Students show true colors at mock Dem convention

The Westminster event is the second oldest mock convention in the country.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- It was a Democratic Convention filled with George Bush supporters.
Several delegates proclaimed their support for the Republican incumbent up front and others kept up the guise of a Democratic convention, but cheered for Bush at every chance.
"The kids have a difficult time pretending to have another allegiance. They are not politically savvy and often pick up their political views from their parents," said Gary Lilly, chair of the political science and sociology departments at Westminster College.
Students continued the mock convention tradition Thursday with opening ceremonies and a speech from Democratic political strategist Paul Begala, a CNN regular who worked in the Bill Clinton administration.
The mock convention has been a Westminster College tradition since 1934 when it was introduced by Prof. Thomas V. Mansell. It is the second oldest mock convention in the country.
Every four years the convention is held for the party out of power, with the exception of 1944 when it was not held because of World War II.
Changes
Lilly said the conventions have changed through the years. He started attending in 1968 as a student.
"I think political conventions in general have changed fundamentally. Conventions have gone from a true forum where a political candidate is selected to being cheerleaders for a political party," he said.
Lilly believes today's students grew up knowing only the present system.
But some students believe the convention, which continues through today, is an eye-opener and are taking it seriously.
Russ Mills, a junior political science major, said he's been following the Democratic candidates since accidentally stumbling on Howard Dean last summer in Vermont, where he was making a speech.
Mills, a co-founder of the college's Republican Party, has now turned Democrat.
"I respect all five of the candidates," he said. But Mills said he plans to throw his support behind Dean.
Voting tonight
The nearly 700 students involved will vote tonight for their choice of presidential nominee. Besides Dean, the conventioneers are considering Gen. Wesley Clark, Sen. Richard Gephardt, who recently withdrew from the real race, Sen. John Kerry and Dennis Kucinich.
In past years, the students haven't backed winners in their choices. In 2000 they chose Republican John McCain for their presidential nominee and actor Clint Eastwood as his vice president.
Begala -- brought in to rally the troops for the Democratic Party -- found little support from the student body for his Bush bashing. He did stress the importance of the political process and voting.
"I come here to tell you that what you are doing is not just show biz for other people. This stuff matters," he said.