I Am A Democrat

(Mark Ciavola) – Today, a video surfaced on YouTube from the College Democrats of America (CDA) explaining why they are Democrats. This video, titled “The Obama Generation” shows support for the Democratic Party for a wide range of reasons, from believing in hope to opposing free trade. The video was made private after dissenting comments began appearing, but a public version appears here.

In order to illustrate the pure delusion among young Democrats, here is my recap. I left out those students who made purely emotional points that need no rebuttal.

“I am a Democrat…” the video begins.

Student #2: “… because of the Patriot Act.”

Let me get this straight. You are a Democrat because you support the Patriot Act? Or because you oppose it? Either way, it doesn’t matter.

First, the Patriot Act was passed in 2001 when this student was about 10 years old. It passed the House 357-66 with 145 Democrats voting in support, and the Senate with only one Democratic no-vote, 98-1. So if you oppose the Patriot Act, then you probably shouldn’t be a Democrat.

Although Democrats spent the entire length of the Bush Administration decrying the Patriot Act as an abuse of government power, so if you support the Patriot Act you probably shouldn’t be a Democrat either.

Seems like an ignorantly vague statement, at best.

Student #3: “ … because I’m a Christian, not in spite of it.”

This one makes no sense at all. The Christian faith represents a focus on traditional family values including marriage, and respects the inherent dignity of all human life – opposing abortion. Why would any Christian support a political party that promoted abortion as an alternative to birth control? Why would any Christian support a political party that pokes fun at religion, members of which routinely attempt to get prayer out of public schools, and remove God from the Pledge of Allegiance and our currency?

This student obviously doesn’t know what it means to be a Democrat, a Christian, or both.

Student #4: “ … because I believe in every child has a right to a fair and high quality education.”

This sounds nice, but in practice the Democrats oppose charter schools, school vouchers, or any other mechanism through which parents can ensure their children get a fair and high quality education. The Democrats only want children going to public schools, which employ public teachers, with public dollars, little accountability, and shoddy results.

Republicans believe parents should be able to choose where their child goes to school. Instead of the government giving the public school $8,000 per child, let’s give that money to the parents to use at the school of their choice. “NO!” says the Democrat, who realizes that after 30-years of liberal dominance in education, their meal ticket is coming to an end.

Cut wasteful spending? Use technology to improve education? Use online supplements? Performance-based merit pay increases? “HELL NO,” say the Democrats, in the form of powerful teachers unions.

Republicans believe in returning control of school districts to the state, county, and local levels – rather than a one-size-fits-all plan from the federal government. “NO WAY,” say the union-backed Democrats.

Student #7: “ … because I believe anyone can make it in America.”

No you don’t. You believe government can make it FOR THEM.

If Democrats believed that “anyone can make it in America,” they wouldn’t support racist affirmative action measures. Democrats believe that members of minority communities need preferential treatment in order to get certain jobs, or into colleges.

Funny, I thought Democrats believed in equality.

There’s nothing equal in giving people preferential treatment because of race. Period.

I, however, do believe anyone can make it in America – if they want it, and if they work hard for it. I did it. So can anyone.

This is yet another emotionally-driven non-sensical cliché. Bravo, brainwashed youth. Bravo!

Student #8: “ … because I believe the government should take care of its citizens.”

Who is the government?

If you’re a Democrat, you believe it is an abstract concept with no tangible, real world, application.

If you’re intelligent, you know that government is me, you, and everyone else in this country who pays taxes.

The government has no money, until we give it to them in the form of taxes and fees. This is 8^th grade government class stuff, folks.

If you believe the government should take care of its citizens, then you believe that we, the people, should take care of each other. And we do.

We take care of ourselves and our families. We take care of our neighbors. We take care of others in our community. We do this through church, charity, and volunteer work. We don’t need to do it through government.

Why do we need to send our money to Washington, have 20% taken off the top for high bureaucratic salaries, lose 10% in waste, and have the remaining 70% returned to us in the form of government programs with strings attached?

We don’t. Only a Democrat would think we do.

But then again, if the government has less money, who is going to employ all those people who have no real skills? Not me, that’s for sure.

