Representatives of USC’s College Democrats, College Republicans and College Libertarians concurred on the legalization of marijuana and the need for community-based policing to soothe race relations.
But precious little else was agreed upon in Russell House Theater on Monday night.
Before an often raucous crowd, the three parties took part in the annual Carolina Clash on the eve of the 58th U.S. presidential election. Topics put forth by moderators from The Daily Gamecock included illegal immigration, the United States’ role in the Middle East and federal debt reduction.
Ana Mince and chapter treasurer Evan Dodge represented the College Democrats and focused on smart taxation to repair state infrastructure, collaboration in conflicts overseas and social reform.
Mince showed a knowledge of economic theory while arguing over how to bolster South Carolina’s deeply-indebted highway fund. She cited the theory of economic elasticity in justifying a hike in the state gas tax, currently second-lowest in the nation.
“When someone’s life is at stake, you will pay what you have to pay in order to continue living,” Mince said. “The same principal applies to taxes for our infrastructure.”
After the debate, Dodge said he believes such debates between the two parties will become scarce as a more progressive millennial generation takes political power on both sides of the aisle in the near future.
“There are still key divisions between our parties,” Dodge said. “But I’m very proud and looking forward to the day when we’re able to start agreeing a large amount.”
Represented by chapter treasurer Dani Repass and second vice chairman Bryan Hall, the USC College Republicans took a firm stance of maintaining a lean but effective government while taking American interests to heart both abroad and domestically.
“What about people that we have here that are homeless, that are poverty-stricken?” Repass said when discussing the ongoing refugee crisis in Syria. “Why aren’t we looking at these things? Why are we looking at people to bring into the country who aren’t going to have jobs here? They aren’t going to be able to speak our language.”
On the topic of funding repairs to state infrastructure, Hall argued for increased gubernatorial power over the South Carolina Department of Transportation to appoint officials. He also said that any increase in state gas taxes would weigh unfairly on poor South Carolinians.
“These families are already living paycheck to paycheck,” Hall said. “If you raise the tax on them, it makes it harder for them to buy gasoline and be able to afford to get back and forth from work.”
Between the two major party chapters, chapter representatives Michael Kriete and Mike Miller sat behind a gold flag adorned with the Libertarian Party’s unofficial mascot, the porcupine. Echoing the animal’s desire to remain undisturbed, Kriete and Miller spent the evening reasoning against government bureaucracy, be it in infrastructure repair, immigration reform or international crises.
Kriete entertains no illusions of his party’s chances in Tuesday’s election. No third-party candidate has carried a state in a presidential election in 48 years. But when asked if he feels his party will have substantial support in coming election cycles, Kriete said he believes it already does with nominee Gary Johnson.
“His high support is among millennials,” Kriete said. “I think millennials realize the two-party system is a fraud and they are looking for alternatives.”
Kriete, who also heads the USC chapter of Young Americans for Liberty, acknowledged that the Libertarians need to reach out to “more diverse groups,” but said the party’s appeal to young Americans will be important in the years to come.
“I don’t see either [major] party being able to adequately adapt to the needs facing millennials,” Kriete said.
Chairman Nick Pasternak of the USC College Republicans expressed satisfaction with Repass and Hall’s performances and the substance of the questions asked of the parties — with the exception of one.
Pasternak, a third-year political science student, disagreed with the use of the sixth question of the debate, which was pulled from the audience via Twitter. The question asked whether the GOP needs to become more socially liberal and address the concerns of conservative women who are uncomfortable with the party’s nomination of Donald Trump. The student who tweeted it was female and said she considers herself a Republican.
Pasternak said he felt the question was slanted and should not have been used by the moderators.
“The entire audience got into it about our party,” Pasternak said. “Whereas we were trying to kind of just talk about the issues and then this one devolves into, ‘Republicans, why are you terrible with women?’”
When the question was asked during the debate, all parties agreed the GOP needs to take a more open stance on social issues. Hall assured the audience that he and Repass, as “the future of the Republican Party,” were open to change.
Speaking on behalf of the College Libertarians, Miller criticized current Republican stances on drugs and women’s rights, saying the party has “lost touch” with American society.
“Drugs are becoming legal, let’s legalize them,” Miller said. “Women should have all the … rights we all do. I think their policies are moving us back when we should be moving forward.”
Repass countered Miller’s evaluation of her party’s stance on women’s rights, calling it “ridiculous.”
“I can sit up here as a woman myself, as a member of the Republican Party, and tell you that is not how we feel,” Repass said, to applause from the crowd.
Turning her attention to the Democrats, Repass said that a conversation on GOP nominee Donald Trump’s comments about women would be incomplete without mentioning those of Hillary Clinton. Repass went on to quote a number of controversial statements made by the Democratic nominee, among them Clinton’s reported dismissals of Gennifer Flowers and Monica Lewinsky, both of whom were allegedly at one time sexually involved with Clinton’s husband. Repass went on to deem Clinton’s comments “the epitome of rape culture.”
Shortly after, as Hall mentioned fresh rape accusations against former President Clinton, a spectator stood and exclaimed “Donald Trump sexually assaulted somebody!” As moderators attempted to quiet the audience, the young woman quickly walked out of the auditorium to scattered applause and catcalls of “triggered.”
The woman, who identified herself as a Columbia College student, declined to be interviewed.
Andrew R., a first-year sports and entertainment management student, felt that all three parties neglected a particularly divisive topic — abortion — as the discussion of women’s rights turned sour.
“It’s a big issue and it’s an issue that divides a lot of people,” Andrew said. He found it regrettable that the debate ceded to a deliberation of the sexual misdeeds of former President Clinton, eventually leading to the outburst from the crowd.
“If anything it just turned into a shouting match,” Andrew said. “The actual issue wasn’t addressed itself.”
Polling stations opened statewide at 7 a.m. on Tuesday.