"Young Eagles: Life in the fast lane"

[Clio the Leo]

My father tells this preachers story about a zoo in India that had a group of orphaned baby elephants. Without any discipline, the baby elephants were tearing up the joint. Now, in his story, eventually the zoo brings in an old bull elephant who single-handedly manages to get the baby elephants to behave and peace and order is restored.

The problem the GOP has is that the only bull in the zoo with any sense, or any ability to maintain order ... is a Democrat.

Young Eagles: Life in the fast lane
By: Kenneth P. Vogel
April 5, 2010 05:09 PM EDT

The big fundraising event at the Philadelphia Phillies home opener is canceled. So is the one at the steeplechase race in Virginia horse country and the weekend at the North Carolina paramilitary training compound. No definite word on the professional bull-riding rodeo this fall, or the trip to meet British Conservative Party leader David Cameron in London.

The Republican National Committee’s Young Eagles program to attract wealthy young donors is on hold, thanks to the bad publicity generated by a now infamous visit by members of the group to the West Hollywood “bondage” club Voyeur that has made the RNC and its chairman, Michael Steele, the target of late-night TV jokes and outraged conservatives.

But aside from any accounting and appearance issues raised by the RNC’s picking up the tab at Voyeur, there is a more pragmatic question for many Republicans: Is the cash actually raised by the Young Eagles worth the high cost — and potentially bad press — of the group’s nontraditional and sometimes edgy events?

Some Republicans say the answer is “no,” though it’s difficult to calculate the program’s impact, since Federal Election Commission reports don’t break out contributions by donor ages or programs.

“Is it a good idea to get young people fired up about the party and maybe giving money to the party when they’re 25 or 30?” said John Grotta, a GOP direct-mail consultant who worked at the RNC in the 1980s and 1990s under Chairmen Frank Fahrenkopf and Haley Barbour.

“Yes, in theory, it is. But the devil’s in the details, and throwing junkets at them is not the way to go about it. There’s no way is even breaking even now.”

<snip>

Still, the program has its defenders, who think a party without a president in the White House or control of Congress has to do what it can to attract younger donors.

“We do events that a specific demographic will like, so it will love us and give us money and vote for us,” said David Norcross, a former RNC general counsel and current committeeman who was briefed by Steele on the RNC’s plan to revamp its reimbursement and expense-approval process for all programs in the wake of the controversy.

“And, when you’re dealing with young people, it’s probably a good idea to go off the beaten track a little bit and do things you think they might like.” Norcross said. “Just because a couple of mistakes have been made, doesn’t mean you don’t want to continue being progressively forward looking. Why should we of all parties do old stodgy stuff?”

A former Young Eagle who did not want to be quoted by name seconded that opinion.

“Everything that’s cool from a pop culture perspective is Democratic — whether it’s Kanye West or Bruce Springsteen — and with younger conservatives, a good event is often a big way to help sell,” said the former Young Eagle, who left the program in 2008. Traditional fundraising events such as golf and tennis outings don’t quite cut it with young donors, he said. “How many times can you go to the U.S. Open?”

The Young Eagles are “a fun group,” the former member said. “If you’ve got a little insecurity complex, but you’ve got money — what a cool group to hang out with.”

http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=CFC92495-18FE-70B2-A88860B653CBCA13

Random note: Do you think the person quoted above doesn't know the difference between Kanye and Jay-z? I have a feeling he doesn't.

[LiberalFighter]

1. If they want edgy events then why don't they invite them to an event

where they jump out of an airplane without a parachute?

[atreides1]

2. I have a better idea

Tell the "Young Eagles" to enlist, get into a combat arms MOS and request duty in Afghanistan. The time they spend getting shot at for real might open their eyes, or close them if they forget to duck.

[LiberalFighter]

4. But anyone can do that.

[zbdent]

3. actually, the kind of events which are causing the current controversy

in the GOP are likely the kinds of events (underground and "off the record") which would attract the "Young Eagles" ...

[Blue Owl]

5. Say, those young chickenhawks are a fun group

It's just all so cool and stuff...

:eyes:

[Jennicut]

6. How can these idiots be cool? They are in their 20's and 30's and already conservatives.

That tells me all I need to know.