New Haven Independent

Matute, an eighth-grader whose family moved to New Haven seven years ago Cuenca, Ecuador, played the Democratic presidential candidate Monday at a debate and mock election at Fair Haven School.

The election-eve event reflected the excitement that has trickled down to urban neighborhoods this year: the prospect of America electing its first African-American president has excited students in the K-8 school about politics in a way teachers have never before seen.

Energized them — and educated them. Exhibit A: the level of discourse in Monday’s mock debate, which took place on the stage of the school’s lovingly restored Vaudeville-era stage. It was the most coherent and issue-packed debate to date, even if there were no TV cameras and the candidates were represented by eighth-grade alter egos. They were on top of the two candidates’ platforms down to the arguments for and against increased oil drilling and government investment in solar, wind, and nuclear power.

Perhaps because he was freed in front of a wildly sympathetic audience hoping to see America elect its first black president, Obama/Matute (pictured at the top of this story) abandoned his customary centrist-sensitive caution on some key issues.

For instance, he mentioned “Canada” and “France” in connection with health care — as role models.

Those nations have universal health care. The U.S. should, too, Obama/Matute argued.

“Sen. Obama forgot to tell you that under his plan, prices would go up” for health care, responded Republican candidate John McCain, aka Leo Soto. McCain/Soto claimed that under a universal health care plan people would wait longer to see doctors, whom they couldn’t choose. He laid out a plan for $4,000 tax credits to help pay for health insurance, which would become portable for people moving from state to state.

“If universal health care is so bad,” chimed in Obama/Matute, “why are people living longer and is infant mortality lower” in countries that have it?

A feistier Obama was on display on the issue of immigration, too. Asked how to contain illegal immigration, Obama/Matute started out the way the candidate usually does, reassuring conservatives: He promised to “ensure that our borders are secure” and that employers are punished hiring undocumented workers. Then he called for an easier path toward citizenship for illegal immigrants (similar to a plan the real Sen. McCain co-authored in the Senate.) He spoke of the need to “keep families together as long as possible.”

Rather than speak of the concerns of immigration opponents, Obama/Matute spoke about the dreams of immigrants who come here “for better opportunities, for better schools.” He called for the children of undocumented workers to have the “same rights to go to a college,” including qualifying for scholarships, as their peers.

Matute said wasn’t just playing a role on stage: he’s a fervent Obama supporter.

As were most of the students at Monday’s event. The election was a landslide: 518 votes for Obama, 26 for McCain. Pictured: Emily Costales fills out her ballot.

Given those numbers, Leo Soto certainly won the profile in courage award. He offered a spirited case for the Republican candidate. He, too, said he wasn’t just playing a role; he prefers McCain. Why? McCain doesn’t want to raise taxes on people earning over $250,000 a year the way Obama does, noted Soto, who lives in Fair Haven. “My opponent Obama — he wants to raise taxes on high-class people,” McCain/Soto said during the debate. “We’re the richest nation in the world. We cannot afford to spend all the money we have on things we need.”

Eighth-grade social studies teacher Tina Caplan, who helped organize the event, said her students have been “inspired” by the election since the spring primaries. They’ve spent months studying the campaign and watching debates. She hasn’t seen anywhere near this level of interest in politics and government in her seven years in the job. “I’ve watched these kids for seven years asking: ‘Will we ever have a black president?’ I would say, ‘Maybe one day, hopefully,’ all the things you say to eighth-grade students to keep them hopeful. To think we’ve come so far now — it means so much to them.”

The students were sent back to class with an assignment and a present. The assignment: Tell their parents to vote on Tuesday. The present: a free loaf of the world’s most delicious “artisan” bread baked up the road at the Chabaso bakery on James Street. (Pictured: Principal Kim Johnsky hands out the treats.) That, too, was a civics lesson, New Haven style. Chabaso hands out free loaves every Election Day to people wearing their “I voted” stickers. Tuesday’s giveaways will take place in New Haven at Atticus Atticus Bookstore Café, Chabaso Bakery Outlet, Nica’s Market, and Romeo and Casare’s Market.