Mock Presidential Debate

Participants in the mock presidential debate represented the Democratic, Republican, Independent, Green and Libertarian nominees.  Photo by Doron Tyler Antrim.

The SUB Purple Lounge was the setting for the mock presidential debate in which participants representing the Green, Independent and Libertarian Party candidates spoke in addition to those sitting in as the Democratic and Republican nominees.

Green Party nominee Cynthia McKinney was represented by Flushing, New York native Evergreen Chou, who is a member of the State Committee for the New York Green Party. Representing Independent candidate Ralph Nader was Matt Funicello, a small-business owner and like Evergreen Chou, a State Committee member.  Republican nominee, Senator John McCain, was represented by radio talk-show host Imre Beke, whose show "Right Time Radio" broadcasts on Fridays at 6:00 p.m. on WKNY 1490 AM in Kingston, New York.  Recent SUNY New Paltz graduate Igor Gembitsky represented Bob Barr, the nominee of the Libertarian Party.  Jeff Fonda, Vice-President of the Student Association, sat in as the Democratic candidate Senator Barack Obama.

Moderated by Professor Joel Leftkowitz of the Political Science and International Relations department, the forum was a more inclusive take on its real life cousin.  

The topics covered included job creation, Supreme Court nominations, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, poverty, and government funding for AIDS and stem cell research.