The Michigan Daily-Tuesday, July 15, 1980-Page 3
Convention Reports
-Eu-° }
Rep lican
youth highly
visible at
convention
By SARA ANSPACH
Specialto The Daily
DETROIT - Their cheers have a
familiar ring, and if they didn't look
quite so All-American, you could be
foaled into thinking they were a group
of University students marching
towards the stadium on a football
Saturday.
The clean-cut crew of hundreds of
young people shouted "Here we go,
Ronny! Here we go!" as they marched
into the first session of the Republican
Convention yesterday. They treated the
convention as casually as they would a
FREE LUNCH
You might say that one of the
overriding themes of the Republican
party is "there is no such thing as a
free lunch." In fact, Stephen Gibble,
chairman of the College Republican
National Committee, said it in his
address before the entire
delegations yesterday, a little before
noon. Few members of the Youth for
Reagan group heeded his warning,
however. Promised a free chicken
and cole slaw lunch, young
Republicans scurried over to Cobo
Hall after the opening session of the
convention only to find that most of
their lunch had been gobbled by
delegates and media people who in-
nocently assumed the free lunches
were for everybody. Several angry
Youth for Reagan members stormed
into a nearaby cafeteria demanding
a free lunch. "I can't give them a
free lunch," complained one worker.
"There aren't any free lunches
here."
CANCER CUT
Asked by a reporter about Rep.
Jack Kemp's chances of getting the
vice presidential nod from Reagan,
a GOP member of Congress replied:
"I don't think so. I think even
Reagan knows that Jack is a one
issue man. Why, his answer to can-
cer would oe a tax cut."
football game, in which, although the
victor is almost predetermined, it is
nevertheless fun to cheer.
TO THE REPUBLICAN Party,
however, the young people are more
than an enthusiastic cheering section.
They represent an untapped potential
of both volunteers and voters who may
someday, the'GOP hopes, help the
Republicans to become the majority
party.
The Democrats have nothing similar
to the GOP's present Young Republican
Federation. It has a budget of more
than a half-million dollars and a full-
time staff of professional Republicans
to help organize Young Republican and
College Republican clubs across the
country.
And yesterday, the Young
Republican chairman announced a
costly new project called "Operation
Persuasion" - a massive media blitz to
convince young Americans that the
GOP wants them.
THE GOP emphasis on young people
was apparent yesterday.
Three GOP youth leaders were given
a chunk of prime convention time to
talk about young people and the party's
future, and young recruits from ages 15
to 25 mulled around the convention
wearing shining "Youth for Reagan"
cards around their necks.
Housed in the dormitories of Eastern
Michigan University, many of the youth
brigade are sons- and 'daughters of
delegates. Others were solicited by
delegates or were asked to come
because they had volunteered in some
Republican's campaign - not
necessarily Reagan's.
THE YOUTH for Reagan represen-
tatives are miniatures of their delegate
counterparts. Like the delegates, they
are mostly white, nicely dressed, and
spotless. . They are all ultra-
conservatives.
Many of the young convention-goers
grew up in Republican neighborhoods
and households, and life as a
Republican is all they have ever known.
Bill Frank, however, is a product of
Democratic parents and a Democratic
town, but says he is a bonafide
Republican. According to the 20-year-
old college student from Baltimore,
Republicans are the ones who can save
the country. _
"Everyone's turning more conser-
vative, the youth included. The
economic uncertainty and problems we
are facing now transcend age," he said.
THE ERA does not seem to be a big
issue with these young people. Sheri
See YOUNG, Page 14
THE STARK RENAISSANCE Center towers over a nearby satellite dish Sun-
day. Both the RenCen and the dish were awaiting the onslaught of thousands
of Republican delegates in Joe Louis Arena yesterday.
Anderson supp orters
appear at ERA rally
By' MITCH STUART
Special t The Daily
DETROIT - The relatively small
group of 50 men and women was vir-
tually lost in the crowd during yester-
day's pro-ERA rally here, but the
determined band was not to be shouted
down.
Supporters of Independent presiden-
tial candidate John Anderson were
taking full advantage of the GOP's
decision not to support the Equal Rights
Amendment. Chaiting "Anderson,, for
ERA," backers of the Illinois represen-
tative tried to churn up support for the
Republican-turned-Independent presi-
dential candidate.
THE GROUP'S appearance in the
ERA rally was just one step in a
calculated assault on the Detroit area
and the entire state. Anderson cam-
paign workers last week opened an
"Anderson for President" office just
two blocks from Cobo Hall and Joe
Louis Arena, the site of this week's
See ANDERSON; Page 11
We're at the convention
The Michigan Daily is doing its part this week to widen
the four-to-one media-to-delegate ratio at the Republican
National Convention. Four veteran reporters - Sara An-
spach, Joyce Frieden, Bonnie Juran, and Mitch Stuart -
will provide special coverage of the Detroit festivities. Watch
this page for their enlightening, unique reports on topics the
major media will probably overlook.