Young Americans for Freedom for Conservatives

Julian Sanchez | July 16, 2006

I know there hasn't been a huge libertarian contingent in YAF since, oh, say, St. Louis 1969, but If any of you out there have ties to the Young America's Foundation, you might want to voice your displeasure at this obnoxious policy.

Whoops:I looked at that too quickly and assumed "YAF" was Young Americans for Freedom; it's Young America's Foundation. A couple websites describe them as "affiliated," but they're distinct groups.

Comments

|7.16.06 @ 8:03PM|#

Heh, it could (hopefully will) be that YAF will be worse off for denying this person access than they would have been if she had written a critical report of the convention. Then again, given the Red Sox-Yankees nature of political discourse among such people, it probably makes no difference either way.

|7.16.06 @ 8:05PM|#

god, what a fucking douche. the YAF guy I mean.

|7.16.06 @ 8:15PM|#

Well, I don't have stellar credentials as a conservative, never having been one, but as a disenchanted former Democrat you would think I'd be these guys' target audience and this disgusts me, so I sent 'em an email. I mean, if you really believe in your ideas, doesn't that mean you're unafraid of other people challenging them?

|7.16.06 @ 8:27PM|#

This guy may not be the BDIU, but he's in training for the title. He attended the other side's conference on a pass, and won't recipocate?

At the very least, he should have wanted to convert the cute chick in the toga. :)

Kevin

|7.16.06 @ 8:39PM|#

I can't think of anyone I'd like to teabag more than a college student who is a conservative activist. Well, maybe Objectivists in college.

|7.16.06 @ 8:55PM|#

That Mattera guy's a bit lacking in class, and a bit too long on chutzpah, denying credentials to a liberal reporter just 5 days after covering a similar, liberal event himself.

What an SOB.

|7.16.06 @ 9:10PM|#

In grad school, the College Republicans were the biggest assholes on campus. They frequently brought in speakers sponsored by YAF.

I freely admit that academic leftists can be shrill and idiotic and downright nasty, but campus conservatives seem bound and determined to prove that they can be an even bigger bunch of assholes.

What do I conclude? I conclude that politically active college students are generally assholes.

|7.16.06 @ 9:30PM|#

"What do I conclude? I conclude that politically active college students are generally assholes."

And how. Now there is an observation everyone can get behind.

|7.16.06 @ 9:31PM|#

I'd like to get behind Julian Sanchez if you know what I mean.

|7.16.06 @ 9:37PM|#

The thing is, conservative groups tend to be less about discussing ideology than they are about power-networking. Not inviting the liberal media is not about being scared fo challenging ideas, but rather just about keeping the resumes pure so that when all the juicy interships and positions come up, they'll be the best position to backstab their way to the moola.

Ever been at a Young Republican election? Dirtier, nastier, and just plain insaner than even the most absurd fantasies of the left about 2000: but for real.

|7.16.06 @ 9:55PM|#

"What do I conclude? I conclude that politically active college students are generally assholes."

Last election (the big one in 2004) a liberal student with a democratic group supporting Kerry knocked on our door.

Despite only fleeting instances of agreement, he was one of the nicest guys I talked too ALL FUCKING YEAR about politics! (Almost) every single conservative I talked to last year was an obnoxious ass. Most of them waving the flag in my face and talking about how "this was the most imprtant election in our life time and we had to keep Kerry out of office."

I even had a client (I try to never mix politics with business) trying to get me to demonstrate that I was a conservative ("lemme her you say 'Go Bush'"...I dumped him as a client last year anyway...always beating me down on price, sending me shit jobs and taking forever to pay).

I know lib/dems have their issues and can be a pain, but I live in a conservative navy town and my personal experience with loudmouth prick conservatives way outdoes anything remotely similar with lib/dems.

|7.16.06 @ 10:13PM|#

Perhaps the only thing that makes me cringe more than conservative activists are active US Soccer fans in the World Cup.

|7.16.06 @ 10:46PM|#

What's a teabag? Really, I don't know. Please explain, as I'm rather old and uninformed.
Is it dirty? Why tea? Is this an Asian reference?
Herrick said it so I think it probably is dirty.
Is it?

Jeff Albetson|7.16.06 @ 11:02PM|#

here is a definition of tea bagging http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea_bagging

|7.16.06 @ 11:33PM|#

What do I conclude? I conclude that politically active college students are generally assholes.

Hey, we try. Libertarians (whether or not they're in a club) have the best distinction. They're always just that "weird" bunch. I guess that's one I can live with.

|7.16.06 @ 11:53PM|#

As a former College Rightie during the early-mid 90s, active in the CR's and the right-wing college paper, I have you'll never meet a bigger bunch of assholes than Campus Conservatives. There were times were they actively went out of our way to piss off minorities (namely blacks and gays) in the name fighting "political correctness." For instance, the Opinion Editor of the aforementioned Right-Wing campus paper actually called blacks "niggers" (sorry) after the O.J. Simpson verdict. The result: The Black Student Union and affiliated groups marched on the student union demanding the Chancellor punish the paper, while advertisers pulled their ads. The paper went under about a year later.

