Articles written by Griffin Limerick

Sen. John McCain’s request for a town hall meeting was finally granted in the second presidential debate.

The debate was held Tuesday at Belmont University in Nashville.

This was the only presidential debate presented in town hall format.

Voters submitted thousands of questions for the debate, and moderator Tom Brokaw chose about 13 of these questions to read to McCain and Sen. Barack Obama.

While many of the questions were asked by audience members, Rene McEldowney, an associate professor of political science, said the debate was not conducted in real town hall format.

“In other town hall meetings there are usually more questions from the audience,” McEldowney said. “Brokaw asked a lot of questions.”
Stephen Hoar, a sophomore in English, liked the format.

“I thought the style was cool, because you got to see a lot of the opinions and concerns of the American public,” Hoar said.

Damon Lawrence, a freshman in business management, said Brokaw was a great choice for moderator.

Sen. Joe Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin never met each other before last Thursday night, but after briefly shaking hands, the two vice presidential candidates proceeded to debate political policy.

The candidates squared off for the first and only vice presidential debate, held at Washington University in St. Louis.

Gwen Ifill of PBS moderated the debate. Palin wanted not only to introduce herself to Biden, but also to the American public.

After stumbling in recent interviews, she hoped to redeem herself. Caleb Byrd, treasurer of the Auburn University College Republicans, said Palin used the debate to talk to the American people.

“I think her main goal was to prove she was capable and knowledgeable, and that she understands what is going on,” Byrd said. “I don’t think the interviews reflected her intelligence.”

Lerato Matlamela, a senior in chemical engineering, said Palin’s answers sounded “rehearsed”.

Despite increased political controversy and confusion over the economic bailout plan, the show went on last Friday night.

Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain took center stage for the first 2008 presidential debate, held at the University of Mississippi’s Gertrude C. Ford Center, in Oxford, Miss.

The spotlight shown on the two presidential candidates, as the audience watched in darkness and silence.

The debate was moderated by Jim Lehrer of PBS.

Chandler Harris, chairman of the Auburn University College Republicans, said he liked how Lehrer made the debate a personal experience between the two candidates.

“Lehrer is a well-respected journalist,” Harris said. “He attacked McCain on things he thought he could attack him on, and he attacked Obama on things he thought he could attack him on. He seemed pretty unbiased.”

Throughout the debate, Lehrer encouraged Obama and McCain to address each other when talking, instead of looking at the camera.

John Page, treasurer of Auburn University College Democrats, said he liked this tactic.

Politicians’ lies catch up to them through Web site, voters presented with correct political facts

Facts brought to you by www.factcheck.org:

• A slanderous e-mail claims that Barack Obama will not say the Pledge of Allegiance. The e-mail is accompanied by a picture of Obama without his hand over his heart, while Gov. Bill Richardson, Sen. Hillary Clinton and Ruth Harkin hold their hands over their hearts. However, the picture was not taken during the Pledge of Allegiance like the e-mail states. Instead, the picture was taken at Sen. Tom Harkin’s “steak fry” during the National Anthem. There are numerous video examples of Obama holding his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance.
• An Obama ad says the “Bush-McCain privatization plan” will cut social security benefits in half. The ad implies current retirees will receive the cut. However, the cut would only apply to retirees who have yet to be born. And, Obama’s own economic advisers said the cut would be 28 percent, not half.
• In Gov. Palin’s RNC speech, she claimed she put the former Alaska governor’s jet on eBay. Palin fails to mention the jet wasn’t actually sold on the Web site. Instead, the jet was sold through an aircraft broker for less than the asking price and the original cost. Days later, McCain said Palin not only sold the jet on eBay, but also made a profit on the deal. This is also false.
• An Obama ad claims McCain voted to cut education funding. The ad gives five votes as examples. However, one of the votes was for increased education funding, just for fewer dollars than democrats wanted. Three other votes were against additional funding, not for cutting funds.

Awaiting the first presidential debate, Sens. McCain and Obama are fulfilling their desires to swap blows through TV advertisements.

Instead of focusing on each candidate’s individual policies, these “attack ads” make accusations about the candidates’ records and negative traits.

However, many of these accusations are unwarranted and false.

Web sites like factcheck.org address lies given by the candidates, whether they be from a TV commercial or a speech.

According to the Web site, factcheck.org is a “nonpartisan, nonprofit, ‘consumer advocate’ for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics.”

One lie the Web site addresses is McCain’s recent advertisement that claims Obama passed legislation to teach comprehensive sex education to kindergarteners.

Obama actually supported age appropriate sex education, which for kindergarteners, would involve learning how to recognize and avoid sexual predators.

Obama advertisements also include lies about McCain.

An Obama ad intended for Hispanic voters claims McCain is friends with radio personality Rush Limbaugh, who has a history of making hateful remarks about Mexicans. The ad goes on to quote Limbaugh’s remarks.

After a variety of speeches were given at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, one message was repeated more then any other: change is coming to America.   

Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain used the word “change” several times in their acceptance speeches. Obama mentioned change 14 times in his speech, while McCain used the word nine times.

Change originated as Obama’s platform for a new America. Since the beginning of his run for the Democratic nomination, “change” has adorned Obama signs, car magnets and T-shirts. Yet recently, “change” has become the battle cry for both presidential candidates.

