Libertas 33.3 (Fall 2012)

Fall 2012

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October 17, 2012

Dear Friends:

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t is not surprising that Americans seem eager for change in Washington after four years of the weakest economic recovery in modern American history, “Taxageddon” staring us in the face, and endless efforts to divide our nation by race and class.

Even so, I have been surprised by how many conservatives tell me the only event they are concerned about right now is November’s election results.

Well, Young America’s Foundation’s mission is not to win the next election. It is profoundly more important; our mission is to win the next generation. In fact, I would contend that an exclusive obsession over an election guarantees we lose our freedoms because there will be endless waves of poorly educated candidates waiting for the next set of elections.

It is naïve to blame the dire threat to our freedoms on a singular figure.

You see, Barack Obama is not the product of America’s election cycle. He is the product of America’s education system—specifically our colleges and universities. What you may find troublesome in Washington today is a direct outgrowth of higher education’s preoccupation, for more than a generation, with race, class, and gender. Those themes have been preached—to the exclusion of rewarding merit, individual freedom, and the American dream—at colleges including Occidental, Columbia, Harvard, and the University of Chicago. These institutions shaped Barack Obama.

Conservatives were too preoccupied with past elections to ensure students at those schools adequately considered freedom’s merits. Bad results were inevitable. An election cycle, or even a perfect candidate, cannot make up for generations of mis-educated Americans.

The division of America by race and gender and the preaching of envy and coveting as if those are virtues will continue to plague America’s public life as long as those ideologies dominate in our classrooms. The candidates (and their staff members) of the major parties will be less acceptable to the average conservative because they will have been educated by socialist and race-obsessed faculties and administrators.

Abraham Lincoln is often quoted as warning, “The philosophy of the classroom today will be the philosophy of government tomorrow.”

Really, the process is even faster now, as Presidents tap college faculty members and administrators for key positions in our judicial and executive branches of government. Barack Obama was only briefly away from his campus experience when he became President.

So, Young America’s Foundation will remain focused on our mission. It isn’t to win an election. It is to raise succeeding generations who know and love freedom. That contest will be lost if conservatives fail to give young Americans an opportunity to learn our ideas.

Sincerely,

Ron Robinson President

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LIBERTAS Fall 2012

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Volume 33

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Number 3

Walker, Santorum, Gingrich, Bachmann, Paul, Pence, and Others Reach More Than 400 at 34th Annual National Conservative Student Conference

By Jolie Stuart-Davis, Sarah T. Hermann Intern Scholar

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Alumni Profile: Katie Pavlich Exposes Fast and Furious Scandal in New York Times Bestseller

By Ron Meyer, Spokesman

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Reagan, Parker, Robinson, Easton, and Wilbur Headline Reagan Ranch High School Conference

By Ana Lightle, Program Officer

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National Journalism Center Graduate Studied Under Robert Novak

By John Twarog, National Journalism Center Alumnus

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The Real Product of Higher Education

By Dr. Paul Kengor, Grove City College

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Michigan High School Student Launches Top YAF Chapter

By Patrick X. Coyle, Vice President

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The Conservative Guide to Campus Activism: “The Art of Debate” by Bay Buchanan Introduction by Patrick X. Coyle, Vice President

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Ellmers, Bossie, Pavlich, and Folsom Inspire Students at National High School Leadership Conference

By Rachel Jankowski, Sarah T. Hermann Intern Scholar

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TeamCFA Foundation Selects Reagan Ranch as Meeting Place

By Nicole Hoplin, Vice President

Vol. 33

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No. 3

Fall 2012

On the Cover: Cover artwork designed by Joel Aaron Carlson.

Also in This Issue: 4 Ashcroft, Williams, and George Headline Rawhide Circle Retreat 6 Richard Allen Addresses Reagan Ranch Roundtable 7 Thomas Phillips Student Luncheon Features Governor George

Allen

7 Reagan Ranch Activism Seminar Energizes Students 8 Bill O’Reilly Visits Rancho del Cielo 39 2013 Fall Foliage Cruise: Set Sail with Top Conservative Leaders Libertas, the Latin word for liberty, is a publication of Young America’s Foundation which highlights the programs, events, students, staff, and supporters of the Foundation. You may contact Libertas and Young America’s Foundation by writing to: Young America’s Foundation, National Headquarters, 110 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170; calling 800-USA-1776; or visiting yaf.org.

Editor: Jessica Jensen; Publisher: Ron Robinson; Publication Design: Jonathan Briggs; Assistant Editors: Kimberly Begg, Amy Brooker, Patrick X. Coyle, Meredith Deferville, Nicole Hoplin, Ana Lightle, Ron Meyer, Chris Miranda, and Caroline Rushing; California event photographers: Jacqueline Pilar, Kevin Steele, and Jensen Sutta; Washington, D.C. event photographer: Spencer Anderson. This document and all herein contents, images, stories, graphics, and design, fall unto copyright © 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 Young America’s Foundation, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Any use of Libertas’ content without the written permission of Young America’s Foundation is prohibited.

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Young America’s Foundation Board Of Directors Ron Robinson President of the Board Ronald Pearson Vice President of the Board Frank Donatelli Secretary and Treasurer of the Board T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr. Wynton C. Hall Thomas L. Phillips Peter Schweizer James B. Taylor Kirby Wilbur Reagan Ranch Board Of Governors Frank Donatelli Chairman Judge William Clark Co-Chairman Edwin Meese Co-Chairman Governor George Allen John Barletta Dr. Suzanne Becker Lisa M. Buestrin Robert Cummins Becky Norton Dunlop Robert Giuffra, Jr. Timothy S. Goeglein Ambassador Patricia L. Herbold Eric & Nicole Hoplin Marty Irving Harold Knapheide Mark Larson Al & Bette Moore Governor Bill Owens Doug & Pat Perry Thomas Phillips Dr. Robert Ruhe & Lee Shannon Fred & Ruth Sacher Richard & Jane Schwartz Craig Shirley Owen & Bernadette Casey Smith Barbara S. Waddell National Journalism Center Board Of Governors Thomas Phillips Chairman Jerry Norton Executive Director Kellyanne Conway Terry Eastland Rich Lowry Alex Mooney Matt Robinson Tom Winter

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Ashcroft, Williams, and George Headline 2012 Rawhide Circle Retreat in Philadelphia MeMbers of Young AMericA’s foundAtion’s rAwhide circle and the Reagan Ranch Board of Governors gathered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the annual Rawhide Circle Retreat.

The special program celebrated our nation’s founding documents: the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. Remarks from some of the Foundation’s premier speakers supplemented group visits to the National Constitution Center and Independence Hall.

The gathering opened with a reception and dinner at the exclusive Union League of Philadelphia. John Ashcroft, the 79th attorney general of the United States, delivered an impassioned speech on the importance of advancing freedom, especially among young audiences.

“I care so much about this organization,” noted Attorney General Ashcroft, “because Young America’s Foundation is designed for the achievement of the most important responsibility of any culture: the transmission of values from one generation to the next.”

Later in the weekend, Foundation President Ron Robinson updated Princeton University professor Dr. Robert George speaks on the importance of the Constitution during a special luncheon just yards from Independence Hall at Young America’s Foundation’s 2012 Rawhide the group on how Young America’s Circle Retreat.

Foundation promotes the ideas of freedom and conservative principles to young people across the country through dynamic conferences, seminars, campus lectures, and other initiatives.

Participants also heard from President Reagan’s long-time pen pal, Lorraine Wagner, who was interviewed by Vice President Andrew Coffin.

Dr. Robert George of Princeton University headlined a special luncheon with a speech rooted in Constitutional principles. Economist and George Mason University professor Dr. Walter Williams concluded the retreat weekend with a speech on the importance of individual responsibility and limited Dr. Walter Williams discusses the importance of freedom and individual responsibility during the Rawhide government.