Nice move guys.

|7.16.06 @ 11:55PM|#

Clarification: The Opinion Editor referred to blacks as "niggers" (sorry again) in a article about the O.J. Simpson verdict.

|7.17.06 @ 12:10AM|#

The thing is, conservative groups tend to be less about discussing ideology than they are about power-networking.

Tell me about it.

Each year the CRs would hold a Halloween Party/Birthday Bash for then Governor Tommy Thompson. FYI, Thompson is a huge lush and skirt chaser and he'd always get good and wasted at these events. You'd think that such immoral behavior would not be tolerated by such young, stalwart guardians of conservatism would abhor such behavior, right?

HELL NO! They were clamoring to suck up to the bastard in hopes for internships or foot-in-door party positions. That, and they'd joke about how wasted the Governor got the previous night.

There were more than a couple atheist and pro-choice CRs in the mix, but when the local Republican politicos showed up to speak at meetings, they'd either play along with the praise-the-lord/save-the-preborn rhetoric, or it was suggested by the officers that they didn't attend.

|7.17.06 @ 12:51AM|#

Akira,

I think your forgetting that for a lot of conservatives, immorality is something that only affects non-conservatives. If you believe the right things, you can do whatever you want.

|7.17.06 @ 12:57AM|#

I think your forgetting that for a lot of conservatives, immorality is something that only affects non-conservatives. If you believe the right things, you can do whatever you want.

Especially if you accept JEEZ-us as your personal lord and savior... when you get caught.

|7.17.06 @ 1:44AM|#

So a private group is blocking access to people? It doesn't seem to be enough of a reason for me to do anything.

|7.17.06 @ 2:29AM|#

So a private group is blocking access to people? It doesn't seem to be enough of a reason for me to do anything.

Maybe not, and YAF does have the right to deny Ms. Siegel a press pass, but...

1. Mattera, who denied her the pass, was granted a pass by leftist organization events when he interned for NR.

2. Mattera acted like a real dick in his replies. I thought one could expect a degree of civility from conservatives what with their alleged fascination with morals and order, but this asshole's smug condescension is indicative of the conservatism of jerks like Hannity and Coulter rather than that of William F. Buckley Jr.

|7.17.06 @ 2:46AM|#

I suppose that's all true, I just don't really think it warrents the attention it's getting. Mattera is obviously an idiot, but is it enough for me to care? I think not. Besides, defending hypocracy is all the rage now.

|7.17.06 @ 3:01AM|#

Nobody said you had to do anything about it. I just like talking shit about conservatives.

|7.17.06 @ 3:32AM|#

Well that's all fine and dandy, but that doesn't really give it any legitimacy.

|7.17.06 @ 3:35AM|#

Don't confuse the Young America's Foundation with Young Americans for Freedom. It was the latter that had a large libertarian contingent, not the former that is referred to in the article. I agree that the policy is obnoxious and reflects the immaturity of the miscreant.

|7.17.06 @ 3:35AM|#

Don't confuse the Young America's Foundation with Young Americans for Freedom. It was the latter that had a large libertarian contingent, not the former that is referred to in the article. I agree that the policy is obnoxious and reflects the immaturity of the miscreant.

|7.17.06 @ 7:44AM|#

Don't get down on Mattera now -- remember that thing I didn't say? "If you're a conservative at 20, you have no heart..."

|7.17.06 @ 7:47AM|#

"if you're a conservative at any age, you're a douche bag" - Herrick's Balls

|7.17.06 @ 8:08AM|#

Akira-

Regarding that guy who used the n-word, campus conservatives seem to act like the biggest jackasses possible in order to get some scorn heaped upon them. Then they take this scorn as proof of their victimhood.

Yeah, I know, campus liberals can be pretty bad, but campus conservatives are busy trying to be even bigger assholes. They're also doing a "me too" game on victimhood.

|7.17.06 @ 8:38AM|#

Well that's all fine and dandy, but that doesn't really give it any legitimacy.

No...what gives the issue legitimacy is that, while you don't see any reason to show interest, others here do. So the marketplace of people interested in the topic gave it legitimacy.

Defending hypocrisy might be all the rage but a lot of people are becoming increasingly tired of it all the same.

