September 27, 2004

8-18 Media team interviews Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele at Republican National Convention, photo by 8-18 Media.

Joshua Rushton of Humboldt, Ariz. is a proud Republican. At 18, he was the youngest member of the delegation at the Republican National Convention. His duties as an alternate delegate were to "help support the President and get the President's message out to the public," he said.

It's a mission he takes seriously.

"About a year and a half ago I had this curiosity about politics and what the political process was all about," Rushton said. "I called my Republican Party headquarters and asked if they needed a volunteer. Since then, I've been able to volunteer in various political campaigns and also work with several Republican groups like the Teenage Republicans and the Young Republicans."

On the Lookout for Youth
The Republican Party wishes there were a lot more young people with Rushton's enthusiasm. According to Republicans at the convention, the party needs to build on its efforts to attract more young people.

In the last presidential election only about a third of eligible voters ages 18 to 24 voted. That's a problem, said Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin who was first elected in 1998 at age 28. He’s one of the younger representatives in office. He views youth political engagement as very important.

"It is really startling to me that when given the chance to vote by turning the age of 18, (they're) not exercising that freedom and that right which so many veterans have fought for our country to give us. I think it's a real travesty. I think that if our youth don't participate in our democracy in our country that doesn't say a lot for our future because our youth are our future."

Lt. Gov. Michael Steele of Maryland agrees that it's disappointing not to see full voter turnout among youth.

"I think young people need to wake up and get involved and be a part of the process," Steele said. "The most precious gift you have as an American citizen is the right to vote. The freedom that comes with electing your leaders and having an impact on policy and things like that is important."

Ryan says the party has a lot to offer youth.

“I think our party offers young people a vision, a set of principles of how the future of our country should be," he said. "We believe that each individual is very special. Every individual is very important and ought to be the pinnacle of all the values and the things that we hold dear when we think about how government works. Government ought to be accountable to the individual, not the other way around. The only thing stopping you from reaching your destiny is your own God-given talents and your own effort.”

Why They Lean To the GOP
Rushton was drawn to the Republican philosophy.

"I value the party for how it believes that the best government is that which governs least," he said. "Also their stand on a strong national defense, their protection of the rights of everyone including the unborn child. Also their belief that it’s better, or it’s a good idea, to lower taxes."

Anderson Ohman, 18, a freshman at Queens College in New York City, chose the Republican Party for economic and moral reasons.

"I'm a born-again believer, so moral issues of no abortion, anti-homosexuals, stuff like that — I mean it clearly states in the Bible that it's wrong," he said. "Economically, I want to follow the Republican stance because they're for giving the people of the United States more control of the government instead of having a more controlled government over the people."

Ohman attended a Rock the Vote event co-sponsored by College Republicans and MTV. He says that campaigns aimed at getting youth to vote are a good idea.

"I think they're very good. I'm glad that they are doing it," he said. "You know, you watch MTV though, and they're not very bipartisan. They're very one-sided, but I still like the idea of encouraging people to vote."

Catering to Youth
The Republican National Convention hosted several events, including a Youth Convention, that were aimed at young adults. Rushton and Ohman were among 2,500 who attended the hour and a half Youth Convention on the RNC floor at Madison Square Garden. It featured speakers such as First Daughters Barbara and Jenna Bush, Secretary of Education Rod Paige and Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie.

"Coming from New York, it was nice being in a place where there were all those standing Republicans and not being a minority," Ohman said.

According to the Republican National Convention Web site, the Youth Convention was part of the RNC's "comprehensive plan to energize America's youth and empower them to engage in grassroots efforts on behalf of President Bush."

Other Republican National Convention initiatives aimed at young adults included the Page Program in which young people act as convention support staff, an intern program, sign painting, interactive Web chats and a "Stand Up and Holla!" essay contest co-sponsored by MTV for 18 to 24-year-olds.

Steele offers his own theory on getting young people to become politically engaged. He says it begins with the government taking action.

“I think it really starts with government leaders getting out and talking to young people, going to forums and sitting down and saying, 'What's up? What's your issue? What's your beef? What do you like? What don't you like? How do you want to see government performing for you?'

"I think it's a very important voice that's missing from our political debate, and it starts with us sitting down and saying come to the table and tell us what's important to you and then shutting up and listening.”

Ryan says he constantly encourages young people to get involved in politics.

“I go to schools all the time," Ryan said. "I talk to a lot of assemblies and classes. I encourage young people to get involved in campaigns, volunteer on campaigns, take internships in offices to see what the political process is all about.

"Four of us young guys (in Congress) are thinking about going around to different universities and doing debates on campuses to try and get interest in this campaign and in participating in elections."

Rushton thinks he knows why senior citizens vote at twice the rate of eighteen to 24-year-olds.

"Their upbringing had a lot more emphasis on country, duty and patriotism," he said. "That is lacking in our generation today.

"I hope my generation will take the time to at least get involved in politics and get out there and see the excitement and enthusiasm that being involved in politics brings."

Editors Note: This story was written by Kristie Tonge, 17, of 8-18 Media. Interviews were conducted by Tonge, Andrew LaCombe, 14; Danielle Thoune, 14, and Carlie Coccia, 10, of 8-18 Media and Jordan Denari, 13, and Katie McDowell, 12, of Y-Press.

Resources

• See more stories by the young journalists at 8-18 Media [1] in Marquette, Michigan.
• Read 8-18 Media's coverage of the DNC [2]