleaning state that Republicans hoped to put in play. Obama won Pennsylvania Tuesday. Romney told repor ters he had written a victor y speech that he thought would conclude his yearslong quest for the presidency. “I feel like we put it all on the field. We left nothing in the locker room. We fought to the very end,” Romney told reporters aboard his plane.
David Redlawsk, director of the Rutgers-Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling, said he believes the popular vote holds the legitimacy of the candidate. “National popular votes do matter, for it seems to be a matter of legitimacy as seen in the 2000 election where Bush was denied his legitimacy as president, as he lost the popular vote,” said Redlawsk, a professor in the Depar tment of Political Science. He said the founders of the Constitution were ner vous about the public, and so the electoral votes were a way to keep a distance between the public and the presidency. “We’re in a different time now, and the popular vote has seen the candidates spread their efforts to where the big population centers are,” he said. While it is not certain that President Barack Obama has attained both the popular and Electoral College votes as of press time, Redlawsk said that it would not matter as they have yet to count the votes for Hawaii, California and other key states which are likely to swing toward Obama. Redlawsk said if the results were 271 to 267 with Obama winning, then it would be very profitable for Romney to get the popular vote, as it would create a discrepancy on the legitimacy of Obama’s victory. He said the election was about the economy and nothing else. “The big picture on this election was that you had a president that said he got into a mess because of the previous administration, and in spite of obstruction from the other side, the fact of the matter is that more people still blame Bush,” he said. Redlawsk said the win for Obama shows that voters are feeling that things are moving in the right direction, even though it is not entirely what they would like it to be. He said the Electoral College does not need revising. “I’m personally not bothered by it,” he said. “I think it has served us well over the past 200 years, and I don’t see a crying need to change, and even if we wanted to, it would be hard to do so because it would need a constitutional amendment.” He said the thing that forces the people to call for a new system is the focus on the battleground states over others. “Nobody campaigns in New Jersey, Texas ... and for that people would most likely suggest a change,” he said. Redlawsk said there is no perfect electoral system, but the current system has served the country fairly well. “Any way you do it, some people are eventually going to get focused on more where others are not,” Redlawsk said. “I’m just arguing that there’s no compelling reason to change it.”
E4
NOVEMBER 7, 2012
Sen. Bob Menendez celebrates his victory in the state senatorial race against Republican Joe Kyrillos. He secured about 58 percent of votes cast yesterday, and spoke at a rally held last night in the Heldrich Hotel in downtown New Brunswick. ENRICO CABREDO, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
MENENDEZ SECURES SECOND SENATORIAL TERM Democrats say victor keeps students in mind BY ALEX MEIER STAFF WRITER
A room in New Brunswick’s Heldrich Hotel filled with hundreds of people erupted with excitement last night when Sen. Bob Menendez won his second term in the U.S. Senate. Menendez defeated challenger Republican Joe Kyrillos, earning 60 percent of votes in New Jersey, according to nj.com as of press time. Paul Brubaker, communications director for the Menendez campaign, said working on the trail has been a thrill last night at the rally hosted by the New Jersey Democratic State Committee. “It’s been a long and very hard campaign. Sen. Menendez is ver y dynamic and a ver y effective United States senator for the people of New Jersey,” he said. Brubaker said Menendez’s biggest challenge is carrying the mantle of the Democratic Party’s message in New Jersey. “New Jersey was not considered a swing state,” he said, “The Obama for America campaign did not put many resources in New Jersey, so it was up to Menendez to make sure the people understood what the Democrats are all about.” Brubaker said Menendez plans to effectively carry out the Democratic party’s core goals. “What [New Jersey Democrats] are all about is basically fighting for New Jersey’s middle class, fighting to make sure that the promise of America’s opportunities are available to all Americans,
Supporters of Sen. Robert Menendez convene at the Heldrich Hotel yesterday as they await the senator’s arrival to the victory party in downtown New Brunswick. SHAWN SMITH, CORRESPONDENT including college students,” he said. Brubaker said the senator keeps students’ voices in mind when he makes decisions. “There’s more federal financial aid available now,” he said. “Representatives in Congress were tr ying to kill those programs in order to make budget cuts. Bob Menendez is one of the strongest voices to say ‘no way.’” Cheryl McGaw, a rally participant from Franklin Township, said she is happy to have Menendez reelected.
“He’s been in office for a long time,” she said. “I am very satisfied with his leadership and the direction New Jersey has gone under his leadership. I met him in his first term as senator and he seemed like a genuine person who had New Jersey’s best interest at heart.” Roy Hernandez, a University alumnus living in New Brunswick, also said he holds a favorable impression of Menendez after meeting him at Jersey City’s Trailblazer Benefit. “He’s a very humble individual, in tune with our needs ... he
cares about the growth of the middle class,” he said. McGaw believes one of Menendez’s greatest strengths is how well he relates to the people of New Jersey. “He has a lot in common with the average New Jerseyan,” she said. “He was raised in New Jersey. He is a part of the change in demographic in New Jersey.” Hernandez said this change in demographic is important for the Latino community. “New Jersey is a densely populated state with increasing Latino and Hispanic popula-
tions,” he said. “It’s only fitting that we have a Latino representing us in gover nment. We’re the fastest growing minority, and soon we’ll be the majority. It will fur ther [Latino] equality.” University students from the Rutgers University Democrats also participated in the rally. “I’m very excited to be working on [Menendez’s] campaign,” said Alex Gristina, a School of Ar ts and Sciences sophomore involved with the Rutgers University Democrats. “As a Cuban American, I am ver y proud to see a fellow Democratic Cuban American representing New Jersey.” Gristina said RU Democrats has put a great deal of ef for t into promoting Menendez and other Democratic candidates in the state who were up for election. “We go door to door talking to people about our cause, we phone bank, we’ve have representatives with experience in campaigning talk to us about running a campaign,” he said. “A few of us even intern for Menendez.”
