Politics in the News

Hello students,

If you finish your project work today, you can turn take a look at the following links:

1. Rumor: Clinton Asks Florida Democrat to Quit Race
2. NY Times Midterms Page
3. The Tea Party's Idea of the Constitution
4. Potential Replacements for Harry Reid (as Senate Majority Leader)
5. Potential Negative Impact of Tea Party on GOP
6. Republican Leaders Accept Tea Party

You might be able to use some of these for your project. If you are done, you may read one of the articles and post a comment to this post for two points extra credit. State the article's main point and state your views on the topic.

Giannoulias v. Kirk -- 10/20/10 Debate

Hello political experts,

The debate between Illinois senate candidates Alexi Giannoulias and Mark Kirk can be found here. Watch the video and add a comment to this post for 2 points extra credit.

Sample Questions for Moderators

The questions below are from a debate in Davenport, a city in Ontario Canada. Although the subject matter is not appropriate for your debates, the format of the questions themselves will be useful to you. Notice the level of detail. These questions are designed to force candidates to respond to them with more than a "yes" or "no." Your questions should be equally detailed.

 

 

SAMPLE QUESTIONS FOR CANDIDATES:

1.       General Poverty: 

What do you think living in poverty means in Davenport?  What do you see as the main factors that contribute to poverty?

2.       Employment: Good Jobs and Minimum Wage:

There have been massive job losses in manufacturing in this province and the bulk of jobs that are created are low-paying service industry jobs with little job security or benefits that keep people in poverty. 

In recent months, MPPs voted themselves a 25% pay increase.  This increase is more than a full-time worker earning minimum wage makes in an entire year.  Minimum wage has fallen so low in Ontario, that a job is no longer a ticket out of poverty.  Almost 25% of workers in Ontario are paid less than $10 an hour leaving many workers at least $6,000 below the poverty line. The current government plans to wait until 2010 to raise the minimum wage to $10.  If elected will you fight to immediately raise the minimum wage to $10 and index it to inflation?  What is your vision for creating good jobs in this community?

3.       Affordable Housing:

There is clearly a housing crisis in this city. The definition of affordable housing means spending less than 30% of your income on shelter.  By this definition, over 100,000 households in Toronto cannot afford rent of more than $500!  The average cost of a bachelor apartment in Toronto is more than $700.  The high cost of rent means families are living in cramped quarters, in unhealthy and unsafe spaces, and have nothing left over for food or other necessities.   There are 70,000 people on the waiting list for social housing in this city.  What will you do to address the housing crisis in this city and in this community? 

4.       Social Assistance: Income Security, Food Access, and the Rationale for Setting the Rates

 

Quite simply, people on social assistance can't afford to pay the rent and eat. In real terms, people on social assistance have lost 40% of their income since 1996.  Not surprisingly, food bank use has increased by 80% in Toronto over this same period.   

What is the rational for the way current social assistance rates are set?  For example, how do you expect a single person to rent an apartment in this city for $342?  The Medical Officer of Health for Toronto thinks poverty among social assistance recipients is such a critical health issue in this city that he has called on the government to immediately add a Nutrition Allowance to social assistance programs based on the cost of eating healthy food.  Minimally, such an allowance would require the government to restore social assistance rates to pre-1996 levels.  What is your commitment to people on social assistance in this community? What will you do to ensure that social assistance rates reflect the actual cost of living in this city in 2007?

 

5.       Affordable Childcare:

The lack of affordable childcare spaces in Toronto is a barrier for many families.  Low-income parents – particularly single parents – are often forced to choose social assistance over paid work so that they can care for their children.  What will you do to ensure that every child in Ontario is guaranteed an early learning and care program?

6.       Poverty Reduction Strategy:

Clearly, there is a great deal of work that needs to be done to address the serious issue of poverty in this province and in this community.  Nothing short of a comprehensive anti-poverty strategy will sufficiently solve this problem.  Will your government launch the poverty reduction strategy being called for by a broad coalition of community groups, including The Stop Community Food Centre that sets goals and timelines to eliminate poverty beginning with a commitment to reduce poverty in Ontario by 25% in 5 years time?

