Common Sense

By Charna Albert

What do the Internet, the Pope, and the daily news have in common? Bear with me for a minute, and I’ll explain.

As I sat at my computer, wondering what to write for this editorial, I browsed the New York Times web site for inspiration and realized just how lucky I am to have access to the news. Not only does my family subscribe to two major dailies, but I have the Internet at my beck and call for immediate breaking headlines. I can grab a quote with a simple search, or find entire articles on online journals for my senior research paper. In short, we, the children of the technology age, have more access to information than any generation before us. We have no excuse for ignorance.

So, as I sat here reading a news report on Pope Benedict’s XVI’s visit to Angola, I was stunned to read that Benedict reiterated the Catholic Church’s objection to the use of condoms. This coming from a man who is supposed to be a moral role model for millions of believers, on his way to the Continent most drastically affected by the AIDS pandemic? The Pope went as far as to say that condoms actually “increase the problem” of H.I.V infection.

No, I’m afraid that in this age of information, today’s youth are not going to fall for that. We are too knowledgeable, too intelligent to be swayed by such obviously dangerous assertions. The thousands of Angolan youths who crowded into a stadium to see Benedict speak know this, too. The Times article interviewed several young men and women who love their religion and their Pope but know better than to follow his advice on contraceptives. Florencio Lucas, a 30-year old teacher, admitted that he does not follow the Church’s teachings on birth control. . “Condoms protect you from sexually transmitted diseases,” Mr. Lucas said. “Condoms are very good.”

So please. Use those sources we are so lucky to have. Read the news, both in print and on the internet. And like Florencio Lucas, use your common sense.

Bearak, Barry. “Pope Urges Angolans to Help the Poor and Embrace Democracy.” New York Times 20 Mar. 2009.

The Peanut Scare

By Dani Hicks

Surely you’ve all become aware of the massive peanut butter recall that has swept the nation in recent weeks, whether you saw it headlining on the morning news, or were warned by a friend as you tried to swipe their nutty granola bar. Either way, the culprit that instilled fear in all of us was salmonella.

When you hear salmonella, you immediately think bad, even if you’re not quite sure what it is and how it may affect you, most people don’t. Its scientific name is salmonella typhosa and it is an anaerobic bacterium that lives in contaminated foods. Meat, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and contaminated water can all carry the infection. When ingested, it can cause nausea, vomiting, severe diarrhea, abdominal pains and fever. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that there are at least 1.4 million salmonella infections a year in the U.S. alone.

More than 430 peanut-laced products have been removed from the shelves of many stores. The outbreak has already been linked to 500 illnesses and eight deaths total. The actual problem started much earlier. As far back as last September, the CDC noticed a reoccurrence of two viruses, one of which was salmonella. Many of the affected had consumed some sort of peanut butter at school or another institution. Following this, the Health Department of Minnesota found large traces of salmonella in vats of King Nut peanut butter, made at the Peanut Corporation of America, in Blakely, Ga. Recalls of products such as peanut butter cookies, crackers, cakes, and even dog biscuits soon began. In response, the Peanut Corporation of America recalled all products made by Blakely plant and promptly shut it down. This is not the first time peanut butter has been the villain. In 2007, Peter Pan peanut butter and Great Value were recalled in a similar outbreak. However, the current peanut butter outbreak is not associated with retail stores.

It is unclear when the outbreak will be over. Ian Williams, who heads the CDC’s efforts, has stated that “We’re still hearing of cases every day, it’s too early to say we are past the peak.” For a list of all of the recalled products, you can visit the FDA’s official website.

Stock Market Mayhem

By Hannah Hyman

Among other issues gripping the globe, the economic crisis continues to take a toll on stockholders, workers, and citizens worldwide. In France, Greece and Iceland, to name a few, there have been riots and disintegration of previously stable governments and markets.

In France, there is strong resentment over the government’s decision to bailout the banks, and for the past few days more than a million workers have been striking all over the country. In the largest streets in Paris, some of the crowds have gotten so out of hand that police have had to use tear gas to calm them. The French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, has agreed that concerns over the crisis are legitimate and the government should listen and act. Sarkozy plans to meet with union and business leaders in February to make decisions about what must be done.

