June 20, 2007
MoveRed.org

The King County Republican Party is launching a young adult group, called MoveRed.org, which the website describes:

MoveRed.org is the youth coalition (ages 16-28) of the King County Republican Party. We are a group of students and young professionals with a common belief in limited government, family values and personal responsibility. We exist to promote increased Republican activism among a younger segment of the population that is often left out of the political process. Republicans in King County have been silent too long. It's time for a RED resurgence led by young people with strong convictions and values; youth who bring commonsense solutions to problems created by the King County establishment. We are the future of the Republican Party.
For those of you in the target age group, the kick-off event is tomorrow evening in Seattle, details here.

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at June 20, 2007 04:55 PM | Email This
Comments
1. Typical.

MoveRed has the kind of communist connotation KCRP is known for.

In short, a dumb name that misses the mark and has no real-politik connection with reality.

Great idea, tho. Who knows? Maybe one day, we'll even get a clue and get serious about minority outreach as well.

Nahhhhhhh.

Posted by: Hinton on June 20, 2007 05:25 PM
2. Hinton,

Actually, for people in the target age group the Communist connotation does not apply. I'm guessing it is a playoff of the Red State/Blue State idea but you are probably not in the target demographic anyway...which I guess means your comments are irrelevant anyway!

Until you come up with a better idea, why don't you keep your ridiculous, negative comments to yourself!

Posted by: Scott Olson on June 20, 2007 06:04 PM
3. Yet another example of how the left has framed the debate.

The left through the MSM switched the traditional colors of left (red) and right (blue) when they made the 2000 election night maps and then coined the terms red and blue states.

Like cattle the right accepted this definition. And now perpetuates the lefist "truth" through names like "MoveRed.Org".

I suggest the correct response is to is to use the name "TrueBlue.ORG" for this new organiztion and take back the color of conservatism.

Posted by: deadwood on June 20, 2007 06:54 PM
4. Cool development. Hope they don't get their tires slashed tomorrow night, though.

Posted by: katomar on June 20, 2007 07:10 PM
5. "Political Correctness is a sophisticated and dangerous form of censorship and oppression." - JB Williams

"Remember the "red state, blue state system" was created by PC Progressives to confuse people." - JB Williams

http://pcfreenews.com/

Posted by: Ragnar Danneskjold on June 20, 2007 07:10 PM
6. I like the idea but would send the team back to the drawing board.

Ask the question of WHY anyone under 30 would want to be a Republican.

Few in their early 20's really get the opportunity to look at and question their property tax statements, have the government tell them they can't run a business on their own land w/out paying 1000 bucks for a permit, get their 20 acres reduced from R5 to R20, pay over 33% income tax, have a judge take their kids away in divorce, start a business and run through the multitudes of issues with dealing with employees, get passed over for a government job they are over qualified for because of their race, find out their 13 year old daughter had an abortion after the fact...and most other life experiences that leads one to become a Republican.

The one area I would recommend is for a segment of the GOP to start focusing on helping those in their early 20's become business owners (as opposed to employees). Then it is not so much the spoon fed be a good conservative and oppose abortion element, but rather something tangible that demonstrates the benefits of fiscal conservatism. It also helps foster good will in the business community.


Posted by: Andy on June 20, 2007 07:13 PM
7.
This is the coolest thing I've ever heard of.

Better Red Than Lib!

Posted by: John Bailo on June 20, 2007 07:15 PM
8. Andy: I never owned a business and I don't want to: I prefer being an employee. When I was in college, I was a Republican (or more accurately, anti-Democrat) simply because I believed strongly in liberty, whether in personal decisions, or economic decisions, or elsewhere. I didn't need to own a business to understand that it makes the most sense for individuals to be primarily responsible for their own well-being, not the government, or that it was wrong to tell someone they can't farm their land because a puddle happens to form there once a year.

Posted by: pudge on June 20, 2007 07:30 PM
9. Pudge- having launched a club for YR's I can assure you that you're the exception. It has to be more than a ra-ra fest for the GOP to work with this demographic. I know that other YR clubs have the same challenges.

When applying for a job Wa you can't exactly list that you spend 4 evenings a month being a volunteer political operative for the GOP. You could however boast about being a member of a fiscal think tank.

Posted by: Andy on June 20, 2007 08:53 PM
10. Andy, I echo pudge. I'm under 30 and have been a Republican for some time. Not because my parents were (my Mom's a raving mad uber-liberal) and not because it was the cool thing to be (obviously, growing up in Seattle). Believe it or not, there are quite a few of us under 30 that don't own a business, never had our kids or land taken away, etc. but are still able to think rationally. But go ahead, be a naysayer. Give up the under 30 vote (which, by the way, voted over 50% for Bush in 2004). I'm not sure if this MoveRed.org idea will work but at least they're doing something other than complaining. You are like one of those damn liberals that complain about how Bush stole the 2000 election but under further questioning admit that you voted for Nader or not at all. You're probably just a Democrat plant trying to weaken our morale. Go get a reality check, my friend.

