Atkins/GW

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InThisIssue…3 OctoberinReview3 NovemberEvents4 ColonialCrossfireonGWTV5 GOPVictories2009

ConservativePerspective6 RenewingtheRevolution,WillFrey8 WeDidn’tVoteforAppeasement,MichaelRusso9 Cap‐and‐Trade:IsitReallyAbouttheEnvironment?,AlissaOrlando10 CampusBiasReflectedinCommencementSpeakers,CaitlinBlaney11 WhatHappenedtoOurCommanderinChief?,SineadCasey12 TheLiberalMedia’sCrushonPresidentObama,AshleyColburn

TheGWCollegeRepublicansExecutiveBoardfollowingAnEveningwithJebBush:RepublicanSolutionsforaStrongerAmerica

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OCTOBERinreview10/3 Virginiacampaignday‐trip10/6 CongressionalDinnerSeriesPanelwith

CongressmenJoeWilson,TomPrice,andJeffFortenberry

10/9 CampaigntriptoNewJerseyforChrisChristie’scampaignforgovernor

10/21 GWCollegeRepublicanshostJebBush10/23 CampaigntriptoVirginiaforBobMcDonnell’s

campaignforgovernor10/30 96‐HourDeploymentforBobMcDonnell

NOVEMBERevents11/3 ElectionDay—WatchpartyinColumbianPlaza11/11 Veteran’sDay11/14 Triptogunrange11/16 CR/CDDebateonEnergyPolicy11/20 TriptoWalterReidHospital11/22 CR/CDfootballgame11/26 ThanksgivingAlleventslistedaresubjecttochange.OtherCReventswillbeannouncedoverthelistserv.CRmembersmayattendourweeklyExecutiveBoardMeetingseveryMondayat9PMintheMarvinCenter

CRstalkingwithformergovernorJebBush

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NewTVShowwiththeGWCollegeRepublicansandCollegeDemocratstoAironGWTV

ColonialCrossfireisanewshowonGWTVthatfeaturesdiscussionsanddebatesbetweenanchorsfromCollegeRepublicansandtheCollegeDemocrats.Settoairthismonth,thefirstepisodewilladdresshealthcaresolutions.

FreshmanRepresentativeChrisOmanspeaksonbehalfoftheCollegeRepublicansonColonialCrossfirewhilePoliticalAffairsDirectorEmmaCarpenterrepresentstheCollegeDemocrats.JakeStewartmoderatesthediscussion.

ColonialCrossfireistheonlystudent‐runpoliticalshowonGWTV.Newepisodeswillruneveryothermonth.Towatch,tuneintoGWTVonchannel6.

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The2009GubernatorialElections

Thiselectionseason,theGWCollegeRepublicanscampaignedhardtohelpelectconservativeRepublicangovernorsinNewJerseyandVirginia.ThroughoutSeptemberand

October,wetraveledouttoAlexandria,Lynchburg,andFairfaxinVirginiaaswellasOceanCityinNewJerseyforbothweekendanddaytrips.

Standingforcreatingjobs,utilizingalternativeenergy,helpingsmallbusinessesprosper,andcrackingdownon

crime,conservativecandidateBobMcDonnellwoninVirginiawithasweeping18‐pointleadagainstCreighDeeds.

Witha5‐pointlead,ChrisChristie’scampaignforfiscalresponsibility,lowertaxes,andgovernmentreformbroughtdowntheDemocraticincumbentGovernorJonCorzineinNewJersey.

BOBMCDONNELLTheNextGovernorofVirginia

CHRISCHRISTIETheNextGovernorofNewJersey

ThesweepingRepublicanvictoriesinthe2009electionsaytwothings.ThefirstisthatthecountryisgrowingmoreandmoredissatisfiedwithPresidentObamaandhisliberalpolicies.Wedonotwantauniversalhealthcaresystem.Wedonotwanthighertaxesandbiggergovernment.TheAmericanpeoplearefinallyspeakingup.

