Editor’s note: This article was initially published in The Daily Gazette, Swarthmore’s online, daily newspaper founded in Fall 1996. As of Fall 2018, the DG has merged with The Phoenix. See the about page to read more about the DG.
Today, millions of Americans will head to the polls to elect Senators, Congressmen, Governors and local representatives. You should be among those who participate in our grand electoral tradition.
We have been told by the pundit class that this year, college students will not come out and vote by and large; they say the hopeful passion of 2008 that helped to elect Barack Obama as President has been quelled by 2 long years of frustration and governing.
It is true, the past two years have not been what we thought they would be on January 20th, 2009. The difficulties of governing have taken the luster off of the pure message that was delivered by the simple and powerful rallying call of, “Yes we can.”
But if you want us to go back to the policies and personalties that were in power from 2000 to 2008, then don’t vote. If you want to help President Obama continue the journey of change that we were all hoping and working for in 2008, then not only should you vote, but you must vote.
We hope you will come out today and cast your vote for Democrats Joe Sestak in the Senate race, Bryan Lentz in the House race, and Walt Waite in the State House race. These candidates believe that we can fulfill the promise of 2008, and with your support they will act on that promise as our representatives.
Natalie Litton, President, and Peter Gross, Treasurer
Swarthmore College Democrats
If you listen to Obama and his cohort, you’re presented with two options on election day: Vote for Democrats or stay home. The Swarthmore Young America’s Foundation and I urge everyone to vote, regardless of political persuasion because voting is the utmost expression of who we are as Americans.
With that said, those who choose the GOP are not misguided or ill-informed. The unprecedented deficit spending under the current presidential administration has caused many trepidation. This election is less about changing Washington and more about diminishing Washington’s grip on our everyday lives. Today, we are all patriots.
Danielle Charette, Swarthmore Young America’s Foundation