By Samantha Manning
Two former press secretaries spun their respective party’s agendas during a seminar at Monroe Lecture Center Tuesday afternoon. Students and community members filled the lecture center to hear from Ari Fleischer and Dee Dee Myers.
Fleischer, who was the press secretary for President George W. Bush during the first three years of his first term, began his speech by joking about his upbringing in comparison to his current political views. While both of his parents raised him as a liberal Democrat, he later became a Republican. “It’s better I became a Republican than a drug dealer, but not by much,” he said.
Fleischer discussed the intensity and surprises of this year’s presidential election. “What an amazing election year this has been…and thank goodness it’s coming to an end,” he said.
While maintaining his Republican views, Fleischer shocked some audience members by admitting his anticipation of the Democratic victory in November. “If ever there was a year where Democrats should win [the White House]…it’s 2008,” he said.
Fleischer used statistics to demonstrate the decline of Republican popularity in recent months: 10 percent say they believe the U.S. is on the right track, while 85 percent believe it is on the wrong track. This emphasized the lack of faith Americans now have in the current administration, and consequently, the Republican Party.
Despite hard times, Fleischer predicted that Republicans will have a comeback and that the Democrats will crack while in power. He also contested what he viewed as excessive negative media coverage of vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.
Fleischer’s view of Sen. John McCain’s chances for winning this election was grim. “John McCain is running out of time…if he hasn’t already,” he said.
He criticized McCain’s campaign tactics after the economic crisis unfolded. Rather than attack Sen. Barack Obama for associations with William Ayers, Fleischer said that McCain should have focused more on his poor economic policies.
Fleischer ended as he started, on a humorous note. He joked that he hoped young voters grow old and single voters get married, so that they will be less likely to vote for the Democrats, as statistics show.
Myers, former press secretary for President Bill Clinton, spoke from the opposite podium. Myers was the first woman to ever hold the title of press secretary and she is also the author of the book, “Why Women Should Rule the World: A Memoir.”
Like Fleischer, Myers began her speech explaining the polarity in her political views from her parents. The difference was she was raised in a private school, and grew up to be a liberal to her parent’s dismay.
When discussing the nature of this year’s election, Myers touched upon the differences in campaign spending. “I think the campaign finance rules as we know them…it’s over,” she said. Myers attributed the record-breaking numbers the Obama campaign achieved to unforeseeable Internet fundraising.
Myers also discussed new voter knowledge. “Everybody talks like a pundit. I’m a little threatened by that,” she said. Polls were not always as accessible to average Americans like they are now, Myers added.
True to her nature, Myers addressed the milestone that women have reached throughout this campaign. “This has been the year of the woman,” Myers said. Sen. Hillary Clinton proved that women could be taken seriously when fighting for the White House, she added.
“We certainly saw some sexism in the coverage of Hillary Clinton…and by the way I think we saw some sexism in the coverage of Sarah Palin,” Myers said. She commended Palin for giving credit to former female presidential contenders like Clinton and former vice presidential nominee, Geraldine Ferraro, when she gave her first speech as a candidate.
When discussing Palin, Myers emphasized one main point: “I defend her right to run.” And while she may defend her, she does not support her campaign.
Finally, Myers explained what she felt is the fundamental difference between the candidates: Obama is always clear and concise. He remains poised and logical when defending himself against unfair attacks. McCain, on the other hand, Myers said, lacks focus. “Trying to find a message in [McCain’s] campaign is like trying to find the prize in a cereal box,” she said. She believes that McCain’s response to the economic slump has been “incoherent.”