Democrats hold debate parties
By Julie Shippen
Of the Emerald
More than 50 people made their way up the
streamer-lined path of a private, off-campus
residence Sunday night to share in the viewing of
a debate between Pres. Ronald Reagan and his
challenger Walter Mondale.
The majority of the gathering was made up of
student members from such campus groups as
Students for Progressive Agenda, ASIJO, Student
Campaign for Disarmament, the Survival Center,
the Incidental Fee Committee and a host of other
local organizations.
But as the nationally televised debate began,
campus politics and committee activities were
completely forgotten, ahd the party-goers moved
little from their seats for the next hour and a half.
The party was organized by IFC member Mary
Kay Menard and her housemates through the
Democratic National Committee, for which
20,000 similar “America for Mondale-Ferraro”
parties were being held nationwide, Menard said.
Each of the Sunday night "celebrations” was
'7 think he (Reagan), true to
form stood up to his image of
being the *Teton president. ’ He
was very evasive.. .he was on
the defensive for the first time
in his four years in office. ”
—Susan Sowards
given the goal of collecting $500, which would go
to the individual state's "get out the vote” cam
paign, Menard added. According to Sherri
Schultz, current director of SCD, the event raised
several hundred dollars for the Democratic party.
Most, of the time the crowd was quiet,
although there were numerous occasions when
the clearly pro-Mondale attendants burst into
laughter, cheers or unanimous moans of disap
proval. A question from Baltimore Sun reporter
Fred Barnes regarding each of the candidate's
religious beliefs and practices was one such in
stance. while another inquiry from CBS's Diane
Sawyer on their views on abortion laws also drew
a room full of chatter.
Immediately following the show people
broke off into groups to discuss the debate, which
they generally believed was a success for Mon
dale and a setback for Pres. Reagan.
“Everybody seemed to be really pleased with
Mondale’s performance. I thought his sense of
humor prevailed,” Menard said. She was less
complimentary of Reagan’s half of the presenta
tion. however.
"1 think he (Reagan), true to form stood up to
his image of being the ‘Teflon president,’ ” she
added. “He was very evasive. . .he was on the
defensive for the first time in his four years in
office.”
“I thought Mondale came off well,” said Bet
sy Boyd, former state affairs assistant for the
ASUO. “He was right there saying the things that
needed to be said. I was surprised that he looked
so good,” she admitted.
Boyd also revealed that she was less en
thusiastic about Mondale before the debate took
place.
“Before the debate, I would’ve voted for him
(Mondale) and that would have been that. . .he
didn’t inspire me,” she said. “After today’s
debate, I’d actually be willing to do a little work
for him. Now I’m not just voting against Reagan,
I’m voting for Mondale.”
Boyd was one of many who agreed that the
debate improved upon Mondale’s past image of
being “wishy-washy” in the eyes of the voters.
“I think they’ll see Mondale as having a little
more substance, a more ‘thinking’ candidate,”
she said. “I don’t think they'll see Reagan any
differently.”
Others believed that Reagan’s delivery
helped Mondaie while hurting his own image at
the same time.
“I think he (Reagan) seemed not as assured,”
said Susan Sowards, ASUO executive coor
dinator. "Mondale came across more clearly and
forcefully. It’s clear Reagan didn’t have his
notes.”
And as many people at the party agreed they
thought Reagan was uncomfortable with the
spontaneous questioning of the debate.
“In answering questions spontaneously, I
found him tremendously lacking,” Schultz said.
“He’s a very good actor and it shows.”
“Reagan would like a debate where he could
stand up and deliver his lines and Mondale took
that away from him,” Hallmark said. “Mondale
showed he could think on his feet.”
Both McCarthy and Hallmark disagreed with
recent statements by the Students for Reagan
Bush campaign that Pres. Reagan is the more
popular candidate among college-age students.
"If you look at what his policies have done to
higher education, students certainly haven’t
benefited,’• Hallmark said. “I.think if you looked
where students stood on-certain issues, it would
be more consistent with where Mondale stands.
Hopefully through these debates people will see
which candidate represents their views.”
“1 don’t think students are going to vote for
Reagan over Mondale,” Menard said. .-“.The
choice is so clear. It’s obvious Mondale’s going to
stand up for the issues of students.”
• Doug Marker, campaign chair of the Lane
County Democratic party, said he was especially
surprised by one of Pres. Reagan’s replies.
“Reagan asserted there’s no difference bet
ween the deficits and the interest rates,” Marker
said. “He clearly said there’s no connection. He’s
1 going to have to pay for that one.”
“Reagan gets a ‘0’ for his interest rates hav
ing nothing to d.o with the deficits,” agreed Doug
Pyle, who filled out one of the “rate-’the-debate”
evaluation forms after the showing. “This issue
killed him. He may have lost all the banker vote,
there.
ttie
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