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/