NOVEMBER 7, 2012
E5
Republican challenger falls short of Senate seat victory BY DOMENIC RUGGERI STAFF WRITER
With Fox News on in the background, supporters of Republican New Jersey Senate candidate Joseph Kyrillos watched as their candidate’s senatorial hopes quickly faded last night in the ballroom of Nanina’s in the Park in Belleville. Menendez won the race with 58.9 percent of the votes while Kyrillos had 39.4 percent. Supporters in attendance said Kyrillos deser ved the seat because of the fresh outlook he would have brought to the state. Candice Greaux, Edison resident, said Kyrillos could have offered a much-needed bipartisanship to the state. “He’s a fiscal conservative, he has bipartisan experience in the New Jersey Senate, and he’s the kind of Republican we need in Washington to get things done,” she said. Lisa Ann Lusardi, a Rutherford resident, said Kyrillos and the Republican Party in general represented the kind of attitude needed to get real change in the country. “[The Republican Party] is a no-nonsense party,” she said. “The Democrats are more dramatic but take less action.” Jeffrey Weingarten, president of the Morristown Tea Party, said Kyrillos perfectly represented exactly what his grassroots campaign was all about. “Kyrillos is [for] smaller government, lower taxes and a balanced budget — as opposed to
Menendez, who is [for] larger government, a nanny state,” he said. All in all, supporters agreed that Kyrillos was the more genuine candidate. “He’s believable,” Weingarten said. Despite her belief that Kyrillos would be the better man for the job, Lusardi said she was not surprised at his loss.
“I’ve loved every minute of this campaign. It’s been an honor to be the candidate for our party.” JOSEPH KYRILLOS NJ CANDIDATE FOR US SENATE
“Oh yeah, it’s what I expected,” she said. “He didn’t really have a shot.” The largely conser vative crowd sent up a cheer when Fox announced around 9 p.m. that the U.S. House of Representatives would remain in Republican control. Kyrillos arrived at the venue at 10:17 p.m. and conceded the seat
to Menendez. He started his short speech by thanking those who helped his Senate bid. He said nearly 8,000 donors raised about $5 million but still were outspent by the Menendez campaign. “We always knew we were the underdogs, and although we raised $5 million, we were outfunded,” Kyrillos said. He said the funding disparity made him even more committed to the issue of campaign finance reform. Kyrillos also blamed the media for his loss, saying the majority of media coverage of the campaign was directed at his opponent. “The press, well, the press didn’t pay nearly enough attention to our efforts,” he said. “Perhaps they didn’t understand what our campaign was about.” He said that the recent response of the New Jersey public to the tragedy of Hurricane Sandy showed just how great the state can be, and suggested that those in Washington take note of the example of people coming together in spite of their differences. “I hope Washington can see us because I want them to witness what we’re doing in New Jersey ... putting aside our differences to move for ward. It’s time for Washington to do the same thing for America,” he said. Kyrillos ended his speech with a vow to keep fighting for his values. “Tonight we end this great effort. I’ve loved every minute of this campaign. It’s been an honor to be the candidate for our party,” he said.
Joseph Kyrillos, Republican candidate gives a speech after losing the race for the U.S. Senate. LIANNE NG, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Republicans show support for Kyrillos last night at restaurant Nanina’s in the Park in Bellville, N.J. LIANNE NG, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
U.S. SENATE ELECTIONS 2012: A BREAKDOWN 30 Democrats
KEY
33 Seats Up for Election
Democrat
Republican
Independent
Unknown
Outline color: party previously holding seat Inside color: party currently holding seat
37 Republicans
2 are Independent 2 are unknown 21 are Democratic 8 are Republican None switched from Democratic to Republican
DEMOCRATS CONTINUE TO HOLD MAJORITY IN SENATE Election results show Democrats maintain control of the U.S. Senate, as Democrats won 21 of the 33 seats that were up for election.
E6
NOVEMBER 7, 2012
Pallone wins 6th Congressional District BY MEGAN MORREALE CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Incumbent Frank Pallone (DN.J.) won the sixth District of New Jersey last night in a race against Anna Little, a member of the Tea Party. Pallone said he promises to continue with his track record of activity in Congress by suppor ting the Af fordable Care Act, hiring more teachers and police of ficers and suppor ting education the surrounding communities. “There were a lot of obstacles to people voting in my district,” Pallone said last night at a rally hosted by the New Jersey Democratic State Commission in the Heldrich Hotel. “There were a lot of obstacles to people coming out to vote because of the storm, but they did and it’s wonderful.” He said he increased the police budget in three counties in New Jersey to hire around 20 more police officers to keep the state safe. Frank Pallone Sr. said his son was not nervous about the race since this election marks 25 years of his representing New Jersey in Congress. “He is the poorest guy in congress,” Pallone Sr. said. “But he is the nicest guy and he is the best for the people.” Pallone Sr. showed excitement for his son, standing and cheering ever y time the polls were announced that his son was ahead. “He is the son of a cop,” Pallone Sr. said. “In America that means you can still be a congressman. Your kids can become congressmen too.” Pallone said he has ser ved as a New Jersey representative
Rep. Frank Pallone says that his re-election will help him carry out a Democratic vision for the state of New Jersey, in regards to health care, hiring public officials and supporting education last night at the Heldrich Hotel in downtown New Brunswick. ENRICO CABREDO, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
in Congress since 1988, and cur rently ser ves the sixth district. “When he first won a seat in Congress, we owned an old ‘64 Chevrolet,” Pallone Sr., said. “The sergeant at the gate told us to turn around. We told him he was the new congressman and he was so embarrassed. My son understands the hardships of the people.” About 100 people came out to support Pallone and other Democratic candidates during the last stretch of their cam-
paign at the rally in downtown New Brunswick. Pallone, 61, was born and raised in Long Branch and received his law degree from Rutgers-Camden. A lifelong member of the Democratic Party, Pallone ser ves in multiple leadership positions, such as top Democrat on the congressional subcommittee on health and communications chair of the Democratic Policy Committee. Pallone was instrumental in passing the Affordable Care Act
and is helping to prevent student loans from doubling. Old Bridge resident Fern Martin said she supports Pallone in his support of the bill. “I think the Affordable Care Act is good,” Martin said. “I don’t know how people feel comfortable when they have something and aren’t thinking of the have-nots.” Many Pallone supporters were impressed with his response to Hurricane Sandy and with his support of plans to rebuild the shore with a stronger infrastruc-
ture, said Katherine Sweinnre, a New Brunswick resident. “It’s really b----------- that he’s helping with Hurricane Sandy because that f------ hurricane destroyed everything,” she said. Pallone was involved in plans to give $10 million to replenish beaches in Monmouth County, and $12.3 million to replenish Sea Bright. “I know my son will do a good job like he’s always done,” Pallone Sr. said. “He’s a good man.” will make it to the polls and cast their ballot.
