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If you had spent $1,000,000 an hour, every hour, from the birth of Christ up to the present day, you still wouldn’t have spent as much as Barack Obama has spent in less than two months as President.
Matthew Robinson is a British conservative activist currently residing in America, where he interns with the Leadership Institute and moonlights as our American correspondent. Here he offers a perspective from America on the bailout frenzy.
Bailing out America – it doesn’t come cheap
I have had the chance to observe some amazing events in my short life. I arrived in Moscow to watch the Communist’s parade through Red Square on the Anniversary of Lenin’s birthday. I watched Manchester United win the Community Shield twice at the old Wembley Stadium (that’s a personal high). Last year I interned at the Jesse Helms Center in North Carolina last when the former US Senator passed away. But the atmosphere around Washington DC and the events currently unfolding have been very interesting to watch.
On Tuesday, Barack Obama signed the $787 billion ‘Bail-Out’ Bill, (I refuse to use the s-word to refer to this billion $ package, as it totally misrepresents the implications of this bill for the United States). The bail-out has been sold as a bi-partisan fait accompli that will create or save 3.5million jobs and rebuild confidence in the economy. But I can tell you that when you are here in the belly of the beast the mood is very different.
Republicans on Capitol Hill have (for the most part) remained defiant, refusing to be kowtowed and wanting real debate on the issues. Even some Democrats have voted against this ‘bail-out’ and their new President, despite incredible amounts of arm-twisting coming from some senior sources.
One problem the Republicans have is that there maybe a split between their Governors. Some such as Charlie Crist (Florida) and Schwarzenegger (California) have supported the bill to plug the holes in their own states budgets. California is of particular note as its budget is huge, and it is rumoured that the Golden State may be running close to bankruptcy.
But other Governors such as Sarah Palin (Alaska), Mark Sanford (South Carolina) and Bobby Jindal (Louisiana) have all spoken out against the ‘bail-out’ package. They have noted the detrimental future effects of the bill and that many of the programs included do not respond to the problems the US economy faces. I would say at this stage that I expect all 3 Governors to be touted as 2012 Republican Presidential contenders.
Obama commented on Tuesday “I don’t want to pretend that today marks the end of our economic problems, nor does it constitute all of what we’re going to do to turn our economy around, but today does mark the beginning of the end”. At least Obama is humble enough to know that you can’t end boom and bust, Prime Minister please take note! But Obama’s short-term solution will have ramifications that extend far beyond his own Presidency and knock-on effects for other economies around the world.
In the last week Obama has been travelling around the USA trying to sell the ‘bail-out’ to the American people. The new President made a speech at a rally in Indiana, which I watched on TV. It seemed like Obama was still in the ‘election campaigning’ mind-set, rather than in the much more appropriate and necessary ‘getting on with the job of governing’ mind-set (sorry Prime Minister I have stolen your phrase, oops).
Some have called this Obama’s first big test, but the size of this ‘bail-out’ means that this will be at least a 4 year on going examination.
Matthew has previous written for TYC covering the 2008 US election.
Morton Blackwell is a name you need to know. For those familiar with the Leadership Institute Morton needs little introduction. For those that are not, a little background. Morton has given decade after decade of the loyalist service to the American conservative movement, at every level of activism from the campus to the White House.
He has served, amongst many other positions, as a College Republican chairman, Young Republican state chairman for Louisiana, as Barry Goldwater’s youngest delegate to the 1964 Republican National Convention, as architect and executor of Ronald Reagan’s national youth effort in 1980, and as a special assistant to Reagan in the White House in the early 1980s. Somewhere he found time to set up the Leadership Institute. The LI, through its countless programmes, has trained over 48,000 conservative activists, a truly astounding feat which has given us such greats as Karl Rove himself.
During his long service Morton came to write down his Laws of the Public Policy Process, the distillation, one might say, of the wisdom he has accrued over those many years.
Over the next few weeks we will be bringing you the complete Laws, with comment as appropriate. We can all learn something from them, and see reflected in them so many of our own experiences. Donal Blaney over at YBF has examined the Laws much more eruditely. A few years ago he ran a comprehensive column at ConHome, and more recently has begun to digest them again in the context of current political events. I highly suggest you read both to get the richest interpretation. Here we’re not seeking to mimic these efforts, rather to relate the Laws usefully to experiences of youth activism, showing how they might practicably be applied on campuses, for example.
