Week 4/Video: Gingrich: Romney Has Record Of Big Government, More Bureaucracy, High Taxes And Less Jobs

Date: December 29, 2011

Summary:

Gingrich states that he thinks "it's a three-way tie between Romney and me". He's amazed to still be standing despite 6 billion being spent on negativity advertising. Gingrich goes on to say that Romney's ideas do not help to boost the economy which is one of the major problems in America today. Gingrich states that he represents tax cuts, conservatism, zero-capital gains tax for investment in the U.S.. After receiving criticisms from citizens who believer Gingrich keeps going off on a tangent, Gingrich states that the heart of his campaign is to create more jobs and boost economic growth. Gingrich also cites to the 1980's, when he and Reagan's team created over 11 million new jobs thanks to Reagan's program. 

I. The main problem that is addressed here is where Gingrich stands in his policy ideas and where he stands. 

II. This will affect public policy if Gingrich's idea of flat tax rate, tax cuts, zero-capital gains tax are adopted. 

III. N/A

IV. N/A

V. N/A

VI. The information from this video will affect Gingrich and Romney in the political arena. Through the video, Gingrich is able to state his ideas and gain appeal from the public while criticizing Romney. Gingrich will be more appealing and Romney will be less. 

Work Cited: http://media.cnbc.com/i/CNBC/components/Syndicated%20Video%20Player/videoModule.swf?id=3000064943&pcode=cnbcplayershare&play=&base=http://plus.cnbc.com/stickers/partners/cnbcplayershare/

Week 4/Article: Mitt Romney 2012: Presidential Candidate Maintains Puzzling Record Of Changing Positions

Date: December 24, 2011

Author: Sharon Cohen

Summary:

Mitt Romney is a man of many characters. He was a Mormon Missionary, now a Catholic, he's a businessman and also a family guy(whose had many wives). Although some Americans might view him a good all around kind of guy, others believe he is inconsistent and not firm enough to who he is. “There's the politician who has changed his views on abortion, guns and tax pledges.” David Plouffe, the president's campaign adviser, says if Romney "thought ... it was good to say the sky was green and the grass was blue, to win an election, he'd say it." However, Romney protested  protested, "I'm as consistent," he said, "as human beings can be.”

I. The problems addressed in the article was about Romney being inconsistent in his beliefs and character.

II. N/A

III. N/A

IV. N/A

V. The author seems to take a negative position. He cites many quotes and examples of bad qualities pertaining to Romney.

VI. The information in this article will definitely affect Romney negatively in the political arena. The information points out Romney's flaws and makes him out to have a bad character which would also make him out to be a potential bad leader.

Work Cited: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/25/mitt-romney-2012_n_1169345.html?ref=elections-2012#

Week 4/Article: Bachmann loses Iowa campaign chairman to Paul

Date: December 28, 2011

Author: Brian Bakst

Summary:

Bachmann's political director, Wes Enos, resigned a day after her Iowa campaign chairman, Kent Sorenson, left to support Texas congressman Ron Paul's bid for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic President Barack Obama in elections in November next year. However, Sorenson denies that any money was offered by the Paul camp or that he accepted money to endorse the Texas congressman.

Benton, Paul's campaign chairman stated, "We've always known Michele to be an honorable person. She should stop slandering an honorable Iowa state senator,"Bachman now criticizes Pal and even said, ""Ron Paul would be a dangerous president,",  "He would have us ignore all of the warning signs of another brutal dictator who wants to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. I won't. He would wait until one of our cities is wiped off of the map until he reacted. I won't wait.", "He won't win the nomination,".

I. The problems addressed in the article was that Bachman has lost one of her key important staffers.

II. N/A

III. N/A

IV. N/A

V. The author seems to take a neutral position. Although he cites quotes that aren't supportive of Bachman, he also does the same to her opposing parties.

VI. The information in this article will mostly affect Bachman. Losing one of her key staffers will make Bachman's candidacy appear weaker to the public eye and will definitely affect voters. 

Work Cited:

(Source from Washington Post)

http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/Article_2011-12-29-Bachmann/id-pfabe6a09f7d74025a762ffc663c3304d

Week 4/Video: New factors in the 2012 election?

