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===Advocacy Politics, 1971-1985===
===Advocacy Politics, 1971-1985===
In the 1970s, YAF became much older, demographically speaking. Rather than merely staging campus demonstrations, they focused on influencing national politics by lobbying and occasionally staging and publicizing small demonstrations. When the [[Richard Nixon|Nixon]] administration enacted wage controls and price controls, abandoned the gold standard and improved relations with [[People's Republic of China|mainland China]], YAF felt he was abandoning conservative principles. They publicly denounced the administration for these moves, becoming the first conservative organization to do so. They supported [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan's]] almost-successful bid to win the [[U.S. presidential election, 1976|Republican presidential nomination in 1976]] and his victorious race for the [[U.S. presidential election, 1980|presidency in 1980]].
In the 1970s, YAF became much older, demographically speaking. Rather than merely staging campus demonstrations, they focused on influencing national politics by lobbying and occasionally staging and publicizing small demonstrations.


YAF went on the offensive when President [[Richard Nixon|Nixon]] enacted wage controls, price controls, abandoned the gold standard and sold out the free Republic of China and opened relations with communist Red China. YAF felt he was abandoning conservative principles so YAF publicly denounced the administration for these moves, becoming the first conservative organization to do so.
On college campuses, YAF was a large political group, more conservative and less partisan than the [[College Republicans]]. Members were willing to oppose liberal Republicans and support conservative Democrats and third-party candidates. During many local and national races throughout this era, YAF members were divided about whether to support a moderately conservative electable candidate or to support a staunchly conservative long-shot candidate.

A number of YAF projects were started as ad hoc committees and affiliated groups to address specific issues. These groups include Youth for the Voluntary Prayer Amendment, Student's Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, Young America's Foundation, Free Campus News Service, STOP-NSA Committee, and the National Student Committee for Victory in Vietnam. Today some of these organizations still exist, and continue "to fight the good fight."

In 1974, YAF, along with the [[American Conservative Union]], sponsored a modest and ambitious gathering called the [[Conservative Political Action Conference]] (CPAC). CPAC has become the largest annual gathering of conservatives and is still held annually in the DC area.

On college campuses, YAF was more conservative and less partisan than the [[College Republicans]]. Members were willing to oppose liberal candidates and support conservative candidates regardless or party affiliation. During many local and national races throughout this era, YAF members were divided about whether to support a moderately conservative electable candidate or to support a staunchly conservative long-shot candidate.

YAF supported [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan's]] almost-successful bid to win the [[U.S. presidential election, 1976|Republican presidential nomination in 1976]] and his victorious race for the [[U.S. presidential election, 1980|presidency in 1980]].

The Carter Administration was an easy target of YAF. With huge, unprecedented government growth the order of the day, Carter's policies flew in the face of all that YAF stood for. YAF was active in opposing the give away of the Panama Canal and the SALT treaties. The Iran Hostage Crisis opened the eyes of many people to the failures of the Carter Administration and provided YAF a rallying point in 1979. YAF held a campaign to generate thousands of letters of encouragement to the hostages and pressed the Administration to take action.


In 1980, [[Young Conservatives of Texas]] was formed by a group of YAF members in [[Texas]] that broke off to found their own organization. Since that time, YAF itself has never had a major presence in the state.
In 1980, [[Young Conservatives of Texas]] was formed by a group of YAF members in [[Texas]] that broke off to found their own organization. Since that time, YAF itself has never had a major presence in the state.

Revision as of 20:25, 27 June 2011

Young Americans for Freedom
AbbreviationYAF
FormationSeptember 11, 1960
TypeConservative Youth Organization
PurposeConservative Activism
Region served
United States of America
Executive Director
Daniel P. Diaz
National Chairman
Michael Jones
AffiliationsYoung Americas Foundation, National Journalism Center, The Reagan Ranch
Websitehttp://www.yaf.com

'

Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is now a project of Young America's Foundation. YAF is an ideologically conservative youth activism organization that was founded in 1960, as a coalition between Traditional Conservatives and Libertarians. While the 1960s were its most successful years in terms of numbers and influence, YAF continues to be active as a national organization with chapters throughout the United States. YAF's official publication is The New Guard.

