College Republicans: alive and kicking (ass)

I must offer my deepest apologies to Eve Samborn and the rest of the liberals on campus who are apparently bemoaning the purported “absence” of the College Republicans from the campus political scene. As president of the group, I take full responsibility for putting you through such agony. I must also thank Miss Samborn because I admittedly have not been as prolific when it comes to indignant Student Life columns as I normally like to be, but her mistaken obituary from Friday’s issue entitled “R.I.P. College Republicans” has provided me with great fodder about which I can express my indignation!

As absolutely thrilling as the Take a Stand Rally must have been, we felt that our time as a group was better spent doing something actually meaningful, rather than standing behind a table while students walk by and snicker at us. And I would really love it if someone would explain to me how the Democrats’ activity of making Obama-themed T-shirts qualifies as “substantive.” Finally, I would like to know why the fact that we staffed a table during the voter registration drive on Sept. 18 does not constitute a “serious attempt” at voter registration.

Now onto that list of events that Miss Samborn so accurately predicted I would compile. On Monday Sept. 22, we are co-hosting an event with the College Democrats about the importance of voting. Then on Thursday Sept. 25, we are participating in a mock vice presidential debate with the College Democrats, sponsored by the Roosevelt Institution. To satisfy your desire for a major conservative speaker, along with the Washington University Student Investment Fund, Delta Sigma Pi and Theta Xi fraternities we will be bringing Ben Stein to campus on Oct. 1. This event’s SU funding is in the final stages of approval and would have been finalized sooner had it not been for the Assembly Series backing out of initial plans to host both a liberal and conservative pundit. On Oct. 7 we are participating in a panel discussion on the foreign policy positions of McCain and Obama with the College Democrats and the International Leadership Program. And you can plan on seeing more of us as we approach the general election. I hope these events have enough substance for those who were concerned about our absence.

As much as liberals on campus would like to believe it, Republicans are not disenchanted with their party. The way Samborn’s article makes it sound, you’d think John McCain is losing by 20 points. I guess it’s just wishful thinking, because the two candidates are effectively in a dead heat. And the vast majority of Republicans are in fact very excited about supporting John McCain, because he has a track record of actual accomplishments. He has worked across the aisle on numerous occasions including McCain-Feingold, McCain-Lieberman and as leader of the Gang of 14.

Contrast this with Obama: I have yet to hear any Obama supporter, whether student, pundit or campaign manager, give just one example of a major accomplishment of his, one example of an occasion when he worked with Republicans to author meaningful legislation. And I’m sorry Sarah Palin is so threatening to you. Maybe it’s because of the fact that she actually does appeal to a large portion of Americans; she is on the same side as the majority of the American public on the issues of abortion, gun control and gay marriage. Or maybe it’s because she, like McCain, doesn’t just talk about change, but actually makes it happen. She rooted out corruption in the Alaska Conservation Commission, which regulates oil and gas in the state, and she initiated the plans for a natural gas pipeline, the largest private-sector infrastructure project in North American history. These are the types of projects we need to achieve energy independence; hoping for change does nothing.

In case you didn’t notice, the hypocrisy of Miss Samborn’s article is mind-blowing. She decries the “cheap jabs” at Obama during the Republican National Convention, yet feels compelled to say that John McCain is too busy counting his houses to worry about the economy. How clever! Someone needs to stop using Keith Olbermann’s talking points.

Actually, John McCain called for the reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac two years ago. Obama, on the other hand, was the second largest recipient of campaign donations from Fannie and Freddie. I also have to wonder if Miss Samborn, or any other liberal on this campus for that matter, has ever actually looked at McCain’s energy plan. Drilling is only one component of his multifaceted plan that includes every other source of energy you could think of: nuclear, natural gas, clean coal—you name it. And a plan that doesn’t include drilling is naïve in the extreme. We cannot expect to instantly transition from oil to some alternative, and McCain is well-aware of this reality.

I know how much you hoped that the College Republicans had disappeared this election season, so I’m very sorry to disappoint you. Contrary to what Obama supporters might believe, hoping for something does not actually make it so. I thus urge you to keep hoping for a victory in November—we’ll be working to disappoint you again.