The first day of the Republican National Convention was full of young people. College Republican National Committee Chairman Alex Smith, Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk, and Young Republican National Federation Chairman Dennis Cook took the stage with a message for the crowd — and young people in particular.
Alex Smith, the first woman chairman in CRNC history, spoke of the struggles the GOP has had with young people.
“Millennials cost us the White House four years ago. And that’s caused some of the political elite to write us off,” she acknowledged in her remarks. “But if anyone tells you free market and liberty-minded principles aren’t in demand with our generation, they just haven’t looked at the world around them lately.”
Smith focused on the vision of Ronald Reagan for creating new generations of conservatives while warning that “freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.”
To avoid the idea that the GOP is “just too much old and not enough grand in the way we express our party’s value to next generation voters,” Smith suggested “equal opportunity, with one set of rules for everybody,” which she says are “millennial values.”
ICYMI – WATCH: Complete remarks from @AlexandraCSmith at #RNCinCLE #GOPConventionhttps://t.co/mgRjakx6vD
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Charlie Kirk then took the stage, admitting that he sounded “a little caustic” with his announcement that “big government sucks.” He disputed the notion that the Republican Party “is a party of old, rich, white men.” The primary field was the youngest and most diverse, with Latino candidates Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio and Indian-American Bobby Jindal.
Kirk referenced Paul Ryan as the youngest speaker, Tom Cotton, who is currently the youngest senator at 39, and Elise Stefanik, the youngest representative at 32. “We are the party of youth and diversity,” Kirk said to loud cheers.
While Democrats embody corruption, Kirk said “we believe in opportunity for all and our party reflects that,” encouraging meritocracy and hard work. Through those ideas, that will be “how we will Make America Great Again.”
ICYMI – WATCH: Complete remarks from @charliekirk11 at #RNCinCLE #GOPConventionhttps://t.co/A2icFxnzK7
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Dennis Cook reminded the crowd that young people face consequences not just for themselves, but for future generations. He cautioned against “shiny” promises from Democrats which in reality lead to other problems, such as “free” college and the $15 minimum wage.
While Democrats are the party of “unicorns and fairy tales then, we are the party of reality,” he said, also saying that the “free market is better than free stuff.”
Cook also took aim at the Democrats not considering consequences by mentioning Hillary Clinton, who he says “has made a career of terrible judgment and making others pay for it.”
