CR Nation

And go figure, they do it with a YouTube video.

Accompanying the video was a press release that can be read in full below.

Washington, D.C. (August 1, 2007) — Young Republicans (YRs) across the nation were shocked to learn that some Republican candidates had not confirmed for the very popular CNN/YouTube debates. In response, the Young Republican National Federation (YRNF) contacted each campaign, as well as sending their recently posted YouTube video to stress the importance and urgency of participating in this event.

Chairman Glenn Murphy (IN) said, “Ignoring the young vote in this election will be the downfall of the Republican party. Projections show that the under-30 vote will surpass the over-65 vote in the 2008 elections. Since new media, such as YouTube, is such an effective method of reaching our voters, we have individually urged all Republican candidates to participate in the CNN/YouTube debates.”

“It is our job to know the 18-40 demographic, and we do. The candidates should heed our advice and join the conversation that the CNN/YouTube debates have initiated. Opting out is not an option,” said Jessica Colón (TX), Co-Chairman.

The YRNF video can be found at http://www.youtube.com/YoungRepublicans and a transcript is provided below. Additional information can be found on www.yrnf.com.

The Young Republicans (YRs) are the oldest political youth organization in the United States. Since its creation, the Young Republican National Federation (YRNF) has established itself as the premier Republican grassroots organization in the nation, providing essential grassroots support for Republican candidates and conservative issues on the local, state and national levels.

The YRNF has a solid record of producing future Republican Party leaders – including Governors, Senators, Congressmen, nationally recognized campaign consultants, and community leaders.

Through recruiting, training and mobilizing people, the YRNF presents an opportunity for ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Through community involvement in political issues, charitable projects and participation in political campaigns, YRs work to improve the world in which we live.