Carnahan speaks with students about senatorial campaign

The secretary of state answered questions about health care and same-sex marriage.

By Will Guldin

Published Oct. 21, 2009

Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan made an appearance Wednesday night at the MU School of Law where she spoke to students about her upcoming senatorial campaign and political issues.

Carnahan is the sole Democrat running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo. U.S. House Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., is the prospective Republican opponent for the seat, and polling numbers show both candidates have virtually equal support.

The event, which was organized by the MU College Democrats and the newly formed MU Law Democrats, was in the planning stages for months. Carnahan delivered a short speech to about 30 students and answered questions afterward both from the audience and one-on-one.

“The campaign right now is about getting out there and raising money and getting people fired up, which is what she is trying to do,” MU College Democrats President Brian Roach said.

Speaking about her campaign, Carnahan said college students are important to her because they have energy and enthusiasm.

“They know the future is in our hands, and we’ve got to change the way we do things in Washington and students are going to be a big part of that,” she said.

Carnahan said the last nine months have shown change does not happen quickly in Washington, and it would take more than one election to get things done.

“The forces of the status quo continue to use fear to try and stop change, so the challenge before us in this next election is really going to be a test of our will as a country,” she said.

The questions for Carnahan dealt mainly with specific policy points, which Carnahan has yet to place on her campaign Web site. In regard to whether she would support a public option as part of health care reform, Carnahan said something, regardless of its name, should be done.

“That phrase is a distraction because I don’t care what we call it, what we know we have to have is greater access, more affordability and security in health care,” she said.

Gay and lesbian rights also came up during the question period when one student asked about Carnahan’s position on the Defense of Marriage Act. She said individual states should control the issue of same-sex marriage. When pressed further, she elaborated on her moral stance on the issue.

“I believe marriage should be between a man and a woman, but civil unions are something we should consider,” Carnahan said.

Students in attendance had mixed feelings about her speech. Junior Joe Huneke said he was not satisfied with Carnahan’s answer to his question about why Missouri voted the way it did in last year’s presidential election.

“I sensed a certain level of insincerity,” Huneke said. “I felt that her answers were weighted as it would for any politician who is running for election.”

Sophomore Kam Phillips, executive director of Dream Outside the Box, an organization which tries to introduce minority children to new hobbies and activities, said Carnahan was able to help her figure out how to reserve the name of her organization for much less than Phillips originally thought.

“She was really helpful, and I don’t have any experience talking to politicians but definitely not what I thought, really approachable and willing to help,” Phillips said.