WEBVTT - AFP - Get out and vote!

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<v Speaker 1>It is 7.30 at 55K RCED Talk Station. A very

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<v Speaker 1>happy Wednesday to you. Always look forward to talking to

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<v Speaker 1>Donovan O'Neill from Americans for Prosperity, getting an update on

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<v Speaker 1>the work that they've been able to accomplish here in

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<v Speaker 1>the state of Ohio, as well as opportunities for you

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<v Speaker 1>and I to get involved and make it so easy,

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<v Speaker 1>for example. And welcome back, Donovan O'Neill. Pleasure having you on. Congratulations.

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<v Speaker 1>800,000-plus doors knocked on so far. Man, that's almost, what, 10%

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<v Speaker 1>of the state's population, isn't it, Donovan?

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I hadn't thought about it like that, Brian, but yes,

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<v Speaker 2>we've been, we were wearing out the shoe leather and, uh,

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<v Speaker 2>the knuckles are getting pretty raw from all the door

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<v Speaker 2>knocking we're doing, but we'll keep it up.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, and I hope it yields some success. Uh, the

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<v Speaker 1>Republicans are behind in early voting in the state of

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<v Speaker 1>Ohio and the Democrats have, uh, uh, they're way, way

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<v Speaker 1>ahead of where they were in the last election cycle.

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<v Speaker 1>And I know election cycles change, but, um, That's a

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<v Speaker 1>little troubling to me. Republicans typically vote on Election Day, though.

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<v Speaker 1>So and early voting numbers right now do not tell

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<v Speaker 1>the ultimate tale. But I'm just trying to figure out

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<v Speaker 1>ways to get people to get up and vote. You know,

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<v Speaker 1>we're in this hold your nose. It's like a nationwide campaign.

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<v Speaker 1>Hold your nose and vote Republicans. Hold your nose and

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<v Speaker 1>ignore evil orange men and vote Republican, because the other

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<v Speaker 1>side is bringing forth disaster to our country.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, yeah. You know, I think, yeah, we talk about

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<v Speaker 2>the pendulum swinging and just dynamics in midterm elections and

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<v Speaker 2>what that does to the party in power. There's all

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<v Speaker 2>that for sure. And, you know, the challenge right now

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<v Speaker 2>is overcoming that enthusiasm gap. And I think, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>my gosh, Brian, if socialism, the reality that socialism is

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<v Speaker 2>on the ballot and taking over the Democrat Party, 50

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<v Speaker 2>percent of our nation, if that doesn't motivate you to

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<v Speaker 2>get out and vote and do the right thing and

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<v Speaker 2>elect some good conservatives, you know, like the guy we're

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<v Speaker 2>out stomping for, John Husted. I don't know what will, Brian.

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<v Speaker 2>It's what we've got to do. You can't just vote.

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<v Speaker 2>The other message I take to folks, and we hear

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<v Speaker 2>this a lot of the doors, you know, unfortunately, and

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<v Speaker 2>we're talking to, you know, infrequent voters right now, right?

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<v Speaker 2>These are the folks we're trying to shake and wake up.

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<v Speaker 2>And they say, well, I voted for the president. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>I usually just get out in the presidential election, so

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<v Speaker 2>I'm very sure that. I say, well, yes, but you,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, we're a democratic republic, right? You are represented

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<v Speaker 2>in by legislators like your senator who actually go make

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<v Speaker 2>the laws. We need good people doing that. In my opinion,

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<v Speaker 2>oftentimes more so than we need the right guy or

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<v Speaker 2>gal as president. We need the right people representing us

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<v Speaker 2>in the halls of Congress because that's where the rubber

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<v Speaker 2>meets the road and the laws get made.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, no doubt about it. But it's a little disheartening

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<v Speaker 1>when I saw that New York Times article about Republican

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<v Speaker 1>super PACs pulling financial support from a variety of races.

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<v Speaker 1>most notably hitting home. I can read this line from

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<v Speaker 1>the New York Times article. Republican triage efforts include withdrawing

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<v Speaker 1>all of the remaining funds that had been reserved for

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<v Speaker 1>targeting two Democrats running for re-election, most notably one of them,

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<v Speaker 1>Greg Lansman, here in Ohio, running against Eric Conroy. So

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<v Speaker 1>he's not going to get money anymore? That's them throwing

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<v Speaker 1>in the towel. That's not a good look, Donovan.

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<v Speaker 2>Well.

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<v Speaker 1>frustrating.

