Edition 66, Special Edition Wednesday, October 7, 2020
thenortherner.com @northernermedia
ELECTION 2020 Trump v. Biden: Students on who they’re voting for and why Pages 4 and 5
How to Vote
Information on voting, poll locations and more
Page 3
02 News
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
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A conversation with Amy McGrath
Natalie Hamren
PHOTO BY BILLY KEENEY
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
In mid-September, Kentucky Democrat Senate candidate Amy McGrath spoke with NKU students and community members about the importance of voting, her stance on issues and ways to encourage your friends to vote. The Northerner spoke with McGrath after the event and asked her about gun violence, student debt, LGBTQ+ protections and more. The Northerner: NKU ranks 5/5 on the Campus Pride Index, a National Listing of LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges & Universities. If elected to the Senate, what protections will you offer LGBTQ+ Kentuckians? Amy McGrath: “Have you heard of the Equality Act? I would be 100% for the Equality Act. I think that’s something that we need to do at a national level. I’m somebody that always believes in diversity, believes that we need to protect people who have been disadvantaged and that includes LGBTQ. I’m somebody that served in the military, and when, in my mind, at a time of change, even in the military, and I always say to people, ‘you know, in combat, you know what we care about? Can you do your job? Are you somebody of character? Are you somebody of integrity?’ And it’s not who you go home to at night or not who you marry, but can we count on you? And that’s the attitude that I have that everybody is treated with dignity and respect no matter who they are. And many times, we need to stand up and make sure that everybody has those same protections under the law. Okay, that’s what I want to do. That’s why I’m for the Equality Act.” TN: How are you appealing to college-aged voters who are seeking progressive candidates this election year? Especially to those that feel discouraged due to their choice of candidates not being nominated. McGrath: “I would say, you know, our democracy is an amazing thing. And we have, so for example, the primary, my message to anybody who voted in the primary—whether they voted for me, or whether they voted for somebody else, whether they voted for somebody who was more progressive, perhaps—is, ‘I’m with you. I want change. I want change, too.’ So we got to come together and make that happen. And we can make that change that we need in this country. We have, as I mentioned, here today, we have a senator who’s holding up 400 bills right now. He won’t even let our democracy work.
So the first step of that is getting rid of him. That’s what I’m focused on. That’s what I would tell people.” TN: Expensive college education has left younger generations with crippling student debt that older generations never had to experience. What would you do to help those in debt repay their loans or those considering higher education, even if they can’t—or don’t want to— participate in your National Service Plan? McGrath: “First thing we need to do is get the Department of Education working again. We have a debt relief— federal debt relief program. It’s already there. Betsy DeVos has rejected 99% of the applicants to that program. There’s no reason for that. There needs to be robust oversight, and we need to be standing up and saying, ‘what’s wrong with this program if 99% of the applicants are?’ So that’s the first thing I would do. I touched on the National Service Plan, that’s an idea that extends beyond the military … that, to me, is a very viable program because it would be one for one, serving back to your country. But, also, making sure that the federal government invests in colleges and universities. If you pull the string on why college debt has gone up and up and up over the last 15 years, it’s because we, under Mitch McConnell, we have not invested in colleges and universities at the same rate we did 20 years ago. We haven’t invested in research and development. We haven’t put federal dollars into education, into colleges. And what have colleges had to do? What has NKU had to do? They’ve had to raise the tuition rates; they’ve had to dump that onto their students. So in my mind, let’s change that. Let’s have the federal government help colleges and universities. If the federal government can help big business with $500 billion slush fund in the middle of a coronavirus [pandemic], the federal government should be helping colleges in universities. Let me give you an example: the HEROES act that the House passed had, I think it was, like, five times the amount of money for education than Mitch McConnell’s little—I call it teeny, teeny tiny—bill that he put. I’m not even sure he had any money in there. That’s the problem right there. We’ve got to get leaders that understand that we need more federal resources for colleges so that we can keep tuition rates down.” ... continued on Page 7
Ed 66, Special Edition
News 03
Election 2020: What you need to know Natalie Hamren
ILLUSTRATIONS BY BRIDGETTE GOOTEE
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Here’s what you need to know.
plenty of resources to help you cast a ballot. This year, more states are offering absentee voting due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit the website for your state’s secretary of state to find absentee ballot and early voting information. You can also visit vote.gov to easily access your state’s website. Be sure to check deadlines!