Posted by: WarmFuzzyPuppies on June 20, 2007 09:26 PM
11. Who lists political involvement on a resume? Unless, of course, you're applying for a political job. I don't put what church I go to on my resume either.

Posted by: Ed the Head on June 20, 2007 09:34 PM
12. Red v. Blue is not from some Progressive scheme to subvert the True Colors. The map of the US Election in 2000 was colored Red for Republicans (Visitors) and Blue for Democrats (Home team, incumbents). Some maps used green and yellow. It's not that important, even though it's become a meme now.

Posted by: steve miller on June 20, 2007 09:55 PM
13. Everyone who has started/organized a political org for the same demographic as MoveRed please raise your hand. Been to any raging college republican club parties lately?

I'm not trying to shoot it down- "something" is needed. That something can't be a ra-ra we're Republicans org. Go ask a young moderate or even most young right leaners if they'd be up for giving up an evening a month.

Don't believe me? Prove me wrong or go pound sand.

Posted by: Andy on June 20, 2007 09:56 PM
14. Andy-

According to their Facebook event...more than 100+ people are willing to give up an evening a month.

Posted by: Scott Olson on June 20, 2007 10:03 PM
15. I guess what I am really confused about is why so many people are being so critical of this idea. I would think that everyone would be really excited that the KCGOP is trying to engage a demographic that is the future of our party.

Predicting failure before the first event is pretty awful. I think everyone underestimates the number and energy of the young conservative population in King County.

Posted by: Scott Olson on June 20, 2007 10:11 PM
16. I've been running a blog for young moderate Republicans for about two years now. There are a lot of young center-right youths in this state, but they want to do more than just stuff envelopes and plant campaign signs in yards. The question is really one of how to activate this segment of the base. People who think young voters are lazy, disinterested, or otherwise uninvolved, are too cynical to realize all of the potential in this group.

Posted by: Patrick on June 20, 2007 10:12 PM
17. I'm not too keen on the embrace of the "Red" color. As a kid who grew up in the 60's and 70's, I well know that RED is the color of communism. I'm dismayed to see that this is being changed. I think we ought to grab the blue and shove the red back at the socialists where it belongs and run with it.
I do salute the idea of a group for young republicans, though. Hope things go great for y'all.

Posted by: Michele on June 20, 2007 10:28 PM
18. Andy, you don't have a clue in the world. Who do you think manages and staffs most of the GOP campaigns in this country? People under 30! Do you need specifics? Let me see. In this last election cycle we had GOP candidates Will Sohn(18), Hugh Foskett (20), Nancy Potts (26), and I could go on fillling a phonebook with the names of other GOP youth candidates, campaign staffers and activists from the past few years. So who needs to take a walk on the beach now, sandman?

Posted by: WarmFuzzyPuppies on June 20, 2007 10:31 PM
19. Heck, the current Executive Director of the KCGOP is under 30!

Posted by: WarmFuzzyPuppies on June 20, 2007 10:34 PM
20. Hopefully the group will have a large tent and welcome republicans from the libertarian wing. IF they do they can expect to grow by leaps and bounds.

Posted by: Travis Pahl on June 20, 2007 10:37 PM
21. Oh god...the Ron Paul folks are here........

Posted by: Scott Olson on June 20, 2007 10:52 PM
22. Scott, yeah, and Travis and Bruce Guthrie are particularly delusional. They actually believe Paul can win either the nomination or the general election, whereas sane people know neither is remotely possible.

I actually like Ron Paul. Always have. I want him in the debates, because he adds a valuable perspective. But man, the delusional fanboys make it hard to keep liking him.

Posted by: pudge on June 20, 2007 11:43 PM
23. Good luck GOPers on your young-adult oriented group. But the name MoveRed is very bad as it says nothing to someone who does already know what it means. Your name should carry your message!
How about "GOPSters"?? A GOP + young hipster feel it has. You're welcome.

And MoveRed -- that sounds like it's commie !

And #3: enough with the conspiracy MSM theories about the red/blue color scheme -- for which you cite no eveidence anyway. No one I know on the D side wanted to be blue.

I like red. I like it that the D's used to "own" red. I want it back. All over the rest of the world red is for the left.

To me blue was more traditional, royal, patrician (like blue blood) etc. therefore a natural fit with the GOP (or my perceptions thereof). Please, please take back blue!

(Of course now that I say I want Red, you all will probably decide to keep it!)

Posted by: Seattle Democrat on June 21, 2007 07:17 AM
24. Seattle Dem


Yep I bet old Stalin and you were the best of buddies. (red)

Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on June 21, 2007 07:41 AM
25. Army Medic/Vet:
Thanks, I post a pretty reasonable post and get called a ommie in return. Brilliant.

Actually it was the good ol' US Army that was buddies with Stalin -- remember??? giving him arms and support all through WW2. Then, letting him keep Poland etc. This pretty much had universal supoprt in the USA. Practical you know. We "surrendered" Eastern Europe because you don't and can't fight every battle for the justice (some aren't winnable at a pirce we want to pay).

