Editor’s note: This is a student’s response to the editorial board’s endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama for president, which ran on Oct. 23.

What do hope and change mean anyway? I think that we’re still waiting on that. Meanwhile, Republicans and conservatives are mobilizing at the grassroots level with unprecedented vigor, and the Democratic candidate is starting to sweat profusely.

What has not changed is the honesty of the media. The endorsement of the Daily Kent Stater staff is riddled with misconceptions, such as how Sen. John McCain has “disenfranchised more Americans” and has run “a campaign driven by deception, bigotry and fear-mongering.”

There are no solid examples of deception or fear-mongering; Americans have a right to know who we are hiring for president, and we have a right to know the truth about both candidates.

Many have noted that the only bigots in this campaign are Sen. Barack Obama and some of his supporters. Can the editorial staff tell me one instance where McCain or a surrogate has talked about Obama being a non-white candidate? You cannot, for there is no instance. The only one who has brought up race in this election cycle is Obama himself.

This economic “mess” that we’re in is the direct result of the policies of the Democratic Party, but the media does not seem to want to admit it. For example, McCain called for reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac several years ago but to no avail, thanks to the Democratic cronies in Congress. McCain has sound, proven plans for the economy that includes keeping taxes low for everyone. Please raise your hand if you feel that you are undertaxed.

I would also refute your claim that college-aged supporters are not gullible, as so many are voting for Obama just because he’s not a Republican. How many have actually looked at the issues or the integrity of the candidates? No one seems to have questioned Obama’s background as they should have. Poor Joe the Plumber has been examined more by the media.

Can someone produce three pieces of meaningful legislation that Obama has worked on? No. Has anyone noted how many times Obama has voted “Present” instead of “Yea” or “Nay”? If you think that this lack of inquiry is a display of leadership on the part of college students, you should be embarrassed.

If you think that Obama will unite us, you’re quite mistaken. As poll numbers that are usually wrong are noting, it is clear that this is a divided nation over many issues and that Obama can do nothing to unify Americans. He does not have a stance on any issue that most Americans can agree with; Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has noted that he is “masquerading as a centrist.” Abortion, gun rights, gay marriage, the war on terror, the economy . the list goes on. There is a reason why he is rated as the most liberal senator.

In this election, the son is being punished for the sins of the father, so Obama is telling us that McCain is really McSame. Not so. George W. Bush is more a liberal than a conservative; he’s grown the federal government much bigger than it needs to be and has been a proponent of out-of-control spending, two favorite pastimes of liberals. McCain has promised to not pass pork barrel or earmark spending.

The Stater staff is clearly wrong. McCain has the proven experience to lead this nation, whereas Obama has never accomplished anything professionally relevant to be president. (Hate her as you do, Gov. Sarah Palin is infinitely more qualified, and Sen. Joe Biden was correct when he said that the Oval Office is no place for on-the-job training.)

Next is that newspaper endorsements such as yours do mean very little, but you preached to the choir anyway. The other is about change. The only change that we’ll have in an Obama presidency is what’s left in our pockets. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen.

Jason Csehi is a Master’s student in history and a guest columnist for the Daily Kent Stater. Contact him at [email protected].