In addition to the uproar in France, farmers in Greece are blockading major streets around the country with tractors and trucks because of price cuts on their produce. Unsatisfied with the 500 million Euro aid package that was offered by the Agricultural Development minister, Sotiris Hatzigakis, they refuse to move the machinery until they are offered a clearer and more favorable deal. The government claims that this is the maximum aid they can provide, but the farmers refuse to budge.

In Iceland, citizens are making a fuss over their economic strife as well. Iceland is the country that will probably suffer the most from this crisis next to Latvia and a few other post-Soviet countries. In the capitol, Reykjavik, bon fires are burning in the streets, its orderly government is has fallen to pieces, and the people are more uproarious than ever. Geir Haarde, whose Independence Party saw a rapid downfall in the past few weeks, has given way for a new prime minister, Johanna Sigurdardottir. Sigurdardottir is an openly gay, 66-year-old and an experienced politician, as she has served as the social affairs minister in past years. She is scheduled to serve as prime minister only until the end of April, when an election will take place. In the meantime, a bailout plan providing a 10 billion dollar package, enough to give about 30,000 dollars to each of Iceland’s 320,000 inhabitants, will be implemented to try to salvage businesses and services.

In this standstill economy, where even some of the most stable systems are falling to their knees, it’s hard to be optimistic. Riots around the world appear to be at their peaks, but with the right solutions, governments hope to soon have them under control.

Sources:

“LiveLeak.com – Crowds Riot in France Over Economy.” LiveLeak.com – Redefining the Media. 29 Jan. 2009. 04 Feb. 2009 <http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=53b_1233279992>.

“Free Preview of Members-Only Content | Stratfor.” Stratfor – Geopolitical intelligence, economic, political, and military strategic forecasting | Stratfor. 29 Jan. 2009. Stratfor. 04 Feb. 2009 <http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/20090129_europe_winter_social_discontent>.

Traynor, Ian. “Governments across Europe tremble as effects of global recession prompt angry people to take to the streets.” Guardian.uk.co. 31 Jan. 2009. The Guardian. 04 Feb. 2009 <http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jan/31/global-recession-europe-protests>.

Guantanamo to be Closed

By Maya Rosen

“ By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, in order to effect the appropriate disposition of individuals currently detained by the Department of Defense at the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base (Guantánamo) and promptly to close detention facilities at Guantánamo, consistent with the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States and the interests of justice.”

On January 22, 2009, newly inaugurated President Barack Obama signed an executive order to close Guantanamo Bay, a United States detention center in Cuba, by January 2010. The order also ends the use of military commissions, and institutes policy for the government to review the cases of individual detainees in the coming months. Although many believe that Guantanamo has violated human rights laws these past eight years under former President Bush, questions still remain as to how President Obama plans to deal with terror suspects currently being held at Guantanamo Bay.

With the orders for Guantanamo’s closing issued less than forty-eight hours after Barak Obama assumed the presidency, it is clear that our new President places the issue of Guantanamo high on the list of priorities. Jennifer Daskal, senior counterterrorism counsel at Human Rights Watch, was thrilled with Obama’s hasty decision to close the prison. “With the stroke of a pen, President Obama will make great progress toward restoring America’s moral authority…The executive order will allow the Obama administration to begin a thorough and sensible process to close Guantanamo…We hope and expect that by January 2010 every detainee will either be facing criminal charges in a fair process or be released,” she said.