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<v Speaker 2>But, you know, these triage of efforts often happen just

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<v Speaker 2>having gone through so many cycles. You know, you try

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<v Speaker 2>to put the chips in the best places. You can

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<v Speaker 2>do it because you've got a win on the board

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<v Speaker 2>and you're feeling good about internals. You can also do

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<v Speaker 2>it because, you know, things are getting a little dire. Well,

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<v Speaker 2>let me give you some silver lining here. You know,

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<v Speaker 2>there are more opportunities opening up. Congressional District 9, Marcy Kaptur, 43-year,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, representative Democrat from Northwest Ohio is being taken

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<v Speaker 2>on by Derek Marin. AFP Action has opened more fronts recently,

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<v Speaker 2>including that one, getting in for Derek Marin. And so where,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, in Southwest Ohio, you know, that might be

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<v Speaker 2>disheartening news, certainly is disheartening news. There are places where

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<v Speaker 2>I think fronts are opening up, opportunities are developing, and

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<v Speaker 2>these triage efforts happen for a multitude of reasons over

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<v Speaker 2>the final three weeks. So I think the mission here, right,

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<v Speaker 2>and I tell our team this a lot, is keep

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<v Speaker 2>the faith, stay focused, We've got.

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<v Speaker 1>A job to do.

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<v Speaker 2>Our job, the job of all your listeners as well, Brian.

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<v Speaker 2>If you're concerned about the future of this country, it's

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<v Speaker 2>get out the vote, knock doors, go to rallies, get people,

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<v Speaker 2>shake them, wake them up and remind them what they

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<v Speaker 2>need to go do, because that's how you overcome the

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<v Speaker 2>end of the day. That's how you overcome the adversity

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<v Speaker 2>and challenges that, you know, maybe you and some of

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<v Speaker 2>your listeners are hearing out there right now, Brian.

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<v Speaker 1>When you kind of engage in outreach beyond the traditional

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<v Speaker 1>core Republican base, like, for example, Donald Trump was able

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<v Speaker 1>to make some serious inroads into the Hispanic community as

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<v Speaker 1>well as the black community. Traditionally, 100% lockstep Democrat voters.

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<v Speaker 1>I know that's a broad brush, but you get the idea.

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<v Speaker 1>A lot of them moved over and gravitated toward Trump

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<v Speaker 1>because the other choice was apparently Kamala Harris, which nobody wanted.

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<v Speaker 1>But I know Bernie Moreno had an outreach effort the

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<v Speaker 1>other day with Libra.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, Libra Initiative is our coalition through AFP with the

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<v Speaker 2>Hispanic community. It's led by LaYear Marin-Markham. She's a phenomenal

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<v Speaker 2>community organizer in the Hispanic community across the state of Ohio.

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<v Speaker 2>And she hosted a telephone town hall. We reached out

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<v Speaker 2>to tens of thousands of Hispanic, Latino, Ohioans. I think

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<v Speaker 2>the final number was about 20,000, 25,000 joined us for

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<v Speaker 2>this hour-long conference, telephone town hall with Bernie Moreno. And

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<v Speaker 2>it just really provided an opportunity to remind folks of

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<v Speaker 2>what's at stake if, you know, when you elect someone

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<v Speaker 2>like Bernie Moreno, right, someone who's voting for the working

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<v Speaker 2>family tax cuts, someone who understands the perils of socialism,

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<v Speaker 2>because his family fled that when he was a kid.

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<v Speaker 2>You know the story well. And it provides us an opportunity, right,

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<v Speaker 2>through La Year and the team there at Libre, to

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<v Speaker 2>really go and make those inroads into that community and

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<v Speaker 2>remind them that, hey, look, the first, second, third generation

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<v Speaker 2>Hispanic Americans, you left, you know, many of your ancestors,

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<v Speaker 2>family members fled socialist failed experiments in South and Central America.

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<v Speaker 2>You came to America for freedom and liberty. They're the

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<v Speaker 2>folks who best understand. Brian, my ancestors came here, you know,

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<v Speaker 2>centuries ago, right? We've been here a long time. We

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<v Speaker 2>forget maybe some of the things that are at risk

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<v Speaker 2>and how fragile this nation is. Um, but Libre brings

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<v Speaker 2>that message to the Hispanic and Latino communities across Ohio.

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<v Speaker 2>And we're honored to have Bernie Moreno share his story

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<v Speaker 2>and fire folks up and remind them of how important

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<v Speaker 2>all that is.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, as you mentioned, fleeing socialist countries, and there

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<v Speaker 1>are so many stories from people who lived it and

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<v Speaker 1>experienced it, you know, warning us, it's a cautionary tale.

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<v Speaker 1>Look what I went through and had to run away from,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, when, when Venezuela went awful on socialism, what happened?

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<v Speaker 1>All of the best and brightest and those capable of

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<v Speaker 1>leaving left. Why does that happen over and over again?

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<v Speaker 1>Cuba has to keep its people within the borders. You

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<v Speaker 1>can't take a boat out of Cuba. They'll stop you

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<v Speaker 1>in your tracks. It's like trying to get out of

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<v Speaker 1>East Berlin into West Berlin. Why do people flee oppression?

