cr monthly april
DESCRIPTION
The April edition of the CR Monthly NewsletterTRANSCRIPT
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InThisIssue…
3 YearinReview3 AprilEvents
ConservativePerspective4 CongratulationsCollege
Republicans,GaryLivacari–FormerChairmanandPoliticalAffairsDirectorfortheGWCollegeRepublicans(20052007)
5 Don’tJustRepeal,MichaelRusso6 TheTeaParty&TheGOPAshley
Colburn7 HowtoSpend$49,845.25,Sinead
Casey9 ANotefromtheEditor,Cynthia
MeyerGWCollegeRepublicansfillingEastereggstobringtotheWalterReedArmyMedicalCenter
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9/2 KickoffCelebrationwithBobMcDonnell9/12 DCMarchonWashington9/12 Virginiacampaignday‐trip9/13 CR/CDWaterBalloonFight9/14 GeneralBodyMeeting9/19 Virginiacampaignday‐trip9/22 FreshmanElections9/21 ObamacareAwarenessBBQ9/24 CR/CDHealthcareDebate9/26 VirginiaCampaignday‐trip9/29 SenatorMikeEnzievent10/3 Virginiacampaignday‐trip10/6 CongressionalDinnerSeriesPanelwithCongressmenJoe
Wilson,TomPrice,andJeffFortenberry10/9 CampaigntriptoNewJerseyforChrisChristie’scampaign
forgovernor10/21 GWCollegeRepublicanshostJebBush10/23 CampaigntriptoVirginiaforBobMcDonnell’scampaign
forgovernor10/30 96‐HourDeploymentforBobMcDonnell11/3 ElectionDay—VictorypartyinColumbianPlaza11/14 Triptogunrange11/16 CR/CDDebateonEnergyPolicy11/20 TriptoWalterReidHospital11/22 CR/CDfootballgame11/30 SpecialElectionforPRDirector12/8 CRChristmasEnd‐of‐SemesterPartyatTonic1/20 SpringKickoffwithTimMurtaugh1/21 Obama:OneYearLaterDebatewithDems1/22 NationalRighttoLifeMarch2/7 CollegeRepublicansSuperBowlParty2/11 CR/CDDebateonIllegalImmigration2/17 KaraokeNightatFridays2/18 CPAC2/19 CPAC2/20 CPAC2/22 RepublicanGovernorsAssociationGala2/23 Rep.ErikPaulsenEvent2/26 TriptoWalterReidHospital3/10 BagtheBagTaxEvent3/11 VoicesforSchoolChoicesMovieScreening3/25 CR/CDForeignPolicyDebate4/12 E‐BoardElections4/13 5thAnnualFreshmanDebate4/15 TaxDayBBQ4/26 PoliticalSatireDebatewiththeCDs4/27 PatBuchananevent
The2009‐2010AcademicYearinReviewFortheGWCollegeRepublicans
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TheRepublicanPartyhasfinallyadoptedanaggressivestrategytopromotetheconservativeagenda.AfterexcusingandevenupliftingbiggovernmentRepublicansfornearlyadecade–andpayingasteeppoliticalpriceintheformofthedispiritedconservativebaseandtheensuingliberalvictories–partyleadershaveeffectivelyconnectedwithmainstreamvoterswhoremainfiercelyopposedtotheunprecedentedgrowthofgovernmentandtheconcomitantdestructionofAmerica’scapitalisteconomy.GonearethedayswhenconservativeRepublicanswereforcedtosupportliberalpolicies,allinthenameofpreservingpowerand(supposedly)haltingDemocratgains.Thisstrategyofpoliticalaccommodationfailedmiserably,bequeathingashatteredanddisorientedRepublicanParty.IndeedtheascendancyofNancyPelosiand
BarackObamaisacrushingrebuttaltothose“moderate”voiceswhoclamorforatemperedand
restrainedplatform.ThenationalresurgenceoftheconservativemovementisalsoevidentintherecentsuccessesofTheGeorgeWashingtonUniversityCollegeRepublicans.Amidashockinglysecularand“progressive”universityenvironmentlikeGW,itisnoteasytofightforconservativevalues.Noonewantstobeunpopular.Asa
result,ourorganizationhassometimesembracedaconciliatoryleadershipstyleandpassivecampusagenda.Thisstrategymadeusmorepopularwithliberalstudents,universityelitesandrivalgroups.However,italienatedloyalconservativestudents,neuteredourorganization’sactivistmissionandrenderedusanirrelevantvoiceincampuspoliticalaffairs.Wetradedpopularityandcareeradvancementfor
CongratulationsCollegeRepublicansGaryLivacari,FormerChairmanandPoliticalAffairsDirectorfortheGWCollegeRepublicans(20052007)
“TheGWCollegeRepublicansexcelwhentheirleadersarenotafraidtodefendconservativeprinciplesandpassionatelyparticipateinthecampuspoliticaldebate.”
