2008 Woodie Awards
Students face-off in debate
Brian Messenger
Issue date: 10/27/04 Section: News
Political ideologies clashed on Wed. Oct. 20 when the Student Government Association showcased the views of Suffolk's College Democrats and College Republicans at a debate moderated by Massachusetts State Representative Michael F. Rush.
Held in the Donahue building, pizza was served as Rush explained the debate's format, which allotted two-minute replies and one-minute rebuttals on questions concerning both domestic and foreign policy issues.
The first question was asked to Dave Brock, treasurer of the College Republicans, on whether or not he agreed with Dick Cheney's statement that if John Kerry were president, the United States would be less safe. "I do not doubt [John Kerry's] ability or the policies to keep the American people safe," Brock said. Noting that Cheney's quote was "misconstrued somewhat through the media," Brock insisted that President Bush has shown his resolve when it came to protecting America and American interests throughout the world.
"John Kerry's dependence on the [United Nations] and his need for global approval for the protection of America itself just doesn't make any sense and puts us more at risk," Brock said. "America needs a president that can lead and a president that will act decisively when faced with a threat."
The Democrats' rebuttal was led by sophomore government major Anthony Guardia. "I think it's naively perceived that Bush is more aggressive and capable of waging a war. The fact is that this is not a conventional war," Guardia said. "The enemy's strength in this war lies in hate in numbers. And thanks to Bush's policies ... America is hated more in the world more than ever before."
Citing that according to the BBC, CNN and the CIA that Al Qaeda has more than tripled its recruitment since the Iraq war, Guardia said, "This shows that President Bush's policies are leading America to a less safer world."
The debate's second question was directed at the College Democrats and dealt with the current administration's exit strategy for Iraq. "I do not know the administration's exit plan for Iraq and I don't think anybody does. And that's the problem with this administration. They have not laid out an exit plan since the beginning of this war," Guardia said. "They rushed to war."