Time to Vote

Schwarzenegger and wife mirror America’s choices

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Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger bends low to answer questions posed by Scholastic Kid Reporter Mariam El Hasan. (Photo by Basima El Hasan)

What happens when a famous couple disagrees over whom to support for President? Arnold Schwarzenegger is the Governor of California. His wife is Maria Shriver and she is a journalist and the niece of the late President John F Kennedy. They are married, but disagree over who would make a better leader for this country.

With close races for the Democratic and Republican nominations for President, this could be a problem facing many American families. As voters head to the polls on Super Tuesday, they could take a lesson from Schwarzenegger and Schriver on how to agree to disasgree.

Endorsement Tangle

Last week Schwarzenegger endorsed Senator John McCain for President.  That means that he supports Senator McCain in this presidential election and will work to help get him elected. Both McCain and Schwarzenegger are Republicans. He feels that Senator McCain will say “hasta la vista to taxes” and will be great for national security.

On Sunday, however, his wife announced that she is endorsing Senator Barack Obama who is a Democrat. Shriver, who is also a Democrat, feels that Obama is independent, innovative, and inspiring.

So at an election event for McCain on Monday, the day before Super Tuesday, Scholastic News asked the “governator” about this situation.

“My wife has always been a Democrat,” he said. “I have always been a Republican.  So, we have always endorsed or campaigned for our own candidates and we’ve never had a problem with that.”

But right now, the race is not between Democrats and Republicans. Each party has a close race for its nomination. Hillary Clinton is in a close race for the Democratic nomination with Barack Obama. McCain’s closest opponent for the Republican nomination is Mitt Romney. How will the Schwarzenegger handle the Democratic vs. Republican problem in the General Election, SN wanted to know? It’s all about respect.

“I respect Maria for her opinion and she respects me for my opinion and we have been having a good time,” Schwarzenegger told Scholastic News. “It has made a very spicy and interesting kind of marriage."

Phoning for Votes

The Governor was visiting a phone bank for McCain in Gardena, California, on Monday. Volunteers were seated at long tables making one call after another.  They were calling Republicans and reminding them to go out and vote for Senator McCain during the Super Tuesday elections the next day. Governor Schwarzenegger even made a few phone calls, too.

Former Secretary of State Bill Jones was also at the phone bank. He talked to Scholastic News about why McCain would be a great President.

“He is an American hero,” Jones said. “He has served his country for three decades.  He has a very strong conservative philosophy on less government, strong defense and fewer taxes.  He is a man of integrity, honesty, and great tenacity. He doesn’t quit and if any campaign shows that, it’s this one.”

Jones was referring to the fact that last summer, McCain’s campaign was almost out of money. Many political watchers said he didn’t have a chance against Rudy Giuliani, who at the time was leading in national polls. Since then Giuliani has withdrawn from the race because of his poor showing in the Florida primary last week. He has since endorsed McCain, who is now the Republican frontrunner.

The Super Tuesday vote on February 5 may well decide what the Schwarzenegger-Schriver family will be discussing at the dinner table over the next 9 months. If not, the next big delegate contests are slated for February 9, 10, 12, and 19 in a variety of states including Louisiana, Maryland, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

WHO DO YOU SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT?

Vote in our latest Scholastic News Online Mock Primary Poll.

ELECTION 2008

Scholastic Kid Reporters are on the campaign trail. Keep up with the latest election news in this special report.

Mariam El Hasan is a member of the Scholastic Kids Press Corps.

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