MembersoftheCollegeRepublicansatWalterReedArmyMedicalCenteronEasterMorning
5effectiveleadershipandpolicyadvocacy.ChairmanBrandonHinesandthecurrentExecutiveBoardhavereversedthisnegativetrendandrestoredthepracticeofprincipledconservativeactivism.Ourcurrentleaderswerenotcontenttoproducemediocre,non‐controversialpublicactivities.Insteadtheyworkeddiligentlytodeliverrealresults.Thisyear,theCollegeRepublicanshostedtwoprominentconservativegovernors,JebBushandBobMcDonnell.Theseeventsenergizedourcampusmembershipand,moreimportantly,signaledourrenewedwillingnesstovigorouslypromoteaconservativepolicyagenda–evenifitisunpopular.Republicansmatteragain,becausetheE‐Boardhasworkedhardtoorchestratelarge‐scalepoliticaleventsandendurethecampuscold‐shoulderthatisoftendirectedatyoungconservativeleaders.TheGWCollegeRepublicanshaveemergedasfarmorethanasocialgroup.WehaveagainbecomepowerfuladvocatesforthecoreprinciplesoftheRepublicanParty.ThisdramaticchangeisespeciallyremarkablewhenweconsiderthepersonalstoryofBrandonHines.IfirstmetBrandonin2006.Hewasaneagerfreshmanmemberwhowasreadytolead.IwasprivilegedtohelmtheCollegeRepublicansinthosedays,andBrandonHineswasanintegralmemberofourteam.Brandonhadskepticsinsomecircles,butheprovedthemallwrong.Hisunmatchedcompetency,commitmenttoprincipledactivismandbroadappealquicklyearnedhimthetrustandsupportofmanymembers.Brandonworkedbehindthescenestoplanseriouspolicyspeechesandactivisteventsthatultimatelyreinvigoratedourorganization.TheGWCollegeRepublicansexcelwhentheirleadersarenotafraidtodefendconservativeprinciplesandpassionatelyparticipateinthecampuspoliticaldebate.Thesuccessof2009‐2010isatestamenttothisimportanttruthandareminderthatwemustresistthetemptationtomoderatethevaluesandidealsweholddear.BrandonHinesandtheExecutiveBoard:ThankyouforresurrectingoneofGW’smost
Doomsday,EndoftheRepublic,Armageddon;thesearealltermsthatcanbe,intheeyesoftheRight,associatedwiththepassageoftheDemocratsabominationofhealthcarereform.DespitethishorrificbillnowbeinglawthereisstillaglimmerofhopefortheforcesofgoodinourConstitutionalfederationofStates,thatofcoursebeingrepealingthebill.ThePresident’surgentrushtopassthebillwasratheroddconsideringmostmajorproposalswillnottakeeffectuntil2014andthefullextensionofinsuranceisnotguaranteeduntil2019!ThisgivetheGOPplentyoftimetostopthiswasteofmoneybyrepealingandmoreimportantlyreplacingthisbill.GOPersandconservativesnowhavetheir2010campaignslogan:RepealandReplace.Thisisatwo‐partdeal.WecannotsimplyrepealthebillsincethatwouldnotaccomplishanythingforthecountrylongtermandonlygiveammunitiontotheDemocratstoreignitetheirpushforanAmericanNHS.Therearemanywhodonotbelievethatwouldeverhappenherebuttheevidenceismounting.LookatthereasonsDennisKucinich(D‐OH)changedhisvote:hewaspromisedmore.ThenthereistheChairoftheCongressionalProgressiveCaucus,LynnWoolsey(D‐CA),whoproposedanewpublicoptionbillthedayafterthecurrentonepassed.Thisisonlyasteppingstonetothecompletenationalizationofhealthcare.Whenyouareaskedwhythissoundssobad,respondwith“PIGS”(Portugal,Ireland,Greece,andSpain),whichisafunnyabbreviationforthefouronce‐wealthyandprosperousnationsthat
Don’tJustRepealMichaelRusso
“Republicanproposalswillnotcostanywherenear$1trilliondollars—mostwon’tevencostadime.”
