election issue Chuck Norris RON PAUL HILLARY CLINTON JOE BIDEN

election issue Chuck Norris RON PAUL HILLARY CLINTON JOE BIDEN BARACk OBAMA JOHN MCCAIN RALPH NADER SARAH PALIN JESUS CHRIST OVER 550 STUDENTS, STAFF AND FACULTY ENGAGED IN OUR MOCK ELECTION, FROM OBAMA AND McCAIN, TO WRITE-INS CHUCK NORRIS AND JESUS CHRIST. CHECK OUT PAGE 6 FOR COMPLETE ELECTION RESULTS AND BREAKDOWNS. Page 2 election issue Monday, Oct. 27, 2008 o p inio n ELECTORAL COLLEGE HINDERS DEMOCRACY In some states, the public vote may be outweighed by the opposing votes of members in the Electoral College JOHN McCAIN, BARACK OBAMA OR BOTH? Two different reporters argue the case for McCain and Obama, whilst a third presses for both to hold office 3 4 m o ck el ectio n NORTH IDAHO COLLEGE VOTES The Sentinel polled more than 500 students from English 101 classes, as well as 63 staff and faculty members. See who received the most VOTING STATISTICS BROKEN DOWN See which candidates were picked by age, sex, major and home states 6 7 o n ca mp us DECISION 2008 ASNIC encourages students to vote and even goes as far as helping them register for November’s election MEET YOUR COLLEGE ACTIVISTS Robin Dawson of the Young Democrats and Luisa Uribe of the Young Rupublicans sit down with Loren Kelly DON’T HAVE A HALLOWEEN COSTUME YET? No need to worry. We have face masks of Obama and McCain 9 10 11 content content North Idaho College hat g with the W on is wr l a or tollege ec C El election issue Loren Kelly Staff Contributor This map shows how the electoral votes are distributed throughout the United States. Page 3 T he political climate is tense these days. We are a nation at war with drugs, terrorism and ourselves. The public watches with dismay while political figureheads hurl insults and cast doubt upon each other. Drastic measures have been rushed through Washington in hopes of slowing the landslide within the stock market. These are indeed pivotal times, yet many still ignore their civic duty to vote. I’ve heard several excuses that attempt to rationalize laziness, or worse, apathy. Only one, however, captures any sympathy from me: the Electoral College and its hindrance of a true democracy. Recently, NIC had a guest speaker present on the importance of voting. Syrus Yarbrough, of MTV’s Real World, attempted to inspire young voters, though he had no clue how the Electoral College works ($2,500 well spent, ASNIC). So if you’re also confused, here’s the process in a nutshell. Each state gets two votes automatically, one for each seat in Congress. Additionally, votes are awarded for each seat in the House of Representatives, a policy that gives California 55 electoral votes and four to Idaho. All states but two, Nebraska and Maine, have winner-take-all elections in which all electoral votes go to the majority winner of the state’s popular vote. So, in essence, if you vote for a candidate that loses in your state, your vote doesn’t mean a thing. Take Idaho for example. We are a red state by the numbers (in 2004, 68 percent of Idaho voters chose Bush/ Cheney). There is almost no chance that Idaho will elect a Democratic president. Thanks to President Bush’s flaming incompetence, the race will be closer, but is still a lock for the GOP. Seriously, Cheney has a better chance of winning a Nobel peace prize than Obama has of winning Idaho’s electoral votes. It’s just not going to happen. The Electoral College also prevents any third-party candidates from contention. Because 48 of the 50 states embrace the winner-take-all policy, a thirdparty candidate could hypothetically win 30 percent of a state’s vote and still receive no electoral votes. Considering that most people vote for the lesser of two evils, the fact that third-party candidates are immediately discounted presents a gloomy future. Let’s be realistic; the Electoral College is outdated. It was originally intended to keep the original states from voting for their local representative. Back then, candidates for president had no adequate means of campaigning to the populous, and the public had little means of acquiring credible information about their candidates. Well, times have changed. The media, internet and political action groups provide more than enough coverage of Republicans and Democrats. America has an embarrassingly low voter turnout and, according to a recent CBS/NY Times poll, only 7 percent of the public feels that the country is on the right track. As it stands, the Electoral College only provides bureaucratic friction for a supposedly democratic process. I say abolish the Electoral College and move to a direct popular vote. Force people to acknowledge their duty, give thirdparty candidates a chance and make Page 4 Democrat is needed change Ashley Centers A&E Editor oBama election issue what we, the people, need. Some say that Obama is too young and inexperienced to run for president, that he’s 48 and has held various public offices since 1996. If this is true, why does our Constitution clearly state that any natural-born citizen can run for presidential office at 35 years