Can I get time off work to go vote?
In Kentucky, if you are working on Election Day, you may be entitled to a maximum of four consecutive hours off from work in order to vote or cast an absentee ballot if you make a request for time off with your employer. Your employer may specify the hours you may take leave to cast a ballot. Check with your employer before Election Day.
In Ohio, voters will be able to vote for new representatives to be elected to the United States House of Representatives. In Indiana, Hooisers will be voting for new representatives to be elected to the United States House of Representatives. In addition, Democrat Woody Myers is challenging Republican incumbent Eric Holcomb for Governor.
Are classes held on election day?
No, the University is closed and there are no classes on Election Day—Tuesday, Nov. 3. Since most classes are held online, however, you still may have work due on that day. Check with your professors and your syllabus.
In Kentucky, the nation has its eyes on former Lieutenant Colonel Amy McGrath (Democrat) challenging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Republican) to represent Kentuckians in the United States Senate. The Commonwealth will also be voting for new representatives to the United States House of Representatives.
Where do I go to vote?
If you’re voting in person on Election Day, you will vote at your assigned polling location based on the address you used to register. Find your polling location at GoVoteKY.com, MyOhioVote. com or IndianaVoters.in.gov. In Kentucky, polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time. In Ohio, polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. In Indiana, polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time. If you are in line before the polls close, you can vote.
I can’t make it to the polls. What can I do?
While these big races are important, the down ballot races and ballot measures are equally important. Use resources like ballotpedia.org, vote.org and local journalism outlets to make informed decisions on smaller races in your area.
You can vote by mail, request an absentee ballot or vote early. Check with your county clerk’s office or visit vote.gov to find more information.
How do I know if I’m registered to vote?
An easy way to check if you’re registered to vote is by going to vote.gov. The website allows you to register to vote, check registration status, request absentee ballots and more. Click what state you’re in and vote.gov will send you to your state’s voting website.
Can I vote if I’m not a U.S. citizen?
No, it’s a federal offense for a non-citizen to register to vote or cast a ballot in any national, state or local election. What do I bring with me to vote?
To vote in Kentucky and Indiana, you need a valid state photo I.D., like a driver’s license, or a non-photo I.D. like a Social Security card. In Ohio, you need an I.D. or a government document which shows your name and current address.
What if I don’t live around here?
If you live in a different state, there are
What’s going on in this election, anyway?
Here are some big takeaways for what to look for on the ballot. The United States will vote for its upcoming president. Republican incumbent, President Trump, is squaring off against former Vice President Joe Biden, a Democrat. Trump has led a divisive four years in office, and Biden promises unity for the nation.
