“I think President Obama has lost touch with the American people.” Clap. Clap. Clap.  “Republicans have not laid out any kind of foundation for the future.” Clap. Clap. Clap.

On a night where you could easily identify which members of the audience were affiliated with what political party, Republican Liz Cheney and Democrat Dee Dee Myers gave exactly what the spectators in the crowded Quick Center were looking for: an informative debate on where the country is headed and where it needs to be going.

Liz Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Richard Cheney and co-founder of Keep America Safe, opened Wednesday night’s discussion with a joke about Democrats dressing up as Republicans for Halloween. Her joke was an allusion to the view she shares with many Republicans that the power of both the House and Senate will change.

Similarly, Myers, former White House Press Secretary during the Clinton Administration and political commentator, opened with a crack at conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh. Political parties put aside, the entire audience roared with laughter at each joke; however, not everyone was heard laughing when more serious issues were discussed.

The debate was relatively quiet and while Cheney and Myers didn’t see eye to eye on everything they still let one another finish voicing her thoughts until the issue of torture came up.

Matthew Morrissey, a member of a three-student panel of interviewers, asked a question about the war on terror, quoting Cheney from this year’s conservative political action conference in D.C. saying that “protection can’t be Obama’s part time job.”

Cheney attacked by saying, “President Obama views terrorism as more of a distraction.” She then brought up the president’s treatment of CIA officials who were accused of using waterboard torture on suspected terrorists, and the first real debate between the two occurred.  Myers couldn’t disagree more.

“I think it was good that they did because it was a prevalent issue and they had very distinct views on it which was good because it added to the debate,” says Matthew Morrissey ’13.

The two constantly interrupted each other and the audience applauded appropriately whenever good points were made. The two spent so long debating the topic that the moderator, Prof. Philip Eliasoph, had to tell them multiple times to wrap up their statements.

Another issue that had Cheney and Myers pushing each other’s buttons was government spending. Myers argued that, “the Bush Administration spent trillions of dollars from 2004 to 2008,” while Cheney rebutted saying, “Look at the spending that President Obama’s done within the last twenty months.” Both comments drew applause from their respective party members as this issue appeared to be important to many.

John Poorman, a resident of Danbury, CT, said that the economy was the most important topic discussed in the night’s debate. He continued by saying how much he enjoyed the event. “It was very informative. Liz Cheney was more direct in answering her questions, while Dee Dee Myers provided interesting commentary with her jokes, but didn’t stay on point.”

Likewise, College Republican Officer Ray Lynch ’11 said, “It was a great discussion on the calling of our time. In the most important election for Republicans in America’s history, Liz Cheney rightfully put forth public opinion, while Dee Dee Myers was busy talking about herself, making hilarious jokes, and offering partisan ideas.”

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