old. However, our other choice is John McCain – the far-right reactionary who pretends to be a moderate so he can get votes for his anti-choice, pro-corporate war-mongering policies while all the time pretending to relate to “Joe, the Plumber.” Let’s face it. This country is in between a rock and a hard place. With the worst economy since the Great Depression, healthcare that no average person can afford and laws like “No Child Left Behind” causing our educational system more harm than good, we need somebody in office who is going to challenge the status quo and bring about the change we all desperately need. That person is Obama. He has big plans: plans that will change and shape this country dramatically, and change that we needed years ago, even before Bush became president. You see, the great thing about Obama is that he looks at all the angles of a situation before acting. He isn’t old, cocky and set in his ways like McCain. He’s open to change. As president, Obama promises to combat employment discrimination. He will jumpstart the economy and provide middle-class Americans with the tax breaks we need, reform “No Child Left Behind,” provide tax incentives for college students, provide short-term relief to American families facing pain at the pump, ensure that 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025, make government spending more accountable and efficient, make health insurance work for the people and businesses, not just the insurance and drug companies, and reduce healthcare costs to help save the average American family up to $2,500 a year. The thing about Obama is that he doesn’t make promises that he obviously can’t keep. His voting record proves it. Can you say that about McCain’s record? I didn’t think so. There are a plethora of reasons why I’ll be voting for Obama as my next president, but it all comes down to the fact that he shares my same set of values and beliefs. He’s real and not just a fake smile behind some creepy, old, egotistical, mess of a character. Make the right decision, vote for Obama. Monday, Oct. 27, 2008 T here’s not a liberal America and a conservative America,” says Sen. Barack Obama. “There’s the United States of America. We worship an awesome God in the blue states, and we don’t like federal agents poking around our libraries in the red states. We coach Little League in the blue states, and have gay friends in the red states. There are patriots who opposed the war, and patriots who supported it. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the Stars and Stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.” Obama is right. We can debate, argue and dispute over issues as much as we like, but in the end it doesn’t matter. Whether we’re from a blue state or red state, liberal or conservative, rich or poor, all of us are citizens of the U.S. and continue to face challenges and issues that need solutions, real solutions. As Americans, we need a president who can provide us both the stability we need and the change that we crave. After eight years with George W. Bush as a do-nothing president, Obama is McCain or Obama: Why can’t we just have both? Broderick Pellow Staff Contributor A wise man once said, “Difference of opinion is what makes horse races.” What Mark Twain was saying is, without opposing sides and attitudes, contests cease to be. This indeed is true, but then why is the presidential election the only contest in which there is no consolation prize given? The loser of the Super Bowl gets a big ring, professional golf and racing participants get money, and in the Olympics second and third place get a medal. A couple hundred grand or a silver medal is nothing to sneer at, right? What about the candidates? Imagine you’ve run a hard campaign, racked up mountains of debt, raised the hope of millions of people and then… YOU LOSE. You go home with your tail between your legs, then sit back and complain for the next four years about how your opponent is screwing up the country. This is not the way it has always been. In 1796 George Washington warned the nation about political parties, saying, “It serves to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration....agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one.... against another....it opens the door to foreign influence and corruption...thus See BOTH | Page 5 North Idaho College Republican looks out for little guy Shauna DeMeritt Staff Contributor Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin are candidates who will always put country first. Predominantly Republican, they are willing to support Democratic stances to do what is best for our nation. Strategies for victory in Iraq, economic changes, health care reforms, restructuring taxes, globalizing trade and increased support for small businesses are just the icing on the cake of their campaign. McCain and Palin believe it would be a grave mistake to pull our support and troops out of Iraq. All of the lives that have been lost would have been lost in vain if we pull out now. In order to secure long-term peace and security, it is