Student #9: “ … because I love HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges & Universities), and CDA (College Democrats of America) are able to reach out to HBCUs and be able to get them involved.”

Do Republicans hate HBCUs? I highly doubt it, since they were founded by Republicans.

Oops. Guess this student should’ve paid more attention to history class.

Oh wait, they don’t teach that in history class anymore, because Democrats run our education system.

Lovely. Next.

Student #10: “ … because we are the Party of civil rights.”

Really?

You might want to check your facts on that one.

The NAACP was founded by white Republicans in 1909 – a fact conspicuously absent from their website.

Republicans fought to end slavery and give blacks the right to vote. The Emancipation Proclamation, freeing slaves, was signed by Abraham Lincoln – a Republican.

Republicans fought to give women the right to vote, and were responsible for the 19^th Amendment. Susan B. Anthony was a women’s rights leader – also a Republican.

Republicans fought for several civil rights act, including the big one – the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

Republican support for the 1964 Civil Rights Act outnumbered Democratic support, 80% – 65%.

Fun fact: In the 26 major civil rights votes after 1933, a majority of Democrats opposed civil rights legislation in over 80% of the votes. By contrast, the Republican majority favored civil rights in over 96% of the votes.

It may be convenient for Democrats to ignore these facts, but they are facts nonetheless. Democrats, meanwhile, turned fire hoses on blacks in the South – and founded the KKK.

But hey, if that’s the Party you want to be associated with, that’s fine. It’s a free country.

Student #11: “ … because I want to fight for those who don’t have a voice.”

Like who?

Unions represent about 8% of the American people; Blacks about 12%; Hispanics 13%; Gays 3% – 10%, depending who counts.

These groups have some of the LOUDEST voices in our political process.

So who are you fighting for, that doesn’t have a voice?

How about the unborn children? They don’t have a voice. But they don’t count, if you’re a Democrat.

In fact, it is estimated that more than 45,000,000 babies have been aborted since 1973 – about 15,000,000 of them were Black.

Is that what fighting for those who “don’t have a voice” looks like? If so, I’ll pass.

Democrats aren’t only pro-choice, but pro-abortion. They frequently advocate for the loosening of restrictions on abortion, the removal of parental consent, and parental notification.

Even if you believe women should have the freedom to choose abortion, how can you believe a minor should be able to get an abortion without their parents knowing?

What about the rights of the father? They have no voice in the abortion discussion. It’s up to the mother. How many fathers sit by helplessly as their children are aborted, without their consent?

Sorry, but this is utter garbage.

Student #12: “ … because I believe that, through government, we can come together and do what we can’t do individually.”

Wow. I agree. That is the role of government. Sort of.

We need government for things like fighting wars, protecting our borders, providing police and firefighters, roads and highways, public education, and the like.

We do not need government to provide charity. We can do that individually.

We do not need the government to fulfill the role of private industry. Businesses can do that.

We do not need the government to do those things we can do individually, and if this student actually believed what he says, he’d be a Republican.

Instead, these Democratic students believe government should do everything, including those things we can do individually. And that’s where the problem lies.

“We cannot be all things to all people.” That quote was uttered by none other than Democratic Senator Claire McKaskill – on the Hannity Show last Friday, no less.

Is she starting to see that the government can only do so much? I sure hope so. Maybe she’s just saying that to avoid the pitchforks. Time will tell.

But the reality is that our government has grown beyond our ability to support it. Currently, according to the U.S. Debt Clock, each citizen owes the federal government $46,000.

Who is fighting for our rights, to not have to enter the taxpaying workforce $46,000 in debt to the federal government?

Who is going to fight for the right of future generations to not have to live under the crushing pressure of our debt?

Certainly not Democrats.

Student #13: “ … because I support candidates that believe in the power of young people.”

Ever heard of the College Republicans? The Young Republicans? Get over yourselves.

Young people turned out in overwhelming numbers for President Obama. Yet many of them had no idea what specific policies he stood for, or much about his opponents. In an exit poll video of Obama voters, many thought Sarah Palin said, “I can see Alaska from my house.” It was actually Saturday Night Live’s Tina Fey, but hey, who’s counting.