According to many historians who have studied YAF, the conservative movement that exists in America today, and especially its beachhead in the Nation's Capital, would not have developed were it not for Young Americans for Freedom.[1]

The purposes of YAF are to advocate public policies consistent with the Sharon Statement, which was adopted by young conservatives at a meeting at the home of Mr. William F. Buckley in Sharon, Connecticut on September 11, 1960; To promote social welfare and individual freedom; To study any legislation from any governmental bodies or agencies that seek to affect social and economic problems of the individual; To support the preservation and enhancement of individual freedom for all Americans; To provide aid and information to students and such young adults throughout the nation to assist them in achieving and maintaining the ideological realization of the beliefs in the Sharon Statement; and to maintain and operate a chapter based organization with national, regional and local networks throughout the United State of America.

Influence

YAF's indirect influence is felt through the number of conservative political figures who began their careers as members in college.

From its beginning as an outgrowth of the efforts to obtain the Republican vice presidential nomination for a conservative in 1960 up through its determined campaign to ensure that a conservative vice president was renominated in 1992, YAF was a major player in the politics of late 20th century America.[2]

Karl Zinsmeister wrote the following about YAF:

The conservative activists who first organized themselves [through YAF] in the early 1960s were the force behind the rise of Barry Goldwater, the election of Ronald Reagan as Governor of California, the takeover of the Republican Party from the liberal wing that controlled it for decades, the election of Ronald Reagan as president, and the reversion of Congress to Republican control for the first time in 40 years.[3]

Although YAF members and chapters were engaged in many projects to influence public policy and elect conservative candidates to office, the leadership of the organization was well aware that their goals and objectives were more long-term. YAF was recruiting, training and preparing young people to assume even more important roles later in life. YAF spawned many of the organizational elements of the 21st century conservative movement and provided the leadership and manpower to build those publications, organizations, and foundations into the significant elements of American society that they are today.[1]

Creating a Conservative Movement

YAF played a critical role in the development of many, if not most, of the new conservative organizations that were established in the 1960s, 1970s and beyond. Those who were college students and young adults active in YAF went on to form new groups or serve as important personnel in conservative organizations founded by others. To fully understand the influence of YAF on the creation of a lasting movement in America, it is helpful to view those organizations formed by YAF alumni and then those which YAFers have played an important contributing role.[4]

Conservative Organizations

Below is a list of conservative organizations YAFers founded or played an important role in founding:

Notable Alumni

Notable YAF Alumni - Public Service
Notable YAF Alumni - Conservative Movement

Statement of Principles

The Sharon Statement

The Sharon Statement is the founding statement of principles of the Young Americans for Freedom.

Written by M. Stanton Evans with the assistance of Annette Kirk, wife of Russell Kirk,[9] and adopted on September 11, 1960, the statement is named for the location of the inaugural meeting of Young Americans for Freedom, held at William F. Buckley, Jr.'s estate in Sharon, Connecticut. The statement reads:

WE, as young conservatives believe:

"THAT foremost among the transcendent values is the individual's use of his God-given free will, whence derives his right to be free from the restrictions of arbitrary force;

"THAT liberty is indivisible, and that political freedom cannot long exist without economic freedom;

"THAT the purpose of government is to protect those freedoms through the preservation of internal order, the provision of national defense, and the administration of justice;

"THAT when government ventures beyond these rightful functions, it accumulates power, which tends to diminish order and liberty;

"THAT the Constitution of the United States is the best arrangement yet devised for empowering government to fulfill its proper role, while restraining it from the concentration and abuse of power;

"THAT the genius of the Constitution - the division of powers - is summed up in the clause that reserves primacy to the several states, or to the people in those spheres not specifically delegated to the Federal government;

"THAT the market economy, allocating resources by the free play of supply and demand, is the single economic system compatible with the requirements of personal freedom and constitutional government, and that it is at the same time the most productive supplier of human needs;

"THAT when government interferes with the work of the market economy, it tends to reduce the moral and physical strength of the nation, that when it takes from one to bestow on another, it diminishes the incentive of the first, the integrity of the second, and the moral autonomy of both;

"THAT we will be free only so long as the national sovereignty of the United States is secure; that history shows periods of freedom are rare, and can exist only when free citizens concertedly defend their rights against all enemies…

"THAT the forces of international Communism are, at present, the greatest single threat to these liberties;

"THAT the United States should stress victory over, rather than coexistence with this menace; and

"THAT American foreign policy must be judged by this criterion: does it serve the just interests of the United States?"

