Spring Break
Republican students to support President Obama
Jim Sojourner
Issue date: 1/21/09 Section: News
Although the 2008 election season left little for Colorado's Republican population to celebrate, CSU's Republican student leaders urged cross-party unity during Tuesday's presidential inauguration.
Kelly Carnal, Chairwoman of the CSU College Republicans said despite the feeling of disappointment that permeated the ranks the Republican Party following the November election and the sense of opposition many conservatives feel toward Obama's proposed policies, she doesn't think anyone wants the new president to fail.
"I really hope he does well, I really do," Carnal said. "I hope he can prove (his critics) wrong."
She said given the array of challenges from the Iraq War to the failing economy -- that threaten to expand the political schism that already divides U.S. citizens and government officials, "now is not the time at all" to cling to strict political lines.
"Everyone just has to try to pull together and work together as much as possible," former chairwoman of the CSU College Republicans Chelsey Penoyer said.
Carnal praised the new President on his "bipartisan" cabinet appointments and said his initial attempts to unify the two parties give her hope for the coming years.
Carnal said she hated hearing people make negative comments about former president George W. Bush and said she hopes her peers will avoid the same kind of disparaging speech.
Instead, she urged her fellow Republican students to understand and respect the views of President Obama and his supporters despite their disagreements
"Nobody is perfect," Carnal said. "We have to give him a chance."
Penoyer said she believes that the first 100 days of Obama's presidency will be critical, something Obama himself had said, saying that the first 100 days will be a "good trial period" and chance to prove himself to Republicans.
She echoed Carnal's criticism of hostility toward the president.
"He is my commander in chief so I refuse to be disrespectful," Penoyer said.
Kelly Carnal, Chairwoman of the CSU College Republicans said despite the feeling of disappointment that permeated the ranks the Republican Party following the November election and the sense of opposition many conservatives feel toward Obama's proposed policies, she doesn't think anyone wants the new president to fail.
"I really hope he does well, I really do," Carnal said. "I hope he can prove (his critics) wrong."
She said given the array of challenges from the Iraq War to the failing economy -- that threaten to expand the political schism that already divides U.S. citizens and government officials, "now is not the time at all" to cling to strict political lines.
"Everyone just has to try to pull together and work together as much as possible," former chairwoman of the CSU College Republicans Chelsey Penoyer said.
Carnal praised the new President on his "bipartisan" cabinet appointments and said his initial attempts to unify the two parties give her hope for the coming years.
Carnal said she hated hearing people make negative comments about former president George W. Bush and said she hopes her peers will avoid the same kind of disparaging speech.
Instead, she urged her fellow Republican students to understand and respect the views of President Obama and his supporters despite their disagreements
"Nobody is perfect," Carnal said. "We have to give him a chance."
Penoyer said she believes that the first 100 days of Obama's presidency will be critical, something Obama himself had said, saying that the first 100 days will be a "good trial period" and chance to prove himself to Republicans.
She echoed Carnal's criticism of hostility toward the president.
"He is my commander in chief so I refuse to be disrespectful," Penoyer said.
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