7.       Funding for Toronto:

Downloading of provincial services has been disastrous to the City of Toronto.  Low-income families have taken the brunt of these cuts.  It is poor people who suffer the most when libraries and community centres are closed, when TTC routes are cut and fares increased, when user fees put Parks and Recreation programs out of reach for children. 

There is now word that ODSP recipients will lose the $100 city-funded transportation benefit they receive to get to their volunteer jobs.  This is vital income for people with disabilities that allow them the chance to participate in the community. Will you commit to restoring funding to pay for Toronto’s vital services and fight for people with disabilities to keep their volunteer benefit?

8.       The Ontario Child Benefit:

At its full implementation, the new Ontario Child Benefit does not replace the full amount of money lost through the claw back of the National Child Benefit Supplement to children whose parent rely on social assistance for support.  Why does this province continue to take away these needed resources from the very poorest children that the National Child Tax Benefit was designed to help?  If elected will you fully and immediately end this unfair practice and will your party commit to speeding up the implementation of the Ontario Child Benefit?

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Annotated Bibliography and Citation Information

The following links to Purdue University's OWL website will help you complete your annotations and citations.

• Citations
• Annotated Bibliography description, justification, format

Example Debates

The links below will take you to full-length videos of past debates, especially between presidents. These are LONG, so you will not want to watch all of them. However, they will give you an understanding of the types of questions to ask and they types of answers to give.

• Obama-McCain, 2008
• Biden-Palin, 2008 (skip to around the 6 minute mark if you want to see an example of Palin playing to the camera -- make your own judgment of its appropriateness in a debate)
• The Kennedy-Nixon Debate (1960) is the most famous presidential debate because it was the first one televised. The format is a little different than a modern debate.
• CSPAN has links to many debates between candidates across the country.

You will also find video and information on candidate debates at MSNBC.com, CBSnews.com, and other television news sites (CNN, Fox News, etc.). You may want to try to pick a television station that best fits your candidate (Fox News for a Republican, MSNBC for a Democrat, etc.).

Some Potential Sources

During your project, you will need to research and cite a minimum of six sources. These can be print, but the majority of your information will likely come from web sources. Your sources should include information about your candidate, the issues they support/oppose, the political climate of the state in which they are running, and information on your opponent. The following may be useful to you:

Potential Sources:

• Official Candidate Websites (listed in candidates post on this blog)
• Candidates' official sites for their current political position (i.e., Mark Kirk's congressional website)
• The Gale Student Resources in Context database (current news articles, etc.)
• The New York Times (login: psmgeo, password: psmgeo) and other local newspapers -- ask me if you don't know a newspaper for your location
• State and federal governmet websites
• A news search engine -- Yahoo or Google (NOTE: You will not cite these as "Yahoo" or "Google". Anything found through these searches needs to be cleared by me).
• Polling sites: 538 and Gallup
• NPR: This link takes you directly to a transcript of a discussion about some of the important midterm elections.

McCain-Obama Debate: Lehrer’s Questions

Below are the BASIC questions asked by Jim Lehrer in the McCain-Obama debate, along with brief summaries of the candidates’ responses.

Roles:
                Jim Lehrer – Moderator. Host of PBS show NewsHour
                Barack Obama – Democratic Candidate for President, Junior Senator from Illinois
                John McCain – Republican Candidate for President, Senior Senator from Arizona
Question 1: Where you do stand on the $700 billion bailout plan?
=> Obama lists his conditions for the bailout.
=> McCain blasts greed on Wall Street.

Question 2: Are there fundamental differences between your economic plans?
=> McCain: I'll veto every earmark, every pork barrel spending bill.
=> Obama:  McCain wants to give $300 billion tax cut to the wealthiest Americans.

Question 3: What items on your agenda will you have to give up due to the $700 billion bailout?
=> Obama: Some priorities will be delayed. Then he lists all of his "priorities": energy, health care, education, infrastructure.
=> McCain will consider cut in defense spending. Examine every agency of government. Will consider a spending freeze on everything except defense and veterans’ care.

Question 4: How will the bailout affect how you govern? (Mr. Lehrer rephrased the previous question, trying to get some real answers. The moderator showed his frustration several times, as the politicians evaded answering his questions.)
=> Obama lists items he can't set aside.
=> McCain repeats "cut spending".

