It’s not Hillary’s rodeo yet

In your May 2 edition, you featured an editorial by Jon Beydler on how Sen. Hillary Clinton was the only person right for the job to respond to the economic crisis facing the United States ("It's Hillary's rodeo").

I am writing to explain how Beydler is overlooking the flaws within Clinton's plan, as well as underestimating the successes possible through Sen. Barack Obama's plan.

Beydler, in his opinion, describes Clinton as "what America loves to love: an underdog who overcomes apparent insurmountable odds to claim what is rightfully hers."

I have to disagree with Beydler, because in all honesty, Hillary Clinton has never been an underdog, and has no "right" to the presidency."

Growing up in the suburb of Hyde Park, Clinton was granted passage to Wesley College and was well off in her early years. When she met Bill Clinton at Yale during her law studies, she remarked to friends about how she would help him gain political power. As first lady of Arkansas, and later the nation, Hillary has rarely had a moment where she did not have the resources necessary to continue her political power.

Going into this nomination race, Hillary was definitely not the underdog; she had the support of classic Democratic anchors and was clearly favored by many Democrats based off the early polling back in 2007.

The underdog in reality was Obama, a new player to the political scene, who many wrote off as too young, or "inexperienced" to run for president.

It wasn't until his victory in Iowa that political pundits began to accept that the senator from Illinois may have a chance to win the nomination. As can be seen through the way she has run her campaign, and her lack of long-term planning, Clinton never expected a strong opponent such as Obama, she expected to walk to the nomination that she "deserved."

I would like to challenge Beydler in how Hillary Clinton has a "right" to the presidency. I, as a young American, do not believe that anyone is "entitled" to the presidency and, in fact, it should be someone in that office who doesn't expect special treatment or expect that they will one day run this country.

Our Founding Fathers did not view the office of the president as a power position that was "deserved," they viewed it as a position of someone who represented the majority of the American public - a quality I believe Hillary Clinton lacks.

Beydler focuses on Hillary's plans for "results" that will help the United States avoid economic downturn or reverse the negative effects of the Bush administration. However, he fails to explain what Hillary wants to do.

Her plan rests upon freezing mortgage rates for five years, freezing the gas tax for the summer and establishing a safety net for those facing foreclosure. Step by step we can see that these plans will not bring the results of which Beydler speaks.

Hillary's freeze on mortgage rates has been called "dangerous" or "disastrous" by dozens of economists. As many of them explain, Clinton's plan increases government involvement in mortgages that will create crisis for the banks. By freezing mortgage rates, banks are not able to lend out as much to responsible borrowers, and there is a decline in the amount of liquidized spending capacity. If this occurs, consumers will spend less, which is bad for the economy.

Additionally, a freezing of the gas tax during the summer months will result in a savings of only 30 cents per day! Over the three major months of summer, this would create an overall savings of only $30 for drivers, $30 for many across the country cannot even fill one tank of gas.

At a time when the economic situation is so large, these small steps that create no results for the long term are only Band-Aids to hold off further economic problems. Hillary provides no long-term solution, seeing as her safety net of funds from the government to those in danger of foreclosure will be paid for with increased taxes. By increasing taxes, taxpayers are paying for their own foreclosure relief, rather than actually receiving help in their time of need. Hillary Clinton is running a campaign based off of "results," according to her supporters, but I have yet to see how these results will occur.

Obama is a candidate that voters must consider as an alternative to the politics of the past. He has overcome many challenges in his own life, but also in this election. When conflicts such as Rev. Jeremiah Wright arise, Obama is able to respond swiftly and clearly to avoid the continuous mudslinging that is seen in the political arena.

Yes, he is a politician and, yes, he has responded to attacks; however, through his campaign, new voters are being inspired, new hopes are being created, and the American Dream has a chance to succeed again. Obama has transcended red and blue states, he has brought more battleground states to the forefront for the Democratic party, and he has not been afraid to give the tough answers to tough questions.

I am a firm supporter of Obama because I believe he understands that the problems facing this country cannot be fixed with the political tactics of yesterday. He has all but secured this nomination, and it is time for the Democratic party to unify around his candidacy.

Sen. John McCain has had time to build his effort for November, and after eight years of President Bush, we do not need a third term of Republican-out-of-touch rule.

Obama does stand upon a platform of hope and change. Yes, he is an amazing orator, but beyond his speaking abilities, this man has a desire to help change this country for the better. He has the plans to establish economy through being tough with the oil companies and OPEC nations. He has a plan to restore the credibility of U.S. foreign policy through tough diplomacy, international agreements and discussions. He is running a campaign of the people, where his average donation is $96 and where he has refused all money from PACs and lobbyists - something both McCain and Clinton have failed to do.

I urge you to consider Obama not only as a "young" politician, but rather, as an individual who is inspiring America's young and old, rich and poor, and those of all races, to get involved and to make a difference. The risks are too large to repeat the mistakes of the past. Together, our nation must look forward towards change and hope for the future. I am proud to say that I stand with millions around this country in saying, "Yes we can," to a man who has the plans and motivations to restore the American Dream and bring together various factions towards one unified United States.

Chase Williams is a senior at Desert Vista High School and an active Sen. Barack Obama supporter, although he won't be old enough to vote until two weeks after the November election. Williams plans to attend Arizona State University in the fall, majoring in political science.