Keep the date of May 6 open on your calendar. That is the date of the upcoming Democratic primary in Indiana. It is indeed the day that Indiana's Democrats will choose between Senators Clinton and Obama, making the best choice they can.
More and more articles can always be written comparing the two candidates. You can pick apart Clinton's experience as well as Obama's promises for change. I would rather not do that anymore. I see no reason to put the fighting on any higher a pedestal than it currently occupies. The Republicans, myself included, now just prepare for the general election. We know we have a fight ahead of us regardless of who the candidate will be.
Indiana has an elevated place in the primary contests this year. Back in 1984, Walter Mondale and Gary Hart also came to Indiana to try and woo Indiana Democrats, but most of the time, we simply don't matter. Indiana's primary normally falls on the calendar far after each party already has its nominee chosen. But 2008 will be different. This year the Democrats need our 72 delegates, and 12 superdelegates desperately. Indiana is more than happy to oblige.
Hillary was at Muncie Central, just down the road from Ball State University. Chelsea was in our very own Atrium. Obama is scheduled to be here sometime this week. This is all well and good. It gives Ball State as well as the city of Muncie a chance to extend their proverbial welcome mat to politicians passing through. But it will not last. It never does. This moment in the spotlight is good for Indiana. It gets our individual issues out on the table. It gets a brief light on the suffering of Indiana's workers in this struggling economy.
Where I get upset, and where I really begin to hate politics, is upon hearing the bold faced lies coming out of the two Senators' mouths. Every time they tell us how they care about Indiana, I feel as if Indiana is being stabbed in the back. Indiana is being robbed. Clinton and Obama seem to me to be doing little more than pointing a gun at us. "Hand over your delegates and nobody will get hurt." Honesty in politics seems to be heading toward an endangered list.
All I want is for them to be up front about their true motives. They want our votes, but on May 7, we will be a memory. The only time Indiana will come in to play from that point on will be if one of them accidentally drives through the Hoosier state on their way to another campaign stop. I would much rather them tell us we are not as important as say Florida, Ohio or Pennsylvania than try and convince us there is more to it.
On a happier note, this fake enthusiasm they have for us does get young Hoosiers like Ball State students involved. More and more I see students walking around campus with their Clinton and Obama buttons. By all means, do get involved. Go down to Obama's office in the Village and get involved. All I ask is that we understand that Indiana is merely a blip on their radar screen. Politics goes on as usual. And we all go in for one more cup of the political Kool-Aid.
Write to Alex at apcarroll@bsu.edu
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