Democrat and Republican debate for students, American Society

"Our country's present state is not good and its future
is uncertain." Photo of Richard Koster by Eric Jackson

Democrat and Republican debate the 2008 presidential issues
by Eric Jackson

"He's a community organizer, for God's sake!"
Photo of Alberto Rojas by Eric Jackson

On October 13 about 50 people gathered at the Academia Balboa for the quadrennial American Society presidential debate, this time as last hosted by the school and its advanced government class. Most of the crowd was composed of high school students, and among the adult members of the American community who showed up, Democrats outnumbered Republicans.

There hadn't been a lot of advance notice because the local chapter of Republicans Abroad, having vetoed a local war hero and veterans' organization leader, couldn't decide on one of their own to represent their party. Finally Alberto Rojas, a Cuban-American businessman from Miami with long ties to Panama, stepped in for the GOP. By then it was just a few days before the event.

The local Democrats Abroad chapter knew all along that it would be writer Richard Koster debating for them, as he has for many years.

If you were awarding style points, Koster easily won. But this was a civics class, not a public speaking or forensics class, in the audience. The questions they submitted belied interests more about substance than style. And on substance, the two men rather ably reflected the themes of their respective parties' campaigns. The Democrat stressed that these are difficult times, placing most of the blame on the Republican administration; while the Republican emphasized that George W. Bush is not a candidate in this year's election and attacked the Democratic candidate's qualifications and philosophy.

Rojas argued that lower corporate taxes mean more jobs. "We can't keep thinking about taking from the rich," he said, "because the rich can take their money and their jobs anywhere." Koster countered with a different philosophy, which, given that Warren Buffett is among the folks supporting Obama, might not exactly be his party's position. "Greed is no longer good --- the president should stop inviting billionaires to the White House." But Rojas likened Obama to Fidel Castro, arguing that the Democratic nominee's middle class tax cut plan was a tax increase for the rich. "The rich will leave the USA if their taxes are higher," he argued. "Castro was able to do it in Cuba."

Rojas cited the American Civil Liberties Union as bad guys and accused the Democrats of "wanting to cut the wiretaps on terrorists." Koster countered by calling the Republicans "the party of fear" and said that a Democratic administration would "respect human rights."

On energy policy, Rojas defended the Iraq War as a sensible way for the United States to maintain control over the region that has two-thirds of the world's petroleum supply. Koster emphasized self-reliance, alternative energy sources and a tax policy that encourages energy-saving vehicles and appliances. "We have to get self-sufficient on energy tomorrow," he concluded.

Much of Rojas's presentation was devoted to belittling Obama's credentials. He alleged that the Democratic nominee didn't write his speeches or know what's on his website, and argued that if he's president he'd be dominated by Nancy Pelosi. He claimed that Obama "doesn't know where Latin America is." He attacked Obama's ties with the Chicago Democratic machine and with his former pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright.

Koster had his supply of stones to throw as well. "John McCain is a brave and honorable, decent American who is totally out of his depth," he argued. After taking bad economic advice from "his crony Phil Gramm," Koster said, McCain "almost ruined the deal" on the financial institutions bailout package. A Yale graduate like the president, Koster also lamented that George W. Bush's performance has diminished the value of his Yale degree.

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