With presidential campaigns and debates well underway, citizens have been firing opinions on candidates left and right—as have St. Bonaventure students.
This year’s campaigns have featured a variety of participants: from businessmen and doctors to an ex-first lady and a brother of a former president, the multitude of politicians has given citizens a lot to speculate.
Junior journalism and mass communication major Nathanial Discavage said he first looks at the politician’s standpoint on different social views.
“I believe that people can argue all sorts of economic policies until they are blue in the face, but I see social issues as moral issues,” said Discavage, a republican. “I would have a very difficult time voting against my morals. On the same note, however, I believe that economic plans and foreign policy are also extremely important when it comes to selecting my favorite candidate.”
Denis Riordan, a sophomore history major and democrat, agreed and said he looks for a candidate he can agree with on the majority of issues.
“Important issues for myself and this country, I believe, are supporting the working and middle classes through solving income inequality, universal healthcare and expanding social security,” said Riordan, a supporter of Bernie Sanders, a U.S senator.
While Discavage and Riordan advocate opposing parties, they agree on one thing: Donald Trump.
“Donald Trump is a man who has no respect for anyone who thinks differently from him, has no respect for veterans, no respect to our current President Barack Obama, but when someone doesn’t give him respect, Trump plays the victim card,” said Riordan. “I do not have any respect for that man.”
Discavage said he believes Trump does not represent the Republican Party accurately.
“I do not believe that he is a true conservative, and the fact that he claims he miraculously switched his entire set of viewpoints in 2013 is extremely suspicious,” said Discavage. “He brags that he has added millions of new members to the Republican Party, which is true; however they are not the ‘typical Republican.’”
Discavage acknowledged Trump has brought in extreme right-wingers and moderate Democrats, but he said these groups are not true representations of the Republican Party either.
While there’s still some time before the presidential election, it’s likely conversation about Trump and other frontrunners will continue to be present on campus.
kolbee14@bonaventure.edu