Circle Retreat’s closing dinner banquet.

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Attorney General John Ashcroft inspires Foundation supporters at the Rawhide Circle Retreat’s opening dinner banquet at the Union League in Philadelphia.

Reagan Ranch Board of Governors members Richard and Jane Schwartz enjoy a tour of Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

Young America’s Foundation supporters Bob and Leah Traut (left) and Ray and Susie Screbant (right) meet with President Reagan’s long-time pen pal, Lorraine Wagner, and her son, Scott.

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President Reagan’s National Security Advisor, Richard Allen, Addresses Supporters and Students As pArt of the wendY p. MccAw reAgAn rAnch roundtAble series, Richard Allen, President Reagan’s chief national security advisor from 1977 to 1980, addressed Foundation supporters, students, and community members.

Allen spoke of his numerous experiences with President Reagan, including the development of the Cold War policy of “We Win. They Lose.” He also discussed President Reagan’s ability as a communicator, saying, “He could address people and convey an idea” regardless of whether the person was young or old.

“I had the opportunity to serve with—I think—the greatest man I’ve ever met in my life,” Allen explained. “It is all summed-up in my mind in something that I saw on the first day of his Presidency....There was a little brass plaque [on Reagan’s desk in the White House], and many of you know what it said: ‘There is no limit to what a man can achieve or how far he can go as long as he doesn’t care who gets the credit.’

Ronald Reagan never wanted the credit.”

Allen also recognized long-time friends who were in attendance including President Reagan’s son, Michael Reagan; John Barletta, who served on President Reagan’s Secret Service detail for 17 years; and Dennis LeBlanc, President Reagan’s close friend for more than 30 years.

Michael Reagan meets with his father’s national security advisor, Richard Allen.

Richard Allen greets Wendy McCaw, Young America’s Foundation supporter and sponsor of the 2012 Reagan Ranch Roundtable luncheon series, and Arthur von Wiesenberger.

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2012 Thomas Phillips Student Luncheon Features Governor George Allen More thAn 200 students gAthered At cpAc 2012 to attend the Thomas Phillips Student Luncheon featuring Governor George Allen.

This was the 16th installment of the Thomas Phillips Lecture Series graciously sponsored by Mr. Phillips at every CPAC since 1996. Mr. Phillips is chairman of the Phillips Foundation, Eagle Publishing, Inc., and the National Journalism Center. He also serves on Young America’s Foundation’s Board of Directors and on the Reagan Ranch Board of Governors.

During this year’s luncheon, Governor Allen spoke to the capacity crowd on why young people should stand up for freedom. He Governor George Allen addresses 200 students at the 16th commented that Young America’s Foundation is the best organization annual Thomas Phillips Student Luncheon at the 2012 CPAC to provide students with the resources to accomplish this goal, saying, in Washington, D.C. “There is no organization in the world like it.”

Special guests included John Farley and Jeff Hollingsworth of the Phillips Foundation, Michelle Easton of the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute, Foundation Vice President Ron Pearson, and leaders of the Young Britons’ Foundation.

Reagan Ranch Activism Seminar Helps Young Leaders Sharpen Activism Skills Young AMericA’s foundAtion hosted students froM Across the countrY at our annual Activism Seminar at the Reagan Ranch. Sponsored by Bill and Nan Bensyl, this two-day program introduced students to the ideas, tactics, and methods to adopt an activist mentality to advance conservatism on campus and beyond.

The first day included informative speeches by Foundation Director Kirby Wilbur; Foundation alumnus and Breitbart. com Managing Editor Alex Marlow; and journalist and filmmaker Phelim McAleer, who discussed the importance of activism, how to effectively use new media to advance conservative ideas, and how to counter the “sustainable poverty” agenda of the Left—respectively.

Later in the weekend, Foundation Vice President Patrick Coyle and Program Officer Ana Lightle shared the nuts and bolts of campus activism, including how to bring conservative speakers to their campuses. The students also learned how to navigate their schools’ bureaucracy, fundraise, earn publicity, and counter the Left’s dirty tricks.

The weekend concluded with a trip to the Western White House—President Reagan’s beloved Rancho del Cielo where he went to “think things out” some of the most Students from around the country gain inspiration at the Reagan Ranch during Young America’s Foundation’s pressing issues of the day. annual student Activism Seminar.

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Bill O’Reilly Visits Rancho del Cielo bill o’reillY, host of The O’Reilly FacTOR on the Fox News Channel, toured the Reagan Ranch with Foundation Vice President Andrew Coffin and President Reagan’s longest serving Secret Service agent, John Barletta. O’Reilly was in Santa Barbara for his Bolder and Fresher show with Dennis Miller.

Like many visitors, O’Reilly was surprised Bill O’Reilly highlights his Reagan Ranch visit during The O’Reilly Factor on Fox News. by the humbleness of the ranch house.

Following his visit, O’Reilly opened his television program by describing his ranch visit. He told his audience that the Ranch reminded him “that Ronald Reagan was a modest man who based his public policy and his life on common sense.”

O’Reilly also highlighted his Ranch visit in his nationally-syndicated column and on BillOReilly.com. He wrote: Last week I ambled on up to the late Ronald Reagan’s ranch high in the mountains of Santa Barbara County. Called Rancho del Cielo (Ranch in the Sky), it comprises 688 acres and one very small home. In fact, I was very surprised by how modest it is....It is obvious that Ronald Reagan didn’t care about amenities. He wanted to ride his horses, chop his wood and get in some alone time. My visit to the ranch confirmed that Mr. Reagan was a regular guy who valued basic things.

Fox News’s Bill O’Reilly (middle) visits Rancho del Cielo with Foundation Vice President Andrew Coffin (left) and President Reagan’s close friend and Secret Service agent, John Barletta (right).

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Walker, Santorum, West, Paul, Bachmann, and Others energize Students at 34th Annual National Conservative Student Conference

By Jolie Stuart-Davis, Young America’s Foundation Sarah T. Hermann Intern Scholar

Senator Rick Santorum headlines the opening banquet of the 34th annual National Conservative Student Conference in Washington, D.C.

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ore than 400 participants from across the country and the United Kingdom traveled to Washington, D.C., for the 34th annual National Conservative Student Conference.

Young America’s Foundation hosts this event every summer to expose students to the principles of limited government, free enterprise, traditional values, and individual freedom.

Conference attendees heard from more outstanding conservative leaders in one week than they will hear in four years on any campus in America. Speakers included Governor Scott Walker; Speaker Newt Gingrich; Senators Rick Santorum, Ron Johnson, and Rand Paul; Congresswoman Michele Bachmann; Congressmen Mike Pence, Jim Jordan, and Allen West; and many others.

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34th Annual National Conservative Student Conference

Governor Scott Walker delivers a rousing address on the need for strong, conservative leadership.

Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin shares his thoughts on the disastrous consequences of Obamacare.

National media outlets, including C-SPAN, cover the Foundation’s annual summer conference at The George Washington University.

Princeton University’s Dr. Robert George discusses the importance of American exceptionalism.

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky inspires students and supporters at the National Conservative Student Conference’s Ronald Reagan Banquet.

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Governor Walker—who delivered one of the final speeches of the program—explained, “What has made the United States of America exceptional? Men and women of courage who are able to think more about the futures of their children and grandchildren than [of themselves].”

In addition to meeting top leaders, the students also met and discussed issues with like-minded peers from around the country.

Lauren McCue, a freshman at Virginia Tech, noted, “I have not only networked but also made many friends who share common beliefs, and that affirms I am not a lone voice in the Conservative Movement!”