@northernermedia
04 News
News 05
2020 Presidential Election: Trump vs. Biden Students on who they’re voting for and why Rachel Smith
This is the first year freshman Jimmy Renner will be eligible to vote. As someone who has been interested in politics since an early age, he said Nov. 3 is a date he’s looked forward to for half a decade. Since then, Renner has undergone many political changes. Growing up in a Republican-centric family, he identified as a conservative in his early childhood. In 2016, he became a devout Bernie Sanders supporter and organized an
“Anti-Trump League” in middle school. Now, at the age of 18, he plans to cast his first ballot for Biden. “I will always go for the candidate who connects better with people and represents my views,” Renner said. According to Renner, he plans to vote for Biden based on many issues of his platform, such as expanding America’s health care system, raising the minimum wage to $15 and expanding the rights and protections of the LGBTQIA+ and minority communities. “As an LGBTQIA+ person, that’s something very important to me because while we have made progress for the LGBTQIA+ community, there’s a lot more that we can do,” Renner said. Renner also supports Biden’s pick of vice presidential nominee, Kamala Harris. “I firmly believe, especially for Black Lives Matter movement happening right now, we needed a woman of color to be the nominee,” Renner said. “Right now, it is very clear in America that there’s systemic racism, and I think Biden made a smart choice because she’s not just a woman of color but she also has a rela-
tively progressive history in the Senate.” Renner said he was inspired by Biden’s background and how it has shaped how Biden behaves in politics. “At the end of the day, most of his votes are for the everyday person because he knows the struggles of an everyday person. Even though he doesn’t live like that right now, he used to,” Renner said. “The reason he ran for office is to help the everyday person.” While Renner currently identifies as a Democratic Socialist, he said he has always researched both sides of a political issue and doesn’t vote by party. He encourages voters to conduct their own research into the candidate that would best represent their values. Renner said he plans to cast his absentee ballot in his hometown of Louisville and work the polls in Jefferson County. This will also be senior Taylor Hurley’s first experience with voting, and she has already cast her mail-in ballot for Biden. According to Hurley, she was motivated to vote this year because she had easier access to the absentee ballot
and she recently became more politically informed. Hurley describes herself as an independent voter who votes based on issues rather than party lines. According to Hurley, she has been disappointed by the current leaders in office and believes there needs to be crucial changes in leadership in both Congress and the executive office. “I’m not anti-Republican, but there’s been a lot of them who have just done whatever the President has said without thinking of moral repercussions or even what they personally believe,” Hurley said. “We need a new group of politicians who are more willing to follow their moral compass and do what’s right for the country, regardless of where their political lines may be.” Hurley said she shares several ideologies with Biden and has appreciated his recent actions, such as his serious response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I’m a big fan of science. I’m a psychology major,” Hurley said. “I love that he’s really looking at the science and looking at the research. He’s acting intelligently and compassionately towards others.” Hurley said her identity as a Christian has also made her support Biden, who advocates for more economic relief to the lower class. “I truly believe that human life and human well-being comes before the economy every time,” Hurley said. “In my opinion, even if it means the upper class has to raise their taxes a little bit, it’s worth it if it means someone in a lower class who’s in poverty can get the help they need.” Hurley, Renner and Bryant stressed the importance of not just voting in this election but also being an informed voter. “If you’re gonna vote, don’t vote by the party. If you grew up Republican, you don’t have to vote Republican. If you grew up strictly Democrat—I would love for you to vote Democrat, but you don’t have to vote Democrat,” Bryant said. “You should do research. Being an informed voter is doing the research.”
Ruthie Franzen, sophomore marketing major, plans to vote for President Donald Trump in the upcoming general election. She said one of her main reasons is that Trump is pro-life, which is something that’s important to her since she’s Catholic. Franzen also said she’s voting for Trump because she believes he’s done a good job with keeping the economy and employment rates up and unemployment rates low. She also said Trump has an “America first” priority. Franzen said she looks for a candidate who doesn’t like to be pushed around and one that can negotiate and work with people. “I don’t really look for someone who’s a pushover or just looking to please everyone because, obviously, if you’re in that position, you have to be able to do what’s best for the country—not necessarily to try to help each individual person—because in the end, if you help the overall country, then you’re helping each individual person,” Franzen said. She also said she looks for a candidate who is willing to ignore the hate thrown at them. She said she believes Trump has done a good job at that because “he has gotten hammered ever since he stepped foot in the office.” Franzen said she feels informed enough about her choice of candidate. She watches various news channels to get differing opinions. “That’s something I’ve learned, not only in college but also in high school, is that you can’t just use one media source because that can be biased in every way, shape or form,” Franzen said. “You kind of have to branch out to different media sources.” She said she gets news from both the left and right on social media. She also gets news and information from her parents, peers and professors. “I’m just getting all the different views thrown at me, and I just soak it all in and then let that develop my opinion on everything,” Franzen said. Franzen said she thinks she’ll always vote Republican because the party’s position on different topics generally aligns
REPUBLICAN PARTY
Creative writing major Sarah Bryant said she has voted in every single election ever since she turned 18. Now 23, she was initially discouraged because of the current pandemic. Diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), she is considered at “high-risk” and cannot safely vote in person like she has in the past. But she won’t let that fear stop her, Bryant said. She has ordered a mail-in ballot and plans to vote for former Vice President Joe Biden. Bryant describes herself as “a liberal through and through.” She has been an avid supporter of Bernie Sanders since 2016, and she still plans to vote for the Democratic party in this election despite Sanders not securing the nomination. “Bernie has said that he supports Biden, which makes me feel more comfortable as it gets closer to elections,” Bryant said. According to Bryant, women’s rights are extremely important to her. She is also a mother and works with children, so policies related to and treatment of children are also prioritized. “Definitely being a non-traditional student [and] having that upbringing, not everything is handed to me. I definitely worked very hard to get where I’m at with my degree and in my personal life,” Bryant said. “I think economic status [and] social status definitely has influenced my behavior and voting.” When she receives her absentee ballot, Bryant said she plans to fill it out while talking with her eight-year-old daughter about the importance of voting in a democracy.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY
NEWS EDITOR
Natalie Hamren EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
with her beliefs.