Thesecondthingthatthe2009victoriessayisthatthe2010congressionalracesarelookinggoodfortheRepublicanParty.WeareoptimisticthattheGOPwillgainasignificantamountofcongressionalseatsin2010,potentiallytakingbacktheHouse.

PresidentObamamayhavesoldtheDemocraticmessagetothepublicin2008,butvotersarestartingtorealizethatitistheRepublicansolutionsoflimitedgovernment,taxcuts,andfreemarketvaluesthatwillpullusoutofthesetoughtimes.

CollegeRepublicanscampaigningforChristieinOceanCity,NJ

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Ifyougiveconservatismavoice,chancesareitwillcatchon.It’sarathersimplemaximseenintherecentoff‐yearelection,onethatholdstrueforthiscampusandhasalsocometodefinetheGWCollegeRepublicans’year.LookattheraceforVirginia’sgovernorship–acontestinwhichtheGWCRswereveryactive.TheelectionofBobMcDonnellinVirginiaindicatesthatunabashedconservativescan–andshould–triumphinourright‐of‐centercountry.It’sgreatthatRepublicanswerevictoriousinVirginiaandNewJersey.It’sasignthatheadingintothe2010elections,moderateDemocratswillhavetobecomeincreasinglycautiousaboutbeingtiedtoNancyPelosiandPresidentObama’sagenda.

ButnowisthetimefortheRepublicanPartytorealizewhyweweresuccessful.YouheardpunditsonCNNandFoxNewsdebatingwhetherornotyesterday’selectionwasaclearreferendumonPresidentObama’sperformance.Inmymind,that’snottheissue.Ifyoulookbeyondtheeverydaypoliticsandspin,you’llfindarenewedfocusonourfoundationalidealsoflimitedgovernmentanddetachmentfromfaction.SuchtrendsaswereobservedintherecentelectionsaretosomeextentasignalthatAmericanpoliticsisnolongermerelyaboutpartyidentificationanymore.DougHoffman’srunontheConservativelineisaprimaryexampleofthisphenomenon:votersarelesswillingtoblindlyfollowpartylines.Indeed,nationalsentimentshaveshiftedtoincreasetheroleof“independent”

RenewingtheRevolutionWillFrey,SecretaryoftheGWCollegeRepublicans

7voterswhosympathizewithasetoffundamentallyconservativeidealsthatwilldrivethenextfewelectioncycles.Unsurprisingly,thesevoterswenttotheRepublicansbya2‐1marginintheVAandNJgovernorraces.Let’sexaminethecausalfactorscontributingtothisphenomenon.Overthelastfewyears,therehadarisenafalseconceptionofindividuals’relationshipwiththestatethatiscontrarytothetrueinterestsofthepeople.Butnowthereisanewfoundsensethatthedeficitspending,bailouts,taxincreasesandthedoctrineofheavy‐handedinterventionismthathavedefinedgovernancelatelyareinconsistentwithourfoundingprinciples.YoumightsimplydismissthissweepingpremiseandarguethatCreighDeedsranalousycampaignandJonCorzinewasunpopular.Butthereismoretoitthanthat.Lookingatthebiggerpicture,thereisataxanddeficitspendingrebellionoccurringinAmerica;it’sadynamicrevolution,simultaneouslyquietandaggressive.Americanswhofeelthattheyare“taxedenoughalready”havestagedmajordemonstrationsacrossthecountry.InSenatecontestsfromFloridaandKentuckytoNewHampshirenextyear,conservativeswillbucktheRepublicanestablishmentandmountprimarychallengesagainstmoremainstreamcandidatesfavoredbythenationalparty.It’sacontestthatwillultimatelybedecidedintherealmofpoliticalphilosophy.Yes,AmericanshavereactedtotheagendaofthePelosiCongressonalocallevel.ButtheunderlyingissuebehindtheseprimarybattleswillbethereductionofAmericans’dependencyongovernment.It’saboutrealizingthathigh‐stakespoliticsarenotbeneficialtonationalinterests.Whenpeoplethinkthatalotisatstakeinpolitics,whenthestatecontrolsanincreasinglylargerportionofoureconomy,themoredependentindividualsbecomeonthegovernment.Thereisalessontobelearnedhere–onethatcanbeappliedtoourexperienceatGW.Ideasarethedominantforceinpolitics.Amovementbasingitspoliciesonanadherencetothetenetsof

