Using online news sources, you must respond to one of the following.
1 - "The First Gay President." Bill Clinton was named "the first black president," and now Newsweek has named President Obama the "first gay president." Read this story and the others below:
DC Churches....
Gay Marriage Debate...
Conservatives Mobilize....
Where do you see this issue in another decade? Explain your response using evidence from above or other recent developments.
2 - Who is Mitt Romney? Will he be effective in positioning himself for the presidential race? What are his greatest strengths/weaknesses?
Shifting to the Center...
Romney on Russia..
Romney Woos Evangelicals..
First Post Due Wednesday 5/16 - PM
Second Post Due Friday 5/18
82 comments:
Fifty years ago, a majority of people in the United States were opposed to interracial marriage. Today, if you are opposed to interracial marriage, you better keep quiet or people may throw eggs at your house (instead of the other way around). Ten years ago, a majority of people in the U.S. were opposed to gay marriage. Now, it is just under a majority (who oppose), according to recent polls. Many, though, think that civil unions are an acceptable alternative to marriage. And a good deal of those who do oppose say that it is for religious reasons. But Catholic Reverend Clement Aapengnu says that marriage is “a human phenomenon,” not a religious one and “[it]is a gift and a covenant of love that should be respected.”
Gay and Lesbian couples agree with this sentiment, and so do I. The opposition of gay marriage is total intolerance, and in as progressive a society as ours, this will one day be realized by a majority of the population. People will start to realize that being gay is not a choice and especially not a sin, but an innate part of who you are. Being gay does not make you a bad person or different in any strange way, it just makes you a person who happens to to have a different sexuality than the majority of people. As Daily Beast’s Andrew Sullivan pointed out, kids like Barack Obama (who grew up black in a white family) have to deal with the same issues that gay kids do being raised in heterosexual families.
Soon, the American public will come to terms with this. They will realize that just because someone is different from them does not mean that they are inferior, and so should not only be able to obtain civil unions as opposed to a true marriage. With so many new books, blogs, and people coming out of the closet Americans will just have to accept, even if they are reluctant at first. Obama was the first president to come out, and he has started a great tidal wave that cannot be stopped.
It is without a doubt that Republican candidate Mitt Romney has prevailed as the Republican party’s nominee for President. He has overcome a myriad of competition, but has stayed afloat without any major scandals. However many accuse Romney as a ‘flip-flopper’ on his standing with issues. Now that he is the presumed nominee, he must not only appeal to his own party, but the entire nation as well. Romney was not the most conservative out of the bunch, so he may not have as difficult of a time to charm the voters of the moderates and independents.
Romney has the advantage in the economy with one of his prior employment with Bain Capital. However this is a double edged sword. His time at management consulting firm has been peppered with vague dealings and apparent laying off of numerous workers. In addition Romney will have to successfully attack President Obama’s stance on the economy even though the Dow Jones has increased to a new high since the 2008 economic collapse. The improving condition of the American economy has definitely not make Romney’s job any easier. This will be an uphill battle for him and it seems that the only way he will be able to clench the Presidential victory would be if Obama had a significant scandal. His decision to travel to London for the Olympic Games during the summer instead of aggressively campaigning at home may result in a decrease in polls. He should not be at foreign events when he is not even President; those visits should be left until later if he does become President. He has a job to campaign for the Republican Party and it will be best fulfilled if he campaigns throughout the summer and until the elections in November. Romney has the advantage in the economy with one of his prior employment with Bain Capital. However this is a double edged sword. His time at management consulting firm has been peppered with vague dealings and apparent laying off of numerous workers. In addition Romney will have to successfully attack President Obama’s stance on the economy even though the Dow Jones has increased to a new high since the 2008 economic collapse. The improving condition of the American economy has definitely not make Romney’s job any easier. This will be an uphill battle for him and it seems that the only way he will be able to clench the Presidential victory would be if Obama had a significant scandal. His decision to travel to London for the Olympic Games during the summer instead of aggressively campaigning at home may result in a decrease in polls. He should not be at foreign events when he is not even President; those visits should be left until later if he does become President. He has a job to campaign for the Republican Party and it will be best fulfilled if he campaigns throughout the summer and until the elections in November.
OBAMA
Down the line in ten years, I think this issue is one that will be forgotten. There have been major advancements in civil equality for homosexuals in these very recent years. Overall there has been a general acceptance of homosexuals and prejudice is decreasing; despite the religious attacks on homosexuals, such as stating that marriage is only a union of man and woman, or that having to two men as parents is “not healthy for children, and its not God’s design” (Washington Post, DC Churches). Most of the oppression against gays and lesbians are from adamant church followers who believe homosexuality is a sin and are disgusted by Obama’s support in those people. However, several states have legalized marriage between the same sex and many gay couples live normal lives just like any other couple. One of these first couples, Linda and Gloria, have had a successful marriage. They do hide their relationship due to their knowledge of how touchy a subject homosexuality can be to others. But evidence that acceptance for homosexuals is rising everywhere, even in this school. At B1 day a student revealed his sexuality to the class and was welcomed with a standing ovation from the crowd. Because of this growing acceptance, homosexuality will not be as large of an issue or debate in ten years, and the whole fiasco circulating around Obama’s support for gays will rather be highlighted as an American achievement.
ROMNEY
Mitt Romney is a religious man with many opinions. His strongest though are those that are in line with religion. Regarding the gay marriage issue, he clearly states his belief that “marriage is relationship between one man and one woman” (NYTimes, Romney Woos Evangelicals). This may be his best strength, which is to associate with the social conservatives who have high values in religion. This is his best audience. But other than that, he is said to be “extreme” (NYTimes, shifting to the center). This is seen through his opinion on contraception and women, his strong feelings against illegal immigration (or immigrants in general), and his belief that marriage is strictly between a man and a woman. These non-compromising beliefs and stances will most likely cost him votes from women, Hispanics, and homosexuals. This may be his greatest weakness, appealing too selectively and too narrowly on one group that he isn’t trying to appeal or even work for all the people in the U.S.
Ten years ago gay marriage was hardly spoken of and now it's all over the place. Just as black rights was a big controversial topic back then gay rights has taken center stage. It wouldn't be a surprise if this issue was commonplace in society in another decade from now. As a catholic republican I am strong against legalizing it because whether you like it or not it is against my morals. I don't hate gays or lesbians; i have friends who are gay, but i don't agree with the practice. Everyone says conservatives and Catholics don't respect other peoples rights and hate people but that is so not true. You're not respecting my opinion of being against it if you don't take it into consideration. I can't tell people what to do in their homes and honestly i really don't care. I have no problem with those two women, linda and gloria, living together and doing whatever they do, but everyone has to realize that not everyone agrees with the practice so the government shouldn't be involved.
Seeing as how split the country is over this, I do believe that unfortunately gay marriage will be more acceptable in another decade. I don't see why they can't just enter a civil union because it ruins the tradition of marriage that I have been brought up seeing and many other people have as well. Again, I have no problem with people being gay, just like the reverend who believes love is love, but he is wrong when he says marriage isn't a religious one. It traditionally has been ever since ancient times when they believed in multiple gods and others. Taking this marriage and telling us what it truly is is disrespectful in a sense. This issue will probably be resolved in the next decade, however the feelings that it stirs up won't be resolved. Who knows, the world is always changing.
1. In the review on the Washington Post of the Newsweek article in which President Obama was deemed the "First Gay President," the author compares the issue of gay rights and sexual identity to President Obama's own struggle with his racial identity, growing up as both white and black, and at the same time neither entirely. 50 years ago, civil rights based on race (specifically African-American rights) was just as contentious an issue as gay marriage, and today a racist person would be looked upon by the whole of the society with disgust. 200 years ago, slavery was thought to be totally normal by society. However, today slavery is illegal and in the free world is thought to be one of the most evil institutions to have ever existed. Many people today justify gay marriage by saying that the Bible says that it is not right- however the Bible (and other religious books) also makes numerous references to slavery in a positive light. So the Bible could also be used to justify slavery like it is currently being used to justify gay marriage. However, our country keeps progressing forward, and issues such as slavery and civil rights have been resolved even though at one point they were just as contentious as gay marriage is today.
I believe that in 10 years this issue will not yet be fully resolved, but that we will be much closer than we are today to having gay marriage be a totally normal and commonplace activity, with much less resistance than it is meeting today. I think that it will take much longer than 10 years for gay rights and gay marriage to be equal in our society to gender equality and racial equality, but I think that the day will come. The great majority of young people in this nation are supportive of gay rights, and I think as time progresses and even younger generations grow up, the great majority of society will support gay marriage.
Finally, in regards to President Obama's decision to announce his support of gay marriage, I think that he made the right move. I'm so happy that he was gutsy enough to speak his mind instead of waiting until a second term. Yay Obama!
-Monica DiLeo
I believe that the issue of gay rights will soon simmer down, but I’m doubtful as to whether this advancement will occur within the next ten years. While advocates of gay rights have been adamant in their quest for social equality and the right to marry whomever they choose, conservatives have proved that they will not give up on their own point of view. I think conservatives have it in them to prolong the passage of gay-rights bill to the Constitution for another ten more years, but their struggle to prohibit such a bill from ever gaining enough support to be amended into the Constitution will not last much longer after a decade or so. Gay rights has been a hotly contested issue, and will be the center of most debates in the future. It will take time, but I have no doubts that gay couples will eventually have the same marital rights as heterosexuals.
While I do see the similarities between Obama accepting his race and homosexuals accepting their sexual orientation, I believe that this Newsweek article serves as a somewhat shallow attempt to make Obama appeal to the public before the election. Illustrating that Obama is “a gay president” makes him more relatable to a huge portion of his voters who empathize with this notion. Although it is true that he supports gay rights, I don’t understand why this has overshadowed his other political opinions and values. Why must everything boil down to gay versus straight? Black versus white? Hopefully one day one’s character and merit will overshadow one’s race or sexual orientation.
President Obama's endorsement of gay marriage will undoubtedly be the next step toward the burial of the polarization of opinion on gay rights. Compared to other civil struggles, homosexuality has had a fast-paced history since its surfacing as an issue; from when it first started drawing national attention only a few decades ago to now, approximately half the country is already in favor of it. While the issue may not be entirely settled in the next ten years, I would be unsurprised if it were no longer an issue in the next twenty. Mr. Romney professes his opposition, but we all know how steadfastly he stands by his beliefs, and a change in national opinion could mean a change in his. At this point, as a libertarian, I would like to take a moment and express my exhaustion at those who believe the political right hates homosexuals. Some social conservatives seek to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, but most are content at allowing it to remain a states' rights issue. I have heard of few and met none who actually want to disallow civil unions between homosexual couples; the only controversy stands in whether marriage should be redefined on a federal level to include any consenting adults. Not having an issue with alternate lifestyles myself, I am wearied by those who chant that anyone right-of-center preaches intolerance and follows slippery slope arguments. Now that I have that out of my system, I will conclude by expressing my interest to see what this does to President Obama's ratings, something for which I do not have a comfortable prediction, and by suggesting that perhaps we could focus on handling the dismal economic conditions and unstable world stage before we make positions on gay marriage our defining issues.
