Longtime friends differ in politics, but share in values

June 23--ABOUT OUR VOTERS

Name: Roger Howard

Age: 22

Marital status: Unmarried

Children: None

Home: Sellersburg

Hometown: Sellersburg

Profession: Recent college graduate, 2017-18 Governor's Fellow

Education: Indiana University Southeast, political science and economics

Veteran: No

Religion: Christian

Political affiliation: Republican

Organizations: Former Indiana Chair of College Republicans, involved in Clark and Floyd County Republicans

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Name: Michelle Karsner

Age: 21

Marital status: Unmarried

Children: 3-year-old daughter

Home: Charlestown

Hometown: Sellersburg

Profession: Entry-level manager, Amazon

Education: Indiana University Southeast, business management

Veteran: No

Religion: Christian

Political affiliation: Democrat

Organizations: Amazon Associates Activities Committee (volunteer work for community)

CLARK COUNTY -- In 2016, longtime friends Roger Howard and Michelle Karsner cast ballots in the first presidential election they were able to do so.

Howard, a 22-year-old Indiana University Southeast graduate and self-proclaimed conservative, voted for eventual-victor Donald Trump. Karsner, a 21-year-old IUS grad, Democrat and mother, voted for Hillary Clinton.

Sitting on the back porch of Howard's family home in Sellersburg, the two talked with the News and Tribune about politics and American values. They listened and nodded. They agreed and disagreed. They even laughed.

Their ability to do so civilly amidst an oftentimes vitriolic national discourse might in part be attributed to their shared values. Howard and Karsner both identify as Christian, but their vision of equal opportunity for all goes beyond religion. It's simply what they think is right; what they think America is all about.

" ... we live in a free society and there's a lot of opportunity here in the United States," Howard said. "And I think it's a country that stands out for that reason."

He thinks of his grandfather, who Howard said was born into a poor family in New Albany. Through "hard work and schooling" his grandfather was able to become a dentist and eventually serve in the U.S. Army.

"He always has been a role model for me in what he was able to achieve in that sense, because I think in a lot of [other] countries, it is hard to move up that ladder, the socio-economic ladder."

For Karsner, the most important American hallmark is the practice of helping others in need. She said she grew up in a family that didn't have a lot of money and depended on assistance to get by. She was able to go to school and eventually college, where she earned a degree in business management. Now she works for a Fortune 500 company and can give her 3-year-old daughter the things she didn't have growing up.

"And it's not because I'm genius ... it's because I have a country and a government that was willing to step up and help me and help my parents to raise children," Karsner said. "And now I have an opportunity to give my daughter that without actually having to go to a government for help."

IN THE VOTING BOOTH

Voting for someone who shares their values is important to Howard and Karsner, but it's not always so cut and dry. As a Christian, Karsner said she tries to separate her political views with her religious beliefs. She doesn't like the idea of abortion, and it isn't something she would personally do, but she's pro-choice because she believes others -- including those who are non-Christian -- should have the right to decide for themselves.

Howard, also a Christian, is pro-life. He's also pro-gay marriage, an issue many of his fellow Christians and conservatives don't support. But for Howard, it boils down to what he thinks is right, issue by issue.

What he and Karsner agree on is that a candidate's personal faith is not a deciding factor when casting ballots. Instead, they look at a candidate's policy stances and qualifications.

They look at actions and behavior, too. And in light of an onslaught of sexual misconduct allegations against public officials, political candidates and Hollywood elites in recent months, the whole country is looking with them.

Karsner said her vote could be swayed if a candidate she otherwise supports acts in a way that contradicts her values. For her, it boils down to whether a candidate has hurt someone.

"You never really know exactly what they did, so I think it's important to look at okay, what are they doing right? What are they doing that I think is actually going to help people?" she said. "And then if there was something crazy that they do that is hurting others ... I think that would impact who I voted for."

With conflicting news reports, political agendas and the spread of fake news, Karsner and Howard said it's hard to determine when there's any truth to an allegation of misconduct.

When it comes to Trump, who has been accused by more than a dozen women of criminal or inappropriate conduct, Karsner said it's easier for her to believe some of the accusations.

"So actual physical things he may have done, I have no clue. I wasn't there," she said. "But anything that people say that he has verbally done to them ... I wouldn't believe it if he carried himself differently."

Howard, who initially supported Rand Paul over Trump in the 2016 Primary, agrees that Trump is "definitely not the best role model." He thinks any allegations should be taken seriously and investigated.

"Now what action goes against him now that he's President? I don't know," Howard said. "But I think it's something for voters to take with them to the ballot ... whether it's the midterms or the [presidential election]."

OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL

Polls show women might be more likely than men to take allegations of misconduct to the voting booth. Other issues -- immigration, the economy, gun rights -- have also been analyzed through the lens of gender. But Howard and Karsner think that how a person votes is less about gender and more about life experiences.

Karsner said that as a woman who has heard countless stories of other women being sexually assaulted, it's easy for her to imagine the destruction caused by sexual misconduct and hard to not consider such allegations when it comes time to vote. But, she said, if a man personally knows a woman who has been assaulted, that man is likely to care just as much about allegations as Karsner does.

"I think it depends how you relate to the issues," she said.

Howard said for him, the economy is one of the most important issues when voting. For Karsner, it's immigration. And while the two voters prioritize those issues differently, the values that inform their priorities are similar.

"If we have a strong economy that works for all people -- and that's the key, a fair economy that does work for all people -- then it helps everybody move forward and to rise up from their situations," Howard said.

On immigration, Karsner thinks the U.S. should pave a more attainable path to citizenship. She thinks of immigrants who have made the U.S. their home, but who continue to fight through barriers to become legally recognized.

"I don't think that's fair," she said. "I think it's really important that we give people an opportunity."

About this series

This story is part of Pulse of the Voters, an ongoing project produced by the News and Tribune and its parent company, CNHI. Each quarter through the 2020 election, we'll publish a series of stories that tap into what's on the minds of voters across Southern Indiana, the state and the nation. Click here for more stories from this series.

-- Elizabeth DePompei is the digital editor at the News and Tribune. Reach her at [email protected] and 812-206-2157.

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