Terrorism, police brutality and healthcare – all topics discussed during a mock presidential debate hosted by the St. Bonaventure chapters of College Democrats and College Republicans.
The introduction of the debate explained the event was created with the intention of informing and educating students prior to the New York primaries held this week.
Diana McElfresh, secretary of College Republicans, introduced the debate last Thursday, which was held in the Walsh Amphitheater. Anneliese Quinlan, Student Government Association (SGA) president, Josiah Lambert, Ph.D. and Danette Brickman, Ph.D. , both of the political science department, each took turns moderating the event.
The students who participated in the debate each represented the members of the Democratic and Republican parties who are currently running for president.
Rachel Pelsang represented the GOP as Ohio Governor John Kasich, RJ Moavero as business entrepreneur Donald Trump and Kevin Cannavina as Texas Senator Ted Cruz.
Nikhil Gownda and Saige Flickinger represented the Democratic Party as Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, respectively.
Organizers split the debate into three topics: foreign policy, healthcare and immigration.
Each student was allotted a short period for introduction, where they gave a summary of their intentions as president.
Flickinger, acting as Clinton, emphasized both her humble upbringing and the recent birth of her granddaughter, both of which have motivated her to rebuild through science, research and economic growth for the future. She also stressed the importance of ending racial division and LGBTQIA discrimination.
Gownda, who represented Sanders, spoke with disdain of the current “ranked” political system, the need to reform the criminal justice system and the recklessness of Wall Street executives.
“The government of the United States belongs to all of us, not just the 1 percent,” he said.
Representing Cruz, Cannavina tailored his introduction around America’s position and ranking. He stated his intentions as president are to reestablish America as the “leader of the free world.” He spoke about the destruction of the American dream, using Cruz’s father as an example.
“My [Cruz’s] father came to America without speaking any English. He worked until he could go to school… My father is the American dream. Unfortunately, the American dream is dying,” he said.
Next, Moavero, as Trump, expressed his anger towards typical politicians.
“This country does not need to be let down by another politician. They have never held jobs where they have been held accountable.”
Pelsang, however, praised Kasich’s political agenda. She stressed the influence he intends to have on the middle class.
“I’m still here. I’m still fighting. This is not the last you’ve seen of John Kasich,” she said.
In regards to foreign policy, the candidate representatives were asked to comment on terrorism in the Middle East. Both Gownda and Flickinger agreed the War on Terror should be put to a stop through technological advances. However, Gownda did not speak highly of Flickinger’s Clinton agenda.
“ISIS was created by a war that you voted for, Secretary Clinton,” he said.
The representatives of Trump and Cruz agreed the Obama administration and the leadership of Clinton as Secretary of State are responsible for failed resolution in the Middle East.
“We have a responsibility to protect NATO at all costs. We need to eliminate ISIS. Any attack on an ally is an attack on us,” said Pelsang in reference to attacks in Paris and Belgium.
The group also addressed police brutality. Representatives of Sanders and Clinton agreed the country needs a stronger relationship between law enforcement and civilians. They also agreed on strengthening gun control.
Gownda said, “Every shooting should be documented and presented to the public,” he said.
Representatives for Trump and Cruz agreed that as president, their candidates would protect the Second Amendment. Pelsang said Kasich would be open for interpretation.
“It’s best held at the state level; we can’t take that out of their hands,” he said. “It’s not the national government’s activity.”
In regards to minimum wage, both Clinton and Sanders’ representatives believed the country needs a federal minimum wage of at least 12 dollars.
However, Republican representatives all spoke against national minimum wage. Cruz and Trump denounced it, and Kasich repeated it is a “states issue.”
“These people have never had to hold a real job or earn real money like I have,” said Moravero. “We need to simplify the tax bracket to four brackets. Rich will still pay for their fair share, but not losing 50 percent of their share. We need to reduce and eliminate corporate loopholes of the very rich.”
Republicans also spoke against public healthcare. All representatives except for that of Clinton’s spoke of repealing the Affordable Care Act. Gownda spoke of replacing it with a more effective system.
“It isn’t a privilege for those who can afford it. It’s a right,” he said.
Finally, the debate discussed Trump’s infamous plans to build a wall, and other immigration issues.
“We already have the most secure border. Illegal immigration is at the lowest rate that it has been in 40 years. We need a path to full and equal citizenship,” said Flickinger as Clinton.
Cannavina, as Cruz, disagreed.
“Illegal immigration is incentivized,” he said. “We will close the border. We will start enforcing laws that President Obama has failed to do.”
Trump’s representation followed suit in agreement of Cannivina.
“A nation without borders is not a nation, a nation without laws is not a nation. A nation that does not serve its people is not a nation,” he said.
Pelsang, as Kasich, said that immigrants should “pay fines on the time they spent here illegally.”
Gownda, as Sanders, rejected these compromises made by the republican representative.
“The United States is a nation of immigrants; our unity is what gives us our strength,” he said. “We should help those who want to call the U.S. their home. The symbol of this country is not a Trump Wall, but the Statue of Liberty.”
rootcm14@bonaventure.edu
