The presidential election of 2012 has been vigorous, full of campaign ads and media drama. Both candidates battled it out in the hopes of being seated, for the first time or once more, in the White House. Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts ran for president along with Paul Ryan, nominated vice president. Romney and Ryan of the Republican Party ran against incumbents President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden of the Democratic Party.

We’ve seen many issues discussed over the campaigning period such as domestic issues, the economy, foreign policy, and each candidate’s plans for the future of America. Attacks were made through the countless ads that consumed television, news stations, and even billboards. “Friends don’t let friends get nuked. Stop Obama!” This statement was portrayed on a billboard regarding Iran’s development of nuclear weapons and the Obama administration’s carelessness toward the issue. Both Obama and Biden countered the accusation by stating the U.S. and its allies have imposed crippling sanctions on Iran, insuring they will not gain control of nuclear weapons and that the situation was under control. We’ve all seen the catchy new music video Gangnam Style by Psy, but have you seen “Mitt Romney Style”? Even this popular YouTube parody contributed to the election by influencing the minds of voters. Along with the obnoxious spins that “news stations” such as Fox News and MSNBC have put on the election, media drama was a key element in the race. At least once in almost every speech or rebuttal made by Obama, he brings up having entered the office of the Presidency during an economic crisis. Do we want a president who makes excuses? The tape that spread like wildfire, the 47% tape, shows Romney behind closed doors about 47% of Americans who are dependent on government and believe they are entitled to health care, food, and housing. Do we want a president who rides off almost half of American citizens? Choose your words wisely, gentlemen. There was plenty of room for error during the three presidential debates.

The debates were an hour and a half of candidate performances that later caused commotion within the media and all those watching. Let’s be real. We don’t watch the debates to hear the ideas and policies of the candidates. We watch them for the gaffes and zingers! Those memorable moments that could make or break a campaign. The moments that keep us all awake at 11:00pm on a school night…because we would normally be sleeping by then, of course. Almost every day we heard one way or another that Romney is against abortions, that Obama will triple the deficit, that Romney’s policies are outdated, that the next four years would be like the last four years. The debates are a time not only to note Romney’s ideas on women’s rights, but to hear his requests for binders full of women. They are a time to hear a battle between tax cuts for the wealthy (sorry Donald) vs. cutting funds for Planned Parenthood and PBS (sorry Big Bird). They might even be a time to hear a little input from…the moderator?

Nobody can forget Candy Crowley’s interjection as Romney attempted to deem the President incorrect by saying it took the President two weeks to call the attack on Benghazi an “act of terror.” “He did in fact call it an act of terror.” This statement by Crowley referred to the President’s speech in the Rose Garden the day after the attack where he stated, “No acts of terror will ever shake the resolve of this great nation.” Now, the argument can be made that this quote does not call the attack on Libya an act of terror specifically, making Romney correct. Did Candy overstep her boundaries as a moderator? Or did Romney overstep his boundaries by telling the President “You will get your chance in a moment, I am still speaking.” Maybe he was taking advantage of an environment where the two candidates were seemingly equal. So, talk to the hand. Maybe Obama put Romney back in his place when he chastised him about politicizing the attack on Libya. “While we were still dealing with our diplomats being threatened, Governor Romney put out a press release…that’s not how a Commander-In-Chief operates.” Burn.

In the first presidential debate, Obama was criticized for not being aggressive and maybe even falling asleep. Round two, the Town Hall debates; both candidates were aggressive and interactive with each other and the audience. After criticism was aimed at Romney for being rude and disrespectful towards the President, we saw a major pull-back in his demeanor during the third debate, which was at that time mostly repetition. The VP debate was more like comedic relief for Americans. Biden and Ryan made for very entertaining television. Biden’s famous line “that’s a bunch of malarkey” and his constant heavy laughter made for a hilarious mix with Ryan’s facial expressions and water guzzling. (Check out the SNL skit!) The VP debate was straight forward. No egg shells were stepped on and no bush was beaten around as both candidates stated their contrasting views. Both men made good arguments on the issue of abortion. Paul Ryan gave us insight into his Catholic faith and told the people the story of his life-changing ultrasound experience. Seeing his seven-week old first-born Liza in the shape of a bean gave her the cleaver nickname…Bean. In all seriousness, Ryan explained the importance of religion in shaping your morals and decision making. His faith dictates part of who he is as a person, which is why he is pro-life. Biden’s counter statements were, despite being of the Catholic faith, living in such a diverse country of America allowed him to realize one should not force his or her views on others. Women should be given the right to do with their bodies what they please. Other issues such as tax plans, the attack on Benghazi, and the economy also arose in the debate.

All of these issues and more were touched upon in Pine Crest’s very first live Mock Presidential Debate. Representatives from the Young Democrats Club and the Teenage Republicans Club took an issue and took a stand at the podium as their respective candidate. This event was put together by the hard work of Mrs. Bass and Mrs. Ledbetter along with Mr. Lewis and Gabriel Tyner. We can’t forget our guest moderators, Dr. Charles Zelden, professor of history at Nova University and Mr. Randy Schultz, editor of the Palm Beach Post.  The debate was broadcasted live by PCTV in hopes to educate the Upper School more about political issues and to encourage seniors of age to get out and vote.

After a long campaign, the votes, popular and electoral, were counted. Election coverage went on way past the bedtimes of high school students though some couldn’t handle the anticipation. Florida’s votes were being tallied well into the next morning, well after the winner was named. With a total of 332 electoral votes and 51% of the popular vote, Barack Obama won a second term in office as President of the United States.