constitutionallylimitedgovernmentandonanideologyofrestraintismakingacomeback.Itstandsinstarkcontrasttothecontrol‐oriented

philosophyofexpandinggovernment‐runprogramsadvocatedbyfailedcandidatesCreighDeedsandJonCorzine.AsCollegeRepublicans,wehavehadtheuniqueopportunitytoseetheshiftfromtheperspectiveofvoterswetalkedtoonthecampaigntrail.Weneedtoharnessthisshiftandadaptitintoourparty’smessage.Americaisenteringaperiodofreactiontoan

ideologyofcontrol;wefindourselvesinasituationsimilartotheextensiveRepublicanvictoryinthe1994midtermelections.Thosewhonaivelybelievethatthegovernmentisthesolutiontoallofourproblemswillnotprevail.Standaside,statists:arenewalofourrevolutionaryidealsapproaches.

“AsCollegeRepublicans,wehavehadtheuniqueopportunitytoseetheshiftfromtheperspectiveofvoterswetalkedtoonthecampaigntrail.”

CampaignersinVirginiaphone‐bankingforBobMcDonnell

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PresidentObamaascendedtoofficesayingthattheUnitedStatesneededashiftinitsforeignpolicy.HeadvocatedthattheUSshouldcooperateoratleastcommunicatewithcountrieslikeIranandNorthKorea.WhathedidnotmentionisthathewaswillingtoadoptaNevilleChamberlinesqueapproachtotheseengagements.ThiswasseenevenduringthecampaignwhenRussiainvadedGeorgiaandObamahesitated,failingtoopenlycondemntheseactionsforoveraweek.Sinceheenteredintooffice,ObamahascontinuedthissoftapproachbyappeasingtheMoscowregimewhenhebackeddownontheBushmissiledefenseinitiative.IndoingthisheleftourCzechandPolishalliesinthedark,andpotentiallyunderminedU.S.interests.HoweverthispolicyofnotwantingtocauseanyrealproblemsandnotwantingtotaketoughstancesonnationalsecurityhasbeenmostclearlyseenfollowingthelatestIranianpresidentialelection.PresidentObamapubliclystatedthattheU.S.shouldnotmeddleinIran’sinternalaffairs(regardlessofhowmuchheinterfereswiththeaffairsofHonduras).Hedidn’twanttomeddle,eventhoughAhmadinejadaccusedhimofdoingsoanyways.Obamawantedtoappeasethetyrantwhobrutallygunneddownhisownpeoplewhilestoicallyclaimingdemocracyhadkepthiminoffice.PresidentObamadidnotjustturnawayfromBush’spolicy,hespitinonthemandobliteratedanysignofthemhavingexisted.HeshamedtheU.S.inthefaceoftheIranianpeoplewhoonlyaskedforoutencouragement,notarmsorinvasion.Alltheyneededwaspraiseandtalk,somethingthePresidentcandowell,sayingthattheU.S.standswiththem.Encouragingwordsfromworldleaderscanhelprevolutionsinsmallcountries.TaketheexampleofSolidarityinPoland—oneofitsmajorturningpointswaswhenPopeJohnPaulIIpubliclysupportedtheirstruggleagainstthe

