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Published: April 29, 2008 08:24 pm
TRIBUNE-STAR EDITORAL: And another thing...
Obama’s missed opportunity
Barack Obama has rejected calls for a debate with Hillary Clinton prior to the primaries in Indiana and North Carolina. His reasoning? He says he wants to speak directly to white, blue-collar voters in Indiana who tend to favor his opponent.
The implication in his comment is that a formal debate somehow prohibits him from doing that. We think he’s wrong in that assessment and is missing an excellent opportunity to connect with the exact constituencies he’s trying to reach this week.
According to polls, Obama is running in a virtual dead heat with Clinton with less than a week to go before Election Day. If the polls prove true, Obama will lose no real ground in the delegate count to Clinton even if he suffers a narrow loss in the Indiana primary.
Perhaps rejecting a televised statewide debate is simply a cautious strategy to avoid the possibility of a serious setback if a debate does not go well for Obama. But he also is turning his back on a chance to solidify himself as the front-runner who is destined to be the Democratic nominee. He may ultimately regret this decision.
Disappointment, but no surprise
The U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision to uphold Indiana’s voter ID law was no surprise. The makeup of this court is designed to favor Republican/conservative philosophies and political activities.
But the decision is disappointing nonetheless in that it represents the highest court in the land condoning a law created to solve a problem that does not exist. Meanwhile, the law makes it more difficult for some segments of society to cast election ballots.
There is little doubt the concept of this law had more to do with political gamesmanship than preventing voter fraud. Opponents, however, have been unable to produce a solid body of evidence that demonstrates how the law disenfranchises some voters. Too bad proponents didn’t have to show the same level of evidence of so-called voter “fraud” before the law was passed.
Success in West Terre Haute
Congratulations are in order to Marion Manufacturing, a West Terre Haute-based maker of precision machine and manufacturing components. The company announced last week that it would be expanding its facility and work force. With 35 employees today, the expansion will add as many as 50 new jobs.
It is particularly exciting to see a locally owned family business doing well in its field and its success gives a special boost to the area economy.
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