imperative that Iraq establishes itself as a country able to govern itself and prove that it can keep its people safe. The support the United States is providing for Iraq will better enable them to ensure the safety of the Iraqi citizens through this crucial restructuring. Two fundamental elections will be taking place in 2008 and 2009 in Iraq. One election is for provincial governments, and the other is for the national government. It is essential that Iraqis know that we will not abandon them. Co-sponsoring the FamilyFriendly Workplace Act is one of the many ways McCain is striving to make economic changes. The FamilyFriendly Workplace Act will enable employees to better balance family and work demands. Employers will be able to give employees compensatory timeoff instead of paying overtime for those working more than 40 hours in a week. He is also pursuing plans to help employers attract and retain their employees. The older generations are retiring at later ages and a plan must be established to better support them in keeping their employment. Since these employees have accumulated more experience and skills, keeping them in their fields raises the standards as well as better equipping the younger generations to surpass their predecessors. McCain is also striving to keep more jobs in America as well as establish a better foundation for telecommuting. McCain and Palin are proposing a number of initiatives to reform our health care system. The most viable of their ideas is decreasing the cost of medications. Re-establishing competition in the drug market, as well as promoting the faster development of generic drugs, will lower drug costs dramatically. Raising awareness and educating the public on chronic diseases will also lower health costs. They also want to reform laws stopping patients from filing frivolous lawsuits against practitioners, which in turn will increase the number employed in medical fields, thus creating a more competitive market. m c ca i n election issue Page 5 See McCAIN | Page 10 When I look at the candidates, I see two men I could not vote for individually. If somehow they could join together such as Adams and Jefferson, I would happily vote. >BOTH from page 4 the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.” These words are now prophetic. Another noteworthy event of this age was the election that followed. John Adams was a hard-line Federalist believing in a strong central government and lifelong appointments. His opponent, Thomas Jefferson, leader of the newly formed Democratic-Republicans, advocated more power for the states and term limits. But the truly endearing aspect of this election was that Adams won and Jefferson was made vice president. It is true they weren’t in the same party. Some would say it is a good thing having the president and vice president on the same ticket. They would work better together. That is most likely true, but like Washington said, “It kindles the animosity of one against another.” In our country, we share all kinds of things.Why not political losses and gains? All I hear from Washington is how one party is calling out the other because of scandal, corruption and failure. When one party achieves something, the other pouts on its side of the capitol building, buying time until they can drop a new bomb and discredit the opposing party, thereby rendering the initial achievement meaningless. OK. Bush snorted coke in college, but Ted Kennedy killed a girl. Who’s to pass judgment? When I look at the candidates I see two men I could not vote for individu- ally. If somehow they could join together such as Adams and Jefferson, I would happily vote. I lean to the right on most things such as the war, immigration and guns, but here is a new concept. I believe there are citizens in the middle of what you and I believe to be the right thing, the best thing for OUR country. If we could dispel this “animosity” we might see through the smoke of political strife and gain a clearer perspective of the right future for this land that we call home. Page 6 Monday, Oct. 27, 2008 RES Env iron men Gen eral Stud i ULT S BY ical Tran s crip tal Scie nce Med Com mun icati Diesel T echnolo ons tion 60% gy 100 %M cCain 75% Obam es 75% 58% Oba Engin eering McC ma, ain, 25% 54% O b 38% Accoun t ama, 3 Oba McC MA ain Oba a, 40 %M ma, 25% cCain , ing 60 %M 8% M ma, cCain, 4% Biology 4 5% Obam cCain, 2 8% Ot Othe JOR McC ain OBama winS nic re deal with a a plans to m .” s that Oba good ways “The issue ffect me in to a most likely Alex Clark, 18 | Coeur d’Alene election issue Monday, Oct. 27, 2008 Page 7 Other 9.1% Students choose McCain in mock election Obama 46.5% he students of NIC voted in a mock presidential election, and by a margin of just over 1 percent Republican John McCain squeaked past the Democratic nominee, Barack Obama. However, when combined with the votes of campus faculty and staff, Sen. Obama came back to snag the election by a mere 13 ballots, or 2.1 percent. Of the 590 votes cast, students represented 527. Instructors handed out ballots during English 