About 30 students convened in the Shapiro television lounge Friday to watch the second presidential debate, this time held at Washington University in St. Louis.
The 90-minute debate entertained questions from 140 uncommitted voters, according to the moderator Charles Gibson of ABC News. While Iraq was the central topic, questions also addressed abortion and the economy.
In the opening minutes, the candidates fielded questions about the war on terror and how both would go about ensuring peace. One question directed toward the president asked if he thought invading Iraq was justifiable because other nations have acquired weapons of mass destruction since the war began.
Students here laughed when President Bush said each situation differs and the most difficult decision a president has to make regards the use force.
"It wasn't hard for you," one student said.
The senator responded to Bush by explaining he never opposed invading Iraq. He said he only criticized the current administration for not having a plan "to win the peace" and that the president should have waited to invade until more allies showed their support.
The only area the two candidates agreed upon was that neither would institute a draft.
The president responded by saying he understands why people think Democratic challenger John Kerry changes his mind. He reiterated that the senator did not vote for an $87 billion supplemental package to help support U.S. soldiers abroad.
Bush also said the leader of a nation would not join the war on terrorism if the American president thinks invading Iraq was a mistake.
Some here laughed at the president's remark.
"I know how these people think. I meet with them all the time," one student said.
Josh Levin '07 said he was upset about the low level of respect students in the lounge showed to others who might support Bush and hold different political beliefs. He said while he does not consider himself a Republican, he has been called a "freak" before on campus for holding more conservative views.
"It just really saddens me that I can't watch a debate in Shapiro without hearing so many comments about how Bush is an idiot," Levin said. "There was constant laughter and people being belligerent the whole time. This is not acceptable behavior."
According to Levin, Kerry also made some mistakes. He said the senator paused a few times to think of a word, but nobody made any negative remarks.
The candidates moved toward answering questions about the economy. Kerry said he would pledge not to raise taxes on Americans making $200,000 or less, affirming his promise by looking directly into the camera.
Kerry said those making more than this amount will see a rollback: "And looking around here at this group here, I suspect there are only three people here who are going to be affected: the president, me, and Charlie."
But Bush said all citizens would be taxed to support the senator's proposal, which he estimates would cost around $2.2 trillion to fund. He said Kerry's plan to raise taxes on the wealthy would force thousands of small-business owners to pay more.
Robert Schwartz '08 said it would be impossible for Kerry to go through with his plan and not raise the taxes.
"He won't get enough funding for the kind of program he is asking for," he said.
The town hall audience also asked the candidates where they stood on abortio issues, again showing the difference of ideology between the two candidates.
The senator, who is pro-life, said the Constitution protects the right to choose. But he said it is important for people to be educated to make informed decisions on abortion.
Bush said he signed the partial-birth abortion bill because it is a "brutal practice" and is one way to help reduce the number of abortions.
Emily Sprizer '07 said Bush is wrong not to try and abridge abortion rights. She said a woman has the right to choice and that he should keep his "filthy laws" off her body.