that we protect our assets at home, as well assets all over the world and our allies,” King said. “It all comes down to the economy. It all comes down to whether or not you actually have the money and cash to keep yourself afloat.” King said he tends to vote for Republican party because he usually agrees with it. He said he doesn’t agree with liberal policies or ideologies. “When it comes to conservatism, when it comes to the Republican Party, I find that it gives us a better economy. It gives us a better national place in a global scale,” King said. In the future, King said he thinks he’ll always vote Republican based on the party’s historical precedent and his personal beliefs. “Do I think that the Republican Party is going to lose me? No. I believe the Republican Party is going to remain the true American party for everyone and not just a few people,” King said.
Brad King, junior business management major, is also voting for Trump in the upcoming election. He said he thinks Trump has accomplished a lot in his four years, including issues Trump discussed on his campaign trail. King said he looks for a candidate with skilled experience who could unify the nation. He said he looks at what an individual has done before and/or while they’re in office, their stances on issues and what they’ve done in office. “When I see a president who’s actually engaging and trying to help out, who’s actually trying to unify, that’s what matters to me,” King said. King said the economy is an issue that is important to him. He said he believes in the power of an economy to help individuals who may have been disenfranchised by economic circumstances. “In general, once you have a strong economy, and when you have an economy boosting up government programs, Democrat and Republican party illusgovernment issues—such as the mili- trations by Abby Behrens. tary—we can eventually then make sure
04 News
News 05
2020 Presidential Election: Trump vs. Biden Students on who they’re voting for and why Rachel Smith
This is the first year freshman Jimmy Renner will be eligible to vote. As someone who has been interested in politics since an early age, he said Nov. 3 is a date he’s looked forward to for half a decade. Since then, Renner has undergone many political changes. Growing up in a Republican-centric family, he identified as a conservative in his early childhood. In 2016, he became a devout Bernie Sanders supporter and organized an
“Anti-Trump League” in middle school. Now, at the age of 18, he plans to cast his first ballot for Biden. “I will always go for the candidate who connects better with people and represents my views,” Renner said. According to Renner, he plans to vote for Biden based on many issues of his platform, such as expanding America’s health care system, raising the minimum wage to $15 and expanding the rights and protections of the LGBTQIA+ and minority communities. “As an LGBTQIA+ person, that’s something very important to me because while we have made progress for the LGBTQIA+ community, there’s a lot more that we can do,” Renner said. Renner also supports Biden’s pick of vice presidential nominee, Kamala Harris. “I firmly believe, especially for Black Lives Matter movement happening right now, we needed a woman of color to be the nominee,” Renner said. “Right now, it is very clear in America that there’s systemic racism, and I think Biden made a smart choice because she’s not just a woman of color but she also has a rela-
tively progressive history in the Senate.” Renner said he was inspired by Biden’s background and how it has shaped how Biden behaves in politics. “At the end of the day, most of his votes are for the everyday person because he knows the struggles of an everyday person. Even though he doesn’t live like that right now, he used to,” Renner said. “The reason he ran for office is to help the everyday person.” While Renner currently identifies as a Democratic Socialist, he said he has always researched both sides of a political issue and doesn’t vote by party. He encourages voters to conduct their own research into the candidate that would best represent their values. Renner said he plans to cast his absentee ballot in his hometown of Louisville and work the polls in Jefferson County. This will also be senior Taylor Hurley’s first experience with voting, and she has already cast her mail-in ballot for Biden. According to Hurley, she was motivated to vote this year because she had easier access to the absentee ballot