Supporters of President Obama’s order have long argued that Guantanamo is detrimental to the United States’ goal of eliminating terror. “Over the past seven years, the US government’s consistent disregard for human rights in fighting terrorism has diminished America’s moral authority, set a negative example for other governments, and undermined the goal of reducing anti-American militancy around the world. The use of torture, unlawful rendition, secret prisons, unfair trials, and long-term, arbitrary detention without charge has been both morally wrong and counterproductive,” the organization Human Rights Watch says. Between 225 and 300 prisoners are currently detained at Guantanamo Bay, even though most of these people have never been charged of a crime. Detainees are confined to a tiny cell for 22 hours a day. There is neither light nor fresh air in the prisoners’ cells. Many prisoners have been confined for years. No prisoner has ever been allowed visitors, and most have never been allowed to phone home. No educational or rehabilitation services are provided. Human Rights Watch suggests that “such extreme and prolonged isolation violates international legal obligations, and can aggravate desperate behavior, potentially creating worse security problems over time. Should detainee mental health problems mount, as the limited available evidence suggests is already happening, the practice will also complicate ongoing efforts to resettle or repatriate many of these men.”

President Obama’s order also reverses many of the Bush-Cheney policies regarding torture. Jennifer Daskal explained the implications of Obama’s new policy. “For years, the Bush administration claimed, ‘We do not torture,’ yet approved methods like water-boarding, sleep deprivation, and prolonged exposure to cold…President Obama’s order rejecting such practices is a major step toward restoring America’s moral authority around the world.” The Obama administration will set standards to be used during interrogations and make sure that the International Committee of the Red Cross has access to all prisoners. It will also end CIA “black sites”, secretive prisons often outside of the United States where interrogations are conducted. Ms. Daskal continued, “This executive order makes meaningful the US commitment not to torture detainees…President Obama has rejected the abusive practices of the last seven and a half years.” The Attorney General will lead a team that will examine the Army field manual and develop any additions or stipulations in regards to interrogation policy. Barack Obama insists that “we can abide by a rule that says we don’t torture.”

One issue that President Obama’s order does not deal with is the Chinese Uighurs, a group of seventeen men being held at Guantanamo. They were officially determined not to be enemy combatants over four years ago but are unable to return home due to fears that they will be tortured by the Chinese government. A federal court ruled that these men should be admitted to the United States in October 2008. However, former President Bush appealed the court’s decision. These innocent men are still being held Guantanamo. “President Obama has laid out a long-overdue plan for closing Guantanamo…He should jump-start the process by agreeing to resettle the Uighurs in the United States,” Daskal said. “In 2004 and 2005 we were told that we were innocent, however, we are being incarcerated in jail for the past 6 years until present. We fail to know why we are still in jail here….Being away from family, away from our homeland, and also away from the outside world and losing any contact with anyone, also being forbidden from the natural sunlight, natural air, being surrounded with a metal box all around is not suitable for a human being,” an Uighur man, Abdulghappar Turkistani, wrote in a letter in December 2007.

More questions remain concerning how the Obama administration plans to implement the closing of Guantanamo. Vice-president Joe Biden, attempting to assuage the fears of many Americans, said, “We won’t release people inside the United States because all but one I believe is not an American citizen, an American national…We’re going one prisoner at a time. We’re trying to figure out exactly what we inherited.” However, critics of Obama’s order don’t seem willing to give Obama time to work out the details of the order. Senator John McCain, whom Obama defeated in the November presidential election, told Fox News, “Where are you going to send them? That decision I would have made before I’d announced the closure, because I don’t know of a state in America that wants them in their state.” Republican Senator Lindsay Graham viewed Obama’s decision as a security threat. “Enemy combatants need to be held off the battlefield as long as they are a threat. The worse thing we could do is criminalize this war,” he said. “We’re not fighting a bunch of criminals, we are fighting warriors committed our destruction and we need to get this right.” Other critics of Guantanamos closure include some of the families of 9/11 victims. Three families of firefighters killed in the 9/11 attacks have requested a meeting with President Obama to urge him to revoke his order.

There will probably be three categories in which current detainees will fall. The first group is being held with no evidence against them. Pending their trials, these people will most likely be released to their home countries. The second group will be prosecuted, using evidence the government has acquired. The third group is the most ambiguous and will be the hardest to deal with. These prisoners will be the ones whom the government determines are too dangerous to release, but there is either insufficient evidence to convict them or evidence was obtained through torture. It remains unclear what will happen to those in the third category. Regardless, President Obama remains optimistic with his decision. “The message that we are sending around the world is that the United States intends to prosecute the ongoing struggle against violence and terrorism and we are going to do so vigilantly, we are going to do so effectively, and we are going to do so in a manner that is consistent with our values and our ideals.”

