Local elections, last year's presidential race, the war in Iraq and issues raised by Hurricane Katrina were all fair game Monday night as about 100 members of UNC's Young Democrats had an open discussion with U.S. Rep. David Price, D-N.C.
Price first praised the group for its hard work in promoting the Democratic candidates in the 2004 election and for their efforts to register and encourage voters to come out to the polls.
He told the group members that he hopes they will continue their efforts with local elections this year.
"I've never seen it that good," Price said. "And UNC led the pack."
But much of the discussion was less complimentary in nature, centering primarily on the Bush administration's handling of the conflict in Iraq and the aftermath of Katrina.
Price said the national government has let its people down first with what now is a "quagmire situation" in Iraq, the mishandling of health care, a mounting deficit and now its reaction to Katrina.
"This is a failed presidency," Price said. "In many respects it was evident last fall. In more respects it is evident now, and people are starting to catch on."
Patrick Elliot, a senior political science major, asked Price what Democrats in Congress are doing to make sure funding for social programs is not significantly cut in Bush's effort to avoid increasing taxes to rebuild the areas destroyed by Katrina.
Price, a member of the House Appropriations committee, said that he, too, is concerned about that issue, and that he and other Democrats have plans. But he said it would help if they were consulted.
