Blog #12

Lincoln Douglas debates and the 2008 Presidential election.
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In my news article I am writing about debate six that happened in Quincy Illinois. In my article I cover the topic of equality among men. The view that I am writing in my article is more of pro Douglas. In the article i give two quotes. One of the quotes talks about how Lincoln is against racism and just wants all men to be equal. Here is that quote:

"My friends, I have detained you about as long as I desire to do, and I have only to say let us discard all this quibbling about this man and the other man-this race and that race, and the other race being inferior, and therefore they must be placed in an inferior position, discarding our standard that we have left us. Let us discard all these things, and unite as one people throughout this land until we shall once more stand up declaring that all men are created equal."

In another quote (when he is speaking to a more southern audience) he talks about how he never thought that whites and blacks should be equal. He also discusses that the superioty roll should go to the white man. Here is that quote:

"I will say then, that I am not nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in any way, the social and political equality of the white and black races; that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters of the free negroes, or jurors, or qualifying them to hold office, or having them to marry with white people. I will say in addition, that there is a physical difference between the white and black races, which, I suppose, will forever forbid the two races living together upon terms of social and political equality, and inasmuch as they cannot so live, that while they do remain together, there must be the position of superior and inferior, that I as much as any other man am in favor of the superior position being assigned to the white man."

I try to make Lincoln seem like an inadaquate candidate in this article. That is my main goal.


Over the past 2 weeks i have been watching the presidential debates between Obama and McCain. To put this debate in its historical context, i think the debates back then, even though they were much longer, were easier to address then the one today. i say this because after reviewing the setup of both debates, i noticed a few differences.

In The debates back then, there was no moderator and the topics were pre assessed. There for, both Lincoln and Douglas had time to read over their topics and form their debate. In Today's debates we do have a moderator. Not only that, but the response to the questions can only be answered so well in that short amount of time. Another thing as well is that in this last debate, both presidential candidates had an open question and answer which I am pretty sure both were not scripted. Obama and McCain had to think on their feet in this last debate.

One huge similarity that i want to mention is both back then and now Lincoln and Douglas and Obama and McCain face a giant issue. Lincoln and Douglas with slavery, Obama and McCain with our current economic issue. So to answer the question as to who had a larger issue to face, I can't answer that.