storiedorganizations.ThankyoufordemonstratingwhatitreallymeanstobeaCollegeRepublican.
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aretankingduetotheloadofdebtthattheyfacefromthesebloviatedgovernmentprograms.AndimaginethattheUSisalreadyheadinginthatdirectionwithoutanNHS.UnliketheUKin1946,theconservativemovementinthiscountryisnotgoingtobequiet.Andunlike1946UK,thesocialistsarenotwillingtoadmittheyaresocialists.Asmentionedearlier,thecampaignforCongressmustbecenteredonRepealandReplace.ButwemustexplainwhytheReplacepartissovital.Wemustpassreform‐limitingpaymentsinmedicalmalpracticelawsuits(whichcosttheaveragedoctoralmostathirdoftheirincometogetinsurancetocoversuchpayments),wemustestablishaspecialcourtsystemtohandlethesecasesothatajudgewithmedicalknowledgecanmakethedecisionandnotajurywithnounderstandingofmanyprocedures(oratleastgivesuchcasestoexistingjudgeswithsuchknowledge),wemustallowpurchasinginsuranceacrossstatelines,wemustendallexemptionsfromanti‐trustlawsforinsurancecompanies,andmostimportantly,wemustendallstateandfederalmandatesastowhatmustbeincludedinhealthinsurancecoverage.Itisagoodthingtocreatehighriskpools
ofpeoplewhodesperatelyneedinsuranceandtrytomakesuretheyarecovered,butforcingpeopletobuyplanswiththingstheyfeeltheydon’tneediswasteful.Thecurrentsystemisnotdesignedtoletthemarketwork.Moreimportantly,Republicanproposalswillnotcostanywherenear$1trilliondollars—mostwon’tevencostadime.LetusfollowtheexampleofGovernorBobMcDonnellandrunonthingsthatourcountryandcitizensactuallyneed.Ifwedothat,wewillwin.Ifwefulfillourpromises,wewillstay.
WhatexactlyistheTeaPartyMovement?Everyminute,Googleupdatesitsnewssitewitharticlestryingtofigureoutwhatandwhoexactlyistheteaparty.ThispoliticalphenomenonhasDemocratsfranticallytryingtosearchforwaystostopsomethingtheydon’tyetunderstand,andevenworse,RepublicansarehavingamoredifficulttimefiguringoutiftheTeaPartyisfriendorfoe.AsbothaRepublicanandTeaPartyactivist,Iembracethecoreteapartyfoundations,suchasliberty,constitution,conservatism,andcountry.IhaveworkedtirelesslywithsuchorganizationsliketheTeaPartyPatriotsinlobbying,writing,fundraising,andeventplanningtoensurethetea
partycoreidealsareaprominentforcewithinAmericanpolitics.YetIamastableandproudRepublicanthattriestoensurethesamegoalswithinmyownparty.SowhyhaveIturnedtotheteapartyformypolitical
solutions?BecauseIamoneofthemany
millionsthatwanttorebuildtheparty.Althoughalargenumberofteaparty‐ersarelibertarians,constitutionalists,independents,anddisgruntledDemocrats,mostofusarediscontentRepublicans.Contrarytowhatthemediaportray,theTeaPartyactivistsarenotracist.Infact,theystriveforadiverseAmericaunderconservativevalues.Isn’tthatlargelywhatconservatismisabout‐theprotectionofindividualrightsforallmen?ButtheRepublicanPartyisoftenportrayedasthepartyofoldwhitemen.TheGOPlacksmuchdiversity.Inordertosucceed,itneedstoembraceallraces,allreligions,andallcultures,ratherthansteeringstrictlytowardstheChristianRightwithoutgiving
TheTeaParty&TheGOPAshleyColburn
“Contrarytowhatthemediaportray,theTeaPartyactivistsarenotracist.Infact,theystriveforadiverseAmericaunderconservativevalues.”
