Florida voters should prepare for messy 'smear' campaigns

Editorial

The phrase mud slinging conjures images of mutton-chopped politicians hurling insults at one another in an effort to win favor with the voting populace.

The word itself has fallen by the wayside, but the art of defaming an opponent to steal their votes has been perfected in the world of Capitol Hill politics. Nowadays we call them "smear campaigns."

However, unlike the old world American politicians who traded blows in a public forum, the majority of campaigns aimed at disparaging potential candidates are relegated to more private, one-on-one approaches.

As the Florida primary grows closer, so too will the number and voracity of ads aired on TV stations in what is considered a do-or-die state for many .

But TV rants aren't the only form of auditory pollution blowing in from the campaign trail.

More sinister methods benignly titled "push-polling," where volunteers willingly disseminate false information about certain candidates while simultaneously providing trumped-up stats for the candidate of their choice, have become popular in many states.

Problems arise when people mistake these biased information sessions for genuine polls.

People looking for further information might very well take the lies as fact, which is what the individuals running the push-polls want, and cast their vote accordingly.

Now the politicians distance themselves from the people running the push-poll quite deftly.

The candidates pay them nothing and have no direct contact with them, but they certainly aren't calling the individuals out by name and asking them to stop.

Not only are push-polling and other similar types of slanderous campaigns childish ways of winning favor, but they pose a true threat to our current election process.

Most Americans would like to see candidates debate across from one another- a forum where lies are inevitably uttered, but oftentimes brought to light and proved as false.

But when these lies are told to people duped into believing they are providing genuine polling stats, there is a much smaller chance they will get discovered as lies.

In a world where endless information is available from countless sources, the American voter needs to remain aware of what they are being told and by whom. We cannot count on the people running for office to hold their supporters in check because they are all primed to win at any cost.

As a nation, we must become increasingly vigilant about what we take at face value and what we are willing to believe as fact.

And as the Jacksonville community, we need to stand together in defiance of these slanderous, back handed politics and refuse the advances of would-be deceivers.

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Removal of popular hot dog stand reduces campus food options even further

Editorial

Students complain about the lack of food choices on campus daily.

Some don't think there are enough healthy options, some think there are not enough choices, others want better service and tastier food. But one thing is consistent - students want good food that's fast and convenient.

Sadly, students now have one less campus food option this semester - Miracle Kate's Hot Diggity Dogs stand is no longer serving students.

Rick and Mary Yeoman, owners of the stand, made the decision to stop serving students after presented with a new contract from Chartwells Dining Services, which handles food service on campus. The Yeomans argue the terms of the contract are unfair and that Chartwells has gone back on an earlier promise to provide space for them once the student union is built.

Dave Jordan, resident district manager for Chartwells, said the new contract is essentially the same but includes a written provision that provides Chartwells with the opportunity to ask Miracle Kate's to leave at any time.

This provision was mistakenly omitted from the original contract but the Yeomans were aware of it nonetheless, Jordan said.

They were also aware a decision had been made not to provide them space in the student union, even though there were initial discussions of the possibility, he said.

Regardless of what started the conflict, the fact remains that a popular fast food venue that was brought to campus by Student Government for students is no longer available to the campus community because of a communication failure.

Because of that failure to communicate, students have one less fast food option on campus. And fast is the operative word as everyone on campus tries to grab a quick bite between classes, work and studying.

The disappearance of a popular food venue not only limits the food choices students have but also their ability to get something to eat quickly.

An extra venue helps shorten lines in every eatery on campus, increasing each person's ability to grab a bite between more pressing matters.

Chartwells officials should've been more precise when stating and presenting the terms of the contracts to the Yeomans so as not the have a service abruptly interrupted and discontinued in the middle of the year.

Currently, the Yeomans are serving workers on the construction sites, so while students, faculty and staff might be able to smell the enticing aroma of hot dogs, burgers and chicken, they are unable to partake.

While students will have more food choices once the student union is complete, Chartwells should make an effort to ensure that students have a wide array and consistent number of food choices on campus until then.

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Brooks vs. Coleman

Jen Quinn

Looming large on the horizon is the Florida primary, and the Spinnaker is pitting two staffers against each other in a political sparring match. Editor in Chief Matt Coleman and Discourse Editor Ross Brooks square off in a no-holds-barred look at issues likely to arise during the Jan. 29 primary.

Which candidate has the most appealing military strategy for Iraq?

Ross Brooks: To be honest, I'd like it if they were all just honest. Everyone says they are for change, be it the Democrats calling for an orderly withdrawal or the Republicans swearing by unrelenting resolve and a new strategy. I think we're stuck in Iraq no matter who gets into office, unless Ron Paul gets elected. He's the only man crazy enough to pull us out completely.

Matt Coleman: Well, I totally agree with the crazy reference. I'd take Senator Russ Feingold, but he decided not to run. None of the major candidates have a logical plan for removing troops from Iraq. All I know is that staying in Iraq shouldn't be on the agenda of any presidential candidate. That's why John McCain scares the crap out of me.

Who has the best plan for boosting the slipping United States economy?

MC: I'm not sure who has the best plan, but it needs to focus on shrinking the massive budget deficit. It's simple economics - deficit goes down, prices go down. No more tax cuts or trickle-downs are going to make that happen. Reaganism needs to stay in the '80s - like A Flock of Seagulls and acid-washed jeans.

RB: As terrible an idea as trickle-down economics is, Huckabee's assertion that we can simply do away with the IRS is almost as loony. Obama talks about getting tough with China and the constant de-valuing of their currency. We're already over $100 billion in debt to China, and making them reevaluate their currency's worth could be the first step in buying back a country sold off by the GOP.

What are your thoughts on health care? Socialized or privatized?

RB: Socialized medicine is as un-American as apple strudel and hurling. There is no doubt that the health care industry needs to be revolutionized, but tort reform could go a long way in helping to alleviate the rising cost of health care in America.

MC: Yeah, let's let everybody fend for themselves, especially the little guy who can't afford reasonable medical coverage. This isn't just a problem for welfare recipients. The middle-class is beginning to feel the pinch of exorbitant health care coverage. I was under the impression everyone had a reasonable expectation to medical services.

Which candidate is the most qualified to improve our less-than-stellar foreign diplomacy?

MC: It's got to be a step in the right direction if the president can string together a cohesive sentence every now and then. Another positive is that no candidate comes from the lineage of a president who threw up on the Japanese prime minister. My money is on Barack Obama. Anyone who saw the Iowa caucus can attest - the guy has a way with words.

RB: With President Bush putting us on the roadmap to Israeli and Palestinian peace, we're going to need someone strong. Crying won't help, so Hillary is out. McCain will probably just snarl at anyone from the eastern hemisphere and Huckabee would just try to convert them. I say Obama takes the cake again. He is intelligent and like the majority of the world, he's not a white, well-to-do male.

What is your favorite metaphor for Ron Paul's chance at being elected president?

MC: I'm going to let Dan Rather do the talking for me. Ron Paul's campaign is "shakier than cafeteria Jell-o."

RB: Ron Paul's presidential future is as dark as Dick Cheney's soul.

Contact Laura Britton at discourse@unfspinnaker.com -- PERMALINK -- TOP OF PAGE