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Last night the quantity rather than quality of U.S. President Bill Clinton's "State of the Union" Address left Republicans and Democrats in agreement.
Bill Hall, president of the Conservative Union at Dartmouth summarized the dominant sentiments of the approximately 80-minute speech when he said, "It was quite long."
The issues Clinton addressed in his speech included past successes of his administration, welfare reform, middle class tax cuts, gun control, improvements in education funding, minimum wage increase and health care reform.
An informal meeting held at Kappa Chi Kappa fraternity hosted members of CUAD who gathered to watch the televised speech.
Although most of the CUAD members present laughed in annoyance as Clinton proceeded well over expected time, some Young Democrats saw the length of the speech as strategic.
President of the Young Democrats Scott Burns '96 explained that "drawing the speech out drew viewers away from Republicans" as many viewers had tuned out before the Republican response.
In the core of his speech, Clinton discussed the controversial issue of the Brady Bill, which addresses gun control.
Chris Swift '98 said, "the President put himself on the line to some degree."
As a Young Democrat, Swift said he agrees with Clinton's actions on gun control and said he regrets that many former Congressmen such as his own, Dick Sweat of New Hampshire, lost their seats over the issue.
But Chris Castonguay '96, who identifies himself as a conservative student, saw Clinton's discussion of gun control as negative in a "really good speech" because he "disagreed with [Clinton's] point of view."
While Democrats and Republicans on campus disagreed on issues such as gun control, they said they strongly agreed with Clinton's proposal for increased federal support for education.
Students referred to current dissatisfaction of their own student loans in support of the need for reform and centralization.
Castonguay said he would prefer an easier and more organized system for his student loans.
Young Democrats said they thought Clinton's concentration on some of the positive accomplishments of his administration was an effective part of the speech.
Scott Burns said Clinton "focused in on things he has done right" such as decreasing the deficit and consolidating government.
In addition, Swift said Clinton should be praised for his emphasis on the individual American toward the end of the address.
The most powerful and emotional aspect of the address was when Clinton acknowledged the marine who earned a congressional service award, he said.
CUAD members also found positive points in the address.
Hall agreed with Clinton's suggestion to increase defense spending and his commitment to increase cutbacks in other government spending.
Some CUAD and Young Democrat members agreed that Clinton had command of the audience and spoke effectively.
Brandon del Pozo '96, a CUAD member said, "I'd buy a car from the guy."
But some members of CUAD criticized Clinton by questioning his sincerity.
Hall said Clinton was "100 percent politics, zero percent sincerity."
Additionally, CUAD members said they saw the suggestions surrounding minimum wage as faulty pointing out that a family could no more easily live off $5 an hour than $4.25.
After sorting out the myriad of issues and disagreements on the address, both organizations came to a similar conclusion.
Burns refers to it as Clinton's "emphasis on bipartisanship."
He said it sets "the tone for two years of compromise"