3,800,000,000,0003.8
3.8
trillion
trillion
TheMonopolyMoneytheCRshandedoutattheirTaxDayBBQ
7minorityvoterstheoptionoffeelingcomfortablewithintheRepublicanParty.TheRepublicanPartyneedstounifywiththeTeaPartymovementandassertthattheyareaunifiedpartyofdiversityandtolerance,regardlessofwhatliberalsmaysay.Unfortunately,Democratsusediversitytosimplygainalargenumberofvotes.Republicansmustreachouttopotentialconservativevotersthatcurrentlyfeelleftoutduetoracialandreligioussegregation.Theteapartymovementwantstoseeadifferentchangethanthe“change”thatObamaspokeof.Ultimately,RepublicansmustavoidassumingthattheteapartymovementwillsolelyvoteRepublican.InaFoxNewspoll,
23%ofAmericanswouldvoteforateapartycandidate,whileonly18%ofAmericanswouldvoteforaRepublican.Thisisasurprisingandterrifyingfact.Withoutthosevotes,theDemocratscouldultimatelywinineveryelection,whilethethirdpartymovementwouldneverbeabletobreakthroughintotheAmericanpoliticalsystem.InorderfortheRepublicanPartytoregaintheteapartymovement’strust,itmustchangewithtoday’sissuesratherlookingtothepast.Diversity,trueconservatism,andtheemphasisoftheConstitutionbeingtheultimatelawofthelandwillsurelygrantthePartyagreatchanceofwinningthe2012presidentialelection.
TheChairmanoftheRNC,MichaelSteele,hasbecomeembattledinfightingoffcriticismoffiscalirresponsibility.Suchas...PrivateplanesforRNC=$17,514PrivatecarsforRNC=$12,691FourSeasonsstayforRNC&BeverlyHillsHotelStay=$17,641.25
Letsnotforgetthetabforasex‐themednightclub=$2,000Total=$49,846.25Idon’tknowaboutyou,buttomethatlookslikeanexcerptofafinancialspreadsheetfromadeficit‐increasing,pork‐barrelspending,taxhiker
fornogoodreason,Democrat.Withallhis“street‐smarts”IamshockedthattheChairmancouldn’tthinkofbetterwaystospendRepublicanshardearndonations.
Nowlet’sconsidersomeotherfiscally
responsible,victoryorientedwaystospend$49,846.25Torunafacebookadthatgets98,524,740hitsinNevadaforvotersbetween18and64forthemonthleadinguptotheelectionis$30,000.Thatleaves$19,846.25oftheoriginal$49,846.25thatwaswastefullyspentbytheRNCinthemonthofFebruaryto...Send40membersofGW’sCollegeRepublicanstoColumbus,OhiotheweekbeforetheelectiontocampaignforKasichforGovernor.(1planetickettoColumbus,Ohio,weekbeforeElectionDay=$204*40=$8,160).Send40membersofGW’sCollegeRepublicanstoFloridatheweekbeforeElectionDay,toelectarealconservative,MarcoRubio–notthatcandidateendorsedbytheRNC.(1planetickettoFlorida=$160*40=$6,400).Andwiththe4,686.25leftoverwecouldsendnearlytheentire300+GeorgeWashingtonCollegeRepublicanMembershiptoPennsylvaniatocampaigninyetanothercontentiousrace.(1busticket=$15).IamsureRepublicandonorswouldmuchratherseetheirmoneygotowardswinning
HowtoSpend$49,845.25SineadCasey
TheTaxDaydisplayattheCollegeRepublicansTaxDayBBQ
8elections,insteadofwinningthetopleadonPoliticoforhypocrisyandwastefulness.Totopitalloff,SteelewentonGoodMorningAmericaandwhenaskedif“asanAfrican‐American”hehas“aslimmermarginforerrorthananotherChairmanwould,”hereplied:“Thehonestanswerisyes,”andthenstumbledforavalidexplanation,claimingthesamemarginexistsforObama.TheChairmanneedstostopstealingObama’sracecardandstopactinglikeaspendingaddictedliberalandreformthecommitteeandeitherreturntohistraditionallyseated,behind‐the‐scenespostwithaconservativeperspectiveorstepdown.It’snotcalledracism,Mr.Chairman.Itscalledfiscalresponsibility–andthatiswhyyouarebeingattacked.ItwouldbeonethingiftheabovewasallofthelavishspendingcreditedtoSteele,butitsnot‐acombined$19,443forstaysinVegasandDC’stophotels,suchastheMresortandtheW,respectively,aswellasa$43,828midwintertriptoHawaii,notincludingairfare.EarlyoninhistermhisspendingpromptedRepublicancommitteementopassaresolutionrequiringcheckstobesignedbyatleasttwoRNCofficers.
