With the election looming, groups across campus from both sides of the political spectrum are getting students fired up to help their side secure victory in November.
Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder spoke Tuesday night at a Mizzou College Republicans meeting. Kinder spoke primarily about a return to the conservative ideals of President Ronald Reagan and about how far to the left the current regime in Washington has strayed.
“My grandparents wouldn’t recognize this Democratic Party,” Kinder said. “It’s moved left ever since I was a freshman in college.”
He said the Democratic Party hides their ideals behind the façade of being “progressive” as they attempt to control more of people’s lives and intrude on their basic freedoms.
Kinder also addressed his opinion that Missouri has shifted from a national election swing state to safely Republican in the upcoming election.
“This is the first election I can remember where Missouri is not a swing state,” Kinder said. “(Republicans) have historic majorities in the House and Senate in Jefferson City. When I was in college it seemed like Missouri was a permanently Democratic state.”
Kinder took time for a few questions at the end, including one regarding the current teachers’ strike in Chicago.
He said Chicago’s failing public schools is a great example of what can happen to a school district when Democrats are in control over a continuous period of time.
He said the situation is similar in Kansas City and St. Louis and that is why he has championed school choice for years during his political career.
“If we are going to have the success that these kids need, it’s going to have to be Republicans who do it,” Kinder said.
Craig Arnzen, former Mizzou College Republicans president and current Missouri Federation of College Republicans chairman, addressed the crowd after Kinder’s speech and emphasized the importance of the upcoming election.
“Missouri is not going in the right direction and our country is not going in the right direction,” Arnzen said. “We have a lot of older brothers and sisters who voted for hope and change in 2008 and now we’re hoping to change it back.”
According to Kinder, the way out of our current problems is simple. He said a return to the Reagan-esque vision of lower taxes and economic freedom is the only way to meet the needs of our country.
Mizzou College Republicans President Andrew Feather said he was appreciative of Kinder taking the time to come speak and felt Kinder did a good job of relating the ideas of Reagan conservatism to students.
Feather said they are excited to help Kinder out in his re-election campaign against Democratic challenger Susan Montee.