satelliteSovietregime.Insteadofprovidingmoralsupport,PresidentObamasatbyandwatchedasAhmadinejadendedtherepublicandestablishedadefactomilitarystatekillinghundredsintheprocess.ObamawantedtopreservetheabilitytonegotiatewithIranovernukes,aproblemwhichwouldhaveprobablyevaporatedifthedictatorshipfell.ThiswasprobablythebestchancetheIranianpeopleandtheworldhavehadtoremovethecorruptso‐calledIslamicRepublic.Insteadofhelping,ObamaactedastheBritishandFrenchgovernmentsdidwhenHitlermarchedintotheRhineland—hejustwatched.Ahmadinejadhasnowemergedwithoutanyrealinternalpoliticalopposition.Thosewhospokeupagainsthimhavebeenkilledorgoneintohiding,andmorepowerhasbeenshiftedtohisregime.Asaresult,heisnowtakingadvantageofthisopportunitytofurtherhisnuclearambitions.ThisisinadditiontothefactthattheWestisveryquicklylosingitsabilitytokeepRussiaandChinaonthesamepage.Appeasementcannotwork.Thereisnothingwe

cangivetheIranianstogetthemtostopbuildingtheirnukes.TheycanprobablyalreadybuildanA‐bomb,astheUNInternationalAtomicEnergyAgencynowsuspects.Ouronlyoptionsaresanctions,orevenairstrikes.TheonlywayLibyawasstoppedwaswhenitrealizeditcouldnotsurvivebeingisolated,andthewaytowintheworld’strustwastoabandonitsprogram.But

AhmadinejadwillneverabandontheprogramsinceheknowstheU.S.willnottakeatoughstance

“TheonlywaytostopIranissanctions—tough,cripplingsanctions,possiblythosereminiscentofJohnF.KennedyandhisCubanMissileCrisis.TheU.S.andEUhavetheabilitytocrushIran’seconomy,andwemusttakeadvantageofthat.”

WeDidn’tVoteforAppeasementMichaelRusso

PresidentObama

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underPresidentObama,andIsraelcanonlydosomuchonitsown.AmanwhodeniestheHolocaustandmirrorstheanti‐SemiticsentimentsofHitlercannotbetrustedandmustbestopped.TheonlywaytostopIranissanctions—tough,cripplingsanctions,possiblythosereminiscentofJohnF.KennedyandhisCubanMissileCrisis.TheU.S.andEUhavetheabilitytocrushIran’seconomy,andwemusttakeadvantageofthat.UntiltheU.S.canshowthatithasabackbone,itcannotmatchthepotentialalliancebetweenChina,Russia,andIran.AhmadinejadisgoingtorememberthatRussiaandChinahelpedhimout,justastheIranianpeoplearegoingtorememberhowtheU.S.forgotthem.ThekeyhereisthatwemustpreventIranfromexpandingtheirnuclearcapabilities.AsthesituationwithNorthKoreahasproved,onceanationhasnukesitwillnevergivethemup.Americamuststandforfreedomyetagainandmustbewillingtohelpallthosewhodesireit.ButIranismorethanthat—Irancouldhavetheabilitytokillhundredsofthousands,andpossiblymillions.Currently,westillhaveoptions.WestillhavethepowertoenforcepowerfulsanctionsonIran,orconductairstrikesontheirnuclearfacilities.Butoncetheyhavenukesthatcanfitonamissile,ouronlyoptionwillbebruteforce.

ThehysteriaoftheglobalwarmingArmageddonhasbeenescalatingwithincreasedmediaandpoliticalcoverage.TheIntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange(IPCC)warnstheworldthatifseriousmeasuresarenottakentomitigateanthropogenicclimatechange(whichisnotasscientificallyunanimousastheIPCCwouldlikeustobelieve),mankindwillbesubjectedtounimaginabledevastationrangingfromfaminestoepidemics.TheDemocraticPartyisusingthisinducedpanictopasslegislationthatwouldordinarilybeseenas

economicallypervasive.Oneofthemostcontroversialandwidelydiscussedproposalstoaddressglobalwarmingisthe“cap‐and‐trade”proposal.Throughthissystem,thegovernmentdictatesgreenhousegasemissionlevelsfromfossilfueluse,withanemphasisoncarbondioxide.Overagenerallyshortperiodoftime,the

governmentthenreducesthecarbonemissionsallottedtoeachindustry.Companiesthatemitlessenergythantheyarelegallyallowedareabletoselltheirexcessemissionstocompaniesthatwouldlike