Question 5: What do you see as the lessons of Iraq?
=> McCain speaks of the surgery strategy. Troops will come home in victory. He takes credit again, of course.
=> Obama says, "We should not have gone to Iraq in the first place." Isn't that brilliant? Then he stressed the cost of the Iraq War ($600 billion already; $10 billion per month). "We must use our military wisely."

Question 6: What needs to be done in Afghanistan?
=> Obama will reduce troop levels in Iraq; send the troops to Afghanistan; deal with Pakistan.
=> McCain regrets past error of abandoning the Afghans in their struggle with Russia.

Excerpts from McCain-Obama Debate

Excerpts from the first McCain-Obama Debate

Below you will find excerpted information from the first televised debate between our current president, Barack Obama, and the 2008 Republican nominee, John McCain. This will help you prepare the structure and content of your debate. Note: I have edited some of the text for space purposes.

Roles:
                Jim Lehrer – Moderator. Host of PBS show NewsHour
                Barack Obama – Democratic Candidate for President, Junior Senator from Illinois
                John McCain – Republican Candidate for President, Senior Senator from Arizona

LEHRER: Good evening from the Ford Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Mississippi in Oxford. I'm Jim Lehrer of the NewsHour on PBS, and I welcome you to the first of the 2008 presidential debates between the Republican nominee, Senator John McCain of Arizona, and the Democratic nominee, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois.
Tonight's debate will primarily be about foreign policy and national security, which, by definition, includes the global financial crisis...
Direct exchanges between the candidates and moderator follow-ups are permitted after each candidate has answered the lead question in an order determined by a coin toss.
The specific subjects and questions were chosen by me. They have not been shared or cleared with anyone.
The audience here in the hall has promised to remain silent, no cheers, no applause, no noise of any kind, except right now, as we welcome Senators Obama and McCain.

(APPLAUSE)