TheviewsexpressedinCRMonthlyrepresentthoseofourmembers,andarenotnecessarilytheviewsorpositionsoftheCollegeRepublicanNationalCommittee,theDCFederationofCollege
Republicans,orTheGeorgeWashingtonUniversityCollegeRepublicans.
RepublicansontheHillhaveanonymouslyexpressedoutrageandtopRepublicanslikeKarlRovehavemovedontoalternativegroupssuchasthenewlyformedAmericanCrossroads.
Steelehasraised$96.2millionduringhistenure,buthehasspent$109.6million,foradeficitof$13.4million,accordingtotheDailyCaller.No,theChairmanshouldnotbemeetingdonorsintheHolidayInnlobby,butheneedstoknowwheretotightenthebelt.Whatever“loopholes”or“mistakes”thatallowedthe$2,000nightclubexpenditureto
appearonFECreportsshouldhaveneveroccurredinthefirstplace.Bigdonorsaren’tgoingtobepersuadedbyaMichaelSteelecommercial,theaverageAmericanswhoseehis“freedomisworthfightingfor”commercialaregoingtobedeterredfromgivingwhatevertheycantothecommitteewhentheyreadtheheadlines.IftheRepublicanNationalCommitteecannotpromotefiscalresponsibilityintheirinterioroperationswiththeirdonors’moneythanhowarevoterssupposedtotrustthatthecandidatestheypickaregoingtobefiscallyresponsiblewiththeirtaxpayerdollars.ChairmanSteele’saccountabilitydoesnotrestonhowmanycampaigns“he”winsorhowmanydollarsheraises.HisaccountabilityisdependentonhowwellherepresentsandexecutesthevaluesandpoliciesoftheRepublicanParty–andtheChairmanhasfailedtodothis.
“IamsureRepublicandonorswouldmuchratherseetheirmoneygotowardswinningelections,insteadofwinningthetopleadonPoliticoforhypocrisyandwastefulness.”
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ANotefromtheEditor:
IthasbeenmyhonorandprivilegetoserveastheGWCollegeRepublicansDirectorofPublicationsandEditor‐in‐ChiefoftheCRMonthlyNewsletterthisyear.FromwhenIlaunchedthispublicationinOctoberuntilnow,theCRMonthlyhasbeenreadover13,200times!Ithasseenenormoussuccess,andthatisduetoonlytothegreatyoungRepublicansonthiscampuswhohavekeptitthriving.
IwouldliketoextendmysinceregratitudetoalloftheoutstandingwritersfortheCRMonthlythisyear.ItisnecessaryforthesestrongconservativevoicestospeakupandspeakoutonaliberalcampussuchasGeorgeWashington.Asweallknow,thatisnotalwayseasy.
IalsowanttothankourChairman,BrandonHines,forhisexceptional,fearlessleadershipthisyear.WehavehadoneofthegreatestyearsintheGWCRhistorybecauseofhisvision,hisdrive,andhisdetermination.Heinspiredmeandmycolleaguestoalwaysdoourbestforthisorganization.Forthat,IcommendhisservicetotheCollegeRepublicansforthepast4years.
Ihavefullfaithinmysuccessor,KaitlynMartin,tomakethispublicationevenbetter.Ithasbeenmypleasuretoserveyouallthisyear,andIwishKaitlynthebestofluck.
Always,
CynthiaMeyer