Sources:

“AM – Obama to shut Guantanamo Bay.” ABC.net.au. 28 Jan. 2009 <http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2008/s2472857.htm>.

“Fighting Terrorism Fairly and Effectively | Human Rights Watch.” Human Rights Watch. 16 Nov. 2008. 28 Jan. 2009 <http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2008/11/16/fighting-terrorism-fairly-and-effectively-0>.

France-Presse, Agence. “Closing Guantanamo to test Obama, US justice system |.” ABS-CBN News Online Beta. 26 Jan. 2009. 28 Jan. 2009 <http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/world/01/25/09/closing-guantanamo-test-obama-us-justice-system>.

“Locked Up Alone | Human Rights Watch.” Human Rights Watch. 9 June 2008. 28 Jan. 2009 <http://www.hrw.org/en/node/62183/section/2>.

Schuck, Glenn S. “9-11 families upset over Obama Guantanamo decision (OneNewsNow.com).” 26 Jan. 2009. 28 Jan. 2009 <http://www.onenewsnow.com/Politics/Default.aspx?id=398516>.

3 C.F.R. 1 (2009).

“US: Obama Expected to Order Guantanamo’s Closure | Human Rights Watch.” Human Rights Watch. 21 Jan. 2009. 28 Jan. 2009 <http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/01/21/us-obama-expected-order-guantanamo-s-closure>.

“US: Steps to End Torture Set a New Course.” Human Rights Watch. 22 Jan. 2009. 28 Jan. 2009 <http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/01/22/us-steps-end-torture-set-new-course>.

Keep Education in the Budget, Please.

By Charna Albert

This has been a memorable week in many ways, particularly for those of us in Pittsburgh. However, all football aside, life, business, and the news goes on. This week also saw Pennsylvania Governor Rendell’s presentation of his 2009-2010 budget. I think I speak for many in Pittsburgh and throughout the state that were shocked to hear that the budget will not include funding for the Pennsylvania Governor’s Schools of Excellence. The Governor’s Schools are summer programs in which academically-minded high school students take classes with experts and live at a university completely free of charge. It is a program of uncompromised academic quality and unique in that it is open to those of any socio-economic status. The program has flourished for over 30 years, and its alumni are now studying, doing groundbreaking research, traveling the world, or working for the government.

A spokesman for the governor has argued that in this poor economic climate, certain programs will have to be cut in order to fund basic services. Well, no one can argue that providing basic services to our citizens is imperative. However, I was brought up to believe that education is a basic service. Furthermore, President Obama and countless analysts and scholars stress that the way out of this economic malaise lies in education. We need to provide better education to our youth so that they can be competitive in a global world. We need to create engineers, scientists, researchers and teachers. If education is a key part of the long-term cure for our failing economy, why are educational programs the first to be cut by the legislative scissors?

If Pennsylvania simply cannot fit the Governor’s Schools of Excellence into its budget, perhaps the federal government should step in and prove its commitment to educating the leaders of tomorrow. Now that would be a memorable event.

Bring on 2009

By Charna Albert

It’s hard to believe that 2009 is almost upon us. It’s been an interesting 12 months, filled with historical events, some exciting and some terrifying. Here at the Eye Opener we have a tradition of drawing up a list of wishes for our New Years issue. The wishes came from us, from you, and from the national consensus. Some are serious and some are whimsical. Enjoy.

The Eye Opener Wishes for 2009

We wish for…

1. The Obama administration to enact the change it has long promised.
2. International cooperation to help fix the ailing world economy.
3. Universal healthcare
4. A new climate change treaty that will set the world on target to avoid the worst effects of global warming.
5. An end to genocide and tyrannical government around the world.
6. A livable minimum wage.
7. Improvements in research and treating global epidemics.
8. Meaningful steps towards peace in the Middle East.
9. An end to the tyrannous and autocratic dictatorship of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe
10. Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir to be tried in the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

And some other things we wish for, although not quite as much:

1. For freezing rain, of the 2-hour delay inducing variety – Ana Shapiro
2. That People would stop thinking that leggings are pants – Molly Brean
3. Less PDA- Lauren Milisits
4. For the Pirates to continue with their losing seasons. Because if you are gonna continously lose make a losing record that is so hard to beat that you’ll go down in the history books even if not for the best reasons…
   -Jessica Koller
5. That the school’s furnace gets a little less temperamental – Charna Albert
6. That Dr. Fulks comes back to visit ‘Dice.

