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College Democrats and Republicans Hold Debate

by KREX News Room
by Danielle Kreutter

Story Created: Oct 24, 2012 at 10:21 PM MDT

Story Updated: Oct 24, 2012 at 10:23 PM MDT

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. - Although the presidential debates wrapped up earlier this week, Wednesday night was the College Democrats and Republicans chance to duke it out.

A debate was held between the Colorado Mesa University chapters at CMU on behalf of their presidential candidates.

"Obama and the democrats definitely want to build our economy and our nation from the middle out and not the top down," said David Martinez, president of the CMU College Democrats.

"I hope to open some eyes, open some minds as far as what the Republican agenda really is," said Colton Vaughan, president of the CMU College Republicans.

During the debate, tuition and taxes were strong talking points for both sides.

"[Obama]'s capped repayments on federal student loans to 10 percent of our income after graduation, making the transition from CMU into the real world more affordable and equitable for all young Americans," said Martinez.

"Tuition since Obama has increased 25 percent in this country so all he's doing is lending you your own money from taxes you'll pay in the future to yourself, and not ending the inflation of tuition," said Vaughan.

The ballroom was filled with mostly college students who had strong reactions when the groups sparred on job growth and womens' rights.

Representatives from both the right and left said keeping young voters engaged through forums like the debate is critical to the upcoming election.

"This offers them an avenue, much like the presidential debates did, to see politics directly," said Vaughan.

"Politics is the act of successful compromise so we definitely have to look at the issues as they concern the economy, health care, jobs as well as education," said Martinez.

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Floyd said on Thursday, Oct 25 at 1:56 PM

Concern about the economy, healthcare, jobs and education are good campaign points to the democrats. The reality with obama is this; 1. the economy is still in the tank. 2. healthcare cost (obamacare) now has a price tag three times what was promised, that cost is still rising, still costing jobs. 3. Jobs are going to last long enough to get past the election. 4. On July 1st. 2013 the interest rate on school loans is still going to be doubled, obama signed it into law for this year then realised he would need the college votes and moved the date to next year. But of course he didn't mention anything about that when he pulled the wool over the eyes of the young voters. Maybe thats part of the successful compromise spoken of by Martinez.

Jobless said on Thursday, Oct 25 at 11:35 AM

It makes me laugh. Democrat college students and graduates seemed so surprised and upset that no one in the private sector wants to pay them for some off beat degree they just paid 10's of thousands of dollars for.

Anonymous said on Thursday, Oct 25 at 10:22 AM

And I bet the dems wanted their tuition paid by "the rich"

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