Ready the Confetti!

On Nov. 4, Americans will go to the polls to choose our new president.
And this year’s election is one for the history books. Whoever wins, it’ll be a first.
Barack Obama, the Democratic Party nominee, is the first person of mixed race (he’s half black) to run for president of the United States. And at 72, Republican contender John McCain is the oldest seeking a first term. McCain’s running mate, Sarah Palin, is only the second woman to vie for the role of vice president!
On top of that, this is the first presidential election in which both of the main candidates are currently senators. Also, never before have both candidates been born outside of the continental U.S.
Most Bear readers are probably still way too young to vote. But it’s never too early to start practicing for the day you will be called upon to fulfill your civic duty.
“At any age, it’s important,” says Lara Slifko, resource development director for Kids Voting Arizona. “It sets up voting habits early, and those skills last a lifetime.”
Getting involved is exciting because it shows kids they can use their voice, she adds. “They see how the issues affect kids and their future.”
To get started, practice voting using the Presidential Ballot (right) and send it in to Bear! Did you know about all the other political parties out there—like the Boston Tea Party? Check out www.kidsvotingaz.org for info on them. Don’t forget you can write in a candidate, too. (Imagine Boomer Bear as president!)

Age: 72

Birthplace: Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone

Job: U.S. Senator from Arizona since 1986. Also a former U.S. representative. Captain, squadron leader and pilot with the U.S. Navy.

Education: U.S. Naval Academy; National War College

Family: wife Cindy; kids Doug, Andy, Sidney, Meghan, Jack, Jimmy and Bridget; four grandchildren

Hobbies: sports, hiking, fishing, history

Favorite Book: “For Whom the Bells Toll”

Favorite TV Shows: “24,” “Seinfeld”

Heroes: Theodore Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan. Barry Goldwater

Car He Drives: Cadillac CTS

Did You Know?
McCain survived five years in a prisoner of war camp when his plane was shot down during the Vietnam War. Although he was offered his freedom earlier, he refused to leave without his fellow soldiers.

McCain: On the Issues

EDUCATION: Believes parents should be able to choose the schools that are best for their children.

ENERGY: Would build 45 new nuclear power plants by 2030, with an eventual goal of 100 plants. Supports increased drilling in Alaska to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and researching alternative fuels like wind, hydro and solar power. He proposes a $300 million prize to anyone who comes up with a better, cheaper battery for hybrid and electirc cars.

GLOBAL WARMING: Says the United States was right not to sign the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement to reduce the world’s production of the greenhouse gases that lead to global warming. He supports, instead, a market-based system—called a “cap-and-trade system.” That means certain industries, like transportation and industry, would have set limits on the amount of greenhouse gases they are allowed to produce. But if they come up with ways to reduce their emissions, they could sell their “extra” permitted emissions to others for cash.

IRAQ: Supported sending troops to Iraq and insists the Iraqi government must be able to take care of itself and its people before American troops can leave.
Critical of the way the war was being fought, he called for an increase in military commitment to contain the terrorism and violence that is plaguing the country.

FOR VICE PRESIDENT: Sarah Palin

Obama: On the Issues

EDUCATION: Believes in investing in early childhood education and increasing teacher pay. Would reform No Child Left Behind, the accountability system for schools set up by President Bush. He also wants to make college affordable for all Americans by expanding financial aid.

ENERGY: Would enact a Windfall Profits Tax that would provide $1,000 Emergency Energy Rebates to families. He wants to get 1 million plug-in hybrid cars on the road by 2015 and make sure that 25 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2025. He would make construction of the Alaska natural gas pipeline a priority.

GLOBAL WARMING: Says that because the United States leads the world in the production of greenhouse gases, it should also be a leader in addressing global warming. He strongly supports an aggressive cap-and-trade system (see McCain’s environmental policy) that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.

IRAQ: Opposes the war in Iraq. He voted against giving the president the power to go to war and promises to start pulling out combat troops immediately with a goal of removing all brigades by the end of next year.
Unlike McCain, he believes diplomacy, rather than military presence, is necessary to get Syria and Iran to change their behavior. Both nations have aided terrorists in Iraq.

FOR VICE PRESIDENT Joseph Biden

MY PRESIDENTIAL BALLOT

Choose one:

Republican Party:
John McCain/Sarah Palin

Democratic Party:
Barack Obama/Joe Biden

Independent Party:
Ralph Nader/ Matt Gonzalez

Libertarian Party:
Bob Barr/ Wayne Allyn Root

Green Party:
Cynthia McKinney/Rosa Clemente

America’s Independent Party:
Alan Keyes/ Brian Rohrbough

Boston Tea Party:
Charles Jay/Thomas L. Knapp

Prohibition Party:
Gene Amondson/Leroy Pletten

Reform Party:
Ted Weill/Frank McEnulty

Party for Socialism and Liberation:
Gloria La Riva/Eugene Puryear

Socialist Party USA:
Brian Moore/Stewart Alexander

Socialist Workers Party:
Róger Calero/Alyson Kennedy

(Write in):___________________________

My Name:__________________________

Send to Bear Essential News for Kids
1037 S. Alvernon Way #150,
Tucson AZ 85711

What Happens to My Vote?

The U.S. president is not actually elected directly by voters. The candidate who gets the most “popular votes” (the ones cast by voters) in a state wins all of that state’s “electoral votes.”
Each state has a set number of electoral votes—for example, Arizona has 10. There are 538 total electoral votes, and the candidate with at least 270 wins the election. In 2000, President George W. Bush won the electoral vote but not the popular vote.