Pricks, assholes and jerks like this wanker are repeatedly dragging the debates down and away from any hint or illusion of substance in favor of gutterball b.s., disengenuous posturing and smoke-&-mirrors arguments.

|7.17.06 @ 8:40AM|#

Herrick,

My balls abstain on that, and every other topic.

|7.17.06 @ 9:31AM|#

R.S. Porter,

I agree with you. The guy comes off as a complete asshole, but in the end, it is a private org and they can invite whomever the hell they want.

Nothing to discuss here except the guy's douchebaggery. And if you're gonna let that bother you, plan on being bothered for the rest of your life.

|7.17.06 @ 10:28AM|#

jcavar,

Yes, this private organization is free to deny access to anyone they want...and us private individuals are free to criticize them for doing so. Freedom of association != immunity from criticism.

|7.17.06 @ 10:44AM|#

crimethink,

I never said freedom of association = immunity from criticicm, now did I?

I said if this sort of behavior bothers you, be prepared to always be bothered.

|7.17.06 @ 10:49AM|#

I said if this sort of behavior bothers you, be prepared to always be bothered.

If we weren't bothered about all sorts of things then we wouldn't be libertarians.

|7.17.06 @ 10:56AM|#

jcavar,

I don't get bothered, I get even. This guy has absolutely zero chance of getting a press pass to my events.

|7.17.06 @ 11:03AM|#

R.S. Porter,

When the hit & runners start advocating passing an open media access law, I'll agree with your comment. But as long as we're all just heaping scorn and ridicule on Mattera and his CR ilk, I say "Lay on, MacDuff!"

|7.17.06 @ 11:55AM|#

crimethink & thoreau,

Far be it from me to tell anyone what to think, feel, say, etc....

But it just seems odd to me, as a libber, to get so bothered by personal, private behavior. As I said, this Mattera fellow is cetainly acting like an ass, but he isn't infringing on anyone's civil liberties as I see it.

I suppose it comes from me being a bit of a misanthrope. I expect people to act like assholes, so I reserve my outrage for actual abuses by the government.

|7.17.06 @ 12:04PM|#

jcavar-

I sometimes express a negative opinion about something without actually getting really upset and unhappy and all that. We come here to comment. I read something, I comment on it, I express a negative opinion, and I move on. I don't let it ruin my life. I can hold negative opinions without becoming really upset and experiencing the side effects and distractions with come with getting really upset.

|7.17.06 @ 12:21PM|#

Wow. What a douche.

But, having said that, I don't advocate the state intervening in this guy's attempt to make a giant douche of himself.

|7.17.06 @ 12:25PM|#

thoreau,

I agree completely with your last post (at 12:04.)

|7.17.06 @ 12:26PM|#

But, having said that, I don't advocate the state intervening in this guy's attempt to make a giant douche of himself.

drink!

|7.17.06 @ 12:31PM|#

Y'know, if the correspondent had said she was writing up the event for the Daily Pennsylvanian and/or freelance aricles, she probably would be a slam-dunk for credentials.

Otherwise, that guy at the yaf... what a tool.

|7.17.06 @ 12:42PM|#

...conservative groups tend to be less about discussing ideology than they are about power-networking. - plunge

OK, then the smart move, from a PR standpoint, is to issue a pass for open sessions of the group, and limit access to the non-business portions of the event where the secret masters will twirl their mustachios and practice their evil laughs. (NYAH-HA-HA!)

Kevin

|7.17.06 @ 12:54PM|#

To clarify a bit, I took exception to this:

If we weren't bothered about all sorts of things then we wouldn't be libertarians.

Now this may just have been a throw-away comment, but to me, it can be used to define any almost any position, but especially a statist position. How many meddlesome bills are introduced each session because someone is bothered about how some other group is acting? Gay marriage amendment? Flag-burning amendment? Most people I know could readily slip into "there ought to be a law..." mode on the slightest provocation if enough justifications are given.

To me, being a libertarian, beyond the core principles, is not being bothered about how other people behave as long as it doesn't affect me. Which doesn't preclude having an opinion on said behavior, as crimethink pointed out and you, thoreau, said in your 12:04 post.

Feel free to call me a hypocrite over being bothered by this. And apologies for the thread-jack.

|7.17.06 @ 1:05PM|#

jcavar-

All I meant is that libertarians, being different from the mainstream, tend to get upset over things that people of other persuasions might shrug off. That's all.

|7.17.06 @ 1:14PM|#

Cheers then, Dr. T.

And... Hitler!

Everyone drink!

Gene Berkman|7.17.06 @ 4:55PM|#

I was in Young Americans for Freedom in 1968 and 1969, and again in 1974. There were few attractive young women at YAF events, so it makes no sense to prevent an attractive young woman who wants to come to a conference for any reason.

Young America's Foundation was established by members of Young Americans for Freedom in order to get tax deductible contributions for "educational" activities. Foundation conferences get even fewer young women attending, and the guys are there to network in order to get campaign jobs.