Vote of confidence

Hillary Clinton’s Facebook page

Krupa You’re either on [Facebook] to show stupid pictures of yourself or to hook up with someone. And those are the kind of people that don’t vote.

Siddiquee Facebook is a nice statistic of what college kids are thinking, but I don’t know how effective it is.

Beazley I’m on Facebook to talk to my friends. A potential candidate is supposed to lead my country, not rate Disney movies with me.

Mike Huckabee’s Chuck Norris endorsement

Krupa I think it trivializes the whole [primary process]. I don’t really believe in celebrity backing; it’s a candidate’s job to be able to campaign.

Siddiquee Most people don’t know who Chuck Norris is.

Beazley There is a very popular viral Internet list of Chuck Norris jokes. He is not the best celebrity endorsement, because it’s not clear who he is—that Internet guy? Or Walker Texas Ranger?

Rudy Giuliani’s “Students for Rudy,” a countrywide coalition of college students

Krupa Student organizations that talk about government let students open their minds. If an official is endorsing a club, it doesn’t become educational anymore.

Siddiquee I haven’t seen a huge presence yet on campus. But if there are events on campus, I would go.

Beazley I think the idea of student organizations is a wonderful thing—you’re practicing skills you need [after college].

Mitt Romney’s “Students for Mitt” a program that pays students to fund-raise

Krupa It’s just wrong. [Those students are] a tool.

Siddiquee If—on some level—a candidate wants to support a group you’ve already started, it’s not unethical for a candidate to help you out.

Beazley If [someone is] focused on the money, then that isn’t what this is about—we’re here to vote.

Ron Paul appearing on The Colbert Report

Krupa I think [the show] would help me relate to [candidates] as opposed to pictures of candidates shaking hands and smiling on the news.

Siddiquee I think it’s important that a candidate is willing to appear human. It also allows them to laugh at themselves.

Beazley The candidate is willing to risk his total candidacy to go on the show, because Stephen Colbert is crazy—he will break them down into pieces.

Barack Obama’s tech platform ensuring broadband access for all Americans, unveiled at Google headquarters

Krupa I think it shows commitment to future generations; most people I know that are “up there” don’t even want to deal with a computer.

Siddiquee Having broadband for everybody is so important because you do everything online; you order pizza…you look at your bank account.

Beazley Politically, technology is an issue that’s [important to] me.