101 classes, asking students their choice of Obama, McCain or “Other.” Winning the majority of writeins was Ron Paul with 15 votes or 2.8 percent. Also receiving votes were Ralph Nader, Chuck Norris and Jesus Christ. Faculty and staff filled out their ballots on the internet, where male voters outnumbered females by 45 percent. “The team of Obama and Biden are actually presenting us with informed, well-reasoned alternatives and plans for the problems facing America today,” said Lori Wallin of the English department. “The McCain-Palin ticket gives us emotional rhetoric, partial explanations and veiled predictions of doom if we stray from the established path.” Females dominated the field of student voters as they represented almost 60 percent. Students under the age of 18 accounted for 20.49 percent, while the largest sampling was 18-year-olds, who accounted for 34.91 percent; 19-year-olds, 17.08 percent; 20-year-olds, 7.97 percent; 21-year-olds, 1.9 percent; 22- to 29-year-olds represented 10.63 percent while students over the age of 30 accounted for only 7.02 percent. Students from 24 states, Washington, D.C., and two European countries particiapted in the mock election. While McCain won the popular student vote, Obama won more states and thus more electoral votes. Connecticut was the only state represented where the majority of votes were “Undecided.” es 0% Oba her r r a, 45% Mc ma, 20 Cain, 10% % Othe McCain 44.4% Radiology 70 % McCain, Other T Jake Donahue n Managing Editor 30% Obama Medical 68% McCain, 32% Obama % Obama Political Science 60% McCain, 40 in , 45% McCa 55% Obama k Social Wor er 10% Oth McCain, % ama, 44 r 46% Ob % Othe s Busines bama, 5 %O ain, 45 a % McC Obam y 50 , 45% ycholog ain Ps % McC Other n 55 15% , ig cCain ic Des 6% M Graph her 3 % Ot ama, Ob a, 11 49% Obam ion % at Educ r n, 33 Othe cCai %M , 25% 56 cCain gy nolo 5% M a, 2 Tech Obam uter p 0% Com McCain y 5 100% istor nt H ageme Wildlif e Man Blue ma state = oBa McCain 40% Other 10% Number of write-in vot for Chuck Norris Obama 50% red state = mcCain purple state = tie Other 10% 3 McCain 46% Other 9% Obama 45% green state = other Other 6% Students male Obama 60% McCain 30% Crim M e 60% al Justic in , 33 0% Ob cCain, 4 ama, Nick Clayton, 18 | Bountiful, Utah students Obama 45% bama Art 50% O 7% Other % McCain, 1 tter economic “I think Obama has a be ake college plan. He also wants to m health care.” cheaper and of fer free Will Moore, 18 | Princeton, W.V. “I’m a U.S. Marine and I back McCai n because he’s been to war, been a P.O.W. He’ s someone who knows what it’s like to be in hel l.” McCain 49% faculty and staff female Students total votes” 5 90 24 Number of states represented by students not including Washington, D.C. Page 8 election issue Monday, Oct. 27, 2008 WHERE DO THEY STAND? OBAMA BIDEN M CC A I N Palin ECONOMY Promises an economic plan for the 21st century guaranteeing America a place in the global economy. He will ensure the growth of the middle class. He will increase investments in America’s economic infrastructure, education system and lead America to energy independence. Promises a pro-growth, pro-jobs strategy aimed at bringing America’s economy back on track. This plan will include the creation of millions of American jobs, revising and streamlining the government’s budget and spending practices, and ensuring our nation’s energy security. IRAQ Will give a new mission to his Secretary of Defense and the commanders of our military: to end the war in Iraq. Obama thinks the US needs to push the government of Iraq to work toward political accommodation. Believes it’s morally and strategically essential for the U.S. to support the government of Iraq in becoming capable of governing itself. To achieve long-term peace America needs to help establish a stable and prosperous Iraq. taxes Delivers a broad-based tax relief to the middle class and tax cuts for small businesses and companies that create jobs in America; plans to invest in heath care, energy and education. Keep taxes low, cut the corporate tax rate from 35 to 25 percent, ban internet taxes and new cell phone taxes. His tax plan promises to be simple, fair, pro-growth and competitive. Education We need our students to meet the demands of the global economy. He will ensure that all students have a quality education regardless of race, class or background. He will also strengthen our public schools, maximizing our country’s greatest natural resource. Promotes excellence, choice and competition in American education. We must be worthy of the promises we make to our children and ourselves. He understands that we are a nation committed to equal opportunity and there is no equal opportunity without equal access to excellent education. North Idaho College election issue Page 9 Politicians, supporters inform NIC Fair allows students to meet candidates Broderick Pellow Staff Contributor Politicians and their representatives gathered in the Student Union building Oct. 9 in an effort to inform the students of their political ideology and promote voter registration. Amongst