D10

I learned that Virginians have given more to the Republican party than the Democratic. Also, my zip code (which is more in the county) gives less than Nell's zip code (which is in the city). I learned that Phil Wendel, who runs ACAC in Charlottesville, has given $50,000 to the Republican party. Out of the top 25 individual donors in America, only one gives to the Democratic party and 24 give to the Republican party. However, the Democratic party has raised more from individual donations in all races except the House.

I have learned that we spend too much money on campaigns, and people should put their money elsewhere.

D9

The subject of this report is how involved US citizens think we should be in foreign affairs. Presidential candidates could use this in the debate to decide whether or not they should seem eager to get involved or not. They should probably be sure that they don't sound too forceful if most Americans are more concerned with domestic issues.


ASK FORM 2 ONLY [N=749]:
Thinking about Afghanistan…
Q.43F2 From what you’ve read and heard, do you think Barack Obama is removing U.S. troops from
Afghanistan too quickly, not quickly enough or is he handling this about right?

Over time, more people (it's gone up to 50%) support the President in his time line of moving troops out of Afghanistan.

I actually feel like this is a pretty neutral question. However, if you wanted to make is bias towards the "too quickly" answer you could say:
Based on the fact that Afghanistan is still highly unstable, do you think Obama is removing U.S. troops from Afghanistan too quickly, not quickly enough, or about right?


This survey was collected October 4-7 2012. The total sample size was 1,511 adults for all 50 states and DC. I believe the margin of error was 3%. And the confidence of 95%.

D7

Jeremy Epstein- “Unemployment, can I support myself after I graduate?”

• Romney
• Pell Grant program must keep growing
• I want you to be able to get a job, I know what it takes
• More debt-less jobs (last 4 years)
• Bankruptcy was necessary for GM
• Obama
• Make sure we are creating good paying jobs in this country
• 5 million jobs created last 4 years in private sector alone
• Manufacturing jobs in this country
• Change tax-code so companies invest here
• Control our own energy (ten years from now)
• Invested in new energy
• 5 point plan? No, 1 point plan. Wealthy class is what matters to Romney

Tricolla- “Is the energy department in charge of lower gas prices?”

• Obama
• Last 4 years, increased oil and coal production
• Doubled the fuel efficiency on cars by next decade
• Invested in wind, solar, biofuels, etc.
• Create jobs and also find energy in America
• Must think about 10 years from now
• Romney wants oil companies to write regulate
• Yes demand has gone up but the production is going on
• Romney
• Look at Obama’s policy
• None of the oil came from federal land (actually gas production down 14%)
• Wants to use our renewables
• Obama did not let North Dakota drill for oil
• Too many regulations on energy resources?
• Some pipeline
• Then there was a cat fight...
• I fact checked
• http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2012/apr/13/crossroads-gps/crossroads-gps-ad-oil-production-obama/

Follano- “Deductions in government and taxes, Romney, ahem?”

• Romney
• Bring rates down
• Simplify the tax code
• Middle income should pay less taxes
• Top 5% will stay the same
• Middle income people will get a tax break
• President’s spending will mean more taxes
• I will not let that happen- and will get a balanced budget
• Top 5% will continue to pay 60% of  the income tax still
• Bring rates down, easier for small businesses to flourish
• Obama
• Middle class families- relief
• They have been hit hard
• Republicans in congress will not let tax breaks appen for 98%
• Back to bill clinton
• Romney said it is fair for him pay less taxes
• Obama fundamentally disagrees
• Small businesses tax cuts for hiring veterans
• Top-down economics will not work

Fenton- “Females making 72% of men’s income?”

• Obama
• Single mom raised me
• Grandmother trained people who would become her boss
• First bill he signed was protecting income rights (I think)
• This is an everybody issue
• Do not tolerate discrimination
• Women need advocacy- Romney doesn’t do that.
• Healthcare for women- Romney feels comfortable deciding for woman, Obama no.
• Healthcare should cover contraception
• Romney said employers should be able to make decision on contraception
• Romney will cut planned parenthood
• Women need all opportunities that men have
• Romney
• Cabinet all men so he found women.
• His cabinet had more women in the senior positions than any other state
• You need to be more flexible with women
• Employers need to be flexible

Susan Cats- “Fear a return to Bush if Romney wins, and what is the biggest difference?”

