By: Mistyre Bonds (’19), Staff Writer
GOVERNOR
Roy Cooper:
Pros:
He is the everyman, born and raised in North Carolina. He attended public schools and eventually attended UNC-Chapel Hill. He has lived the middle class life, and therefore his support of consumer protection and family well-being may be looked at as genuine. Throughout his career Cooper has served as Attorney General, State Senator, and State Representative. In these roles he has overseen a 30% decrease in crime rates and written the state’s first children’s health insurance initiative.
Cons:
He loves North Carolinians, but not many others outside of it. His support of McCrory’s stance on keeping refugees outside of the state, along with his office’s tendency to deny undocumented students in-state tuition worries those voters concerned with the well being of their international neighbors.
Vote for Him if: You are a North Carolinian (and only that) through and through.
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Lon Cecil:
Pros:
A military man, Cecil’s patriotism and love for America is unquestionable. Veterans and their issues, along with his staunch support of the second amendment make up most of his political platform. Up until recently, his political involvement stopped there, and he built a career surrounding entrepreneurship as a freelance consultant for a broadcasting station. A man of many talents, he is different, but maybe different is what North Carolina needs.
Cons:
His lack of experience within government can either be interpreted as refreshing or risky. Similarly, in light of police shootings and general unrest within the state, the average North Carolina voter may not agree with his strict support of gun law.
Vote for Him if: You have the right shoes on for a leap of faith.
Pat McCrory is also running for governor, however as he has already served previous terms, I urge you to conclude your own pros and cons concerning him.
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PRESIDENT
Trump:
Pros:
What you see is what you get: he does not hide behind political jargon and therefore the public has already seen Trump’s best and worst sides. Well known for his business ventures Trump is well versed in the economic world, and has mastered the art of negotiation. As a businessman, Trump supports free enterprise and a less regulated market, a definite plus for anyone who favors more libertarian economic policies.
Cons:
In the business world, Trump has been accused of being untrustworthy by investors, partners and employees. Not only that, but his financial endeavors have not always ended favorably, and he has openly admitted to manipulating bankruptcy laws for his profit. Add that to the list of rape allegations, civil lawsuits, and unpaid taxes and it leaves a man who is definitely unlike the politicians the public has come to scrutinize, but is neither the most honorable candidate either. His lack of jargon coupled with his signature brazenness leaves much to be desired on the political stage, and often leaves the public with comments that have been deemed racist or insensitive to women and the disabled.
Vote for him if: You value his politics over his opinions.
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Hillary:
Pros:
From her experience as First Lady to her own career as Secretary of State, Clinton may be one of the most qualified presidential candidates to date. She has experience dealing with foreign policy, has worked her way through the ranks, and embodies a true politician rather than an idealist. For the millennials: Clinton has partially adopted Bernie Sander’s “free college” program, and plans to reduce marijuana from a Schedule One to Schedule Two Drug. Finally, bless her mama, it’s a girl! If Clinton won the election it would mark a great milestone in the history of equal rights.
Cons:
She is a politician, and those have rarely done right by the marginalized communities within the United States. Not only that, but along with her experience with creating policy, she has also become an adept apologizer. From her past support of the Iraqi War and her “superpredator” comment concerning African-American youth, Clinton has spent much of her political campaign righting her wrongs and recalibrating her political stances. The well publicized private emailing list scandal associated with her campaign, paired with her aforementioned shortcomings, have led many to question her transparency and integrity as a candidate.
Vote for Her if: You believe in forgiving and forgetting.
