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Wednesday
November 1, 2000
Dems seek
,majority in
State house
By Hanna LoPatin
Daily Staff Reporter
After losing control in 1998, Democrats are trying to
regain a majority in the House of Representatives in the
W coming election.
But Inside Michigan Politics Editor Bill Ballenger
doesn't think that's likely to happen.
"The odds are against them being able to regain control,"
Ballenger said.
Two years ago Republicans grabbed a 58-52 majority in
the House, giving them control over the entire state Legisla-
ture.
The state Senate, in which the GOP holds an eight-seat
advantage, is not up for election this year.
Ballenger said many Democratic incumbents should be
MAN
IN
THE MIDDLE
Nader pulls
Green faithful
to Dearborn
able to win re-election. But both Bal-
ger and Republican Party
okesman Sage Eastman cited the
race of incumbent Rep. George Mans
D-Trenton) as one seat that Republi-
cans will likely add to their side of
he aisle.
"He's a representative who missed
many crucial votes," Eastman said.
Term limits have also opened sev-
eral Democratic seats, including
Washtenaw County's 53rd District.
Wmocratic Rep. Liz Brater will be
"OU NTDOWN
TO
By Yael Kohen
Daily Staff Reporter
DEARBORN --- Green Party can-
didate Ralph Nader attacked the
Democratic Party yesterday, stating
that they are no different from
Republicans.
"These two major parties, the
Republicans and the Democrats, are
becoming more and more
and more alike because C A M
they're funded by the same
industries," Nader said. (
"The Democratic Party has
lost and abandoned its his-
torical identity as a party for the
working families."
Nader said he supports public
financing of all campaigns and
opposes corporate contributions to
political candidates. The consumer
activist said he has not accepted any
funds from corporations to serve as
an example of his firm belief against
corporate-financed elections.
Nader emphasized his belief that
major party presidential candidates
[1
Al Gore and George W. Bush are
both guilty of allowing big business
to commit crimes against society.
Nader cited statistics stating that in
comparison to the 15,500 homicides
throughout the country last year,
56,000 died from work place hazards
including machinery accidents, cancer
to due working in unsafe environ-
ments, pollution, respiratory illnesses
A G and defective products
PA G such as Firestone tires.
"It isn't even a contest
between street crime
and corporate crime,"
Nader said.
With the presidential election so
close, analysts predict that Nader may
take enough votes from Gore to throw
the election in Bush's favor.
Some Democrats are afraid that "a
vote for Nader is a vote for Bush,"
but Nader advocates chanted "a vote
for Nader is a vote for Nader," assert-
ing that they will not vote for who
they believe is the "lesser of two
evils."
See NADER, Page 7
succeeded either by fellow Democrat Chris Kolb or Repub-
lican Bob Bykowski.
Another open seat is the 68th, where Rep. Lingg Brewer
(D-Holt) is leaving behind a battle between Lansing Demo-
crat Virg Bernero and Holt Republican Stuart Goodrich.
"I think the Democrat has a substantial edge," Brewer
said. The 68th District has elected a Democratic representa-
tive every year since 1972.
As to whether the Democrats will be able to regain con-
trol of the House, Brewer said "hope is eternal."
Rut with more than 90 percent of incumbents in both par-
s likely to be re-elected, Ballenger said it's unlikely that
more than 10 or 12 seats will change hands.
The tight presidential race at the top of the ticket has pre-
vented any momentum trickling down to state and local
races, Ballenger said. Republican Texas Gov. George W.
Bush and Democratic Vice President Al Gore are neck-and-
neck in Michigan.
"If (the presidential race) is very close, it's every man and
woman running for himself or herself" Ballenger said.
Term-limited House Speaker Chuck Perricone (R-Kala-
*zoo Twp.) said he is-optimistic about the Republicans
maintaining control and is working hard campaigning for
his party.
In his own district, where Republican Tom George,
See HOUSE, Page 7
ALEX WOLK/Daily
Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader speaks yesterday during a rally at the University of
Michigan at Dearborn.
Nader seen as threat to Gore
By Hanna LoPatin
Daily Staff Reporter
Green Party presidential candidate Ralph
Nader has always had a good rapport with envi-
ronmentalists - keeping the earth green has
always been on the top of his list of priorities.
But recently Nader has come under fire from
groups like the Sierra Club for taking votes
away from the other "environmental candidate,"
Vice President Al Gore.
