This year’s presidential race is unusual. We have a white woman & an African American man in the lead for the Democratic nomination. We have a Mormon & several non-Evangelicals competing for the Republican nomination. This will be an election that is analyzed for years to come.
One issue several of you brought up in your last post is the question, “Is Senator Obama the most attractive candidate for the African American community?” The Democratic party & the African American community are very closely tied together. Many political analysts predict that the candidate that picks up the “black vote” will get the nomination for the Democratic party.
Below are some recent articles that summarize the role of previous African American candidates for the Democratic nomination (Jesse Jackson & Rev. Al Sharpton), the popularity of both Clinton & Obama with the African American community, & the potential barriers to winning over the “black vote”. You are not limited to these articles. I am merely referring you to them because I think they might be helpful for this week’s post.
* “Barack Obama caught between lines in race battle”, The Times, 9/23/07
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article2511582.ece
* “Out of Reach?”, 9/27/08, Time Magazine
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1666262,00.html
* “Obama Vies for Black Vote While Waging `Deracialized Campaign'”, 9/28/07. Bloomberg.com
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aZeD5OiaQqdU&refer=home
* “Clinton Edges Obama in Black Caucus”, 9/28/07, Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hOj-hz5ahyzXOAIRsfaUOyr1Ns8gD8RUNE780
* “Obama: Jena case shows law's 'inequities'”, 9/29/07, Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-obamaweb29,1,5304044.story
Your question is:
To what degree does a candidate need to represent their community (as a woman, a member of their racial group, a member of their religion, etc.)? What are the strengths & weaknesses to being seen as a representative of a community? Is it better to be seen as an “individual”? Considering our country’s history, is it possible to be seen as merely an individual if someone is going to be the first woman, African-American, Mormon, etc. ever elected to the office of president of the United States? How do you think the campaign(s) should address this dynamic in the race to help their candidate? (Consider the current political realities addressed in the articles & facing our country today.)
(P.S. to the Republicans in the class, the next post will focus more on your party’s issues for the election. I promise.)
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
Who you support based on post 2
1st place: Barack Obama
2nd place: Hillary Clinton/ John Edwards
3rd place: Dennis Kucinich
4th place: Ron Paul
5th place: Rudy Giuliani
6th place: Mitt Romney
7th place: Mike Huckabee/John McCain/ Joe Biden
Most disliked: Mike Huckabee, then Sam Brownback
Thanks to Amy Anderson for totaling these for me. :)
2nd place: Hillary Clinton/ John Edwards
3rd place: Dennis Kucinich
4th place: Ron Paul
5th place: Rudy Giuliani
6th place: Mitt Romney
7th place: Mike Huckabee/John McCain/ Joe Biden
Most disliked: Mike Huckabee, then Sam Brownback
Thanks to Amy Anderson for totaling these for me. :)
Notes on grammar/ writing style
Don't capitalize the office, just the person. For example:
the president, President Bush
Do capitalize specific places because they're proper nouns. For example: Congress, Supreme Court, White House
Do capitalize specifice political parties (the Republican party, the Green party, etc.)even though you wouldn't normally capitalize the words if they aren't in reference to a party (ie. The man in the green shirt expressed republican values.) :)
Lastly, it is considered un-academic & unprofessional to call a public figure by her/his first name. You should refer to a public figure by their last name.
the president, President Bush
Do capitalize specific places because they're proper nouns. For example: Congress, Supreme Court, White House
Do capitalize specifice political parties (the Republican party, the Green party, etc.)even though you wouldn't normally capitalize the words if they aren't in reference to a party (ie. The man in the green shirt expressed republican values.) :)
Lastly, it is considered un-academic & unprofessional to call a public figure by her/his first name. You should refer to a public figure by their last name.
Response to post 2 - due October 2nd
You can post to either post 2 on the post 2 strand or here. Either is fine. Your response post is due 10/2. Remember the goal is for everyone to get a response. Please do not respond to someone's post if they already have more than 1 response. Please attack the ideas/argument of the person & not the person her/himself. Also, please respond in a manner which fosters rather than shuts down dialogue. Thanks. Good luck. M. Aby
Monday, September 17, 2007
Post 2 - Due 9/26
Who do you support for president? Why? Give concrete reasons and refer to news articles &/or their website to substantiate your posts. Include the link to the references you cite in your post so that others can retrace your steps.
If you don't support anyone for president, then answer:
Which of the candidates would you most oppose as the next president? Why? Give concrete reasons and refer to news articles &/or their website to substantiate your posts. Include the link to the references you cite in your post so that others can retrace your steps.
If you don't support anyone for president, then answer:
Which of the candidates would you most oppose as the next president? Why? Give concrete reasons and refer to news articles &/or their website to substantiate your posts. Include the link to the references you cite in your post so that others can retrace your steps.
My observation from post 1
First off, I think things are going well. I'm impressed with the quality of your posts and with your discussion with each other. Comments I have on your posts:
* Research: Most of you did a good job doing research on the issue you choose to focus on. Most of you included links to the articles you read in your posts. However, few of you integrated this information into your posts to substantiate your argument. I don't want you just tack on the article links at the end.
For examples as to how to integrate your evidence into your post you could look at Silas and Michelle R.'s posts as examples of how you could integrate your evidence into your argument.
*Your response posts: You are doing a good job of responding to other people's arguments. Some of you are using research to substantiate your arguments, but most of you are not. I want to encourage you to try to use research to do so.
* Your viewpoints: I wasn't surprised that most of you thought that the war is the #1 issue. Most Americans feel the same way as you. Nationally healthcare polls as #2 & issues like immigation poll that high in certain states. Global warming is climbing the list - due in part to recent scientific information & efforts by Al Gore. In every election there will be single issue voters, and I'm glad that one of the top issues of single issue voters (abortion) was represented in our discussion as well. I am glad that some of you played devils advocate to diversify the discussion. :)
I look forward to your second post. Thanks.
* Research: Most of you did a good job doing research on the issue you choose to focus on. Most of you included links to the articles you read in your posts. However, few of you integrated this information into your posts to substantiate your argument. I don't want you just tack on the article links at the end.
For examples as to how to integrate your evidence into your post you could look at Silas and Michelle R.'s posts as examples of how you could integrate your evidence into your argument.
*Your response posts: You are doing a good job of responding to other people's arguments. Some of you are using research to substantiate your arguments, but most of you are not. I want to encourage you to try to use research to do so.
* Your viewpoints: I wasn't surprised that most of you thought that the war is the #1 issue. Most Americans feel the same way as you. Nationally healthcare polls as #2 & issues like immigation poll that high in certain states. Global warming is climbing the list - due in part to recent scientific information & efforts by Al Gore. In every election there will be single issue voters, and I'm glad that one of the top issues of single issue voters (abortion) was represented in our discussion as well. I am glad that some of you played devils advocate to diversify the discussion. :)
I look forward to your second post. Thanks.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Response to post 1 - due 9/18
You can post to either post 1 on the post 1 strand or here. Either is fine. Your response post is due 9/18. Remember the goal is for everyone to get a response. Please do not respond to someone's post if they already have more than 1 response. Please attack the ideas/argument of the person & not the person her/himself. Also, please respond in a manner which fosters rather than shuts down dialogue. Thanks. Good luck. M. Aby
PS. I will post soon a response to your post 1.
PS. I will post soon a response to your post 1.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Post 1 - Due 9/12
What is the most important issue in the 2008 election? Why is this issue the most important issue (ie. the one that should be driving the campaign)? What position on this issue would you support & why?
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