Some people believe the word lacks a true meaning and is used only for political gain. Adam Syfrett, a pharmacy grad student, said the word is meaningless.

“Honestly, it means they don’t have anything else to convince someone to vote for them with,” Syfrett said.

However, Jonathan Howard, a junior in electrical engineering, said change is more than just a word. Howard said change is a part of Obama’s policy.

Gas prices skyrocketed: around Auburn Friday, following the damage Hurricane Ike caused to several oil refineries in the Gulf of Mexico. JD Schein / PHOTO EDITOR

The arrival of Hurricane Ike led to a gas shortage in Alabama and an increased demand from residents.

As gas prices increased sharply last Friday, cars flooded into gas station parking lots, forming long lines. Drivers hoped to fill up their tanks before the last drops of gasoline disappeared or prices climbed any higher.

The sudden demand for gasoline caused Gov. Bob Riley to declare a state of emergency for Alabama Friday afternoon. Joseph Wilson, a clerk at Eagle Chevron, said the gas station had a busy weekend.

“It’s been since about 3 o’clock on Friday when (the price of gas) started going up,” Wilson said. “There were times when we didn’t have enough (gas) to make it through the day.”

Wilson said the shortage is affecting the station’s business.

Alabama’s high obesity rate has once again placed the state in the negative spotlight.

The Alabama State Employees’ Insurance Board recently received national attention for its new health insurance program, which media have dubbed a “fat tax”.

Outlets like FOXNews.com falsely state the plan will charge state employees an extra $25 a month if they don’t visit the doctor for a check-up.

The plan, effective Jan. 1, 2010, actually states employees will receive a $25 monthly discount after they visit the doctor.

William Ashmore, CEO of the Alabama State Employees Health Insurance Program, said the plan is voluntary.

“We’re doing this as an incentive to get employees to participate in the screening,” Ashmore said. “It’s a voluntary program, and the vast majority of employees are appreciative of these programs.”

According to the plan, state employees will be screened for blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and Body Mass Index.

Last weekend, I was sitting in my living room with my roommate, looking for something to do. A pile of pennies was conveniently sitting on the table next to me. I grabbed a handful and began tossing them into a nearby trash can.

About 20 cents later, I had a revelation: I was literally throwing money away. While contemplating the irony of the situation, I had a second revelation: pennies actually belong in the trash can.

The penny has suffered a long, hard fall from the top, when it was first minted almost 100 years ago.

Once the inspiration for cheap candy and Inspector Gadget’s niece, the penny has recently become the unwanted stepchild of the currency family.

Now, the penny is about as valuable to me as a Chuck E. Cheese game token. Before I receive hate mail from Auburn’s Chuck E. Cheese enthusiasts, you should know that I enjoy cheese pizza and the ball pit as much as the next 5 year old. I just think children are the only people who still want their pennies.

One week after Sen. Barack Obama’s historic acceptance of the Democratic Party’s nomination for president, political history is once again being made.

Last Saturday, Sen. John McCain named Gov. Sarah Palin his vice presidential candidate. Palin is the first woman to receive the Republican vice presidential nomination.

Caroline Wren, deputy director of accounts receivable for the McCain campaign, said everyone in McCain headquarters was excited about the pick.

“We didn‘t find out until everyone else found out,” Wren said. “I cried. Other people were crying. People were clapping and cheering. It was the most amazing decision on McCain’s part.”

Caleb Byrd, treasurer for Auburn University College Republicans, said McCain’s vice presidential choice was “perfect.”

“I’ve been researching Palin before McCain picked her, and she’s a great governor,” Byrd said. “She has 80 percent approval ratings in Alaska, and she is absolutely the game changer McCain needed.”

St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church: surveys the damage done by a 137-year-old oak tree knocked down by the winds of Tropical Storm Fay Saturday, Aug. 23. Throughout the weekend’s severe weather, only minor tree damage was reported around the Auburn area, along with local flash flooding.

The shrill sound of outdoor warning sirens filled the air Saturday night as Auburn suffered through the effects of Tropical Storm Fay.

Rita Smith, public information officer of the Lee County Emergency Management Agency, said six tornado warnings were given, the last one ending at 2:15 a.m. Sunday.

Tornado watches continued until 9 a.m. Sunday. Smith said there was also some low-line flooding.  

Leaves and branches littered Auburn’s streets Sunday morning and luckily, were the extent of the damage.

“The great news is that no injuries were reported to us,” Smith said.  

Mary Moore, duty officer at Lee County EMA, said damage from the storm was minimal.

“There were mostly just power outages around the county,” Moore said. “Several trees fell down, but most of the trees that fell down were dead trees.”   

Moore said the volunteer fire department worked to clear the fallen trees.

The largest tree to fall during the storm was a 137-year-old oak tree which towered over St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church, located at 136 E. Magnolia St.  

Father John Wells Warren, Episcopal chaplain to Auburn University, was the only person at the church when the tree fell.

“The tree split in two and fell north and south on the driveway, between the two church buildings,” Warren said.  “If the tree fell east, it would have fallen on 17-16, and if it fell west, it would have crushed the chapel and parish hall. It was as close a call as you can imagine.”