CONWAY The 10 students in CCU professor Paul Peterson’s mass media and American politics class Wednesday likely represented a cross section of voters in Horry County.
The biggest differences were the students’ ages, and that just two were committed Republicans. The absence of more conservatives, though, was offset by three independents, at least one of whom could be swayed either way, and one Democrat who is disappointed with Barack Obama’s presidency and would vote for a Republican if that person represented his views. Another of the independents called himself a freethinker. One of the three said there really isn’t much difference in what any of the contenders, Republican or Democrat, will do once in office.
“Regardless of the party,” said Kireem Liles of Bennettsville, “they’re not going to stray too far from the (American) agenda.”
George Taylor (left) and Kireem Liles raise their hands to comment as students in Paul Peterson's, mass media and American politics class at CCU talk about the South Carolina primary and the debates, Wednesday afternoon. Also pictured, Bree Greene (2nd from left) and Marcus Salley (right).
01/11/12
Photo by Charles Slate
Just one of the students is not registered to vote. One vote isn’t critical, said Bree Greene of Georgetown, so why bother?
Two of the three Democrats among the students said they are thinking of doing just what Republicans fear other Democrats will do in the Jan. 21st primary: vote for the candidate they believe would be least likely to attract votes in November’s election.
“You have to realize whoever wins (the Republican nomination) is going to be pitted against Obama,” said Alex Richardson of Roanoke, Va., and registered to vote in South Carolina.
“It’s really about strategy,” said Katlyn Gribble of Greenville, a second Democrat who plans to vote in the S.C. primary.
The majority of the students said they’ll probably watch the Myrtle Beach debate Monday, but one of the class’s two Republicans said that the sessions have become redundant for the most part..
“I will watch,” said Amber Ciemniewski of Hanover, Md., “even though I already know what they’re going to say.”
“The debates are not real debates,” said Marcus Shelley of Columbia, another Democrat. “(The candidates) are selling themselves. They’re telling us what they want us to hear.”
Neither Ciemniewski nor Joe Nichols of Pikeville, Ky., the other Republican among the students, didn’t share the focus on moral issues that seem to occupy the time of a large chunk of the national party. Ciemniewski said her fiscal conservatism makes her a Republican. Nichols said he’s a Baptist, but doesn’t have a problem with others freely holding their religious beliefs as long as he is free to hold his.
Nichols agreed that much of what is said in the Myrtle Beach likely will be a rerun.
But, he added, “If you catch one thing you haven’t heard before, it’s worth watching.”
George Taylor of Myrtle Beach, the group’s freethinker, said he’d like the chance to meet the candidates while they’re in town. He’d like to ask them what they think is the biggest moral challenge facing the United States.
“In this country,” he said, “we shouldn’t have the rate of poverty we do.”
Liles said that, despite his ambivalence toward both Republicans and Democrats, the South Carolina primary and the Myrtle Beach debate are worthwhile because he may learn something about the candidates he wouldn’t have known otherwise. Richardson said Myrtle Beach’s part in the process is important because of the money it means will be spent along the Grand Strand.
Taylor said the national publicity the area gets from the debate will be good for Horry County.
“I’m excited,” Richardson said of the hoopla. “I think it’s interesting. Even if you don’t agree with it, it’s still exciting.”
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