“Becausethefederalgovernmentbothsetsandenforcesthelimits,therewouldbenocounter‐bureaucracyadvocatingfortheinterestsofthefreemarket.”

Cap­and­Trade:IsitReallyAbouttheEnvironment?OristhisawayforDemocratstoincreasethesizeofgovernment?AlissaOrlando

Rep.JohnBoehnerarguingagainstCap‐and‐TradeontheHousefloor

10toexceedtheirlegallyallowedcaps.Inadditiontohavingtopurchasetheexcesscarbon,companiesthatemitmorethantheirlegalamountwillfacestiffpenaltiesandfinesfromthegovernment.Theinevitableproblemsofthisproposalareobvious.Firstandforemost,everycompanythatusesfossilfuelswouldbeatthemercyofthefederalgovernment.Becausethefederalgovernmentbothsetsandenforcesthelimits,therewouldbenocounter‐bureaucracyadvocatingfortheinterestsofthefreemarket.Furthermore,thepriceofcarbonwouldexponentiallyincreasedueinlargeparttopricecompetition,andthispricespikewouldforcecompaniestomakedifficultsacrifices,suchasdecreasingproductionorcuttingjobs.Infact,theHeritageFoundationprojectsthatoneofthemorerecentlyproposedcap‐and‐tradeproposals,theWaxman‐Markeybill,wouldresultinGDPlossesofbetween1.7and4.8trilliondollarsandannualjoblossesbetween500,000and1,000,000before2030.Also,theaverageAmericanhouseholdwouldhavetopayanadditional467dollarseveryyearforthesameenergyproductwecurrentlyreceive.Advocatesofcap‐and‐tradereform,suchastheSierraClubandThomasFriedman,arguethesepolicieswillsavetheenvironment,buttheyfailtomentionthatoureconomywillbesacrificedintheprocess.ProminentRepublicansaretheoneswhoareattunedtothedangersofcap‐and‐trade.AsHouseMinorityLeaderJohnBoehnersaid,“’cap‐and‐trade’iscodeforincreasingtaxes,killingAmericanjobs,andraisingenergycostsforconsumers.Middle‐classfamiliesarestrugglingduringthisrecession,andthelastthingtheyneedisevenhighercostsoflivingandweakerjobsecurity,whichisexactlywhat‘cap‐and‐trade’woulddeliver.”AlthoughWaxman‐Markey,whichis1,400pageslong,managedtoscrapethroughtheHouseofRepresentatives,RepublicansintheSenatemustrecognizecap‐and‐tradeforwhatittrulyis.Awayforthegovernmenttoexpanditscontrolthroughdraconiantaxes.Awaytoforeverchangetheeconomy.Aflagrantinsulttoourfree‐marketvaluesandtheAmericandream.

Thesedays,collegecampusesboastofdiversityinallareas:socially,ethnically,and(mostimportantlyatGW)politically.Yetasaconservativeoncampus,Ihaveahardtimefindingthepoliticalbalancesovehementlyproclaimed.ThisismostevidentintherecentannouncementofMichelleObamaasthepossibleCommencement2010speaker,providingthestudentbodycomplete100,000hoursofcommunityservice.Tomygreatdisappointment,RepublicansoncampusdidlittletoexposethelackofdiversityhereatGWwhenitcomestoCommencementspeakersinthepastfewyears.LookingbackonrecentCommencementspeakers,itfrustratesmetoseeMichelleObama,RahmEmanuel,andJulianBondinbacktobackyears.ThesethreeleadersaresomeofthemostliberalintheDemocraticPartyandcanbeconsideredamongthemostpolarizingfiguresofourday.Giventhisinformation,IwascurioustoseewhatkindsofspeakersGWhas

