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My Open Exchange With a Conservative Spokesman ...before he threw me out of his conference.
Campus Progress: an project of Center for American Progress ^ | August 1, 2006 | Conor Clarke

Posted on 08/06/2006 9:40:39 PM PDT by TexCon

When Roger Custer of Young America’s Foundation took to the stage and opened the 2006 Conservative Student Conference, the first thing he explained was why the gathering was necessary. “It’s a shame you have to be here,” he told the 300-odd students in attendance, but liberals’ campus stranglehold leaves YAF with no choice. The left, he continued, “has never been for open debate or discussion.” Instead, it shuts out conservative speakers and, when necessary, engages in name-calling and physical harassment. But confront liberals with arguments and ideas, Custer claimed, “and you’ll win every time.”

The speech was, at root, a paean to the marketplace of ideas—a marketplace that, by Custer’s lights, needed to be wrested away from the odious Left and restored to glorious openness. And it took exactly three hours and 47 minutes to expose this rhetoric for what it actually was: bullshit. I went to the conference, as a reporter for The Washington Monthly, to engage with conservative ideas and continue the research on college organizing that I had been doing all summer. I also agreed to blog on the event for campusprogress.org. But it was not to be. Two events and three posts after Custer’s opening remarks, I was approached by YAF’s spokesman, Jason Mattera, on my way to see Newt Gingrich. “Who do you work for?” Mattera demanded, with a touch of petulance. “The Washington Monthly,” I told him. “Are you writing for anyone else?” “I’m blogging for Campus Progress.”

And that did the trick. “There’s the elevator,” Mattera pointed. “I can have one of my interns push the down button.” But it didn’t end there. What happened to the vaunted marketplace of ideas, I asked. The openness and exchange?

You don’t get the sense, talking to Mattera, that he’s really an “ideas” guy. In fact, like a teenager who lords over his little brother, he seems to revel in power for its own sake—blissfully uninterested in arguments, and completely at ease with force. Indeed, the first justification that escaped Mattera’s lips was this: “Because I said so.” Following hot on the heels of hours of speeches in which conservatives insisted, repeatedly and emphatically, that they have the arguments and ideas to knock collegiate liberalism flat, this gem was delivered without the slightest hint of irony. It didn’t seem to occur to Mattera that “Because I said so” isn’t an especially good argument—or that, in fact, it’s not really an argument at all. (But this is not the first time Mattera has excluded reporters from the YAF conference. When a CampusProgress.org reporter, Julie Siegel, requested press credentials to cover it Mattera denied her, and said he would deny The Nation—the oldest weekly magazine in the country—as well.)

And then, like a thunderbolt, Mattera comes up with this: “You misrepresented yourself.” Hmmm, really? When? Could it have been when I originally asked for press credentials? No: I was, and am, reporting for The Washington Monthly. (Mattera knows and doesn’t deny this: I interviewed him three weeks ago.) So was it when Campus Progress asked me to blog? If so, Mattera would have to insist that any journalist who works for one publication but writes for several is required to give a running disclosure of all future work possibilities. And if that’s the case—if Mattera has stumbled upon some brave new world of journalistic ethics—he would do well to inform the thousands upon thousands of freelance journalists presently at work in the country.

Mattera, however, lacks the courage of those convictions. How should YAF respond, I asked him, if I were reporting for The Monthly and blogging for The National Review? The point of the thought experiment never seems to connect, because Mattera’s response is once again glib and irony-free. “You know what?” he says. “If you were with The National Review, I’d get you a seat right up front and have one of my interns give you a nice massage, and grab you a cup of Sunkist.” (Just who are these interns, forced to fetch drinks, push elevator buttons and give massages?) On Mattera’s intellectual horizon, however, the contradiction never dawns. So is the closeout ideological? “Sure, whatever,” he says.

Some people might call that censorship. And so, it turns out, would Mattera. “Alright,” he admits with a laugh. “It’s censorship.”

Well that settles that. (Unless, of course, Mattera denies everything he said, as he implied he would during our conversation.)

But if there’s a group that should be worried about Mattera’s startling lack of intellectual seriousness, it’s young conservatives. In my brief time at the conference, I had discussions—thoughtful discussions—about everything from taxation to military service. There was much that the conference-goers and I agreed on, but agreement was never the point: I like having my views criticized; it makes them stronger.

And I am perfectly happy to engage with smart, serious conservatives—just as most are perfectly happy to engage with me. But unless arguments and ideas are just window-dressing for cutthroat politics, Mattera should be an embarrassment to his movement.

(In fact, I’m not sure Mattera would have been excited to see at the conference National Review associate editor Alston Ramsey, who has strongly criticized Mattera for blocking Campus Progress from covering it.)

So if there’s a lesson to be learned from the conference, it’s that YAF just can’t stand criticism. For two years running, Campus Progress has opened the doors of its national student conference to reporters of all stripes, including the National Review and Human Events, both publications to which Jason Mattera contributes. But in the end, none of that matters. YAF pays lip service to free exchange, but it’s nothing more than a thin veneer for close-mindedness.