Little displays hope after loss BY JUSTINA OTERO STAFF WRITER
Anna Little says she would have appealed Obamacare if she were elected last night at the Crowne Plaza in Edison, N.J. MARIELLE SUMERGIDO, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Anna Little, the Tea Party challenger against sixth Congressional District incumbent Rep. Frank Pallone, gathered with constituents at The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Edison, N.J. where they found out she lost the election. Little remained positive after receiving the results, maintaining hope for the future. “I think the top of the ticket really defined the race ... In some ways the network we built up here is ver y significant. We had a lot of action on the ground here and I think that is ver y significant moving forward,” Little said. Samuel Thompson, a former New Jersey senator, said he thought Little ran a good campaign, but New Jersey is a tough state for Republicans. “That doesn’t mean we haven’t won here before and we’ll win again. I am disappointed about the election results overall,” he said. Little said despite her loss, she is still going to continue working toward achieving
the values she expressed in her campaign. “I am honored by the work that I do — empowering people to step out of their homes and make their voices heard by their government. I don’t think that that’s going to change for me at all,” she said.
“THAT DOESN’T MEAN WE HAVEN’T WON HERE BEFORE AND WE’LL WIN AGAIN.”
Torin Kelly, senior counselor of Ainsley Shea public affairs firm, said the main focuses for Little are jobs, the economy and taxes in addition to appealing Obama’s health care plan. “[This] has been our main focus on the campaign and her campaign is really driven by the
citizens around her — the issues that she hears when we’re doorknocking,” Kelly said. She said appealing the president’s health care plan is one of the initial actions Little would take if she was to be elected. “The first thing would be to appeal Obamacare. Clearly the citizens in the sixth District do not want it. It is not a bill that was written for them or passed for them so that would be the first thing,” Kelly said. As an advocate of fair taxing, Little would also work to reform the current tax system that she deems broken and balance the budget to eliminate the deficit that would be passed on to the following generations, she said. Emily Tooker, one of the campaign managers for Little, said she believes in the work the candidate plans to do because of her present circumstances as a college graduate. “I believe in what she stands for. I don’t have a job and she wants jobs and that’s all that matters to me right now. I’ve been out of college for a year and a half and I can’t find a job,” Tooker said.
NOVEMBER 7, 2012
E7
Political parties split in 113th NJ congressional district BY THE NUMBERS
6 Democrats 6 Republicans
New Jersey has re-drawn district maps because of shifts in the national population, and has also lost one congressional district — changes that are not reflected in the small map on the right. The new map, enlarged on the left, reflects the even split of the congressional districts in the state. But this is different from the mostly Republican U.S. House, which maintains its Republican stronghold as of last night. GRAPHIC BY SHAODI HUANG, ASSOCIATE DESIGN EDITOR
E8
IT’S TIME
NOVEMBER 7, 2012
AS VOTERS CASTED THEIR BALLOTS AND RESULTS ROLLED IN, THE DAILY TARGUM’S PHOTOGRAPHERS DOCUMENTED ELECTION DAY FROM THE STREETS OF NEW BRUNSWICK AND THE SITES OF VARIOUS ELECTION RALLIES. VISIT WWW.DAILYTARGUM.COM FOR MORE PHOTOS OF ELECTION DAY 2012.
Members of the Rutgers University Association of International Relations watch a live stream of presidential race coverage last night in Murray Hall on the College Avenue campus. ALEXA WIBRAMIEC
Students supporting the Democratic ticket in New Jersey, which includes the victorious Sen. Bob Menendez and President Barack Obama, gather to applaud Menendez before he enters the Heldrich Hotel last night in downtown New Brunswick. SHAWN SMITH, CORRESPONDENT
Attendees wait for poll results for the sixth Congressional District at Republican challenger Anna Little’s rally last night at Crowne Plaza in Edison, N.J. MARIELLE SUMERGIDO, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Joe Kyrillos concedes the senatorial race last night at Nanina’s in the Park in Belleville, N.J. Sen. Bob Menendez will serve his second term after winning the vote against Kyrillos. LIANNE NG, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Democrat N.J. voters cheer and wave flags in celebration of the party’s victory across the ballot last night in downtown New Brunswick. JAMIE MIRANDA
NOVEMBER 7, 2012
E9
Sen. Frank Pallone gives his victory speech last night in the Heldrich Hotel in downtown New Brunswick, which begins his 25th year in N.J. Congress. SHAWN SMITH, CORRESPONDENT
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) addresses the crowd at a Democratic rally in New Brunswick last night about Obama’s projected win. JAMIE MIRANDA
Sen. Bob Menendez addresses the crowd last night about his victory at a rally hosted by the New Jersey Democratic State Commission in New Brunswick. ENRICO CABREDO, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Students watch on in the Rutgers Student Center lobby on the College Avenue campus as networks project the results of the presidential election. SMARANDA TOLOSANO
Debbie Izzo and Brajesh Singh review the tally for the sixth Congressional District last night in Edison.