Let me begin with something General Eisenhower said in his 1952 presidential campaign. Quote, "We must achieve both security and solvency. In fact, the foundation of military strength is economic strength," end quote. With that in mind, the first lead question.
QUESTION 1: Gentlemen, at this very moment tonight, where do you stand on the financial recovery plan?
OBAMA: Well, thank you very much, Jim, and thanks to the commission and the University of Mississippi, Ole Miss, for hosting us tonight. I can't think of a more important time for us to talk about the future of the country.
You know, we are at a defining moment in our history. Our nation is involved in two wars, and we are going through the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.
And although we've heard a lot about Wall Street, those of you on Main Street I think have been struggling for a while, and you recognize that this could have an impact on all sectors of the economy.
And you're wondering, how's it going to affect me? How's it going to affect my job? How's it going to affect my house? How's it going to affect my retirement savings or my ability to send my children to college?
So we have to move swiftly, and we have to move wisely. And I've put forward a series of proposals that make sure that we protect taxpayers as we engage in this important rescue effort.
Number one, we've got to make sure that we've got oversight over this whole process; $700 billion, potentially, is a lot of money.
Number two, we've got to make sure that taxpayers, when they are putting their money at risk, have the possibility of getting that money back and gains, if the market -- and when the market returns.
Number three, we've got to make sure that none of that money is going to pad CEO bank accounts or to promote golden parachutes.
And, number four, we've got to make sure that we're helping homeowners, because the root problem here has to do with the foreclosures that are taking place all across the country.
Now, we also have to recognize that this is a final verdict on eight years of failed economic policies promoted by George Bush, supported by Senator McCain, a theory that basically says that we can shred regulations and consumer protections and give more and more to the most, and somehow prosperity will trickle down.
It hasn't worked. And I think that the fundamentals of the economy have to be measured by whether or not the middle class is getting a fair shake. That's why I'm running for president, and that's what I hope we're going to be talking about tonight.
LEHRER: Senator McCain, two minutes.
MCCAIN: Well, thank you, Jim. And thanks to everybody.
And I do have a sad note tonight. Senator Kennedy is in the hospital. He's a dear and beloved friend to all of us. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the lion of the Senate.
I also want to thank the University of Mississippi for hosting us tonight.
And, Jim, I -- I've been not feeling too great about a lot of things lately. So have a lot of Americans who are facing challenges. But I'm feeling a little better tonight, and I'll tell you why.
Because as we're here tonight in this debate, we are seeing, for the first time in a long time, Republicans and Democrats together, sitting down, trying to work out a solution to this fiscal crisis that we're in.
And have no doubt about the magnitude of this crisis. And we're not talking about failure of institutions on Wall Street. We're talking about failures on Main Street, and people who will lose their jobs, and their credits, and their homes, if we don't fix the greatest fiscal crisis, probably in -- certainly in our time, and I've been around a little while. But the point is -- the point is, we have finally seen Republicans and Democrats sitting down and negotiating together and coming up with a package.
This package has transparency in it. It has to have accountability and oversight. It has to have options for loans to failing businesses, rather than the government taking over those loans. We have to -- it has to have a package with a number of other essential elements to it.
And, yes, I went back to Washington, and I met with my Republicans in the House of Representatives. And they weren't part of the negotiations, and I understand that. And it was the House Republicans that decided that they would be part of the solution to this problem.
But I want to emphasize one point to all Americans tonight. This isn't the beginning of the end of this crisis. This is the end of the beginning, if we come out with a package that will keep these institutions stable.
And we've got a lot of work to do. And we've got to create jobs. And one of the areas, of course, is to eliminate our dependence on foreign oil.
LEHRER: All right, let's go back to my question. How do you all stand on the recovery plan? And talk to each other about it... We can negotiate a deal right here.
But, I mean, are you -- do you favor this plan, Senator Obama, and you, Senator McCain? Do you -- are you in favor of this plan?
OBAMA: We haven't seen the language yet. And I do think that there's constructive work being done out there. So, for the viewers who are watching, I am optimistic about the capacity of us to come together with a plan.
The question, I think, that we have to ask ourselves is, how did we get into this situation in the first place?
Two years ago, I warned that, because of the subprime lending mess, because of the lax regulation, that we were potentially going to have a problem and tried to stop some of the abuses in mortgages that were taking place at the time.
Last year, I wrote to the secretary of the Treasury to make sure that he understood the magnitude of this problem and to call on him to bring all the stakeholders together to try to deal with it.
So -- so the question, I think, that we've got to ask ourselves is, yes, we've got to solve this problem short term. And we are going to have to intervene; there's no doubt about that.
But we're also going to have to look at, how is it that we shredded so many regulations? We did not set up a 21st-century regulatory framework to deal with these problems. And that in part has to do with an economic philosophy that says that regulation is always bad.
LEHRER: Are you going to vote for the plan, Senator McCain? As a United States senator, you're going to vote for the plan?
MCCAIN: Sure. But -- but let me -- let me point out, I also warned about Fannie Mae (NYSE:FNM) and Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) and warned about corporate greed and excess, and CEO pay, and all that. A lot of us saw this train wreck coming.
But there's also the issue of responsibility. You've mentioned President Dwight David Eisenhower. President Eisenhower, on the night before the Normandy invasion, went into his room, and he wrote out two letters… As president of the United States, people are going to be held accountable in my administration. And I promise you that that will happen.
LEHRER: Do you have something directly to say, Senator Obama, to Senator McCain about what he just said?
OBAMA: Well, I think Senator McCain's absolutely right that we need more responsibility, but we need it not just when there's a crisis. I mean, we've had years in which the reigning economic ideology has been what's good for Wall Street, but not what's good for Main Street.
And there are folks out there who've been struggling before this crisis took place. And that's why it's so important, as we solve this short-term problem, that we look at some of the underlying issues that have led to wages and incomes for ordinary Americans to go down, the -- a health care system that is broken, energy policies that are not working, because, you know, 10 days ago, John said that the fundamentals of the economy are sound.
LEHRER: Say it directly to him.
OBAMA: I do not think that they are.
LEHRER: Say it directly to him.
OBAMA: Well, the -- John, 10 days ago, you said that the fundamentals of the economy are sound. And...
MCCAIN: Are you afraid I couldn't hear him?