What President Obama has done recently as a leading figure for the United States is such a step forward in the issue of gay marriage in America. He has told the media and everyone across the country and the world that he is in support of gay marriage. I think that this is spectacular. Obama is such a powerful leader that he supports what is morally right. Even though there are many that do not agree with his views, he believes that it is vital to support gay marriage because no discrimination should occur and all people should have the same rights. President Obama is an extremely accepting person, and he is setting a great precedent for the future of this issue. I think that in a decade, there will be much more acceptance of gay marriage, with Obama currently helping to begin moving in this direction. This past week, Newsweek named him “the first gay president” for his accepting views told during a “Good Morning America” interview. There will obviously still be people who do not accept gay marriage years from now, but I believe that Obama has put America in an excellent spot for the future. His role of leader of the United States has helped spread acceptance of gay marriage across the country, and I think that it will continue as the years progress.
Emily Smith
Period 6
In the past, America has dealt with several forms of intolerance. For instance, before the Civil Rights Movement occurred, African Americans were highly segregated and not tolerated by the white community. As people, such as Martin Luther King Jr., began to speak out about this issue and began to rally support against the intolerance of African Americans, more and more people abandoned their prejudice ways. Eventually, African Americans became completely tolerated in society and overwhelmingly accepted by the community as a whole. This is exactly what is happening with the Gay Rights Movement. A couple of decades ago, the idea of a same sex marriage was almost completely unheard of, never mind tolerated in society. Nowadays, our country is split in half over the topic and more and more people and becoming more tolerant of same sex relationships. Just like the Civil Rights Movement, the Gay Rights Movement will gain momentum. For this to happen, I predict some form of leader or a group of representatives for the Gay Rights Movement will have to emerge and take charge of the movement, just as Martin Luther King Jr. did. By publicly announcing his support of same sex marriage, I believe Barack Obama has done just that; what better leader for the Gay Rights Movement could there be than the President of the United States himself. For this reason, I believe that within the next decade, the majority of our country will be tolerable of same sex marriage and it will eventually be completely tolerated. Although several of the articles discussed the opposition of conservatives and religious Republicans against same sex marriage, I do not believe that this opposition will be strong enough to stop the movement. I believe that couples like Gloria and Linda, the first couple to have a gay marriage in our country according to the Washington Post, will prevail and win the hearts and mind of the American people. In a progressive nation like ours, the people clinging to old traditions and values will soon be outnumbered and eventually replaced by a more tolerant and accepting society.
The future looks bright and gay for the homosexuals of America. The inevitable successes of gay marriage will triumph over the Christian right. Recent polls show that despite the rallying of Evangelicals against Obama after this recent development, Obama is still ahead of Romney. Partisanship aside, I think that this is a reflection on how Americans of all political parties consider the improving economy to be more important than gay marriage. Even Romney recognizes this, and has recently endorsed gay couples adopting children and called gay marriage a non-religious issue. The modern era has embraced homosexuality, and everyone, including anti gay organizations like the National Organization for Marriage, recognize that the argument of gay marriage is changing. A decade from now may be the conclusion of this argument, as hate crimes and anger starts being directed at those homophobic neo-Nazi bigots. Once upon a time divorce was illegal, women were property, and blacks were slaves. A decade from now banning gay marriage will be in that list.
In addition, I have faith that Americans will recognize the benefits of gay couples. They’re an improvement on single parent households, (as in there will theoretically be better care available for the children, not because single parent households are bad.) The sanctity of marriage does not seem to be in great jeopardy, since what sanctity once existed evaporated with Britney Spear’s 55 hour marriages. Also, in a democracy like ours, religion should not determine individual rights. America will grow to adjust to gay marriage, and one day it’ll be just another social norm, like being vegan or adopting a
foreign baby.
Gay marriage has come a lot farther than what the issue used to be. For at least the last 10 years, the debate over same-sex marriage has raged on. There has been enormous progress with the people in the country supporting gay marriage and it only continues to grow. Although in the next ten years I believe that there will be even greater growth in the support of same-sex marriage, but I don't believe the issue will totally be resolved, With certain states still strongly against game marriage. North Carolina was mentioned in one of the articles to be voting on legislative to ban gay marriage. As well as Ohio still strongly against same-sex marriage from their 2004 ban. I think by the next ten years a majority of the states in the country will have agreed to legalize gay marriage, which is for the better. It should be better for couples such as Linda and Gloria who are sometimes afraid to be seen together in public. I think Obama made a good decision to come out and support gay marriage, especially since he was able to get support from many churches across the nation, even when that looked like a slim chance. I liked Rev. Al Sharpton and how he said he would support Obama's decision. “I intend to stand against the clergy that don’t support him. . . . I don’t think that you can have selective civil rights.” It is good to have support of some members of the church for an issue so often put down by Christianity. This could have a big influence on tolerances and could help move more churches to support same-sex marriage.
Maggie Senft, Period 6
In another decade, the gay rights issue will most definitely improve. President Obama’s recent endorsement of gay marriage shows a great stride in their future and being labeled as the “first gay President” shows how he accepts others regardless of their sexual orientation. There was a great amount of opposition to the civil rights movement, however times have improved greatly and now African-Americans share the same rights as their white counterparts. Their issue is not entirely solved, because racial slurs continue today. This will be the same case for gay Americans in the future, with “gay jokes”, but their situation will eventually dwindle down. I believe in equal rights for every United States citizen, regardless of sexual orientation. I am a Catholic however I do not believe the gay citizens should not have the right to marry their partners; I believe that love is love and the government should not stand in the way of that. I do not think that a person’s sexual orientation should have anything to do with how others view their character or morals and hopefully this issue will become more acceptable in the future.
Ten years from now, I think that the topic of gay marriage will no longer be the pressing issue it is today. I think that we are always growing as a nation and making new changes. Based on the articles, it seems that religion is probably the biggest factor in the beliefs of opponents. These people will always be against it and always have been, but times are changing and we are always moving forward. Legalizing gay marriage would help our nation make advancements towards becoming more tolerant and accepting. However, I think not all people are thinking about the consequences of this. It is great that we will no longer be denying normal citizens the right to marry by allowing same-sex marriage. Although, I have to agree with Rev. John K. Jenkins, Jr., pastor of the First Baptist Church of Glenarden, when he said, in response to Obama’s endorsement of gay marriage, that “two men can’t be a mother. . . . It’s not healthy for children, and it is not God’s design.” Family dynamics will change, for the worse in my opinion, in 10 years as a result. I think that gay marriage will be legal in a decade, although I do not agree that this is a great decision for our country.
Miranda Scaramozza
Period 6
The issue of gay marriage has now become a daily debate in the world of American politics. The current struggles between the opposition and supporters of gay marriage will be looked back in ten years with embarassment. Just as Americans look back and wonder why it took so long for the civil rights movement to take place, Americans will look back and wonder why gay marriage was not made legal sooner. As one D.C. pastor said, "the proper role of government is not to define the institution of marriage, but to preserve and protect it,” and the definitions of what marriage is varies from religion to religion.
By banning gay marriage, the U.S. government would be essentially associating itself with the Catholic church and governing based on their views. Seperation of Church and State has been an American tradition since the founding of America. The religous freedom found in America means many different views and beliefs. The views and beliefs that each American holds is their own personal right and decision. The views of one religion cannot determine the laws of an entire nation full of many different religions. Marriage is a right that all Americans have and restricting any Americans from a right and civil liberty is not only un-American but un-Constitutional.
The decision on whether or not to legalize gay marriage is a controversial one; it is extremely personal for some individuals, while others may not hold much of a stance on it. Because opinions vary so much on the issue, it is quite easy to become hostile and point fingers once someone says how they feel about gay marriage. Back in 2007 as Obama was preparing for the 2008 presidential elections, he claimed at a fundraiser that he wished for happiness and equality, but that gay marriage is not exactly ideal. In his view at the time, marriage should be a commitment held between a man and a woman, not two individuals of the same sex. In very recent times, the state of North Carolina banned same-sex marriage. Five long years later, President Obama has changed his opinion on gay marriage and now strongly supports it. This sudden change can be interpreted in several ways: Obama could be telling people what they want to hear which leads to support for reelection in the future, or he could genuinely feel for the gay population and simply changed his opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, as well as the right to change their mind. I think it is a combination of both of these theories, more so that he wants as much support from America that he can get to stay president.
Judging from these articles and other evidence as well, I feel that gay marriage will slowly become legal in more states within the next decade. Seeing the reaction from what occurred in North Carolina, it is evident that people are seriously upset with the outcome of the ban. In order for everyone to be represented, free, and happy in this country, marriage of non-gays and gays should be treated equally. So in this case, I predict a new sense of freedom among the gays. From a neutral standpoint, everyone deserves to be happy and comfortable with their own happiness. One of the articles, holding a spotlight on Reverends from churches in the Washington DC area, states that one Reverend believes gay marriage has evolved more as “human phenomenon rather than a religious one.” I believe that many people agree with this position, and that more people will begin to go by that belief as well. In my opinion, there is definitely a huge impact from religion on marriage, especially in the Roman Catholic faith, but I also agree that it is more humanistic than before. People want to create fulfilling lives for themselves, and this all goes towards who one ends up marrying. Marriage is important because in most cases, this is the person one lives with, has children with, has support for, etc. until the day they die. America is becoming more open, and more and more people are coming out; I think this definitely leads to more acceptance towards gay marriage across the nation. If our country had a motto for gay marriage, it could possibly be, “If everyone wants to be happy, everyone has to be represented.” I do think though that people, while being more individualistic towards this dilemma, should still stay true to their own beliefs because in the end, nobody is “wrong” in what they support.
Riley Hasson
I truly believe that as time progresses, adversaries of gay tights will begin to disappear. Whether or not it will happen in the next decade is debatable because of the influence of the church. These and other conservative Americans are a wall that will take time and a lot of work to break down. Like it or not, America is a country made up of many, many religious people who only associate marriage with religion. One reverend even said, in the "DC Churches" article that Obama's endorsement of gay marriage was a "strike at the core foundation of society". How can that be true when our society is founded upon the separation of church and state? Obama's support of gay marriage is absolutely a step in the right direction. I think it is also definitely evident that we are moving int he right direction as a country as some reverends are describing marriage as a "human phenomenon" and are emphasizing the "inclusiveness of love and the importance of tolerance". I also think that comparing the success of the civil rights movement and where Obama is today with the progression of gay rights, is a very optimistic sign. It took a long time for African Americans to gain equality, but it happened. It will happen for gays too. I think that people really are and will continue to realize that homosexuals are no different than heterosexuals. The love the same sex, that’s it. To be gay is not a choice you make it is who you are. As society is becoming more liberal, I think this will begin to be noticed. The economy is definitely at the top of the political agenda, but gay rights seem to be the top of the social agenda in the United States. This is a very positive sign because it means people are concerned. Things will probably not be completely equal within a decade, but they will certainly be on their way.