Hundreds of New Jersey Democrats cheer upon learning that President Barack Obama is the projected winner of the 2012 presidential election last night at the Heldrich Hotel in downtown New Brunswick.
MARIELLE SUMERGIDO, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
ENRICO CABREDO, SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
E10
NOVEMBER 7, 2012
‘No’ votes prevail on municipal question BY GIANCARLO CHAUX CORRESPONDENT
New Brunswick’s municipal question surrounding the possible change to an elected Board of Education has been voted down by a slim margin, although absentee and provisional ballots have yet to be counted as of
press time. The question asked whether New Brunswick should be changed from the current Type I school district, where board members are directly appointed by Mayor James Cahill, to a Type II district, which allows voters to choose the board. Preliminar y tallies showed the question received 2,903 yes
votes and 3,019 no votes, according to Patch. Mail ballots and provisional votes will be counted throughout the week after city clerks announced an extension to the voting period. Cahill said New Brunswick has seen a ballot question like this four times before, and it
has been voted down ever y time, according to a letter he sent to residents last week encouraging them to vote ‘no’ on the question. Joel Salvino, a member of the Rutgers University Student Assembly, said RUSA supported changing the system, but claimed he was not surprised the question
was voted down since the “Vote No” campaign raised significantly more money than the opposing campaign. Salvino, a School of Arts and Sciences senior said the poor public education system in New Brunswick, which has a graduation rate of 58 percent, according to the state, proved that the status quo needs to be changed.
$750M Bond Act passes in state BY JULIAN CHOKKATTU STAFF WRITER
Steven Sweeny, Senate president speaks on the Brower Commons about the importance of Building Our Future Bond Act, aimed to fund higher education facilities. RYAN LEDERER
The $750 million Bond Act for higher education in New Jersey has been projected to pass with 62 percent of precincts reporting a strong lead, according to nj.com as of press time. “The referendum would fund capital projects for higher education in New Jersey,” said Pamela Navrot, the legislative affairs chair for Rutgers University Student Assembly. Some of the money would go to private schools, the School of Arts and Sciences sophomore said, but most of it would go toward public schools. There is also a reserve of $300 million taken from the bond for research universities that include the University, NJIT and Rowan University. “[This] is good because being the largest research university in the state, we would get more of that [money],” Navrot said. “It could be used for things such as a new chemistry building, which would help keep out tuitions lower. It can’t be used for administrative buildings or nothing non-academic related.” Navrot said RUSA had events that brought different speakers for events such as University President Robert L. Barchi, and they helped spread the word about the referendum by handing out literature. They tackled questions on why people should vote and why it was needed.
“We haven’t funded anything for higher education since 1988 in New Jersey. It was long overdue, and I’m really excited that the voters came out in support of it,” she said. Adam Helgeson, an undergraduate intern for the Office of Public Affairs, said the fact that the referendum has passed allows the value of a degree in New Jersey to go up. “By passing question one, you will be reinvesting into higher education which will increase the value of your degree for both yourself and the people that come after you,” said Helgeson, a School of Arts and Sciences senior. He said the state is 1 of 5 in the country that did not invest in higher education capital improvement in the last five years. “This bond act being passed with such a majority means that New Jersey can be one of the few states that continually do this — that we might reinvest in higher education again, and that we care about this type of issue,” he said. Navrot and Helgeson were also involved in the Building Our Future coalition, which was filled with organizations, universities and businesses that educated voters on the referendum. “I’m excited to see what the state is going to do with this newfound love for higher education,” Helgeson said. “New classrooms and new labs will be available, and money will be freed up for non-classroom things.”
Hoagland elected Surrogate City elects council members Democrat incumbent Kevin J. Hoagland was elected as the Middlesex County Surrogate, defeating Republican candidate L ynda Woods Clear y, according to Patch. Hoagland, a resident of New Brunswick, has ser ved as the county surrogate since 1993, according to mycentraljersey.com.
BY GIANCARLO CHAUX CORRESPONDENT
RICHARD L. HOAGLAND Freeholder
Democrat Freeholders win Democrat incumbents H. James Polos and Ronald G. Rios were elected to the Middlesex County Board of Chosen Freeholders by a significant margin, according to Patch. The two candidates defeated Republican candidates Roger W. Daley and Abrar “Sam” Khan.
H. JAMES POLOS
RICHARD L. RIOS
Freeholder
Freeholder
Democrats Elizabeth Garlatti, Glen Fleming and John Anderson won seats on the New Brunswick City Council yesterday in an uncontested run. Incumbent Garlatti, who has been a member of the council since 2004, will serve her third term, while incumbent Fleming will continue after joining the council in June to fill the spot of resigned councilman Jimmie Cook, Jr. Newcomer Anderson, a lifelong city resident, is the principal of St. Joseph’s High School in Metuchen. He received his bachelor’s degree in history from St. Peter’s College and has worked in various schools across the state as a teacher. Garlatti, who is the daughter of New Brunswick’s first female mayor, served as the executive director of the Child Health Institute of New Jersey according to the New Brunswick Democrats’ Facebook. She served as the council president from 2007 until 2010. Fleming teaches in the Hamilton Township School
District and is an ordained minister at the Abundant Life Family Worship Church, according to patch.com. Council President Rober t Recine recommended Fleming to the council to replace Cook
because he considers him a “highly qualified individual.” The Democrats were left running unopposed after three candidates from an independent party dropped out of the race in September.
The New Brunswick City Council elects three democratic members last night. CONOR ALLWELL, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
NOVEMBER 7, 2012
TARGUM MULTIMEDIA www.DAILYTARGUM.com/MULTIMEDIA
E11
“The press, well, the press didn’t pay nearly enough attention to our efforts. Perhaps they didn’t understand what our campaign was about.” Joseph Kyrillos, in his concession speech at Nanina’s in the Park restaurant in Belleville. See story on PAGE E4
“There were a lot of obstacles to people coming out to vote because of the storm, but they did and it’s wonderful.” Rep. Frank Pallone, in his victory speech to a crowd at the Heldrich Hotel in downtown New Brunswick. See story on PAGE E6
NEW BRUNSWICK New Brunswick reacts to re-election of President Barack Obama.