Date: December 25, 2011

Summary:

This video reflects on the current candidates. The speakers basically say that this year's election is not a winner takes all election, but rather is proportionate and it is all up to the candidates. The reporter mentions Mitt Romney and says that Romney this, which is why he has all the support and everything he needs to get where he wants to go. The speakers also address that people are really depending on a leader with a plan for America and its future generations. This factor questions Obama’s re-election due to the fact that the economy's downfall and how his policies haven't really followed through or gain praise amount the citizens. The speakers also state that the president Obama must go big with bold ideas on his campaign for the re-election. 

I. The problems addressed in the video dealt with wars that America is engaged in, the economy's downfall, budget cuts and foreign policies.

II. To gain appeal, Obama needs to come up with a big idea that would probably affect public policy. 

III. N/A

IV. N/A

V. N/A

VI. This video influences all candidates in the political arena. The speakers point out all the facts and the things that the American people are looking for in the candidates.

Work Cited:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032608/#45787092

Week 3/Article: Obama applauds payroll tax cut deal

Author: David Jackson

Date: December 22, 2012

Summary:

President Obama applauded Congress for finally agreeing to extend payroll taxes for two months. 

Obama commented of the year-long negotiation, "For the past several weeks, I've stated consistently that it was critical that Congress not go home without preventing a tax increase on 160 million working Americans,". The agreement is that every working American will keep his or her tax cut of $1,000 for the average family.

   

Others have also stated, "it is critical that we protect middle-class families from a tax increase while we work them out."

I. The main problem proposed in this article is that the bill has created a lot of controversy within the Congress itself.

II. N/A

III. I learned that even though the bill is controversial, people support Obama's ideas regardless.

V. The author of this article takes a positive position. It's pretty clear that he supports Obama. Throughout the article the author cites positive quotes about Obama. 

IV. The information doesn't affect me and can't be used by me.

VI. The information from this article definitely affects Obama's as a candidate in the political arena. It's seems that Obama is trying to raise his chances to re-election since it is the bill appeals to the  middle class, which makes up the largest majority of voters.

Work Cited: 

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2011/12/obama-praises-payroll-tax-cut-deal/1

Week 3/Article: SC GOP's primary funding dodge irks Republicans

Date: December 15, 2011

Author: Jim Davenport

Summary:

Many people from Columbia, S.C. are upset because of the court decision's to make the taxpayers pay for the cost of the primary election. Even though the Republicans “promised” to pay a considerable amount of the cost for the primary election, it seems like the state is going to have to pay for itself. 

I. The main problem that is proposed is the conflict between the G.O.P. and state tax payers. 

II. This definitely affects voters and will give leverage to democratic public policies. 

III. N/A

IV. The information doesn't affect me and can't be used by me.

V. The author of the article seems to take a neutral position and just simply cites a lot of quotes from the different parties in this article.

VI. The information from this article will probably affect every candidate in the arena. It might cause a decrease of appeal towards the republicans and increase appeal to the democrats. 

Work Cited: http://www.heraldonline.com/2011/12/15/3602516/sc-gops-primary-funding-dodge.html

Week 2/Article: Gingrich Push on Health Care Appears at Odds With G.O.P.

Date: December 16, 2011

Author: Jim Rutenberg and Mike McIntire 

Page Number: 1

Summary:

Shortly before the passage of President Obama’s stimulus bill in 2009, Newt Gingrich’s political committee put out a video of Mr. Gingrich denouncing it as a “big politician, big bureaucracy, pork-laden bill.”

Mr. Gingrich supports the $19 billion part of Obama's package that promoted the use of electronic health records.

After the bill was passed a month later, Mr. Gingrich’s consultancy, the Center for Health Transformation, joined two of its clients, Allscripts and Microsoft, in an “Electronic Health Records Stimulus Tour” that traveled the country, encouraging doctors and hospitals to buy their products with the billions in new federal subsidies.

As Mr. Gingrich runs for president, he is working to appeal to Republican primary voters in the realm of health care. Mr. Gingrich has been in promoting a series of recent programs that have given the government a bigger hand in the delivery of health care.

He has indicated his agreement with the most controversial aspect of President Obama’s heath care plan, the requirement that every American buy health insurance.