1. It is a HUGE step that President Obama has announced he believes same-sex couples should be granted the right to marry, making him the first United States president in history to fully embrace that level of civil rights for gays. The President’s announcement jolted the movement for gay equality right in the middle of a change of public opinion on same-sex unions. Currently, polls show that a slight majority of Americans support same-sex marriage even though a growing number of states are moving to ban same-sex unions. Although six states and the district allow gay couples to wed and gay rights have accumulated other legal victories, North Carolina voters have approved a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. This is a setback to the gay rights movement. However, this small set back will not hold back the gay rights movement rather, I believe with President Obama’s announcement will come a even more successful movement. I think because of the overwhelming support of gay marriage in the younger generation, the gay rights movement will expand within the next few years and will become even more successful. I also found the statistic that a record low 51% of adults are married in the United States meaningful when you consider how many committed gay couples want to get married and how many straight couples get divorced. Why do people that can not even stay married think they have the right to decide if another couple should be allowed to marry? Overall, reading the article about Gloria and Linda not only touched me but angered me. Their story was amazing and just by reading it I could tell how much they truly love each other and how much they went through to remain together. However, I was angered that society makes them feel so poorly about their relationship that, “In public, they feel self-conscious enough to drop hands when they see a stranger during their walks or to go out for lunches instead of dinners because it might look less like a date”. And they actually have to calculate when to tell someone about their relationship based on if the people are “Southerners or Northerners? Young or old? Conservative or liberal?” I hope President Obama’s step to progress the gay right’s movement helps!!!
~Megan McGrath
The third richest man to run for president, Mitt Romney has all but officially won the Republican Presidential Nomination. While he has secured the support of many, there is much doubt on how he will do in the general election as well as his capability to have a firm position on issues. A well known flip-flopper, Romney needs to really step up his game if he wants to win. One of his main strengths is his business experience. Republicans love a good old businessman, especially one that is as successful as Romney, and that will help him retain much of the conservative support. Furthermore, his relatively moderate stances on social issues as the governor of Massachusetts could potentially sit will with many of the moderate and independent voters in the general election.
Unfortunately, Romney's time at Bain Capital will be a huge liability. Ted Kennedy used the fact that Romney had bought companies and sliced them up to make personal profits for himself to destroy him in a run for senate in Massachusetts. Not to mention he pays a tax rate much lower than the average American, despite being the third richest man ever to run for President. Considering the economy is such an important issue now, his lack of taxation will only piss of a good portion of the constituents.
In short, Romney is a cold fish. He has made gaffe after gaffe that has been used to portray him as out of touch. He has claimed that "Corporations Are People", even though it is a fact that over 80% of Independent voters disagree with this statement. And then there is the dog thing where Romney proudly told a story of tying his family dog on the roof of the car. The most mind boggling thing about this story is that it came from the Romney family themselves and was told to a reporter to "humanize" Romney in the eyes of voters. A group "Dogs Against Romney" has established a strong presence on the internet and will probably be even more well known by the time the general election comes around.
In ten years, the gay marriage debate will no longer be considered a "debate". I believe that as time goes on, more and more states will decide to place the issue up for referendum, and it will be legalized more and more. However, it must remain that, a state issue. If the federal government begins forcing its opinions down to the states, I believe it sets off a slippery slope. I firmly believe that the issue is a state's right to decide. In addition to that though, I do not believe states, such as North Carolina, should be attacked for voting it down. They decided they were against it and the voting showed that. Unfortunately, they are getting attacked for their beliefs. Personally, I am pro-gay marriage, but that does not make my beliefs any more valid than that of someone who is against it. However, in the long run, I believe this will no longer be a debate and it will be widely accepted, but it will only be successful if the states have the right to decide.
This also brings up a different point as well. Currently, many people believe Mitt Romney is a "flip flopper" and changes his opinions in order to get votes. He has been attacked by Obama on this many times. But now why is Obama not considered a "flip flopper". He blatantly changed his opinions in the light of a recent controversy over gay marriage which is a clear sign of a ploy to get votes. However, Obama changing his opinions is widely applauded. Clearly, they are both "flip floppers" but only one gets the negative reputation along with it...
^^^^ Tiffany per 6
Mike Thomas
Period 6 Gov
President Obama being called “The first Gay president” by Newsweek displays him as the leader of the modern era nation, where people with traditional and moral faith values are becoming extinct. The nation is progressing forward with newer generations becoming increasingly liberal, tolerant and accepting. There will always be opposition present even ten or twenty years from now, although I strongly believe this number of people opposing will dramatically decrease in the next decade seeing how fast our country is growing to replace the intolerance. Personally, this matter is insignificant to the 2012 election and there are far more important issues facing our great nation that must be addressed before we jump into a state’s issue such as Healthcare plans and certainly the economic state we are in. I believe its important for moral that people support each other’s ways of life’s but for the President to just now endorse this movement is demonstrating nothing to America other than he supports the gays in hope they will support him. Homosexual people will always be different there is no doubt about that, but this country is becoming more liberal every decade and thus it will most likely not be a huge issue to see same sex individuals marrying each other. It is important for the President to represent every individual regardless of sexual orientation, race, gender, or economic state. However, to federally legalize gay marriage I do not support. I believe it is a states rights issue.
Lexi Koukos
P 6
Years ago a black president was something unheard of and clearly never seen before. Now gay marriage is the new topic of discussion and just as a black president wasn't widely accepted neither was gay marriage. However, people as they were more accepting of a black president, they are becoming more accepting of gay marriage. Sullivan a news reporter for the new york times writes that “in four years Obama went from being JFK on civil rights to being LBJ: from giving uplifting speeches to acting in ways to make the inspiring words a reality.” This shows how over time Obama has become more and more open about his true feelings towards topics and not just doing what everyone thinks should be done. He has become more versatile and he has become more open to change. Sullivan went on to write “Barack Obama had to come out of a different closet. He had to discover his black identity and then reconcile it with his white family, just as gays discover their homosexual identity and then have to reconcile it with their heterosexual family." This shows how, like the color of your skin, we do not choose what we are. Being gay is not something that you choose to be it is something that you are and that people who are gay should be treated just as equally. Overall however, due to recent events, such as gay marriage being legal in many states, and president obama openly announcing he supports gay marriage, I feel that it will soon no longer be an issue. It will become more accepted and people won't be able to believe that it was never allowed before this. However, I personally do not agree with gay marriage as do others in society. Rev. John K. Jenkins, Jr., pastor of the First Baptist Church of Glenarden,stated that “two men can’t be a mother. . It’s not healthy for children, and it is not God’s design.” I personally think that the dynamics of a male, female marriage was designed for a reason and was the only way for many years for a reason. Without the dynamics of this type of family, I feel that children brought into gay family's will be missing a type of figure whether it would be a father or mother role model. Gay marriage has become more accepted throughout America, many people have come to terms with it, yet there is still a large group of people who oppose it.
Rachael Robitaille
Gay rights has gained substantial ground within the last few years, which is a pattern that can only continue. I agree with The Daily Beast's Andrew Sullivan, who believes that Obama is "leading from behind and playing the long game." Regardless of political stance, Obama is acting as a visionary for what is an inevitable future. It is shocking that in 2012 not everyone has equal rights. This is what makes it doubtful that ten years from now we will be in the same position that we are currently, especially with our current president addressing the issue as he has. However, I believe the main reason President Obama supported gay marriage was to set himself apart from his inevitable running mate, Mitt Romney.
Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachussetts, is not new to the presidential election process. This, however, is the closest he has ever gotten in a race. With Obama's most recent announcement, many conservatives, as mentioned in the New York Times article, hope that this makes Romney look as centrist as possible, giving him ammunition against our current president. Romney's credentials certainly qualify him for the job, but there are issues that Obama plans to have him beat on. For example, Medicare and the auto-industry bailout. In order for Romney to effectively position himself in the race, Romney needs to refrain from making comments that stir debate among the public. For example, his vocal view of Russia as the U.S.'s most important adversary, or when he bet former running mate Rick Perry $10,000 in a debate. These are the kinds of things that make the public, even Republicans squirm. If Romney can utilize his strengths: his experience, his marriage, and his career, rather than his views on gay-marriage (which are rapidly revolutionizing in the U.S.) and keep the shocking comments at bay, he will absolutely have standing in the race against President Obama.
Recently President Obama declared that he is in support of gay marriage. I feel that making such a statement was a real step forward for this important issue since he is the first president to do so. After reading the article, “Barack Obama the First Gay President” it is clear to see the impact this statement had on gay individuals across America, including the author, Andrew Sullivan. I believe that after making a statement like this, the issue of gay marriage will not go away. In a decade’s time, the gay rights issue will definitely improve. Although, legalization of gay marriage may not happen immediately considering this is such a split ticket issue. Many conservative voters and members of the church are against the statement Obama has made, and do not support gay marriage at all. Besides this demographic, I feel that because of the statement made by Obama, more American citizens will favor the legalization of gay marriage. I believe that any couple should have the right to marry and am in full agreement with the statement “the proper role of government is not to define the institution of marriage, but to preserve and protect it” made by Jeff Caruso. It is time for the government to do this and stop preventing citizens from deciding who they can marry.
Mitt Romney is the candidate for the Republican Party. He has not run a flashy campaign but ran a campaign that simply did not shoot itself in the foot. While this does not speak highly about Romney his brilliance is truly underneath the surface.
Romney has learned to survive as a Republican in New England. That is a task that is not easily accomplished. For example, in the modern era Connecticut has voted for a Democratic president in every election except for Nixon, which does not speak highly for their decision making.
Further, Romney has the economic advantage. As was said in the Clinton campaign "it is the economy, stupid." With his experience at Bain Capital Romney has the skills to lead this country to another Gilden Age. Romney just gets it too. He understands that the country is facing grave fiscal danger. If the country does not find a way to reduce the reckless spending and lack of fiscal understanding the country will fail. We spend more money per person than the PIGS of Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain. Lets stop this craziness and control our country. The U.S. has all the potential in the world and four years of Romney will unlock the potential while Obama will kill it.
Trace Lange,
Gay and Lesbian couples agree, and so do I. The opposition of gay marriage is total intolerance, and in as progressive a society as ours, this will one day be realized by a majority of the population. although we see a rise in the acceptance of the gay community today, things were not always this way. 50 years ago the majority of people in the U.S. were very opposed to gay marriage and the rights assosated with them. I feel that this may be because of the views of the church. Bill Clinton was not the first gay president but what he did do was set the president of acceptance. Bill started a trend that always that gay rights to be accepted and felt by all. Obama is following in this trend, the message of acceptance is one that should be seen by all people. i believe in gay rights and so should the rest of Americans.
Obama saying that he supports gay marriage is a huge step for our country and he will forever be remembered as the first president to support homosexual marriage. Just a couple of decades ago, this would have been unthinkable. Today, people are comfortable with having gay friends and supporting the LGBT community. It shows how far our nation has come in promoting unconditional equality. Many people use the excuse of religion to blatantly discriminate against homosexuals while ignoring the fact that this country was found on the premise of separation of church and state. Homosexuals need more than just recognition through a civil union, they need all the rights as a married couple would receive. Honestly, I think that in a decade, this issue will no longer be an issue. Or at the least, it will not be as prevalent. I think that each day people are becoming more accepting of homosexuals as they realize that they are just regular people. The president taking a stance on this issue foreshadows the direction that America is heading. Everyday there are more people who are coming out because they feel they will be accepted into society. Several states have already legalized gay marriage and it is no doubt that more states will follow. A comparison can be made between homosexual marriage and slavery. People used to think that slavery would last forever and black people would always be discriminated against. Now people question how slavery even started and how human beings could be so cruel to each other. In much more than a decade, our grandchildren will look on this issue and question how people can be discriminated against for their sexual preference. Hopefully within the next ten years, all fifty states will recognize marriage between homosexuals.
