Friday, October 6, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 9
Students react to VP debate
By Kursten Phelps
writer.kanson.com
Kansen staff writer
The Kansas Union lobby wasn't overflowing last night, but some University of Kansas students still watched the vice-presidential debate between Republican Dick Cheney and Democrat Joseph Lieberman.
Although there were no large debate-watching events like Tuesday night's Pizza and Politics sponsored, by Student Union Activities, members of the College Republicans and KU Young Democrats gathered informally to see the two main vice-presidential candidates face off on the issues.
Chris Pavlack, Topeka freshman, was one of about 10 Young Democrats members who gathered to watch the debate. He said it might not have been as important as the presidential debates, but students should still pay attention.
"It's still very critical, because in case the president gets incapacitated, the vice president will be the person running the country," Pavlacka said. "As young people, we should make sure that the vice-
presidential candidates agree with what we believe in. I think more people should watch them. I think everyone in America should watch them."
Joe Walberg, College Republicans vice chairman and one of about 10 members of the group watching the event, said many people didn't watch the vice-presidential debate because they could assume the candidates were closely aligned with their running mates.
"Overall, I'd like to see people having more political interest as a general rule," said Walberg, Shawnee senior. "I don't think for college students it's as important to watch the vice-presidential debate as much as being aware of the political climate around them."
Gavin Smith, College Republicans chairman and Dallas sophomore, said he was impressed by the candidates' civility during the debate.
"The candidates definitely didn't waste a lot of time over petty things and bringing up each other's past," Smith said. "They discussed more what's coming up for the future. It was a very substantive debate, which is extremely important for college kids."
Julie Merz, Young Democrats president and St. Louis senior, said she thought Lieberman addressed several issues that would affect college students.
"I think the way Lieberman reinforced the message that his ticket is clearly the only pro-choice one was important," Merz said. "He also touched on environmental issues, which is an issue for students. Even though he didn't touch a lot on the college-loan program like Gore did the other night, I think he obviously showed their education-spending priorities."
Walberg, however, said that the issue of oil prices was one of the more important topics addressed by the candidates for college students, who are affected by gas-price increases.
"Gore and Lieberman have a very short-term focus on gas and fuel prices," Walberg said. "They want to open up the reserves, Bush and Cheney are both old oil men and know what they're doing. They have a very good long-term strategy, which is key for securing good oil prices now and in the future."
— Edited by Shawn Hutchinson
Cheney, Lieberman disagree civilly
The Associated Press
DANVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Republican Dick Cheney and Democrat Joseph Lieberman disagreed firmly but politely Thursday night about military readiness, tax cuts and the future of Social Security in a gentlymanly debate of campaign understudies.
In a debate that ranged broadly about campaign issues, Lieberman, a two-term Connecticut senator, said Republicans want to "raid the Medicare trust fund to pay for their tax cuts." But Cheney said there was more than enough money to go around, and it is "totally reasonable" to give relief to all taxpayers.
scheduled encounters.
The two men sparred as they sat together for their only debate of the fall campaign. The atmosphere on a specially constructed stage at Centre College was far more relaxed than Tuesday night when presidential candidates Al Gore and George W. Bush in met in Boston for the first of their three
But even good-natured comments reflected the widely differing views the two men hold about the role of government in the 21st century.
Pointing to a strong economy, Lieberman said most people would say they are better off than they were eight years ago. "I am pleased to see from the newspapers that you're better off than you were 8 years ago too," he said to Cheney, a reference to the multi-million dollar separation package the former oil services company executive received when he left to join the GOP ticket.
"And I can tell you, Joe, that the government had nothing to do with it," Cheney said — a remark that overlooked that his firm had received more than $2 billion in federal contracts for support of American troops on peace-keeping missions.
Asked by moderator Bernard Shaw about a public uprising in Yugoslavia designed to force out Milosevie.
Lieberman and Cheney both said they hoped he surrendered power, but ruled out the use of American troops. Lieberman said a U.S.-led bombing campaign last year had halted Milosevic's aggression.
When it came to defense readiness, Cheney said there has been an erosion during the eight years of the Clinton administration, and the Pentagon was "overcommitted and under-resourced."
Of five high school and college debate coaches who judged the debate for The Associated Press, three declared Lieberman the winner, one said Cheney won and the fifth scored it a draw but said, if pressed, he would judge Cheney the winner.
They judged the event on six criteria — reasoning, evidence, organization, refutation, cross examination and presentation — awarding from one to five points in each. On that basis, with 150 a perfect score, the five judges gave Lieberman a total of 130 points to 122 for Cheney.
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