entertainedinthepast20yearsandwheretheirpoliticsfellonthespectrum.Afterdoingsomeresearch,Idiscoveredthat15ofthepast20Commencementspeakerscanbeconsideredsubscribers

ofaliberalphilosophy–perhapsaconsequenceoftheworldofacademia–withthepasttwobeingamongthemostliberalpunditsinAmerica.OnlytwohavebeenmembersoftheArmedForces:GeneralJohnShalikashvili(2004)andGWalumniGeneralColinPowell(1990).Butneitherwereindividualheadliners;onlysuchprestigiousnamesasHillaryRodhamClinton(1994),MadelineAlbright(2000),JulianBond(2008),andDonnaEdnaShalala(1993)deservedthathonor.Whynotbringspeakerswhohaveachievedgreatthingsoutsideoftheuglyfieldofpoliticsandtheisolationofacademia?TherearehundredsofCEOsandCFOswithfarmoreinspiringmessagesthanWashington’selite;membersoftheprivatesectorwhoriskedtheirveryfinancialstabilitytoachievethe

CampusBiasReflectedinCommencementSpeakersCaitlinBlaney

“Whynotbringtrueheroes–thosewhohaveriskedtheirlivesforus,regardlessofourpoliticalloyalties–ratherthanthosewhohave‘survived’thedrudgeryofHarvardLaw?”

11greatestsuccessinthisdog‐eat‐dogCapitalistsystem.Whynotbringtrueheroes–thosewhohaveriskedtheirlivesforus,regardlessofourpoliticalloyalties–ratherthanthosewhohave“survived”thedrudgeryofHarvardLaw?WhileIunderstandthatthechosenspeakersarenotalwaysthefirstchoiceoftheCommencementCommittee,theirclearfavoritismtowardsliberalspeakersprovesthataconsciouseffortshouldbemadetospecificallyrecruitmoreconservativespeakers.Politicalrecordaside,GWshouldnotbringtheFirstLadytoCommencementsimplybasedonherphilosophytowardeducation.OnFebruary29,2008,theFirstLadygaveaspeechineconomically‐deadZanesville,OhiobemoaningtheburdenofherHarvarddebtanddiscouragingwomenfromentering“corporateAmerica.”Shesaid,“We[BarackandMichelle]leftcorporateAmerica,whichisalotofwhatwe’reaskingyoungpeopletodo.Don’tgointocorporateAmerica.Youknow,becometeachers.Workforthecommunity.Besocialworkers.Beanurse.Thosearethecareersthatweneed,andwe’reencouragingouryoungpeopletodothat.Butifyoumakethatchoice,aswedid,tomoveoutofthemoney‐makingindustryintothehelpingindustry,thenyoursalariesrespond.[Whenfacedwiththe

Articletwo,sectiontwooftheUnitedStatesConstitution:“ThePresidentshallbeCommanderinChiefoftheArmyandNavyoftheUnitedStates.”ItappearsPresidentObamamaynothavefullygraspedthatclause.Despitebeingintwowars,Obamasureseemstobeactingalotlikeapeacetimepresident.Withhealthcarereformintheworks,taxesontherise,amassivestimulus/spendingpackagepassed,the“closing”ofGitmo,givingmorespeechesthandaysinoffice,andhisattemptsto

intimidateFoxNews,PresidentObamahasdoneanexcellentjobattransforminghisdomesticagendaintodomesticpolicy.Butwhataboutforeignpolicy?WhataboutAmerica’snationalsecuritythreats?ItappearstobeabittoopeacefulintheWhiteHousewarroomdespiteincreasedviolenceinAfghanistan.

