Luke Russert To Report On Youth Issues
Last night, NBC announced that 22-year-old Luke Russert, son of the late Tim Russert, is set to be a news correspondent at this year's Democratic and Republican National Conventions. Russert, who graduated in May from Boston College, will cover issues affecting the nation's youth.
"I am extremely humbled and grateful that NBC News is giving me this opportunity," Russert said in an NBC press release. "I believe youth issues will continue to play a significant role during this election and I want to do my part reporting them honestly and objectively."
But what are the issues irking America's youth?
"The environment, the war in Iraq and healthcare seem to be what matters most to young adults," says Sara Benincasa, reporter for MTV's "Choose or Lose 2008" campaign. "The order switches off, but the truth is, many twenty-somethings living in New York City realize that with the cost of living being so high, and the fact that most jobs don't provide health benefits, that healthcare is extremely important."
According to results from MTV's ongoing "Rock the Vote" poll, three issues are central to how young people will vote this November. Take a look at what young adults are focusing on, and see some of the ways each candidate plans to address them.
Here the issues respondents claimed are most important.
Jobs & the Economy: 42.5%
McCain: In hopes of rebooting the economy, McCain plans on making low cost energy more accessible to Americans, cutting the corporate tax rate from 35% to 25%, and issuing a new "HOME Plan," which has potential to prevent 200,000 to 400,000 American families from losing their homes, according to his official website.
Obama: In effort to boost the economy along with cleaner energy sources, Obama intends to create new jobs in the renewable energy sector. He also plans to eliminate all capital gains taxes on start-up and small businesses and reduce tax breaks for the wealthy. "If we close some of the loopholes (in our system), we've put forward tax relief plans, that will not only restore fairness to our tax code, but it also puts money into the pockets of hard-working Americans who need it right now, who will spend it, and will actually improve our economic growth over time, particularly at a time when we're seeing a credit crunch."
Iraq: 18.3%
McCain disagrees strongly with those who advocate withdrawing American troops before Iraq can sufficiently govern itself, as stated on his official website. Part of the anticipated self-governing system would require the defeat of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, restoration of the country's economy by advising the Iraqi government to use a portion of its budget surplus to employ Iraqis in basic services and projects and the furthering of a stable and effective Iraqi security force. McCain wants to withdraw troops, but only if conditions allow for the withdrawal. Unlike Obama, he does not plan to adhere to a timetable approach. "I will bring our troops home," he said in an interview last week with Katie Couric. "I will bring them home in victory…We will have a stable Iraq that we won't have to return to because we have succeeded in the strategy and we will come home with victory and honor and defeat." Although troops are being withdrawn on a tentative 16-month-timetable, McCain admits, it is still conditions-based.
Obama:
Obama sees Iraq as less of a focal point than Afghanistan, and supports an almost complete the withdrawal of troops by 2010. If he were to be elected, he said, a residual force would continue to remain in Iraq. "There's starting to be a broad consensus that it's time for us to withdraw some of our combat troops out of Iraq, deploy them here in Afghanistan," Obama said last week in an interview with CBS News's Lara Logan. "And I think we have to seize that opportunity. Now's the time for us to do it."
Health Care & Prescription Drugs: 15.8%
McCain: Among other actions, McCain plans to expand access to families by adding walk-in clinics to retail outlets, put an end to frivolous law suits against doctors, and clarify health care costs.
Obama: Obama plans to bring universal healthcare to the U.S. If elected, he promises to create a National Health Insurance Exchange to help those interested in purchasing private insurance plans.
Environment & Global Warming: 14.7%
McCain: Plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 60% below 1990 levels by the year 2050, alleviate any economic cost of meeting emissions targets by trading emission permits, and find the lowest cost source to meet these goals. He also plans to develop a climate change adaption plan.
Obama: Plans to reduce carbon emissions by 80% below the level which existed in 1990 by the year 2050, develop domestic incentives that will reward forest owners and those researching clean energy products, and provide job training in industries researching or working to adapt clean energy.
Education & the Cost of College: 9.7%
McCain: McCain believes that the public school systems need improvement, and that they must report their progress to the parents of the students it is serving, along with the public. He supports private school vouchers and believes parents have a right to place their children in a school they see fit. He favors federal funding for virtual schools and online courses, according to a recent article posted on eschoolnews.com. So far, McCain has not clearly addressed the issue of higher education.
Obama: Obama's platform focuses more on the role of the teacher, whom he plans to work with, through nationally set up programs, to increase their salaries. As for higher education, he wants to create a new American Opportunity Tax Credit, which will reduce tuition costs upon payment.
What issues matter most to you?
