Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 5, 1984)
Opinion Page 2AThe Battalion/Monday, November 5, 1984 Board split over presidential race Split. Not a split ticket, but instead offsetting votes. The Battalion Editorial Board consists of seven members — only six are U.S. citizens and thus eligible to vote. Despite the fact that in recent weeks The Battalion has been labeled a “libe ral rag” by letter writers, the staff of The Battalion and its Edito rial Board are really quite mild — very middle of the road. Three for Reagan, three for Mondale. But other college papers don’t seem to be quite as split in their loyalty to candidates. (SEE story below). While papers in major cities across the nation seem to closely mirror the Editorial Board here. From the Northeast, where the Boston Globe has endorsed Walter Mondale while the Boston Herald has endorsed Ronald Reagan, to the South where the Atlanta Constitution has en dorsed Mondale while the Journal has endorsed Reagan, to the Southwest where the Dallas Times Herald hasn’t endorsed a candidate while the Morning News has endorsed Reagan, to the eastern seaboard where the New York Times has endorsed Mondale, to the Pacific Northwest where the Seattle Times has endorsed Reagan, to the middle of the nation where the Chi cago Tribune says it has “endorsed the fellow who’s President now” — the nation seems split. In fact, as much as the politicos to the left and to the right would like American voters to believe the country is about to be overrun by political fanatics from either extreme, the majority of America is in fact the middle of the road. It’s not the extremes that determine which political party will occupy the White House for the next four years — it hopefully is, as it has been through most American presidential elections, the majority in the middle of the road. It’s only through the con flict of the two extremes — the offsetting of votes — that Ameri cans can maintain a political system that pleases more people more of the time than any other in the history of the world. The party in power and the loyal opposition. That is democracy. — The Battalion Editorial Board Many college papers endorsing Mondale College newspapers, apparently bucking national polls showing wide sup port for President Reagan among young voters, have endorsed Walter Mon dale in large numbers, a UPI survey shows. UPI surveyed 40 college newspapers nationwide. Of the 26 that endorsed a presidential candidate, 23 supported Mondale and only three backed Rea- gan. The college editorial writers offered heated denunciations of Reagan on the economy, foreign policy and the fairness issue. The Stanford Daily, for example, suggested that re-electing Reagan could result in a return to “the high standard of living for white males only.” “The United States has its weakest ... and most ideologically extreme leader in decades,” said the Daily.Texan at the University of Texas. “That is why it is not entirely accurate to define the presidential race as Reagan vs. Mondale. Rather, the issue at hand is Reagan vs. no Reagan.” “Where is Reagan’s plan to reduce the deficit?” asked The Post at Ohio University. “In the (Oct. 7) debate, the president talked of two lines, one rep resenting growth and the other representing reduced spending ... Where would the cuts come from? ... The cuts will come from social spending, which has already been slashed to the bone, putting the crunch on much of the American population.” The Daily Chronicle at the University of Utah said, “We are not at war, but we are dangerously close. The covert fighting in Nicaragua could erupt into an overt confrontation at any time and the president’s use of U.S. troops in Grenada suggests he won’t hesitate to employ armed forces in the future.” In a full-page editorial, the Harvard Crimson wrote, “Ronald Reagan has ... placed the twin values of greed and self-interest as a centerpiece of his ad ministration and he now bids the American voters to ratify this vision.” The Lantern at Ohio State University, writing three weeks after Reagan visited the sprawling campus, said, “We, as students ... whose futures rest upon our education, must ask ourselves why the president, in a visit to one of the largest campuses in the country, failed to mention anything about the cuts in student aid and student loan programs.” Some editorial writers said Reagan’s age was an issue. The Daily Targum at Rutgers University wrote, “There is a difference between disrespect for the elderly and being realistic. Reagan is 73 years old; there are implications con cerning the strain of the job on his health and the diminishment of razor- sharp thought.” While papers endorsing Mondale agreed he “is not the most exciting of individuals,” as the Daily Targum wrote, they said the Democrat has the vir tues necessary for the White House. The Washington Square News at New York University said Mondale “comes with political baggage, primarily his vice presidency under Jimmy Carter. Yet he is a sincere leader with a lifetime commitment to government responsibility and world peace.” At Eastern Illinois University, the Daily Eastern News said, “Mondale’s plan to increase taxes may not be the answer to the nation’s economic prob lems. (But) his willingness