Bakersfield College students have mixed reactions to the California primary results Feb. 5.
According to political science major Lonnie Lehr, 22, a democrat, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton would make the best president. “She has experience to make the drastic changes this country needs,” said Lehr. “She will restructure the economy and make daycare more affordable to parents and she will help get most troops out of Iraq.”
However, democrat Kim Escalera, 19, supports Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. “I like him a lot. He seems like he would bring about a great positive change in the White House.”
Though Obama has won the democratic vote in more states, Hillary Clinton has won more of the larger states, including California with 52 percent (90 percent of precincts reporting). Obama received 42 percent of the votes.
As for the republican vote, Arizona Sen. John McCain won California with 42 percent (95.9 percent precincts reporting). Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney received 34 percent of the votes.
“He (Romney) was a business tycoon, hence he is the devil,” said Lehr. “I smell wicked special interest groups.”
According to English major Rebecca Landucci, 20, an independent, she has not yet researched the presidential candidates to make an informed decision; however, she has received first impressions. “Hillary gives me the willies, and I do not think Barack Obama should win based on his association with Muslims, a group of people we’re at war with.”
According to a 19-year-old biology major, who wished to remain anonymous, Obama is the worst candidate. “I heard he was raised as a Muslim.”
However, according to the Jan. 31 edition of The Bakersfield Independent, Obama and Hillary agree on main issues. They support the immigration reform legislation, opposed George Bush Jr.’s “tax cuts for top earners,” troop withdrawal from Iraq and national health care, though they disagree on how to provide national health care.
According to Student Government Association’s Sen. Matthew Cuellar, the results of the democratic primaries are close. “It’s going to be really interesting to see who comes out on top of both parties.”
Besides presidential candidates, people also voted on propositions such as Indian gaming, transportation and community college funds.
Escalera said she did not support the Indian gaming agreements, whereas Lehr supported all propositions except proposition 93, which decided legislature terms.
“Basically, the commercials say it’s bad, and it does sound like a negative thing,” said Lehr. “If we need social change, it won’t happen like this.”
Though it was close, proposition 93 did not pass. No proposition passed except for the Indian gaming agreements.