RNC Chairman Gillespie Rocks the Vote on MTV

SeaMax News ^ | 3/26/2004 | SeaMax Staff

[Hugenot]

In a major push to register three million new voters this year, Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie reached out to the MTV generation in Times Square, New York yesterday.

Sponsoring a voter registration drive on MTV's popular TRL (Total Request Live) show, Ed Gillespie spoke to MTV news correspondent Sway with a large crowd of Bush supporters under a banner that proclaimed, "It rocks to register Republican."

NewsMax interns Kristen Billera, Brendan Lantry, Gregory Mangia, and Kara Scandaglia had an opportunity to speak with the Chairman about several issues.

Brendan Lantry: A lot of effort is being made by both sides to attain the youth vote. Why should the youth of America vote Republican in this election?

"I believe that the youth will vote for the Republican Party because the President fostered economic growth while lowering health care costs. Senator Kerry will not foster economic growth," Chairman Gillespie replied.

He added that, "Young voters will benefit from Bush's leadership and they feel secure because of the war on terror, especially in New York."

Kara Scandaglia: The Republican Party has been reaching out to Catholics. Why do you think they will be attracted to the Republican Party?

"Republicans hit specifics that align with Catholic tradition," Gillespie responded. He pointed out that two-thirds of the voters oppose gay marriage and the Catholics would register even greater opposition. He noted that Kerry was one of only 14 Senators to vote against the Defense of Marriage Act and also opposed the partial birth abortion ban.

Gregory Mangia: How do you feel about Republicans or Republican politicians who are not pro-life like our party?

"Our stand on the position of pro-life does not make us either a Republican or a Democrat. Ronald Reagan once said, 'Someone who agrees with me 90% of the time is my friend.'"

Kristen Billera: Earlier this year it seemed that the Democrats had no chance of taking the Senate. This seems to have changed. How do you feel about this?

"I'm very optimistic that Republicans will increase their majority in this election," Chairman Gillespie replied. Of the ten competitive races this year, Democrats need to win eight to re-capture the Senate, while Republicans only need to win four to maintain control.

After the interview, Mr. Gillespie moved through the crowd with ease in what seemed more like a rock concert than a political rally. More importantly, Chairman Gillespie is sending a strong signal that John Kerry can't call any state "safe."

[jocon307]

Great post, very encouraging. Leave no stone unlobbied, I like it!

[GraniteStateConservative]

Why should the youth of America vote Republican in this election? "I believe that the youth will vote for the Republican Party because the President fostered economic growth while lowering health care costs. Senator Kerry will not foster economic growth," Chairman Gillespie replied.

That is a lame response if it's intended for youth consumption. I hope he answered the question better on MTV.

[Coop]

Well, it's better than the infamous "boxers" reply.

[GraniteStateConservative]

Well, do you agree with me? Don't you think it's a lame answer for youth consumption?

[NC28203]

Nice to see the RNC hanging out with the same people that brought us last month's wardrobe malfunction.

[TheBigB]

He shoulda said, "Pull your damn pants up, turn your hat around, and get a haircut."

"And that goes for you guys, too..."

[KellyAdmirer]

I think younger voters are more receptive to this line than perhaps we might think. Young folks starting out want growth = jobs and opportunity, and tend to resent health care costs which tend to favor the senior citizens at their expense (they also can resent social security deductions, but that's another story).

I think, from this article, that he did a good job, but opinions can differ on that. Now, it would have been lame if he tried to act "cool" and pander to them in specific terms, that might work for Democrats, but nobody is going to be fooled with that from a top Republican.

[skeeter]

Agreed. Its best to stay away from the issue of health care when addressing the youth vote.

At least he didn't talk about prescription drugs.

[twigs]

I hope this is true. A fellow student came into the room where my daughter was sitting between classes at her college and asked who people were going to vote for. She was the only one who said Pres. Bush and he was surprised that he found one person who was going to do so. He told her that he had found a number of students who liked him as a person but wouldn't vote for him.

[The_Outlaw_Josey_Wales]

If you'll remember, MTV was a huge supporter of the so-called "Motor Voter" law. Unfortunately, the electoral process is not enhanced by voters who have to be pleaded with and herded into voting booths like cattle into box cars. Of course, the chances of electing big-spending, promise-'em-everything liberal politicians is enhanced by the participation of such voters, which undoubtedly explains the zeal with which the Clinton Administration and congressional leftists worked to give us motor-voter monstrosity. Thankfully, motor-voter hasn't been as effective as the left would have liked. Thank God for small blessings.

[hobbes1]

Don't tell me that he did not hit up SSI privatization...... : (

[JohnnyZ]

Gillespie should have said, "Nowadays, Kerry acts like he's got somethin' to say. But nothin comes out when he moves his lips, just a bunch of jibberish 'cause he's just a hater these days."

[cwb]

I hate to say this, but the Republican Party has got to take a page from the Dems book and start playing the class-card. They need to appeal to the youth in the same way that Dems appeal to the Seniors. That doesn't mean they have to lie, but they have to make it clear that if Dems get control, all that money they are paying into Social Security will be gone if Democrats get their way.

They have to make it clear, that while they may only be college students today, tomorrow they will be the small business owners and entrepreneurs...but the only way they can realize those dreams, is if there is a fair tax policy that doesn't punish the most productive...and allows for more easy, social mobility. The Democrats, "tax the rich" plans do just the opposite. Republicans must appeal to their futures.

[SpinyNorman]

He added that, "Young voters will benefit from Bush's leadership and they feel secure because of the war on terror, especially in New York."

A Democrat led the terrorists to the U.S., but a Republican took the fight back to them. And freed the Iraqi and Afghan peoples as well."

"I feel safer knowing that Libya surrendered all of its WMDs under President Bush's watch!" (I just love to throw that line back at the libs...)