Alexander: Raise Voter Turnout

Tenn. Gov. and former GOP presidential hopeful Lamar Alexander addressed Republicans from the College and the Law School yesterday in a wide-ranging speech, touching on topics from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to campaign finance reform to education policy.

The speech, titled “After September 11: America’s Greatest Opportunity,” was sponsored by The Harvard Republican Club (HRC) and the Harvard Law School Republican Party.

Alexander began his speech by saying, “This is a treat for me, I didn’t know there were this many Republicans at Harvard,” to the audience of about 70.

In addressing the Sept. 11 attacks, Alexander said President Bush and all American citizens must transform the outpouring of patriotism into concrete changed behavior. He made three suggestions towards fulfilling that goal—founding an anniversary celebration for volunteers; establishing a “pledge plus three,” in which all American schools would start off the day by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and engaging in a three-minute talk on what it means to be an American; and achieving a 95 percent voter turnout in the 2004 presidential election.

“We’re a nation that prides itself on our democracy, and the current 50 percent [turnout rate]—that’s really embarrassing,” he said.

Alexander also spoke out against campaign finance reform, saying that contribution limits should be raised or eliminated, not lowered.

“I think the $1,000 limit on campaign contributions is destroying the American Dream,” Alexander said. “John McCain would be president if he had gone against his campaign finance reform.”

He said campaign contributions were a form of free speech, and to limit them would be “unconstitutional.”

Alexander also addressed the issue of education policy, suggesting a

“G.I. Bill for Kids,” which would provide parents with $1,500 per year per child to put towards a private school education or to better their child’s public school.

A few students, praised by Alexander as “diehards,” attended the speech in red and black checked flannel shirts, Alexander’s signature outfit during the 1996 presidential campaign.

One of the students, Director of the HCR Speakers Union Taylor L. West ’01-’02, praised Alexander as “outstanding and articulate.”