WhatHappenedtoOurCommanderinChief?SineadCasey

“AsObamacontinuestohurtoureconomy,thelivesofAmericanworkersandbusinessownerscontinuetogetharder.ButifObamadoesnotstepuponnationalsecurity,Americanlivescouldactuallybelost.”

prospectofalowersalary],manyofourbrightstarsaregoingintocorporatelaworhedge‐fundmanagement.”SpeakingassomeonewhoworkedveryhardtogetoutofOhio–astatewithanearly12%unemploymentrateandamediansalaryof$64,000–andwhoseparentshavesacrificedtokeepmeinschoolhere,Iresenthercomments.Iplanonmakingasix‐figuresalaryintheprivatesectoraftergraduation,andIamcertainlynotembarrassedofthat.Perhapsweshouldn’tentertainaspeakeratourgraduationthatsolamentsherowncollegeeducation.

RahmEmanuelastheGWCommencementspeakerJessicaMcConnell/GW

12TheLiberalMedia’sCrushonPresidentObamaAshleyColburn

Afewdaysago,IwassittingintheMarvinCentercafeteriawatchingCNN,theonlynewsnetworkGWwillshow.Duringthe“SituationRoom,”itwassaidthatsendingmoretroopsintoAfghanistanwouldbePresidentObama’s“toughestdecision.”Notethedoublestandardwhenitcomestowarandpolitics:DuringtheBushAdministration,themediaconstantlybombardedBush’sdecisioninitiateatroopsurgetoIraq,whichwasactuallyverysuccessful.Thereisalsoadoublestandardwhenitcomestotheeconomy.In1982,thecountryfacedarecessionsimilartotoday’seconomicsituation.ThemediaattackedRepublicanPresidentRonaldReaganandblamedhimforthehardtimesbycontinuallyairingfootageoffamiliessufferingandlivingoutoftheircars.Now,eventhoughunemploymentratesaresimilar,PresidentObamaconstantlygetspraisedfortheeconomicsituation,evenafterhismassivespendingbillshaveclearlyfailedusandwearestillfacingatougheconomicenvironment.NopresidentialcandidateinAmericanhistoryhassurpassedthemedia’sloveaffairwithBarackObama.TheNewYorkTimesrefusedtoallowSenatorJohnMcCaintowriteeditorials,whileitapprovedeightofObama’s.ThemediaeveninvestigatedvicepresidentialcandidateSarahPalin’sfamilyandfriends,butrefusedtoinvestigateObama’srelationshipwithBillAyers,anAmericanterroristwhocreatedObama’spoliticalcareer.FoxNewswastheonlystationtoallowadvertisementsrunbytheRNCaboutBillAyersandhisimportanceinObama’slife.Obama’srelationshipwithhispastorRev.Wrightwasnotlookedintoeither.RememberWrightwasthemanwhosaid,“GoddamnAmerica!”

