Inside the 2009 College Republican National Convention
A party tries to rebuild its youth movement.By Josh Cohen
June 8, 2009
The contents of the 2009 College Republican National Conference gift bag.With a down economy, party infighting, a Democratic majority in the House and Senate, and a Democrat in the White House, it is perhaps unsurprising that the College Republicans, who boast national membership topping 200,000, only saw between 150 and 200 attendees at their national convention in Washington, D.C., which took place between June 4th and 6th.
Despite relatively low turnout, the convention offered high-profile speakers like John McCain, Michael Steele, Rick Santorum, Aaron Schock, Tim Pawlenty, Frank Wolf, and Phyllis Schlafly, who discussed party unity and the need to utilize social networking tools; a handful of conservative vendors like the Young America’s Foundation and the National Rifle Association; and workshops on social networking and the dangers of nationalized healthcare—all for the stated goal of celebrating, learning about, and rebuilding the Republican youth movement.
Convention registrants received a canvas tote replete with a glossy convention booklet, bumper stickers (“I <3 Capitalism,” “Give me Liberty or Give me Death,” and “God and Country”), brochures for the Liberty University School of Law and Regent University, and a “Patriot” safety whistle, light, and compass combo (ostensibly for moral guidance in this Democrat dominated United States).
With the exception of speaker introductions and between-speaker interludes by College Republicans National Chairman Charlie Smith, student voices were not featured at the convention.
Arizona Senator John McCain and Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele were the weekend’s main-draw speakers. Delivering his speech on Friday, McCain addressed the role he sees the College Republicans playing in the future of the party, the need to reach out to more diverse conservatives, and, like nearly everyone at the convention, the need to capitalize on new technology.
“We are in danger of becoming a regional party,” McCain explained. “Republicans need to be more inclusive, need to include people whose values line up with [the] party, but maybe don’t agree on every single issue.”
McCain connected the need to reach out to the need for Republicans to improve their handle on social networking tools like Twitter and Facebook, a task he charged the College Republicans with handling, and one that most seemed to take to heart.
“Our role is to be the voice of the younger generation. We need to provide encouragement for young people who are being indoctrinated by liberals,” said Bryan Griffin, chairman of the University of Florida College Republicans.
“We need to find new campaign tactics to reach out to young voters,” said Rachel Baily, a Belmont University senior who is interning with the National Republican Congressional Campaign, one of the vendors at the convention. “Obama knew how to use new media like Twitter and email and he reached young people that way.”
Chairman Steele was the final speaker of the weekend, giving an hour-long talk about diversifying the party and being more accepting of different conservative viewpoints. There were around 130 watching Steele, similar numbers to McCain’s audience and far more than the other speakers garnered. Steele walked through the audience as he spoke about the importance of party unity. He pulled four audience members up to the front of the room to illustrate his point that differing viewpoints need not be grounds for rejection from the GOP.
In Steele’s scenario each of the four audience members was wearing a GOP hat, only each member wore their hat a different way: straight ahead, backwards, or tilted to the side.
“What do all these people have in common?” Steele implored the audience. “They’re all wearing the GOP hat.”
He continued by saying that someone who believes in small government, fiscal conservatism, and lower taxes, but who is also pro-choice should be welcomed into the party with open arms.
Steele’s message was echoed by some College Republicans.
“We need to break down stereotypes about Republicans,” said Hope Staneski, the secretary of the Maine College Republicans and a Bates College sophomore. “We need to let people know we’re a party of everybody. It might not be clear that we’re inclusive, but we are. There are LGBT Republicans.”
Some of those LGBT Republicans were present in the small vendors’ exhibition at the conference. GOProud, a group representing “gay conservatives and their allies,” according to its pamphlet, was one of the 12 vendors set up outside of the convention ballroom handing out brochures, stickers, buttons, and Sarah Palin and “Victims of Che Guevera” posters.
Between (or often during) speakers, the College Republicans milled about and chatted with each other in the hallway. For many of them, this was a prime opportunity to share ideas with their like-minded peers—something they stressed was often not possible on their campuses due to widespread liberalism.
“I came to the convention because the speakers are great and it’s inspiring to hear conservative values,” said Staneski. “There are lots of liberals on my campus and it can be discouraging. The convention [provides] good support.”
Some delegates felt, however, that their peers were using the convention solely as a social gathering and wasting an opportunity to learn.
“I’m kind of disappointed with the turnout,” said Alex Masterson, a Birmingham-Southern College junior and chairman of his school’s College Republicans chapter. “I’m ashamed that more of the delegates don’t attend more of the speakers. I think a lot of people are just here to party.”
Eagle Forum founder and notable Equal Rights Amendment opponent Phyllis Schlafly’s speech used some of the more conspiratorial rhetoric of the weekend as she analyzed Obama’s adaptation of community organizing tactics for his web-heavy campaign. Highlights included: “Obama’s plan is to take money from American tax-payers and give it to non-tax payers,” “social justice is simply a code word for saying that America is an unjust, unfair, racist country,” and “socialism requires a totalitarian government rule.” (She was matched in her paranoia only by former senator Rick Santorum, who claimed that the left is trying to destroy church and family.)
Virginia Congressman Frank Wolf was the only speaker to really focus on a pressing social issue. Though he gave the seemingly-requisite nod to Reagan’s presidency, which he dubbed “a model of the future” and the “model to rejuvenate the party,” he spent the bulk of his speech discussing human rights and religious persecution.
“The Republican party has been lethargic on the issue of human rights and religious freedom,” Wolf boomed from the podium. “China has 34 catholic bishops in jail. Do you care about it? Have you spoken out about it?” Wolf highlighted the persecution of Muslims and Christians in China, Coptic Christians in Egypt, and Buddhists in Tibet as grounds for the Republican Party to take a stand.
“If we want to separate ourselves [from the Democrats] on a real, honest, moral issue it’s on the issue of persecuted religious persons. The new administration isn’t going to do anything about it. Doing the right thing is what will let the party prosper.”
Josh Cohen is a freelance writer in Washington, D.C.
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