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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 2008)
pinion Clackamas Print Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008 3 luick look at Obama and Huckabee V By Armondo Borboa [rack bama: dvocate for lange or ?lusional 'earner? Mike Huckabee: Clever country wit or blinded by the faith? Editor’s note: This will be part of a con tinuing series featur ing all current, viable presidential canidates. and Law School, JD., 1991 College/Columbia University, B.A. ihou School - Honolulu, Hawaii Education: Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, M.A., 1980 Ouachita Baptist University, B.A., 1975 Hope High School - Hope, Ark. • • Sc service: tor, Illinois State Senate, 1997 to 2004 tor, United States Senate, 2005 to present Public service: Arkansas Governor, 1996 to 2007 Arkansas Lieutenant Governor, 1993 to 1996 >^^Kperience: er for Neighborhood and Technology ago Anncnberg Challenge k County Bar/Association Community Law Project jd Member, Joyce Foundation yers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law -id Member. Woods Fund of Chicago Private experience: President: ACTS-TV. 1983 to 1986; KBSC-TV, 1987 to 1992; Baptist minister, 1980 to 1992 Advertising Director, Focus, 1976 to 1980 Former Chairman, Southern Governors’ Association Books: “Character Is the Issue” “Kids Who Kill: Confronting Our Culture of Violence” “Living Beyond Your Lifetime” “Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork” “From Hope to Higher Ground: 12 STOPS to Restoring America’s Greatness” ks: ams from My Father A Story of Race and Inheritance” : Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream” ghly charismatic man and powerful speaker, Barack Obama is a Senate rock star sur- by dusty, old white guys. product of a mixed marriage between a white American mother and a black African e brings a similarly blended view to the political landscape. His working-class roots and ass education, combined with an extended upbringing outside the United States, helped .op his unique ability to see both sides of an issue. very first black president of the Harvard Law Review, Obama early on proved himself to a on «mission. veil as being a tireless advocate for civil rights trong community organizer, he has the rare o reach across the political divide and come ' with his opponents in order to bring about real iany ways. he is to Democrats what John i is to the Republicans: an outsider and a rebel a is not afraid to work with his political oppo- e whopping difference is that he is able to cany J look good doing it na is like the smart, good-looking, popular kid high School. People instinctively respond to : crowds love him and even the iconic Oprah has tossed her support behind him. i like other pop icons and movie stars when e opinions on current topics, Obama says all things without a clue as to how the real world rst without exception, his social programs, re proposals, business and tax reforms all boil the same thing: punishing corporations and the affluent for the sin of being rick Sen talks about the need to create jobs and raise wages, but he has never once run his own . He is a strong advocate for the poor but grew up solidly middle-class. He is a strong nt of American oil independence but then wants to raises taxes on corporations that are ely to develop new energy sources. irtunately for him, Obama is a man whose idealism far outstrips reality. lysis: n Hood’s idea of stealing from the rich to give to the poor may make for great entertain- .it it has no place in running an economy. However, if he can learn how a real economy Obama' has the potential to be a great leader. His ability to excite people of all races, I and colors is helping to make the political process a very real concern to the younger )n ofvoters. Ie:B+ lackamas Print ! Clackamas Print 00 S.| Molalla Ave. !gon City, OR 97045 -657-6958, ext. 2309 Pros: In another lifetime, Mike Huckabee could have been a great stand-up comedian or maybe an outstanding actor. Soft-spoken and filled with country wit, the man can make people laugh till it hurts while at the same time inspire them to his cause. With his trademark homespun humor, Huckabee has the ability to say what everybody else in the room is thinking without fear of being publicly tossed out the nearest win dow. He almost single-handedly turned around the educational and healthcare systems of Arkansas, a state that has long suffered the stigma of poverty and ignorance. He has also been instrumental in creating other revolutionary programs, becom ing one of only four Republicans ever elected to Arkansas’ state office since the Reconstruction. As a Southern Baptist minister, he had just as much success inspiring change and bringing Arkansas out of the 19th century. He convinced an all-white Immanuel Baptist church to accept black members, and has been noted several times for refusing to speak in front of racist crowds, a difficult feat in the Deep South. Cons: Huckabee’s biggest political liability is his other wise strongest moral strength, his faith. By openly advocating his Baptist principles and relying on his faith’s religious tenants to shape his political beliefs, he has alienated himself from the more secular mod erates and independent voters who might otherwise support him. Although an entertaining speaker, Huckabee has a tendency to use colorful metaphors that simply do not play well as sound bites. He has often been criticized for making jokes about suicide, homosexuality, bestiality, the Holocaust and the Confederate flag. It is perhaps his natural charm and charisma that has kept him in the race thus far. Huckabee also suffers from a lack of national recognition. Prior to his run for the presidency, his most notable nationwide coverage came from being the butt of Jay Leno’s late-night talk show jokes. It is remarkable that his campaign has lasted this long. Analysis: Huckabee is a wonderful man and an inspiring leader, but he simply will never be president of the United States without fundamentally changing who he is. His Southern humor, while great on the stage or in front of the pulpit, would be a huge liability to a future president. Grade: C+ Editor in Chief: Megan Koler Copy Editor: Colleen Watkins . News Editor: Lydia E. Bashaw A&C Editor: Emily Walters Sports Editor: Andrea Simpson Feature Editor: Kyle Steele Photo Editor: Kayla Berge Photo Associate: Mistymarie Wilks-Salguero News Associate: Matt Garrison A d M anager : Meredith James P roduction A ssistants : Dusty Ragsdale, Chris Young S taff W riters / P hotographers : Dale Balbi, Armondo Borboa, Kenton Benfield, Helen Conley, John Hurlburt, Nick Komafel, Genyva Laubach, Riley Lundgren, Christina Maggio, John Shufelt D epartment A dviser : Melissa Jones D epartment S ecretary : Pat Thompson G oals : Vie Clackamas Print aims to report the news in an honest, unbiased, professional manner. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the stu dent body, college administration, its faculty or Vie Print. E-mail comments to chiefed@dackamas. edu.
