“One lesson learned, but one still remains…”

By: David

From: DeSoto, TX 

In the 2008 election, Presidential Candidate Barack Obama targeted a demographic that most candidates fail to even attempt to mobilize: the 18-24 year olds…the “Millenials” (one of the many names for the newest generation to come of political age, of which I am a part). He utilized social media in a way that was far superior to his opponents, both Democrat and Republican alike. He also targeted college students in a way that Sen. John McCain didn’t and almost couldn’t- Obama met with them were they were.

At the time of the 2008 campaign, I was still in school at Texas State University- San Marcos, TX. Now, in Texas, if your university doesn’t have sports that dominate ESPN headlines, you really don’t receive much attention from the media, or anyone really. However, here’s the deal: Texas State students and alumni are proud of our school. It has a current enrollment of 34,000+ students, has a fairly decent athletic program, has great academics, and has a river on our campus. We love our school to say the least, but most of the state and nation laugh and say it’s a liberal/party school and ignore it (despite the fact that President Lyndon Baines Johnson was an alumni). So imagine the surprise that shook the campus when Barack Obama came to speak at our school, in our park, and at our river. Many of my friends loved what he had to say, but a good many just had too many questions and were not swayed by the man’s charisma and vision. None of the doubts, questions, or swayed votes from that night negated the single most important aspect from it: the candidate became a person to us, he related to us, and he came and met with us to mobilize us to his cause.

Let’s be very clear, I did not vote for President Obama. I liked certain things that he said, but I saw that the media built him into a giant, when really he just had a giant voice with some hopes of his own. Nevertheless, his strategy worked. He used social media better than anyone (see Kelsey’s blog “Meet Our Newest Member” for a discussion on social media) and he went to them. Did the Republicans learn some lessons? Oh yes indeed.

Twitter has become a battlefield for the GOP candidates this year. Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich, and Jon Huntsman have all gone and addressed university campuses at some point. Unfortunately, they have yet to see major movement in the much needed vote of the 18-24 yr olds. For anyone arguing that university students are just liberals that don’t do anything, I would challenge you with two points: look at Ron Paul and look at the Christians. Ron Paul has brought in the age group of 18-30 unlike any candidate besides President Obama. He’s a staunch constitutionalist, pro-marijuana, and anti-war. Many conservatives believe in being constitution centered. Many in that age group are against the war on drugs. A great many (both service members and civilians) want our troops out of foreign conflicts. While I’m not endorsing Ron Paul (and don’t necessarily agree with much of his agenda), I acknowledge what is happening. To my second point of looking to the college Christians, I don’t say that in order to promote the faith, I say it to look at the facts. As a recent graduate, I was active in college ministry and participated in community service projects yearly. A massive portion of the ministries went on international mission trips to serve the world. A great example of this type of movement in college Christians is the Passion Conferences, specifically the most recent conference in Atlanta in which the 42,000 students gave millions of dollars to fight modern day slavery at home and abroad ( http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/05/college-kids-vow-to-end-slavery/  ). This actually coincides with President Obama proclaiming that January is the National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.   To compound this point, there are movements like Invisible Children, A21, and countless others that college students and many college Christians are latching onto.

So from one millennial to the Republican candidates, please pay attention to my generation. We are active, we are moving, and we very much so care about our country and our world. All of us hate where our economy is because we graduate college and find that the jobs that were promised aren’t there. You got the lesson right from President Obama and are taking social media seriously- and we like that. We like that you keep trying to identify with the American people. You’ve got to utilize the evangelical vote again and if you can’t get the college Christians that care passionately about the nation and world, you won’t get a vote you need. However, Rick Perry, stop producing videos like “Stronger”. It’s not going to win you the votes that you so desperately need. To all of the GOP candidates, please go to the universities. I want you to win this race…but go meet with the students and the recent graduates and help them understand how you’re going to create jobs that they can have when they graduate so they don’t move back in with their parents and work at a Starbucks.

If you can show them that you don’t think they’re kids and show them that you know they care about the state of our country, you’ll get them. Mobilize my generation; we’ll help you make our country healthier. I promise.

Herman Cain Scandal

By: Andrew
From: Dallas


The accusations against Herman Cain have dominated the headlines this week. First two, and now a third, women have come forward accusing Mr. Cain of sexual harassment during his tenure as CEO of the National Restaurant Association. These accusations, first reported by Politico, have developed into a firestorm and have completely enveloped the Cain campaign. Every appearance Mr. Cain has made this week has been overshadowed by these accusations and rumors.


The Cain campaign has compounded the effect of these rumors by fumbling their response. At first, Mr. Cain claimed he had no knowledge of the accusations. Then he acknowledged them but claimed to not have known about financial settlements (as reported by Politico). He then made the rounds on cable (meaning Fox News) and tried to explain away his “gestures”. This circular explanation has left more questions than answers.


