LAT: Left Follows the Right on Campus Outreach Path (Dems play catch-up)

[DeepModem Mom]

Left Follows the Right on Campus Outreach Path
Democrats watched the GOP mobilize young voters to win in 2004. Now, liberals turn to college networks to try to match its success.

By Cynthia H. Cho, Times Staff Writer


....Nearly invisible on college campuses a generation ago, conservatives have made a concerted effort over the last three decades to groom students as future political leaders — with considerable success.

Now, liberals have started taking pages from that playbook; Campus Progress was formed in February to, as its website says, "counter the growing influence of right-wing groups" on college campuses.

That was a hot topic this month at Campus Progress' first National Student Conference, where speakers included former President Bill Clinton, CNN political analyst Paul Begala and Thomas Frank, author of "What's the Matter with Kansas?" More than 600 college students from across the country gathered for what organizers called a "one-day crash course that explores progressive student leadership."

"Conservatives are trying harder to hook students," said David Halperin, the group's executive director. They are "taking a group of students and giving them the tools to succeed. With the resources, the training and the skills they have been taught, they can win. They win with smaller numbers."...

***

What has been effective, both conservative and liberals agree, is spending money and time on efforts to reach college students. Ron Robinson, president of the conservative Young America's Foundation, said that in 2004, major conservative groups spent about $35 million on outreach to college students — raised largely through private donors. Young America's budget last year was about $15 million....


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-progressive24jul24,0,797197.story?coll=la-home-nation

[msongs]

1. college "conservatives" use threats and bullying and religious bigotry to

spread their influence, like filing false claims of bias against faculty members and claiming that anti-conservatives are all bashing christians, as if they actually follow the teachings of the Jesus character.

the best course of action when debating such so called college conservatives is to have a large supply of military enlistment forms handy at all times. then get the young fascists to start bragging about the iraq war and ta da....whip oout the enlistment forms. try to get it all on video if possible.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm