Candy for Votes? McCain Backers Make a Sweet Offer
EmailWelcome to the Campus Chatter blog.
You might be wondering, "Who the heck is this kid and why should I read this blog? "
First, an introduction: My name is Miles Doran (no, my parents did not name me after Miles Davis) and I’m a junior at the University of Florida in Gainesville where I’m reporting and producing (and now blogging) for the ABC News On Campus bureau here. I’ll be joined by Chelsey Delaney of the University of Texas bureau.
As for what you’ll be reading here, we’re hoping to fill this blog with quirky little stories — some funny, some serious — from our campuses. These likely won’t be stories you’ll see on the front page of any newspaper; rather, stories that will give you a glimpse into what’s going on and being talked about in the college world.
For example, I walked through the UF’s Plaza of the Americas today, where student groups sometimes set up tables to advertise and recruit volunteers. I found a "Gators for McCain" table set up directly across from a "Gators for Obama" table.
But what caught my attention was a sign taped onto a cardboard box on the McCain table, telling people they could exchange their Obama buttons for candy. I didn’t see any Obama buttons in the cardboard box, but UF GOP chairman Bryan Griffin told me there were lots in there earlier. When I asked him where they went, he told me, "We put them where they belong."
More items like this (some better, some worse) to come. Stay tuned. — Miles Doran
Jeremy Lin Inspires Basketball Mania 
Adele to Sing at Grammys After Surgery 
RSS
Twitter
Facebook
This election in a nutshell: Obama offers solutions, McCain wants to buy your vote with candy.
Posted by: El_Pajaro | September 11, 2008, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm
The fact that Obama supporters would trade their pins for candy doesn’t say much about their devotion the the shallow one!
Posted by: dl | September 11, 2008, 12:24 pm 12:24 pm
Throwing buttons in the garbage? This is news? How about the McEvangelical republicans throwing the United States Constitution in the garbage?
Posted by: julie | September 11, 2008, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm
Welcome Miles, we look forward to hearing from you. :)
Posted by: Marie | September 11, 2008, 12:29 pm 12:29 pm
dl – we agree on this: “People who live in the past will be trampled by the future!”
As published in Newsweek last week:
Choosing John McCain would herald the construction of a bridge to the 20th century—and not necessarily the last part of it, either. McCain represents a Cold War style of nationalism … At this hinge moment in human history, McCain’s approach to our gravest problems is hawkish denial… he responds to security challenges from Georgia to Iran with Bush-like belligerence and pique.”
McCain is a nice guy, but he, like Bush and Cheyney, is remnant of the cold war era. An era the rest of world has long since moved beyond. As you say, if we live in the past, we will be trampled.
Continuing from Newsweek:
“To the rest of the world, a rejection of the promise Obama represents wouldn’t just be an odd choice by the United States. It would be taken for what it would be: sign and symptom of a nation’s historical decline”
Posted by: clifton | September 11, 2008, 12:41 pm 12:41 pm
Very smart , those kids have learned very well and are an asset , keep up the good work and creativity you will be fine leaders. Will they consider using a portion of the profits for charity?
Posted by: great blog idea | September 11, 2008, 12:55 pm 12:55 pm
First, the socialist democrats throw thousands of flags in the dumpster. Now, they trade in their Obama pins for sweets.
America doesn’t need a socialist party. Bring back the traditional democratic ideals.
Posted by: dl | September 11, 2008, 1:16 pm 1:16 pm
All Americans are victims of an inept do-nothing democratically control congress.
Posted by: dl | September 11, 2008, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
dl – What do you mean by traditional democratic ideals?
Today’s dem’s aren’t perfect and I don’t agree with everything they do, but I wouldn’t exactly call them socailists either.
What’s the difference between Obama’s ideals and traditional democratic ideals in your opinion?
Posted by: clifton | September 11, 2008, 1:21 pm 1:21 pm
Our country is crumbling apart, we are in a huge economic crisis, we are fighting a useless war in Iraq, our health care is in shambles, families are loosing their homes, jobs are going to foreign countries, borders and ports are not secure, we can’t afford energy and food prices and all I hear from our leaders is who said what about lip stick. Those that sling mud at others have nothing constructive to offer themselves. Do we want, can we stand, four more years of this? Oh well, have a piece of candy, that always helps!!