(LAUGHTER)

LEHRER: I'm just determined to get you all to talk to each other. I'm going to try.
OBAMA: The -- and I just fundamentally disagree. And unless we are holding ourselves accountable day in, day out, not just when there's a crisis for folks who have power and influence and can hire lobbyists, but for the nurse, the teacher, the police officer, who, frankly, at the end of each month, they've got a little financial crisis going on.
They're having to take out extra debt just to make their mortgage payments. We haven't been paying attention to them. And if you look at our tax policies, it's a classic example.
LEHRER: So, Senator McCain, do you agree with what Senator Obama just said? And, if you don't, tell him what you disagree with.
MCCAIN: No, I -- look, we've got to fix the system. We've got fundamental problems in the system. And Main Street is paying a penalty for the excesses and greed in Washington, D.C., and in the Wall Street.
So there's no doubt that we have a long way to go. And, obviously, stricter interpretation and consolidation of the various regulatory agencies that weren't doing their job, that has brought on this crisis.
But I have a fundamental belief in the goodness and strength of the American worker. And the American worker is the most productive, the most innovative. America is still the greatest producer, exporter and importer.
But we've got to get through these times, but I have a fundamental belief in the United States of America. And I still believe, under the right leadership, our best days are ahead of us.
LEHRER: All right, let's go to the next lead question, which is essentially following up on this same subject.
And you get two minutes to begin with, Senator McCain. And using your word "fundamental," are there fundamental differences between your approach and Senator Obama's approach to what you would do as president to lead this country out of the financial crisis?

Moderator Paper

Moderator Paper

50 POINT PROJECT GRADE

Rationale: In order to effectively run the debate between your two candidates, you will complete a uniquely formatted paper. Your paper should be approximately 3 FULL – 3 ½ pages in length, typed, double-spaced, 12 point font, and will be formatted EXACTLY as described below. You will include each of the headings shown in your paper.

Opening Remarks: Open your paper by welcoming everyone. Introduce the state in which the debate will take place, explain why we have a need for this meeting, provide any necessary background information on issues they will discuss, and explain any planned deviations from the assigned format of the meeting

Candidate Introduction: Here you will type a short introduction for each candidate. Include their party, current position, and any information relevant to their senate race.

Chosen Debatable Issues: Here you will explain the three issues you and your opponent will debate. Explain the opposing positions at issue.

Issue 1: Completely summarize the first issue you will cover in the debate. Include key facts and figures that will help you formulate your questions.

Issue 1 Question(s): You will need to compose a minimum of 3-4 (total, spread across your three issues) questions to ask the candidates based on the issues you decided to focus on. You will not share your questions with the candidates prior to the debate, but will make sure to notify them of the general topic you will cover in each question.

Issue 1 Question(s) Rationale: Explain your reason for asking each question. You should have a general idea of what each candidate’s answer will be.

Issue 2: Completely summarize the first issue you will cover in the debate. Include key facts and figures that will help you formulate your questions.

Issue 2 Question(s): (See Issue 1 for explanation)

Issue 2 Question(s) Rationale: (See Issue 1 for explanation)

Issue 2: Completely summarize the first issue you will cover in the debate. Include key facts and figures that will help you formulate your questions.

Issue 2 Question(s): (See Issue 1 for explanation)

Issue 2 Question(s) Rationale: (See Issue 1 for explanation)

Closing Statement: Close your paper by stating the procedure you will follow at the end of the debate.

Candidate Position Paper

Candidate Position Identification Paper

50 POINT PROJECT GRADE

Rationale: In order to effectively argue the position(s) of your assigned candidate, you will complete a uniquely formatted position paper. Your paper should be approximately 3 FULL – 3 ½ pages in length, typed, double-spaced, 12 point font, and will be formatted EXACTLY as described below. You will include each of the headings shown in your paper.

Candidate biographical information: Here you will type a short biography of your candidate. Where did he come from, what was his life like before he entered politics, how did he become a senator, what political party he is part of, etc.

Candidate Platform: Here you will completely describe the candidate’s beliefs. Explain whether or not she typically falls into step with the rest of her party. Describe the voting bloc she appeals to the most – who got her elected? What issues are nearest and dearest to her heart?

