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29 October 2007
Journalist Discusses 2008 U.S. Presidential Elections
USINFO Webchat transcript, October 29
Jerry Hagstrom, a prize-winning American journalist, author and commentator, answered questions in an October 29 USINFO Webchat on the U.S. presidential elections. This is the second in a series of webchats on U.S. elections 2008.
Following is the transcript:
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs
USINFO Webchat Transcript
Elections 2008: A Fresh Start
Guest: Jerry Hagstrom
Date: October 29, 2007
Time: 10:00 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT)
Moderator: Welcome to our second webchat on Elections 2008!
Our webchat will begin shortly at 14:00 GMT.
Jerry Hagstrom: Good morning, everyone. The 2008 presidential election is becoming more exciting and more unpredictable. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York seems to be moving ahead of all competitors, including Sen. Barack Obama. But the Republicans have no clear candidate yet. The first caucuses and primaries are coming up soon, in January, possibly even December. I look forward to answering your questions. - Jerry Hagstrom
Question [IRC Cairo]: Is the Middle East peace process has the equal attention of both Parts Democrats and Republicans. - Ali Eid Egypt
Answer [Jerry Hagstrom]: I would say it has the attention of both parties, but they take different approaches to it.
Moderator: Today's webchat is the second in our series of webchats on Elections 2008. For a complete listing of upcoming webchats, please visit our USINFO Webchat Station homepage.
Q [Mr.Hamzaev]: How you Mr. Hagstrom; can evaluate the chances of Barak Obama? How society of US except if 44th president of US will be Afro-American?
A: Sen. Obama's chances appear to be declining. I think Americans at this stage would accept an African-American president, but Sen. Obama does not have as much experience as they would like. In addition, Sen. Clinton is running a superb campaign.
Q [Abraham_Lincoln]: I understand that the President of the United States is elected by the people not precisely directly but through an electoral college or a set of electors. Could you advise plainly for us as to the considerations behind employing a system of an electoral college and what are the benefits and drawbacks of the system from the viewpoint of a healthy representative democracy? Thank you.
A: The electoral college started because the founding fathers thought that an educated group of electors should select the president. Today the importance of the system is that it gives weight to each state because the electors are equal to the numbers of House members and senators from each state. That gives more weight to the low population states. The advantage is that all parts of the country are important in the election. The negative side is that the president is not necessarily chosen by the largest numbers of votes.
Q [hazelovely]: Mrs. Clinton is so hot currently but do you think such a first-ranking country is suitable to be governed by a female and what's your comment of her ability -- do you think she really has the talent to lead or just an elegent lady but without true aptitude? Thanks.
A: Sen. Clinton is as highly educated as any of the male candidates. She has been elected to the Senate in New York in her own right and has served 7 years in the Senate. There are many questions about her candidacy, but she has proven to be lawmaker in her own right.
Q [Chat Participant]: Dear sir. Election 2008 may be a "fresh start" however, why US political season is beginning months and months before even first primaries? American population will be tired sooner than later. How do you respond?
A: It's true that Americans get tired of the elections. But this is a big country. It takes a lot of time and travel for presidential candidates to introduce themselves to the voters.
Q [IRC Cairo - Ali Eid]: Do you agree with me that the democratic party support the environmental issues more than the republican?
A: The Democrats do tend to make the environment an issue more than the Republicans.
Moderator: Jerry Hagstrom is a contributing author to the latest eJournalUSA: Elections 2008. Read his interview at http://usinfo.state.gov/journals/itdhr/1007/ijde/roundtable.htm.
Q [IRC Cairo - Ahmed Magdy, Egypt]: If the democratic party wins, how will the American troops in Iraq withdraw without having another [Vietnam]?
A: Figuring out how to withdraw troops from Iraq is a difficult question for both parties. I don't really have an answer to this question at this time.
Moderator: We are still accepting your questions. Thank you!
Q [IRC Cairo – Ahmed]: What is the major point in the Democratic platform?
A: The Democratic platform has not been written yet. It will be written next year after a series of hearings the committee will hold. It will be ratified at the Democratic convention, which will be held in Denver, Colorado in August. At this point, the only way to know what the Democrats would do differently from the Republicans is to listen to the candidates in their speeches.
Q [IRC Cairo – Ahmed]: Do you think the US will withdraw from Iraq if the Democratic win the election?
A: There would be many definitions of withdrawal. Does it mean removing U.S. troops? Does it mean removing all U.S. personnel? These are questions that the next president is likely to have to answer. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, who is the leading Democratic candidate at this point, has said that the United States is likely to maintain some presence in Iraq for an extended period of time.
Moderator: "Meet" the 2008 Presidential candidates at: http://usinfo.state.gov/politics/elections/candidates.html.
Jerry Hagstrom: I have enjoyed answering your questions today. I hope you will continue to follow the U.S. election. It should be one of the most exciting in years because neither the president nor the vice president is running. We will have fresh candidates in both parties. The political parties in all the states want to play a role this year so many have tried to move up the dates or their primaries or caucuses. We are likely to know who the candidates will be by February 5, the date on which many states will hold primaries. Keep watching. - Jerry Hagstrom
Moderator: We wish to thank Jerry Hagstrom for joining us today. The webchat is now closed. Please visit our USINFO Webchat Station homepage for more information on upcoming events and a transcript of today’s discussion (usually posted within one business day).
(Guests are chosen for their expertise. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of State.)
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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