• Romney
• “Every woman should have access to contraception”
• Okay different from Bush
• 5 year plan, all energy can come from North America now with new technology (different from bush)
• Trade- crack down on China, Bush didn’t
• Balanced budget- bush didn’t
• Obama
• He did come in during tough times
• Still digging the way out of policies
• 31 months of job growth
• Romney has same tax cuts as Bush
• Getting tough on China? Romney invested in companies that outsourced to China
• InvestING in companies that are building security for China
• We have made trade regulations that levels the playing field
• Saved 1,000 jobs from china and kept in America
• Bush didn’t turn medicare into a voucher
• Bush was open to immigration
• Bush didn’t close planned parenthood

Michael Jones- “Most things I need are expensive, why should I vote for you again?”

• Obama
• I did collect taxes for small businesses, middle class families, ended war in Iraq, and killed Bin Ladin
• Made sure healthcare companies couldn’t jerk you around
• Passed toughest wall-street reforms since 1930s
• Created a lot of jobs
• Saved auto-industry
• Of course, however, you are struggling
• End deficit in a reasonable way
• Energy of the future very important
• Commitments I made I kept and if not it is not for the lack of trying.
• Romney is going to keep some bad committments
• Romney
• 4 years have not been that good...
• With Obama you will know what you will get
• Can’t afford another 4 years
• Did not get unemployment rate where he said
• Said he would reform Social Security and Medicare
• Said he would deal with immigration problem, didn’t file it
• Doubled deficit

Osorio- “What do you plan on doing for immigrants who don’t have a green card and are productive members of society?”

• Romney
• Shouldn’t have to have a lawyer
• Have to stop illegal immigration
• Employment verification system
• No driver licenses
• Kids of illegal immigrants can have a pathway (army)
• Obama
• Fix a broken system
• We did make it easier to do it legally
• More border patrol
• Undocumented workers is down
• Go after criminals, not students. Not workers
• Young people, brought here, need a safe pathway to citizenship
• Non discrimination. Police officers cannot stop people based on looks
• I have been trying

Libya “State department denied extra security, who and why?”

• Obama
• I said beef up security all around, investigate exactly what happened, when folks mess with America we mess with them.
• Romney turned National Security into a political issue super quick.
• I am ultimately responsible
• Romney
• Buck does stop at Obama’s desk
• Was a terrorist attack, took a long for that to be figured out
• Day following, Obama had a political event

D6

I emailed every Social Studies teacher and arranged for Brennan to visit their classes for some question and answer sessions during his lunch. Brennan and I also had a little bit of debate prep.

D4

Domestic and Foreign
Libya

• Ambassador Killed
• Biden
• We will find them
• Obama ended Iraq (Romney opposes)
• Obama ends Afghanistan in 2014
• Killed Bin Ladin
• What Ryan (my friend) said was not accurate:
• Ryan cut embassy security
• Romney did make a political statement TOO early
• No weakness- Obama has repaired relationships
• Intelligence Community told us there were protests
• Did not know they needed more security
• Ryan
• Took president 2 weeks to acknowledge terrorist attack
• There should be military detail (there is in Paris)
• Iraq- don’t want to lose what veterans fought for  
• 2014 (transition not end?)
• On that day- we had the same position. Never too early to state our beliefs
• Americans cannot apologize for standing up for their beliefs
• Iran (both agree can’t have nuclear weapons) Military strike?
• Ryan
• Cannot allow nuclear weapons
• Obama: 1 weapon to 5 capability
• Administration has no credibility and military option not on the table
• Need to be credible
• Can we fix in 2 months? Probably longer
• Got to get them to change their minds
• Nuclear Armadon is worse than other war (will make an arms race)
• Biden
• How are they going to prevent war? But military action? huh?
• We can militarily crush the Iranians
• My friend- Ryan
• Iranians don’t have weapon to but it in
• Obama has done the best
• Avoid war
• Not allowed to have weapons. And they don’t have a weapon
• Calm down. Iran is isolated.
• Ryan be lying
• We have the world be happened
• War should always be the last resort

