Recently, one of the readers of my blog who knew me from University sent a comment reminding me about a good story….
The University of California at Berkeley is famous in America for being “leftist/liberal.”
At the time I was a student, in the early 1990’s, although I had no real understanding of “why,” I considered myself a Republican (this was before GW, Dick and their buddies from halliburton and the religious right had destroyed the republican party)
My Junior year, I attended a BCR meeting (Berkeley College Republicans) and I was sincerely shocked to see only 10 people attend and there was no “exclusivenes.” The 10 people were sloppy and were not people you would want to hang out with …. at least I did not want to.
When I asked the President of the club (a big fat sloppy man) why there was so few attendees, he told me that Berkeley is very liberal and being republican was not popular.
On the walk back to my apartment I remember thinking to myself that Berkeley student population is 50% Asian American..and at the time 15% hispanic american, both groups are culturally conservative….
therefore, going off statistics, a strong arguement can be made that it is the unsilent minority of “liberals” that gives Berkeley the reputation for being liberal…..when in fact, the student population is made up of intrinsically conservative people.
That night on my walk home, I decided that this club was my next project.
A couple months later the club held elections, no one ran against me and I became the President of the Berkeley College Republicans (BCR).
I had never been involved in Politics…I had never in my life run for any elected position…I had no idea of what the republican party stood for …. all I knew was that most rich people are republicans and I wanted to be rich, therefore, I was a republican.
Anyways…
Immediately, I set out to relaunch the image of the club.
Every Monday was “club” day and all clubs would “table” (have a recruitment/marketing table in the square leading into campus)
All clubs normally had one small table with a couple people standing there passing out flyers, trying to get people to come to their table….most of the time, people walked right by without stopping.
To ensure an immediate presence … I bought three big, brand new tables and chairs where people could sit…I got balloons….we got cookies and drinks…I recruited good looking men and women to work the table. (I even paid them out of my own pocket to ensure they tabled)
Although our club was small, we looked huge….and our recruitment exploded.
My first BCR meeting….we had 100+ people in an auditorium and it was full, people were even sitting in the ailes…..I spent the day working on my speech … at the time, I had no idea of the bull shit and phoniness of politics….I was super naive…
All I cared about was “winning” and winning for me was to build BCR into the biggest club on campus….I didnt think about the biggest in America…I was focused on making us the biggest at school.
so I stood at the podium that first day, gave a pep rally, motivational style of speech and mentioned “this republican club is going to be inclusive…we want all republicans….pro-life and pro-choice …everyone is welcome…” blah blah blah….
and of course the meeting was a big success and recruitment further exploded….
Every Monday BCR’s three massive tables and chairs and all the good looking men and women standing around eating cookies, drinking sodas and talking would crush the rest of the clubs …. it was something like out of a movie.
we got buttons and t-shirts and soon you would see them all over campus.
Part of my job was to raise money for the club…so we could buy t-shirts, buttons, materials, etc….after my first meeting and going off recruitment numbers - the club was really doing well…I got invited to one of the rich alumni’s house for a “republican networking meeting” but I went there to raise money for the club…
During that meeting this super rich and some what famous business man shook my hand and held it very tightly not letting go and asked me in his southern accented voice…. staring me straight in the eyes “what’s this I hear about you making our club moderate????”
I was sincerely surprised… I remember thinking to myself, “who gives a shit if its moderate or not … all we want is the biggest republican club we can make…” Apparently, because I had mentioned the club would be “inclusive” … a club where pro-life and pro-choice are both welcome … I was branded a moderate.
He gave the club a couple thousand dollars, but under the condition I did not mention openly that I wanted “pro-choice” republicans….
Within the year, I was informed that our club had become the 2nd biggest college republican club in America….the biggest was USC.
When you are the President of the 2nd biggest college republican club in america you get invited to cool parties and you meet lots of people who have interest in you and your future….
I had zero interest in having a future in politics and I knew for certain that I was moving to Japan as soon as I graduated so this club was a hobby and nothing more…
One day I got invited and flown down to Los Angeles for a meeting with the President of the USC college republicans (the biggest college republican club in america)… he and a group of business men took me out to dinner (I was so naive …. I sincerely thought they just wanted to talk about our clubs) but the dinner was a big pitch….”Steve is running for President of College Republicans nationally and we want you to be his Vice President…”
I remember thinking to myself…”What?? such a club really exists???? why would anyone want to be the president of it?????”
They explained to me that being the VP of the national club will be a big step and I could become a congressman very quickly…..
I explained to these people that I was moving to Japan in a few months and that I had no interest in becoming a politician and or taking this further….
The business men pressured me for a good month or so, I got hammered and hammered to accept the nomination to run as Steve’s Vice President….the pressure was incredible and I nearly agreed — but I stayed firm and of course did not run.
I want to point out that I had no idea of republican politics….I was a good public speaker, an athlete, and a good salesman, but thats it…
Meanwhile “BCR” was getting a lot of attention nation wide… even Rush Limbaugh (a famous republican pundit) mentioned the club on his national radio program….
The clubs success had nothing to do with republican politics …. it was pure marketing.
We turned “BCR” into an exclusive club where people wanted to be a part of it. We held big recruitment and networking parties. We had good looking women heading up recruitment of the men … and we had good looking athletes heading up recruitment for the women….
The club became a full time job and my grades definately suffered, but I learned a lot.
All I cared about was the numbers …. the more people officially registered the more successful I considered my Presidency.
During my presidency …. I learned that Politics is predicated on lying, cheating, and phoniness. I was disgusted to see people that openly hated each other pretend to be best of friends and even come together and support one another when they were running for something.
I am too transparent to be a politician….I am not good at “small talk” and it is impossible for me to pretend to like someone when I do not.
Politics is nothing more than cheap sales and expensive marketing…
Next year, assuming this person does not get hit by a bus … the ultimate, most clever and cunning politician of recent times will make history and be elected President.
Tomorrow or later today if I have time … I am going to do an entry on “leadership…” exploring the idea of what is the best way to lead ….
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