to propose an unpopular idea during his campaign indicates honesty.” The college papers that endorsed Reagan lauded his handling of the economy, his military buildup and said he has sparked a new patriotism. “Reagan has guided the most active administration since Franklin Roose velt lived in the nation’s capital,” said The Aquinas at the University of Scran ton. “He has strengthened the armed forces, stabilized the economy and re established the United States as a world leader. ... Four years ago, Americans felt their government was embarrassing them, primarily in the Iranian hos tage situation. Today, the nation considers itself strong and productive, largely due to Reagan’s accomplishments.” The endorsements seem to buck polls showing Reagan enjoying some of his strongest support from voters under 30. The president also has drawn en thusiastic crowds to his rallies on college campuses. The latest Gallup Poll, taken Oct. 15 to 17, showed Reagan leading Mon dale 57 percent to 38 percent among those under 20 — compared to a 58-38 lead with the overall electorate. ANNE SAKER Columnist for United Press International Wh^ « /Kka IsJho v Reagan against women, blacks Mondale choice for the futun ieem tli nnd v A'alker pretenc hen h' ill houlli. Talk President Reagan continues to dodge Michelle questions about the deficit and higher Powe taxes by repeatedly asking Americans: Are you better off than you were four years ago? Likelier than not you are — since most of this paper’s readership is mid dle class and white. But there are a 'couple of important questions that no one is asking and no one seems to care about. Is everyone — not just you — better off? And will any 'of us be better off four years from now? The Republicans accuse Walter Mon dale of whining when he questions how the Republicans propose to reduce the record-breaking deficit. They talk about inflation being down and unemploy ment leveling off, but they won’t talk about raising taxes to cut the deficit. So how are \we going to get the deficit under control? Who is going to pay back that debt? The present economic recov ery is partially artificial since it is based on borrowed dollars. Americans are not looking forward. If they are better off right now, that’s all that matters. But what about all those who are worse off now than four years ago? For example, the average black fam ily — at every income — has a lower standard of living now than it did in 1980. Under the Reagan administra tion, the median income of black fami lies has dropped to 56 percent of that of white families. Not since the 1960s has the gap been that wide. The proportion of the black popula tion added to the ranks of poverty since 1980 is nearly <double the proportion of whites. The average black family lost three times as much from the 1981 budget cuts as the average white family. Unemployment has averaged 7.6 per cent among whites and 17.6 percent among blacks under Reagan. In a recent Gallup Poll, Mondale led Reagan among blacks 82 percent to 4 percent. Reagan led Mondale among whites 53 percent to 33 percent. In that same poll, Reagan was de scribed as prejudiced by 72 percent of the blacks and 31 percent of the whites. Half of the whites said Reagan “cares about people like me.” Only 8 percent of the blacks felt that way. Why doesn’t the fact that blacks are overwhelmingly opposed to Reagan In a recent Gallup Poll, Reagan was described as prejudiced by 72 percent of the blacks and 31 percent of the whites. Half of the whites said Reagan “cares about people like me.” Only 8 percent of the blacks felt that way. seem to be worrying whites. I’d like to believe Mondale’s wishful statement that Americans do care about people be sides themselves, that they care about those less fortunate than themselves, but I don’t. The widening gulf between blacks and whites, and rich and poor, is evidence enough to me that Americans don’t care enough about people other than themselves — especially if the color of their skin is different. Reagan’s excuse for opposing civil rights legislation is that he wants to cut federal spending and get Government off people’s backs. Bozo gains few votes By DICK WEST Columnist for United Press International WASHINGTON — Bozo the clown may have been a victim of miscasting. With his orange wig, light bulb nose, floppy shoes and red, white and blue suit, he appeared ideally suited to be a politician. He was a Tip O’Neill look-alike whose name was tailor-made for a movie mar quee at a Ronald Reagan film festival. “Bedtime for Bozo” could have been a big hit. Moreover, Bozo had that rare gift of making a 30-minute extemporaneous speech seem like it lasted four hours. Yet, in all the pre-election polls, he wasn’t even mentioned. Maybe the country just wasn’t ready to have a real clown in the race. Or, with his penchant for verbosity and circumlocution, he probably should have been running for the Senate rather than as a write-in candidate for presi dent. Near the end of the campaign. Bozo, a.k.a. Larry Harmon, returned to the scene of the crime, so to speak, for a news conference at the National Press Club, where he first announced his can didacy last March. It took him about 30 minutes to re spond to three or four questions. That was truly a virtuoso