these were representatives of both presidential candidates as well as state and local politicians. Ranking members of both parties were there handing out cookies, candy and fliers to passing students. Hands outstretched, party members asked whether students had registered to vote and offered a registration to those who hadn’t. “We were just trying to reach out to the students,” said Victoria Sifford. student organizer. “We are trying to inform them and answer any of their questions and concerns.” “Our goal is for all the candidates to be more accessible to the school,” said Maj StormoGipson, Idaho delegate to Syrus Yarbrough of MTV’s “The Real World” speaks about voting to students in the basement of the SUB. Nik Bjurstrom/Sentinel MTV star encourages voting ASNIC holds ‘Decision 2008’ to answer political questions Autumn Warren Staff Contributor Decision 2008, featuring Syrus Yarbrough, was put on by ASNIC Oct. 9 to encourage students to register and vote in the upcoming November elections. The small group that gathered downstairs in the SUB enjoyed a casual setting while they discussed the pros and cons of voting. The atmosphere was relaxed as students lounged on couches arranged around the stage. Questions regarding the stance of each presidential candidate in regard to a variety of issues were discussed among the students. “Vote for yourselves,” said Yarbrough, from MTV’s “The Real World” during Decision 2008. “Life is about options.” Yarbrough travels the country encouraging college students to vote as a part of Rock the Vote, a MTV program designed to inform students about the importance of voting. He started with a personal story about his mother, who recently passed away after being diagnosed with Stage IV cancer. He told of the numerous cancer patients turned away at the hospital because they could not afford to pay for medical help. “People without money are basically forgotten about,” Yarbrough said. He said voting became even more important to him because he wanted to know the presidential candidates views on healthcare. Yarbrough explained that voting is generally aimed toward the older generations, but all people need to take responsibility and equip themselves for the future. Another point he touched on was bias in the media. People are influenced by many different views through the media. According to Yarbrough, the media protects people from what is really happening by hiding important information that should be known. “You have to second guess everything you see and hear in life,” Yarbrough said. He recommended watching BBC news to get a more truthful perspective of our country. Another point Yarbrough presented to students is the need to vote whether their parents vote or not and the need to choose the candidate they feel most represents them rather than what party they are aligned with. “Vote for the actual people and not for the parties,” he said. The upcoming election is causing a stir among college campuses. Yarbrough said the Midwest was filled with energetic college students fighting for their presidential candidates, whereas both coasts were lacking in energy. Yarbrough left the night open for questions and answers. The discussions ranged from questions on net neutrality to views on Sarah Palin and to how the Electoral College works. Cory Dickinson, 19, freshman business major, enjoyed the night. “It was really nice,” said Dickinson. “It was really inspirational and it pushed me to vote more.” See CAMPAIGN | Page 10 A student researches information about local candidates for the upcoming election. Heather Allen/Sentinel Page 10 election issue Monday, Oct. 27, 2008 to manufacture products and develop more jobs in our own country. Of all the world’s customers, 95 percent lie outside American borders. It is critical for the U.S. to be actively involved in the establishment of globalization of trade in order for us to be a viable participant in the trade market. Voting for McCain and Palin will put the United States in a better position to clean out our governmental system, casting out the ill repute and reestablishing us as a force to be reckoned with. Campus activistS Loren Kelly n >McCAIN from page 5 Small businesses are a significant factor in the development of new technology, job opportunities and economic growth. Lowering taxes decreases the financial burden on smaller businesses, allowing them to grow and further develop. The U.S. currently has the second highest corporate tax rate in the world. Lowering corporate taxes enables us Staff Contributor B usiness major Robin Dawson, 26, Duluth, Minn., organizes the Young Democrats club, works at Pilgrim’s Natural foods as an administrative assistant and enjoys the outdoors in her spare time. The Young Democrats meet every other Tuesday at noon in the basement of the SUB. Dawson can be reached at RaDawson@students.nic.edu. Luisa Uribe, 20, was born in Miami, though she spent her youth in Medellin, Colombia. She intends to major in political science and pre-law, reactivated the Young Republicans and also participates in Students