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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 1996)
Opinion Tuesday, February 13,1996 Page 4 Nebraskan Editorial Board University of Nebraska-Lincoln J. Christopher Haiti...Editor, 472-1766 Doug Kouma.Managing Editor Doug Peters.f.Opinion Page Editor Sarah Scalet...Associate News Editor Matt Waite . .:.Associate News Editor Michelle Garner..Wire Editor Jennifer Mapes.Columnist Aaron Steckelberg/DN No mudslinging! Iowa rejects Forbes’campaign tactics Last night, Iowa sent the country a message. In one of the most anticipated caucuses in recent elections, Iowans stood firm in the vicious wake of a negative campaign and voted largely for candidates with a message. They rejected the negative, mudslinging campaign of multi millionaire publisher Steve Forbes, proving that, just maybe, money can’t buy everything, including a presidential election. Forbes, who for weeks had pummeled Iowa with bitter ads assailing his chief—and sometimes not-so-chief—rivals, finished with a dismal 10 percent of the vote, struggling to pull ahead of Sen. Phil Gramm for fourth place in the nine-candidate field. Forbes made a valiant effort in Iowa, spending more than $4 million of his own fortune on ads that all too often walloped his opponents but failed to talk about the candidate himself. The tactic initially appeared successful. Two weeks ago, Forbes was challenging—even leading—Sen. Bob Dole in many polls. While Dole was running scared, commentator Patrick Buchanan and former Tennessee Gov. Lamar Alexander, who finished second and third, respectively, barely even registered on the public opinion radar screen. Forbes fought on, focusing the brunt of his assault on Dole, but not hesitating to take aim at any candidate who crossed his path. Given his record, one couldn’t help but smirk over the weekend when the Forbes camp accused Dole of “distorting his record” in telephone “push polling.” Forbes certainly wasn’t alone in bringing down the campaign. Perhaps few, if any, of-the GOP candidates took the high road, but none stooped so low as Forbes. And when it came time for Iowans to speak their minds, they thanked Forbes for playing and asked him and his mud-toting sling shot to step aside. The candidates now pack up and rush to the nation’s first primary in New Hampshire, where the campaign has been anything but pristine. If the Granite State’s voters are at all like their Iowa counterparts, Forbes and the rest of the GOP field had better clean up their acts. Because this year, the electorate seems to have had enough. Editorial policy Staff editorials represent the official policy of the Spring 19% Daily Ne braskan. Policy is set by the Daily Nebraskan Editorial Boaid. Editorials do not necessarily reflect the views of the university, its employees, the stu dents or the NU Board of Regents. Editorial columns represent the opin ion of the author. The regents publish the Daily Nebraskan. They establish the UNL Publications Board to super vise the daily production of the paper. According to policy set by the regents, responsibility for the editorial content of the newspaper lies solely in the hands of its students. Letter policy The Daily Nebraskan welcomes brief letters to the editor from all readers and interested others. Letters will be selected for publication on the basis of clarity, originality, timeliness and space available. The Daily Nebraskan retains the right to edit or reject all material submitted. Readers also are welcome tc submit mate rial as guest opinions. The editor decides whether material should run as a guest opinion. Letters and guest opinions sent to the newspaper become the property of the Daily Nebraskan and cannot be re turned. Anonymous submissions will not be pub lished. Letters should include the author’s name, year in school, major and group affiliation, if any. Re quests to withhold names will not be granted. Submit material to: Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R SL Lincoln, Neb. 68588-0448. v> \ ttWTfl LOSE 316 X 0 -1 We won’t, uh, stand for It I feel the need to comment after reading Thursday’s article, “Stu dents game seats may change.” I am upset about the debate whether to move the students to the southeast comer of Memorial Stadium during football games. Could the Athletic Department give us any worse seats?! I don’t think so. It would show me that the Athletic Depart ment really doesn’t care about us. One point I would like to make, though. This all came up as a result of complaints from people behind us that could not see. Well, personally, I’ve always thought it was absurd that we had to stand the whole game. It’s the people in the front that start it and then the whole section has to suffer for it and ultimately stand for most of the game. I can’t hardly believe that all of those students want to stand. Maybe I’m wrong. Perhaps something can be done about the standing at games and we can be left where we are. Dave Janda junior computer science via e-mail Think forgiveness I’m confused. If innocent blood stains, as Mark Baldridge claims it does, what does guilty blood do? It sounded like he was comparing Jesus’ execution to Otey’s, but the “innocent-blood” analogy kinda breaks down, wouldn’t you say? There is plenty to say about the morality of the death penalty without morphing Stenberg into Pilate. Far from any specific censure of capital punishment, the “lesson of Pontius Pilate” was this: The right thing to do isn’t always the easiest; true morality doesn’t flow with the quo. Maybe “wheels turn,” but we ought NOT turn with them. I I I I I US TO I III I 1)1 I OR Ironic, isn’t it, that the very person Pilate condemned — yea, the very execution he ordered — provides the one way we can have our hands washed. Forgiveness. What a concept! Think about it. Glen Parks junior philosophy via e-mail Men need motivation Jennifer Mapes’ “incredulous” wit and insight (Feb. 12) has given an unfavorable, some might say patronizing portrayal of the sexual minority, (men are less than 50 percent of the population.) What women want? While I’ve never tried lighting a bodily function to impress a gal, seems to me most guys wouldn’t. Of course, the female equivalent of doing that is taking her boyfriend to the mall, and going to the testosterone-free palace, Victoria’s Secret. More than once I have seen men come out of there, visibly shaken. It’s a double whammy if she brings friends along, or if it is near Valentine’s Day, a sure-fire guy repellant. I agree with you Jennifer, women should be complimented on their wit, talent, and accomplishments. But what about us? Before you give another incredulous pause, remem ber that not all of us have huge egos, and that even a small compliment means a lot to us. Now, a hint for the ladies. And all we guys really need is a little bit of motivation, a spark that makes us and keeps us interested. A phone call just to say “hello” can work wonders ... reach out and touch someone! Matt Duxbury junior German/news-editorial via e-mail No longer the Knights who say “Near Well, it appears that once again the men’s basketball team is headed for another underachieving season. This year, however, there is no excuse for the poor play. The athletic talent on this year’s team is second to only a few schools in the entire nation. It is time for a change at the top. While coaching changes are often unjustly warranted, it seems coaching, over the last several years, has been the only other constant variable to go along with the team’s mediocre play. Accepting this mediocrity has and will continue to result in the disappointing outcomes of the season. The potential for Nebraska basketball to reach the next level has been there for some time, the university just needs to find someone who can unleash it. EricGivner Duke University Durham, N.C. via e-mail ...to the Daily Nebraskan Send your brief letters to: Daily Nebraskan, 34 Nebraska Union, 1400 R St., Lincoln, Neb. 68588, or Fax to (402) 472-1761, or email cletters @ unlinfo.unl.edu.> Letters must be signed and include a phone number for verification. i