There is a powerful demographic full of untapped policy-making potential — and it’s us.
President Barack Obama made efforts to win us over last week when he made an impromptu appearance on Reddit. The Republicans, a group of “conservative, like-minded folks,” organized the Rock the Red event, featuring real rock stars and conservative rock stars, including Maricopa County’s very own Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The event is scheduled to take place the same week and place as this year’s Democratic National Convention.
Ignoring the communistic tendencies that Rock the Red invokes, Republicans are doing everything in their power to sway the typically young liberal voter to their sidelines. “It’s going to be a little bit of country, a little bit of family, a little bit of God and a little bit of alternative voice for the DNC,” a Rock the Red representative said for the Charlotte Observer.
But they’re doing it in bad taste.
It’s not difficult to understand why. Speakers at the Republican National Convention (RNC) lost control of their annual event, as they competed with Hurricane Isaac for coverage, not to mention dealing with Clint Eastwood’s senior moment, rather than key points of the Republican platform.
Although they are going down the right path regarding youth voters, organizers of the Rock the Red event are clearly looking to distract viewers from the Democratic National Convention. They are being petty and quite frankly, immature. Their Rock the Red event appears to be a desperate and petty plea to regain momentum after their lackluster convention.
By enlisting celebrities — old Country singers who aren’t exactly the best people to relate to young people — conservatives are finding themselves guilty of the same crimes they accuse Democrats of. By organizing this event, they focus less on people and positive policy, but more on personalities and talking heads. It’s clear that Republicans are looking to energize young conservatives, but they’re solving a long-term problem with a short-term solution. Why not choose a smarter, more respectful way to engage youth voters?
Or at least choose people who are recognized. The speakers and performers at the conservative event are people 20, even 30, years our senior. Who has even heard of the Chris Lane Band or Craving Jane? At least people know rapper Nicki Minaj, even though her endorsement of Mitt Romney is only lyrically clever.
If Republicans want to play the same celebrity game for youth voters that the Democratic Party has been excelling at, they need star power. They need to step up their game. Especially, since Kumar is hosting the Democratic National Convention.
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