Students also learned from Hillsdale College’s Dr. Burt Folsom, author Chris Horner, economist Dr. Walter Williams, Princeton University’s Dr. Robert George, author and Foundation alumna Ying Ma, Foundation Director Kirby Wilbur, author Christina Hoff Sommers, and many other premier conservative leaders.

Speaker Newt Gingrich kicked off the week-long program, and all participants received a copy of his book, A Nation Like No Other.

Senator Rick Santorum attended a special reception with students prior to his address at a conference banquet. continued on page 13

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Florida Congressman Allen West encourages the young participants to fight for their beliefs.

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34th Annual National Conservative Student Conference

Congressman Jim Jordan discusses the importance of promoting individual responsibility.

Will Maloney from Christopher Newport University asks a question of a conference speaker during the week-long program in our nation’s capital.

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America’s Foundation’s new film, The Conservatives, featuring Mark Levin, Monica Crowley, Michelle Malkin, Jonah Goldberg, Stephen Moore, Peter Schweizer, and Dr. Walter Williams. Young America’s Foundation produced the film to present an alternative view to campus leftism and to teach young Americans the moral case for free enterprise.

“I think the film does an amazing job of inspiring conservatives on campus to boldly fight for their ideals,” remarked continued on page 14

During his speech, Senator Santorum said our founders sacrificed everything because “they knew freedom was worth it.” He challenged the students to fight for America, saying, when they look back on their lives, they will have to explain what they did “when America’s freedom was at stake.” They will be asked, “What were you willing to sacrifice?”

Senator Rand Paul, whose participation was secured by Vice President Ron Pearson, also spoke to a packed room of conference attendees, supporters, and Foundation alumni at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill for the conference’s Ronald Reagan Banquet.

Senator Paul’s engaging speech focused on Obamacare, and he illustrated some of the odd new medical codes for government insurance in the healthcare law. He explained how doctors now have to use 122,000 new codes for ailments including bizarre personal appearance, running into a lamp post, running into a lamp post twice, being struck by a turtle, and being bitten by a turtle, among others.

After Senator Paul’s address, students watched the premiere of Young

Speaker Newt Gingrich signs a copy of his latest book, A Nation Like No Other, for Brendan Fulmer from Loyola University Maryland.

Congresswoman Michele Bachmann speaks on the consequences of the Left’s foreign policy agenda.

Activist and author Star Parker discusses how she moved beyond dependency on government handouts to become a successful business woman.

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34th Annual National Conservative Student Conference

Young people from around the country enjoy Young America’s Foundation’s longest running student conference in Washington, D.C.

Darren Ramalho of the University of California, Los Angeles.

Also during the week, Star Parker engaged the crowd by sharing her personal journey from being a “welfare queen” to a successful business woman.

She urged the young leaders to make a difference, stating, “You change one, you change the world. You touch one, you’ve touched the world.”

New York Times bestselling author and YAF alumnus Jason Mattera spoke on his latest book, Hollywood Hypocrites.

After his entertaining and humorous speech, Mattera took photos with students and signed copies of his books.

Another star YAF alumnus, Peter Schweizer, wrapped up the week-long conference with a speech about preserving America and putting our great nation first. The New York Times bestselling author told students to stay involved with the Foundation and encouraged them to take their activism to the next level.

Students left the conference inspired to go back to their campuses 14

and advance the ideas they learned throughout the week.

University of Arkansas student Daniel Plume remarked, “This conference has given me the tools I need to help others see the value of conservative ideas. The National Conservative Student Conference challenged me to take a stand and fight for the values I hold dear.”

———————————————— Jolie Stuart-Davis served as a 2012 Sarah T. Hermann Intern Scholar at Young America’s Foundation’s F.M. Kirby Freedom Center. She is currently a firstyear student at Penn State Law School.

Congressman Mike Pence addresses students and Capitol Hill interns attending the National Conservative Student Conference.

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Mary Kate Kelledy from Azusa Pacific University and Sierra Roberts from Cal State Monterey Bay gain inspiration and knowledge from the leading conservative speakers at the National Conservative Student Conference.

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Alumna Katie Pavlich Exposes Fast and Furious Scandal in NYT Bestseller

Young AMericA’s foundAtion trAins the future leAders

Barbara. I immediately knew I wanted to do something that made a difference.”

After finishing her degree at University of Arizona, Pavlich worked as an assistant editor for Townhall Magazine, was soon promoted to news editor, and started appearing on Fox News and Fox Business Channel. From the beginning of her career, her knack for hard-hitting investigative reporting became obvious.

It is not hard to see the late Andrew Breitbart’s influence in Pavlich’s work, especially on one issue: the Fast and Furious gun-walking scandal.

Following his appearance at the Foundation’s 2009 conference, Pavlich spoke with Breitbart about the importance of aggressive reporting. At Townhall, the young writer played a pivotal role in exposing Attorney General Eric Holder’s connection to Fast and Furious.

While the mainstream media insisted on calling Fast and Furious a “botched gun-running operation,” Pavlich found evidence that the operation was not “botched.”

“When I first started looking into Operation Fast and Furious, my initial question was, ‘Why in the world would this administration be giving guns to the very people they claimed they wanted to stop?’ explained Pavlich. “It didn’t make sense. Something smelled, and when I went digging, I found a lot of dirt.”

The supposed intention of Fast and Furious was to have U.S. dealers sell guns to Mexican drug cartels so the federal government could track the guns and arrest the bad guys.

Pavlich exposed one major flaw with this explanation: only two of the more than 2,500 guns were equipped with tracking devices.

Regnery Publishing soon approached Pavlich about writing a book on the topic, and in April 2012, Fast and Furious: Barack Obama’s Bloodiest Scandal and the Shameless Cover-up was released.

of our nation, but we never really know how quickly Foundation activists are going to step up and do great things. With Foundation alumna Katie Pavlich, we barely had to wait a year before she became a New York Times bestselling author at age 23.

Katie Pavlich’s first exposure to Young America’s Foundation was at the College Conference at the Reagan Reach in 2008—a program she eagerly returned to in 2009. She heard from leading conservatives, including the late Andrew Breitbart, and explored Ronald Reagan’s beloved ranch home.

Pavlich took what she learned at these conferences and put it to use right away—never letting her young age hold her back.

“Young America’s Foundation changed my life,” noted Pavlich. “I was one of those college kids who had no idea what I should have been studying or what field I should have gone into until I went to my first YAF conference in Santa

Fox News features Pavlich and her bestseller, Fast and Furious: Barack Obama’s Bloodiest Scandal and the Shameless Cover-Up.

By ron Meyer, Spokesman

Katie Pavlich, news editor for Townhall.com and a Foundation alumna, headlines a Wendy P. McCaw Reagan Ranch Roundtable luncheon at the Reagan Ranch Center.

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Pavlich suggests that the Obama administration’s motive with Fast and Furious wasn’t to catch Mexican drug lords; it was to scapegoat and demagogue gun dealers in the southwestern states. The Obama administration wanted to find a way to blame Mexican gun violence on the Second Amendment, so they could limit gun sales in the southwest.

In response to her book, Pavlich appeared on The O’Reilly Factor, Hannity, C-SPAN’s Book Notes, and numerous other national programs, and Fast and Furious quickly landed on the New York Times bestseller list.

Pavlich was inspired by her experience at Young America’s Foundation’s programs, and now, she is “paying it forward” by speaking at those same conferences, inspiring students to follow her stead.

“We need to hold our government accountable,” explained Pavlich. “It is important for young people to be informed about policy, government programs, how legislation affects them…and the type of rhetoric being used to constantly sell them empty promises.”

After all this success, Katie Pavlich remains humble and grateful—especially to Young America’s Foundation. “Young America’s Foundation inspired me to fight harder, work harder, pursue the truth, and stand up for what I believe in.”

Pavlich signs copies of her book in the Jefts Beede Conference Room at the Reagan Ranch Center.

