President’s Visit Marked a Speech to One of the Last Groups Not Critical of Him

Our own Jerad McHenry wrote a blog post for the Heralds' Muckraker that I wanted to share about the President's recent speech here in Madison discussing his thoughts on education reform. The original link can be found here: http://badgerherald.com/blogs/opinion/2009/11/07/presidents_visit_mar.php.

We, like Jerad, think that Obama needs to wake up and realize that his policies are becoming more and more unpopular. I hope the GOP and those who oppose him can keep up the attacks into 2012 and let people know we are not happy with his choices that are running our country into the ground.



As Obama spoke at Wright Middle School on Wednesday, I couldn’t help but reflect on the president’s choice of speaking venue. In a town famous for its left political leanings, why wouldn’t the president speak to a group of voting adults? So many people in Madison received exactly what they wanted in the election of President Obama. The country is looking more and more like a social democracy every day, and yet, when the president is being slammed across the country for his controversial policies, he chooses to speak to preteens rather than garner positive PR for himself and his party going into the next election cycle by speaking to devoted supporters

Obama talked Wednesday about introducing accountability in public schools and encouraging success in America’s youth. Beyond being the least controversial of the president’s policy initiatives, Obama’s education policy appeals to republicans, mainline democrats, and independents alike. And yet, he spoke in a closed door speech to a bunch of naïve, star-struck adolescents rather than achieve some positive regard in the minds of the voting public when he desperately needs it. Maybe Mr. Obama was simply fulfilling a ceremonial function in visiting the school, but I think there is a deeper, more politically tinged reason for the venue choice.

President Obama sold us all on “hope” and “change.” Few questioned the president’s ability to render positive change in America during the election of 2008, but 10.2 percent unemployment, falling approval ratings, and grassroots opposition as seen in Tea Parties and Town Hall meetings definitely put “change we can believe in” in doubt for many voters. Maybe the fact that less than four months after his election, 8,000 people were on the steps of the state capitol protesting the stimulus package and the president’s tax and spend policies, or maybe it is the healthcare town hall meeting with keynote speaker John Stossel that attracted over 2,000 attendees that makes the president shudder at that thought of delivering a public speech to some of his most loyal supporters in the 2008 election.

Many of the most liberal members of congress have been called out at public forums by there once loyal supporters on a host of issues relevant and irrelevant to the topic of the forums they have held. Perhaps with the quick rise of descent in Dane County, the president would rather speak to a bunch of youth rather than astute voters. Reading the reactions of the students at Wright Middle School to the President’s visit, hope was enough for them, and in a time when the rest of America isn’t so star-struck, Obama needs to speak to any group that is still willing to believe in the bastardized change he pimped to America that now has so many Americans royally pissed.

--Jerad McHenry

Protect Small Businesses, Preserve Our Campus

One of the beauties of this campus is also one of its main attractions, drawing people from all over the city of Madison everyday. Leading directly to the capital, State Street is lined with many trendy boutiques, coffee shops and eateries that will satisfy any craving, even for the pickiest eaters. One could find whatever type of popcorn their heart desired at Vic’s Corn Popper, or create any costume imaginable at Ragstock. If you’re looking for a particular hat, it could probably be found at the Sacred Feather, and if your bike breaks down along the way, take it to the Yellow Jersey. The businesses on State Street are convenient, and they provide the residents of this campus with a variety of places to shop and eat. Simply strolling down State Street is an experience in itself. However, one important observation that many residents may fail to notice is that many of these stores are, in fact, small businesses.

Small businesses make up 99 percent of businesses in this country, and have historically employed half of the U.S. workforce. Our country has been able to thrive because of small businesses, and these businesses have provided jobs for many Americans all over the country. Having a variety of businesses on State not only makes our campus unique, but it provides many students with employment opportunities. I, in fact, work on State at Jimmy John’s, and I am extremely thankful that I even have a job considering the number of people that are unemployed in this country.

I bring this up because small businesses are now being threatened. We are all aware of the ongoing healthcare debate, and I’m sure most people understand the harms associated with preserving the status quo. There’s no doubt in my mind that reform is needed, it’s just the ways in which our government plans on administering these changes worries me. The Democratic plan for a government takeover of healthcare would impose more than $820 billion in new tax hikes, and Democrats want to enact a $544 billion surtax on the so-called “rich” to help pay for this government takeover. According to the IRS, the majority of the “rich” targeted by this surtax are small business owners. Small businesses struggle to stay in business as it is, so by imposing a surtax this could force small business owners to cut costs, leading to millions of job losses. So the question is, why are Democrats pushing a government takeover of health care that will harm small businesses and increase job losses?

This just doesn’t make sense.

Just the other day I passed by Up Spatique on State Street, and a “70 percent everything” sign caught my eye. Well of course I walked in to take a look; I wasn’t going to pass up a sale. But as I glanced around I noticed the store was almost completely bare, and then it hit me that this place was going out of business. It’s upsetting to witness such a misfortune, but it’s even more upsetting to know that every employee of Up is now unemployed. Now imagine our beautiful State Street empty. Picture businesses closing all along the road, with “For Rent” signs in every window. What would that do to our campus? What would we have left?

--Sarah Hertz