And World Peace.

Happy New Year all

-Eye Opener Staff.

Analysis of the Mumbai Attacks

By Hannah Hyman

On November 27, 2008, the holiday festivities were kicked off with anything but a Thanksgiving miracle. In India, a series of terror attacks took place, the most severe and the most pronounced of which happened at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai. The hotel was held up for almost two days and a total of 50 people were killed at that site alone.There have been several accused suspects, primarily those affiliated with Pakistani government.

However, the story doesn’t end here. When asked about the country’s opinion on different terror attacks and their possible origins, Pakistani leaders and intelligence officials have habitually denied any possible affiliation. This instance was no exception to that pattern. In a recent television interview, Pakistani intelligence official General Hamid Gul claimed that Pakistan was not to blame for the acts of violence in Mumbai. In order to carry out such a plan, attackers would have needed inside help, and according to him, that help did not come from his corner. When questioned further about past terror attacks, such as 9/11, he blamed Zionists. He claimed that they aim to destroy the threatening powers of American government by posing such attacks. Gul said people with a dangerous agenda who have turned the world upside-down planned the attacks inside America.

As many know, and as Fareed Zakaria, author of The Post-American World made clear during a CNN interview, many of Guls opinions, including these, are wrong and thoroughly discredited. In fact, the Pakistan intelligence agency ISI and terrorist groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad had much to do with other terror attacks in the region, particularly in the disputed territory of Kashmir. However, these radical groups are not directly supported by the current civilian-led Pakistani government, although it is clear that they have connections to the ISI and the army.

The question remains as to why these blatant lies and defense tactics are being used if, in fact, Hamid Gul and other Pakistani intelligence officials affiliated with the ISI are not behind the attacks. If they are, where they’re going with them is another troubling question. What is Pakistan going to do next? As of late, much of the panic surrounding the Mumbai attacks has calmed down, but strong precautions are being taken, and many Indians are still looking for answers about the November attacks.

KRISTOF, NICHOLAS D. “Behind the Mumbai Attacks.” The New York Times (2008). NYTimes.com. 29 Nov. 2008. New York Times. 19 Dec. 2008 <http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/29/behind-the-mumbai-attacks/?scp=3&sq=mumbai%20attacks%20&st=cse>.

KRISTOF, NICHOLAS D. “Behind the Mumbai Attacks.” The New York Times (2008). NewYorkTimes.com. 29 Nov. 2008. New York Times. 19 Dec. 2008 <http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/29/behind-the-mumbai-attacks/?scp=3&sq=mumbai%20attacks%20&st=cse>.

PERLEZ, JANE. “Mumbai Attack Is Test for Pakistan on Curbing Militants.” The New York Times (2008). Nytimes.com. 3 Dec. 2008. New York Times. 19 Dec. 2008 <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/world/asia/04pstan.html?_r=1&hp>.

Corruption in Illinois

By Ana Shapiro

Rod Blagojevich’s recent arrest at 6 AM December 6th makes him the seventh Illinois Governor to be arrested or indicted. The federal charges against Blagojevich include conspiracy and soliciting of bribes in the attempt to sell President-Elect Barack Obama’s senate seat. As of Friday, December 19th Blagojevich refused to resign and said “I will fight, I will fight, I will fight, till I take my very last breath. I have done nothing wrong.”
In addition to the conflict over whether or not Blagojevich is a criminal, many also dispute if anyone preparing criminal trial can effectively govern a state simultaneously.
Lawmakers including President-Elect Barack Obama, 50 other Democratic United States senators and the Lieutenant Governor have called for his impeachment. Despite this, some previously questioned as to whether Barack Obama was also involved in the selling of his senate seat. These allegations have been discredited.
As of right now Mr. Blagojevich has not provided specific defense to the charges and says “I can’t wait to tell my side of the story, there’s a time and place for everything. That day will soon be here”.