Mr. Gingrich has also defended his support for the prescription drug benefit, and other health care spending. Mr. Gingrich also worked with Dr. McClellan and other Bush administration health officials on electronic records.

Over the years, Mr. Gingrich accumulated more and more clients with an interest in building a national electronic health records system: Allscripts, Siemens, Microsoft and GE Healthcare.

Certainly, his belief in the importance of electronic health records fit with his futurist bent. Huge advances in technology, the argument goes, can enable doctors from different hospitals, different fields and even in different states to work off a single electronic file that would include every medical decision and diagnosis in a given patient’s history. Mr. Gingrich was among leaders of both parties who argued that the technology would save lives and billions of dollars while also providing a huge database of results to judge the efficacy of treatments.

I. The main problem addressed here is the conflict between Gingrich and Obama.

II. N/A

III. N/A

IV. The information doesn't affect me and can't be used by me.

V. The author of the article seems to take a positive position. He makes Gingrich seem appealing by citing information of Gingrich's support for health care and for the betterment of citizens.

VI. The information that is presented will directly affect Gingrich who is a candidate in the political arena. This information will affect him positively because it shows Gingrich's support for health care and for the betterment of citizens.

Work Cited:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/16/us/politics/gingrichs-health-care-policy-history-at-odds-with-gop.html?pagewanted=all

Week 2/Article: FBI considered a sting aimed at Newt Gingrich in 1997

Date: December 15, 2011

Author: James V. Grimaldi

Page Number: 1

Summary:

The bureau considered a sting operation against then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Gingrich was suspected of co-working with notorious arms dealer about a $10 million bribe tot get Congress to lift the Iraqi arms embargo. The FBI ended up calling off the operation in June 1997. No evidence was proven to show that Gingrich knew anything about the conversations the arms dealer was secretly recording with a man who said he was acting on behalf of Gingrich's then wife, Marianne. 

However the details of this case have recently become public. One of his representatives states that  “There was no basis whatsoever for an investigation. These were people puffing, which means they were making up access to a high-level government person.”

I. The main problem addressed here is Gingrich's past incident pertaining to allegations of relation between him and Iraq.

II. N/A

III. Aside from the fallacious information, I learned that Gingrich used to be The Speaker of The House. 

IV. The information doesn't affect me and can't be used by me.

V. The author of the article seems to take a neutral position. He doesn't seem to target Gingrich, nor does he make him sound appealing.  

VI. The information elaborates on information that has already been released already. The information that is presented will directly affect Gingrich who is a candidate in the political arena. This information will affect him negatively because citizens would view him as un-patriotic for making deals with the Iraq even if these are on allegations. 

Work Cited: 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/fbi-considered-a-sting-aimed-at-newt-gingrich-in-1997/2011/12/15/gIQAT7B1wO_story.html?hpid=z1

Week 1/ Video: Newt Gingrich to Hit Mitt Romney 'Every Day

Date; December 02, 2011  

Mitt Romney seems to be quick a threat to the other candidates due to his strong campaign, something that Newt Gingrich understands. According to Gingrich they are going to “lay out the facts” and they will do it “everyday” until the caucus. These facts are consisted of Romney’s contradicting views verses that of Gingrich. Romney indecisive and this could potentially hurt him. Gingrich doesn't think of this as an “attack”, even though it clearly is one, but instead he is again “laying out the facts”. With the caucus being right around the corner, these “facts” can lead Romney’s voters to Gingrich side and those that are undecided right now could take these facts into consideration when voting. This is a good strategy that is used by many politicians to make them seem as though they are better than the other candidate. We will have to follow up to see if this strategy worked out in favor of Gingrich or Romney’s supporters did not waver.  

I. The problem addressed here is the conflict between Romney and Gingrich.

II. This will affect public policy through how the voters react. Policies will possibly be changed, proposed, etc now with the change in candidacy. 

