CD President: We Cannot Let Victories Go to Waste

[caption id="attachment_2404" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Political Affairs Director Emma Carpenter tells CD members about the new Advocacy Team. Alex Laska / WRGW News"][/caption]

At the first general meeting of the College Democrats, CD President Peter Weiss spoke of the importance of advocacy and activism both on campus and off. He told a group of several hundred – a turnout greater than last year’s despite it not being an election year - that “our hope is that you have a hand in enacting pending national legislation.”

Referring to Democrat gains in Congress in both 2006 and 2008, as well as President Obama’s victory last November, Weiss said that “we cannot let those victories to go waste.” He introduced the new Advocacy Team, which will bring in professional lobbyists to train CD’s so that they can effectively lobby Congresspersons on Capitol Hill. Weiss called this new team “the most important initiative of the year.”

Another new program is the Campaign College, which will bring in specialists to train members to become “electioneers.” The Campaign College will offer courses in public speaking, youth outreach, and new technologies to help CD members become better canvassers and better campaign organizers.

Weiss also mentioned the upcoming gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia, as CD Executive Board members passed out Corzine and Deeds posters in support of Governor John Corzine’s reelection bid in New Jersey and Creigh Deed’s gubernatorial campaign in Virginia, respectively. “One of the most important things we can do as College Democrats is campaign for Democrats across the country,” said Weiss, adding that there will be “overnight invasions” in both New Jersey and Virginia to campaign for the two Democrat candidates.

The CD’s have many speakers slated to appear at GW this semester, including Obama’s campaign manager David Plouffe, former Vice President Walter Mondale, and former DNC Chairman Howard Dean.

On the lighter side of things, Weiss brought up some upcoming social events, including this Saturday’s water balloon fight against the College Republicans, and a future trip to Ben’s Chili Bowl, a known favorite of President Obama’s. “Ben’s has the best F-ing chili, I swear to God,” Weiss said. “Wherever Obama eats, we’re gonna go there.”

-Alex Laska