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The question is why and how, not who or what
By punch bowl | April 15, 2008
The other day, I elected to highlight the volunteer efforts of the Michigan College Republican Federation, who in conjunction with the Michigan Republican Party, coordinated a volunteer effort which produced the participation of 75 students knocking doors on a Saturday in the rain.
Since its posting, the response has been mixed. For instance one commenter said:
Zatkoff is a divisive leader, and this speaks to the size and dedication of Michigan CRs, not to Mr. Zatkoff’s leadership.
Another commenter chimed in by stating:
The only people showed up were his friends. A lot of them were high school kids and people like Matt Hall — COLLEGE GRADUATES.
And yet another comment claims that:
The only people there from MSU were a couple has beens who are longtime supporters of Justin “Zit Face” Zatkoff.
I feel compelled to address these comments, not because I am a particularly huge fan or friend of Mr. Zatkoff. Like any leader he has his strengths and weaknesses.
No, I am compelled to address is what I feel is an unfortunate and counterproductive focus of College Republicans on personalities and their federation leadership as opposed to the cause (i.e. electing Republicans) - of which Michigan seems to be representative microcosm of the larger problem.
So, in responding to the comments, I say SO WHAT and WHO CARES?
So what if 75 students showed up because of their own dedication and not as a direct result of Justin Zatkoff?
Who cares if some the students who participated are in high school or have graduated from college?
And especially so what and who cares if some of the students from MSU were “has beens”?
Even if all of this is true, that Zatkoff was not the reason students showed up; that some of the students were in high school or had graduated college; and that some of those participating are CR has-beens…what difference does any of it make?
Our primary focus should not be on who got students to volunteer (Zatkoff?), what type of student volunteered (high school or college), or the status of the student volunteers (has-beens.
Rather our focus should be on why 75 students participated and how to replicate it.
And as far as I can tell, answering who and what, don’t matter near as much as answering why and how.
As election 2008 approaches I urge us all, to re-focus on answering why and how, instead of using who and what to tear each other down; because it is only through answering why and how that we will be successful in 2008.
Topics: CR Nation, CR Nation editorial |
April 16th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
You are right…the who and why do not matter. The fact of the matter is is that Justin is an embarrassment and his event was taken from him.
As far as your objectivism on Zatkoff…I don’t buy it.
April 18th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
In a letter from a MI Republican Party Official:
The event was organized by the Michigan Federation of College Republican Chairman Justin Zatkoff, in tandem with our hosts, the Oakland University College Republicans and the 9th District GOP. We were also joined by Congressman Knollenberg, Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop, State Representatives Jack Hoogendyk and David Law, Statewide Young Republican Chairman Stu Foster and 9th District GOP Chairman Glenn Clark.