CRNC & YRNF Join “Crossroads Generation” Effort to Win Young Voters

May 14, 2012 – Washington, DC – The College Republican National Committee and the Young Republican National Federation have partnered with American Crossroads and the Republican State Leadership Committee to launch an unprecedented youth initiative, Crossroads Generation, to mobilize young voters in 2012.

Crossroads Generation, which will be structured as an Independent Expenditure Only Committee (SuperPAC), will begin with an initial $750,000 in start-up capital. The project is funded through CRNC, RSLC, and American Crossroads, which have each contributed $250,000 to the project.

With young people facing high unemployment, a grim job market and record high student loan debt, the youth vote is up for grabs.

Crossroads Generation will tap into the CRNC’s membership of more than 250,000 college students on over 1,800 campuses nationwide and the YRNF’s membership of 100,000 young professionals throughout the country.

“President Obama won young people in 2008 with a message of hope and change that just did not pan out. My generation has been disproportionately hurt by the policies of President Obama, which is precisely why we need Crossroads Generation,” CRNC Chairman Alex Schriver said.

“The college students who voted for President Obama four years ago are now recent graduates who are 53% un- or under-employed. These young professionals are desperate for economic policy that can deliver a pro-business, pro-job environment that can help them establish themselves as they look to build careers and families,” said Lisa Stickan, Chairman of the Young Republican National Federation.

Visit www.crossroadsgeneration.com, Twitter (@CrossroadsGen) and Facebook (www.Facebook.com/CrossroadsGeneration) for more information.

Fox News: How will GOP appeal to young voters in general election?

Alex Schriver and Young Democrats of America’s Rod Snyder talked with Fox News’ Shannon Bream on young voters’ role in the 2012 election and the issues that might influence their vote.

 On the Budget:

SCHRIVER: “If we want to talk about budgets, let’s talk about budgets. We’ve got Senate Democrats that have not passed a budget in 3 years as of today – over 1,000 days. The President’s budget got over 400 “No” votes in the House, and not a single yes vote.”

On Student Loans

 SCHRIVER: “As we talk about student loans, the President travelled around the country this week on the taxpayer’s dime to swing states. He was in North Carolina, Colorado – saying how important it was to pass student loan reform, and the House did pass student loan reform. The President says, “We’re going to veto it.” He’s not serious about this issue. He missed two votes on the same bill in 2007 and the Democrats set this up to be an election year issue. When Republicans have come forward and said, “We do have a plan, we’re giving an option to keep interest rates low, keep them at 3.4%,” the President says “We’re going to veto that.” So who’s serious about students? It’s the Republicans.”

On Jobs and Unemployment

SCHRIVER: “This election is about jobs. Three quarters of young people’s number one issue are jobs and the economy. But, unfortunately unemployment has actually gone up since the President took over and after we passed the stimulus. Half of my generation isn’t going to get up and go a job tomorrow morning. That’s the highest rate since the government started keeping track in 1948. There’s 16% youth unemployment in this country – twice the national average. Young people are sitting here three and a half years later not better off. They can’t find jobs, they can’t pay their bills, and the whole reason we’re having this conversation about student loans is because young people are graduating college without a job and they can’t pay their bills and moving back in with mom and dad. Governor Romney is going around the country talking to college students saying, “We have a plan to get this economy back on track so you can get a job, pay your own bills, and get out of your parents basement,” as opposed to the last three and a half years which have been incredibly detrimental to young people.”

Washington, DC, April 27, 2012— The Obama White House vowed to veto Republicans’ plan to keep subsidized student loan interest rates lower for another year, which passed the House Friday.

The Republican-backed extension would keep interest rates low by taking money from a preventive care fund under President Obama’s Affordable Care Act.

Without an extension, as many as 7 million borrowers are set to see rates on their loans jump up to 6.8 percent when the current rate expires in July.

“If President Obama actually cared about the welfare of young people he would allow the House Republicans’ extension to pass, rather than advocating for an extension but providing no means of funding it,” CRNC Chairman Alex Schriver said.

Under the Obama Administration, the graduating class of 2011 became the most indebted graduating class in history. Average per student debt sits at $22,900. As of 2012, student debt nationwide hit the $1 trillion mark surpassing credit card debt and auto loan debt.

“This past week President Obama traveled on the taxpayers dime to college campuses to tell students how concerned he was for their hardship. We wish he would back up the campaign rhetoric with action, rather than threatening to veto the best plan out there for young people,” Schriver added.

For additional information or booking requests, Contact: Alyssa Farah, AFarah@CRNC.org

The College Republican National Committee is the nation’s oldest, largest, and most active youth political organization. The independent 527 group is more than 120 years old and boasts more than 250,000 members on over 1,800 campuses.

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Washington, DC, March 28, 2012—Today, College Republican leaders are denouncing the Alabama A&M College Democrats’ decision to invite the wildly controversial Louis Farrakhan to speak on campus. While the College Democrats tout a message of tolerance and civil discourse, Farrakhan represents the complete opposite.

Alex Schriver, Chairman of the College Republican National Committee, and an Alabamian, said, “It is inexcusable that College Democrats invite one of America’s most prolific purveyors of hate speech to deliver an address during a pivotal election season. They should be inviting positive thinkers who have reasonable contributions to the political discussion.”