“While our road has been hard, though our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up.” President Barack Obama, in his victory speech in Chicago. See story on PAGE E2
WASHINGTON, DC Obama supporters rally outside of The White House as President Obama is re-elected.
“Romney said the first thing he wanted to do was to get rid of Obamacare. We washed his mouth out with soap. He was saying the wrong thing” Frank Lautenberg, to the crowd at the Heldrich Hotel in downtown New Brunswick. See story on PAGE E5
“He’s good-looking, but I’m happy he didn’t win.” Jasmine Bryant, reacting to Mitt Romney’s loss of the presidential election. See story on PAGE E12
CHICAGO The people of Chicago respond to the question: Who are you voting for? Scan the QR code to watch the video on your mobile phone.
“I kind of saw it coming. The Republican Party needs to get its stuff together.” Phil Duffy, a Rutgers Business School first-year student, reacts to the poll results. See story PAGE E12
E12
NOVEMBER 7, 2012
Exit polls show economic optimism Sixty-four percent of voters say Obama’s response to Sandy played significant role in re-election THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
OFF TO THE POLLS
People vote in the presidential elections in a tent at Midland Beach in Staten Island last night. Some polling locations in Staten Island were relocated because of the storm. GETTY IMAGES
Voters who feel the economic outlook brightening after years of misery and believe Barack Obama better understands people like themselves propelled the president to a second term, exit polls show. Mitt Romney suffered from being labeled a champion of the wealthy over the common man. Americans inter viewed as they left their polling places yesterday were in wide agreement that the economy is still in sorry shape. But they were less likely to blame Obama than to point the finger at his predecessor, George W. Bush. Their biggest worries: chronic unemployment, hovering just under 8 percent, and rising prices.
Still, 4 in 10 said the battered economy is starting to do better. And Obama won 88 percent of their votes, according to the poll conducted for The Associated Press and television networks. “Obama had a lot to deal with when he came to office,” said Lansing, Mich., voter William Mullins. “You can’t change everything overnight.” The 3 in 10 who feel the economy is getting worse voted just as overwhelmingly for Romney. But the Obama campaign’s portrayal of the multimillionaire businessman as bent on helping his wealthy peers was too much to overcome: 53 percent said Romney would favor the rich and only 34 percent thought his policies would do more for middleclass America. Almost no one
though Romney would be good for the poor. “I don’t think Romney understands people who are down and out,” said Cari Herling, an insurance analyst from Sun Prairie, Wis. In contrast, three-fourths of voters said Obama’s policies favored the middle class or the poor. Romney’s central message — that Obama had failed after four years of trying to fix things — didn’t sink in with enough Americans to carry the day. Voters were evenly divided over which of the two men would better handle the economy going forward. Overall, 53 percent had a favorable opinion of Obama, while only 47 percent felt that way about Romney. Almost 1 in 10 said they’d only settled on their presidential choice within the last few days or even on Election Day, and they favored Obama 50-44. Sixty-four percent of all voters said Obama’s response to the devastation from Superstorm Sandy was a factor in their vote.
FAST FACTS:
VOTING The RU Student Voting Coalition registered about
4,800 students this year, short from their 7,000 student goal. The coalition registered 6,000 students for the 2008 general elections.
A U.S. citizen must be
18 years old
to vote. The federal government established the right through the Twenty-sixth amendment in 1971, which was implemented in response to student activism during the Vietnam War.
Nov. 6
was the date of this year’s general elections. The nation’s elections are held on the “Tuesday next after the first Monday in the month of November of the year in which they are to be appointed,” according to legislation passed by Congress in 1845. Election day can fall on a Tuesday between Nov. 2 and Nov. 6 in a given year.
62 percent of the nation’s voting eligible population voted in the 2008 general elections.
Students cheer as Barack Obama is announced as president for another term last night at Katzenbach Hall on Douglass campus. SMARANDA TOLOSANO
Students express mixed views on results BY MATTHEW BOYER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Students across the University stayed up late last night as they anxiously followed the results of the 2012 Presidential election. Cheers rang through the Rutgers Student Center on College Avenue as the news of victor y for President Barack Obama’s second term scrolled across the TV. Among the students following the news coverage at the Rutgers Student Center was Colin Pepper, a School of Arts and Sciences senior who was pleased with the election results. “There are so many reasons why [I support Obama],” Pepper said. “I believe the government should help the people at the bottom and not the people at the top.” Pepper said he was not surprised Obama won, citing the weakness of his opponent.
“I don’t think Mitt Romney was a strong candidate,” he said. While Pepper was happy to see Obama re-elected, he said he was not fully supportive of all of the incumbent president’s policies. “The [Affordable Health Care Act] I think could have been better,” he said. Abena Adu-Gyamfi, a School of Arts and Sciences sophomore said she felt similarly about the healthcare reform. “I don’t 100 percent support Obamacare,” Adu-Gyamfi said. “It’s a good plan, but it has flaws.” She said the plan disappointed her because she felt the relationship between the legislation and corporations was too close. Yet Adu-Gyamfi said her policy doubts were not enough to deteriorate her support in Obama’s re-election. “I’m really excited,” she said. “Since I voted, I feel like I impacted this election.”
