In Other News…
The PA College Republicans recently released their brand new website, making plenty of blogs throughout the state and even some national blogs. However, in the midst of all these blogs was one specific comment that struck me. The subscriber accused us of focusing too much on the website. There was an attitude as if this state federation were not doing our part as College Republicans.
If the website isn’t enough, where should we begin? It’s become apparent that of the youth registering to vote, the majority are registering as Democrats. This is where we should begin. In order to win an election as College Republicans, we must win the battle for the youth! But how do we get the youth vote over to the right side?
It starts by targeting the youth! The College Republican National Committee understands this, as they developed STORM, a national College Republican networking resource. It’s a good start. The college population throughout America is all about social networking. Walk into a library at any University and you are bound to see several students on the computer on Facebook. Social networking and internet presence will be the most effective way of winning back the youth and attracting them to the GOP.
Which brings us back to the PA College Republicans website. The website was created in order to address the increasing apathy amongst youth in the Republican Party. It will be a successful tool in battling apathy and liberal bias on campuses throughout the nation. In four days, we increased membership by 10 students, and have increased the membership of both Facebook and STORM groups by at least 20 people. Even further, to this date, 1,729 people visited our site. Interest is growing. Our blog will be active every week, for our members to share thoughts and give updates on events.
The site is now a hub for social media outlets. It fosters a community of members on several different types of social networking organizations. This is essential to getting word out on any kind of mobilization necessary to bring a victory in 2008. Federations throughout the nation should begin to focus on getting word out in the fastest time possible. This is the only way we will be able to efficiently battle the liberal media.
The future of politics seems to lie within the internet. Most people get their information from news websites, blogs, or even youtube. When the majority of news on the internet is liberally biased, it is no wonder that the largest demographic of people on the internet (youth) are registering with the party on the left – the one with the least substance and most rhetoric. College Republican federations must realize this, as the CRNC has, and finally embrace this new movement. Blogs such as crnation.com and truthcaucus.com have begun promoting this movement, but it takes initiative from each state federation. It’s time to make the investment in YOUR future and begin building the next republican party.
Let’s win back the youth…
-Mike Ubbens
PA Federation of College Republicans, Co-Chairman
*For more on this topic, check back next Monday for a continuation at: pacollegerepublicans.com/blog
Tags: Mike Ubbens, PACR, Social Networking, Website, Youth Vote
July 9th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Great stuff Mike, and thanks for helping to build out the McCain campaign force within our college student spheres.
July 9th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
I’m of course biased, but the web is one of your most important assets when reaching the youth vote. How many of us turn to google when we first encounter something? Imagine a scenario where you have college students interested in supporting the GOP and decide to look for College Republicans in PA( for which your new site now shows up). This new site gives presence and legitimacy to your cause, as well as making it easy for them to join, and find chapter information. The fresh look of the PA GOP will appeal to your target audience and the efficiency of the site allows them to find out whats going and and how they can get involved.
Unfortunately, McCain’s campaign is way behind in regards to web technology, when compared to the Democrats. However, the college republicans can and should make up that ground for him. As technologically savvy youth who have grown up in the information age, it’s your duty to do so.
Sites like digg.com and youtube have become liberal havens for spreading the word of the far left.
I’m an avid digg.com reader, and I can’t believe the propaganda that gets dugg up in the ‘world and business’ section. Articles from The Huffington Post and Daily Kos are the norm, and being seen by MILLIONS of potential voters.
When I search youtube for John McCain, a majority of the results are Liberal propaganda. If you search Obama, you get supporters videos, speech excerpts and many of his own videos who’ve been rated and subscribed to by his constituents.
So I highly doubt that you’re “wasting your time” on your website, or by fighting the battle on the web. This is exactly where the battle for the youth vote is happening.
July 10th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
I definitely agree that McCain’s campaign is behind in technology. If you look at his website compared to Obama’s, there really isn’t much of a comparison. I also agree that it is the duty of the College Republicans to help John McCain make up ground, especially in the way of technology, but also through volunteering. When people see young people that support John McCain, it makes them stop and think twice. The same goes when young people volunteer for ANY candidate. By using media such as the PACR website and Facebook, the youth of today are able to get out their message about their candidate.
July 11th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Sad but true.
It’s important that all pacr chapters have active sites and facebook groups and pages. It’s a great form of recruitment and a way to keep track of your members. And of course, don’t forget about STORM - if this is updated, it will make all chapter chairs’ lives much easier.
My next post on this topic will be about facebook and effective means of recruiting members.