On Oct. 27 representatives of both the democratic and republican parties battled out the key issues of the upcoming election – Iraq, education and the economy – in a mock presidential debate in Wait Chapel attended by more than 450 students.

The three key issues sparked heated debate between the two sides, especially between senior Barbara Smith, the College Republicans representative, and senior Anjali Garg, president of the College Democrats.

Frequent interruptions and curt remarks back and forth were made as each challenged each other on the issues of education and economy.

Both sides stressed that a growth in the amount of jobs available depends on investing in small businesses, the methods of investment, however, ignited controversy.

“John Kerry has a plan to…extend middle class tax cuts,” senior Kevin Jones, a College Democrat, said.

From the Republican side, Smith said that Kerry also plans on “raising taxes for the top two percent of the country (income-wise),” and that this will “actually tax small businesses because two-thirds of the top two percent are small business owners that file personal income taxes. By increasing their taxes, it will hinder their ability for expansion and the creation of more jobs. Kerry’s tax plan actually taxes small businesses.”

Bush plans to “pass medical liability reform and end the frivolous lawsuits that plague our health care system and drive up the cost” to promote small businesses, Smith said.

Junior David Coons, a College Republican, said, “We must allow small businesses to band together to provide more affordable health care for their employees through associated health plans.”

The topic of education aroused much discord between the two parties. The No Child Left Behind Act was a popular topic of discussion. Bush created the NCLB act.

“Today, math and reading scores are up for elementary school children,” Smith said.

Junior Kelly Mc Manus, a College Democrat, said that the Bush administration has not properly funded the NCLB act, but that Kerry “will make the necessary reforms to NCLB and establish the National Education Trust Fund so that the education of America’s children remains a priority outside the grips of partisan budget conflicts.”

In rebuttal to the attacks that NCLB is not adequately funded, Coons said “Bush’s 2005 budget proposal increased Federal Education funding 35.8 percent more than when he took office.”

Concerning the issue of the great division between minorities and whites in schools, Smith said “the achievement gap between minority students and white students is narrowing.”

The war on terrorism and the situation in Iraq was the other key issue addressed in this debate.

“John Kerry has the plan and the credibility to bring new nations into our coalition and to bring peace to Iraq,” Jones said.

McManus said, “Kerry not only seeks to bring money and troops into Iraq from other countries, but for companies to put in bids to enter Iraq. The more countries with companies involved in Iraq, the more likely they are to get involved in the country.”

Smith said “Bush’s policies are forward-looking and goal oriented,” concerning Iraq and that “a free and stable Iraq is the first step to a free and stable Middle East.”

The Republicans frequently stressed the ability of the United States to create a democratic government in a country that has known only dictators by using Afghanistan as an example. “Two weeks ago, the men and women of Afghanistan elected a president,” Smith said. “They held free elections.”

Junior Jennifer Barker, a member of College Democrats, said “The teams presented a better debate almost than the real debates.”

There was one protestor at the debate. Senior Jacob Lyles, a libertarian who attended, was holding a poster that read “Let Libertarians Debate” the entire time.

Lyles said he was protesting “because democracy isn’t about choice. We don’t really have a choice as a libertarian in this election.”