Elephant Watching in the Political Jungle

By Broadside Staff Writer Jon Koblan

At George Mason University, the College Republicans held their rally for the final night of the Republican National Convention in the Johnson Center atrium on Thursday, Sept. 4, at 8:30 p.m.

Matthew DeLeon, the first vice chairman of the College Republicans spoke first. He thanked people for coming out and encouraged people to get involved. DeLeon introduced Pat Herrity, supervisor of the Springfield District of Fairfax County, who called Keith Fimian, a candidate for congress in Virginia’s 11th district, “a great guy.”
“Gerry Connolly is a guy you don’t want to go to Congress,” Herrity said. Gerry Connolly doubled your parent’s real estate taxes. He is the guy who is running around the county spending $200 million in three years with Sharon Bulova. We’re buying housing for social welfare at the expense of students. We have the team that’s the maverick team and the team of change. Virginia is a battle ground state. Fairfax County is absolutely critical to get McCain/Palin in the White House.”

Joshua St. Louis, the second vice chairman of the College Republicans, stepped onto the stage and voiced, “Gerry Connolly came here and said young people won’t vote for republicans, I have something to tell you, Gerry Connolly. Young people will vote for Republicans because they will be voting for this awesome ticket: McCain/Palin. Register to vote.”

GMU College Democrats President Grant Herring begged to differ with St. Louis. “Young people have shown up in record numbers and voted Democrat in this election year. In fact if you go back to 2004, the youth vote was the only demographic that went overwhelmingly for Kerry,” he said.
Justin Williams, a prominent student economist blogger stated that, “the green background was a poor choice because I’m sure it looks great there, but on TV it’s horrible”

In St. Paul, Minn., attendees of the Republican National Convention continually chanted “U.S.A.” and “Change is coming.”

“I don’t work for a party. I don’t work for special interests. I work for you,” McCain said. He spoke about offshore drilling in his speech and was met by the chant, “drill baby drill!”

“I think Palin was a great choice to fire up the Republican base and reinforces his message of being a maverick” said junior Ravi Udeshi.

McCain also made an appeal for an end to “partisan rancor.”