For Mattera, alas, hypocrisy isn’t enough. “I would give you my business card,” he quips as I turn to leave. “But you would probably just hit on me.” I look back, baffled. “Oh come on,” he says with a faux-apologetic grin. “What you liberals need is a sense of humor.”

Oh, of course. Ha-Ha-Ha. Forgive my PC brain for forgetting the timeless humor of homophobia. And maybe, in exchange, I’ll forgive Jason his intellectual cowardice. We can call it even.

Conor Clarke is a senior at Amherst and a summer 2006 intern with The Washington Monthly. His writing has appeared in Alternet and Slate.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: americanprogress; campusprogress; college; conference; conservatism; jason; mattera; ncsc; soros; yaf; youth
There are still countless comments on the url page. I just returned from the amazing, week-long conference having been a member of YAF for over three years now. I'm heading off to the University of Chicago this fall and am grateful knowing I have organizations like YAF and Horowitz's Students for Academic Freedom to provide me with essential help in fighting the antics of the left on campus. Jason is a sharp leader of the conservative youth movement. Most likely this kid took some of his comments out of context. YAF has had plenty of run-in's with Soros' Campus Progress group, which was created upon discovering the inroads YAf had been making on college campuses. There were countless reporters from various backgrounds at the conference; from NPR, to freelancing, to the National Review, everyone was welcomed with opened arms. Campus Progress has been looking for the smallest thing to use against YAF for the longest time; the organization must be on their guard against Campus Progress using information at the conference against us or during the school year to counter our efforts. I love one of the comments left in response to the ludicrous ones: "First, I was a YAFFER when I went to school (_03 grad). I attended the conferences and even helped to bring speakers to my school.

At my uni, there was no diversity (of thought). Well over 80% of the professors were Dems (stat taken from anonymous poll). YAF enabled us to bring in diverse speakers to add to campus debate, always a good thing. This isn_t a bullying organization. Many leftists protested YAF speakers on our campus, many times shouting them down and at the very least acting disrespectful. On several occasions we had tables of literature overturned and signs spray painted with graffiti. We actually had to hire security to protect our events. You tell me who the bully is.

With that said, I did enlist in the Marine Corps and have been to Iraq and back with a purple heart to boot. I can_t get over this nonsense that if you believe in the war you should be forced to fight in it. Combat is not for everybody and we are an all volunteer force. I also have several friends with college degrees who have enlisted. This argument is very misguided.

I see things through a different prism than many of you, but if I ever hold a conference you are all invited no matter what organization you register with." For futher information about YAF look up www.yaf.org.

1 posted on 08/06/2006 9:40:42 PM PDT by TexCon
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To: Huber; TaxRelief

Ping


2 posted on 08/06/2006 9:41:22 PM PDT by TexCon ("Strike while the iron is hot, and make it hotter by striking"-Oliver Cromwell)
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To: TexCon
Following hot on the heels of hours of speeches in which conservatives insisted, repeatedly and emphatically, that they have the arguments and ideas to knock collegiate liberalism flat, this gem was delivered without the slightest hint of irony. It didn’t seem to occur to Mattera that “Because I said so” isn’t an especially good argument

Agreed. Now tell that to Noam Chomsky, Katrina Vanden Heuvel, Ted Kennedy, Michael Moore, Hillary Clinton, Bill Maher,John Kerry and the editorial board of the New York Times.

3 posted on 08/06/2006 9:45:34 PM PDT by Darkwolf377 (http://www.dansimmons.com/news/message/2006_04.htm)
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To: TexCon

CAP- Hillary, Soros, Shadow Party/Government


4 posted on 08/06/2006 9:46:25 PM PDT by GeronL (http://www.mises.org/story/1975 <--no such thing as a fairtax)
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To: TexCon

It was a called the 2006 Conservative Student Conference.

It was not about a debate of liberal vs. conservative.

Their party, they can invite whoever they'd like.


5 posted on 08/06/2006 9:48:26 PM PDT by weegee (Remember "Remember the Maine"? Well in the current war "Remember the Baby Milk Factory")
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To: TexCon
Thank you for your service to our country. You are loved and greatly appreciated by millions of Americans you will never meet.

Thank you also for fighting the enemy within here at home. You give me renewed hope in the future of our country.

6 posted on 08/06/2006 9:51:03 PM PDT by Just A Nobody (NEVER AGAIN..Support our Troops! www.irey.com and www.vets4Irey.com - Now more than Ever!)
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To: weegee

Another East Coast preppie brightboy heard from. How tedious they are.


7 posted on 08/06/2006 9:52:18 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard
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To: weegee

Yea I know. Everyone was invited, but due to the already touchy situation with Campus Progress, I understand Jason's actions even if this guy exaggerated them. He was right to get him out of there. That guy was looking for trouble. He'd find it one way or another.