Posted by: LANNY EDWARDS | September 11, 2008, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm
I’m really ashamed of my Republican party. Their tactics of late are way beyond low and calculating. Hillary was right. They’re shameful to the core. I’m so embarrassed now to be a Republican. I really expected so much better from McCain, as a so-called maverick, but now he’s turned literally everything over to the Bush and Rove guys. His role is very passive now. He just wants to know what to say and when to say it. He is totally helpless, and totally overshadowed by Palin at his side every minute. This is such a sad spectacle for our country. I can’t believe Palin and my Republicans are pulling it off. McCain is practically out of the picture now. The press is as guilty as the Republican bullies and blowhards. The media is afraid to condemn the Republicans for their behavior. Corporate America now rules the main stream media. Heaven help us.
Posted by: Robert | September 11, 2008, 2:05 pm 2:05 pm
The repub’s are saying that the troopergate investigation is being led by some obamaa people (4 dem’s), but they fail to mention the other 10 are repub’s themselves. Caught with your hand in the cookie jar, Mrs. Palin?
Posted by: jozy | September 11, 2008, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm
dl -
the republicans had control of the congress up till four months ago – so who was the do nothing bunch?
Posted by: jozy | September 11, 2008, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
Buttons in the trash? Better than Obama campaign workers and supporters throwing unused American flags in the trash after the convention.
Posted by: Traci | September 11, 2008, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm
Thank God there are young republicans at your college! GO GATORS!!
Posted by: Sharon | September 11, 2008, 2:32 pm 2:32 pm
Clifton, what – exactly – is the “promise” Obama represents? All I have seen so far are nice speeches, a man who isn’t exactly truthful or honorable and supporters who in turns seem to give the man Messiah-like qualities and hurl abuse at anyone who doesn’t buy into it.
I’ve been asking for 19 months what exactly Obama will do for his country. To date, I haven’t heard anything that he hasn’t changed or tainted in some way.
McCain and Palin certainly are not perfect, but I trust them. I believe they really want what’s best for our country, and they will try to cross the aisle to do it. I can’t see that in Obama – you can’t get true unity when people are forced or pressured to support someone they, at heart, really don’t believe in.
Posted by: Traci | September 11, 2008, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm
There seems to be this trend of equating McCain with Bush. By that logic we should not elect Obama because he will be another Jimmy Carter! The only difference in Carter and Obama is Carter was a governor and a peanut farmer. Obama doesn’t even have that!
Posted by: Ed | September 12, 2008, 11:44 am 11:44 am
Good for the UF students! It’s strange how you can go to college to get smarter then end up voting for empty rhetoric like Obama’s! I am glad there are some UF students withstanding the Obamamania.
Posted by: Dean | September 12, 2008, 6:07 pm 6:07 pm
maybe we should all stop, and let this thing playout, way to go Miles, so proud of you!!!!!!!!
Posted by: J | September 12, 2008, 7:55 pm 7:55 pm
Bryan Griffin is my hero.
Posted by: Jakki | September 13, 2008, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm
julie, like all the flags at the Dem convention about to be thrown in the garbage, rescued buy the Republicans.
Posted by: bombem | September 15, 2008, 2:10 pm 2:10 pm
Great job…..young leaders doing the right thing…just like a poll I heard today….Americans believe McCain is a DOER and Obama is just a talker.
McCAIN/PALIN ALL THE WAY…(former Hillary supporter)
Posted by: Debra | September 17, 2008, 2:43 am 2:43 am
Thankfully UF finally got a conservative voice – the Florida Frontier is great! Smart, educated young people going to college to get an education so they can be successful in life cannot seriously believe in a democratic viewpoint. Do they really want the government to control their lives, their health insurance, their business opportunities. What are they working for? So that the dems can give away most of their income? Get real. Less government gives them as individuals more opportunity to be successful. Are they really buying into the liberal media’s spin. This country would not be in the crisis it’s in now, if the media had not sent it there. The dems wanted so bad to win the election, they got the media to tank the economy. The media caused the a lot of the housing slump because it kept reporting that values were going down. Well, they didn’t start to go down until the media kept telling us they were going down. The media keeps saying things are getting worse, so they keep getting worse. They have caused panic, fear, and a huge over reaction, which has put us where we are today. If people would actually learn the facts, they would see that the housing market in many areas is actually coming back. There is more opportunity for investors now than ever, people just need to smarten up and use it to their advantage. Shut up media!!! Try reporting good for a change, and see what happens.
Posted by: jean | October 8, 2008, 10:46 am 10:46 am