It seems this is your chain of thought: Aha a Democrat! Must taunt and make fun. Democrat=Stalin the mass murderer! Must taunt him with that! Hardy har har.

Kind of reptilian.

And ignorant. Here's some facts for your brain to chew on if you never were taught them:

The "left" includes democratic socialist parties, labor parties, (maybe) the USA Democratic Party (at least to you guys) and other kinds of parties, plus historically the commies.
Some are democratic some are not.
Just like the "Right" includes the GOP, christian democrats in Europe, monarchists and fascists.
Some are democratic some are not.
Let's make deal to have a brain okay: we won't call you fascists if you don't call Dems commies.

You are free to call commies commies (Cuba, China, US CP whatever). We are free to call fascists fascists.

OR should we just call each other inaccurate names ? Wow that's so fascinating and enlightening.

Posted by: Seattle Democrat on June 21, 2007 08:22 AM
26. Seattle Democrat, rarely do I come to the defense of your kind but you are absolutely correct. It shows poor form that Army Medic/Vet lowered himself to the level of folks who name call and don't use intelligent arguments to disarm their opponents.

Posted by: WarmFuzzyPuppies on June 21, 2007 10:19 AM
27. Spin it all you like.

The fact is that no "young" GOP org I contacted (about 10) has more than 4 active members. KC YR club aside, most are on life support with zero active members or meetings.

The young dem clubs have a slight advantage in that they put beer & pizza on the agenda, but they face other challenges including the insanity of really unstable personalities.

I have experience and you have enthusiasm. You can learn from those who walked the path before you or you can go pound sand and learn for yourself. Knock yourself out and I hope you succeed where others have not.

On the other hand I have a lot of success with groups that have had their asses handed to them by the state government, are mad as hell and who will take time off of work to go pound on doors at the legislature, write countless letters and checks to fight for their cause tirelessly three years running.

You can spend your time convincing people to help you or you can spend your time convicing people you can help them.

Posted by: Andy on June 21, 2007 08:30 PM
28. Andy, I'm not sure which clubs you contacted but I can name several in this area that have more than 4 active members under the age of 30. (Interesting how your numbers keep changing though. Earlier you insinuated that there were no people under 30 active in the GOP and now you've already proved yourself wrong.) I guess none of this matters though.
And again,

More than half of voters under age 30 voted for Bush in 2004.

The ED of the KCGOP is under 30.

I named off 3 people under 30 that ran for office on the GOP ticket last year in King Co alone.

But you're obviously not someone who concerns himself with the facts even when they're staring you right in the face.

Posted by: WarmFuzzyPuppies on June 21, 2007 11:01 PM
29. I was at the event last night - there were 150+ people - mostly under 25 crammed into a room that was filled with enthusiasm. Dino Rossi spoke to an excited crowd and then worked the room. The enthusiasm was real - kids drove from Marysville to Olympia to be there - they're hungry for like-minded believers to network with. I left at 9:15 and the networking was still going strong.

They did a "straw poll" by applause and the winner was Thompson followed closely by Romney and Giuliani.

Those who criticize the name "moveRed.org" are simply outside the momentum of popular culture. It's a name that's hip and cool and attracts people under 25 who KNOW that red stands for Republican/conservative now.

Posted by: Eunice Burns on June 22, 2007 05:47 AM
30. You guys are funny.


Posted by: Andy on June 22, 2007 09:33 AM
31. And you live in your own little world of delusion. So we're all happy. Yea!

Posted by: WarmFuzzyPuppies on June 22, 2007 10:08 AM
32. I'm not going to flame my own party on a public forum.

Best of luck.

Posted by: Andy on June 22, 2007 10:39 AM
33. Isn't that what you've been doing?

Posted by: WarmFuzzyPuppies on June 22, 2007 03:06 PM
34. My thoughts exactly WarmFuzzyPuppies. I would never have guessed that Andy (big hat dance) was a Republican! And, I'm still not certain he's telling the truth.

And, finally, I don't know what was so funny about my movered.org post. It was the truth, and it was exciting to be there, even for an old bag like me.

Posted by: Eunice Burns on June 22, 2007 04:49 PM
35. Bah. For those -- particularly on the left -- who criticize the word "red," let us remind them that the word "Progressive" in the United States, in the middle of last century, was synonymous with communism. Indeed, known Soviet sympathizers and even spies were at high levels in the Progressive Party, whose candidate was none other than former Vice President Henry A. Wallace (who, while not a communist himself, lent legitimacy to the communist movement by becoming their candidate).

I. F. Stone wrote in 1950 that "the Communists have been the dominant influence in the Progressive Party ... If it had not been for the Communists, there would have been no Progressive Party."

That's a big reason why the word "progressive," though popular in the first half of last century, has been shunned in the second half, until recently. So please, let's dispense with the nonsense from the left about any connotations of the word "red."

Posted by: pudge on June 24, 2007 08:57 AM
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