Judging on the trends presented in the Newsweek article, it seems clear to me that in ten years time the discrimination and downright fear of the homosexual community in America will be a shade of its current extent. Each passing generation holds more tolerant beliefs, and when looking back at the civil rights acts in the 60s and the women's suffrage movement in the 19th century that people in America are constantly moving forward in social views. It's important that we, as American citizens, uphold the rights set forth by our founding and ensure that each individual retains their unalienable human rights. In ten years from now, it follows that the discrimination of today will be the thing of the past, and that we as a country will have moved towards a more progressive and accepting state of governance.
Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, is the Republican nominee in the presidential election. Romey has been popular among Republicans whose primary concerns are the economy and the federal deficit. His strengths are definitely focused on his ability to appeal to the business community in the nation and this will help him stand out and be effective in positioning himself in the presidential race. He appears far more disciplined and experienced than Obama. His weaknesses can be seen when certain social issues, such as abortion and same-sex marriage, are brought into the light. Obama has recently taken a clear stance on gay marriage - he has stated that he is for it, and Romney has not taken a clear position and this is causing him to “look more centrist,” according to Ken Khachigian, a Republican strategist in California (After Divisive Primary, Shifting to the Center: The New York Times). However, he did say in his graduation speech at Liberty University, a Christian school in Lynchburg, Virginia, that he feels marriage should be between only a man and a woman. Romney tries to appeal to closely to certain groups, which leads to the alienation of and loss of support from others. This is going to be a major hindrance for Romney because social issues are very important to Americans, who are split when it comes to issues such as this.
Kaitlyn Gaudio
Period 8
Gay marriage is a controversial issue, which has received much debate in the past few years. I personally believe gay people have every right to be together. Some argue that the bible strictly prohibits gay marriage, however, we do not live in a theocracy. Let the church decide whats right, not the government. The gay community has been treated like second hand citizens, and people treat this issue much to personally. Honestly, what difference does it make on me? What do I care? The fact this is even a hot topic is outrageous. Our country is facing high unemployment, a huge deficit, and this country is on an extremely dangerous road to destruction. As a conservative, I believe in freedom and a government that doesn't regulate every aspect of each person's life. This issue should be no different. If people are genuinely in love, let them honor their relationship. Gay people are equal with straight people, and to demonize them is simply unacceptable. Mitt Romney has other belief so he obviously won't be winning over that audience. However, the battle for presidency has only just begun.
Interestingly enough, Obama is now being called the “first black president” since he has declared his support for gay marriage. This is of course a huge landmark, because although there have been many liberal presidents in the past, no one has wholeheartedly thrown their support behind gay marriage. This was definitely a smart move on his part, and will help with his campaign for reelection by inspiring a large populace of voters to take action to get him reelected. As such, this will help to advance the issues of gay marriage if Obama is successful in his reelection. Therefore, in ten years from now I can see gay marriage being accepted across America. Of course there are hindrances, such as with what just happened in North Carolina with gay marriage being voted down. However, Obama is such an influential president that him putting his support behind it is very momentous and will have lasting effects. For instance, thanks to Clinton, the first “black” president's, blacks have reached further rights in society, and the same will happen for homosexuals. As Time magazine explained, this is the start of a whole new revolution. The gay rights movement has been picking up momentum in the past decade, and thanks to the inspirational words of Obama it can be taken to the next level within the next decade. Certainly there is opposition from conservatives and many disapproving churches across America. However, church and state have always been separate in America and it should continue to be this way, which the American people will realize. Even some church officials have noted this too, and realize that America is a melting pot of values and ways of life. Gay rights will see major advancements within the next decade.
Not in = LATE!!!
Jesse Eddy
Gay marriage
This subject which has been such a huge controversy for a long time finally has a president willing to lose some supporters in order to express his opinion on the matter. President Obama in order to make lots of democratic supporters happy has came out and said that he believes gay marriage should be legal. Although Obama does have some supporters who are opposed to gay marriage a prominent amount of his support is for gay marriage as is a prominent amount of the United States. Mainly now the only oppositions to gay marriage is from religious people. These people have very well supported points in terms of religion but the fact that church and state are separated should give them close to no supporting reasons why gay marriage should be legal. President Obama expressed his opinion to the public on gay marriage and expects something to be done on the controversial matter.
Romney
As Romney is steps away from becoming the republican candidate for the 2012 presidential race he must begin to run a different campaign to win the whole election. When running for the republican nomination he was forced to show the public that he was more conservative then he was and that he would be the best choice. I believe that many republicans voted for Romney not because he was their favorite canidate but because he has the largest chance to beat Obama because he is not a staunch conservative but is more moderate which appeals to a larger amount of America. In order to win the overall election Romney must not only capture all republican votes he also has to swing many independents to vote with him. The hard part for Romney is going to be keeping the very conservative vote because the very conservative people do not like Romney because he is not conservative enough. Romney is viewed as a flip flopper because in order for him to win the republican nomination he had to appear more conservative than he actually is and most republicans saw through his curtain and knew he was doing this. Hopefully republicans will put this aside and realize that Romney can not beat Obama without there support and although he is not ultra conservative he is plenty more conservative than Obama.
MITT ROMNEY
Mitt Romney is a candidate with a lot of potential to get the vote of Americans. With many displeased with the state of the economy and controversial legislation such as Universal Healthcare as a result of Obama’s leadership, people are looking for a change. What’s positive about a “change” to Romney is that he is not too radical - he’s not going to swing Americans in the opposite direction Obama has brought them, but Americans do believe that he can make a positive change. However, based on his beliefs against gay marriage, he is positioning himself directly against Obama and any change he would have of getting the vote from the any in the homosexual population. He has also established himself as very religious, which is concerning to some who worry about infringements on the relationship between religion and state. There is also the thought that he will overemphasize his religious values as a leader. It is also a source of controversy for some that he is a mormon. He also seems a bit confused about foreign policy, targeting Russia as a chief geopolitical adversary. Come on Romney, the Cold War is over. Romney’s perspective paints a skewed and inaccurate portrait of international conditions, and is definitely concerning that he shows such a lack of understanding. Despite this and other aspects of Romney’s positions, America still does not know who the whole Mitt is. Not every aspect of his campaign plot and views have been revealed, but they will be sure to come out once the general election campaign begins.
Kaitlyn Gaudio
Period 8
Mitt Romney
This upcoming election will be one of the most critical decisions our nation will have to make. Mitt Romney is an experienced businessman who has created thousands of jobs through is role as President and CEO of Bain and Company Capital. His experience in the private-sector is the experience our next president needs in order to fix our nations economy. It is hypocritical for democrats to call Romney a flip flopper when Obama is guilty of doing the same. Both of them are seen changing their opinions on certain issues to win over voters. It is no surprise that politicians do this to win, that's how it's always been. We will probably see a lot of this during the race until we establish the winner. Right now Romney needs to be careful with his words and his actions. This goes for Obama as well. Both candidates have made their opinions clear, and it's quite obvious that their on opposing sides. The question will be who wins over the majority of the American population. Romney admits they he is a very religious man, and observes many of these principles. He must not forget to separate his personal life from his professional life. We don't want another issue arising over the separation of church and state. Otherwise, I think Romney has great potential, and absolutely has the power to beat Obama. Each candidate has their strengths and weaknesses, so we will have to see how November plays out.
2) Riley Hasson
Mitt Romney is the only logical option the Republican Party had for the 2012 election, he is also this year’s soon to be runner-up. As much as he would like to think Obama’s endorsement of gay marriage makes Romney appear “more centrist” as the “Shifting to the Center” article says, it does not. Flip-Flopper is the perfect term for presidential candidate Mitt Romney. One second he is shying away from a reporter’s question on gay marriage, and the next he is speaking at a college graduation saying America began on trusting “in God, not man” (And where did that get us? We have separation of Church and State for a reason!) and “marriage is a relationship between on man and one woman.” Clearly this is an opinion on gay marriage. You can’t “resist the Obama campaign’s efforts” to make you “look more right” when you say something like that!
I think eventually Mitt Romney will figure himself out—I mean, I hope he does. (No that I am voting for him!) I have this hope because of what the article “Romney of Russia” said about Romney’s understanding. He gets that security threats are closely related to economical power. This is a step in the right direction. He will get there.
I think Romney’s biggest weaknesses are also his strengths. He wants to please everyone and appeal to more Americans, which he is good at, but this also forces him to shoot himself in the foot. I think he has the ability to form a legitimate opinion on the issues of today that can please a majority of the population while also satisfying the core beliefs of the Republican Party. When he does this he really will have proven his strengths.
Mitt Romney, most likely to represent the Republican Party in the next presidential election, has been in the news more and more as the election approaches. With conservative views, Romney, according to a New York Times article by John Harwood, believes "marriage as between a man and a woman." Harwood also writes that his opposition to "illegal immigration appeared to jeopardize his ability to woo Hispanic voters." Over the course of his campaign, Romney has been criticized for swaying back and forth between ideas that are conservative and liberal. It will be difficult to win support of American voters, especially throughout the Republican Party since they are not always trusting of Romney and his views. An example of this mistrust came recently when Romney, as written by Richard A. Oppel in a New York Times article, told that "Russia is America's top geopolitical adversary." After he gave this thought, many around the world, including conservatives, were not too happy with what he had said. Even though Romney has a weakness of mistrust in his party, he does have great experience being Governor for Massachusetts. As governor, he made some great advances for the state's people that will help him when running for president. Although I think that he will run a good campaign for president, I believe that Obama will ultimately win the presidency since Obama has had a great first term as well as the division in the Republican Party.
Emily Smith
Period 6
Mitt Romney is the former governer of Massachussetts and hopefully next president of the United States. He is a member of the Republican Party but has many moderate, almost libertarian, views on politics, especially social issues. This acts as a huge strength for Romney because this will hopefully allow him to win the votes of numerous moderate votes in our country. In other words, because Romney isn'ta hardocre conservative like several past Republican candidates, it will be possible for him to win the swing vote in our nation. Also, Obama's recent announcement of his support for gay marriage has ticked many people off, possibly changing their vote from Obama to Romney or simply starting anti-Obama rallies. In many ways, he is a social liberal, which sets him apart from other Republican candidates and gives him a leg up on Obama. One weakness Romney obtains is that many people find him to be not personable. Many people in our nation see him as staunchy or stuck up. For example, the younger generation does not like the fact that he is against the use of medical marijuana, let along the legalization of marijuana. Mitt Romney has a tough battle ahead of him in the upcoming presidential race, but I believe if he plays his cards right, he could be the next president of our country.
2) Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney is most likely going to be the Republican Candidate for presidency come the fall 2012. Romney seems to have a good advantage over his opponent Obama based on the current state in this country and the opinions of Obama. But, Romney seems to seek out many people that would be willing to support him. During the speech at Liberty, Romney did have parts of a congratulation, but as the article mentioned, he was really trying to reach out to a larger audience. Although, i can see him putting himself in a good position come time to run for president. Even when he is running as a republican candidate he is not too far off from Obama's views. This advantage will allow Romney to receive some of the independent votes that would have previously voted for Obama, but now want to change. Because of the non-drastic shift, Romney will most likely receive some of the independent leaning democratic votes. Mitt at the moment is really expanding his reach to try and get people to support him that wouldn't before. AS such, in his commencement address, he went out to gain support from numerous christian and evangelical voters. He targeted christian values with the recent support of gay marriage from Obama. This helped Romney gain christian support from people who often questioned his Mormon faith and values. One of his strengths is that he is able to reach out to a wide range of potential supporters. He can pull in a majority of independents who previously doubted him. Also, Romney has a good amount of experience with his Massachusetts government. In which, he will be able to pull economic experience from to help this country.
The issue of race and the issue of sexuality, as the article points out, are very similar. We have a clear example of how the events will turn out because of how they have in the past. The civil rights movement for African Americans took place decades ago, and has since faded into what is considered a complete and successful movement. This race is no longer denied the rights that are free to all Americans, save the population of homosexuals. The Gay Rights movement has been going on for quite some time, and has made remarkable steps toward equality in a lot of states. In ten years, I believe that they will be able to share equal rights just as all citizens are able to. Just as Sullivan pointed out, it is important to remind ourselves what love really is and what it means to someone. Sullivan remembers her own feelings on her wedding day. No one should be denied that kind of happiness, regardless of whom they chose to marry. I think as the issue becomes more public, more people will realize how important it is to provide these rights. The movement is growing and eventually I believe that success will be reached and peace will be created, just as it was with the African American civil rights movement so many years ago.
Kayleigh Torok
2. I believe Mitt Romney is very capable of getting a good amount of votes in the upcoming election. I would say that his biggest strength would be the situation itself, not quite a result of his actions. The economy is not in the best state and has not been this year. Obamacare and other pieces of legislation are being debated, and not much progress has been made in that department. Romney will be able to get the votes of Americans who are dissatisfied with Obama’s job with the economy, not so much because he will do a better job but because he will do it differently and anything would be better than what is currently in place. Another strength is that he is not too radical in his views. He will be able to attract many centrist voters because of this. I would say that his weaknesses lie in his social and religious beliefs. First, his opposition to gay marriage has become a big issue now that Obama has made his announcement in support of it. I think many will be persuaded by Obama’s input and it will work against Romney. Also, he is Mormon which is a source of controversy for some Americans. However, I think it will be a pretty fair race between Obama and Romney for the presidential position.
Kayleigh Torok
2. I believe Mitt Romney is very capable of getting a good amount of votes in the upcoming election. I would say that his biggest strength would be the situation itself, not quite a result of his actions. The economy is not in the best state and has not been this year. Obamacare and other pieces of legislation are being debated, and not much progress has been made in that department. Romney will be able to get the votes of Americans who are dissatisfied with Obama’s job with the economy, not so much because he will do a better job but because he will do it differently and anything would be better than what is currently in place. Another strength is that he is not too radical in his views. He will be able to attract many centrist voters because of this. I would say that his weaknesses lie in his social and religious beliefs. First, his opposition to gay marriage has become a big issue now that Obama has made his announcement in support of it. I think many will be persuaded by Obama’s input and it will work against Romney. Also, he is Mormon which is a source of controversy for some Americans. However, I think it will be a pretty fair race between Obama and Romney for the presidential position.
Kayleigh Torok
Mit Romney, who was the former governor of Massachusetts as well as CEO and president of Bain and Company Capital, has much experience in both the private and public sector. I feel that he has the ability to receive many votes from Americans because of both his experience and Obama’s low approval rating. Many want to see our country improving again, and feel that Romney can lead us to this spot. However, Romney is not as great as people make him out to be. He is a very devout evangelical which could interfere with his policy making, like the legalization of gay marriage. Many fear that he will have an issue separating church and state. Romney also does not take clear positions on many important issues and it is common for him to flip flop between sides. Besides these shortfalls, I still feel Romney is a promising candidate for the 2012 election. It will be interesting to see how this election plays out between these two candidates.
Mitt Romney has the potential to be America's next great president and is basically moments away from being the republican candidate for the 2012 presidential elections. Many Americans have been so fed up with the current state of the economy and the way Obama has been leading the country. Personally, I believe that Romney is not necessarily the best choice for president but the most likely republican candidate to beat Obama in the upcoming election. I believe that for republicans this race is more about winning than it is about who the candidate is. Although this may be true, Romney does have many strengths. He is very focused on the business community and the very much needed creation of jobs. Unlike Obama, Romney seems to have much more experience in this area of the economy and with the economy the way it is, he is what the country desperately needs. My only criticism is that Romney really needs to take a stance on a topic and stick to it so that people know that what his true views are and that he is not simply trying to appeal to the public. His recent flip flopping on issues such as gay marriage have made it hard for people to know what to believe is truth as opposed to false. I think that Romney has all the potential to help lift the country out of the hole Obama has dug if he is given the opportunity.
Gay marriage never used to be a topic of conversation but now it is the headline everywhere. Our own president can be quoted saying that he is supportive of gay marriage. This is a milestone for America because he has now become the "first gay president". I don't really think that this is going to be a topic of much controversy within the next 10 years because I completely believe that the issue of gay marriage is going to blow over and the people that are intolerant are going to get over it and move on. People used to be completely against interracial marriage and now its just another thing. Today you don't know many people that are opposed to interracial marriages because if they are, they tend to keep their opinions to themselves. People have the right to marry whomever they want regardless of race or sexual orientation. I think that with the way society is moving away from being so religious people are going to start realizing that its not such a big deal and that gay and lesbian couples are entitled to the same happiness are everyone else. I believe that when my generation starts to vote there will be extreme changes in the way people look at these issues and that gay marriage is going to become a controversy of the past. Obama has set a president that needs to be continued because no matter what a persons personal opinions are, everyone has the right to the pursuit of happiness and if someone who is gay wants to marry to be happy, then so be it.
Taylor Frazier
Period 8
Lexi Koukos
P 6
Mitt Romney is the former governor of Massachusetts and most likely will be the next Republican candidate for the 2012 presidential elections. As stated above, Romney is a candidate from the Republican party yet he is very moderate on many topics.Personally I feel that this will aid him in the election due to the fact that often times these topics can be very controversial. Also this help create a lesser gap between the Republican and Democratic parties. Instead of being a conservative like most Republicans he is more liberal yet not as liberal as democrates. I feel that this will help him win all of the swing voters that have no clarified which party they belong to. Romney set himself apart from many other Republicans which will aid him as well as the recent announcement that Obama made about supporting gay marriage. This I believe will hurt Obama in the upcoming elections and will in fact help Romney. The difference however between Obama and Romney is that Obama is a more of people person that Romney is. I however think that his views and standpoints are more relatable to then Obama's. In the end both Romney and Obama will be neck and neck in the upcoming election. I feel that as long as Romney continues to do what he is doing that he could quite possibly be the next president of the United States.
Alfred Kroqi
Barack Obama is a President who has set several precedents. He is the real "first black President" and he is also the first "gay" President. By supporting gay marriage, the President is doing something that has never been done by any before him. The move is extremely popular among democrats but is being attacked by the church. The church which has usually supported the current administration feels alienated by this remark because of their teaching that marriage should be a sacred covenant between a man and a woman. The popular saying, "God created Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve." represents this. The church feels that two men or women marrying each other is infringing upon tradition. As one pastor put it, "this is a political move with spiritual ramifications." I believe he is right about this being political. Obama's first term is almost up and he needs to gain support to be elected to a second term. To do so, he gives up a few religious votes and gains the favor of the gay community. At this point in time, I believe this is a good move but also a very controversial one. However, a decade from now, I believe gay marriage will be a normal occurrence and not raise as many tempers and spark as many arguments. I support gay marriage because i believe people should be allowed to do whatever they want with their private lives as long as it does not interfere with anyone else's pursuit of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If it isn't hurting anyone it can't be that bad.
JEFF LEE
Obama response
To be honest I really do not think that this is that much of an issue and will blow over rather quickly. This is similar to the story about Clinton being a black president because of his stance on some issues that fathered equality in our nation for the African Americans. In several years or even weeks, this issue is one that will be forgotten. Because of the changes in civil equality for those that are homosexuals in recent times there has been a general acceptance of homosexuals and prejudice against those who are homosexual is decreasing. The resent law that was passed in North Carolina maybe the thing that gets gay marriage legal in all states if it makes it to the Supreme Court and it is overruled. Because of the growing acceptance of homosexuality will not be as large of an issue or even debated in coming years, and this media stunt that was intended to defame Obama will blow over or be seen as a highlight to the achievements that we Americans have made for homosexuals for our country.
Romney response
The presumptive republican candidate Mitt Romney, according to the New York Times, is a very religious man a devout Christian with many opinions in the areas of same sex marriages and the number one geopolitical threat for the USA: Russia. He feels very strongly about the same sex marriage laws in our country. To many he seems to be one of those super outgoing Christians who enjoy shoving their religion down your throat. This is seen by his views about gay marriage due to his religion. Because Christianity belives that marriage is a relationship only between a man and a woemen, Romeny makes a huge impression to social conservatives who have high values in religion his most inclined audience that will vote for him. However, other those social conservatives, many believe that he is extreme because of his views on contraception and women. Also his strong views against illegal immigration and most importantly his belief that marriage is strictly between a man and a woman may be to his downfall. These non-compromising views will likely cost him votes from some women, immigrants, and homosexuals.
Mike Thomas
Period 6
Mitt Romney is a leading figure in the political world for the Republican party. He is the former governor of Massachusetts and will be the next Republican candidate for the 2012 presidential elections against current President Obama. Mitt Romney has an interesting group of supporters. Being widely known for his “flip flop” policy, for example such as his support of Obamacare with Romneycare. His lack for concrete solutions in some major issues facing hare country has caused him to lose support thus possibly being his greatest weakness. He is known to some as too moderate on many topics and to others too liberal for a republican candidate and the democrats see him as too conservative. The fact that he is more so in the middle of the political spectrum versus his rival being far left, this may provide him an advantage in gaining more support from the independents and libertarians. He might be the best solution our country has to offer for a closure between the two parties. One thing is certain, both President Obama and Mitt Romney will have a close election according to most recent polls.
As Barack Obama recently came out as the first non-gay gay president, many of us are examining our stance on this issue. A decade ago, the majority of Americans vehemently opposed gay marriage, now the tide has turned. It is just under a majority of people now who support the legality of civil unions. In a world of technology, this issue has quickly gained public support. There are videos on YouTube like one I saw of a man describing how a law allowing him to marry his significant other could have changed everything, but instead his life partner passed away in a strange accident, and because they were not married, the hospital was not legally allowed to give him any information on the death or answer any questions he had. The issue of marriage certainly does go past just having a ring and a piece of paper, it is the legal rights that marriage affords a couple that have turned this into such a hot button issue resulting in so much support from the community. Now that President Obama has publicly supported gay marriage, the deed cannot be undone. Every president from now on will also face this issue, and will likely side with Obama, if not for true support than to avoid looking ignorant and/or rude. This is America, a land that people established to escape all kinds of unjust laws and discriminatory practices. This is where people from all over the world come for “freedom”, which to me should be defined as the ability to take YOUR life wherever YOU choose and make whatever choices are right for YOU without any unwanted guidance of any kind. In another decade I see us Americans still turning around to this issue and slowly but surely, making it a nonissue; the same as we did with slavery and racial discrimination and biracial marriages, which are all issues that, for the most part, have been resolved. With North Carolina having recently amended their state constitution to make gay marriage illegal, this issue may quickly make it to the Supreme Court, who, if they are likeminded as Obama (which they are because he appointed them), this issue will be forever a thing of the past and the 28th amendment, allowing gay marriage, may be passed.
