"In Crucial First Debate, Scott Borwn Challenges Warren's Native American Heritage Claim" 9/20

In Crucial First Debate, Scott Borwn Challenges Warren's Native American Heritage Claim

by Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

Boston.com

September 20th, 2012

          This article delves into the tense and heated first U.S. Senatorial debate between Republican Scott Brown and Democrat Elizabeth Warren. With Jon Keller as moderator, the two shot back and forth about issues like abortion, raising and cutting taxes, but the most controversial subject was Warren's claim to have a Native American heritage. 

          Warren explained that she discovered her family's history through stories told by relatives. She also informed us that her father's parents apparently didn't approve of his and her mother's wedding because she wast part Cherokee. Brown accused Warren of using her heritage to move up in her career as a successful Harvard professor. Warren then shot back saying that Professor Charles Fried had no idea about her Native American ancestry when he gave her the job. Brown continued to press the fact that Warren refused to show proper documentation of her heritage.

          The two fiercely debated about who would be lowering or raising more taxes, and women's rights. This debate could really help voters choose who they want in the U.S. Senate. However, just reading this article showed me how agressive both candidates are, so it could be a tough choice, it all depends on what the voters feel strongly about. I learned about something called the Blunt Amendment, which "would allow health plans and employers to refuse to pay for contraception and other medical services if they have a religious or moral objection." I don't think it's fair that just because the head of a health plan or an employer doesn't believe in birth control or abortion, they get to deprive those under them who do. Considering Scott Brown was a cosponsor of this amendment, I would definitely take this into consideration if I was voting. 

          The author of this article definitely seems neutral. Instead of taking sides, Finucane focuses on just summarizing the debate and getting both candidate's arguments in the air. I could see this article having an impact on the political arena today because it shows Scott's more conservative views, and Warren's emphasis on middle class families and women's rights, breifly showing both candidates important view points.

URL:http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2012/09/20/scott-brown-challenges-warren-native-american-heritage-claim-lively-televised-debate/nO1lvqN9UWtAf7hAqBcqQP/story.html

"Republican Fantasyland" 9/15/2012

Republican Fantasyland
by Joe Klein
TIME
September 15th, 2012


          In this article, Joe Klein discusses the ridiculous Republican statements that were made about Obama and his plans. Klein quotes Fred Barnes in the Weekly Standard: "His (Obama's) foreign policy initiatives — curbing Iran’s nuclear weapons program, improving America’s position in the Middle East, fostering better relations with Russia — have failed" and "his domestic policies are unpopular." Klein then goes on to criticize how so many  have fallen onto the bandwagon of "hateful, radical Fox-Rush siren" that the republican party's stance has turned into.
          It is clear that many republicans see no good out of Barrack Obama being reelected because they have been fed such an exaggerated and unappealing view on the incumbent. However, Klein shares the opinion of a republican strategist: "Jon Stewart was right. We’re running a Clint Eastwood campaign, running against a version of Barack Obama that doesn’t exist." This goes to show that even some republicans have realized that their party's leaders have twisted their traditional viewpoints so that they denigrate Obama. 
          If I were old enough to vote in the coming election, I would most definitely take this information into consideration. I could potentially use this article to decide on whether to go democratic or republican. 
          Joe Klein clearly takes the democratic side. He points out that Obama has had made mistakes and everything hasn't gone as planned in the past four years, but he also compares the republican party to "demons" who need to be exorcised "before it rejoins the American mainstream." This article could sway people to vote democrat but it could also help some realize how the republican party has altered their stance to focus in on the negatives, some existent and some not, of Obama and his presidency. 

URL: http://swampland.time.com/2012/09/15/republican-fantasyland/