8 posted on 08/06/2006 9:52:49 PM PDT by TexCon ("Strike while the iron is hot, and make it hotter by striking"-Oliver Cromwell)
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To: Just A Nobody

You're probably referring to the comment left by the other member of YAF, which I quoted. I'll try to figure out who it is so he can see your kind words. I as well though will be participating in OCS and after law school serve in the military. It's something that I've wanted to do my entire life. I'll fight tyranny on college campuses for these next years and then will take up arms to fight tyranny abroad. My entire family has served the military in one way or another. Thanks for your support.


9 posted on 08/06/2006 9:56:06 PM PDT by TexCon ("Strike while the iron is hot, and make it hotter by striking"-Oliver Cromwell)
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To: TexCon

There's no more to discuss with a "progressive" than there is with a jihadi. You can't change the mind of a fanatic and it is a waste of time to try.


10 posted on 08/06/2006 9:58:08 PM PDT by thoughtomator (The worst thing about censorship is XXXXXXXXXXXXX)
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To: TexCon

Har! It's getting tougher than ever for me to put up with the piss-poor writing skills of these "Daily Collegian" mice! Clarke's piece is a typical, rambling blatherfest of righteous indignation.

Anyways, I followed this thing along for a few paragraphs before I got bored with the redundancy and whininess, but I think I got the gist. Bottom line: This bunghole Clarke wasn't in attendance to debate ideas, and certainly not to report anything fairly. He/she/it was there to cause mischief and in all likelihood, given a long history of brazen lying by liberals, to lie about the conference for the juvenile titillation of the twenty people or so who frequent this "Campus Progress" blog.

Big deal. What a snore. I would have thrown him out, too.


11 posted on 08/06/2006 10:00:42 PM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: Lancey Howard

I agree! He says he was there for three or so hours and was on his way to see Newt. This means he was there at the middle of the day, where we're seeing back-to-back speakers and other than saying a quick line to your neighbor, you don't have time to engage in any serious dialogue with anyone. He was definitely trouble.


12 posted on 08/06/2006 10:10:55 PM PDT by TexCon ("Strike while the iron is hot, and make it hotter by striking"-Oliver Cromwell)
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To: TexCon

Oooops, sorry. I thought post #1 was your story. It looks like I didn't mistake my praise or support though. Keep up the good work.


13 posted on 08/06/2006 10:12:26 PM PDT by Just A Nobody (NEVER AGAIN..Support our Troops! www.irey.com and www.vets4Irey.com - Now more than Ever!)
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To: weegee

My thoughts exactly. A conference for persons in your organization is NOT where anyone wishes to engage in "debate". You go to one of these to meet with other like minded people, not to find someone to argue with.

This idiot was obviously "fishing" for a reason to get booted from the conference. Conservatives have many other venues where "the free exchange of ideas" is welcomed--not at their national conference, however.


14 posted on 08/06/2006 10:44:43 PM PDT by singfreedom ("Victory at all costs,.......for without victory there is no survival."--Churchill--that's "Winston")
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To: TexCon

Of course. The "reporter" was a mole for this Campus Progress (I shiver when I type this name. It sounds so "red". No pretenses here!) thing.


15 posted on 08/06/2006 10:54:02 PM PDT by singfreedom ("Victory at all costs,.......for without victory there is no survival."--Churchill--that's "Winston")
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To: TexCon
That guy was looking for trouble. He'd find it one way or another.

Not only that but they distort the truth.
16 posted on 08/06/2006 11:06:37 PM PDT by garylmoore (Faith is the assurance of things unseen.)
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To: TexCon

IMO, Jason Mattera sounds like a dipsh!t. Guys like him don't do us, Conservatives, any favors with their actions.


17 posted on 08/07/2006 5:39:00 AM PDT by Khurkris (Things look different from over here.)
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To: Khurkris

Jason Mattera is a good, competent person. The blog author is hypersensitive, and was in tears when he was told to leave. Like many weak people, he came under false pretences and attempted to disrupt a gathering of conservative youth.

The YAF conference is a brief respite for conservative youth. It is THE ONE TIME A YEAR when they can safely ESCAPE socialists and sex activists. Apparently the left thinks these kids are not entitled to a break from the socialists' constant bombardment of leftist nonsense.

Do you not think conservative kids are entitled to an annual retreat?


18 posted on 08/07/2006 1:34:38 PM PDT by TaxRelief (Wal-Mart: Keeping my family on-budget since 1993.)
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To: TaxRelief
I am glad to hear your assurances re:Mr. Mattera. I have no doubts about the "hypersensitivity" of the blogger in this case. I am fully aware that many of those on the other side of the aisle voraciously seek out opportunities to be insulted - real or not. And I agree that he may well have been at the conference for reasons other than he stated. Perhaps disruption, perhaps to seek every chance to paint the proceedings in a less than favorable light.
I do feel that this person, the blogger, should have been dealt with in a different, and possibly more creative and less overtly aggressive, manner.
It is this that prompted my comments on Mr. Matteras' actions.

"Do you not think conservative kids are entitled to an annual retreat?"

This question is irrelevant to my comment.

19 posted on 08/07/2006 4:07:21 PM PDT by Khurkris (When the levee breaks there'll be no place to hide.)
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