and she recently became more politically informed. Hurley describes herself as an independent voter who votes based on issues rather than party lines. According to Hurley, she has been disappointed by the current leaders in office and believes there needs to be crucial changes in leadership in both Congress and the executive office. “I’m not anti-Republican, but there’s been a lot of them who have just done whatever the President has said without thinking of moral repercussions or even what they personally believe,” Hurley said. “We need a new group of politicians who are more willing to follow their moral compass and do what’s right for the country, regardless of where their political lines may be.” Hurley said she shares several ideologies with Biden and has appreciated his recent actions, such as his serious response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I’m a big fan of science. I’m a psychology major,” Hurley said. “I love that he’s really looking at the science and looking at the research. He’s acting intelligently and compassionately towards others.” Hurley said her identity as a Christian has also made her support Biden, who advocates for more economic relief to the lower class. “I truly believe that human life and human well-being comes before the economy every time,” Hurley said. “In my opinion, even if it means the upper class has to raise their taxes a little bit, it’s worth it if it means someone in a lower class who’s in poverty can get the help they need.” Hurley, Renner and Bryant stressed the importance of not just voting in this election but also being an informed voter. “If you’re gonna vote, don’t vote by the party. If you grew up Republican, you don’t have to vote Republican. If you grew up strictly Democrat—I would love for you to vote Democrat, but you don’t have to vote Democrat,” Bryant said. “You should do research. Being an informed voter is doing the research.”
Ruthie Franzen, sophomore marketing major, plans to vote for President Donald Trump in the upcoming general election. She said one of her main reasons is that Trump is pro-life, which is something that’s important to her since she’s Catholic. Franzen also said she’s voting for Trump because she believes he’s done a good job with keeping the economy and employment rates up and unemployment rates low. She also said Trump has an “America first” priority. Franzen said she looks for a candidate who doesn’t like to be pushed around and one that can negotiate and work with people. “I don’t really look for someone who’s a pushover or just looking to please everyone because, obviously, if you’re in that position, you have to be able to do what’s best for the country—not necessarily to try to help each individual person—because in the end, if you help the overall country, then you’re helping each individual person,” Franzen said. She also said she looks for a candidate who is willing to ignore the hate thrown at them. She said she believes Trump has done a good job at that because “he has gotten hammered ever since he stepped foot in the office.” Franzen said she feels informed enough about her choice of candidate. She watches various news channels to get differing opinions. “That’s something I’ve learned, not only in college but also in high school, is that you can’t just use one media source because that can be biased in every way, shape or form,” Franzen said. “You kind of have to branch out to different media sources.” She said she gets news from both the left and right on social media. She also gets news and information from her parents, peers and professors. “I’m just getting all the different views thrown at me, and I just soak it all in and then let that develop my opinion on everything,” Franzen said. Franzen said she thinks she’ll always vote Republican because the party’s position on different topics generally aligns
REPUBLICAN PARTY
Creative writing major Sarah Bryant said she has voted in every single election ever since she turned 18. Now 23, she was initially discouraged because of the current pandemic. Diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes (EDS), she is considered at “high-risk” and cannot safely vote in person like she has in the past. But she won’t let that fear stop her, Bryant said. She has ordered a mail-in ballot and plans to vote for former Vice President Joe Biden. Bryant describes herself as “a liberal through and through.” She has been an avid supporter of Bernie Sanders since 2016, and she still plans to vote for the Democratic party in this election despite Sanders not securing the nomination. “Bernie has said that he supports Biden, which makes me feel more comfortable as it gets closer to elections,” Bryant said. According to Bryant, women’s rights are extremely important to her. She is also a mother and works with children, so policies related to and treatment of children are also prioritized. “Definitely being a non-traditional student [and] having that upbringing, not everything is handed to me. I definitely worked very hard to get where I’m at with my degree and in my personal life,” Bryant said. “I think economic status [and] social status definitely has influenced my behavior and voting.” When she receives her absentee ballot, Bryant said she plans to fill it out while talking with her eight-year-old daughter about the importance of voting in a democracy.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY
NEWS EDITOR
Natalie Hamren EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
with her beliefs.