Publication

The New Guard - Yesterday and Today

File:The New Guard Spring 2011.jpg
The New Guard Spring 2011

The New Guard is the official publication of Young Americans for Freedom.

Founded in March 1961, one year after the creation of YAF, its first issue appeared under the editorship of Lee Edwards. Starting out as a sixteen page publication it grew in size and continued as a monthly or ten times a year magazine until 1978 when it was converted to a quarterly magazine with interim newsletters, and was published sporadically thereafter. As the initial editorial noted,[10]

Ten years ago this magazine would not have been possible. Twenty years ago it would not have been dreamed of. Thirty-five years ago it would not have been necessary. Today, The New Gaurd is possible, it is a reality, and it is needed by the youth of America to proclaim loudly and clearly:

We are sick unto death of collectivism, socialism, statism and the other utopian isms which have poisoned the minds, weakened the wills and smothered the spirits of Americans for three decades and more.[10]

The New Guard served as the voice of Goldwater-Buckley and American conservative youth for decades, but in the 1990s during the rebuilding years of YAF the magazine went defunct.

Today, similar to the situation in 1961 when the hard Left decided to take the country down the path of "collectivism, socialism, statism and the other utopian isms," the conservative youth have been re-invigorated, launching a renewed call for the American values of limited government, individual liberty, free markets, traditional values, strong defense and adherence to the Constitution.

In 2010 The New Guard was relaunched and saw its debut at CPAC 2010. Under the guidance of YAF's former Executive Director Jordan Marks, and The New Guard's current Executive Editor, Christopher Bedford, YAF gathered a group of writers, editors and artists to re-found The New Guard. The re-launch came 49 years after it first stood up against a liberal elite that believed Conservatism was dead and socialism was king.

Currently The New Guard is published quarterly and is handed out to thousands of young conservatives across the country.

Philosophy

Since its founding, YAF continuously identified itself as "conservative". However, the term "conservative" has changed in meaning over several generations. Before World War II, most American conservatives were non-interventionist. But as the Cold War began to dominate American foreign policy, the old conservatism disintegrated. After Robert Taft was defeated for the Republican nomination in 1952, non-interventionist conservatism mostly vanished. In the 1950s, a new kind of conservatism arose. This new ideology was formulated in large part by the newspaper Human Events, the magazine National Review, and National Review's editor William F. Buckley, Jr. This new conservatism combined free-market economics, respect for traditional values, orderly society and anti-communism.

In the late 1960s, the term libertarianism began to be used for a political philosophy. Many of those who popularized this term were initially part of the conservative movement, but came to separate themselves from the conservatives on certain issues. Libertarians within YAF believed, for example, the military draft was a violation of the individual freedom the organization claimed to embrace. The conservatives (or traditionalists as they were sometimes called) supported the draft as being necessary to defeat communism. In the end, the libertarian faction prevailed, and YAF was "in the forefront of the drive to end the draft and create a volunteer military."[11]

After 1969, the relationship between conservatives and libertarians in YAF was often rocky.[12] A majority of members identified themselves simply as conservative, but some identified as both conservative and libertarian, and still others identified themselves simply as libertarian. From time to time, power struggles broke out; when this happened, the libertarians almost always ended up losing.

In later years, new viewpoints would be amalgamated by the conservative movement, including neoconservatism in the early 1970s, the New Right in the late 1970s and the Religious Right in the 1980s. Some YAF members identified with some of these philosophies, others opposed them and still others were content to simply identify themselves as conservative without further specificity.

