Marks is executive director of Young Americans for Freedom. YAF is the nation’s oldest conservative youth activist organization (www.yaf.com). Marks is a frequent trainer and guest lecturer on conservative youth activism and recruitment at numerous conferences, including the Conservative Political Action Conference in 2010 and the Tea Party National Convention, Council for National Policy and many universities across the country and overseas.
You seem a little young to have a big 50th anniversary coming up. Explain.
Well, we are Young Americans for Freedom (YAF), but our alumni or as we refer to them, the OAFS (Older Americans for Freedom) gave us our start at William F. Buckley Jr.’s estate 50 years ago. Despite our age, Young Americans for Freedom’s fight for a free market, a limited government, individual civil liberties and a strong national security are timeless.
What is CPAC and what’s your role?
CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference, has been referred to as the “Woodstock for conservatives, only with no drugs and better-looking women.” Young Americans for Freedom and the American Conservative Union founded CPAC as the annual meeting for conservative leaders and students.
I sit on the CPAC planning committee, where we plan the panels, speakers and the overall theme of the conference. Although as one of the youngest members, I take it upon myself to run quality control for official and unofficial CPAC happy hours.
Why do you think young people are drawn to the conservative movement?
The girls love us because we are the “Mad Men” of politics, and the guys like the scotch and cigars.
Have you ever met any Young Americans Against Freedom, and if so, would you rumble?
Does Rachel Maddow count? If so, we issued her a challenge to rumble, but she hid behind her 12 viewers.
— Julie Mason