Economy

• Jobs
• Biden
• Will get it under 6%
• It was in freefall and recession
• Rescued GM
• Cut taxes for middle class
• Romney said let detroit go bankrupt
• 47% thrown out!
• Oh my goodness he just got so ridiculous cannot even take notes
• Romney can be a good man
• My wife and daughter in a accident (oh my gosh)
• Romney did want to let the car industry drop
• “Show me a policy”
• Recession did not fall out of the sky
• Ryan asked for stimulus
• “I love my friend here!”
• Ryan
• Joe and I are from similar towns
• Economy is limping
• Heading in the wrong direction
• 15% are in poverty
• Energy independent in North America (where is it in North America that they are getting it?)
• Romney is a car guy
• Champion small businesses
• Romney is a good man. cares about 100% of this country
• When could you get it below a 6% unemployment rate? no answer
• Medicare and Entitlements (will benefits have to change?)
• Biden
• Ryan
• Medicare was there for us (gma, ma, and him)
• Don’t make medicare into Obamacare
• Don’t change rules for 55 plus
• 100% coverage for seniors who can’t afford it
• bipartisan

D3

1st ad: Peace Little Girl

In 1964, this ad was sponsored by Lyndon Johnson. It is a very sad ad, and makes the viewer think that if they don't vote for Johnson all the little innocent girls in the world will be blown up.

2nd ad: Family/Children

In 1988, George Bush sponsored this ad. It is literally the most picturesque painting of the Bush family. It makes him look very down to earth and the type of guy that everyone would be comfortable with giving power.

3rd ad: First Time

In 1996, this ad was sponsored by Bill Clinton. It uses the innocence of children and shows kids being corrupted by smoking, Bill Clinton, this ad says, will help end teenage smoking.

Contrast Questions:

I thought that the Peace Little Girl was the most moving because it was so depressing that I would definitely vote for Johnson.

Over time, there were more attacks on the other candidates. Also, there was more a focus on domestic policy than foreign policy.

D2

Nell and I organized for Brennan and Gabi to visit two different classrooms for a brief speech and question and answer session. There was also candy involved.

C9

• Jobs ( Supposed to be)

• Romney
• Happy Anniversary, Mr. Pres!
• Not going to cut taxes for rich
• North American energy independent
• Skilled American
• Champion Small Business
• I am not going to do a 5 trillion tax cut
• Will not add to the deficit
• Obama
• Anniversary... yikes
• Private Sector and Auto Industry have gone up
• Invest in Education and Training
• New sources of energy
• Change tax code to help small businesses and businesses that invest in the US
• Keep Tuition Loan
• Continue tax cuts for small businesses and families
• Back to Bill Clinton taxes
• Deficit
• Romney
• Eliminate programs that aren’t worth China’s money
• Planned Parenthood
• PBS
• Obamacare
• Obama doubled the deficit
• Obama (forgot to pay attention)
• Social Security/Medicare
• Obama
• Structure is sound. Romney and him have similar views
• Grandmother
• Name itself invokes dependability
• Americans earn it
• Medicare
• Saved money
• Lower prescription drug costs
• Romney- give voucher to Seniors and could go out and buy health care. But would cost more b/c health care would go up. Over time, medicare will collapse and cost like 6,000 a year for seniors.
• If you repeal Obamacare seniors will have to pay 600 more and also have to co pays
• Romney
• No changes for current retirees or close to
• Obama- cutting from program
• Repeal Obamacare
• Romney proposes changes for younger people (future)
• Totally ducked the question about vouchers
• Regulation in Economy
• Romney
• Repeal Dodd-Frank, not thought through
• Still need regulation
• Obama
• Can’t repeal it!
• Health Care (woot)
• Romney
• Repeal Obamacare
• Adds to cost of family
• Take the money from Obamacare to seniors (??)
• Too much control
• It has killed job
• Craft State-level healthcare
• I compromised with Democrats, Obama is partisan.
• Obama
• Families
• Obamacare
• If you have insurance- we don’t take it away
• Insurances companies can’t jerk you around
• If you don’t have health insurance- group plan that offers lower discounts
• Romney basically did the same thing on a state level
• Oh no. It was a republican idea!

Notes:

Romney definitely lied about a few things and deflected at least one question. Obama didn't attack Romney as much as I thought he would and seemed a little bit weaker. They both had formal attire and didn't agree on more than three things.