University College Republicans received encouragement from a former senator Wednesday, who assured them they were on the “right” side.
Former Minnesota Sen. Rudy Boschwitz – in office from 1978 until Paul Wellstone defeated him in 1991 – spoke to the students on issues ranging from fund raising to conservative politics to Iraq.
“I want to first off congratulate you,” Boschwitz told the group. “You have come to the conclusion of being Republicans at a young age.”
He added that although he was also once a young Republican, it takes others longer to come to the party.
“Some people think we Republicans are intolerable,” Boschwitz said, but he defended Republican ideas.
“We are right in the sense of being correct, and we are right in the sense of being right,” he said.
In addition to lambasting liberal policies and reassuring the group that U.S. progress in technology, medicine and democracy is the result of conservative ideals of “freedom and incentives,” Boschwitz encouraged the young Republicans to pursue their own dreams, political and otherwise.
“Politics were not my dream. I wanted to make money, frankly,” Boschwitz said. “If you achieve your goals, you can help a lot of people, and I’ve done that.”
Second-year University student Maija Boitman said Boschwitz’s speech gave her support she needed as a young Republican.
“(Boschwitz) makes you feel good because there’s so few Republicans our age,” Boitman said. “It just makes you feel more confident in your beliefs.”
Republican recognition
Minnesota College Republicans, however, have gotten their share of encouragement in the past few years.
At the state College Republican convention in February, the University chapter received the Gov. Tim Pawlenty Chapter of the Year Award, which Chairman Tyler Richter said is an honor for the group.
Also, at the 2001 National College Republican Convention, Minnesota was awarded the largest delegation award.
“Our delegation is nine votes strong,” Richter said. “Minnesota is the California on the national scale.”
Libby George covers politics and welcomes comments at [email protected]