that we protect our assets at home, as well assets all over the world and our allies,” King said. “It all comes down to the economy. It all comes down to whether or not you actually have the money and cash to keep yourself afloat.” King said he tends to vote for Republican party because he usually agrees with it. He said he doesn’t agree with liberal policies or ideologies. “When it comes to conservatism, when it comes to the Republican Party, I find that it gives us a better economy. It gives us a better national place in a global scale,” King said. In the future, King said he thinks he’ll always vote Republican based on the party’s historical precedent and his personal beliefs. “Do I think that the Republican Party is going to lose me? No. I believe the Republican Party is going to remain the true American party for everyone and not just a few people,” King said.
Brad King, junior business management major, is also voting for Trump in the upcoming election. He said he thinks Trump has accomplished a lot in his four years, including issues Trump discussed on his campaign trail. King said he looks for a candidate with skilled experience who could unify the nation. He said he looks at what an individual has done before and/or while they’re in office, their stances on issues and what they’ve done in office. “When I see a president who’s actually engaging and trying to help out, who’s actually trying to unify, that’s what matters to me,” King said. King said the economy is an issue that is important to him. He said he believes in the power of an economy to help individuals who may have been disenfranchised by economic circumstances. “In general, once you have a strong economy, and when you have an economy boosting up government programs, Democrat and Republican party illusgovernment issues—such as the mili- trations by Abby Behrens. tary—we can eventually then make sure
06 News
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
Who’s who in 2020: a look at this year’s most watched presidential candidates
Billy Keeney
AP FILE PHOTOS BY CHARLIE RIEDEL (LEFT), EVAN VUCCI (RIGHT)
DESIGN EDITOR
JOE BIDEN
DONALD TRUMP
• 77 years old
• 74 years old
• Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania; now resides in Wilmington, Delaware
• Born in Queens, New York; permanent residence is Palm Beach, Florida
• Former Vice President of the United States to President Barack Obama. Former six-term senator to Delware
• Currently 45th President of the United States. Became known to most through “The Apprentice”
• Bio: Joe Biden has held public office for nearly half a century. First as a six-term senator to Delaware, elected in 1972, and then as the former Vice President to President Obama from 2009 to 2017. Biden has campaigned on his government experience and Obama-era legacy to bring unity to the nation after President Trump
• Bio: Donald Trump was a former reality TV show host and NYC real estate entrepreneur before holding his first public office as the 45th president of the United States. His first term, wrought with controversy, has deeply divided the country. His bid for re-election is fueled on immigration, trade and the economy
Ed 66, Special Edition
News 07
A conversation with Amy McGrath Natalie Hamren
...continued from Page 2
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
TN: In May of this year, NKU nursing student Kelsie Small died in Louisville due to gun violence. What measures would you put into place to help prevent gun violence from claiming more lives while also supporting farmers and hunters who rely on guns for their needs? McGrath: “Yeah. Well, I think the first thing that we need to do is—first of all, I’m pro-Second Amendment. I’m a gun owner. My husband’s a gun owner. I think we need to close loopholes in making sure that background checks for all weapons ... Why is that so important? Because we need to keep guns out of the hands of people who could harm our children and our communities. Most Americans, by the way, are, like 90%, are for better background checks. So, I think that’s the start. And, unfortunately, we have a senator who won’t even, again, that’s one of the things that’s sitting on his desk. He won’t even debate it. How is it that something that 90% of Americans are for, we can’t even de-