Pavlich learns from the late Andrew Breitbart during the 2009 College Conference at the Reagan Ranch.

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H i g H S c H O O L c O n f e r e n c e AT T H e r e A g A n r A n c H

Parker, Reagan, Robinson, Folsom, Easton, and Wilbur Headline High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch

By Ana Lightle, Program Officer

Foundation President Ron Robinson helps the young audience gain a better understanding of conservatism during the High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch.

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n March, 72 students from 13 states and more than 50 schools attended Young America’s Foundation’s semi-annual High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch. This program, once again generously sponsored by the Gaby Foundation, allowed students to learn from top Conservative Movement leaders, meet like-minded peers, and visit President Reagan’s beloved ranch—Rancho del Cielo.

Michael Reagan opened the conference, sharing stories about his father for the students, parents, and grandparents in attendance. Following his remarks, 18

Reagan signed copies of his book, The New Reagan Revolution.

The first full day of the program included remarks from Foundation President Ron Robinson, Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute President Michelle Easton, and actor and author Joseph Phillips.

Best-selling author and popular Foundation speaker Star Parker also spoke to students, supporters, and community members at the Wendy P. McCaw Reagan Ranch Roundtable luncheon which was held during the conference.

A syndicated columnist, author, and founder and president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education,

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Santa Barbara students (from left) Andrew Teel, Timothy Stanton, and Hugh Grant-Champan enjoy an afternoon at Ronald Reagan’s Rancho del Cielo.

Parker uses her first-hand experience in the grip of the welfare system to promote policies that successfully transition America’s poor from government dependency.

She began her remarks in the David Louis Bartlett Outreach Center by commending the students who “go into the public school environment knowing that they have the whole system against them and still hold their heads up for traditional values.” She encouraged the young people in attendance to continue to strengthen their conservative beliefs, reminding the audience that “we need people in Washington, on our high school campuses, on our college campuses, men and women of resolve in our society who

believe in limited government.”

Author and activist Star Parker discusses how “America is she moved beyond government dependency exceptional,” to achieve the American dream and lead a Parker concluded. successful, happy, and prosperous life.

“In fact I’ve said it a hundred times: my life story embodies American exceptionalism. That anyone from any background, any ethnicity—even if they break their life—can be born again and start pulling it back together, make wholesome decisions for themselves, and live a peaceful and prosperous life in this great country of ours.”

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H i g H S c H o o l c o n f e r e n c e AT T H e r e A g A n r A n c H

(From left) Dr. James Carr, executive vice president of Harding University; Dr. Richard Jewell, president of Grove City College; Dr. Graham Walker, president of Patrick Henry College; Dr. Burt Folsom, author and professor at Hillsdale College; and Dr. Jerry Davis, president of the College of the Ozarks, gather on the Mr. and Mrs. Alwal Anheuser Beims Moore Rooftop Terrace at the Reagan Ranch Center.

Ronald Reagan’s son, Michael Reagan (middle) meets with Trinity Classical Academy students (from left) Dane Smith, Emma Lippencott, Taylor Trotten, and Grant Wolf at the Reagan Ranch Center.

Following lunch, students traveled to the Reagan Ranch for a private tour of the 688-acre Presidential property. The group explored the adobe ranch house, Tack Barn, and Secret Service Command Post to gain a better understanding of America’s 40th President.

Foundation Director Kirby Wilbur wrapped up the day with a discussion on faith and the Founding Fathers.

The next day included two addresses by Hillsdale College professor Dr. Burt Folsom who spoke on his books, The Myth of the Robber Barons and New Deal or Raw Deal? Foundation Vice President Kate Obenshain concluded the morning session by highlighting the real 20

consequences of the Obama administration’s policies on young people.

A luncheon panel featured leaders from top conservative colleges who discussed the benefits of going to a conservative college. Panelists included Dr. James Carr, executive vice president, Harding University; Dr. Jerry Davis, president, College of the Ozarks; Dr. Richard Jewell, president, Grove City College; and Dr. Graham Walker, president, Patrick Henry College.

The conference concluded with a special preview of Young America’s Foundation’s new movie, The Conservatives, and remarks from Foundation Vice President

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Sarah Dwelle (left) and Isabella Foxen (right) from California explore Ronald Reagan’s adobe ranch home during the 2012 High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch.

Foundation Director Kirby Wilbur offers insightful remarks on faith and our nation’s Founding Fathers.

Patrick Coyle on how the students can advance their ideas at their schools and beyond.

Following the conference, Grant Wolf from Santa Clarita, California, noted, [The conference] was such a wonderful opportunity to learn more about conservatism and to gain wisdom from some of the Movement’s greatest minds. Rancho del Cielo was more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. It was truly the experience of a lifetime.

High school students Emma Lippencott and Taylor Totten tour the newly restored Secret Service Command Post at Rancho del Cielo.

Young America’s Foundation thanks the Gaby Foundation for their generous gift to sponsor this important program.

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National Journalism Center Graduate Tim Carney Got His Start at Human Events

By John Twarog, National Journalism Center Alumnus

Tim Carney speaks with his boss and mentor, the late Robert Novak, during a Phillips Foundation event in Washington, D.C.

If you ask Washington ExaminEr senIor PolItIcal Correspondent Tim Carney about his favorite memories as a National Journalism Center (NJC) intern in Washington, D.C, there’s a good chance he’ll mention the free tacos at the Hawk ‘n Dove pub near Capitol Hill.

“Free tacos, were, for someone on an intern’s salary, a godsend,” said Carney, with a big smile on his face.

For Carney, his career as a journalist began with Young America’s Foundation’s National Journalism Center, which placed him at the conservative publication Human Events.

As an intern, Carney excelled at his main task of writing summaries of congressional debates, and he was eventually hired full-time by the publication after graduating from St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland.

After his tenure at Human Events, Carney was hired as a reporter for the late Robert Novak, one of the most widely read syndicated columnists in the United States. Carney fondly recalls his time spent working under Novak as an incredible learning experience.

The legendary Novak had high praise for Carney as well, as noted in his book, The Prince of Darkness.

He wrote, “[Evans-Novak Political Report’s] heavy lifting for 2004 was done by Tim Carney, maybe my best political reporter since I began hiring them in 1982.”

National Journalism Center (NJC) alumnus Timothy Carney speaks to NJC interns, offering his insights and advice on reporting in our nation’s capital.

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“That was almost like grad school for me,” said Carney. “I didn’t have any pressure to write a byline piece every week. I got to learn from as good a mentor as you could ask for.”

The legendary Novak had high praise for Carney as well, as noted in his book, The Prince of Darkness. He wrote, “[Evans-Novak Political Report’s] heavy lifting for 2004 was done by Tim Carney, maybe my best political reporter since I began hiring them in 1982.”

As a journalist, Carney has covered a variety of topics, most of which have centered on business-government

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Carney, senior political correspondent with the Washington Examiner, meets with NJC interns at the National Journalism Center’s office in the National Press Building in Washington, D.C.

collusion and policy. He has authored two that will be one of the core focuses of my books related to this issue. His most recent columns,” said Carney. book, Obamanomics: How Barack Obama Is Looking back on his time at NJC, Carney Bankrupting You and Enriching His Wall Street speaks highly of his fellow interns and recalls the Friends, Corporate Lobbyists, and Union Bosses, influence they had on his spiritual life. was hailed by Jonah Goldberg as “conservative “I was good friends with [fellow interns] Josh muckraking at its best, and an indispensable field Mercer and Brian McGuire. They helped bring guide to the Obama years.” me into the Catholic Church,” said Carney.

Carney was a Phillips Foundation Fellowship His advice to aspiring journalists is simple: winner (2003) and served as an editor at Regnery stick to the facts.

Carney is the author Publishing.