Jasmine Bryant, a School of Social Work senior, said she was also rejoicing in the aftermath of the election returns and pointed towards Obama’s stance on social issues as the main source of her support. “Some of the main things were his abortion policies and gay marriage.” Bryant said. “I’m a big supporter”. Bryant said she was equally relieved to see that Romney would not be leading the country over the next four years. “He’s good looking, but I’m happy he didn’t win,” Br yant said. Alexandra Catena, a first-year student in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences said she was not celebrating the results with the other students because she supported Romney. “I’m disappointed, but it’s not going to ruin my day” she said. “I thought someone that was good
in business could help America…I’m worried that when I get out of college I won’t be able to get a job.” Evan Rosenberg, a sophomore in the Rutgers Business School, agreed and said he believed Romney is better suited for the White House. “I just liked him as a person, as a candidate,” Rosenberg said. His sentiments were shared by Phil Duffy, a Rutgers Business School first-year student, who said he preferred Romney but predicted that Obama was going to win. “I kind of saw it coming,” Duf fy said. “The Republican Par ty needs to get its stuff together.” Duffy said he will continue to support his parties in the years to come, and hopes N.J. Gov. Chris Christie will run as the Republican candidate for President in 2016.
NOVEMBER 7, 2012
E13
RUTGERS STUDENTS SOUND OFF ON ELECTION DAY
The Targum’s multimedia team asks students about their Election Day experiences.
SHERIF IBRAHIM
KATHRYN GROSSO
BILAL AHMED
School of Arts and Sciences junior
School of Arts and Sciences senior
University alumnus
“The argument to vote ‘no’ [on the New Brunswick Board of Education question] is that it leads to more politics. Politics are a facet of democracy and a facet of accountability, and it is a facet that will allow us to ensure that they are doing the work that needs to be done. Why are we not holding these people to our whims?”
“I chose not to vote today because I’m really disgusted by the whole thing. I’m disgusted by the system, the fact that it’s this largely two-party thing, and then there’s no resistance to that.”
“If I could vote I would have voted for Jill Stein because then she’s able to get the 5 percent of the national popular vote for the Green Party to get federal funding for future elections.”
KELLI MCGINLEY Rutgers Business School junior
JOSEPH DINARDI-MACK School of Arts and Sciences first-year student
“
“
“I just like [Obama’s] plans. I’ve been reading magazines and doing research, and I feel like it’s important to not just go with what your parents or friends say. I wanted to actually think on my own and find out what I thought was important to me. I think that’s what the election is all about.”
[Romney will] keep minimum wage and business tax low and won’t hike up taxes on the rich.
SAMAA ELBERY
KEVIN MOSER
JOHN ASPRAY
School of Environmental and Biological Sciences first-year student
Rutgers Business School junior
University alumnus “I hope that we can also push Obama through grassroots effort on the ideals he campaigned on the first time around, such as supporting the rights of workers, standing up on climate change, and expanding public funding to social programs.”
“None of them are my favorite, but I know Obama will benefit America more. I can’t vote for Romney with how he deals with women. I don’t understand [what] Romney says about reproductive rights, he’s a flip-flopper.”
“My mother did work so hard for her [small] business, and it’s crumbling underneath her, and it sucks because she worked so hard to create it from the ground up. I think Romney has more leadership and experience running businesses.”
E14
NOVEMBER 7, 2012
WHAT’S NEXT?
Focus in on jobs, economy
The 2012 election may be over, but the issues affecting Americans are still as pressing as ever. In this special edition Opinions issue, we asked our columnists: Where do we go from here?
FOURTH WAVE DANNIELLE ROMOLEROUX
I
‘LOOKING AHEAD’ STUDENT ILLUSTRATION BY ADAM LOWE
Steer clear of looming fiscal cliff STATE OF THE UNION MATT KUCHTYAK
I
recognize that there are problems facing the country that are going to be present regardless of whether Mitt Romney or Barack Obama is sworn into office come January. One of the most urgent problems is the so-called “fiscal cliff,” a set of automatic spending cuts and tax rate increases that take effect come Jan. 1, 2013. If Congress fails to pass legislation before the end of the year, the country will go over the fiscal cliff. If this set of events comes to pass, the 2013 U.S. economy will be severely hobbled and will likely plunge back into recession, as noted by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and other observers. Specifically, going over the edge of the fiscal cliff will amount to roughly $720 billion of deficit reduction for the 2013 budget, or 5.1 percent of GDP in the single year. Higher tax rates and less government spending will severely harm the economy in the short run. In fact, the negative impacts felt by going over the fiscal cliff will rival the austerity measures adopted in the past few years in countries such as Greece, Portugal and Ireland. Politicians and analysts on both the left and right fear the effects of these automatic spending cuts and tax increases. Supporters of the basic tenets of Keynesian economics on the left correctly identify the harm to the short term
economy caused by these measures and wish to avoid harming a fragile economy with punitive short-term spending cuts and tax revenue increases. While those on the right may not agree with the stimulating impacts of government spending on short-term economic growth, they dread the measures that will be imposed in 2013 since they incorporate the tax increases about which conservatives have nightmares. You may now be wondering why these measures will go into effect if no legislation is enacted to the contrary before the end of the year. Quite simply, those in the legislative and executive branches of government have continually “kicked the can
“An unsustainable fiscal path.” down the road” and failed to address the most serious problems facing our country. The combined effects of the expiration of the temporary extension of the Bush tax cuts, and the “sequestrations,” or spending reductions, mandated under the Budget Control Act of 2011 that temporarily ended the debt ceiling crisis, have led to this looming fiscal cliff. While I would venture a guess that legislators in the coming lame duck session of Congress will come to some sort of temporary fix to prevent the country from sliding into recession in 2013, they have a real opportunity to resist the urge to “kick the can down the road” and avoid legitimate action.