If you get your news from SNL, the Daily Show, or the Colbert Report, you are a dumbass – and you should have no power.

Student #15: “ … because I believe in equal pay for equal work.”

Another Democratic Party talking point, full of emotion.

Studies have shown that women make less than men for many reasons, including discrimination. But we can’t discount several important factors:

Women gravitate toward jobs that are more flexible, because of children.

Women are more likely to take extended time off, which interrupts their climb up the pay scale.

Men tend to do the jobs with more physical labor, outdoor work, overnight shifts, and dangerous conditions, which tend to pay more.

Men are more likely to work longer hours.

Of single urban workers between age 22 and 30, women make 8% more than men.

A higher percentage of women are employed than men, because men were adversely hit by the millions of construction jobs lost in this recession.

Women are outpacing men in college enrollment and degrees.

So spare me the emotional stuff.

Student #16: “ … because America is a Democracy, not a theocracy.”

Odd. Your friend, student #3, says he’s a Democrat because he’s a Christian. Which is it? Is religion good? Or bad? Pick one.

Inconsistency is a Democrat’s best friend. However, America is not a theocracy, regardless of which political party this genius belongs to.

Back in Massachusetts, where I’m from originally, just about everyone is Catholic. They’re also all Democrats. So is Massachusetts a theocracy, as the state with the largest concentration of Catholics in the nation?

Or is this just the typical liberal assault on religion? (PS: Don’t tell Student #3!)

Also, America is a democratic republic, so he’s wrong anyway.

Student #17: “ … because I believe everyone deserves the same right to a good public education and to marry whoever they want.”

I already touched on education earlier, but it’s worth mentioning again that liberals have failed to deliver a “good public education” over the last 30 years. So this student should be very upset with her Party over education.

As for everyone marrying whomever they want, someone should ask her where she draws the line. Should cousins be able to marry? Sisters? Brothers? How about polygamists?

I’m sure she’s referring to gay marriage, so let’s talk about that for a minute.

The government should never have gotten involved in marriage to begin with. Marriage is a sacred institution, and couples seeking a religious marriage should not need the government’s permission to do so. It should be between them and God – via their church.

Those not seeking religious marriage should be able to enter into a civil contract with their partner – at a governmental level. Civil Unions. After all, atheists get married all the time – and that doesn’t seem to be a problem for the religious folks. They just don’t get married in a Catholic church.

But this student is cleverly alluding to the fact that Republicans are somehow anti-gay. Which, as both a Republican and a gay man, I can say is patently false.

However, if gay couples want to get married because the government offers 1,100 benefits to married couples, my question is: Why is the government bestowing 1,100 special rights on married couples?

If every straight and gay couple can get married in America, no unmarried couples would be eligible for these 1,100 special rights. That’s not equality, now is it gay activists? No. It’s not.

So we should just get government out of marriage altogether, and then we won’t have students like this insinuating that Republicans are anti-gay, just because they don’t want the government forcing their church to marry same-sex couples.

Finally…

Student #22: “ … because I’m tired – sick and tired – of NAFTA-style free trade agreements that are shipping good-paying American jobs overseas.

This one is easy.

The House of Representatives passed NAFTA on November 17, 1993, with a vote of 234-200. Over 100 Democrats voted in support of NAFTA in the House. It passed the Senate 61-38, with 27 Democrats supporting.

Democratic President Bill Clinton signed NAFTA on December 8, 1993 – well before the 1994 GOP takeover of Congress.

He also signed Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act into law, but Democrats conveniently forget that.

When Bill Clinton signed NAFTA, he said, “NAFTA means jobs. American jobs, and good-paying American jobs. If I didn’t believe that, I wouldn’t support this agreement.”

Aw, I guess this student needs to rethink his party affiliation or his position on NAFTA. But either way, he looks pretty stupid now.

In the end, these students have no idea why they are Democrats. They’ve just been told by society, academia, Hollywood, and Jon Stewart, that they are supposed to be Democrats.

Someday they will learn to think for themselves.

(Mark Ciavola is president of UNLV College Republicans and chairman of the College Republic Federation of Nevada. Learn more about the College Republicans at www.unlvcr.org and www.crnc.org)