Above=Courtney McQuade
Gay marriage has been a controversial topic in American politics. Recently, it has been heavily debated than ever. In the past, American has gone through similar experiences with the segregation of African Americans and whites. However, as the Civil Rights Movement progressed on, more and more people turned against the intolerance of African Americans. I believe that ten years from now, Americans would be more open to gay marriage as they are more exposed to the idea of same sex marriage. Martin Luther King Jr. has once led us past segregation, I think the leaders of gay marriage will eventually succeed in same sex marriage as well. The 21st century has embraced homosexuality, and everyone is treated as equal. Soon, I think the topic of Gay marriage will no longer be a pressing issue.
Second Response:
The issue of homosexual men and women serving in our government will most likely surface again with those wishing to be members of Congress. In the future many more congress members will come out with their sexual preferences given the the changing environment which is becoming more and more welcoming. Even within this decade the political and social atmosphere regarding homosexual men and women have decreased in negativity and has become more accepting. President Obama’s experience with accepting his identity as a person who is half African American and white in a nation like the United States can be difficult especially in the mid to late 20th century. His difficulty with his ethnic identity parallels what many homosexuals have to experience in their life if they choose to openly identify themselves as gay. The stance that President Obama has chosen to view the homosexual community has brought about many opinions from both opposing sides. As Newsweek has named the President the first “gay” president, he has succeeded in slowly breaking down the barriers of the once taboo topics of the late 20th century in the United States. With many of legislations being passed in the United States, for example the state amendment to North Carolina, it is apparent that our nation is prepared to confront these topics. In order to become a more open society, small steps must be taken to ensure that the United States can be a welcoming and safe environment for as many people as possible.
Make sure to respond!
BK
Alfred Kroqi
Mitt Romney is the Republican Nominee for President for the upcoming 2012 Presidential Election. He is the former Republican Governor of Massachusetts. As governor of that state, he was able to turn around a failing state economy and helped the overall health of that state with his healthcare plan. While he is the Republican nominee, he faces many opposition within his own party. Many of his colleagues have attacked him for flip flopping on many issues within his tenure as governor. Such issues as assistance to hard-pressed homeowners, the auto industry bailout and changes to Medicare. On same-sex marriage, Democrats say calling attention to Mr. Romney’s support for a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman will turn many swing voters away from him. Throughout this primary, Romney will try to broaden his range and widen his support.
Although President Barack Obama can be criticized for many of the fault of the current administration, Mitt Romney does not pose as an outstanding alternative. From Cold War Era views on Russia as a key adversary to outdated positions on gay marriage, Romney is simply a thing of the past. Of course, the Old Guard, the hyperconservatives and Evangelicals, are still a powerful force. But the evolving world needs evolved leaders. Mitt Romney is simply too conservative to be the leader of the free world.
Romney seems to have difficulty appealing to anyone other than those who would have voted Republican no matter who was running. The growing Hispanic population cannot be wooed with promises of tougher immigration laws and cracking down on illegals already present. Middle of the road voters will struggle to accept a candidate that promises the same views as Evangelicals, but shies away from any serious discussion on abortion, gay marriage, and marijuana. And perhaps most important, Romney simply isn't exciting. Romney has no flair and was a complete bore during primaries. One of the reasons that Cain, Santorum, and Perry all surged in the primaries is that they were simply more entertaining to watch! Even Huntsman was a more interesting Mormon than Romney. Romney is the result of a process of elimination, not because he inspires any fervor. A man does not become president by merely avoiding scandal and extremism, which is all Romney has done to beat his opponents.
Unless Romney can get some flair and fireworks into his campaign, he will never have the momentum needed to have the crowd rallying towards him. Of course, his knack for avoiding scandal might also win him the election--better start digging through Obama's closet for skeletons.
By the way that last post was Daniel Chen period 6
Gay marriage has been a very controversial topic over the past century. President Obama was the first President to publically support this issue. This bold action will be a deciding factor in the upcoming Presidential race. President Obama has now made the definition of marriage a defining issue in the presidential contest, especially in swing states like Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, Florida and Nevada. Ultimately Obama’s decision to support the marriage of homosexuals will be a large vote getter for him among progressive voters. It highlights his willingness to tackle tough issues in a thoughtful but ultimately decisive way. Opponents however, are speaking up against Obama’s support for tolerance. Church leaders such as Rev. John K. Jenkins Jr., pastor of the First Baptist Church of Glenarden, told his congregation on Sunday that he was “deeply, deeply troubled” by President Obama’s endorsement of same-sex marriage, calling it a “strike at the core foundation” of society. Such critics will always be present in this debate, but I believe that as society has become more liberal, the marriage of homosexuals will be more popularly supported across America. A recent poll proves that most Americans do support same-sex marriage. In fact, the leader of Obama’s former Chicago church defends Obama’s stance. Rev. Otis Moss III, the senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, has come out against statements by other African-American clergy who condemned the president’s endorsement last week of same-sex marriage. The Reverend said that Obama is “called to protect the rights of Jew and Gentile, male and female, young and old, gay and straight.” He also added that “The institution of marriage is not under attack as a result of the president’s words. Marriage was under attack years ago by men who viewed women as property and children as trophies of sexual prowess.” Every debate has critics on both sides, each with valid points. In ten years, I believe that there will still be people for and against gay marriage. No one side will be able to take over because Religion will always be present in society, along with Liberals and gays. No governmental resolution for the same-sex marriage issue is in sight for the near future.
Noon Friday check to here.
Mitt Romney is the former governor of Massachusetts and the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party for the 2012 elections. Romney has developed a reputation for shifting positions as he transitioned from Democratic Massachusetts to the national stage. This is why the “flip flop” image is very accurate in describing Romney’s political platform. His stances on issues have changed throughout his career from Republican to Democratic or vice versa. An example of this is his position on illegal immigration. Romney was quoted saying “illegal immigrants should have a chance to obtain citizenship” and a year said “secure the border, employment verification and no special pathway to citizenship. I feel that’s the course we ought to take.” Another of these flip flops occurred when he criticized former president Ronald Regan saying, “I was an independent during the time of Reagan-Bush. I’m not trying to return to Reagan- Bush.” In 2006 Romney then made an opposite statement exclaiming “Ronald Reagan is one of my heroes.” Romney’s position on gay marriage has also changed. When a 2002 Constitutional Amendment was proposed to ban same-sex marriage, Romney opposed it. In 2008, just two weeks before lawmakers were to resume a Constitutional Convention to vote on a proposed ballot initiative to ban same-sex marriage, Gov. Mitt Romney stood with the supporters of the measure to call on the Legislature to back it. Other issues that Romney has changed sides include stem cell research (now opposes it) and abortion (refused to side with either but now is pro choice). Romney’s inconsistencies make it difficult for fellow Republicans to endorce and accept him into the GOP. However, his half-liberal half-conservative ideology has made Romney a centrist despite his Republican label. This appeal to both side of the political spectrum will greatly help Romney during the Presidential race. It is a President’s job to fight for the rights of every citizen that constitutes the melting pot that America is, so Romney embodying both political parties will effectively position him for a victory in the upcoming Presidential race.
Mitt Romney is said to be too “extreme” as seen through his opinion on contraception and women, his strong feelings against illegal immigration, and his strong belief that marriage is strictly between a man and a woman. Obama’s campaign is using this to their advantage hoping that Americans will see Mitt Romney as too extreme and too closed minded thus, gaining Obama votes in the upcoming 2012 Presidential Elections. In addition, Obama recently announcing he supports the legalization of gay marriage adds to his open mindedness compared to Romney’s extreme views. Most likely, his extreme views will cost Romney votes from women, Hispanics, and homosexuals. With these types of views, Romney will clearly have some strong supporters who also share the same beliefs; however the average no stance taking Americans will most likely sway towards Obama who is more open and less extreme. Mitt Romney may have came out on top as the Republican Party’s nomination for president however, his biggest challenge yet is to not only appeal his own party but the entire nation as well. Romney needs to learn how to adapt his positions and to set a tone that will please the entire nation rather than the more extreme conservatives. In addition, Romney is a good old-fashioned business man that knows how to work hard and succeed. Although this may sound like a good thing, this trait of Romney could also hurt him. Romney has the advantage in the economy with one of his prior employment with Bain Capital. But, Romney's time at Bain Capital will be a huge liability. Romney had bought companies and sliced them up to make personal profits for himself. In addition Romney will have to successfully attack President Obama’s stance on the economy even though the Dow Jones has increased to a new high since the 2008 economic collapse. The improving condition of the American economy has definitely not make Romney’s job any easier. I guess we will all have to wait and see to find out the final results as to who our next president is…
~Megan McGrath
Mitt Romney is the frontrunner for the republican nomination of the presidential candidate this year. He is famously known for going back and forth on what his positions. In fact, there is even an entire website dedicated to pointing out these ‘flip flops’: mittromneyflipflops.com. Romney seems to be running in the wrong time period. His conservative ideals held with his constant allusions to the past seem to suggest that Romney was the perfect candidate decades ago. Now however, times are changing and Mitt Romney simply does not reflect the change. He should stick to business because that is what he is good at. American’s do not want a president who pays fewer taxes than the average American even though he would be one of the richest president’s to ever be elected. He is obviously good at making money but he is not good at gaining support. A president is someone who should have an open mind, however Romney makes it clear with his religion that he has a one track mind. I believe it is very dangerous to have a president who relies so heavily on religion to guide his decisions. His strength is that he can buy his way through this campaign. And while money may buy many things in this world, it cannot buy voters. I believe this is going to be one of those elections where everyone knows the president is going to win, just because the opposing candidate is so ridiculous.
I think one of the future issues that Mitt Romney will have to deal with is just at the root of this question: people are not really sure, “who is Mitt Romney?” The articles say things like “Romney has skirted around the issue,” or Romney has “flip-flopped on the issue.” In the general election, issues about Romney’s personal life will likely become an issue for him, especially as much of the Republican base are opposed to Mormons. Additionally, Romney has yet to be definitive about issues like gay marriage, healthcare coverage, and space exploration. In the past he has been fifty-fifty about his positioning. He has done a good job keeping neutral about religion, and stated that “surely the answer is that we can meet in service, in shared moral convictions about our nation stemming from a common worldview.” But, he has also backed himself into corners with some issues, like gay marriage.
Romney’s greatest strength is his sheer wealth of knowledge about business and politics. During a time where huge issues are the economy and healthcare, Romney, being from the business world and from Massachusetts, will have a successful time navigating these waters. His biggest weakness is his lack of conviction; he can’t take a position on any issue! While his knowledge and experience will be a great asset to him, who knows if it will be enough to save him from his inability to state his position.
