Talk of presidential politics has many divided

By Terry Parris, Jr.

Citizen Staffwriter

Hamtramck’s Labor Day Festival proved to be fertile ground for surveying opinions on the historic nomination of Barack Obama as the Democratic presidential candidate.

Obama is the first African-American to win the Democratic nomination, which is something that has divided many voters.

Here’s what several festivalgoers had to say:

“I’m down with it,” said a 29-year-old from Sterling Heights. “It wouldn’t bother me one bit.”

“I feel very good about it,” said Leonard Murawski, 60, from Sterling Heights. “But ask this guy over here,” thumbing over to his brother.

“I think he’d make a piss-poor commander and chief,” Murawski’s brother, Chip, said. “That’s my opinion.” Chip lives in Troy.

“This is a very positive event for our country, it’s historic,” Anne Bibik, from Brighton, said.

Her husband thought otherwise.

“He has no experience to lead,” Rick Bibik said. Both are in their mid 40s.

When asked about Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, and her lack of experience he said, “It’s an appeal to populism. McCain is just trying to get votes.”

“As a woman,” Anne said, “I’m offended. This is offensive. He thinks that disenfranchised (Hillary) Clinton supporters are gonna vote for her ‘cause of her ovaries, he’s wrong.”

“He (Obama) should be president, he’ll be a good president,” Hamtramckan James Kobeski, 62, said.

“I don’t feel good about either, actually,” said Paul Chwalebny, from Macomb County. “It’s really the lesser of two evils to me.”

“Do you see this,” his friend Tom Lada said, pointing to his local ironworkers union T-shirt. “Straight Democrat every time. I’m a union man.”

“I think he should be president,” Kelly Fetzer said. “But I’m still not completely sold. Though, I know I won’t want McCain.”

What do you think? Leave comments letting the Citizen know your position by emailing us at hamtramckcitizen@comcast.net, or call us at (313) 365-9500.