Rank & File reached out to the Young Republican and Young Democrat clubs to have them share their views of the upcoming primary elections and their role in it.
Young Republicans
With the Iowa Caucus only a few weeks away, the race for president is becoming more heated than ever. The Republican Party did not fail to offer a variety of choices, presenting 17 legitimate candidates during the early stages.
For many Americans, the emergence of Donald Trump as the frontrunner was hard to grasp and difficult to deal with, as he does not fail to cause controversy; however, Trump is running the most cost-effective campaign in modern history.
With years of politically correct presidents, a National debt approaching 19 trillion dollars, terrorist groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS attacking innocent people all over the world, and an estimated 15-20 million undocumented immigrants (though Trump claims 30 million), Trump is doing what he’s done all his life, using his unique vernacular to display his leadership and negotiation skills.
Trump isn’t all talk. He has officially released his stances on many issues including immigration reform, gun control, tax reform and even the U.S.-China trade relationship.
Furthermore, Trump is the only Republican candidate that does not have an affiliated super PAC since he is self-funding his campaign, which enables him to promote what he believes in and not become a surrogate for super PACs. Because of this Trump says what he believes without worrying what anybody else will think and is very blunt in doing so.
Many times over the past months, people thought some of the comments Trump made would surely be his downfall and he would eventually fade out; however, Trump is now polling higher than he has ever polled before and his chances of becoming the Republican Presidential nominee for president are looking better every day.
Recently, Ben Carson has fallen in the polls and Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio have risen. At the beginning of the race, many people predicted Jeb Bush to be the party’s ‘go-to’ candidate, but it is now looking like the younger and more energized Rubio or Cruz are much more popular than Bush. Rubio has experience in government that Trump doesn’t have, and, until this election cycle, experience was seen as vital in becoming a serious candidate. Rubio has experience at both the state and federal level of government.
Many republicans prefer Rubio because he offers a fresh and new face to the Republican party that breaks the usual Republican stereotypes, and because he is a great representation of the modern American dream. He is the son of first generation immigrants and has worked his way up from humble beginnings.
Sincerely, Paul Plawin
Follow the Young Republicans on twitter @gcmyoungrepubs
Young Democrats
My name is Raman Khanna and I serve as the president of the Marshall Young Democrats. This club is an official chapter of the Virginia Young Democrats and Young Democrats of America. This puts our almost 80 members here at Marshall in a community with millions of student democrats across this country who believe in a similar vision for this country.
We’re a group out of millions of students who believe that equality for LGBT people and women in this country is critical to the future of our generation, who believe that guns in this country need to be regulated because of the 78 people who die everyday from gun-related injuries and the millions who believe that the climate change is real and one of the biggest problems our generation faces, amongst many other issues.
This coalition of students have a progressive vision for this country where bigotry and divisiveness are not values that are celebrated. This powerful group of young people helps to impact policy is a positive grassroots way.
Now, more than ever before, stark contrasts and differences arise between the Democratic party and Republican party. As the presidential race for 2016 heats up, these differences are reflected in the candidates each party has running for the nomination. However, what is most important than anything else is that your voice is heard, no matter what party you belong to. Discussion and debate is the founding principle of our government, the greatest democracy in the world.
As young people, it is so critical that our voice is heard, as we are often silenced. I am proud of the very different democratic candidates approaches to important issues that we as young people should be discussing. I am very proud as a Young Democrat club member that there are many opinions within our club, and I am proud as a Statesmen of the very different opinions in our school from both sides of the aisle.
We hope more than anything that this piece will inspire you to actively engage in this great democracy no matter who you decide to support in 2016. We challenge you to get involved in the political process and organize your community for the issues you believe in.
We encourage you to start by supporting a candidate.
Sincerely, Raman Khanna
Follow the Young Democrats on twitter @gcmyoungdems