The U.S. 2008 general election has drawn a great deal attention around the world. Why is this election so important and extraordinary? People's Daily Washington D.C.. Based chief correspondent Li Xuejiang invited two famous U.S. Political experts, Mr. Thomas.E. Mann from the Brookings Institution and Mr. Brian Darling from the Heritage Foundation to make some comments. The following are the full interview text:
Comments by Thomas. E. Mann
Li xuejiang: Which issues are most important ones that concern most American electorate? Do you think these issues have had an important influence on the primaries' Results?
Thomas E. Mann: Americans are most concerned about the dismal state of the economy, including high gas prices, stagnant wages, health care insurance coverage and cost, job insecurity and the credit crunch. They also remain very discouraged and unhappy about the war in Iraq. Neither set of issues was critical to selection of each party's presidential nominee, because there was broad agreement within each party on how to address these problems. But the issues will be very important in the general election campaign, since the parties and their presidential nominees are far apart.
Li Xuejiang: Why are the American electorates so eager for a change? What kind of change do they want?
Thomas E.Mann: Most Americans believe things have gone very badly under President Bush: Iraq, the economy, Katrina, America's standing in the world, the bitterly partisan nature of our politics, and the threats to constitutional government. They want to see the American dream restored, a lessening of ideological extremism, a return to civility in society and government.
Li Xuejiang: What kind of change did Senator.Barack Obama promise to bring about if he were elected as next U.S. President?
Thomas E.Mann: He is more thematic than specific in his promise of change but his basic idea is to build broad public support in the country well beyond the base of the Democratic Party on behalf of a progressive domestic agenda and a more enlightened and multilateral foreign policy. In an era of ideological polarization between two evenly balanced political parties, he seeks to build the political impetus outside Washington to bring change to Washington.
Li Xuejiang: Do you think he can really change American Politics? what kind of change can he achieve and what type of change can he simply not achieve as promised?
Thomas E. Mann: That depends on how large an electoral victory he achieves and how skillful he is in attracting some Republicans in the House and Senate to his cause. Both process and policy reforms will be difficult to achieve, and he inherits a daunting set of problems. It will be difficult to meet the high expectations but not impossible.
ON Mr. Thomas E. Mann:
A noted congressional scholar, Tom Mann writes and speaks widely on issues related to campaigns; elections; and the effectiveness of Congress. He has conducted polls for congressional candidates and overseen national public opinion studies. Mann recently co-authored The Broken Branch: How Congress Is Failing America and How to Get It Back on Track.
Past Positions : Director of Governmental Studies, Brookings; Executive Director, American Political Science Association
Comments by Brien Darling
Li Xuejiang: Which issues are most important ones that concern most American electorate?
Brian Darling: The issues that are polling with the American people as the most important issues are high gas prices, the economy and foreign policy. The American people are very concerned about the economy at the fact that high gas prices are a symptom of a potential economic downturn for the economy. Also, the War in Iraq is very important and the American people want a strong national defense and an effective foreign policy. Many in the States were discouraged by the lack of progress in Iraq and that hurt allies of President Bush. The positions on the issues with regard to Senator McCain and Obama are very different and this election will be about the future direction of America.
Li Xuejiang: Do you think these issues have had an important influence on the primaries' results?
Brian Darling: Issues were not a big factor in the primaries because the candidates for the Republicans and Democrats agreed on many, if not most, of the issues. Senators Obama and Clinton agreed on many issues and that campaign was more about personalities than issues. McCain was the beneficiary of a crowded field and a high name recognition in his campaign.
Li Xuejiang: Why are the American electorates so eager for a change? What kind of change do they want?
Brian Darling: The American people are discouraged by bad economic news, a growing federal government and slow progress in Iraq. I think the American people want to see gas prices go down and better economic news. The candidate that explains a detailed plan to turn around the economy and a plan to take measures to reduce regulations that are forcing up gas prices will be the candidate that captures the support of voters. Also, many were discouraged by bad news in Iraq in 2006 and 2007. The candidate that can explain a strong national defense and a change in Iraq will also please the voters. Obama wants to reduce troop levels and McCain wants to more effectively use our troops to provide stability for Iraq. The American people will decide the future direction of our Nation's foreign policy when they vote this November. People want a candidate that can explain a concise message of change.
Li Xuejiang: What kind of change did Senator.Barack Obama promise to bring about if he were elected as next U.S. President?
Brian Darling: Senator Obama talks about change and has campaigned against the policies of the Bush Administration. Polls indicate that the voters are displeased with President Bush, yet they are also displeased with Congress. Senator Obama's message of change may be a winning message this fall, yet Senator Obama has a challenge to more fully explain his specific proposals for change and how they would affect the economy and foreign policy. The people will be voting for the next Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and Senator Obama's struggle is to enunciate change without appearing to be a weak leader of the strongest military existing today.
Li Xuejiang: Do you think he can really change American Politics? what kind of change can he achieve and what type of change can he simply not achieve as promised?
Brian Darling: Senator Obama may be able to deliver change, but he is only running for President of the United States. Congress will still have the power to spend money and appropriate money to fund the federal government. There is only so much a President can do with a strong separation of powers between the Executive (the President and his Cabinet), the Legislative Branch (Congress) and the Supreme Court. The President will still retain the power to dictate foreign policy and it is clear that if Obama is elected President, he will have great power to radically change American Diplomacy and use of force with the military.
ON Brian Darling
Brian Darling is Director of Senate Relations at The Heritage Foundation. He is responsible for educating Senators and their staffs about Heritage's latest research and policy recommendations.
In 2008, Darling became a columnist for Human Events, giving the newspaper's 154,000 weekly readers the inside scoop on Congress and the ups and downs of the conservative agenda.
Before joining Heritage in 2005, Darling served as counsel to Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL). Previously, he served as general counsel to former Sen. Bob Smith (R-NH), and, in that capacity, he staffed the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Darling co-chaired the Conservative Working Group, a weekly legislative strategy meeting of conservative staffers from both the House and Senate offices. He also served as a counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee and as an aide to former Sens. Paul Coverdell (R-GA) and Steve Symms (R-ID).
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