There are two issues here that need to be addressed without expressing support or disdain of Mr. Cain. First, the original Politico article (found here), and the subsequent feeding frenzy of other networks citing the Politico article are based, solely on anonymous reports and he said/she said speculation. What happened to true journalism? What happened to not publishing speculation and giving concrete sources for accusations? Our internet and 24/7 news age has left a lot to be desired in terms of credible news sources.


For Politico to cite their sources as “including the recollections of close associates and other documentation” is absurd. Sources that are “closely familiar with Cain’s tenure in Washington” are not sufficient to base such damning allegations against a front-running Presidential nominee. Worse still are the networks that followed by stating explicitly, as NBC’s Matt Lauer did, that these reports have “not be independently confirmed” and then report them as fact is offensive to our intelligence and an indictment of the credibility of our national media. It is understandable that networks are in a fiercely competitive market and cannot wait to report breaking news, but when personal indictments are made, shouldn’t a little time be taken to ensure that they aren’t completely false?


The second issue is that of Mr. Cain’s response. Why are candidates for elected office encased in such a protective bubble by their campaigns and parties that they cannot grasp the simple idea of stating the truth from day one and moving on? The Cain campaign has made a mess of this story; their non-explanations have done nothing more than fuel the fire and given the media sharks more incentive to put them to the fire. This is coupled by the saint-like attitude taken by the national party towards their nominees. RNC Chair Reince Priebus was border-line offended by the notion that the national party should take an active role in investigating these reports. In his opinion, the RNC does not need to be “Sherlock Holmes” and shouldn’t get involved in these types of scandals. So as Republicans, how can we expect to beat Obama if we can’t trust the integrity of either our candidates or our national party?

Leslie on the Armstrong and Getty Show on 910 AM, San Francisco, CA. (October 20, 2011)

Meet Our Newest Member

By: Kelsey

From: St. Louis, Missouri

I am very excited to be working for the Magnolia Group in Dallas, Texas.  I graduated college in May, 2011, from the University of Missouri.  I enjoyed working in the Missouri State Capitol while I was in college, but I wanted to get to Texas as quickly as possible.  Texas Politics is a whole new world and I am excited to get involved.  There is a lot to learn about the political culture even in a place like Texas where there is a broad consensus about the core values and ideals. 

During college, I worked hard to get other students involved in our community.  I was involved in College Republicans, and numerous political campaigns, debates, community events and forums.  I believe that community involvement is an integral part of our society.  Community involvement is important because everyone should have a voice in making decisions that will affect their lives.  Also, when you get involved in your community you are helping to make important decisions that can be vital to your future.  Your opinions and involvement could make a major impact on the future development of your community. 

Now, in the age of social media, we have an outlet to collect the information we want and use it to learn and influence our peers.  Millienials are the largest demographic, so we need to target those 18-24 year olds who are using New Media.  I think it is very important for students to be informed about what our representatives are doing in Washington.  I want to help promote social media campaigns for young republicans, so that they can campaign and influence their peers.   I feel this is a great way for young people to get involved and voice their opinions. 

I believe that it is great for people of all ages to post public stories, and opinions using social media outlets.  Social media in general provides amazing targeting abilities and helps candidates specifically reach people who will help spread the message.   Candidates need to use web and social media tools to connect to their followers and organized their campaigns. 

Candidates are starting to see more and more people turn to Facebook for information instead of a candidate’s website.  Have your political views changed due to social media?  Do political candidates need an online presence to be successful?

Newt Gingrich - Still A Contender?

By: Arthur M.

From: New Hampshire

Current SMU Student

The great wordsmith Yogi Berra once said “It ain’t over till it’s over,” and if I didn’t know any better I might think he was talking about the 2012 GOP Presidential Primary. With five months left until the Iowa Caucus and the New Hampshire Primary this campaign has seen more drama than regular programming on The Oxygen Channel, and more upsets than President Obama’s economic policies.

Rick Perry’s rapid materialization as the front runner following the announcement of his candidacy for President had many experts believing that Republicans were finally coalescing behind a leader who could effectively unite the Tea Party and the party establishment. However the Governor’s dismal performance at the Fox News Google Debate left the conservative base feeling the same way that many Texas conservatives felt in the Texas Gubernatorial Primary last year; that Rick Perry is just not the right man for the job. Ultimately Perry did manage to win his party’s nomination and was re-elected as governor in the general election, so we’ll see if Perry skills as a politician will pull through for him this time around. The only key element of this race that has been relatively consistent is Mitt Romney’s status as a top tier candidate, which just goes to show you the importance of looking aesthetically “Presidential” seeing as that Romney’s resume as a conservative is substance-free and paper thin.

