Presidential Debate Trilogy Comes to a Close

The final presidential debate was held at Arizona State University on October 13. Bob Schieffer of CBS News moderated the heated debate. The discussion was centered on domestic issues, and covered everything from national security to college scholarships.

One of the first topics was healthcare. Senator Kerry is planning on establishing a healthcare plan that will be available to everyone. He claims that this plan will be the quality healthcare plans that members of the government and their families have. Bush responded to this by saying that Kerry's plan was an "empty promise...It's called bait and switch." Kerry pointed out that since Bush has been in office the cost of healthcare has skyrocketed. Co-pays have risen as well as the cost of prescription drugs. "It's not working for the American family, and it's gotten worse under Bush," quotes Kerry.

Along with the healthcare discussion, the recent shortage of the influenza vaccination brought about much debate. Bush explained that this season they relied on importing the vaccination from a British country, and that some were contaminated. He also advised that healthy young people should not get their flu shots this season, in order to conserve for those who really need the shot.

During the debate the nation learned that the Catholic Church has been supporting Bush and saying that is it a sin for Kerry to support women who are pro-choice or want to receive abortions. Bush said that every being counts and that every child should be welcomed into life. His goals are to promote life, reduce abortion, as it is a "brutal practice", and support abstinence programs. Kerry feels that a woman has the right to choose " I believe a choice is a woman's choice...It's between the woman, God, and her doctor," states the senator.

The debate became personal when budgets were being discussed. Kerry continually referred to Bush being the cause of increased job loss, less financial aid for college students, less money for healthcare, and accused Bush of not having an adequate financial plan. He accused Bush of putting the tax burden on the middle class. Bush kept bringing Kerry's record up, saying that his actions do not match those of his promises for instance that he has voted to increase taxes and so on. Bush also accused Kerry of being a liberal " There's a mainstream in American Politics and you sit at the far left bank..your record is such that Ted Kennedy , your colleague, is the conservative senator from Massachusettes."

On the subject of legalizing gay marriage, neither candidate is in favor of it. The debate question asked whether or not homosexuality is a choice. Neither candidate thought that it was someone's choice, but both feel that a marriage should be between a man and a woman.

National Security was a big issue, especially in relation to the events in Iraq. Kerry accused Bush of not taking enough action against terrorists. And criticized his war strategies by saying that the president "rushed" into war and ruined our alliances. Bush however, promised that the country would be safe as long as we remained on the offense against terrorists. Kerry insists that Bush has failed to keep his promise to get Osama Bin Laden "dead or alive". Kerry asserts that when he is elected he will stay focused on fighting "the war against terror."

PSU Senior, Casey Crouch is unsure of all the discussion happening with the presidential debates, he adds "To be honest, I am leaning that way [towards Bush]. I feel like Kerry is promising more than he'll be able to offer and Bush's polices have helped a wounded economy out. One of my biggest concerns will always be environmental issues, but I need to look at other pictures and the economy needs help. Kerry has been opposed to Bush's tax cuts, cutting taxes increases spending, I'm going republican because they are good for the economy...it's simple. This really is a rather delicate race, the first time I voted for Bush I knew he was my man but it's a different story this go, because since 9/11, it's a new world now. We really have maintained a cold war mentality in our foreign policies... even after the fall of the Berlin Wall, but 9/11 changed everything. It's hard to say if Bush really did do a good job this term, I have nobody else to compare him to in this new world."

"Health care is something that's very important to me and that's why I really agree with how Kerry and Edwards are going to cut premiums up to $1,000, and along those lines I'm very impressed by the fact that anyone with HIV or AIDS will get treatment and that's something that hits home with me. I believe that something needs to be done with all the oil that we're using because we've forgotten that some day soon all that oil will be gone which is why Kerry and Edwards are making an excellent choice by making tax incentives for automakers to make more fuel-efficient cars. I believe that the National Education Trust Fund will make sure that schools everywhere get the funding they need to hopefully keep more students in school. Those are a few reasons why this November I will be voting for Kerry & Edwards." Says Amanda Drapcho, a PSU sophomore.