Special Report
For YAF, the Future Is Now
Young America’s Foundation this week convenes its annual four-day National Conservative Student Conference.
One recent night in the nation’s capital, at a restaurant near the campus of George Washington University, veteran conservative journalist Michael Barone had dinner with an important official of the free-market group Americans for Limited Government and a few of that official’s friends.
A few weeks earlier, the same ALG official had attended a reception at a Capitol Hill restaurant, hosted by an important official of the Heritage Foundation and featuring as guest of honor David Frum, the former Bush White House speechwriter and author whose career has lately become more controversial than ever.
Controversies aside, however, these two recent events were in some sense more significant than the regular routine of social occasions collectively known as the Beltway “cocktail party circuit.”
For while the ALG official and the Heritage official need not be named here — these two events were outside their strictly official duties — they have something important in common: Both of them are in their early 20s and were college students as recently as last year.
Something else they have in common: I got to know both of these officials when they were undergraduate campus activists with the Young America’s Foundation, which this week convenes its annual four-day National Conservative Student Conference at the GWU campus in Foggy Bottom.
At a time when the question of conservatism’s future is a topic of intense debate among senior leaders of the movement, YAF continues quietly recruiting, educating and organizing the movement’s junior leaders. What is surprising is the extent to which these young people — some scarcely a year past college commencement — are not merely the clichéd “leaders of tomorrow,” but are already becoming recognized as leaders today.
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) was walking through a corridor on Capitol Hill one day in March when he was approached by a well-dressed young man who wanted to ask a question: “You know, I was wondering, with Americans struggling just to pay their bills, losing their jobs, why…do you drive a taxpayer-subsidized Cadillac, score rent-controlled apartments below market rates, and fail to pay taxes on real estate — when you write the tax code?”
This was Rangel’s introduction to YAF spokesman Jason Mattera, age 25, who had an assistant recording the encounter on video when Rangel responded: “Why don’t you mind your god—— business?”
The Rangel video has been viewed more than 100,000 times on YouTube.com, one of a series of Mattera videos featured at Michelle Malkin’s popular HotAir.com blog.
Mattera seems to have been born with a special talent for driving liberals nuts. One recent example: After Mattera mocked the “wise Latina” posturing of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, he was denounced by various left-wingers whose predictable accusations of bigotry exposed their own abject ignorance.
Jason is himself a Latino, of Puerto Rican ancestry just like Judge Sotomayor and, as a native of Brooklyn, equally entitled to claim the supposedly wisdom-inferring urban authenticity of being a “Newyorican.” Unlike the Bronx-born judge, however, Mattera doesn’t flaunt any sense of ethnic entitlement and rejects identity politics as unpatriotic.
“What’s wrong with just being an American like everybody else?” he says. “So you’re Puerto Rican — so what?”
It was Mattera’s contempt for check-the-box “diversity” quotas that inspired one of his earliest experiences with provoking paroxysms of liberal indignation. As an undergrad at Rhode Island’s Roger Williams University 2005, he and fellow conservative students promoted a “whites-only scholarship” as a parody of the university’s affirmative-action policies. That project resulted, among other things, in the university chapter of College Republicans being defunded and denounced by the state GOP.
“I was always taught to defend my ideas fiercely, but I also like to have fun at the Left’s expense,” Mattera says. “Young America’s Foundation helped nurture and guide my activism at Roger Williams. They gave me the tool necessary to advance my ideas in a hostile environment.”
That fierce commitment in a hostile environment is part of what YAF hopes to instill in the hundreds of attendees at this week’s conference, which will feature lectures by, among others, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), Seattle talk-radio host Kirby Wilbur, America’s Cause president Bay Buchanan, Human Events editor Jed Babbin, Robert Spencer of JihadWatch.com, Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), talk radio host Monica Crowley, former House Speaker and author Ann Coulter.
This week’s conference in D.C. “gives us the opportunity to teach young people core conservative principles of limited government, free enterprise and traditional values,” Mattera says. “We have 40 students who are eager to hear conservative ideas seldom taught in the classroom. Not all young people are entranced with Obama.”
