Category Archives: Newt Gingrich

What’s at Stake: Values & the 2012 Presidential Election

Posted by rsnyder on February 3, 2012 Comments Off

The 2012 presidential election presents young voters with a choice between two fundamentally different visions for America. Much is at stake and, as citizens of this great nation, we collectively shoulder tremendous responsibility to vote for the candidate who best represents the core values that have made us who we are as the United States of America and who will move us forward in difficult times.

At the National Prayer Breakfast yesterday, President Obama spoke clearly and compellingly of the values that guide his vision for the future of our nation. Citing the importance of morality in our politics and policy, the President asserted that “We can’t leave our values at the door. If we leave our values at the door, we abandon much of the moral glue that has held our nation together for centuries, and allowed us to become somewhat of a more perfect union.” He proceeded by enumerating the fundamental precepts that drive his policymaking and laid out a foundational framework for thinking about values in the public square. “Treating others as you want to be treated.  Requiring much from those who have been given so much.  Living by the principle that we are our brother’s keeper.  Caring for the poor and those in need…Today, with as many challenges as we face, these are the values I believe we’re going to have to return to in the hopes that God will buttress our efforts.” The President also called on Americans to live out our values “not just with words, but with deeds.”

As young Americans, we stand by President Obama’s words and also his deeds. We stand by his values-based vision for our country which has led to the expansion of healthcare coverage for people who can’t afford it. We stand by his efforts to expand opportunity for all Americans by improving our public schools, increasing access to higher education and job training, and reforming our broken financial and mortgage systems. We are heartened by our President’s willingness to stand by gay and lesbian Americans, undocumented immigrants, and our brothers and sisters caught in the nefarious web of poverty that confines the lives and potential of too many in the richest nation in the world. In trying times, President Obama represents what is right for America and we are confident in his leadership, integrity and resolve to take us into the future better and stronger together.

The President faces an important test, however, in this November’s election. His opponents have significant financial resources and will stop at nothing to defeat him. Unfortunately for our country, they represent an out of touch, individualistic vision for the United States that significantly strays from our core values. Instead of presenting policies and practicing politics that emphasize the “greater together”, e pluribus unum nature that has defined America since its founding, they have each embraced the Paul Ryan budget which takes two-thirds of its cuts from services that help level the opportunity playing field for low-income Americans. Given that Mitt Romney is “not concerned about the very poor” in the toughest time since the Great Depression and New Gingrich’s solution for closing the opportunity gap for African American children is to put them to work as school janitors, this comes as no surprise. Yet it is no less disheartening. We are facing incredible challenges as a nation. We need a leader who puts the American people first rather than winning the next election.

The 2012 election presents us with a choice that will impact us in the short- and long-term and have significant ramifications not only on what gets done in Washington, but what type of country we want to be moving forward. Join us in supporting President Obama and affirming that, as Americans, we will emerge from these difficult times greater together rather than farther apart.

- Rod, Colmon & Josh

Rod Snyder is President of the Young Democrats of America
Colmon Elridge is Executive VP of the Young Democrats of America
Josh Dickson is the Director of the YDA Faith & Values Initiative  

YDA Statement on the Florida GOP Primary Results

Posted by rsnyder on February 1, 2012 Comments Off

Former Governor Mitt Romney won the GOP Primary this evening after spending more than $15 million dollars to defeat his chief rival Newt Gingrich. The vote tonight continues to illustrate a Republican party unhappy with the choices to lead their party and unconvinced any of their candidates are ready to lead the United States.

After outspending Newt Gingrich by a margin of 5 to 1, Mitt Romney is showing that if his agenda cannot endear him to the GOP party faithful, he believes his best strategy is to buy the nomination at any expense.

“The vote tonight in the Sunshine state shows a Republican party out of touch with the average Floridian as well as with the majority of Americans”, said YDA Executive Vice President Colmon Elridge. “Governor Romney continues to believe that the path to victory is to throw money at elections and repeat what his pollsters and staff are telling him to say, feel, and think rather than offering a solid vision for America or standing on principle.  Young Americans are focused on how we can work together to build the strongest future for all Americans, not just the few.  Meanwhile, Governor Romney continues to promote cutting access to college education by cutting Pell Grants and encourage cutting Social Security, which more and more of our grandparents have not only earned but depend on.  He continues to disavow the DREAM Act and a defined path to citizenship for young people who have earned it, and he continues to position himself as a fringe candidate for a nomination, not a leader for the United States of America.”

“Romney, Gingrich and their allies spent money hand over fist to buy the support of the voters in our fair sunshine state”, said Florida Young Democrats President Justin Spiller. “At the same time, state Republicans are trying to make sure that the voter suppression law recently enacted remains in place to restrict the vote of not just the youth of Florida but seniors, blacks and Hispanics. The Florida Young Democrats and Democrats period will continue to work in the best interest of all Floridians, and re-electing our President is essential to that cause.”

Florida native Alexander Lewy who serves as YDA Jewish Caucus Chair also added, “Jewish Americans don’t look favorably on candidates who treat Israeli security like a political football.  Romney and Gingrich have lied to Floridians about President Obama’s ironclad commitment to Israel’s security. President Obama provided funding and support for Israel’s latest defense projects and condemned Palestinian rocket attacks against the Jewish State of Israel. Our President has also supported funding for Jewish community services while in 2003 Mitt Romney vetoed Kosher food funding for Jewish nursing homes.”

The Young Democrats of America continue to support President Obama’s Blueprint for an “America Built to Last” and look forward to working with young leaders and allied organizations in Florida and throughout the nation to support the President.  We will register young Americans to vote, mobilize young leaders in support of an agenda that empowers our generation to attain the American dream, and educate young voters on the stark contract between the Democratic and Republican agendas in 2012.