Since its founding, YAF members on college campuses focused primarily on national and international politics, rather than on-campus politics. Thus members were much more likely to pass out handbills for a candidate for Congress than for student body president.

History

National Conservative Activism, 1960-1965

File:Goldwater Rally in Madison Square Garden.jpg
Goldwater Rally in Madison Square Garden

In September 1960, about 90 young people met at the Sharon, Connecticut at the home of William F. Buckley, Jr. gathered to lay the groundwork for a new national conservative youth organization. It is here that Young Americans for Freedom was born and our statement of principles, the Sharon Statement, was drafted. The New Guard magazine made its debut as the official magazine of YAF in 1961. In the first four years of its existence, YAF grew rapidly on college campuses.

Ronald Reagan joined the YAF National Advisory Board in 1962 and for 42 years served as the Honorary Chairman.

In the 1960s, the Republican Party was divided between its conservative wing, led by Barry Goldwater, and its more liberal wing, led by Nelson Rockefeller. YAF members fell squarely on Goldwater's side and spearheaded the campaign of Barry Goldwater for president. However, some members had sympathy with the conservative Southern Democrats known as Dixiecrats, and thus from its inception YAF was deliberately non-partisan.

On March 7, 1962, a YAF-sponsored conservative rally filled Madison Square Garden in New York City, drawing 18,000 people. In attendance was Barry Goldwater. The event has been described as "the birthday of the conservative movement." [13]

By 1964, YAF was a major force in the campaign to nominate Goldwater, and then after his nomination, to elect him president. Goldwater's run for the White House catalyzed YAF more than any other event in its history. Lee Edwards, former New Guard editor, said "Barry Goldwater made YAF, but YAF also made Barry Goldwater." Goldwater's massive defeat in the presidential election of 1964 demoralized many members.

The first national YAF convention was held in 1963 at the Gault Hotel in Florida. With over 450 voting delegates in attendance. Hotel management at the Gault Hotel refused accommodations to Black national board member Jay Parker. As word of this spread around the YAFer's in attendance, all 450 delegates and numerous others began gathering in the lobby of the hotel demanding that either the Gault Hotel allow all the black YAFers to stay and the hotel change their segregation policy or YAF would move its convention down the street. From that day on any person was allowed into the Gault Hotel.

"STOP RED TRADE" becomes a hallmark of YAF's 50 plus year history. IBM, Mack Truck, and Firestone Tire and Rubber were targeted for engaging in high visibility trade with the Soviet Bloc. YAF successfully stops Firestone's attempt to build a synthetic rubber plant in communist Romania through letter-writing campaigns, boycotts, and demonstrations. YAF's plan to distribute 500,000 flyers at the Indianapolis 500 was seen as a key to the decision by Firestone executives to cancel their Romanian plans in April 1965.

YAF faced opposition from groups like the American Nazi Party because of the presence of Jews in the organization and its close relationship with Marvin Liebman. Most members also kept their distance from segregationists such as George Wallace and conspiracy theorists such as the John Birch Society.

However, YAF did honor staunch segregationist and Senator from South Carolina Strom Thurmond with its Freedom Award in 1962.[14] Some of its members were also behind the 'Welcome Mr. Kennedy to Dallas' ad placed in the Dallas Morning News (coincidentally on the morning of JFK's assassination), which implied Kennedy was Communist and accused him of ignoring the constitution.[15]

Reaction to Radical Activism, 1965-1971

Liberalism and radicalism dominated campuses from the mid-1960s until the early 1970s, primarily as a result of the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War. Though outnumbered, YAF went on the offensive against radical left-wing organizations by challenging and rebutting groups like Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and New MOBE in support of a U.S. victory in Vietnam. These fights carried YAF into its second decade.