“Whether it’s investigative reporting, or just of two books, including Since 2009, Carney has served as senior phone calls and fleshing out details, or even his most recent work, political correspondent for the Washington piecing together little tidbits…and putting them Obamanomics: How Barack Obama Is Examiner. He has appeared on many cable news into a more focused narrative, that’s always much Bankrupting You shows and is a frequent contributor to MSNBC. more valuable both to readers, employers, and and Enriching His In his columns, Carney continues to focus any cause you might be fighting than putting in Wall Street Friends, on corporatism and interactions between your opinion and arguing,” said Carney.

Corporate Lobbyists, and Union Bosses. business and government, an area he feels is “You can always do a much bigger service often neglected in the media. to your readers or, if you are an activist, to your “As long as I think that sort of business-government cause, by digging up and reporting facts that people don’t collusion doesn’t get enough attention and is misreported, yet know.”

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the Real Product of

By Dr. Paul Kengor, grove City College

O

“The bigger concern, however, is that America’s educational system is manufacturing millions of future Obamas—and those who support him…”

n November 4, 2008, a really strange thing happened.

Americans decisively elected a President farther to the Left than any President in any of our memories, if not American history. Then, these same Americans stepped outside their polling booths and described themselves to pollsters as “conservative” over “liberal” by margins of two to one, or about 40 percent to 20 percent. How did this happen?

The answer was primarily two factors: First, there were the independent and moderate voters. As November 4 approached, no one knew what independents and moderates would ultimately do. In the end, they chose Barack Obama.

But the second factor, and perhaps most important— certainly in the long-run—was the fact that 18 to 29-year-olds supported Obama by a margin of more than two to one—66 to 32 percent. They comprised nearly 25 million ballots.

Those college-aged students went ga-ga for Obama. Why? What is it that they are learning, or not learning?

Well, for one thing, college campuses are rife with words like “tolerance” and “diversity” and “multiculturalism.” In truth,

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these are empty slogans used selectively by liberals—that is, intolerantly. They are applied in a notably un-diverse way—to secular sacred cows like gender, race, and sexual orientation and not at all to diversity of ideas. That, of course, is extremely ironic, given that universities, first and foremost, ought to be about the universe of ideas. Sadly, they are not. Ask religious conservatives, for instance, if college campuses are tolerant of them and their beliefs. Secular liberalism is the reigning religion.

Really, given the liberal milieu that dominates modern universities, Barack Obama was the perfect President of the United States for college students. He embodied the image that the professoriate had upheld as the ideal leader of our great nation.

And what’s the ideological profile of that professoriate?

Needless to say, it is extremely left-leaning.

A 2007 study by Neil Gross of Harvard and Solon Simmons of George Mason University found that liberal faculty outnumber conservative faculty by ratios of 11 to 1 among social scientists and 13 to 1 among humanities professors. That is staggering and cannot be simply a matter of coincidence—

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H

f

Higher Education not in an America that for at least two decades, in Gallup poll after Gallup poll, survey upon survey, self-identifies as conservative over liberal by 35 to 45 percent over 20 to 25 percent.

And yet, the Gross-Simmons study is consistent with a long line of surveys that find that self-identified liberals outnumber conservatives in academia by a ratio of nine to one. Here are just a few more examples: An early 1990s poll found 88 percent of “public affairs” faculty identified as liberal, 12 percent claimed “middle of the road,” and, remarkably, zero percent opted for the conservative label. An analysis of Cornell University professors found 166 liberals compared to six conservatives, and UCLA could claim 141 liberals and only nine conservatives.

I could go on and on. I have a folder jammed with studies.

And remember, academia champions “diversity.” To the contrary, there’s about as much ideological diversity at the faculty club as there is at Castro’s Politburo or the Ayatollah’s mullah-cracy.

And do not let anyone try to tell you that these professors are non-partisan. In 2004, the Center for Responsive Politics did a study of employee contributions to Presidential candidates among different employers. It found that the top two institutions in the country, in terms of employee per-capita contributions to Presidential candidates, were Harvard and the

University of California system—both of which gave 19 times more money to John Kerry than to George W. Bush.

Another 2004 analysis, by columnist Andrew Sullivan, found that nearly 92 percent of the 800 donations made by Ivy League professors went to John Kerry.

These figures are fully out-of-sync with the public and the parents who send their children to these colleges. And yet, parents do just that: they send their children to these schools. As they do, they are paying for precisely these results. They hand their children and their paychecks to the likes of the late atheist philosopher Richard Rorty, who said that the job of professors like him is “to arrange things so that students who enter as bigoted, homophobic religious fundamentalists will leave college with views more like our own” and “escape the grip of their frightening, vicious, dangerous parents.”

I

am reminded of a high school student who recently emailed me—another convert to gay marriage won by President Obama and his fellow progressives. He is a good-hearted, thoughtful young man, who is currently a freshman at a very liberal college in the northeast. He comes from a conservative evangelical family but has been steadily edging in a liberal direction. He read an article I had written on President Obama’s gay-marriage advocacy.

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Young America’s Foundation’s Top Conservative Colleges List

Christendom College Front royal, Virginia (800) 877-5456 www.christendom.edu

Young America’s Foundation released the Top Conservative Colleges list in response to frequently asked questions by parents and students about which schools we recommend to those seeking conservative colleges. This list is based on the positive feedback Young America’s Foundation has received from students, parents, and alumni of these schools.

These colleges offer alternatives to the liberal status quo, because they allow and encourage conservative students to explore conservative ideas and authors.

They offer coursework and scholarship in conservative thought and emphasize principles including smaller government, strong national defense, free enterprise, and traditional values.

This is not an exhaustive list of conservative institutions and should not be taken as such. Nor should it be the only source consulted in a college search.

Young America’s Foundation recommends that this list serve as a starting point.

The complete list with information on each college and why it was selected can be found at yaf.org.

love, then they should have the right to be together with full benefits under the title of being MARRIED,” he told me. “Also, I really don’t want to hear any religious arguments. Marriage is a secular act that can also be religious.”

Well, if he does not want to hear any religious arguments— or, for that matter, any counter-arguments period—then he is going to precisely the right place. Ironically, he was open to hearing my viewpoint. As he said, he did not simply want to yell at me, “Oh my god! You’re against gay marriage? Then you’re stupid!”

Well, sadly, that is exactly what he is sure to hear at the liberal college to which his parents soon will be sending their lifesavings.

This young man is a microcosm of the young people primed for ideological grooming at our universities.

Actually, he is ahead of the curve. His progression from young conservative Christian to gay-marriage liberal usually hits young folks in college rather than just before college. If he is already veering this far to the Left, I cannot imagine where he might be after four years at the incredibly liberal (and expensive) college he is about to attend. Indeed, his mother is aware of that. She emailed me as well. She is worried.

I could share story after story from distraught parents who have contacted me over the years, upset that their child of 18 years, who did everything from Boy Scouts to youth ministry at

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College of the Ozarks Point lookout, Missouri (800) 222-0525 www.cofo.edu

Colorado Christian University lakewood, Colorado 800-44-FAITH www.ccu.edu

Franciscan University Steubenville, Ohio (800) 783-6220 www.franciscan.edu

Grove City College grove City, Pennsylvania (724) 458-2100 www.gcc.edu

the church, came home that first Christmas break and informed them he supported Obama, or Kerry, or Gore, or Clinton. I have heard of tales of Thanksgiving dinner where mom and dad were baffled at the stunning new words emanating from the mouth of Susie, as if an ACORN community organizer or Planned Parenthood feminist had helicoptered onto the front lawn.

A number of conservatives have tried to assure me that conservatives will win in the long-run because we are having far more children than liberals. Just look at a typical homeschooling family, for instance. Well, that would be true— unless and until those conservative parents send their kids to liberal colleges. And I don’t care how well-formed and solid in values that student might be—parents tell me that all the time—it is nonetheless a huge risk to thrust an 18-year-old into this environment. Believe me, I know.

