The evolution of Ann Romney

5/1/12 5:15 PM

By Ayen Bior, abior@smu.edu  She has been called Mitt Romney’s “effective political weapon.” But to her 16 grandchildren, she is simply known as “Mamie.” And to Mitt Romney, the presumed GOP nominee and her husband of 43 years, she is his high school “sweetheart.” If you haven’t figured it out yet, 63-year-old Ann Romney is increasingly becoming a crucial aspect to Mitt Romney’ s future. Assuming Mitt foresaw this in 1969 when they tied the not and became man and wife, their relationship just may be the best investment the successful businessman has ever made. And as the couple attempts to become president and first lady, the Ann that Mitt fell in love with many years ago is now trying to win the hearts of a listening nation. As the nation has become...

Two DREAMs - One Nation

4/29/12 10:41 AM

By Ayen Bior, aior@smu.edu  While the Supreme Court is currently deciding whether or not implementing immigration laws is a federal or state power, Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida has proposed his version of the DREAM Act, a bill that would allow undocumented students legal status. “We are trying to help real children, real kids who find themselves in an unfortunate circumstance not of their doing, not of their fault,” Rubio said in an ABC News story. “I think we have an obligation to do that.” Arguably the most “unfortunate circumstance” that these children face is what most students embrace as a milestone - high school graduation. According to the American Immigration Council (AIC), approximately 65,000 undocumented students graduate from high school...

The most vicious politics? Not.

4/5/12 1:44 AM

By Joe Richardson, joeyr@smu.edu  At a panel discussion at SMU, Barbara Bush called the current election campaign the worst one that she’s ever seen. Her daughter-in-law Laura, her son George and the historian Doris Kearns Goodwin joined her on stage for the panel discussion on first ladies. It’s true that this election is a particularly vicious one, especially within the Republican ranks. Romney’s camp recently attacked Santorum in an all out push to try and take him out of the race -- a mailer from Romney’s superPAC, robocalls by Romney’s campaign, and television ads from both. But Santorum does not have clean hands in this fight. He recently echoed words from the Democrats claiming that Romney does not have a core, essentially calling him a flip flopper. And,...

Kony in question

3/28/12 10:59 PM

By Katlin Smith, ksmith@smu.edu Since Invisible Children’s KONY video went viral three weeks ago, it has kept the media’s attention as well as the public’s. For those who have not watched the video, KONY is a 30-minute, creatively edited film by Jason Russell, co-founder of advocacy group Invisible Children. In the video Russell informs the viewer of Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, and explains how Kony is ruthlessly killing millions of innocent people in Uganda. The video got instantly popular, receiving over 100 million views on YouTube and Vimeo since it was put online. Initially most of the coverage on it was informative and positive, but there have increasingly been more negative views showing up. One strong argument against Russell’s video is that ...

This Year’s Debate Dilemma

3/28/12 10:54 PM

By Victoria Ahmadi, vahmadi@smu.edu The 2012 GOP debates have been unlike any others with the overwhelming amount of bickering on petty issues and personal attacks. With such a flavored group of candidates, one would say it is to no surprise that debate dilemmas continue to arise. Debates are, in many cases, the most fundamental aspect of the campaign process. It allows the public insight into each candidate’s stance on certain issues and most of all his or her character. In other words, candidates’ debate performances can either make them or break them.  Rick Santorum, the outspoken Bible-beater from Pennsylvania has gradually weakened his chances for election after making shocking remarks about his nonacceptance of female contraception, prenatal testing, and gays in the...