YAF members tended to hold similar opinions to their older compatriots within the conservative movement. YAF began and continued a number of projects to support Vietnam veterans and their causes. "Project Appreciation" gives YAFers the opportunity to write, visit, and provide needed supplies to hospitalized veterans. YAF worked on various POW/MIA issues and treasonous "Hanoi" Jane Fonda became a target of YAF attacks. While U.S. soldiers were fighting in the fields of Vietnam, YAF was fighting on the college campuses and in communities across the country. YAF, though opposing the draft, supported the move to resist communism in Southeast Asia and in American classrooms. Most Members vocally supported an aggressive policy of seeking victory in the Vietnam War, but opposed how the war was being conducted, such as the use of conscription and allowing the enemy sanctuary in the Laos, Cambodia, and North Vietnam.

A faction of YAF philosophically extended the group's traditional support of limited government in economic issues to social issues and a foreign policy of noninterventionism. This group came to be known as libertarians. Members of this faction were among the founding members of the Libertarian Party in 1971.

The majority of members during this era supported Ronald Reagan's successful bid for governor of California in 1966, as well as his unsuccessful bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 1968.

Advocacy Politics, 1971-1985

In the 1970s, YAF became much older, demographically speaking. Rather than merely staging campus demonstrations, they focused on influencing national politics by lobbying and occasionally staging and publicizing small demonstrations.

YAF went on the offensive when President Nixon enacted wage controls, price controls, abandoned the gold standard and sold out the free Republic of China and opened relations with communist Red China. YAF felt he was abandoning conservative principles so YAF publicly denounced the administration for these moves, becoming the first conservative organization to do so.

A number of YAF projects were started as ad hoc committees and affiliated groups to address specific issues. These groups include Youth for the Voluntary Prayer Amendment, Student's Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, Young America's Foundation, Free Campus News Service, STOP-NSA Committee, and the National Student Committee for Victory in Vietnam. Today some of these organizations still exist, and continue "to fight the good fight."

In 1974, YAF, along with the American Conservative Union, sponsored a modest and ambitious gathering called the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). CPAC has become the largest annual gathering of conservatives and is still held annually in the DC area.

On college campuses, YAF was more conservative and less partisan than the College Republicans. Members were willing to oppose liberal candidates and support conservative candidates regardless or party affiliation. During many local and national races throughout this era, YAF members were divided about whether to support a moderately conservative electable candidate or to support a staunchly conservative long-shot candidate.

YAF supported Reagan's almost-successful bid to win the Republican presidential nomination in 1976 and his victorious race for the presidency in 1980.

The Carter Administration was an easy target of YAF. With huge, unprecedented government growth the order of the day, Carter's policies flew in the face of all that YAF stood for. YAF was active in opposing the give away of the Panama Canal and the SALT treaties. The Iran Hostage Crisis opened the eyes of many people to the failures of the Carter Administration and provided YAF a rallying point in 1979. YAF held a campaign to generate thousands of letters of encouragement to the hostages and pressed the Administration to take action.

In 1980, Young Conservatives of Texas was formed by a group of YAF members in Texas that broke off to found their own organization. Since that time, YAF itself has never had a major presence in the state.

By the mid-1980s, many of YAF's leaders were in their thirties and long out of college. Some of them held positions in government while continuing to run the organization as a lobbying and fund-raising group for conservative causes.

Campus Activism, 1985-1990

As YAF grew older, most of the original members went on to other things, while younger members dominated YAF. During this era, a new generation of liberal and radical activism was growing on college campuses, and members began focusing on opposing these movements. This growth was strongest in California, where members staged protests in favor of aid to the Nicaraguan Contras, in favor of Reagan's anti-communist policies and in opposition to the United Nations.

At the same time, internal problems paralyzed the YAF hierarchy. The national board was still controlled by lawyers and lobbyists who remembered the glory days of YAF fund-raising in the early 1980s. The new activist element resented and distrusted the old guard, and began to gradually whittle away at their power. In 1989, an alliance of Californian and New York activists ousted most of the old guard from national leadership positions.

The Rebuilding Years 1990-1999

By 1991, the national board of YAF contained a majority of Californians—the first time a single state had had a majority in the governing council. However, this new régime found itself unable to effectively run YAF as a financial and organizational entity.

The strength of its activism was shattered by the Gulf War that begin in January 1991. Most members considered President George H. W. Bush to be insufficiently conservative, and his rhetoric justifying the war -- "a new world order" -- to be dangerously utopian.

Though the presence of National YAF was lax during the 1990s as they were focusing on revitalizing and rebuilding the organization, there remained very active pockets of YAF activity throughout the country, campus charters and statewide units that organized and operated on their own. California YAF continued as a strong conservative force on campuses and in that state's political arena.[16] Many states like Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia and others still had very active individual campus chapters.[17]

Later in the 1990s, YAF returned to national advocacy politics. The national office organized petition drives and staged a variety of events to promote the conservative viewpoint on a variety of public issues. Some of these events would have an attention-grabbing theme such as "Pardon Oliver North" and "Impeach Janet Reno".

The Resurgence 2000-2010

Members of the University of Michigan YAF Chapter protest affirmative action in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This picture appeared on the national YAF organization's website banner.[18]

On college campuses, the YAF chapters have been involved in activities including rallies supporting the armed forces, advocacy for strict control of illegal immigration, demonstrations against affirmative action and protesting liberal campus speakers.[19][20] YAF has also organized protests against legislation enacting anti-discrimination protection for transsexuals.[21][22]

In 2009, YAF, a coalition of Tea Party groups, retired police and fire fighter association, and Keep America Safe hosted the "9/11 Never Forget" Rally in New York City. The Coalition united to fight the decision of U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to try the 9/11 co-conspirators in New York City’s federal court.[citation needed] The coalition claimed Holder's decision gave alleged war criminals the same rights as American citizens; it also said trying the defendants in New York City would endanger the citizenry. The rally brought nationwide attention to Holder's decision and eventually led the Department of Justice and the Obama administration to move the trial from New York City.

The Present & Beyond

Unification with Young Americas Foundation

On March 16, 2011, Young Americans for Freedom passed National Board Resolution #001, unifying the Young America's Foundation with Young Americans for Freedom on April 1, 2011.[23] Young America’s Foundation provides students with speakers, activism programs, conferences and opportunities to learn about Ronald Reagan’s accomplishments by visiting his beloved ranch, Rancho del Cielo, in Santa Barbara, California.[24] Young America's Foundation has been known for bringing speakers like Ann Coulter, David Horowitz, and Michelle Malkin to College Republican groups across the United States.[25][26]

As of May 16, 2011 Young Americans for Freedom officially became a project of Young America's Foundation. The existing board members of Young Americans for Freedom, at the time of the unification, became part of a newly formed [board of governors]. Existing YAF chapters are being brought under the Foundation’s auspices. Both existing and new clubs will receive materials, training, support, and encouragement based on decades of activism experience from both organizations.[24]

Chapters

Chapters of Interest

Michigan State University YAF

In 2006, YAF and the MSU College Republicans hosted a speech by anti-illegal immigration Republican representative Tom Tancredo, which was disrupted by protesters.[27][28][29]

In 2007, YAF and the College Republicans hosted Chris Simcox to speak at the campus on illegal immigration.[30]

On October 26, 2007, around 50-75 people were involved in protesting an event hosted by the MSU YAF chapter featuring Nick Griffin, chairman of the British National Party (BNP). Griffin spoke about Islam and mass immigration, and was forced to do a Q&A after being continuously interrupted.[31][32]

Controversies

CPAC 2010

During the February 19, 2010 CPAC panel “2 Minute Activist: Saving Freedom Across America” Alexander McCobin, Students For Liberty co-founder and executive director, opened his remarks by thanking the American Conservative Union for welcoming GOProud as a co-sponsor of the event. California Young Americans for Freedom member Ryan Sorba followed with less than kind words for McCobin, Students For Liberty, Young Americans for Liberty’s Jeff Frazee and the American Conservative Union condeming the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) for inviting GOProud. Sorba's tirade gained national attention and led to the Heritage Foundation, the Family Research Council, the Media Research Center, and 22 other organizations pulling out of the event.[33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40] During Sorba's criticism, the audience began to boo. Sorba told the crowd, "the lesbians at Smith College protest better than you do." [41][42]

In April 2010, Ryan Sorba was purged from YAF's membership for cause or actions that violated the YAF by-laws by a unanimous vote of the YAF governing board.