WhymustMr.ObamaembracehisroleasawartimePresident?Letustakealookatwhat’satstake:NewYorkCity,Denver,Philadelphia,SpringfieldIllinois,andQuantico,Virginia–allprimetargetsofsuspectedradicalIslamicjihadists.TheextremistsbehindtheseplotswerealltrainedinornearAfghanistanbyalQaeda,andgainedaccesstotheUSbyposingasmembersofmoderateMuslimcommunities.Thedomesticfightagainstpotentialterroristsgoeshand‐in‐handwiththewarintheAfghanistan.Thepresidentmustbestrongonbothfronts.Failuretobreakdowntheseterroristnetworksathomeandabroadputsournationingreatdanger.AsObamacontinuestohurtoureconomy,thelivesofAmericanworkersandbusinessownerscontinuetogetharder.ButifObamadoesnotstepuponnationalsecurity,Americanlivescouldactuallybelost.Critics—liberals—donotfullyunderstandthisthreat.Theyclaimitispoliticallyincorrecttousetermslikejihadists,Islamicextremist,andWaronTerror—whentheyaresimplytermsthataccuratelydescribethesituation.Allthewhile,jihadistsinthiscountryandabroadgainthecapacitytoactontheirextremeanti‐AmericanismasourbravemenandwomenlosetheirlivestotheTalibansword—andourCommanderinChiefdabbleswithissuesofexecutivepay,Olympicgames,andmarijuanalaws.Inwartime,domesticissuesshouldnotbeputonthebackburner.Butwhenapresidentbecomesoverlyconcernedwithlobbyingforahealthcareplan(thatishanginginCongressionalpurgatory)insteadofactingontheadviceofhisleadingcommanderinAfghanistan,itisobviousthattheadministrationismoreselfishlyconcernedwithmakinghismarkonthedomesticfrontthanwinningthewar.Let’sfaceit:ourmenandwomeninuniformdonotneedhealthcarereformpassedbyyearsend,whichhasbeenanunnecessarytoppriorityfortheObamaadministration.Whattheyneedistheunwavering,unhesitatingsupportoftheirCommanderinChiefinthiscrucialtimeofwar.

“Whathappenedtotheideaofanunbiasedmedia?Whathappenedtoobjectivisminthemedia?Journailsmisobviouslyafielddominatedbyliberals,butwhymusttheylettheirideologiesinterferewiththeirwork?”

13Itsuremustbenicetoalwayshavethemediaonyourside.AmidstthehealthcaredebateinCongressthissummer,ABCrefusedtoairpaidRNCadvertisementsduringObama’sinfomercial‐stylehealthcarepresentation.Healthcare,whichisapressingissuefacingthecountrytoday,isconstantlyatargetoftheliberalmedia.AfterCongressmanJoeWilson’soutburstinSeptember,themediarelentlesslyattackedhimforhis“improper”behavior.ButwherewerethemediawhenCongressmanAlanGrayson,aDemocratfromFlorida,saidthattheRepublicanplanforhealthcarewasforpeopleto“diequickly,”andthatthecurrenthealthcaresituationisa“holocaust”?ThemediawerenotsocriticalofGrayson’sbehavior,yetJoeWilsonwasscorned.MainstreamnetworksareconstantlyattackingFoxNewswhiletheWhiteHousewebsitealwayswritesaboutits“lies.”Butthereshouldn’tevenbeaneedforanassaultbetweenthepresses.Whathappenedtotheideaofanunbiasedmedia?Whathappenedtoobjectivisminthemedia?Journailsm

isobviouslyafielddominatedbyliberals,butwhymusttheylettheirideologiesinterferewiththeirwork?Agoodexampleoftheliberalmedia’sattitudetowardsconservativesisrepresentedintheopinionofCNN’sJackCafferty.InSeptember,hepraisedThomasFriedman’sclaimthatthereis“somethingverydangeroushappening”inAmericanpoliticswhenconservativesaregainingalargeramountofsupportersandvoters.CaffertywentontosaythatFriedmanis“right”andthatAmericans“shouldbeworriedaboutwhat’shappeningtoAmericanpolitics.”QuiteFrankly,IammoreworriedaboutwhatishappeningtotheAmericamedia.Themediaaremeanttobeawatchdog.Theyneedtoasktough,unbiasedquestionsandinformthepublicaboutwhatisreallygoingoninAmerica.Butthemediahavebeenincreasinglyshiftingleft,whiledistortingtheconservativemessagetodiscreditRepublicans.ThemainstreammediahavefailedAmerica.

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InterestedinwritingfortheCRMonthly?

Wearelookingforopinionwriterstohelppromotetheconservativemessageoncampus.Ifyouareinterested,pleaseemailPublicationsDirectorCynthiaMeyeratCynthia@GWrepublicans.org.

AgroupofCollegeRepublicansinfrontoftheMcDonnellcampaignheadquartersinLynchburg,VA