Technician -- September 6, 2012

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TECHNICIAN          

thursday september

6

2012

Raleigh, North Carolina

technicianonline.com

DNC keeps crowd fired up CLINTON CAPS OFF DAY TWO OF CONVENTION Mark Herring Editor-in-Chief

Former president Bill Clinton announced the Democratic Party’s nomination of President Barack Obama Wednesday night during the second day of the Democratic National Convention. Addressing a crowd of 35,000, Clinton outlined the success of Obama’s term, saying he saved the U.S. from slipping into a depression and revitalizing jobs. “We Democrats believe the economy works better with a strong middle class,” Clinton said. “We believe that we’re all in this together is a far better philosophy than you’re on your own.” Clinton criticized last week’s Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., saying the Republican’s rhetoric will not result in sound policy. “In Tampa, a few days ago, we heard a lot of talk,” Clinton said. “In Tampa, the Republican argument was simple: We left [Obama] a total mess, he didn’t clean it up fast enough, so fire him and put us back in. But they said it well. They looked good, they sounded good.” Clinton said the Republicans convinced him they were committed to improving the nation. “We just need to pay attention to what those commitments are,” Clinton said. “They want to go back to the same policies that got us into trouble in the first place.” Though Clinton focused his

JORDAN MOORE/TECHNICIAN

President Barack Obama and former president Bill Clinton embrace after Clinton’s speech at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday night.

speech on criticizing the GOP, he also praised the president for his efforts to bridge party gaps. “Why does cooperation work better than constant conflict?” Clinton asked the cheering crowd. “[The republicans] think government is always the enemy, and comprise is weakness. You don’t have to hate the president to disagree with him. One of the reasons to re-elect President Obama is because he is still committed to constructive cooperation…

he chose a vice president who ran against him in 2008. President Obama appointed several members of his cabinet though they supported Hilary in the primary. Heck, he even appointed Hilary.” Clinton said Washington, D.C. needs more partnership over partisanship, and that Obama needs another four years for his plans to come to fruition. “No president—not me, not any of my predecessors—no one could

have fully repaired all the damage [Obama] found in just four years,” Clinton said. Clinton commended the president’s efforts on creating the Affordable Care Act, creating jobs, improving energy security and making college more affordable, saying he believes in all his heart in Obama. “On all these issues, I know we’re better off because President Obama made the decisions he did,” Clinton said. “Is the president satisfied?

Iowa remains a hotbed of campaign activity Mark Herring Editor-in-Chief

ALEX SANCHEZ/TECHNICIAN

Performance artist Vermin Supreme protests at the intersection of Caldwell and Stonewall streets in Charlotte, N.C. Sept. 4, 2012.

Pro-choice, pro-life protesters square off Jonathan Stout Staff Writer

Local Christian groups took to the streets of downtown Charlotte to protest the Democratic Party’s pro-choice stance. Though most of these demonstrations were nonviolent, some passers-by were disturbed by the group’s use of unsettling photos. Activist and performance artist Vermin Supreme, 62, stood at the corner of the Charlotte Convention Center challenging the anti-Obama groups with a megaphone. “I’m exercising my First Amendment rights in the U.S. Constitution of free assembly, and I’m dicking with the fetus lovers over there a little bit, for fun,” Supreme said. “They’ve been dissing me, and it’s really beautiful.”

The sometimes-vulgar megaphone conversation could be heard from blocks away, attracting crowds who chose to cheer various sides of the raucous exchange. Along with disturbing photos of dead fetuses, the pro-life groups blared Christian music, paying no attention to the rain. Supreme, shirtless with a rubber boot on his head, was watched closely by police, who did not interfere. “You know, these Democrats, I don’t get as much interaction as I did with the Republicans for some reason, but it’s okay, I’m having a good time,” Supreme said. Brenton Lengel, 29, and a member of the Occupy Wall Street movement, made the trip to Charlotte to

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Paul Ryan visited Cedar Rapids, Iowa, appealing to students at Kirkwood Community College, continuing his campaign as the Republican vice presidential nominee. Though this was Ryan’s first visit to Kirkwood, the college is no stranger to visits from prominent politicians. President Barack Obama visited the school in July in addition to his seven trips to Iowa since January, and Herman Cain spoke at an event in downtown Cedar Rapids Wednesday. The president, Vice President Joe Biden and first lady Michelle Obama plan to stop by Kirkwood’s campus Friday, according to Steve Ovel, associate vice president of government relations at Kirkwood. He said though Iowa’s a swing state, he hasn’t heard much news from campaign speeches. “I didn’t hear anything in Mr. Ryan’s presentation that I didn’t hear before,” Ovel said. “We are a battleground state, but we’re nothing special—the issues in Iowa aren’t very much different than what this country is facing.” Unlike many typical swing states, Iowa is economically sound, according to Ovel. The state’s robust unemployment rate of 5.2 percent and budget in surplus don’t imply that Iowans are hurting financially, according to

Ovel. The six electoral votes that the Romney and Obama campaigns are vying for boil down to hot button social issues and labor policies, Ovel said. “Though Iowa is important because of the caucus, for this election, it’s down to just the number of votes,” Ovel said. With an election down to the wire, the presidential campaigns are taking the six electoral votes seriously. Ryan addressed 400 people at Kirkwood, only 100 of whom were students. Harping on the mark of the national debt reaching $16 million, Ryan warned the crowd of the threat of staggering debt. “Of all the broken promises from President Obama, this is probably the worst one, because this debt is threatening jobs today,” Ryan said. “An Obama re-election would signify a nation in debt, a nation in decline. We will not stand by and watch this country slip through our fingers.” Ryan has struggled to appeal to students and while campaigning in Iowa in August; he was haggled by students while speaking at the state fair. Ovel said the majority of the crowd visiting Kirkwood was comprised of older workers. Lisa Bolte, 43, attended the event and said she sides with Ryan because

IOWA continued page 2

Of course not, but are we better off than we were four years ago.” Ending his speech on a wary note, Clinton said he fears that if the Republicans take power, they will strip Medicaid and Medicare of their functional budgets. “We cannot afford to give the reigns of government to someone will double down on trickle down,” Clinton said. “My fellow Americans…you must vote, and you must reelect President Barack Obama.”

insidetechnician

Occupy movement marches on in Charlotte Protestors gather outside the DNC. See page 2.

Religious groups sound off at convention See page 3.

Carolina to Kibera inspires students far and wide Students travel to an East African slum to volunteer. See page 6.

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Technician -- September 6, 2012 by NC State Student Media - Issuu