CPAC 2011

On the last day of CPAC 2011, YAF voted Rep. Ron Paul off its national advisory board, citing his positions on national security issues. The group's former national director Jordan Marks stated: "Rep. Paul is clearly off his meds and must be purged from public office. YAF is starting the process by removing him from our national advisory board. Good riddance and he won't be missed."[43] This action was harshly criticized by many conservatives, including YAF co-founder David Franke, who called it "a sad time," and called the expulsion "a move that will hurt them far more than the Congressman."[11]

The current National Board of Young Americans for Freedom defends their stance of expelling Ron Paul by quoting a section in the Sharon Statement:

THAT the United States should stress victory over, rather than coexistence with this menace; and THAT American foreign policy must be judged by this criterion: does it serve the just interests of the United States?

Meanwhile, others have contested this so-called abuse of the Sharon statement, questioning if our wars in the middle east are "just interests." [44] David Franke, a co-founder of Young Americans for Freedom, claims Today's YAF is only on paper and run by a small minority, whereby most of its activities are operated by College Republicans.[45]

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Wayne Thorburn,"A Generation Awakes: Young Americans for Freedom and the Creation of the Conservative Movement," Jameson Books Inc., 2010, p. 487.
  2. ^ Wayne Thorburn,"A Generation Awakes: Young Americans for Freedom and the Creation of the Conservative Movement," Jameson Books Inc., 2010, p. 486.
  3. ^ Karl Zinsmeister,"The Other Activists," The American Enterprise, May–June 1997, p37.
  4. ^ Wayne Thorburn,"A Generation Awakes: Young Americans for Freedom and the Creation of the Conservative Movement," Jameson Books Inc., 2010, p. 487-489.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Wayne Thorburn,"A Generation Awakes: Young Americans for Freedom and the Creation of the Conservative Movement," Jameson Books Inc., 2010, p. 489-498.
  6. ^ Wayne Thorburn,"A Generation Awakes: Young Americans for Freedom and the Creation of the Conservative Movement," Jameson Books Inc., 2010, p. 535.
  7. ^ Wayne Thorburn,"A Generation Awakes: Young Americans for Freedom and the Creation of the Conservative Movement," Jameson Books Inc., 2010, p. 531.
  8. ^ Wayne Thorburn,"A Generation Awakes: Young Americans for Freedom and the Creation of the Conservative Movement," Jameson Books Inc., 2010, p. 419.
  9. ^ The Kirk Center - Talk by Annette Kirk
  10. ^ a b Wayne Thorburn,"A Generation Awakes: Young Americans for Freedom and the Creation of the Conservative Movement," Jameson Books Inc., 2010, p. 51.
  11. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference AmCon was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Bruce Bartlett :: Townhall.com :: Libertarian GOP defection?
  13. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=IRbGrwLqaeEC&lpg=PA22&dq=conservative%20march&pg=PA22#v=onepage&q=conservative%20march&f=false
  14. ^ Eric Foner, Give Me Liberty! An American History Volume 2, Norton Seagull Edition 2006, 890.
  15. ^ "Warren Commission Hearings Vol XXIII". Retrieved 2009 9 27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help) see also File:Welcome mr kennedy to dallas small.jpg
  16. ^ Wayne Thorburn,"A Generation Awakes: Young Americans for Freedom and the Creation of the Conservative Movement," Jameson Books Inc., 2010, p. 472.
  17. ^ Wayne Thorburn,"A Generation Awakes: Young Americans for Freedom and the Creation of the Conservative Movement," Jameson Books Inc., 2010, p. 473.
  18. ^ http://yaf.com/index.php
  19. ^ http://www.ourmidland.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=17349959&BRD=2289&PAG=461&dept_id=578054&rfi=8
  20. ^ "CNNU: Students debate affirmative action - CNN.com". CNN.
  21. ^ http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061121/NEWS01/611210331/1382
  22. ^ The State News: Lansing ordinance prompts protest
  23. ^ "YAF National Board Resolution #001". Retrieved 2011-03-21.
  24. ^ a b http://www.yaf.org/unification-press-release.aspx
  25. ^ "David Horowitz at St. John's University". Retrieved 2011-03-21.
  26. ^ "Ann Coulter at the University of Wyoming". Retrieved 2011-03-21.
  27. ^ http://www.statenews.com/index.php/article/2007/03/law_center_lists_yaf
  28. ^ http://www.statenews.com/index.php/article/2008/02/msu_yaf_chairman_steps_down
  29. ^ http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2006/dec/11/tancredo-plans-trip-to-miami/?printer=1/
  30. ^ PrideSource: Student hate group at MSU brings in extremist speaker
  31. ^ The State News: Students protest YAF speaker
  32. ^ http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007310260006
  33. ^ Andrew Sullivan "The Weekend Wrap", [1], The Atlantic, February 22, 2010
  34. ^ Michael C. Moynihan, "You Know the Lowlights. Here Are a Few Highlights from CPAC…Seriously", [2], Reason, February 21, 2010
  35. ^ Mike Madden, "CPAC crowd boos homophobe off stage", [3], Salon.com, February 19, 2010
  36. ^ Vita Brevis, "CPAC Civil War", [4], Daily Kos, February 19, 2010
  37. ^ "CPAC speaker booed for APPLAUDING gay group invite", [5], The Daily Caller, February 19, 2010
  38. ^ William Upton, "Fear and Loathing at CPAC", [6], The American Conservative, February 22, 2010
  39. ^ Ed Morrissey, "CPAC 2010: Final thoughts", [7], Hot Air, February 21, 2010
  40. ^ Gene Healy, "Don't trust anyone under 30?", [8], Washington Examiner, Washington, DC, March 2, 2010
  41. ^ http://youngcc.blogspot.com/search/label/Ryan%20Sorba
  42. ^ "Have gays found their place in the Republican Party". CBS News. 2010-02-24. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
  43. ^ YAF kicks out Ron Paul
  44. ^ "YAL responds to YAF". Retrieved 2011-03-21.
  45. ^ "Young Americans for Foolishness". Retrieved 2011-03-21.