Responding to a letter sent by Nader to envi-
ronmental groups across the country that sup-
port Gore, Sierra Club President Carl Pope
wrote, "Neither the letter nor the tactics you are
increasingly adopting in your candidacy are
worthy of the Ralph Nader I knew."
In his letter, Pope accused Nader of handing
over the election to George W. Bush, who he
says is less environmentally conscious.
"You have referred to the likely results of a
Bush election as being a 'cold shower' for the
Democratic party," Pope wrote. "You have
made clear that you will consider it a victory if
the net result of your campaign is a Bush presi-
dency. But what will your 'cold shower' mean
for real people and real places?"
Debbie Sease, the national legislative direc-
tor for the Sierra Club, said the group does not
See EFFECT, Page 2
ALEX WULK/DG
Jack's Hardware on Packard Road publicly announces their support of Green
Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader.
I. _
Internet chages face of elections
By Yael Kohen
Daily Staff Reporter
Ii
So many Websites are springing up with election
information this year that it could be dubbed "Elec-
tion.com."
Presidential and congressional candidates, as well
as various interest groups, have used this media out-
let not only to further their ideas but also to raise
campaign funds. Internet sites have also served as a
forum for concerned voters to discuss their views in
chat rooms.
"It's like the early days of television," University
of Pennsylvania communications Prof. W. Russell
Newmansaid. The Internet will change campaigning
in the 21st Century in the same way television did in
1960, when John F. Kennedy defeated Richard
Nixon, he said.
While some candidates use the Internet as a sup-
plemental way of reaching out to voters, others have
put all of their campaign efforts into advertising on
the Web.
"I don't have the money to do the traditional ways
of campaigning," said Scott Wojack, the Republican
candidate for the 52nd state House District.
"Because of the Internet I'm making more progress
than I would have had I not used the Internet."
Newman said in the future, candidates without
Websites will be left behind.
"That is probably the great potential of the Web -
providing information," University of Michigan
communication studies Prof. Michael Traugott said.
"It's a different type of campaign," Wojack said.
"It's a great thing because it will allow the working
person to run for office."
But just because the information is out there it
doesn't mean Web users are surfing to political sites.
"The irony is that relatively few voters -
although half the country is online ... are going to
the campaign Websites," Newman said.
Spreading their political beliefs is not the only
See INTERNET, Page 2
I
Leadership garners Med.
student magazine cover
Football fever
JOYCE LEE/Daily
Pinball Pete's on South University Avenue requires patrons to adhere to a dress
code in an attempt establish a more family-friendly atmosphere.
?rcade enforCos
strict dress code
By Lindsey Alpert
Daily Staff Reporter
Caitlin Nish
ly Staff Reporter
Baggy khakis or jeans can be seen
in Tommy Hilfiger ads or in University
classrooms, but they are not permitted
in Pinball Pete's arcade on South Uni-
versity Avenue.
The owners of Pinball Pete's have
paraphernalia.
A sign on the entrance reads that no
hats, no bandannas, no sleeveless shirts
and no baggy or loose-fitting clothing
are allowed in the arcade.
"The owners have been in busi-
ness for 20 years at least, and they
have seen some of the arcades go
out of business because of kids who
Leaders are born every day, but only a select
few get to see their face on
the cover of a magazine.
Second-year Medical stu-
dent Alice Lin is one if these
few. She's on the cover and
the focus of the fall issue of
the magazine "Student
Leader" being released
tomorrow.
The magazine, founded in1
1993, is published three times
a year and distributed to 1,200 Ln
schools nationwide. The editors select a student
leader for the cover of each issue.
the magazine was looking for an Asian-Ameri-
can woman who leads a student government or
Asian organization in an upper-Midwest school.
She alerted Director of Student Activities and
Leadership Susan Wilson to the call for submis-
sions, and Wilson nominated Lin.
"I really encouraged her to apply, and then I
nominated her," Wilson said. "She's really done a
lot of work as an undergraduate and graduate stu-
dent and for lots of organizations."
After sifting through as many as 100 applica-
tions, the editors at the magazine selected Lin as
the issue's covergirl.
"I found out in mid-August when I was in Ger-
many on vacation," said Lin. "I was really excit-
ed. It's kind of a cool thing, 'you're going to be
on the cover of a magazine."'
The magazine will surely be seen by the 120
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