Chosen Debatable Issues: Here you will explain the three issues you and your opponent will debate. Explain your rationale behind choosing these three issues.

Issue 1 Argument: Completely describe the issue at hand, then give a detailed explanation of your candidate’s stance on the issue. Include key information, quotes, facts and figures, and so on.

Issue 1 Counter-Argument: Once you’ve outlined your position on the issue, detail the counterargument as proposed by your opponent. Finally, support your position by attempting to poke holes in this argument.

Issue 2 Argument: Completely describe the issue at hand, then give a detailed explanation of your candidate’s stance on the issue. Include key information, quotes, facts and figures, and so on.

Issue 2 Counter-Argument: Once you’ve outlined your position on the issue, detail the counterargument as proposed by your opponent. Finally, support your position by attempting to poke holes in this argument.

Issue 3 Argument: Completely describe the issue at hand, then give a detailed explanation of your candidate’s stance on the issue. Include key information, quotes, facts and figures, and so on.

Issue 3 Counter-Argument: Once you’ve outlined your position on the issue, detail the counterargument as proposed by your opponent. Finally, support your position by attempting to poke holes in this argument.

Closing Statement: Wrap up your paper by stating in specific terms why you are a better choice for senate than your opponent. Cite details which support your argument and close with something that will make your audience remember you.

Debate Format

PARTICIPANTS:

Moderator:

Role: To MC the debate, to introduce everyone, to explain the reason for the evening and the way that it will work, to ensure fairness and order, and to keep time

Candidates: 

Role:  To answer the questions asked of them and to demonstrate that they are the best candidate to fill the vacant senate seat in their state

Audience:

Role: To evaluate the success of the candidates during their debate

DEBATE FORMAT:

-The moderator will welcome everyone, introduce the state in which the debate will take place, explain why we have a need for this meeting, introduce the candidates, provide any necessary background information on issues they will discuss, and explain any planned deviations from the assigned format of the meeting.

-The moderator will introduce the candidates and their respective parties, then pose his/her first question to one of the candidates. The moderator will allow the first candidate to complete her thought, then allow the second candidate to respond.

-The moderator is responsible for maintaining decorum during the debate. He/she should stop the candidates from interrupting one another and may cut the candidate off at any time if it is necessary (long-winded response, avoiding the topic, etc.).

-After the moderator has asked his 3-4 questions, he will turn to the audience for one question. 

-Once each candidate has had the opportunity to respond to the audience question, the debate is over.

-Although this would not happen in real life, at the end of each debate the moderator will poll the class to assign a winner. In real life, the task of deciding who wins a debate typically falls to the press (or to each candidate’s campaign manager).

DEBATE PROCEDURE:

The debates will cover a wide range of topics, including domestic and foreign policy matters.

Each debate will be divided roughly into three three-minute segments. Each candidate will have 45 seconds to respond to a direct question and then an additional minute for rebuttal and to ask follow-up questions. The order will be determined by a coin toss prior to the debate.

The specific subjects and questions should be chosen by the moderator and not shared with the candidates before the debate.

Each debate will take a total of approximately 10-12 minutes.

Meet the Candidates

37 senate seats are up for election in 2010. We will focus on 8 prominent races in the course of our project. NOTE: All candidates and the first mention of a party link to official sites.

Arizona:

·         Republican: John McCain

·         Democrat: Rodney Glassman

California:

·         Republican (possibly associated with Tea Party): Carly Fiorina

·         Democrat: Barbara Boxer

Delaware:

·         Republican (TEA PARTY): Christine O’Donnell

·         Democrat: Chris Coons

Florida:

·         Republican: Marco Rubio

·         Democrat: Kendrick Meek

·         Independent: Charlie Crist

Illinois:

·         Republican: Mark Kirk

·         Democrat: Alexi Giannoulias

Indiana:

·         Republican: Dan Coats

·         Democrat: Brad Ellsworth

Nevada:

·         Republican (TEA PARTY): Sharron Angle

·         Democrat: Harry Reid (Senate Majority Leader)

West Virginia:

·         Republican: John Raese

·         Democrat: Joe Manchin