Further reading

  • Andrew, John A., III. The Other Side of the Sixties: Young Americans for Freedom and the Rise of Conservative Politics. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press (1997), 286 pages, ISBN 0-8135-2400-8 (paper). Covers the history of YAF from 1960 to 1964.
  • Crawford, Alan. Thunder on the Right: The "New Right" and the Politics of Resentment. New York: Pantheon Books (1980), 381 pages, ISBN 0-394-74862-X (paper). A negative portrayal of 1970s and 1980s conservatism, including much material on YAF.
  • Klatch, Rebecca E "A Generation Divided" Berkeley, University of California Press (1999), 334 pages, ISBN 0-520-21713-6 (paper). A scholarly and academic work with many references to Young Americans for Freedom, SDS, and campus activism of the 1960s and early 1970s.
  • Nash, George H. The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America Since 1945. Wilmington, Delaware: Intercollegiate Studies Institute (1996), 467 pages, ISBN 1-882926-12-9 (hardcover). A history of the different strains of conservative ideology from 1945 until 1976, updated to 1996 in the second edition.
  • Rusher, William A. The Rise of the Right. New York: National Review Books (1993), 261 pages, ISBN 0-9627841-2-5 (paper). A history of American political conservatism from 1953 until 1981, updated to 1993 in the second edition. Includes much material on YAF.
  • Schneider, Gregory L. Cadres for Conservatism: Young Americans for Freedom and the Rise of the Contemporary Right. New York: New York University Press (1999), 263 pages, ISBN 0-8147-8108-X (hardcover). Covers the history of YAF from 1960 to 1985.
  • Thorburn, Wayne. A Generation Awakes: Young Americans for Freedom and the Creation of the Conservative Movement. Ottawa, IL: Jameson Books (2010), 564 pages, ISBN 978-0-89803-168-3 (hardcover). Covers the history of YAF from 1960 to the mid-1990s.