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<v Speaker 1>Because it's oppression. I mean, look around you. This is

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<v Speaker 1>just why it's so crazy that we're even having this conversation.

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<v Speaker 1>And you need to launch a campaign on Americans for Prosperity. FightSocialism.com.

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<v Speaker 2>That's right. So the other thing we've got going on,

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<v Speaker 2>we're working on all the fronts, Brian, we're not going

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<v Speaker 2>to leave anything on the field. We never do. But

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<v Speaker 2>I just did a webinar yesterday with a handful with

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<v Speaker 2>about 115 folks who signed up to learn how to

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<v Speaker 2>fight socialism. And we talked about through this training, what

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<v Speaker 2>you got to do to actually go and bring that

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<v Speaker 2>message to the masses. And it's about right. Well, the

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<v Speaker 2>big thing we focus on is equipping people to go

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<v Speaker 2>out and evangelize on the messages of liberty and freedom.

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<v Speaker 2>And it doesn't happen by fighting with people. It doesn't

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<v Speaker 2>happen through the name-calling and mudslinging that so many people,

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<v Speaker 2>I think, believe politics has to be. It happens acknowledging

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<v Speaker 2>that the issues that folks are concerned about, right, housing costs,

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<v Speaker 2>fuel costs, cost of living, grocery store, These are things

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<v Speaker 2>that socialism claims to have the answers to. But we

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<v Speaker 2>know all too well from those experiments that you just listed, Brian,

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<v Speaker 2>that they don't work.

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<v Speaker 1>And there are so many more.

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<v Speaker 2>I just brought it up.

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<v Speaker 1>First one that came to my mind, the Soviet Union. Remember,

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<v Speaker 1>they wouldn't let their people out. You had to de-fact

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<v Speaker 1>and you had to do it under a cloak of darkness.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, on and on and on. It's just like, ah,

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<v Speaker 1>wake up.

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<v Speaker 2>We've got the answers to these problems, right? From housing

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<v Speaker 2>to education to cost of living, we have the answers

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<v Speaker 2>to these problems. Our founding fathers knew them 250 years ago.

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<v Speaker 2>And we get to go out and be happy warriors

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<v Speaker 2>to evangelize and drive that message home and share why freedom, liberty,

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<v Speaker 2>free enterprise are the solutions to these problems. And so

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<v Speaker 2>from knocking doors to get people out to vote, engaging

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<v Speaker 2>and opening new fronts with the Hispanic community, to our

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<v Speaker 2>efforts to fight socialism and equip people across the state

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<v Speaker 2>and region to go do that. We're fighting, and all

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<v Speaker 2>your listeners are invited, Brian. I know you always give

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<v Speaker 2>us a good plug here, but all your listeners are invited,

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<v Speaker 2>and I think we have a few more folks in

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<v Speaker 2>the fight. Good things are to come.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, fightsocialism.com. I'm staring at the page right now. You

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<v Speaker 1>can get involved. You can take action. You can give

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<v Speaker 1>AFP a little bit of money to help them continue

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<v Speaker 1>their mission throughout the year, but there are lots of opportunities.

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<v Speaker 1>and we can make some inroads with some people who

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<v Speaker 1>might be sitting on their hands. Isn't that right, Donovan O'Neill?

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<v Speaker 2>Well, that's it, right? I say this a lot, right?

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<v Speaker 2>You're watching the TV, something triggers you in the news,

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<v Speaker 2>and you throw the remote at the TV, and you

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<v Speaker 2>go stomp off and find something else to do. Well,

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<v Speaker 2>instead of doing that, right, here's what I want your

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<v Speaker 2>listeners to do. Turn the TV off. put your shoes on,

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<v Speaker 2>grab your keys, get in the car, and join us

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<v Speaker 2>at a county chapter, right? Get involved, get in the fight,

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<v Speaker 2>help make a difference. 30 minutes, three hours, a weekend,

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<v Speaker 2>whatever it is that you can give in terms of

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<v Speaker 2>your time, talent, certainly treasure, that makes a difference. And

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<v Speaker 2>we just need more. people involved in the civic process,

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<v Speaker 2>involved with organizations like ours to help defend this great

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<v Speaker 2>nation and its 250 years of history. Do that.

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<v Speaker 1>Get involved. Americans for Prosperity is the place to do it. Donovan,

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<v Speaker 1>we'll talk next week. Keep your fingers crossed and keep

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<v Speaker 1>up the great work, my friend.

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<v Speaker 2>Thanks as always, Brian.

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<v Speaker 1>7.40 here at 55KRC, the talk station, Sherry Poland, Board

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<v Speaker 1>of Elections.