Obama speech was open to all
In response to Monday's editorial, "Let us in, Obama":
There are several alarming inaccuracies in your editorial concerning Sen. Obama and his stop here in Tempe this past Friday that deserve to be stated in an effort to bring the truth into focus. We are surprised and alarmed that the State Press presented an editorial with false information like this which would necessitate a response.
You claim that "those who are obviously not Obama supporters were not allowed into the event." To anyone who was present at the rally, there were clearly non-Obama supporters in attendance, including those who were wearing Ron Paul shirts. These people were not turned away at the gates, and were clearly visible to anyone who attended the rally. The op-ed that was featured on the same page as the editorial clearly states as much.
As our flyers stated, anyone who wished to attend the rally was welcome. There were no restrictions based on who the individual supported or what they were wearing. Nobody was required to volunteer or pledge their support to enter. The increased security presence was due to Sen. Obama's Secret Service escort, and was similar in scope to the rally held last November that featured former President Bill Clinton. You also attack the Obama campaign for handing out official signs during the rally, which is a standard practice undertaken by every presidential campaign, regardless of party or affiliation.
After holding dozens of free and open rallies across the country thus far in his presidential campaign, to have Sen. Obama compared to President Bush, who refuses to hold any kind of open forum, is ridiculous and absurd. It is insulting to not only Sen. Obama but also to all of his supporters. It's also amazing that the first presidential candidate to visit ASU and hold an open event, which drew one of the largest crowds to a rally in ASU's history, would then get such negative press by your editorial board.
It is my hope that in the future, the State Press will refrain from presenting false and misleading information and stick to the facts at hand. I have no problem with your editorial board disagreeing with Sen. Obama or his policies. All that I ask is that you present information in an honest way, instead of printing information that is clearly false.
Sean Bowie
Chapter Director, ASU
Students for Obama
Obama.... 08
Well, it was a very inspirational speech and rally that I witnessed on Friday! I just saw the next president of the United States (not the RED/BLUE USA.) As he mentioned, let us go and change the world and our country too and become the beacon of hope for the people.
Daniel Amde
Prospective Student
Gobama!
Yes, Yes, Yes, to all the questions about Obama. He is the candidate for the people and should be the next President. Don't need another train wreck in the White House with Hilary Clinton, and John Edwards is out of the question!
Melba Spears
Alumni
An open letter to Barack Obama
Senator Obama, your speech Friday at ASU inspired many. You drew an audience diverse in ages, colors, creeds, and genders. You told us you would change politics; you told us you wouldn't be played by politics; you told us you would lead. You said you had the the insight and integrity; you said, "The American people need to hear the truth, even when it's hard."
Senator Obama, when you debated Alan Keyes for the Illinois Senate seat in October 2004, you drew a line between religious belief and civic policy. You took Mr. Keyes to task for vicious, insulting position on same-sex marriage. But you also denied that marriage is either a civil or a human right. Could you explain why not?
When you spoke at the HRC Presidential Forum in August 2007, you said same-sex couples deserve all the rights of marriage, but that for the LGBTQ community, those rights could only be called "civil unions". "Marriage", you said, is a religious term.
But marriage is also a civil contract. 40 years ago, Americans of all colors fought for the right to enter that contract freely. Over 100 years ago, American women fought for the right to sue for divorce when that contract was breached. Today the LGBTQ community is asking for their right as citizens to "marry" freely, and equally--not for the right to "civil unionize".
Last month, Judge Lynne Battaglia of the Maryland Court of Appeals, wrote in her dissent that the court's refusal to recognize same-sex marriages "breathes life into the corpse of separate but equal". And where is your uncompromising leadership? Senator Obama, what hard truth is it that the American people need to hear?
Kendall Gerdes
Undergraduate
Obama, Bush not so different
Your article regarding Sen. Barack Obama on Monday (Obama: Trust me, trust yourself.) was excessively optimistic and nearly as misleading as the man himself. Obama calls for change; however his voting record is indistinguishable from the policies of President George W. Bush. Obama has voted to fund and continue the War in Iraq, to restrict Habeas Corpus for political prisoners, to cut funds for health care (HR 3010), to support the current for-profit medical system, and the list goes on, and on, and on. Hence, as convincing as he may appear, there is nothing benevolent about the man.
This is indeed the most significant election of our time, and therefore, we mustn't repeat the same mistake again. Ergo, if you want a president that will truly represent the people of America—unfettered by the wishes and desires of Wall Street—then Congressman Dennis Kucinich would fit the bill quite nicely. Aye, it is time for us to stray away from the liars, the demagogues, the talking heads, and elect someone who will guide our nation towards a brighter future. Do your research and please don't be deceived! Vote for Dennis Kucinich!
The Black River Bandit
Undergraduate
A Fish Out of Water
The following is my response to Ben Berkley's Op Ed piece "Going to town on our boring, boot-filled city": A wise person once said "A fish would be the last to discover water". I think that Ben Berkley might be just such a fish in his opinion article "Going to town on our boring, boot-filled city". I understand his "goose-bumpy" experience of visiting another city…I still get goose-bumpy driving around Phoenix, two years after I was dropped into this big beautiful pond. It's easy to see the "personality" of other ponds, but we often take for granted what we have been swimming in our whole lives.
Tom Turner
Graduate Student