M

any of those reading this article figure that Barack Obama is a product of our educational system. The bigger concern, however, is that America’s educational system is manufacturing millions of future Obamas—and those who support him—not to mention more Pelosis, Kerrys, Kennedys, Boxers, and Kagans, among others. Obama is hardly one-of-a-kind. We need to understand the tremendous role that higher education plays in

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Harding University

Regent University

Searcy, Arkansas (501) 279-4000 www.harding.edu

Virginia Beach, Virginia (888) 718-1222 www.regent.edu

Hillsdale College

Saint Vincent College

Hillsdale, Michigan (517) 607-2327 www.hillsdale.edu

Latrobe, Pennsylvania (724) 537-4540 www.stvincent.edu

The King’s College

Thomas Aquinas College

New York, New York (212) 659-7200 www.tkc.edu

Santa Paula, California (800) 634-9797 www.thomasaquinas.edu

Liberty University

Thomas More College

Lynchburg, Virginia (434) 582-2000 www.liberty.edu

Merrimack, New Hampshire (603) 880-8308 www.thomasmorecollege.edu

Patrick Henry College

Wisconsin Lutheran College

Purcellville, Virginia (888) 338-1776 www.phc.edu

Milwaukee, Wisconsin (414) 443-8811 www.wlc.edu

growing and emboldening the Left and its cause.

Regardless of the outcome this fall, there will be many more leftists just like Barack Obama who are eager to step forward to advance their ideas of fundamental change. It starts at the university assembly line.

This will be even more so if conservatives keep giving financial support to these institutions. Conservatives would never give financial gifts to Barack Obama or his leftist allies and causes, but they continue to give to higher education.

And so, what can you do? Well, for starters, just say no.

Quit sending your kids, grandkids, and your “gifts” to these universities—but not all universities. There are a few good ones out there, and they must be supported. To counter a Columbia or Cal-Berkeley, there is a Hillsdale College and Grove City College (where I teach), a Franciscan University (Steubenville, Ohio), a Thomas Aquinas College (Santa Paula, California), a Regent University (Virginia Beach, Virginia), and a few others.

Sure, there aren’t nearly as many conservative colleges as liberal ones, but they are out there. Check out the list of recommended colleges by Young America’s Foundation. You simply need to do a little homework and be more careful about where you direct your precious resources, whether that’s alumni giving or giving a genuine education to your child.

Think about it: You spend 18 years carefully nurturing your children—their thoughts, minds, and even their faith. And

then you send them and your life savings to a liberal university that, in four years, will doggedly undo every single one of those values and virtues. That is insanity. No matter how well formed and how strong your child might be—or you think he or she might be—your child is very vulnerable to the secular liberal onslaught, one so intense and so overwhelming that you can’t begin to imagine the fundamental change.

Just say no. Make the right choice.

—————————————————————————— Dr. Paul Kengor is professor of political science at Grove City College, executive director of The Center for Vision & Values, and author of the new book, The Communist: Frank Marshall Davis, The Untold Story of Barack Obama’s Mentor.

His other books include The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism and Dupes: How America’s Adversaries Have Manipulated Progressives for a Century. He is also a member of Young America’s Foundation’s campus lecture program. To bring Dr. Kengor to your campus, contact Patrick X. Coyle at 800-USA-1776 or pcoyle@yaf.org.

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S t u d e n t

P r o f i l e

High School Student Leads YAF Chapter, Overcomes Leftist Administrators

By Patrick X. Coyle, Vice President

“In the mIdst of all the turmoIl throughout the country, my friend and I had an urge to do something about it and create a conservative group at our high school,” said Grant Strobl, a junior at Grosse Pointe North High School in Michigan.

“We sifted through many Google search pages and brainstormed ideas. After much thought, we decided to start a conservative club and were determined to find a teacher to

“I highly encourage anyone to attend Young America’s Foundation’s conferences. They are truly inspirational and provide the needed confidence to stand up on campus.” sponsor us. After getting much needed support from teachers and learning the ins-and-outs of [forming a] group at my high school, we settled on starting a Young Americans for Freedom chapter—a project of Young America’s Foundation.”

To enhance his understanding of conservatism, Grant took a 12-hour car ride to Washington, D.C., to learn more about conservatism at the Foundation’s 2011 Gratia Houghton Rinehart National High School Leadership Conference.

“I highly encourage anyone to attend Young America’s Foundation’s conferences,” stated Grant. “They are truly inspirational and provide the needed confidence to stand up on campus. The conference provided me a great opportunity to meet fellow conservatives, many of whom I am still in contact with today.”

Returning from the conference, Grant quickly got to work to form his YAF chapter. The first project his club organized was the 9/11: Never Forget Project.

“It was very successful,” Grant recalled. “Approximately 25 28

Strobl meets Teresa Scanlan, Miss America 2011, following her speech at the Foundation’s 2011 Gratia Houghton Rinehart National High School Leadership Conference.

Grant Strobl and his fellow Grosse Point North High School YAF members meet with Congressman Tom Graves during Young America’s Foundation’s 2012 Gratia Houghton Rinehart National High School Leadership Conference.

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Strobl joins fellow Young Americans for Freedom leaders from around the country at the 2012 High School Conference at the Reagan Ranch.

students along with the freshman soccer team helped create our display featuring 2,977 American flags, representing each victim of that tragedy. The students and faculty were very impressed, and the local newspapers ran several stories. I felt honored to have been able to organize this memorial. It was truly humbling.”

The school’s administration was initially supportive of Grant’s efforts, but as he began organizing more activities, resistance grew. The resistance culminated when Grant’s club attempted to hang flyers calling on students to respect women.

The flyers also highlighted how conservative women have been called derogatory names by the media.

“I pointed out the obvious injustices done against women by the media. I showcased Sarah Palin who was challenged by the media as to whether her special needs child was hers; Laura Ingraham who was called a “sl**”; and others. Like many of my other projects, this one was challenged by the administration at my school.”

Prior to posting the flyers, Grant followed the school’s policies and took the flyers to his principal for approval. The principal called the flyers “inappropriate” and “vitriolic.”

Emboldened by the activism advice he received at the Foundation’s high school conference, Grant did not allow for his free speech rights to be trampled. He contacted Young

America’s Foundation, which helped Grant reach out to the media with his courageous story. Breitbart.com, the Daily Caller, Yahoo News, and other outlets quickly reported on how Grant’s school was stifling his activism.

Grant’s YAF chapter has also increased its membership, and his club maintains an active presence on campus.

Grant returned to the Foundation’s high school conference in 2012 with other members of his chapter, and he was also joined by neighboring YAF chapter members from Grosse Pointe South High School. The students traveled more than 12 hours by bus to Washington, D.C., to attend the conference, hear from leading conservatives, and further hone their activism skills. (See related story on page 33.)

“My members are excited about the upcoming year to do even more on campus. We are determined to organize more events and host a conservative speaker,” Grant noted.

Grant also has advice for those hoping to start their own YAF chapters: Running a YAF chapter takes work, time, and dedication— all of which pay off with the satisfaction that you are standing up for your beliefs. When you take a stand and lead, people will follow and so will success. Our YAF chapter has more members than some liberal clubs and engages in projects every month. This process has been awesome!

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“The Art of Debate” by Bay Buchanan Introduction by Patrick X. Coyle, Vice President

oday, the many others. average college One such student contributor—author will find an and activist Bay overabundance Buchanan—has of support for leftist debated hundreds ideas on their campuses. of liberals on CNN, Activist and author Bay Buchanan is a regular speaker at Young America’s Foundation’s Obama has CNBC, and MSNBC. programs, including the Gratia Houghton Rinehart National High School Leadership appeared on campuses In The Conservative Conference and the National Conservative Student Conference in Washington, D.C. one out of every ten Guide to Campus days since becoming President.