III. N/A

IV. The information doesn't affect me and can't be used by me.

V. N/A

VI. This info will affect Gingrich positively. These “facts” can lead Romney’s voters to Gingrich side.

Work Cited: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/video/mitt-romney-argues-occupy-protester-south-carolina-campaign-event-politics-15400045?tab=9482931&section=2808950&playlist=2808979

Week 1/Article: Why the middle class matters so much in 2012

Date: December 8, 2011
Author: Chris Cillizza

Page Number: 1

Summary:
During President Obama’s speech in Kansas, the topic of middle class was made very apparent. The President was reported to have said the words. “middle class” 18 times. 

The chart below details the percentage of the vote the two parties have won among voters whose household income is somewhere between $30,000 and $100,000  in the last four national elections.

Since 2004, neither party has received less than 46 percent or more than 53 percent of the middle class vote. The middle class voters are a majority of all voters in the country. In 2010, voters making between $30,000 and $100,000 accounted for 55 percent of the overall electorate while in 2008 they comprised 56 percent. In 2006 (58 percent) and 2004 (59 percent) they were an even larger percentage of the overall electorate.


In a November Washington Post-ABC News poll, 45 percent of respondents said they trusted President Obama to protect the middle class while 41 percent said they trusted congressional Republicans.


Obama still holds a steady lead when people are asked who “cares” more about the middle class. In an October Post-ABC survey 52 percent said Obama cared more about the middle class while 32 percent said congressional Republicans did. 


Those poll numbers explain why Obama centered his Kansas speech — an address that laid out the terms of the economic argument he will make to voters in 2012 — was so focused on protecting and preserving the middle class. How the middle class goes will determine in large part how the 2012 election goes.


Questions:
I. The main question that is addressed is how the middle class will determine a large part of how the 2012 elections go. 
II. To gain leverage in the campaign and over the voters, the candidates will need to appeal to the majority of the voters which is also the middle class. Doig so could affect policy proposals and their plans for congress.
III. The new information I learned was about the middle class and how they made up the majority of voters. Usually when I hear about voters, I only hear about different political parties and not economic classes.
IV. The information doesn't affect me and can't be used by me.
V. The author of the article seems to take a positive position. He expresses why the middle class matters so much and emphasizes how they will impact the election. 
VI. The information in the article might affect all of the candidates in the political arena. The candidates will need to appeal to the majority of the voters which is also the middle class. Doig so could affect policy proposals and their plans for congress.


Work Cited:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/why-the-middle-class-matters-so-much-in-2012/2011/12/08/gIQAVBzXfO_blog.html

Week 1/Article: Romney Meets the Press

Date: December 9, 2011
Author: Ashley Parker

Page Number: 3

Summary:

Mitt Romney, seems to only address his campaign in structured situations that he can control. Due to this, Romney often declines to answer questions from reporters and indicates that he prefers a more orderly process during which he can deliver responses at length, and have a full discussion of a topic. However, this has lead to mini press revolts, as in Tampa, Fla. when Romney refused to take questions but claimed that he holds press availabilities “almost every day.”

Romney’s style of addressing the press, contrasts sharply with that of Newt Gingrich, his rival, who has made more than 50 appearances on Fox News since the start of his campaign. Earlier this year, Chris Wallace, the host of “Fox News Sunday,” chastised Mr. Romney on air for not appearing on his show: “His campaign says he is still not ready to sit down for an interview,”. But on Tuesday, Romney agreed to an interview set for Dec. 18. The interview was straightforward and fair.

Since the interview, Mr. Romney has made himself more accessible. At a rally in New Hampshire, he did an interview with a local Fox affiliate before taking questions from the gathered press, and invited them along to knock on voters’ doors with him. He even went to the sidewalks and allowed reporters to ask questions. 

Questions:

I. The main problem that was address was Romney's appearance to the public. 

II. n/a

III. n/a

IV. n/a

V. The author of the article seems to have a negative position against Romney. The author uses mockery though out the article. For example,

 "Afterward, a traveling reporter grumbled: “Romney took more questions than I think he ever has, and still managed to make no news!” 

Which is perhaps just the way he would like to keep it." The author also cites quotes and facts that show the public criticizing Romney.

VI. This information in the article would directly affect Romney who is public figure in the political arena. The information could either help or work against Romney as a candidate in the election. Some of the public might be pleased that Romney is addressing the press, while others might feel disapproval that he hasn't done so till now. 

Work Cited:
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/mitt-meets-the-press/