for Progressive Change and the Latino Club. Uribe can be reached at LfUribe@students.nic.edu. Why is your candidate the best pick for a college student? RD: “Obama has a plan to make college more affordable by offering college funds in return for community service performed. He also wants to make it so you don’t have to fill out the financial aid form, but instead just including it into your tax return, which would make it easier.” LU: “McCain is the best pick for everybody, not just college kids. He’s strong. He knows what he wants and knows how to get it. He wants to lower taxes and cut spending.” What is America’s toughest challenge right now? RD- “The economy.” LU- “Corruption.” How is your candidate better equipped to address this problem? RD: Obama wants to invest in renewable energy, which could create five million new jobs. He also wants to cut taxes for the middle class and decrease the amount of tax breaks for the largest companies. LU- (McCain) is known for reaching out to both sides and wants to cut out bureaucracy. So if we don’t have as many agencies, as many people in government, we won’t have as much corruption. What or who has influenced your politics the most? RD- “My grandmother helped to raise me…the values that I got to see in her like honesty and truth. Those influenced my beliefs, and those affected my political views.” LU- “My high school government teacher Skip Eagle and (former NIC political science professor) Tony Stewart.” What’s coming up for the Young Democrats/ Young Republicans? RD: “We are trying to promote all the Democratic candidates, not just Obama, but local candidates like Larry LaRocco as well...We’ll meet every other Tuesday at noon in the basement of the SUB.” LU: “On Oct. 28 we’re trying to get Bil Sali to give a presentation in the SUB at noon. We’re also going to have a table set out for McCain every day from 10-2, selling bumper stickers, yard signs and putting out information about McCain.” Supports of the Republican party hand out fliers at the SUB. Nik Bjurstrom/Sentinel >CAMPAIGN from page 9 the Democratic National Convention. “I think it’s great we have had about 40 or 50 students come around and inquire about the candidates.” “We hope to get the word out to the students; we want to show there is another side,” said Laura Gervais, membership chair of the Kootenai County Republican Women. “I don’t think that a lot of young people think about what will happen if they vote for the alternative.” In addition to the presidential envoys, there were hopefuls and incumbents for every level of state government. “A great turnout,” said Bruce Noble, candidate for District One county commissioner. “I came here with 500 of these palm cards, and I have 50 now.” “Vote, Vote, Vote,” said Rick Curry, incumbent for county commissioner. “Voting is not a privilege; it’s an obligation. If you don’t vote, you can’t complain .” “I think this is very positive,” said George Sayler, current Idaho State representative. ”Young people should not discount their vote.” The issue of voter registration was also high on the agenda. The committee for the Democratic Party registered 12-15 students by the end of the day. The Republicans also registered high numbers. The candidates for NIC’s board of trustees were represented at the fair, but neither Judy Meyer or Richard Pheneger were in attendance. Through the haze of political upheaval and strife, a common goal showed above all -- the hope of both parties for the young people of this country to fulfill their duty and vote for whatever side they see fit. The opinion that the youth of America can turn the tide of this upcoming election was undeniably expressed by all. North Idaho College election issue Page 11 How to be JOHN mccain Need a quick and easy Halloween costume? Why not impersonate a presidential candidate: All you need is a blue suit, red tie and this handy-dandy mask. You’re sure to be the life of the party! instructions 1. First, you need to make the paper mask more sturdy. To do that, simply paste the mask onto a piece of card stock before cutting. Let dry. 2. Next, cut out the eyes, mouth and the the rest of the head. 3. Finally, use a hole punch to make holes where you can tie string to the mask (located near both ears on the black dots). Connect both ends of the string on the holes, and voila! Now you have your very own John McCain mask. Page 12 election issue Monday, Oct. 27, 2008 How to be BARACK OBAMA Need a quick and easy Halloween costume? Why not impersonate a presidential candidate: All you need is a blue suit, red tie and this handy-dandy mask. You’re sure to be the life of the party! instructions 1. First, you need to make the paper mask more sturdy. To do that, simply paste the mask onto a piece of card stock before cutting. Let dry. 2. Next, cut out the eyes, mouth and the the rest of the head. 3. Finally, use a hole punch to make holes where you can tie string to the mask (located near both ears on the black dots). Connect both ends of the string on the holes, and voila! Now you have your very own Barack Obama mask.