Written July 10th, updated July 11th.
It doesn’t matter whether presidential candidate Mitt Romney picks a female vice-presidential candidate, several BYU students said in the wake of an interview given by Mitt’s wife, Ann.
“I trust that he’ll pick someone who he thinks is qualified and hard working,” said Jillian Bessey, a 23-year-old from San Diego studying nutritional science. “I don’t care about his or her gender as long as they work hard at achieving their goals and promises to the public.”
Bryan Anderson, a senior from Tacoma, Wash., studying supply-chain management, echoes that idea.
“I don’t care who it is so long as the individual is qualified to lead the nation should the unspeakable happen and the individual energizes the base and strengthens Mitt’s chances to win,” Anderson said.
Last week, Ann Romney said in an interview with CBS News that Mitt Romney is considering choosing a woman as his running mate.
“I’d love that option as well,” she said.
Jason Cassel, a 21-year-old from Palm Springs, Calif., studying music composition, said he believes this could become a bigger issue.
“It’s a bold move on his part considering the social implications, but it’s unfortunate that those implications exist,” Cassel said.
Katherine Poulter, president of the Women in Business Club here at BYU, said she thinks having a female vice-presidential candidate could be a good thing. She referenced a recent Wall Street Journal article in which General Motors Co. CEO Dan Akerson said he believes women “have a higher emotional quotient, and they deal with change, radical change” well.
“I agree with this statement,” Poulter said, “and given that we live in an ever-changing world, I think a woman would do a great job as our national vice-president. If Mitt Romney has identified a qualified woman who is able to balance her job with the other responsibilities in her life, she should be seriously considered for the position.”
