Inside the UCF Health and Public Affairs auditorium, George Allen, Virginia's former Republican governor, U.S. senator and U.S representative, spit tobacco while telling students that this country needs to "start their creative engines" in the goal of America's energy independence, Wednesday night. Allen spoke to a crowd of almost 100 people.
Allen's speech ran about 45 minutes, after which he answered questions for well over an hour. Throughout his talk, he frequently likened the nation and its current energy situation to a sports team and a sports competition.
"My view is what we need to do is like they say at the beginning of every NASCAR race and that is 'Start your engines'," Allen said. "But, what we need to do is start our creative engines."
This conservative belief that the free-market holds the intellectual creativity and ingenuity to lessen U.S. dependence on foreign oil was a common thread which ran throughout the speech.
The event was organized by the College Republicans who were financially aided by the Young America's Foundation, a non-profit organization which promotes conservative ideology.
"We worked with [the Young Americans Foundation] through their network of donors for $6,000," said Justin York, chairman of College Republicans and a junior history and political science major. "Then we petitioned the student government for the other $4,000."
With $10,000 raised, College Republicans procured the speaker that York referred to as "a rock star within the conservative movement."
The evening's crowd was largely made up of College Republicans' members who listened intently as George Allen put forth his recommendations on the U.S. energy future and took many opportunities to promote the Republican McCain-Palin presidential ticket.
"Unlike Sen. Obama, Sen. McCain and Sarah Palin believe that the federal government ought to allow people in willing states to allow [oil] exploration off their coast," Allen said.
During the lecture, Allen used several down-home, country analogies, to exemplify his recommendations for the energy situation.
"There is no single silver bullet [for the energy problem]," Allen said. "We need silver buckshot."
Using this imagery, he described his desire that the U.S. utilize coal, natural gas, increased oil drilling, wind, solar, bio-fuels and everything else in its power to reduce its oil dependence.
Students were complimentary of the presentation, and appreciated the information that Allen provided.
"I think he definitely had some good ideas," said Andrew Yamin, a junior criminal justice student. "I thought that I learned a lot about the energy situation in America."
Also, Allen's speech laid blame on those who helped create the current energy situation. Presidents Carter through current President Bush were indicted for their inactivity or hindrance to U.S. energy independence.
In one instance, Allen described how H. W. Bush placed a moratorium on off-shore drilling on the Eastern seaboard.
"Now I take a great deal of exception to this, and I don't care what party [H. W. Bush is] in," said Allen. "What really grates me is that the Castro brothers … are drilling, meanwhile [the U.S. government] won't allow it on our coast."
Following the speech, Allen engaged in a lively question-and-answer session during which he was queried about his own political past.
One such question dealt with Allen's 2006 Senate race against Jim Webb during which he referred to S.R. Sidarth, a Webb aide of Asian-Indian ancestry, as "macaca."
Many speculated that the comment played a significant role in Allen's losing the 2006 Senate race, which ended his likely plans to run for the Republican presidential nomination.
"I screwed up," Allen said. "It wasn't an intentional thing, if I had any idea that they'd make such an issue out of a non-existing word … I should have never called him anything but yellow shirt."
But, after the Q & A session's end, Allen's freewheeling opinions and careless verbiage were still evident as he gave students candid answers about athletic teams and the students' cities of origin.
At one point, a student stated that he was a Baltimore Orioles fan, which prompted Allen to call the team's owner, Peter G. Angelos, a "greasy trial lawyer."
As the former cowboy, boot-clad Virginia lawmaker produced a can of dip tobacco and inserted a pinch, the remaining students were treated to the political journeyman's opinions while he intermittently spit his tobacco juice into an empty water bottle.
Be the first to comment on this article!