Esther Rust and Chad Shue watched all three presidential debates, and what they heard strengthened their resolve for who should be president.
For Rust, it’s President Bush. For Shue, it’s Sen. John Kerry.
“I learned what a complete disaster a John Kerry presidency would be for our country in every way, militarily, economically and socially,” Rust said.
“The debates have had no effect on my decision that George W. Bush has been the most harmful president in the country’s history,” Shue said. “Sen. Kerry saying he would outsource every job in the country and launch nuclear weapons on a whim would be the only thing that would prevent my voting for him.”
Most readers responding to questions from The Herald did not change their minds as a result of the debates, and the split mirrors the situation nationwide.
The debate reinforced Paul Elvig’s backing of the president. “The senator has accused this president of everything imaginable, and some things unimaginable. I am surprised he didn’t blame him for Mount St. Helens. Maybe time ran out too soon for him. I will vote to re-elect.”
Everett’s Jeff Kelley-Clarke decided months ago to back Kerry.
“This was the most extended exchange by Senator Kerry that I had seen, and I was very impressed by his fluency with the facts and with his communication skills,” he wrote.
“To me, the low point of this and every other debate is the format. A president should be required to answer questions directly and honestly – not just change the subject. We saw that repeatedly tonight.”
Cynthia Pester felt that President Bush gave “more clear-cut steps to meet his objectives. Mr. Kerry, on the other hand, seems to be saying what most people want to hear.”
Elizabeth Marshall did make up her mind after the third debate.
“Prior to this debate, I was not going to vote for a president at all. Now, I am going to vote for Kerry,” she said. “I am a physician, and have seen an increasing number of my patients lose health insurance, including children. Health care is in crisis, the low-income and poor are in great need, and Kerry has a plan to make a difference.”
For several readers, the high point came at the end of Wednesday night’s debate when the men talked about their wives and daughters.
“They both gave a very personal side to themselves that I had not seen,” Pester said.
Readers also cited a litany of low points.
“John Kerry is a very negative person with the unkind things he said about the president, and he is so reckless with the truth,” Rust said.
Pester echoed the sentiment of readers from both sides of the political spectrum.
“The low points have to be, as always, the criticism for one another. Negative campaigning is so disrespectful, and I don’t think it belongs in politics. I really think we are smart enough to make up our own minds,” she said.
Some readers skipped the debate.
“After watching the first two debates,” wrote Peter Carrig of Everett, “I cannot see where a third debate would influence me at all. I’ve learned that neither Kerry nor Bush has the security of the American people at heart. They will say anything they feel is necessary to get elected.”
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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