Susan Saulny, “Blagojevich Denies Any Criminal Wrongdoings” The New York Times 19 Dec. 2008

Teen Healing

By Dani Hicks

A recent study shows an increase in teens relying on alternative remedies

High School is almost always a very stressful situation for any adolescent. Anxieties from bundles of work, endless projects, and physical injuries due to sports all take their toll. But instead of cracking under pressure, many youngsters are turning to alternative remedies to manage stress and pain, while keeping healthy in the process. A new government survey shows that one in every nine children under 18 practice yoga, visit the chiropractor, or take some sort of supplement (i.e. fish oils). Children seem to find natural, non-vitamin compounds more appealing. In fact, 4 percent take Echinacea, Flaxseed oils, and probiotics. 3 percent of children see a chiropractor or an osteopath, and 2.1 percent engage in yoga. Unlike adults, who usually use these methods for back or neck pain, children use them to relieve problems such as Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder and common illnesses like headaches and colds. Teens were more likely to use alternative therapies than younger children, with 16.4 percent of adolescents ages 12 to 17 using these therapies, compared with 10.7 percent of children ages 5 to 11 and 7.6 percent of children ages 4 or younger. White children were twice as likely as black children to use alternative therapies, the survey found.

“It’s a substantial amount of use in children, given that children tend to be healthier than the adult population”, says Richard L. Nahin, acting director of the centers division of extramural research. Other experts say that the numbers are even higher than that, and that at least 40 percent of healthy children and 50 percent with chronic health conditions use these forms of therapy. These findings are expected to define research initiatives. Especially with the use of dietary supplements on the rise, which have not been as thoroughly tested in clinical trials for adults or children. Despite the obvious benefits, Nahin says, “In most cases, there is no clear recommendation one can make on whether a child should use a product or not.”

The survey was conducted as part of the National Health Interview Survey. It included questions about 36 common therapies, including 10 that are provider-based such as chiropractics, and 26 independent therapies like meditation. Naturally, teens have discovered these modern therapies from their parents.

nytimes.com, 12/11/08, Roni Caryn Rabin, “Many Children Now Rely On Alternative Remedies”

Clinton Supporters: For Palin?

By Maya Rosen

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton stirred up the political scene quite a bit this primary season. Running to be the first woman president in American history, Senator Clinton gathered a large support base as she entered ground no woman before her had walked. Many women were excited by the prospect of a woman in such a high political position. Senator John McCain and his campaign found a new opportunity to gain votes when Clinton lost to Senator Barack Obama in the Democratic primaries. On August 29^th, 2008, Senator McCain selected Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska to be his vice presidential running mate. Some saw Governor Palin, a largely unknown political figure, as a fresh face to politics and an exciting addition to the McCain ticket, but to others, she seemed like a Clinton imposter and was only being used as a ploy to attract Clinton supporters who wanted to vote for a woman.

Does one vote based on a candidate’s views on the issues or for a candidate’s gender? Most women are Democrats and most female candidates are Democrats, and this is the first time a woman has been on the Republican presidential ticket. University of Wisconsin political scientist Kathleen Dolan said, “For the first time in a national election, women are being asked to cross party lines to vote their gender.”

The question remains, however, as to how Hillary Clinton supporters are reacting to Governor Palin. Do they see her as an alternative to Senator Clinton that will get a woman in the White House, or are they disregarding gender and instead supporting Senator Obama because he is closer to Clinton’s positions than McCain and Palin? Although Senator Clinton endorsed Barack Obama in early June and has publicly campaigned for him around fifty times, it is estimated that around 20% of former Clinton supporters are now backing McCain and Palin. A popular pro-Palin poster pictures Governor Palin’s head in the famous feminist Rosie the Riveter image.

