Despite the wintery weather, students filled The Sett Wednesday as College Democrats Chair Jordan Weibel and College Republicans Chair Johnny Koremenos debated issues likely to appear in 2012 presidential campaigns.
Topics ranged from local issues to global concerns, but the economy and the values of the recent Occupy protests were recurrent issues.
“The Democratic Party is sympathetic towards the [Occupy] movement in regards to issues like wealth disparity,” Weibel said.
Koremenos disagreed. “I’ve never understood the hatred for the wealthy.The top 1 percent are the job creators.”
Regarding taxation of these top-tier income earners, Koremenos received applause from College Republicans when he said, “We cannot tax our way to prosperity.”
Weibel and Koremenos took opposing sides on many issues including foreign aid, federal aid to banks and abortion.
The two agreed immigration is in need of reform and that marijuana should be legalized for purposes of regulation and taxation.
The issues took a local turn as the chairmen responded to a question from the audience about the recently passed Voter ID Law that requires voters present state-issued identification at polling places.
Weibel, who opposed the bill, said, “As a college group, our first duty is to students. Voter ID represents an attack on students.”
Koremenos was in support of the bill. “The university is being proactive in coming up with a solution to make sure that no student is disenfranchised,” he said.
“It was nice seeing both sides come together and answering questions thoughtfully,” Vice Chair for College Republicans Adam Reiersgaard said.
