More than 25 students attended a DU College Republicans event entitled “Tomorrow’s Leaders: College Republicans” held last Tuesday in the Anderson Academic Commons. The event included statements from Colorado Secretary of State Scott Gessler, Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck and Colorado State Senator Owen Hill. Gessler is running for Governor of Colorado, while Buck and Hill are running for U.S. Senate.

Gessler spoke of the many opportunities available to Republicans in Colorado, saying the position of the state as a swing state puts it in a visible and important position in the national political landscape. Gessler said this allows people involved in politics to have an especially big impact in Colorado.

“Politically, you’ve got an opportunity to really, really make a difference,” said Gessler. “It’s an opportunity that is rarely afforded to people across the country.”

Gessler also discussed the importance that young Republicans play in the political landscape.
“We wouldn’t be here if you all didn’t matter,” he said, encouraging the students present to get involved in politics.

Gessler moved on to specifically encourage the students present to volunteer for his campaign, emphasizing the close proximity of his campaign office to campus.

“My campaign headquarters is two miles—count them, T-W-O miles away,” said Gessler. “We’re right in the Cherry Creek area.”

Buck also encouraged students present at the event to volunteer for his campaign, and continued with the theme of the importance of young Republicans during his statement.

“I want to tell you how proud I am that you folks are here,” said Buck. “You have spent 20, 22, 23 years of your life being taught a liberal philosophy, and yet you are sitting in a room with Republicans and you are willing to stand strong on values that are inconsistent with a message that you have had for years.”

He discussed the debt and government spending, pointing to inflation as a serious issue that he said will hurt the poor and many other groups of people.

“If we allow that to happen, we have lost one of the fundamental things that makes America so great, and that’s that we are compassionate people,” said Buck. “This country has always cared about the poor … and if we keep spending at the rate we’re spending, we lose that ability, and that’s where the liberals are taking us.”

Hill, on the other hand, focused mainly on his desire to help people through an emphasis on capitalism and free enterprise.

“Aid and charity, they help, but they’re temporary measures,” said Hill. “Capitalism—that’s the only way to provide the opportunity to truly help people.”

Hill further said that change must come from individuals and small organizations.

“[Change] can’t come from the top down. Big government, big business, they can’t accomplish this,” he said, calling for new ideas and entrepreneurial approaches as solutions to problems such as poverty.

Further, he said now is the time for young people such as students to invest in the Republican party.

“Now is the chance to invest your time and effort and energy into this and recreate the Republican brand and create the future that we’re going to inherit,” said Hill.

The event ended with a panel of all three speakers answering questions from the audience. The questions focused mainly on the policy stances of the candidates, and included topics such as the representation of women in politics, gun control, education and national defense.