Activism, Buchanan—who also served as treasurer of the Liberal students have their ideas upheld and reinforced United States during the Reagan administration—explains by daily lectures from their professors and by the programs how students can effectively debate the Left on campus and in and speakers organized by their college campuses. Young the media. liberal activists can also turn to their peers, teachers, and Young America’s Foundation is grateful for Bay Buchanan’s administrators for advice and support when organizing their contribution to this important guide and her continued activities. involvement as a speaker at our programs nationwide. We are Conservatives are not so lucky. It is often difficult for excited to share an excerpt from her inspirational chapter in young conservatives to find conservative professors to act as The Conservative Guide to Campus Activism. club advisors for YAF chapters or other conservative clubs.

“The Art of Debate” Administrators routinely create needless roadblocks to

by Bay Buchanan impede conservative activities.

Nothing is more deadly in debate than facts and figures.

To fill this void and advance freedom nationwide, Young They have their place, but if used in excess, they will doom America’s Foundation has released the third edition of The your argument.

Conservative Guide to Campus Activism. This book includes As you prepare, choose two to three good statistics to invaluable advice for young conservatives looking to start or support your position. By giving a few facts, you appear wellrun a club, effectively promote their ideas on campus, master informed and knowledgeable about the topic. Facts lend new media, and avoid activist traps. credibility to everything you say. However, do not imitate The book also contains helpful advice from some of the a policy wonk. The audience can only consume so many Movement’s leading activists and tacticians including Karl statistics in one sitting. Once they are convinced you know Rove, Ann Coulter, Peter Schweizer, Michelle Malkin, and 30

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Young America’s Foundation’s Conservative Guide to Campus Activism, now in its third edition, includes advice from leading conservatives on how students can effectively advance freedom on their campuses.

Bay Buchanan meets with students Seema and Seraphina Johnson during a Young America’s Foundation conference in Washington, D.C.

your material, they will listen to your arguments. the advice of aides by answering questions with You will have them exactly where you want, but if numbers. The aides had turned him into a boring you keep feeding them numbers, they will tune you wonk. out. You must move them, not bore them.

This tactic was unusual for him. The policy In 1984, President Ronald Reagan was running wonks and the liberal elite dismissed Reagan as an for his second term. Some of the Washington elite actor. He often told stories to make his points and felt that his age (he was in his seventies) might seldom concerned himself with details. What the be used against him. They were worried that the intellectual class could not see, because they had so Presidential debates might be an opportunity for little exposure to it, was that Ronald Reagan spoke Young America’s the Left to make the President look uninformed— with his heart to the hearts of those who would Foundation’s not up to the job. listen. He touched millions, and they responded Conservative James Baker, the President’s chief of staff, with their support and their admiration. No policy Guide to Campus Activism provides brought in the policy wonks. They pumped the wonk could even begin to accomplish what the today’s students with President full of facts and figures. Their goal was to “great communicator” was able to do. important advice on show that Ronald Reagan was smart. During the Then the question is: how do you learn to how they can effectively Presidential debate, the President quoted facts in communicate with your heart? First, you need to advance freedom. answer after answer. It was the first debate that he choose an issue that is important to you. Then, lost. follow the steps set out above. Begin to talk about and debate Americans want to be moved and persuaded, understood the issue with philosophical friend or foe. You should get used and appreciated, uplifted and inspired. None of that can to being challenged to defend your position. By doing so, your happen while you are citing statistics…. arguments will become crisper, as well they should. Often, Many believe that communication is about sharing along with an increased sense of confidence comes passion. information in your mind with those around you. Certainly, It is then that you will begin speaking from the heart, as the hard facts and statistics qualify. The most successful way to issue has become a cause to which you are now committed. communicate, however, is not with the mind; it is with the ————————————————————————— heart.

To order a copy of The Conservative Guide to Campus In the Presidential debate Ronald Reagan lost, he followed Activism, visit yaf.org or call 800-USA-1776.

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Freedom Is the God-Given Right of All His Children: Make it Your Legacy Freedom is on the precipice in America. The Left is winning key battles to “fundamentally transform the United States of America.” They know—as President Reagan did—that young people are the key to the long-term success of their agenda.

That’s why the Left is launching the most expensive, most comprehensive, and most targeted effort in American history to win over young people.

You can join forces with Young America’s Foundation to counter the Left’s influence and pass on Ronald Reagan’s freedom philosophy.

Even though Ronald Reagan is no longer with us, there is still one place where young people can come face to face with all that Reagan stood for: hard work and its rewards, perseverance, humility, hope, love of family, and love of country.

Our students tell us they are not only better educated about Ronald Reagan after visiting the Ranch, but they are also more committed to protecting America’s freedom.

Ronald Reagan’s words inspire young leaders to embrace and strengthen the freedom movement. He said: Freedom is not just the birthright of the few, it is the God-given right of all His children.

You can help protect future generations’ God-given right to freedom by remembering Young America’s Foundation in your estate plans.

Updating your plans to reflect your priorities enables you to control your legacy. If you die without a will, the government will decide how to distribute your estate for you—and take its share!

Federal death tax rates the year you die may be 55% or more. The law has been in a state of flux for years because leftists want your money.

Giving a bequest to Young America’s Foundation reduces the size of your taxable estate. There is no tax on gifts to Young America’s Foundation.

Tell your attorney to make freedom your legacy by adding this language to your will: I give, devise, and bequeath to Young America’s Foundation, tax identification number 23-7042029, 110 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170 (insert percentage, amount or nature of gift, or remainder of estate) to be used for educational purposes.

You will be honored on Freedom Wall at the Reagan Ranch for your legacy gift.

Please call Kimberly Martin Begg, Esq., vice president and general counsel, at 800-USA-1776 to request a free information packet or if you have any questions.

National Headquarters, F. M. Kirby Freedom Center, 110 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170, 800-USA-1776, www.yaf.org The Reagan Ranch Center, 217 State Street, Santa Barbara, California 93101, 888-USA-1776

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Congressman Graves, Congresswoman Ellmers, Bossie, Pavlich, Folsom, and Others Inspire High School Students in Our Nation’s Capital

By Rachel Jankowski, Sarah T. Hermann Intern Scholar

Congresswoman Renee Ellmers speaks on the importance of protecting and promoting our free enterprise system.

W Congressman Tom Graves urges the young audience to stand up for their beliefs.

hile teenagers face the worst unemployment numbers since the Great Depression, scores flocked to Washington, D.C., to combat the Obama administration’s policies and learn about conservative principles.

Young America’s Foundation hosted more than 100 students from 18 states and two countries at the 15th annual Gratia Houghton Rinehart National High School Leadership Conference at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Participants mastered limited government and free market arguments to bring back to their schools to educate their peers.

Speakers included Congressman Tom Graves, Congresswoman Renee Ellmers, and Citizens United Foundation President Dave Bossie, among many other leading conservatives.

Congressman Graves opened the conference, speaking to students about personal responsibility. He warned about the (continued on page 34) Young America’s Foundation | Libertas | Fall 2012

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degradation of society that occurs when people depend on the government. The congressman emphasized self-reliance and hard work, stating, “You are the leaders of today. We can’t wait until tomorrow.”

Throughout the program, students heard from a multitude of speakers—from bestselling authors to professors and historians. Ron Robinson, president of Young America’s Foundation, discussed the vastly different ways liberals and conservatives are portrayed in the liberal media.

C-SPAN, reaching more than 100 million households nationwide, covered New York Times bestselling author and Young America’s Foundation and National Journalism Center alumnus Jason Mattera’s talk about his latest book, Hollywood Hypocrites.