Although the American people do not have favorable views on policies that would raise their taxes, cut entitlement programs and reduce discretionary spending in popular areas such as national defense, there is more understanding among the common citizen that perpetual deficit spending and ever-mounting debt will lead the country down an unsustainable fiscal path. Politicians must seize upon this greater recognition among the public and have the guts to make the tough choices needed. Any rational and effective deficitreduction plan will involve shared sacrifice from all members of the body politic, and will include increased taxes on those most able to pay, sensible entitlement reform, reductions in defense spending, and necessary precautions to ensure that the country doesn’t slide into recession in the short run. While it will be difficult for incumbents running for re-election to come back to their constituents and acknowledge that they hurt them for the good of future generations and the fiscal health of the country, they need to recognize that they were elected to make the difficult decisions needed. Moving forward, our elected leaders must avoid the fiscal cliff and implement a deficit-reduction plan, which upholds the guiding principle of shared sacrifice among those able to sacrifice. And for once they must put aside their electoral self-interest and focus on the best interest of our country. Matt Kuchtyak is a School of Arts and Sciences senior majoring in economics and political science with a minor in history.
started working three years ago. I was a high school junior and I worked at a pizzeria. It seemed like a pretty good job at the time. My new coworkers instantly became my friends — some of them were in their 20s and already out of college. I remember wondering what they were doing working the same job as a high school student, so of course, my loudmouth decided to ask, “Why are you working here if you have a sports management degree?” Looking back I’m sure that made my coworker very uncomfortable, especially because it was not his fault he couldn’t find a job in his field. I guess I should have known it had something to do with our economy, but I was clueless. Since then, I have graduate high school and am now a sophomore in college. A lot has changed in my life in a short three years, yet when I visit my old job, it’s as though nothing has. Most of my old coworkers are still there working the same jobs they were when I was there. The only real change has been the promotion of my old manager. After working at the pizzeria for six years since graduating, he finally got promoted. He now co-owns a sister pizzeria. I find that more and more people I know are getting jobs that don’t make them happy, and end up doing something completely different from what they studied in college. Because I am graduating in 2015, I am becoming really concerned about my own future. Will I find a job after graduating or will I be stuck working somewhere I am overqualified for? Many will say I should get a job that manages to pay the bills, but is it too much to ask for when I say I want a job I love and pays my bills? I know it probably sounds shallow, but I really do not want to get stuck doing something I could have done back in high school. It just doesn’t seem fair for me to be getting a degree in Political Science and Women’s Studies, and end up having a job that seems more like a chore than something I’m passionate about. Especially now that the elections are out of the way, I think the government needs to start focusing on adding more jobs, and not just part-time and self-employed positions. At the pace the unemployment rate is moving, it seems as the though I will have greater competition when I decided to find a job. There are currently 12 million unemployed people in America, and this number will only increase by the time I enter the job force. What that means for me is that not only will I be competing with those millions unemployed, but I also will be competing with those that are underemployed. That’s a scary thought. National Employment Law Project released a study in August that found that most jobs lost during the recession were mid-wage ones. However it also found that the most the jobs added were low-waged ones. So yes, we are seeing improvement in unemployment, but not exactly where we want to see it. I sincerely think this is something that should be top priority — not just for me, but also for my old coworkers who have been struggling to find a job in their field and have decided that being underemployed is better than being unemployed. It is definitely something that has to get done, for all our citizens. Dannielle Romoleroux is a School of Arts and Sciences sophomore.
NOVEMBER 7, 2012
Christie shows timely leadership ‘SIMPLEE’ PUT LEE SELTZER
I
f there’s anything Gov. Chris Christie has made clear, it is that he does not care whether people like him. He’ll tell anyone off, do what he wants and generally be rude. You know what, the result has been that a lot of people don’t like him. Frankly, this attitude has made it ver y easy for me to not like him, although it does kind of make me respect him. However, after the way Christie has behaved with regard to this upcoming election, I cannot help but to applaud him. First and foremost, Christie’s praise of President Barack Obama regarding his actions during the hurricane was interesting. What was incredible about this was the fact that many on the right criticized Christie for saying anything good about Obama, saying it amounted to an endorsement of him. Rightly, Christie thought this was absurd — and it was. It was a testament to how partisan the political game has become, where you are not allowed to compliment someone who overall disagrees with you. Christie pointed out that he was the first governor in the United States to endorse Mitt Romney. Regardless, he insisted that in response to Obama’s actions regarding to hurricane he is “going to say nice things about him because he’s earned it.” Are we really so far gone that a Republican is not allowed to say nice things about a Democrat and vice versa? I realized the other tr uly admirable thing Christie did as I was waiting in line to vote early Monday. In a move rare for New Jersey, our governor ordered that County Clerk offices stay open to allow for people to vote early. I chose to do so because it worked much better for my schedule. However, for some, it was their only option because their polling locations could not open. Christie decided to do this because even in the wake of a natural disaster he believes “there’s no reason why anybody shouldn't vote. We're going to have a full, fair, transparent, open voting process.” This is the type of mentality that should fuel our government. In a countr y where voter turnout is lower than it should be, and ever y year there is some sort of accusation of voter fraud, there is nothing more important than getting people to vote, and keeping elections fair. So in the spirit of our governor, I am going to say nice things about him. He acted truly admirably lately. As he himself remarked, this does not amount to an endorsement of Christie in future elections. This does not amount to an endorsement of the Republican Party in this election. It just amounts to the simple truth that if someone does a good job — they deser ve to have it acknowledged.
“He acted truly admirably.”
Lee Seltzer is a School of Arts and Sciences senior majoring in history and economics with a minor in mathematics.
