Posts in Intern's Perspective

• November 9, 2009

  Intern’s Perspective: Under Pressure: Recognizing the 'Power of the People'

  Hannity Producers  | 

  

  AP

  Following the passage of the health care bill in the House, President Obama was quick to urge the Senate to finish the job, and to finish it quickly -- before the end of the year to be exact. Further emphasizing the “need” to rush the legislative process, the president evoked images of a race in his petition to the Senate, saying that it was their turn to “take up the baton and bring this effort to the finish line.”

  In response to the president’s proposed deadline, a Democrat remarked, “The holiday break is viewed the same way as the August break. We don’t want a repeat. We could probably survive it, but why take the chance?”

  In other words, our nation’s representatives fear the public’s opinion. They fear having to defend their votes to masses of unhappy constituencies who recognize that their representatives are not being representative at all. At the end of the day, these powerful individuals are scared of the prospect of accountability.

  This is an important point for apathetic and disillusioned citizens, many of which are young people, to understand. An activist can be mocked, scoffed at, and bullied by the most powerful members of society, but at the end of the day all who participate in the democratic process matter. This being noted, it is my hope that both the disenchanted youth and their older counterparts will use their voices and their actions to demand accountability from their representatives, both now in these critical times, and always thereafter whenever they feel that their beliefs are threatened.

  Do you think that the fear of accountability and constituency backlash will deter the Senate from passing health care legislation?

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• November 6, 2009

  Intern's Perspective: Obama Falls Short of Really Teaching Responsibility

  Hannity Producers  | 

  

  As the first African-American president, Barack Obama has undoubtedly become a role model and a source of inspiration for many young people throughout the United States. He has risen up from hardship and achieved one of the most esteemed of titles that is granted to an individual in our nation.

  Obama is aware of his ability to influence the nation’s youth. In some cases, he has taken advantage of this ability in order to try to teach kids some noble lessons. For example, during his September 8th address where in he spoke directly to students, the president reminded the nation’s youth of their need to take responsibility for themselves and their futures.

  It seems to me, however, that Obama has forgotten the age old cliché that “actions speak loader than words”. President Obama can tell students that taking responsibility for oneself is important all that he wants, but unless he starts taking responsibility himself, his appeals will fail to be influential. It seems that, nearly a year after his inauguration, the President can rarely get through a speech without reminding the American people of the problems that he “inherited” from a particularly unpopular president.

  This Wednesday’s speech in Wisconsin was no exception: Obama sited the inherited “financial crisis that threatened to plunge our economy into a Great Depression, the worst that we've seen in generations," and “record deficits, two wars, frayed alliances around the world," as reason for his administration’s shortcomings at present.

  If President Obama really wants to teach the nation’s youth about responsibility, he will need to stop playing the blame game and start fessing up.

  Do you think that President Obama is practicing what he preaches when it comes to responsibility? Do you think he’s missing out on an opportunity to teach America’s youth an important lesson?

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• November 3, 2009

  The College Student Mantra: If It Isn't Fun, It Isn't Worth It

  Hannity Intern  | 

  As this year's gubernatorial elections near, I find myself doubting that many of my peers will bother to use their vote.

  College students may be happy to participate in political activities in a group setting, but when it comes to taking the individual initiative to excursive their civic duty, many bow out.  Scores of college students jump at the chance to travel hours to Washington, D.C., to protest Roe v. Wade, petition for gay rights, etc., but few are willing to even travel to their mailboxes request an absentee ballot. It’s ironic.

  It almost seems that when political activism isn’t “fun” or when it does not constitute a social event (with opportunities to create unique signs and witty T-shirts, to yell snappy chants and to sightsee with one’s best friends), that college kids simply do not care.

  I hope that I am wrong. I hope that my peers will see their vote as valuable and happily participate in what are some very close races.

  Do you think that young people will get out and vote today? Why do you think young people tend to have low voter turnout?

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• October 26, 2009

  Intern’s Perspective: Universal Nightmare: Exchanging Quality for Quantity

  Hannity Producers  | 

  

  In addition to addressing other possible consequences of universal health care, including the economic costs of such a system, last week’s health care special on “Hannity” addressed my most pressing concern: Does a government-run program mean that the curtains will be closing on quality care in the United States?

  It seems that doctors and patients will be taking their last bows as the stars of the decision making process, and untrained, aloof government officials will be adding their names to the top of the playbill. After watching Maeve Rice’s testimony (you can watch it here), it was plain to see that quality care cannot be achieved in a system that emphasizes quantity.

  While women suffering from the same ailment as Maeve died waiting for care, Maeve was saved because she was able to receive care in a timely fashion. She could choose her doctors and know that her doctors of choice would have the time to give her the attention that she needed both medically and emotionally. Moreover, Maeve was able to receive drugs that her European counterparts were denied because the government considered them too costly. Maeve is alive today because she was not the victim of rationed care. She did not have to beg the government to see her life as valuable enough to save.

  After watching Maeve’s story (and having heard so many similar testimonies) I couldn’t help but wonder, what good is health care coverage if individuals are not granted access to doctors and treatments when they are most in need?

  How do stories like Maeve’s impact your comfort level with the prospect of universal health care?

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• October 19, 2009

  Intern's Perspective: Balloon Boy Hoax

  Hannity Intern  | 

  

  As the story of young Falcon Heene broke last week, the "Hannity" crew’s attention was torn from their work and cast upon the television’s horrifying reports of a young child in extreme danger. The thought of a child stuck up in a weather balloon, alone, and scared, was heartbreaking. I pictured poor Falcon crying, screaming, and curled up in the fetal position, desperate to get out of the balloon, but powerless to free himself. I thought about the devastation, fear, and guilt that I was sure must have been overcoming his parents Richard and Mayumi at that very moment. I prayed that the balloon would land safely on the solid ground with Falcon physically unharmed. I, the "Hannity" producers, and many Americans, sat waiting nervously, hoping for the best.

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