We begin today with the first Law:
1. Never give a bureaucrat a chance to say no.
It seems they like to. They want to. It’s almost a reflex action. Plan your approach carefully. Never ask a question to which the respondent can simply close down the conversation with a blunt ‘no’. Anyone who has conducted polling, surveying, or a difficult interview knows this innately. Likewise, anyone who has worked in retail will be aware of the habit of customers to say ‘no’ without really thinking about what you’re saying. After all, bureaucrats are paid by you to serve you, so you deserve an answer – hold them to account.
This law should be extended to all walks of life, not just bureaucrats. So when you’re on the doorstep don’t give people the chance to say ‘no’ and slam it shut; make them engage. Phrase your question as creatively as you can, avoiding making no the easiest answer. Consider asking about an issue directly – “Labour are planning to close the maternity unit at the hospital…”, rather than “I’m from the Tory Party, can I ask you…”
Take clues from your surroundings. See a booster seat in the car or hear children playing? Think about pertainant issues – schools and play areas for instance. Remember, people are far more interested in issues and “what you’ll do for them” than party lines, so tailor your pitch. If you don’t, you’re passing up the opportunity to communicate your message, and that’s another potential vote lost. Canvassing can be scary stuff at first, but it’ll be easier if you plan your approach.
With these tips you
In this point by point guide Leadership Institute graduate Tarasyn takes you through some of the tricks of the trade for running a successful recruitment stall at Freshers.
Recruiting freshers to join Conservative Future, or any other organisation, can be long-winded process consisting of balloons, posters, safety pins and a repeat of ‘the benefits joining CF can give you’ conversation a million times over per day. However, this is a vital part of the young conservative movement, reaching out to new young members who could become activists, and thus more people out on the streets canvassing and turning the country blue.
Creating contact is essential. How do you get it with freshers? Well, if Exeter CF is anything to go by, it would be worthwhile noting their tactics. Last week they signed up nearly 300 members, a number that has tripled in 3 years.
Following discussions with my fellow committee member Sophie Kelk, the freshers’ representative for Exeter CF, and very much the woman behind the successful drive, we devised a set of pointers for creating a success in recruiting students to join a conservative movement:
1) Booze and freebies sell: For the political passionate out there, it may be a sad thought to think that you need club deals and freebies to recruit members, but it is a solid student fact. Once you have them signed up, you can initiate contact and gradually show the appeal of the more serious political goal side of the society.
However you need to get people to sign up in the first place. With a mere £5 for the Exeter CF membership, we organised deals and discounts with over 7 top clubs and restaurants in the city – including exclusive discounts cards just for us for some of the most popular clubs, students love this! Plan months in advance, get calling and meeting all your local establishments and see what deals you can organise!
2) Layout: The stall needs to stand out and look good. With little expense and the famous stall package from CF NME’s Owen Meredith, you can create an effective stall. Make it coordinated with balloons and posters that appeal, such as YBF’s “Life’s better under a conservative” poster – the perfect environment for it! Also, photos expressing all aspects of the society are a good touch too. Make use of your area, get there earlier and swap tables with another society that has a better spot, or move your table to a corner so you can dominate the largest part of the room.
Don't all stand behind the stall
In terms of people-set up get your most charismatic people out at the front of the stand drawing people in -actively engage with people, and if anyone wants to talk in-depth politics direct them to the people behind the stand so as not to block the front of it and tie up your lead people.
3) Organisation: Make-sure everyone knows exactly what they are doing, and have some sort of production line-set up ready for when it gets busy. Package all the membership packs the day before. With a see-through freezer bag from Pound Land, and some blue ribbon….throw in a bottle opener, badges, membership card, discount cards ,your society and the party leaflets and you have one attractive looking membership pack!
4) VIP: Get you local Conservative PPC or MP down for an hour or two, introduce them to the freshers and create an air of importance. Make the freshers feel like it is a privilege and a political window of opportunity if they sign up – which it is!
5) Extra bonuses: Go out you way to make your stall stand out. Make fairy cakes and cookies the night before, a further way to attract people.
What next? After a successful freshers drive the work is by no means done, you need to connect your new members, and make your CF part of their social calendar. Regular, decent socials will get people drawn in and create an energised pool for you to recruit campaigning activists from.
It’s vital to keep planning ahead and maintain a buzz of activity and excitement around the society. If your organisation looks to have gone quiet, people will find other ways to socialise and use spend their time.