Miranda Scaramozza
Period 6
The current strategy that Mitt Romney, the previous governor of Massachusetts, is using to avoid answering questions on his stances can no longer continue. Romney needs to realize that now that he is the inevitable Republican candidate, he can no longer dance around where he stands on important issues and policies. Obama recently has taken a very strong stance on gay marriage for example, rather than playing it safe in order to be reelected, he saw that his views on the biggest topic in America currently needed to be known. Romney's current strength is that he is confident in talking about the economy and his stances on what he feels needs to be accomplished in the near future. Romney also has very wealthy supporters who continue to fund his campaign, helping him to effectively gain the majority amoung Republicans. While Romney has enough funds and opinions on how America should spend their money and deal with the economy, his opinions on various other issues are unclear. Romney has made it clear that he is conservative and has expressed extremely conservative views throughout his campaign, but he redirects questions concerning gay marriage and other issues. Conservatives find themselves confused by his actions and opinions which sometime are interpreted as more democratic than republican. Romney may fail to win the conservative vote if he does not chose which side of the politcal spectrum he is leaning towards. While he is bold on his views on illegal immigration, he is unclear on many other issues. Romney will need to make a more clear and decisive campaign platform in order to stand a chance of winning the upcoming election.
2- Who is Mitt Romney? A man who has become so notorious for his flip-flopping positions that it is hard to grasp who Mitt Romney exactly is. Is he the uber-conservative candidate to please the Republican party base that seems to be increasingly moving towards the far right? Or is he the moderate conservative from Massachusetts that will work across the aisle to please all Americans? I'm not sure Romney himself even knows what direction his campaign will head in as he moves into the race for the general election. While he has attempted to remove himself from his New England roots to appear as the super conservative candidate and out-Republican all of the other candidates in the primary, in order to appeal to independents and moderate conservatives he must tone it down and appear more moderate in order to be successful in the general election. However, this shift in image will only further perpetuate his reputation as a man that doesn't stick to his positions for very long. I believe that as the next few months unfold, Romney will attempt to redefine himself as a family man that cares about small business in order to appeal to the general population.
In terms of Romney's strengths and weaknesses, I think that one of his strengths is that he is generally likable, and has his family man image to fall back on. I think that one of his weaknesses is that he has become famous for skirting around questions and flip-flopping his positions on issues, namely healthcare. Another issue that I think will become more prominent as the general election race unfolds is Romney's Mormonism. With Evangelical Christians increasingly becoming the base of the Republican party, it is extremely important that he has these voters support. However, Evangelical Christians are also notorious for having a specific distaste for the Mormon religion, so I think that it will be extremely interesting to see how this conflict unfolds in the coming months.
-Monica DiLeo
Maggie Senft, Period 6
#2: Mitt Romney is the leading Republican nominee for the 2012 Presidential election. He was the former governor of Massachusetts and will be a strong contender against Barack Obama this fall. Obama’s recent declaration of his support for gay marriage will certainly affect the race, making Romney liked by conservatives with Christian values. Although Romney is much of a “flip-flopper”, this will new event will bring a positive outlook to his campaign, providing him with many new supporters who now do not agree with Obama’s decisions. His centrist approach is most definitely his greatest strength, giving himself support from undecided voters. His flip-flop strategy may also come to bite him in the butt in the future by losing support from those geared far on either side. Overall Romney shows a great amount of potential for the future of our nation, however it will be at tight race this upcoming election.
The third richest man to run for president, Mitt Romney has all but officially won the Republican Presidential Nomination. While he has secured the support of many, there is much doubt on how he will do in the general election as well as his capability to have a firm position on issues. A well known flip-flopper, Romney needs to really step up his game if he wants to win. One of his main strengths is his business experience. Republicans love a good old businessman, especially one that is as successful as Romney, and that will help him retain much of the conservative support. Furthermore, his relatively moderate stances on social issues as the governor of Massachusetts could potentially sit will with many of the moderate and independent voters in the general election.
Unfortunately, Romney's time at Bain Capital will be a huge liability. Ted Kennedy used the fact that Romney had bought companies and sliced them up to make personal profits for himself to destroy him in a run for senate in Massachusetts. Not to mention he pays a tax rate much lower than the average American, despite being the third richest man ever to run for President. Considering the economy is such an important issue now, his lack of taxation will only piss of a good portion of the constituents.
In short, Romney is a cold fish. He has made gaffe after gaffe that has been used to portray him as out of touch. He has claimed that "Corporations Are People", even though it is a fact that over 80% of Independent voters disagree with this statement. And then there is the dog thing where Romney proudly told a story of tying his family dog on the roof of the car. The most mind boggling thing about this story is that it came from the Romney family themselves and was told to a reporter to "humanize" Romney in the eyes of voters. A group "Dogs Against Romney" has established a strong presence on the internet and will probably be even more well known by the time the general election comes around.
Tiffany Wang
Mitt Romney is the likely Republican presidential nominee for this coming election. Obama’s recent endorsement of gay marriage won over many crucial supporters in this progressive nation. Conservatives hope that this will make Romney “more centrist”, appealing to those who do not agree with gay marriage. However when asked questions about same sex marriage and medical marijuana, he diverts his answers to the economy. Romney, coming from a strong business background, gives hope to citizens on fixing the economy. As Obama gained many supporters for taking a clear stance on gay marriage, Romney is looking to gain Christian conservative supporters who are against gay marriage. His graduation speech at Liberty University was successful in gaining the evangelical votes of the college. Even though Romney is gaining support from the Christian Community, his extreme views will cost him votes from women, Hispanics, and homosexuals.
Period 6 Matt Mendonca
Obama
10 years is a period of time over which the severity of controversial events can drastically change. Controversial events from 10 years ago are most likely thought of very differently now than they were at that time because society is continuously changing. As this hold true, that also shows that 10 years down the road, controversial topics today will be viewed with different standards and possibly may no longer even be controversial at that point. Take black history for example. When black citizens were still being oppressed by racism and social prejudice the idea of giving them equality to white citizens was extremely unlikely and was violently rebuked by a large majority of whites. However, as time went on and figures like Martin Luther King Jr. stepped into the picture, this idea became a possibility, and later a likelyhood until finally time allowed society to adjust and give blacks that equality they were seeking. I see the same trend with the current controversial issue of gay marriage. Years ago it was very easily noticeable that gay marriage didn’t have much support all together. Gay marriage proposal laws were being refused and not enough people stood for the cause. Currently however, gay marriage is not so far from large scale acceptance as gay marriage in multiple states has been successfully passed and people are more openly fighting and expressing their support for the cause. I think regardless of Obama being the “first gay president” that this would have happened inevitably and that he is simply breaking the remaining opposers by being a figure of support with the most power in the country. In 10 years I believe most of the states will have legalized gay marriage and that the topic will be one that has almost become completely irrelevant with the times. I’m sure that some other new controversial topic will arise to take its place by then.
Period 6 Matt Mendonca
Romney
With Mitt Romney, former Governor of Massachusetts as the inevitable republican candidate in the running for the Presidential election, I feel as though he may have some work to do. First his strength is that he has experience from being a Governor, a high level job in the political spectrum. Romney also has the background experience of a business man, something that will help with conservative support. This job and previous political history and experience will certainly help him when competing against Obama in the race. Another strength is Romney’s wealth. Romney definitely lives comfortably with his salary but he also pays a much lower tax rate than many other American citizens which could seriously anger many people. Still even with this high amount of money it is undoubtable that Obama will have more money to spend in the campaign process. Romney’s weaknesses certainly however outweigh his strengths. Many people are not comfortable with Romney’s religious affiliation and that will most likely cause him some prejudiced votes if certain people feel strongly opposed enough of that sole reason. Also, Romney has a history of saying things that bring up public debate and uneasiness even for Republicans themselves. An example would be Romney’s comment about Russia being the apparently closest adversary to the United States. This is simply untrue and may cost him lack of support from other political figures who think he should know better than so say such things and even citizens who feel the same. Other incidences of Romney’s poor choice of words have led him further into questioning. Overall, Romney will be effective in positioning himself for the race but I don’t think he has what’s required to beat Obama.
As the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party, Mitt Romney can stop convincing conservatives that he is their best choice and start convincing the country that he is their better choice. While mocked for his flip-flopping views and his staffer’s infamous “Etch-a-Sketch” comment, Romney has done what Paul, Gingrich, and especially Santorum did not do – he has not truly scared anybody. Embracing mediocrity and triumphing the middling on his stances, Mr. Romney has distinguished himself much like a poorly concocted pâté; bland, but no one’s nightmare. Particularly when juxtaposed to President Obama’s recent endorsement of gay marriage, Mr. Romney may start to look more like a centrist, a card he will undoubtedly play and which will probably help him with the crucial independent votes. His Mormonism may work against him at first, but evangelicals worried about dogmatic differences between their faiths will almost certainly unite with him against social policies they do not support – gay marriage, abortion, and the like. Romney’s greatest strengths will probably reveal themselves to be his moderation, which may decide the election, and his experience at Bain Capital, which may convince voters of his qualifications to handle the economy. His greatest weakness may stem from the primary; everyone’s friend but few people’s favorite, and just emerging from a costly and drawn-out battle with candidates clearly to his political right, will leave him with a lot of ground to make up against the president’s supportive base and incumbency. This will certainly be an exciting election.
Courtney McQuade
#2) Mitt Romney, in my opinion, is too much of a flip-flopper to gain enough support to win against Obama in November. He is a very rich man who doesn’t seem to have too much of a clear mission in trying to become the president of the United States. He is considered very moderate at times, all though he is a republican. He is already the third richest presidential candidate in American history, which would lead one to believe that he is running for moral reasons, which may be looked upon highly by some people. But what do most voters care about? The answer to this question is a candidate’s stance on popular issues, and Romney can’t seem to make up his mind when it comes to this. Because Barack Obama recently publicly supported gay marriage, this makes him another first president. By this I mean that the first time he was elected in 2008, he was the first black president the United States has ever seen, although Newsweek gave this title to Bill Clinton many years ago. Now, Barack Obama has been dubbed, although by Newsweek, as “first gay president”. This moniker may just skew voter turnout in his favor yet again. A record number of minority voters showed up to the polls to vote for Barack Obama in November of 2008, who knows, this year it could be a record number of voters who support gay marriage that push Barack Obama over the edge, causing him to win the 2012 presidential elections. Or else it could be Romney’s unpredictable style that causes voters to vote against him and possibly gain some reassurance of the country’s position.
The ball has started moving. In fewer than ten years gay marriage will not only be legal in all fifty states but an excepted part of society in nearly half. It started in 1996 with President Clinton’s policy on gay and lesbian service members, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. It kept going when in 201 the Massachusetts Supreme Court allowed gay marriage. IN 2002 according to a Quinnipiac University poll the country was about heavily against gay marriage. Connecticut joined the wave to allow gay marriage in 2008 after allowing civil unions four years before. In 2012 about half of the country is in support of gay marriage.