              

Since both of the apparent front runners are seemingly all hat and no cattle (throw in a pair of gator skin boots for Rick Perry) a vacuum exists that two candidates in particular have done a good job of filling in recent days. Those two candidates are former God Father’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. For now though let’s divert our attention from the Pizza Man and his 9-9-9 Plan and focus on Newt. A few months ago the “experts” had all but counted Newt Gingrich out due to his unfortunate remarks about The Paul Ryan Plan. But the fact of the matter is that Gingrich has performed extremely well in the most recent debates. While most of the other candidates have resorted to showmanship, Gingrich has kept it positive and has articulated a substantive message that is resonating with Republicans nationwide. According to pollsters, such as Gallop, the former Speaker has surged from the bottom and is now in a two way tie for third place with Herman Cain, making him a top-tier candidate.

What Newt Gingrich’s recent surge in the polls shows is that substance really does matter. Gingrich speaks intelligently about the issues and has a complex but clear vision for how he would lead this country as President that is outlined in his New Contract with America. I had the pleasure of meeting Speaker Gingrich at an event for the Institute for Policy Innovation which the Magnolia Group played a key role in putting together. I have met many politicians before and I have never been so impressed. Intelligence does matter, even in politics. Against all odds Newt Gingrich is once again a contender in the GOP Primary Presidential Primary because, unlike Mitt Romney, he has substance and a consistent record to back up what he says. 

A New Texan's View of 2012

By: Arthur M., Magnolia Group Intern
From: New Hampshire
Current SMU Student

                There’s no better example of the Republican party’s current struggle to define itself than the ongoing Republican presidential primary campaign. It’s the Tea Party versus the old guard establishment, in the heated battle for the soul of their party. On one end there is Mitt Romney, who touts his history as a successful businessman and who comes across as pragmatic to many Americans, especially independents who have become disenfranchised with Obama’s “Hope and Change” due in large part to a stagnant economy. On the other end are the Tea Party favorites, Michelle Bachmann and Ron Paul. Although Bachmann has performed quite well in Iowa, winning the Ames Straw Poll, amongst independents and the mainstream media she is portrayed as a Sarah Palin type caricature. That is largely because both her Sara Palin are from Minnesota and speak with the same accent, which really shows you the depth of thought and attention to the issues that liberals in this country undertake when they vote. Nonetheless she comes across as abrasive to many Americans and her performance in Iowa should not be seen as an indication of how she will do nationwide. 

Ron Paul, who many have called the founding father of the Tea Party movement, comes across as a grandfatherly figure that you just have a hard time not liking. He’s an unapologetic libertarian who doesn’t carry the political baggage of being a “war hawk” like the other candidates do. Unlike in 2008, Ron Paul is a forced to be reckoned with, but for some reason he still cannot shake the general consensus that, for whatever reason, he is unelectable.

                Mitt Romney is seen as the pragmatic establishment Republican, while Bachmann and Paul are the firebrands that excite the Tea Party wing, and those are the three front runners; or at least they were.  Two weeks ago a new candidate entered the race and in a short period of time he has turned the entire primary race on its head. That candidate is of course Governor Rick Perry. Perry seems to have it all. Like Romney he is presidential and has presidential looking hair, but Perry is seen as an actual conservative who can excite the base and bring the establishment and the Tea Party together into a functional coalition. Also Perry is governor of a state that is actually creating jobs and prosperity. Mitt Romney on the other hand is seen by many ardent conservatives as a wishy-washy moderate who will change his opinion however many times he needs to get elected. Oh except for his opinion on his socialized healthcare plan that he enacted as governor of Massachusetts which was used as a template for Obamacare. He still vehemently defends that piece of political uranium as “a state solution to a state problem.” Unfortunately that slogan fails to define Romney as a conservative; it just makes him a state’s rights democrat. So it’s no wonder that Governor Perry, in such a short period of time, has already established himself as the new GOP frontrunner, according to some pollsters like Gallup.

                There are a few problems with Rick Perry though. To start with he isn’t nearly as popular in Texas as he is nationwide amongst Republicans. Second he seems to fire from the hip when he speaks and will undoubtedly say some more stupid things as the race goes on. And let’s not forget last year when he talked about seceding from the nation… I wonder if we’ll hear about that in President Obama’s reelection ads should Perry become the GOP nominee. But most importantly Rick Perry runs the risk of becoming a regional candidate. If Michelle Bachmann wins Iowa, and Romney wins New Hampshire, then Governor Perry will likely win South Carolina and will be seen as a southern candidate. It seems very unlikely that Perry will be able to take New Hampshire from Romney, a fact that makes me ashamed to be from New Hampshire. Perry’s best bet is to campaign aggressively and take Iowa from Bachmann, and if he doesn’t, winning the GOP nomination will be an uphill battle for the Texas governor.

Leslie on 550 KFYI, Phoenix, AZ, talking about Gov. Perry.