Recently-elected Penn College Republicans chairman, Wharton junior Peter Devine, spoke to the Daily Pennsylvanian about his plans for the future of the minority political group on campus.
Daily Pennsylvanian: How is the hand-over going?
PD: I've been passed the baton pretty quickly - I took over on day one.
DP: What did you think of the presidential campaign?
PD: Do I think it could have been closer? Probably. Do I think that [Arizona Sen. John] McCain could have won? Maybe not. Rick Davis, the campaign manager, . ran a poor campaign compared to what Karl Rove ran for Bush. [President Barack] Obama always had this message, "Yes We Can" and McCain's message was constantly switching. He was never speaking to Americans with one direct message.
DP: How were you involved in the campaign?
PD: [Alaska] Gov. [Sarah] Palin came to Philadelphia in preparation for her vice-presidential debate. For those four days I was right there by her side and was very active with the advance team first and then with the debate prep team. . I think she has great potential to be a leader of the Republican Party. I think she was pushed into a role she wasn't used to. I think that the McCain campaign treated her very badly.
DP: What does this year look like for the Republicans?
PD: We see next year as a challenging year and that the Republican Party and its ideals are not very popular on this campus. . We're looking to get our message out to people who wouldn't normally hear us.
DP: Why do you think the Republican Party is unpopular on campus?
PD: People see it as being uncool to be a Republican. . I think the Republican Party is misunderstood at our age level. We want to show a new face, that we are the party that is inclusive and embracing of different perspectives. . We're not the party of old white men anymore.
DP: Who would win in a fight between you and Penn Democrats President Jordan Levine?
PD: I think I got that. I got the age card on him.
DP: Do you plan on going into politics?
PD: Maybe one far off future day, another life from now, but nothing imminent.
DP: What is your opinion on the stimulus package?
PD: It was the Ben Bernanke interview that kind of convinced me that it is necessary. He's an expert on the Great Depression. . The mistake they made in '29 was that they let the banks fail. . I think you can criticize irresponsible spending while still saying we're going to be okay.
DP: What is your opinion of President Barack Obama so far?
PD: He's always campaigning. I personally think he's a self-interested guy. . We'll see what happens with the budget, there are a lot of scary things in there. . It's almost getting to the point where 50 percent of Americans are paying 100 percent of the [income] taxes.
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