Some say marriage is a religious thing. Others, point out that the first marriages in this country were out of necessity and not love and therefore not religious. Either way, the government has no place in deciding who can get married. On tenet of American Democracy is the separation of church and state. Marriage and the government are two unique entities that must be treated differently. The government of this country has the obligation to recognize all citizens for their beliefs and treat them as equals. The government whether federal, state, or local has no ability to define who can get married. The government must recognize anyone who is married no matter what their sexual orientation. Many against gay marriage support civil unions. Civil unions give gay couples equal rights under the law. The government then should not care who the couple is because they are giving them equal rights. Government must stay out of the way of the people like it must with healthcare and with a woman’s right to choose. The right to pursue happiness is in one of our most treasured documents The Declaration of Independence. It is time that everyone is given the right to pursue happiness.
Mitt Romney is a Republican candidate in the 2012 presidential race, who is notable for his role as Governor of Massachusetts and his Mormon faith. I feel as if Romney was the main talk of the Republican candidates because he had made an attempt at becoming president back in 2008. He was a strong candidate then, but he was narrowly beaten out by McCain for the spot. It seems very likely that he will be the one running against Obama to the finish line; he has been a front-runner in his party for some time. I think that because he is very much ahead in the race, he does have a huge benefit of effectively positioning himself in the spot against Obama. Whether or not he is actually able to win against Obama is another idea to think about.
I believe that our country will experience a re-election of Obama for 2012 because the Republican candidates have been extremely weak. Romney will have no trouble to claim the official spot against Obama for when the race gets close, it seems quite likely that Obama will be the favored candidate. Some of the advantage Obama has in this race points to the fact that he did not have any other candidates in his party to debate and run against. The country also knows him as our current president and it seems quite difficult for Romney’s rather weak standpoints on issues and programs to take over Obama at this point in the game.
If Romney wanted to talk for hours on a topic, it would be religion and how it impacts other aspects of life. This is one of his stronger arguments/discussions to bring to the public. In one of the articles, he was at a college graduation talking about religious faith and how everyone can essentially come together to hold their values. Romney, a Mormon, is a huge advocate of religion. He believes a religious life is an important one; it matters to have certain values/morals and staying true to them. He also commented on his stance of gay marriage, saying that he believes marriage should be between a man and woman, which goes by Christian views/ the Bible. On the other hand, Romney is rather weak when he speaks of foreign policy and the economy. He recently claimed that Russia was our nation’s top geopolitical adversary, but he did not successfully win over people with his arguments. When it comes to this example and other general issues dealing with foreign policy, Romney is very vague. He does not provide a clear view of what he wants for our country, which is hurting his chance of winning the race.
Mitt Romney is the former governor of Massachusetts and has run in other presidential elections in the past. The articles say that he will have to re-launch his race from the primaries which I think he will be able to do. If the democrats are saying that he is extreme right leaning then there is no way that they can deny that obama is extremely left leaning after he came out in support of gay marriage. Romney has a lot of experience with governing (more than obama had before he got elected) and with presidential races. However, some of his weaknesses include the fact that he is Mormon and that kind of isolates him from other Catholics because some of them don’t consider that to be truly Christian. He is also part of the upper class and a lot of people feel that that isolates him from the rest of society as well. However, he represents the American dream where he worked for his money and I feel that he would be a good example for the American people. He would also change the laws so that we are allowed to KEEP our money instead of being punished for making it by having to give it to the government so they could pay for people who are too lazy to work. Overall, I think Romney has a good chance if people see past the immediate facts about him that the media gives.
Mitt Romney is a Republican candidate known for his "flip-flopping" views in order to get voters' support. However, he is a candidate with potential. Currently, many voters are unhappy with his controversial legislations such as Universial Healthcare, and are looking for "a change" that they had hoped President Obama would bring. With his new support on the issue of Gay Marriage, more conservative Americans and religious leaders are disappointed, and are looking for a new face with new values. Although his flip flopping opinions on issues is concerning. He believes that Russia is a chief geopolitical adversary, bringing some Americans to think he is still in a Cold War mindset. Establishing himself as a conservative, religious, and anti same sex marriage candidates, Romney is sure to lose support from the less conservative population. He over emphasizes his religious values, which is also concerning considering we want religion and state to be separate. Overall, Mitt Romney is a strong candidate, however, I believe that Obama will win the presidency.
I believe that Mitt Romney is a candidate that has many strong positives, but also many glaring negatives. I believe his greatest strength is that he is a more moderate conservative, and will appeal to many middle of the road voters. In addition, he is a proven job creator, and with growing unemployment this could be a very big strength for him going into October.
However, despite these positives he still has a few weaknesses that need to be addressed. I believe his biggest weakness is his inability to connect with the middle class. He is incredibly wealthy and has not experienced many troubles that middle class Americans face daily. However, I believe that if he can show that the Obama family is also part of the so called "1%" and is not middle class as well, this weakness will not be as glaring.
I believe that his record as a "flip flopper" will begin to go away, as it has been shown that Obama is just as much of a "flip flopper" as he is. Both candidates are shifting their views in order to get votes, it is something that happens in every election and Romney is not special in this aspect. Overall, I believe that Romney is an incredibly strong candidate, but ultimately I believe the economy is going to be what shapes his fate in the upcoming presidential election.
I believe that Governor Mitt Romney stands a good chance of being successful in the upcoming presidential election. I believe a part of the reason for his hopeful success may be attributed to the fact that Obama is under a lot of fire for his Obama Care policy. Mitt Romney will definitely be able to use the controversial aspects of the health care bill to his advantage. Even if the bill is supported by the Supreme Court, millions of Americans (conservative and liberal) will be known to have a serious issue with the universal healthcare mandate. However, Mitt Romney’s conservative views on homosexual rights may be too extreme for the country to handle. His anti-gay-marriage views will certainly illustrate his image as an uninformed and “unwilling to modernize” candidate. Romney’s own religion may get in the way of his gaining the Presidential seat, seeing as his Mormon views are not well respected or properly understood amongst the American community.
Romney must remember to appeal to the conservative democrats and the liberal republicans, who normally flip-flop between candidates from election to election. Romney must be able to succumb to compromise and be able to create policies and promises that will appeal to both slightly conservative and slightly liberal voters, who greatly determine the success of a presidential candidate.
1. In the next decade, I see the issue of gay marriage having advanced much further past where it is currently. In "The First Gay President," the author brings up the issue of racial equality. Less than a hundred years ago, most of American's disagreed with interracial marriage and homosexual marriages were simply out of the question. But nowadays, despite some radicals and stereotypes of society, interracial marriages are generally accepted. The issue of equality with african american's is still brought up and it has taken awile to climb to the same level as the white population, but it has been done and racial equality is steadily continuing to triumph. My favorite quote from all of the articles was "I don't think that you can have selective cival rights." And sexual equality shouldn't be considered a separate category. America is a melting pot of diversity, and not just one's appearance but one's personality and preferences as well. I 100% believe that gay marriage should be legalized throughout the entire country. The issue of gay marriage has gained momentum in the last eight years since the first state legalized it and I see it continuing to press forward with more and more speed. We triumphed of the issue of racial equality, so why is secual equality such a different thing? Marriage is no longer a religious issue anymore, as brought up in the artice about the Massachusetts couple. It is clear that marriage is much more than that now. American's are becoming more accepting and 10 years from now I hope that we have made more progress towards the entire country allowing gay marriage. Maybe this will not happen so soon, but I forsee it happening atleast in the next 50 years.
2. Although Mitt Romney has prevailed in the republican race to become the Republican Party's nominee, it will be difficult for him to prevail in the race for the presidency. He definitely needs to portray a more centrist view if he even wants to come close to triumphing over Obama. Currently, he is known by American's as an extreme conservative. His views are too radical to win over enough independents and democrats to obtain the presidency. This is his greatest weakness. Beacuse of this, people have very strong opinions about him even when the are very little informed about his policies. Another thing that may have ruined his reputation among many was the rumors that Romney wanted to impliment and mandatory prayer time in public schools. In "Romney Tells Evangelicals Their Values Are His, Too" the issue of Romney's intense religious belief is brought up. Although there is nothing wrong with his religious preferences and I'm totally for freedom of religion, America is a "separation of church and state" country and has been intended to be that way ever since the beginning. Romney referencing God frequently in all of his speeches doesn't exactly abide by that and sends many potential voters astray because they either believe in this separation or don't believe in "God," per say. To have a chance at this presidency, he needs to appeal to democrats, especially the more conservative ones.
Bella Guo
Period 8
First, Mr. Kirby, I must apologize for the lateness of this response, because I was out a lot the week before and the week of the AP Gov test because I had other AP tests to take, and therefore, I must assume that word somehow never got to me that this blog response was up. Jess just told me about this today, and so I hope you will accept this (and not mark it late)
A couple decades ago, the big civil rights issue was racism. A couple decades before that? sexism. And now, we've moved onto discrimination based on sexual orientation. Sooner or later, people will move on and find the next big cause to worry about and rally around, because that's what humanity has been doing for the remembered past.
Back when racism was the main social topic for politicians, sexual orientation was taboo; it was never discussed. Therefore, it wasn't an issue at all. Eventually, I believe people will change with the times and as the younger, more socially liberal, population grows, more and more people will be pressured to accept gay marriage. Just as they accepted equal rights based on race and gender, they will also eventually accept homosexuals. Even though many argue that the Bible says marriage must be reserved for a man and a woman, many, including The Rev. Delman Coates, argue that gay marriage must be defended.
The anti racism activists recognize that the homosexual marriage supporters are going through something very similar many of their own had to go through. Back then, a man or a woman raising a child of a different color was unacceptable. Now, parents raising children of a different sexual orientation is unacceptable. The progress that the anti racism activists show that chances are, the general American population will come to accept that everyone deserves equal rights.
Bella Guo
Period 8
Mitt Romney is undoubtedly the Republican nominee for the 2012 presidential election. What remains in doubt, however, is how the general public view him, and his views on topics such as gay marriage. In my opinion, one of his biggest mistakes was trying to get the support of both ends of the spectrum. While it is necessary to appeal to people outside your party, it'll stretch you too thin to try to appeal to people all the way on the other end of the political scale. For example, he repeatedly criticizes Obama's policies, yet takes no clear stand on the very policies he criticizes. This will be one of his biggest weaknesses for the rest of the campaign, as it will be something he may be criticized for for a while.
However, he is, as one of the articles pointed out, an adept businessman good at negotiating to satisfy both sides, a necessary skill when dealing with a divided government. These skills will also pay off when negotiating treaties and other agreements between warring nations. In addition, the fact that he's a businessman will appeal greatly to the masses of the republicans. However, the fact that he is rather well off monetarily may turn off some of the more moderate voters. Therefore, if he can show that he is a great businessman and is good at negotiation without making a big deal about how much money he has, he has the potential to do quite well.
This far from the elections, it may still be acceptable to have not taken a clear stance on certain issues. However, it is no longer acceptable to not take a clear stance on anything. Trying to triangulate and reach all voters simply will not work because there will always be voters who dislike something or another he is doing. In the end, if he can choose the right characteristics to bring out and put the harsh primary season behind himself and work on appealing the general voting public, he may be effective at winning the race. However, where is is now is not a good position to be in. Thankfully for him, he is yet to experience the post convention bump which just may put him in a far better position.
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