Randy Maluchnik and his uncle Bill Harris can still recall the very moment they both became interested in politics.

“Kennedy/Nixon,” said Harris. “Our dads used to fight over that. His dad said ‘Kennedy will be our next president.’ My dad said ‘Never.’”

The debate over the candidates sparked something in the young boys. Today, Maluchnik and Harris both hold seats on their respective county boards – a Democratic Maluchnik right here in the largely Republican Carver County and Republican Harris in a rather Democratic Cambria County, Penn.

And, in the tradition of their fathers, they still keep up a lively bipartisan family debate over candidates and the issues.

This week Harris is in town as a delegate to the Republican National Convention. It’s his third convention and this time, he’s particularly excited over John McCain’s announcement that he had chosen Alaska Governor Sarah Palin to join him on the ticket.

“I thought he was going to pick a sleeper,” said Harris. “Wow.”

“I always hoped I would see a woman or a black reach president or vice president,” he added.

“Probably our fathers never thought we’d have a black or woman president,” said Maluchnik to Harris.

“Probably not,” agreed Harris.

Party lines

Either way, history is being made with this presidential election. Maluchnik, who was just one vote shy of going to the Democratic National Convention last month, just wishes he could be more enthusiastic about the Democrats’ choice of candidates.

“I’m not as excited about what’s happening in my party as Bill is about what’s happening in his party,” said Maluchnik.

“Experience” is the issue weighing heaviest for Maluchnik right now.

“I may not vote along party lines in the top two spots this year,” he confessed. Maluchnik, a veteran, said he was leading toward voting for McCain for his experience in government and his support of veterans.

It wouldn’t be the first time someone in the family questioned their political persuasions. Harris’s dad was the first-ever Democrat to be elected to a government position in a very Republican area of eastern Pittsburgh. Then shady dealings with local road contractors soured him on the Democrats.

“We all became Republican,” Harris explained.  

Maluchnik’s side of the family turned to the Democratic Party for its stance on labor unions.

“We grew up around it,” said Maluchnik, of unions.

Today they carry those same beliefs from their childhood. “We’re on different sides of the fence on unions,” said Harris. “I’m not as sympathetic as Randy.”

They also differ on their views of the current administration’s approach to the war in Iraq but can still find some angles to agree on.

“I don’t like war and I wish we weren’t in it,” said Harris, with a sigh.

“I agree with that,” replied Maluchnik.

Rhetoric

Despite both of their desires to be a part of their parties conventions (which Harris calls a “big pep rally”), Harris and Maluchnik agree that the political rhetoric surrounding campaigns is tiresome.

“We like to take a look at what’s practical,” said Maluchnik.

“Most of the constructive work stops now,” agreed Harris, adding that the political process is good for “getting campaigns going” and drumming up voter interest.

They believe the economy will be the key issue for voters in this year’s presidential election.

“Unfortunately you can’t talk about the economy without talking about class warfare,” said Maluchnik. “I hate class warfare. We’re all in this together.”

Harris believes Republicans get the worst rap when it comes to the issue of class warfare. “You always hear people saying Republicans are not caring for poor people,” he said. “That hurts me because I know so many people who work hard to help those people.”

As if to prove his point, Harris takes a few moments to convince Maluchnik to join him, should the Republican National Convention do a volunteer project during the convention as they have in years past.

“Nobody ever hears about those things though,” said Harris. “Everyone focuses on the parties.”

In looking ahead, Maluchnik and Harris agree that whoever is elected the next President of the United States will have to work both sides of the aisle. For that task, they recommend looking way back in the country’s history.

“The first five presidents were people that could work with anyone on anything” said Maluchnik.

-Mollee Francisco, staff writer

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