The new local chapter of San Diego State University Aztec CollegeRepublicans gathered last week to celebrate their new chapter, and torally excitement for the featured guest speaker who would affirm andencourage their involvement in politics.
Brian Bilbray, U.S. Representative for the 49th District in SanDiego County, was the club’s scheduled speaker to answer thequestions of student constituents last Thursday at Scripps Cottage.
The event started off with Bilbray talking about his backgroundgrowing up in San Diego, and how he got into politics.
“Originally, my aspirations were to become a history professor,”said Bilbray, “but unfortunately I did not do as well, so here I amin politics.”
Bilbray grew up in Imperial Beach, the beach community close tothe U.S./Mexico border, where he ran his first race for mayor in1976, and lost to a more wealthy contender.
Back when he was first emerging into politics, Bilbray had manycritics. Due to his “beach bum” appearance, many critical “wealthyDemocrats” in the political sphere said he wasn’t “cut out to be aRepublican,” Bilbray said.
“I got sick and tired of the attitude of Democrats saying that myfamily was stupid and unfit for political involvement because we wereworking class people,” Bilbray said.
Students soon began firing off questions, but only 15 minutes intothe question and answer time an elderly man, who was not a student,dominated the conversation with questions of integrity for thecongressman.
As it so often happens in politics, a fired debate began betweenthe man and Bilbray. But students wanting to get the most out of anopportunity to interrogate their representative soon took the floorback. They had more specific questions to ask.
“Congressman Bilbray,” asked business junior Taylor McDonald,”what is your advice to students interested in running for apolitical office?”
Bilbray encouraged students to get involved locally first, andgave out an invitation to intern in his office.
Other questions asked were about student loans and the future ofhigher education funding.
“Everyone in Washington talks about more loans, more loans, moreloans,” Bilbray said, “but giving students more loans means they willjust have to pay more later in life because of where all the moneyfor loans comes from tacks on to the national debt.”
Bilbray asked the crowd if anyone knew how much our national debtwas. No one answered.
“The National Debt is $5 trillion folks,” Bilbray said, “and guesswho gets to pay it off? You!”
Though $730 billion has been paid off so far, Bilbray said thereis a lot more to go. He talked about how students should beencouraged by grants they do not have to pay back versus more loans.
The more money we borrow, Bilbray said, the more it will add on tothe National Debt and take away from this generation’s SocialSecurity reserves.
Students were energized by Bilbray’s encouragement to take a partin the political process.
“My generation is tired,” Bilbray said. “It’s time you guys getready to take over. It’s essential you participate and you’ll learnthe system by doing.
“You’ll read and read, but there’s a point where you roll up yoursleeves and jump in.”
The Aztec College Republicans started its chapter last spring, andis currently trying to get chartered with the California StateRepublicans and the National Committee of College Republicans.
“Basically it was my idea to start up the organization,” saidNicole Carnation, founder and president of the club and an economicssenior. “We’ve had a lot of events so far, and we have a range ofmembers. About half are political science majors, and half arebusiness majors.”