About the Author
Robert Stacy McCain is co-author (with Lynn Vincent) of Donkey Cons: Sex, Crime, and Corruption in the Democratic Party (Nelson Current). He blogs at The Other McCain.
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Deborah D | 8.4.09 @ 6:26AM
Woo Hoo! A bit of good news amidst the constant barrage of bad-news Democrat totalitarianism. Good to see some young people with their heads on straight and feet firmly planted on the ground instead of their heads in the clouds and their feet in lockstep with the Obamabots.
Aaron| 8.4.09 @ 7:08AM
Backup, you said that Heritage featured Frum as guest of honor? Was it a roast?
Deborah D | 8.4.09 @ 7:26AM
Good one, Aaron. And, ain't it the truth! What's happened to him? I used to be a fan.
David Gonzalez| 8.4.09 @ 11:21AM
Over 40 years ago, I was a YAFer (Young Americans for Freedom). Is the "new" YAF like the 'Nam-era YAF?
Al Adab| 8.4.09 @ 12:23PM
YAF is one of several groups who can lead the renaissance of Constitutional government. We almost need to recreate the founding in order to restore freedom.
From the beginning ,YAF in its previous incarnation (read the Sharon Statement), has played a vital role in the development of leadership for the Movement.
It will take many organizations working toward a common goal to restore what the next few years will destroy. Heritage, Townhall , Am Spec and perhaps the TEA Party movement (although that remains to be seen) have a role to play.
Those like David and Deborah need to stand strong against this tide of statism engulfing our nation. Liberty demands it.
Al Adab| 8.4.09 @ 12:25PM
YAF is one of several groups who can lead the renaissance of Constitutional government. We almost need to recreate the founding in order to restore freedom.
From the beginning ,YAF in its previous incarnation (read the Sharon Statement), has played a vital role in the development of leadership for the Movement.
It will take many organizations working toward a common goal to restore what the next few years will destroy. Heritage, Townhall , Am Spec and perhaps the TEA Party movement (although that remains to be seen) have a role to play.
Those like David and Deborah need to stand strong against this tide of statism engulfing our nation. Liberty demands it.
Al Adab| 8.4.09 @ 12:35PM
YAF in its first incarnation (read the Sharon Statement) played a significant role in the Conservative Movement. As Young America it is well positioned to play a role in the much needed renaissance of Constitutional government.
Along with other organizations Heritage, Townhall, Am Spec and perhaps TEA (that remains to be seen) the groundwork exists on which to build that "New Birth of Freedom" we so desperately need.
The next several years will sorely test our resolve to remain a Free people. Deborah and David above have a part of what that future will hold for us all. If Liberty is to survive a new generation needs to discover the principles of The Founding. In that regard we all need to work toward a common goal.
Liberal Reader| 8.4.09 @ 1:13PM
Al Adab --
Your rhetoric is interestingly at odds with itself.
We must stand against statism: liberty demands it!
How then is liberty different from tyranny?
Liberal Reader| 8.4.09 @ 1:19PM
Does the demand made by liberty cease when we give in to it?
Can one be free, while others are not?
Must others be enslaved for a man to be free?
Is it possible for everyone to be free?
Al Adab| 8.4.09 @ 2:05PM
Sorry to all about multiple posts: server trouble
Lib Reader old friend,
Equation of Liberty with Tyranny is interesting. Many choose to enslave themselves for security. That is a choice. No one has the authority to decide for another.
Nonetheless, the rule of law is basic to civil society. Neither an anarchy nor a libertarian utopia provide common defense etc. Purpose of the society and of government is the question you raise as is that of how to create Liberty. It cannot be imposed it can only be nurtured. Constitutional government allows this, tyranny by limiting choices, does not.
Yes some can be free while others by their actions and choices, choose to be slaves. All to common in our country. Many have sold their birthright for that bowl of pottage.
Big J| 8.4.09 @ 2:32PM
Liberal Reader:
Might I make a suggestion? Buy and read Mark Levin's book, "Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto". He could answer your questions much more eloquently than I could, as I have only a high school diploma and 4 years of apprenticeship school.
I would submit to you, however that Liberty equals Freedom. As the founding fathers saw it, freedom was a MUCH better thing than tyranny (which equals slavery to a central government or tyrant). There are many people who have migrated to this country that feel the exact same way, and many more in line.