Always a crowd favorite, Mattera bashed Hollywood leftists for their hypocritical lifestyles. Using Jon Bon Jovi as an example, he highlighted how the rock star only pays $104 in property taxes and exclaimed, “He pays more to highlight his hair!”

Another Young America’s Foundation alumna, New York Times bestselling author Katie Pavlich, headlined the closing dinner banquet, discussing her book, Fast and Furious, and the scandal it exposes. The 24-year-old Townhall.com news editor introduced the audience to this shameful Obama administration cover-up and provided information that the students could use to teach their peers.

The final day of the conference featured regular Foundation speaker Dr. Burt Folsom, author and history professor at Hillsdale College. Dr. Folsom discussed the dangers of government subsidies and bailouts and the abuse that can arise when entrepreneurs are not left alone to innovate in the free market. He received a standing ovation, and the students eagerly anticipated his second lecture which debunked the myths about Franklin Roosevelt. Dr. Folsom also highlighted the consequences of big government, using the New Deal as his core example. (continued on page 36)

“It had to be four of the most important and best days of my life.”

— David grayton, Massachusetts

Catherine Rodriguez, lecture director at the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute, discusses the failures of feminism during the annual high school conference just outside of our nation’s capital.

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Historian Devon Williams meets with Sarah T. Hermann Intern Scholar Jolie Stuart-Davis.

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Grant Wolf from Castaic, California, participates in the question and answer session following a high school conference speaker.

Foundation Vice President Ron Pearson speaks with Congressman Tom Graves of Georgia during the opening banquet of Young America’s Foundation’s National High School Leadership Conference.

Foundation alumnus and Institute for World Politics professor Dr. Mike Waller discusses foreign policy and America’s interests abroad.

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Lydia Fedewa from Holt, Michigan, joins more than 100 high school students from around the country for the Gratia Houghton Rinehart National High School Leadership Conference.

Students from around the country gather for the 15th annual Gratia Houghton Rinehart National High School Leadership Conference.

Citizens United Foundation President Dave Bossie discusses the need to protect freedom of speech.

Bay Buchanan, treasurer under President Ronald Reagan, gave one of the most inspiring talks of the conference, encouraging the young people to share their views. She stressed that it is the job of conservatives to become educated and stand up for our beliefs.

Buchanan motivated many students, including Jaimee Velotta of Washington, to fight for their futures. Velotta said, “I learned that it is not enough to merely believe in something.

We must also voice our opinions and stand up for our beliefs.”

Patrick Coyle, vice president of Young America’s Foundation, ended the conference, showcasing how students could get involved and bring the lessons they learned back to their schools. He suggested students start Young Americans for Freedom chapters, and many of the participants signed up to do just that.

Other conference speakers included Young America’s Foundation Director Kirby Wilbur, Foundation Vice President Kate Obenshain, Competitive Enterprise Institute Senior Fellow Chris Horner, historian Devon Williams, Institute for World Politics professor Dr. Mike Waller, and Clare Boothe 36

Luce Policy Institute Lecture Director Catherine Rodriguez.

For many students, this was the first time they had ever heard the conservative viewpoint. Frederic Bryant from New York proclaimed that he was no longer a liberal. He had supported leftist ideas in the past because that was what he was told to do, but after attending the National High School Leadership Conference, he now says he is a conservative. He noted, “America needs to know!” and looks forward to sharing what he learned with his friends and his community.

Student David Grayton of Massachusetts was also motivated by the program, noting, “It had to be four of the most important and best days of my life.”

Grant Wolf of California echoed this sentiment: “I have not seen any conferences of this sort anywhere else. I learned how conservative principles can restore America’s greatness.”

———————————————————————— Rachel Jankowski served as a 2012 Sarah T. Hermann Intern Scholar at Young America’s Foundation’s F.M. Kirby Freedom Center. She is currently a senior at the University of Michigan.

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S u P P O r T e r

P r O F I l e

TeamCFA Foundation Selects Reagan Ranch as Meeting Place

By Nicole Hoplin, Vice President

Young AMericA’s foundAtion wAs honored to host members of the TeamCFA Foundation at the Reagan Ranch.

TeamCFA is a growing national network of charter schools that is impacting literally thousands of students by offering school choice and through its academic excellence.

Its mission is to support the development of academically rigorous, financially sustainable TeamCFA charter schools by employing proven business and academic practices and leveraging the free market to support the broader school choice movement.

Committed to the principle that “good citizens are the riches of a city,” TeamCFA recognizes the consequence of a content-rich education in a child’s life to form responsible American citizens.

TeamCFA schools utilize the rigorous and structured

Core Knowledge curriculum. For example, whereas students learn world history in 8th and 11th grades in traditional schools, TeamCFA schools start teaching U.S. and world history in kindergarten!

TeamCFA provides a proven educational model that is adaptable. In fact, one of its schools—the Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy (North Carolina)—ranked in the top one percent of 22,000 public high schools in the country.

The ultimate success of each school is based on sound business practices that are grounded in economic efficiency, cost reductions, and leveraging investments. This is the power of school choice at its best.

President Reagan’s core belief in the freedom of the individual to choose his own destiny made our country a stronger and more prosperous place to live. The TeamCFA

Members of TeamCFA meet Ambassador John Bolton during the Wendy P. McCaw Reagan Ranch Roundtable reception and luncheon.

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9/25/12 7:56 AM

Members of TeamCFA enjoy spectacular views from atop Bald Mountain at the Reagan Ranch.

Young America’s Foundation and TeamCFA have enjoyed an important partnership in this work for liberty. Young America’s Foundation’s student programs are the natural fit for young people coming from a charter school environment where their beliefs in the free market and American exceptionalism are reinforced.

Young America’s Foundation is honored to provide other private foundations and corporate boards with the opportunity to host special gatherings, retreats, and annual meetings in our facilities. Please contact the Reagan Ranch Center at 888-USA-1776 for more information.

To learn more about school choice or TeamCFA, please visit teamcfa.org.

—————————————————————— Photos taken by Ruppert Reinstadler President Ron Robinson provides context and Reagan anecdotes during a behind-the-scenes tour of Rancho del Cielo.

Foundation’s commitment to reach out to taxpayers, students, and parents in advocating for more choice in education mirrors President Reagan’s beliefs in protecting liberty and expanding resources of knowledge. The Reagan Ranch, therefore, was an ideal fit for TeamCFA Foundation’s recent gathering.

As part of TeamCFA’s weekend retreat, the group enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of Rancho del Cielo. They also participated in a special reception and luncheon featuring U.N. Ambassador John Bolton as part of the monthly Wendy P. McCaw Reagan Ranch Roundtable series. In addition, the group had access to the stateof-the-art facilities at the Reagan Ranch Center for their important meetings and sessions.

38

Ambassador John Bolton addresses the Wendy P. McCaw Reagan Ranch Roundtable in front of a capacity crowd.

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10/2/12 4:32 PM

New York G Newport G Boston G Bar Harbor G Halifax G Québec G Montréal

2013 Grand Fall Foliage Cruise New York to Montréal

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Mention Priority Code 028701 Ron Robinson

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Additional speakers to be announced.

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Young America’s Foundation | Libertas magazine | www.yaf.org

NON PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID HERNDON, VA PERMIT NO 6551

Fall 2012 Volume 33 • Number 3

National Headquarters F.M. Kirby Freedom Center 110 Elden Street Herndon, Virginia 20170 800-USA-1776 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

M

ary Russell from the University of Texas at Dallas enjoys Young America’s Foundation’s 34th annual National Conservative Student Conference featuring leading conservatives including Governor Scott Walker, Senators Rand Paul and Rick Santorum, Speaker Newt Gingrich, Dr. Robert George, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, and others.

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