After chiming in on the issues most important to them, UH students gave their opinions about the first presidential debate, which occurred on Wednesday night in Denver.
It was a domestic policy debate that was scheduled to feature three questions about the economy, one about healthcare, one about the role of government and the last about governing, however it rarely stayed on schedule.
President Barak Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney debated the economy first — specifically jobs, the tax code and deficit reduction — going well over the allotted fifteen minutes. That was a theme, as the candidates consistently went over the two minutes given for each topic.
Political science junior Fariha Chowdhry said Romney’s economic plan resonates with her.
“Although President Obama has some clear points on why some of Romey’s proposed plan for our economy is flawed, I believe now that Romney has a more secure and specific plan to get this country moving rather than Obama’s plan which has not changed in the past four years,” Chowdhry said. “If he couldn’t show change by now I don’t trust his help for the future.”
The two clashed first about jobs and the best path to make the economy to grow. Romney said a supply-side approach would be best for the American people. Obama said he would take a balanced approach with raises on revenue on the table.
On taxes, Obama said Romney’s plan is not be fiscally responsible.
“And this is where there’s a difference, because Gov. Romney’s central economic plan calls for a $5 trillion tax cut — on top of the extension of the Bush tax cuts. That’s another trillion dollars, and $2 trillion in additional military spending that the military hasn’t asked for,” Obama said.
Romney said his plan is the better path.
“And so the question is how to get them going again,” Romney said. “And I’ve described it. It’s energy and trade, the right kind of training programs, balancing our budget and helping small business. Those are the cornerstones of my plan.”
Most of the debate centered on the economy, even when the topic shifted to entitlement reform. Romney tied healthcare back to job creation. He said the Affordable Care Act would cause job loss and is harmful for the economy.
Obama criticized Romney’s support of Vice President Paul Ryan’s budget, which changes the way Medicare will be handled in the future. Under Ryan’s plan, Medicare would become a subsidy-support program, where individuals under 55 would be given a voucher with an amount that could theoretically be used to purchase insurance.
History freshman Ferunell Smith said he thinks Romney has not given a good alternative to the president’s healthcare plan.
“Romney says he wants to appeal Obamacare but why would he appeal it when it is the same health care he uses in Massachutes and what would he replace it with?” Smith said.
Architecture junior Miu Nguyen doesn’t believe either candidate did a good job of explaining their positions.
“Personally, I would like the candidates to have a chance to fully explain their policies. I think short answers are deceiving. I think we deserve to know the details of the policies that may be governing us.”
Additional reporting done by student reporters.