The McCain campaign organized a special fundraiser for former Clinton supporters, at which Governor Palin was present. The fundraiser attempted to use Governor Palin to gain Clinton supporters. The event raised over $500,000 and was attended by major Clinton supporters such as Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, Calvin Fayard, Miguel Lausell, and John Coale. Mr. Lausell, one of these supporters, explained why he and others had crossed party boarders to vote for McCain-Palin. “These people want to give their vote of disapproval,” said Mr. Lausell. “This is a way they’re doing it.”

On the other hand, some Clinton supporters are turned off by the choice of Palin. “I thought I wouldn’t vote at all when Hillary left the race,” Clinton supporter Rina Jampolsky said. “But as soon as McCain selected Sarah Palin, my decision was made.” The playwright Eve Ensler, for example, called McCain’s choice of Palin “insidious and cynical” and “antithetical to feminism.” To many people, Palin does not embody feminist ideals or values, even though she is a woman. Some Clinton supporters are upset that it was Hillary Clinton who paved the way for Sarah Palin because the two candidates hold almost nothing in common politically. On the online Facebook forum group “John McCain thinks Hillary Supporters are Blind Idiots!” people had a lot to say about Senator McCain’s choice of Governor Palin. Rebecca Segall, an officer of the group, wrote that she doesn’t understand people that “believed in Hillary’s message so much that you’d betray your own party because she’s not on the ballot…It baffles me that a person like that would vote for McCain just because his pro-life republican VP happens to have a pair of ovaries. Blind loyalty makes me sick.” Another member of the group, Michael Patrick, agreed. He wrote that he “sees the hypocrisy in Hillary-supporters who now say they are going to vote for John McCain in spite of the fact that he holds the exact opposite position on every major issue than the candidate they supposedly love so much.”

Many Clinton supporters still want a woman president (or vice president), just not Governor Palin.

After Governor Palin gave her acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner Research organized an anonymous reaction focus group sesson with former Hillary Clinton supporters from Nevada between the ages of thirty and sixty. These former Clinton supporters were now either undecided or mild supporters of Senator Obama or Senator McCain. In this session, one woman described Palin as “a good speaker and a crowd pleaser”. Most women agreed with her. Another women stated, “I didn’t expect to be as impressed as I was”. Although most of the women were impressed with Governor Palin in some regards, they still had major critisims. One women said, “Once she started mudslinging, I thought, it’s the same old crap as other politicians. McCain used her to get the women’s vote”. In general, most women agreed that Governor Palin was a good speaker, but they disapproved of her sarcasm and “finger pointing” in the speech. Overall, a slight majority of women had a more negative view of Governor Palin after hearing the speech.

It is yet to be seen if Governor Palin will affect the campaign enough to help Senator McCain achieve victory in November, although latest polls show that Governor Palin is actually hurting Senator McCan’s ratings. However, former Hillary Clinton supporters voting for McCain could alter this trend. Even though Clinton herself is out, her supporters still have a voice.

Works Cited

Ambinder, Marc. “On The Other Hand, New Polls Cite Palin As Reason For McCain Drop.” The Atlantic. 1 Oct. 2008. 22 Oct. 2008 <http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/10/on_the_other_hand_new_polls_ci.php>.

Ellen, Goodman. “Some Hillary Clinton supporters view Sarah Palin as an imposter.” RGJ.com. 25 Sept. 2008. 20 Oct. 2008 <http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?aid=/20080925/oped06/809250310/1098/oped>.

“John McCain thinks Hillary supporters are Blind Idiots!” Facebook. 23 Oct. 2008 <http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=24392628718&ref=ts>.

Luo, Michael. “Clinton Supporters Aid Palin.” The New York Times 14 Oct. 2008: 1-1.

Nagourney, Adam, and Jeff Zeleny. “Clinton Ready to End Bid and Endorse Obama.” New York Times 5 June 2008: 1-1.

Walls, Seth C. “Female Clinton Supporters In Focus Groups See Talent, Mudslinging In Palin’s Speech.” The Huffington Post. 4 Sept. 2008. 20 Oct. 2008 <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/04/female-clinton-supporters_n_123794.html>.