For the next month, Exeter CF has the following social events organised:
- Boat Cruise and coffee morning (freshers week)
- Second meet and greet drinks social (already been!)
- Cheese and wine evening
- ‘Sex on the beach’ party at a top club.
- YBF training day
- CF coalition tour: panel of guest speakers
- Christmas black tie ball
- Regular campaigning!
Remember, most universities hold a Refreshers event later in the year, so start planning now!
NB: Keep a note of what works well and always try out new ideas, and if they don’t work you know for next time!
Happy recruiting!
No doubt out of modesty Tarasyn hasn’t mentioned that you should also remember to keep in touch with TheYoungConservative. Not only can we promote what your organisation is doing, we’re also both YBF trained and Leadership Institute graduates and only too happy to give one-to-one advice. – Ed
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- The Brits are coming…
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- The Leadership Institute, Arlington VA
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- Stars and Stripes
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- The Capitol from the Mall
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- The Washington Monument from the Mall
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- The Reagan Presidential Library
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- Reagan’s Air Force One
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- The Joy of Segway…
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- Rancho del Cielo – The Reagan Ranch
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- Signing of the largest tax cut in American history – The Reagan Ranch
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- Tranquil ending to three intense weeks – The Reagan Ranch
Upon arriving at the Leadership Institute, we were immediately sucked into a friendly American style office atmosphere. We were billeted in dorms, which added to the intensive ‘campaign environment’ of little sleep, long days and a constant social arena of people battling together for the same cause. We soon got to know each other! It was also a treat to be completely catered for throughout the week.
After being greeted by the various key figures within the institute, including the great Morton Blackwell, who founded the establishment, and our impossibly chipper host, Miguel Moreno, it was already clear that the intimate (there were less than 40 of us in total) lectures from experts in the field of public policy was going to be a priceless education.
We were not let down and were trained from every angle on conservative activism. To start off with, we needed to lay the foundations of our campaign skills with the basic knowledge of the system. The ‘Preparing for Leadership’ lecture by Jay Lifshultz, a man who obviously knows what he is talking about, was superb in relaying his vital wisdom on how to run an effective campaign team in concise steps.
As our knowledge progressed and notes grew we moved onto the more complex parts of political organisation from donations, diplomacy, marketing, organizing events and, yes, even blogging. This blog is itself a product of our inspirational time.
Marcy Leblanc’s lecture on donor cultivation showed us how any political organisation, large or small, could create an entire network of donations, and we were given a really useful stewardship inventory – a bible for creating a successful donor network.
As an extra bonus, anyone who answered a particular question correctly was awarded a book, and by mid-week we all seemed to have a growing pile on the desk in front of us!
Some talks were priceless enough not to make notes. In particular Morton Blackwell’s story on how he turned a campus election around for the Republicans was inspirational, and Alex Mooney captivated us with the tales of his success as a young Maryland State Senator.
Mid-week we took time out of our hectic schedule for some rest and relaxation on the shooting range at Blue Ridge Arsenal, where, after a thorough introduction to firearm safety and operation, we had a great time firing a medley of handguns and semi-automatics rifles.
Towards the end of the week we went to the Heritage Foundation. A particular highlight was William Beach’s lecture on lower taxes. For some of us whose economic knowledge was rather weak the copies of the 2008 Index of Economic Freedom which were handed out proved illuminating.
Once we went through the theory of television training with Beverly Hallberg, the president of the District Media Group, we went onto media training in the LI’s snazzy television studios, which was a peak for many YBFer’s. Donal Blaney, the chief executive of YBF, an expert in media and television training, headed up the task of showing us the ropes.
It was daunting at first for the members present who had not been in front of a camera before, but it seems the only way to be effective on television is through practise! We were each interviewed in both the studio and in a recording room as an additional interviewee ‘live from New York’, which involves staying completely still and staring blankly at a camera whilst hearing the interviewer in an earpiece.
Afterwards, we had our interviews played back to us on screen, as Donal diplomatically highlighted what we did right, and what we did wrong!
We went back to studios later the next week, and the improvements by many of us was incredible….it really does take throwing yourself in the deep end and practising to improve!!
Despite a fairly intense training schedule, we were able to fit in trips to the White House and to other ‘must-see’ sights in the capital, and the lack of sleep did not stop us from enjoying the nightlife of DC either!
After one week our heads were already buzzing with invaluable knowledge for any political activist, and we were all beaming at the end as we each walked up to collect our graduation certificate.
