Hillary Clinton talks Supreme Court in campus visit
Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton visited Madison Monday to discuss how the recent Supreme Court nomination should factor into voters’ decisions for the presidential election.
At Gordon Dining and Event Center on campus, the former secretary of state talked to invited guests about challenges President Barack Obama has faced after nominating U.S. Court of Appeals judge Merrick Garland to the U.S. Supreme Court.
“The death of Justice Scalia marked the end of an era,” Clinton said. “There’s a fight over whether President Obama should nominate a replacement.”
Clinton said the Supreme Court “matters a great deal to our future.” She told the audience that the next president of the United States will have influence over the Supreme Court’s future decisions for the next several decades since justices serve for life. Clinton noted that several of the current justices are over the age of 80, which is past their average age of retirement.
She criticized Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, head of the Senate Judiciary Committee, for saying that allowing the next president to nominate Scalia’s replacement would let citizens have a say in the process via their vote for president.
Clinton disagreed, saying that those who elected Obama would be ignored if he isn’t allowed to nominate Garland.
“As one of the more than 65 million Americans who voted to elect Barack Obama, I’d say my voice is being ignored,” Clinton said.
Clinton will campaign Saturday in Milwaukee ahead of next week’s April 5 primary.
- By Emily Curtis
To read more about Clinton's speech on campus, click here
John Kasich engages students in Madison town hall
Ohio Gov. John Kasich spoke to a crowd of more than 100 supporters Monday during a town hall meeting at the Sheraton Madison Hotel.
Despite only polling 20 percent of Republican support statewide, Kasich touted himself as the best choice for president. He touched on the threat of terrorism worldwide, small business struggles and the growing national debt in his remarks.
The governor engaged with the many students in the audience by discussing issues such as college affordability and the economy.
“[We need to] restructure loans, but that can’t be done until universities get their prices under control,” Kasich said. “As the [debt] goes up, students’ chances at getting a job go down.”
Connor Fuglestad, a freshman at UW-Madison, was among the students in attendance. Fuglestad supports Kasich for the candidate’s fiscal beliefs and personal attributes.
“I think his economic ideas are the most sound out of every candidate,” Fuglestad said. “I also think he is a genuine person and I appreciate that he wants compromise.”
Kasich emphasized the need to compromise and join together in the effort to fight terrorism. “I want Arabs with me, right next to me,” Kasich said. “Their religion has been hijacked by lunatics and we need to destroy them.”
Although Kasich hasn’t won a state besides Ohio, he remains confident in his battle for the GOP nomination, noting that he performs better in polls against Hillary Clinton than Donald Trump and Ted Cruz.
“I believe if students come and heard me, they would vote for me,” Kasich said.
- By Lilly Price
To read more about Kasich's remarks, read the full story here
Trump supporters, protesters spar in Janesville
Janesville’s hard-hit blue collar population sparred with protesters outside the Janesville Conference Center prior to candidate Donald Trump’s first Wisconsin rally.
“I am a teacher and I have seen this hatred trickle down,” said protester Erin Creed of Williams Bay. “I have to show that there are people who say that love is stronger than hate.”
Watching the protesters in mild amusement stood Trump supporter Michelle Risch. The stay-at-home mother rolled her eyes as protesters chanted against the Trump campaign’s racially charged rhetoric.
“The ones that say you’re racist, them are actually the racist people,” Risch said.
In her view, the protesters are simply afraid of change.
“They feel scared and afraid of what Trump’s gonna do .... maybe they won’t get them welfare checks or their food stamps anymore.”
Other Trump supporters look to the mogul to revitalize American manufacturing. John Bly worked at Janesville’s Lear Corp. plant which supplied carseats to the city’s General Motors plant until 2009 when both shut down. The former UAW member now works as a delivery driver for a fraction of his former wage. According to Bly, Trump is the only politician fighting for those affected by globalization and free trade.
“It started out with NAFTA,” Bly said. “They come over here, they take our jobs for a lower bid and they put us out of a job.”
“Trump’s gonna bring his negotiators and tell them flat out if you can’t do business with us at this cost we’re not gonna sell you nothing,” he added. “We can survive without anyone else.”
- By Lucas Sczygelski
To read more about the rally, including quotes from Trump himself, click here
Cruz takes different strategy in Madison visit
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz rallied his Dane County troops Wednesday at the Sheraton Hotel in Madison, appearing alongside his family in a concerted attempt to reach women voters.
Cruz was largely restrained in his remarks, a stark contrast from his normal rallies that mix Sunday morning sermon and Toby Keith concert. He deferred to his wife Heidi, his mother Eleanor and business executive Carly Fiorina to tout his policies and the values he has consistently emphasized: civil liberties, faith and national security.
Cruz’s hallmark talking points were still discussed at the rally, including a 10 percent flat tax for all Americans, the claim that President Barack Obama has shown poor leadership on Islamic terrorism and the desire to reduce government regulation.
“There is a real form of corruption in this country,” Heidi said. “We represent the best this world has to offer and we must preserve it.”
For Fiorina, topics such as economic freedom are “women’s issues” and should be framed as such.
“As a woman I am insulted when the Democratic Party talks about ‘women’s issues,’” Fiorina said. “Every issue is a women’s issue. That’s a fact.”
When the candidate did speak, he didn’t hold back in his critique of the political status quo and said that change is necessary to restore America to its full potential.
“I’m proud to live in a land where people can start with nothing and achieve anything,” Cruz said. “We are fighting for this incredible opportunity for the next generation.”
- by Andrew Bahl
To read more about Cruz's lead in the latest Wisconsin polls click here
Sanders rally calls on collective action
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., appeared in Madison Wednesday, holding a campaign rally at the downtown Orpheum Theater six days before the state’s primary election.
Sanders was consistent in the talking points that have been evident throughout his campaign. He talked about the increasing levels of inequality between corporate CEOs and everyday American workers, an overhaul of the campaign finance system, addressing the broken criminal justice system, taking on student loan debt and the challenge of climate change.
“It is not only a corrupt campaign finance system and voter suppression which we have to address, it is a rigged economy,” Sanders said.
He discussed economic policies that favor equal pay for men and women, paid family medical leave and breaking up big banks on Wall Street.
Though his rhetoric seemed to echo the rest of his campaign speeches, a shift in the political winds emerged Wednesday with the latest Marquette Law School polling numbers. The poll, released just hours before the rally, showed Sanders leading Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton with 49 percent to her 45 percent.
Sanders’ supporters were lined up in stormy weather well before the doors opened, promoting their views.
“I believe his message, he tries to speak for middle class and I’m 100 percent middle class and so I feel his support,” said Jessica Kleinert, a Sanders supporter.
If there is one takeaway from Sanders’ supporters it’s optimism. His unconventional campaign continues to rely on grassroots support in the race for the Democratic nomination.
- by Jason Snyder
To hear more about Sanders' town hall in Madison, click here