I do not believe that the demand made by liberty ceases when we give in to it. Besides, when have you ever known a person or people to "give in to liberty"? It has been fought for and died for long before you and I came to be on this earth.
I believe it is a very fragile gift that can be taken away without notice. I also believe that it is God-given, and not to be taken or "given" by any man (although there are many in Washington and around the world that feel differently). Think Chavez, Castro, Achmedenijad and others.
Yes, one can be free while others are not. That was a rather silly question. Been to a prison lately? How about our politicians? They exempt themselves from the very laws they intend us to follow.
Must others be enslaved for a man to be free? Of course not. Freedom is universal (again, granted by our creator), and does not require tyranny to exist. Only the liberal elites in Washington would have you believe such nonsense.
Is it possible for everyone to be free? I believe it is, if they want it bad enough. While I sincerely believe that ALL men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, many have been convinced that only one man or a group of men can bestow those rights upon them. Therefore, they wait for the man or group of men to tell them what their rights are, administer them and take them away as they see fit. This unfortunate condition can be called slavery (or a state of tyranny). I sincerely believe that it is an abomination. It is unnatural. Absolutely opposite of what God intended.
Finally, I sincerely hope that you do consider my comments and consider reading Mark's book. If your questions were sincere, and you enter with an open mind, you might find that we are not that different, after all.
As an aside, I got into a very heated discussion with a neighbor this past weekend. He is convinced that the federal government is the only entity that can "bring our economy out of the slump it is in". He is wrong. Dead wrong. Only the American spirit can dig us out of this hole. Unleash it. Encourage people to create and maintain businesses. Stop punishing success. If the wizards of smart in Washington would do that, "Katie bar the door". You would see economic growth unlike any we have seen in history.
It isn't political to me. It's a matter of morality. Self reliance, hard work and determination are the only things that are going to get us out of this. More government spending (money they don't have, by the way) is not the answer. Government take-over of the health industry is not the answer to our "problems" concerning health care. I could go on and on.
Please consider this, Liberal Reader, before you find all of your freedoms have been removed.
Al Adab| 8.4.09 @ 2:53PM
Sorry all about multiple posts: server trouble.
Lib reader old friend,
Your equation of Liberty with tyranny is interesting. Please elucidate.
All too often people choose to enslave themselves for the sake of something else whether security, finances or the like. So yes, it is possible for some to be free and others to be slave. It is not however, necessary, but is altogether too common.
Our Constitutional government exists to allow for people to make that choice. If it is made for them in whatever guise, they lose their freedom of action ie their Liberty. No one may coerce by force another. Yet, civil society demands respect for the rule of law. That is why the anarchist or libertarian utopias fail in execution.
Is not statism only tyranny covered by good intentions?
A government which selects groups to favor does so at the expense, both monetary and otherwise, of those outside the group. That is coercion, that is force. That is tyranny.
All of this of course has nothing to do with the role YAF may yet play in our longed for national renaissance. Many of us hope it does just that.
Mark| 8.4.09 @ 3:10PM
"...former House Speaker and author Ann Coulter."
Maybe I missed her congressional career, or were you referring to Newt?
Roy| 8.4.09 @ 6:51PM
Re:BigJ:
"many have been convinced that only one man or a group of men can bestow those rights upon them. Therefore, they wait for the man or group of men to tell them what their rights are, administer them and take them away as they see fit."
Sure, and a lot more think that THEIR rights may be set in stone, but YOUR rights are another story entirely.
xiaoyu | 8.6.09 @ 6:04AM
Omega watches
Scott A Joseph, MD| 8.7.09 @ 5:38PM
As a former VP of the TCU YAF chapter (year of mumblety mumble) I say: "Good on 'ya.! Libs need sharp sticks everywhere, all the time!
Ben| 8.10.09 @ 4:09PM
It's good to hear Mattera, "rejects identity politics as unpatriotic":
http://michiganmessenger.com/22831/stay-classy-young-republicans
Ben| 8.10.09 @ 4:17PM
This guy makes illustrating the hypocracy of "republicans" too easy:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/08/04/mattera-cp/