CollegeRepublican Federation of Alabama Chairman Jackson Pruett (Auburn University’14) joined Schriver, saying, “Farrakhan’s presence is even more disturbing when we consider that the purpose of college political parties is to help educate students on current events and party platforms. We should be askingourselves: do we want someone like Louis Farrakhan educating the next generation of college graduates?”

Farrakhan has devoted his career to defaming Jews and has also been quick to suggest limiting the rights of individuals. In a 2011 speech, Farrakhan stated that criticizing Jews was part of his mission to expose Satan. That statement echoed Farrakhan’s 2010 reference to Jews as “Satanic.”

Farrakhan also favors a government who tosses aside a democratic system of individual liberties so that select groups of people are stifled. Farrakhan’s campaign against U.S. democracy extends to his support of brutal Zimbabwe Dictator Robert Mugabe. Mugabe is oft cited as one of the world’s worst dictators, but Farrakhan met with him to advocate Mugabe’s plan to confiscate land from white citizens.

“Democrats in Alabama have abandoned mainstream voters, choosing instead to embrace liberal extremism,” Schriver added. “Alabama College Democrats are following the example of Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Mark Kennedy who recently promoted radical political comic Bill Maher’s Huntsville appearance,” continued Schriver.

“This is the man whom the Alabama A & M College Democrats select as speaker,” Pruett added. “Anti-Semite, homophobe, and racist, that’s the voice who will be ‘educating’ the future of the Alabama Democratic Party.”

For additional information or booking requests, Contact: Alyssa Farah, AFarah@CRNC.org

Illinois Voters: Obama Has Failed Us

Washington, DC, March 20, 2012— Today Republican candidates will travel to the President’s home state to rally primary voters for their support to oust Obama from office.

The state Obama once called home when serving in the U.S. Senate is now one of the states that has been hit the hardest by the economic recession.

Nationally unemployment sits at 8.3 percent, but things are looking even worse for Illinois residents. Unemployment in Illinois is even higher than the national average at 9.4 percent as of January 2012.

College students and recent college graduates in Illinois have felt the pain of theObamaeconomy even worse than older voters. Last summer, youth unemployment was at 27.5 percent, after seeing a loss of nearly 20,000 jobs for young people. Things look bleak again this summer.

Additionally, this time last year, Illinois tied with California and Michigan for the highest rates of underemployment in the nation, with underemployment hovering between 20-25 percent across the state.

For additional information or booking requests, Contact: Alyssa Farah, AFarah@CRNC.org

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 13, 2012— Alabama voters will hit the polls today to express their discontent with the Obama Presidency by casting their ballots for GOP Presidential hopefuls.

Under the Obama Administration, Alabama’s unemployment rate hit a 26-year high with unemployment peaking at 11.1% in the middle of 2010. Since then it has gone down, but the job market remains grim.

CRNC National Chairman and Alabama-native, Alex Schriver, sounded off on President Obama’s failed track record in his state.

“In the last 36 months, this President has failed to bring the ‘Hope and Change’ he promised so many Americans, especially young Americans. With 18% youth unemployment, more than twice the national average, and an average student loan debt of more than $22,000, young voters in Alabama are looking for real reform, not empty campaign rhetoric,” Schriver said.

Young people in Alabama have also felt the pain of the Obama-economy through ongoing tuition hikes. In 2011, a 9 percent hike in tuition rates was approved for the University of Alabama.

“The Alabama Republican Party, under the leadership of Chairman Bill Armistead, has shined as the national spotlight turns to our state. Statewide leaders like Speaker Mike Hubbard and Senate Majority Leader Jabo Waggoner have represented our great state with pride as the Presidential Primary process makes its way through Alabama.

CRNC Chairman Alex Schriver is available for comment on today’s Alabama primary.

For additional information or booking requests, Contact: Alyssa Farah, AFarah@CRNC.org

SUPER TUESDAY: A Reflection on Obama’s Failed Presidency
Washington, DC, March 6, 2012— Super Tuesday is finally here and voters across ten states will cast ballots in favor of the candidate they believe is best suited to oust President Obama from office.

Today in Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Virginia and Vermont voters will take the first step in making Obama a one-term president.

In March of 2008, under the Bush Administration, unemployment was at 5.1%. Today, four years later, under the Obama Administration, unemployment is 8.6% with real unemployment at nearly double that.

Unemployment among young people is more than double the national average.

The average debt per citizen is currently approximately $49,000.

Making things even tougher for young people, the graduating class of 2011, under the Obama Administration, is the most indebted graduating class in history with average per student debt at $22,900.

Student debt has grown an incredible 511 percent since 1999 and Obama’s most significant “solution” would save the average grad a mere $10 each month.

Americans are ready to sound off and tell President Obama they’re ready for real solutions.

For additional information or booking requests, Contact: Alyssa Farah, AFarah@CRNC.org

Washington, DC, March 1, 2012— The College Republican National Committee would like to express condolences to the family and friends of Andrew Breitbart—a truly one of a kind figure in the conservative movement.

Breitbart was a man who fought passionately against liberal assaults, never hesitating in his quest to uncover the truth. Between being the proprietor of numerous heavily trafficked news websites, he was also a best-selling author, commentator and most importantly, loving father and husband.

His absence in republican media and politics will be greatly noticed and we know that big shoes are left behind to fill.  We send our thoughts and prayers to his family, friends and colleagues who must certainly be feeling a great sense of loss today.