E15
It gets better, right? SWIMMING UPSTREAM JOE AMDITIS
I
’m just glad it’s finally over.” That seems to be the most common answer I get when I ask people what they think about election season. To be honest, I don’t blame them for feeling that way. After a solid year of campaign commercials, nauseating 24-hour news coverage, and painfully scripted speeches, who wouldn’t want a break from the circus that American politics has become? This country spends a quarter of every presidential term immersed in frivolous election pageantry. In the meantime Congress grinds to a screeching halt, millions of dollars are squandered on campaigns full of empty promises, natural disasters are turned into political spectacles and foreign policy goes out the window entirely. The irony in all of this is the fact that, despite the ridiculous amount of time the candidates spend trying to secure your vote, the election is still decided more on personality and party affiliation than on policy. You would think that, with the exorbitant amount of time and money the United States spends on election campaigns, the majority of voters would be well-versed in a wide variety of subjects. Instead we are bombarded by catchphrases and slogans, while most attempts at a serious debate about issues like foreign or environmental policy fall on deaf ears. Has it always been like this? When did we stop demanding critical, informed discussion and start accepting the pathetic
excuse for public discourse that has polluted our homes for the last few decades? Think about this for a second: This year a man stood on a stage in front of thousands of people and millions of viewers and joked about how silly his opponent was for trying to “slow the rise of the oceans” and — even after witnessing the largest storm to ever hit the northeast less than three months later — actually had a legitimate chance of being elected. Think about the message that sends to the rest of the world. But it’s not just a candidate’s ignorant one-liners or his disgraceful foreign diplomacy that contribute to the abysmal reputation of U.S. election politics. For example, President Barack Obama’s campaign raised and spent near-
“Pathetic excuse for public discourse.” ly a billion dollars for this election — and the Mitt Romney campaign wasn’t far behind. Let me run that by you one more time: They spent almost a billion dollars just to let everyone know how awesome Obama is — or rather, how terrible Romney is. I wonder how different things might be if our candidates spent as much time and money actually fixing the country as they did trying to convince you that they’ll fix it? Unfortunately, we may never know the answer to that question. The funny thing is, one of the reasons that candidates have to spend such grotesque amounts of money and time on cam-
paigning and political advertisements is because without the money from campaign contributions, broadcasting companies would be less inclined to cover the campaigns in the first place. Meanwhile, the media makes it seem as if third party alternatives are virtually non-existent. The point isn’t that all political campaigns are evil and should be abolished — although that argument could certainly be made. It’s just that when it comes to choosing the next leader of the free world, we would be much better off if we got rid of all the bells and whistles and focused more on substance. The first step toward achieving that goal should be a concerted effort at the individual and grassroots level to change the way we get our information and the way we think about politics in general. It’s not something that is going to happen overnight, and it’s not something that can be accomplished without cooperation. It will be a long and frustrating process, but there has never been a time in history when social change was as accessible as it is today. It may not be easy, but if countries like Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Syria can find the courage and motivation to break free from generations of institutional oppression and political apathy, I see no reason why this country would be unable to gather the social momentum necessary to fix our own system. We have the next four years to get it right, or we’re liable to find ourselves in the exact same position in 2016 saying, “I’m just glad it’s finally over.” Joe Amditis is a School of Arts and Sciences senior majoring in criminal justice and political science with minors in psychology and criminology.
Limit citizen voting power PHILOSOPHIES ED REEP
T
he United States is unique among democratic nations in that it chooses its chief executive not by national popular vote but by an electoral college. In this system, each state government, according to the state’s population, chooses a certain number of electors to vote in a presidential election, and it is these electors, not the people, who choose the president. America’s Electoral College used to be about keeping the everyday citizen from having a say in the presidential election. In theory, it technically still is. There is no federal law or constitutional requirement that electors vote according to their state’s popular vote, but many states have created laws requiring electors to vote according to their state’s popular vote anyway. For states that haven’t created such laws, it is simply very taboo to not vote for the candidate that won the state’s popular vote. In practice, that is, it is the state’s people who determine how the state’s electors vote, which means we essentially have a direct system for electing the president. I think this is a problem. The United States had indirect federal elections for a reason. The trend toward the everyday citizen having more federal voting power is bad for our country. When the United States was founded, it was understood that the everyday citizen only really had a direct say in voting for one federal position: the congressman. The congressman was specifically meant to represent the people, and since he was geographically local to his constituents and represented a limited number of consistent, he could do that job well. He would have the means to consult
with his constituents and relay their concerns to congress. This was a fine way of providing a direct voice for the people in the federal government. In early America, presidents were elected by a much stronger electoral college, and senators were chosen by state legislatures. This system where popular vote only determined congressmen was great for two reasons. First, it protected the everyday citizens from themselves. Then as now, it was quite easy for a candidate to manipulate less sophisticated people with lies and rhetoric. The everyday citizen, who only had limited access to information (or limited interest in acquiring information), could easily be fooled into voting against his or her own interests. Even if they had a desire to be informed, the issues back then were sufficiently complicated that our founding fathers rightly thought the average person would have trouble understanding them. I’d just like to note that, I, a wellread college senior, have trouble fully understanding some of the issues today, which are so multi-faceted that I think you need a Ph.D. to really appreciate them. Honestly, any University student who tells you they have a grasp on the healthcare issue is lying. The other benefit of having indirectly elected senators and presidents was that it protected states’ rights. By essentially having the state governments choose the president and senators, it gave state governments (which, by the way, are directly elected by the people of their state) a voice in the federal government. If congress or the executive branch started expanding the federal government’s power where it didn’t belong, the state governments — who naturally want to preserve their own power — could vote them out of office. It is no coincidence
that the massive expansion of federal government power that began in the early 20th century occurred around the same time that the Constitution was amended to have senators elected by state popular vote. I argue that the erosion of state governments’ power to choose senators and the president is the reason the United States today is so vastly different than the country envision by our founding fathers. The federal government, which was supposed to be heavily accountable to state governments, was instead made entirely accountable to the people, who of course had no incentive to stop the federal government from vastly expanding its power. I do believe that the country would be better off with states having more power. It would allow people more freedom to choose the political environment they want to live in. If you want a capitalistic wild west, you could probably go to Nevada or Texas. If you want a semisocialist system in the vein of Western Europe, you could probably go to California or New York. I could one day become governor of New Jersey and model its welfare and social policies after the teachings of the Messianic Jewish Church of Ed Reep. It would give our citizenry more options. So, in conclusion, if we went back to the old school system where the president was chosen by electors who could vote any which way and where senators were chosen by state legislatures, we would not only increase the rights of the states but we would also pick more competent people to be our senators and presidents. Let’s do that. Ed Reep is a Rutgers Business School senior majoring in supply chain and marketing science with minors in business and technical writing and economics.
GETTY IMAGES