performance. His act was fully as impressive as any I have seen or heard in the Senate chamber, a.k.a. the Cave of the Winds. Because he campaigned in a “Bozo bus” and wore a clown’s makeup and costume, many voters apparently didn’t take his White House aspirations se riously. But not Bozo himself . He patterned himself verbally, if not physically, after Harry Truman and claimed to have logged more campaign miles than HST did whistle-stopping in 1948. “The bus stops here,” Bozo would as sert in a Truman-like manner at cities he visited during the campaign. (Truman, by the way, served as a U.S. senator before becoming chief exec utive. You can draw your own parallels from that.) Bozo’s abilities, vis-a-vis Reagan and Walter Mondale, obviously were suspect in polling places were he was registered as a write-in candidate. But I found my self in total agreement with a couple of his campaign promises. Among other things, he vowed to eliminate the office of U.S. vice presi dent and to support tax reform legis lation that would depreciate human be ings rather than property. Both are promises I would make my self, given the opportunity. The fact that it was legal to write in his name in only 36 states and the Dis trict of Columbia became Bozo’s biggest campaign issue. He felt that voters in all 50 states and assorted territories where votes are counted should have had the option of casting ballots in his favor. “Anyone with the ability should have the opportunity” to be president, rea soned Bozo, who apparently had no doubts about his own ability. But several of the states in which he tried to register his candidacy told him “No way, Jose” when he inquired about write-ins, he lamented. Perhaps he would have been less of fended if they had told him “No go, Bozo.” nentioi hat Jo Yet, he would push Governmeni i orsct | people’s private lives to enforcea nis personal views on abortion and | R . {)l ] untary prayer in school. It’stoobi K . |its concern for the civil rights of K minorities doesn’t match hisconctn • , , )iak et or Ku There are other reasons tooa TV (joi Reagan. He is opposed to the: Rights Amendment, legalized abci and gun control even though then; ity of Americans support them. Yet Americans haven’t even tta ;TaU . tlu about Reagan’s stand on these is they just like his image. Hedoesni across as the slick professional polio that Mondale does Politicians are the only professiot know of who Americans don’t w 5() ta be professional. We demand dial doctors and lawyers be professioni li ' . - • EES. am we simply want likeable — if unqual 5U)) , )()r people running our country. ! The picture may seem brighi but how long can it last? Reagans sal to answer questions about diet omy has been interpreted bysomei rogance. To me, it implies dii doesn’t know the answers. . worries me. What are Reagan’s plans for die .vhj four years? Or what are the plansol K le who run the Reagan H e? Does the President know?! importantly does he even are: could he even understand the pin he did? If the president will not tell us his plans for the future, how cam oe sure that we will better d us be 1988? Wha an op| - Mn ands m lican eh Pal : h; Michelle Powe is assistant citfti for The Battalion. The Battalion USPS 045 360 Member of Texas Press Association Southwest Journalism Conference In memoriam Bill Robinson, 1962-1984, Editor The Battalion Editorial Board Stephanie Ross, Editor Patrice Koranek, Managing Editor Shelley Hoekstra, City Editor Brigid Brockman, News Editor Donn Friedman, Editorial Page Edit# Bonnie Langford, News Editor Ed Cassavoy, Sports Editor The Battalion Staff Assistant City Editors Melissa Adair, MichellePo* Assistant News Editors Rhonda Snider,Kellie Dworaczyk, U' Assistant Sports Editor. Entertainment Editor... Travis Tii? BillHii^ Assistant Entertainment Editor... Angel Stoll Editorial Cartoonist Mikel^ Make-up Editor .JohnHi Copy Writers...Karen Bloch, Call Copy Editors Kathy Breard, Kaye Pahntd Cyndy Davis, Patricia™ Editorial Policy The Battalion is a non-profit, self-supporting netf operated as a community service to Texas /U^ 3 Bryan-College Station. Opinions expressed in 'The Battalion are those Editorial Board or the author, and do not nn'ess^'l resent the opinions o f Texas A&M administrators, i* or the Board of Regents. The Battalion also serves as a laboratory newspif 6 ^ students in reporting, editing and photograph) d within the Department of Communications. Letters Policy , Letters to the Editor should not exceed SOD »<y length. The editorial stuff reserves the right to cdiP rvef/orlloiM 11 ' for style and length hut will make every efhrllo the author's intent. Each letter must be signed include the atldrcss and telephone number of file battalion is published Monday throuik 'J during Texas AH-M regular semesters, except lotKi;; and examination periods. Mail subscriptions inr. per semester, 5.S.S.25 per school year and ftt? 1 ' year. Advertising rates furnished on request. , Our address: The Battalion, 216 Reed Building, Texas A&M University, College Suii* 1 77H4K. Editorial staff phone number: (409)845-0 venising: (409) 845-2611. a Second class postage paid at College Station, TXc POSTMASTER: Send address changes to ion, Texas A&M University, College Station. 77843 1 ih af Pi