bate on? Again, this is the exact reason why we got to get rid of Mitch McConnell. So that that would be a start in my mind.” TN: There are over 60,000 cases and over 1,000 dead from coronavirus in Kentucky alone. How would your 9/11-style commission, as described on your website, help mitigate the suffering for Kentuckians now, and how would it help prevent the next pandemic? McGrath: “Well, first of all to help [alleviate] the suffering from Kentuckians now we need more aid. Okay, so that’s not the 9/11-style commission. The 9/11-style commission is what I call an after action report. Those of us that have served in the military, anytime we did a mission, you don’t just go home at night. You figure out what went wrong and what went right in the mission. And I think you could say, viably, we could all say there’s a lot [sic] went wrong here. How is it that a nation that has 5% of the
world’s population has 25% of the world’s COVID cases? How do we have one of the worst trajectories of COVID? I think you got to have that 9/11-style commission to make sure we don’t have this happen again. So, let me give you an example of things I would do differently. Mitch McConnell cut the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institute of Health, the very pandemic response portion of that, he cut it to save a dime. In my mind, that’s like pulling the battery, the double A battery, out of the smoke detector. You want to save that $2, so you pull it out. Meanwhile, the house burns down, you come in with the fire department, you start saying ‘hey, I’m here with the fire department.’ It wouldn’t have, maybe, stopped the fire. But it would have warned us. He [sic] don’t wanna do that. I do. He let the National Stockpile for protective equipment deplete. How can you be the leader of our country, or one of the leaders of our country, and let the very National Stockpile of strategic equipment deplete? For somebody who’s been in the military, I know a little bit about logistics. I know a little bit about that. So, we got to fix that. How about the fact that we have a public health system in this country that is completely underfunded? And then, frankly, how is it that we have the leaders of our country politicize wearing masks? Okay, basic things like that, we have to do this better. One of the things I want to do is make sure
that we have the leaders of the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institute of Health, maybe they shouldn’t be working at the pleasure of the President. Maybe they should be more like the Fed, so that they’re not politicized. Does that make sense? These are some basic things. That’s what I’m talking about. We need a 9/11-style commission to look at how we got here and to make sure that this never happens again. I talked a little bit about making sure that we revamp our health care system ... We have a health care system which ties, a lot of your health insurance is tied to your employment. Well, how’s that work when you lose your job in the middle of the pandemic? You know, maybe we ought to have some other options out there. That’s why I like an Uncle Sam plan. A nonprofit government option that everybody could have that’s not tied to your employment. And if you want it, you can buy it. And if you got kicked off your job in the middle of a pandemic, from no fault of your own, and you can’t afford it, guess what? Uncle Sam could then subsidize the Uncle Sam plan for the life of the pandemic. These are basic things. I think we need a commission to take a look at all of these things so that we don’t have this. 200,000 deaths, six months. At the height of World War II, we were losing 250 Americans a day. We’re losing 1,000 Americans a day. So, yeah, we got to do some things differently.”
HOW TO VOTE IN YOUR STATE OHIO
KENTUCKY
INDIANA
• Mail-in ballots must be requested before or on Oct. 31
• Mail-in ballots must be requested before 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 9
• Mail-in ballots must be requested before 11:59 p.m. Oct. 22
• Early in-person voting for Ohio began on Oct. 6
• Early in-person voting for Kentucky begins Oct. 13
• Early in-person voting for Indiana began on Oct. 6
• Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (local time) on Nov. 3
• Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m (local time) on Nov. 3
• Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3
• Vist MyOhioVote.com for more info
• Vist GoVoteKy.com for more info
• Visit IndianaVoters. in.gov for more info
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Wednesday, October 7, 2020
CALLING ALL STUDENTS:
Make Your Voice Heard The future of our country is on the line this election. It is time for a new generation of leaders. Send me to Washington, and I’ll fix our broken health care system, get our economy back on track, protect our environment and fight for racial justice. Early in-person voting starts October 13. To find your polling place, visit kentuckyvotes.com or call or text 1-833-KYVOTES.
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