Dems Offer Republicans A Free Ticket

Crossing party lines has never been so easy.

Thanks to a special, one-time-only offer from the Harvard-Radcliffe College Democrats, current members of the Harvard-Radcliffe Republican Club can now obtain free membership in the Democrats, saving the usual $5 fee.

The offer, made in a statement to The Crimson yesterday on behalf of the Democrats, stems from the recent election of six members of the conservative campus publication Peninsula to the executive board of the Republican Club.

"We considered the Harvard Republican Club to be a constructive and forward-looking organization and not the reactionary one they appear to have become," Political Director of the Democrats Andrei H. Cerny '97 said in the statement.

"We ask all moderate Republicans to join us in a centrist campaign to responsibly resolve the problems that plague America," he said.

Cerny emphasized that Republicans can be part of the Democrats in any capacity. "We welcome moderate Republicans not just as members but we welcome their input for policy formulation," he said.

Harvard-Radcliffe Republican Club President-elect Bradford P. Campbell '95 said he did not think members of the Republican Club would accept the offer.

"I envision no Republicans going to the Democrats because the goals of bigger government and greater taxation are so anathema to everything we stand for," he said.

"[But] I can understand the need of the Harvard Democrats to increase membership by any means possible due to President Clinton's poor performance," Campbell continued.

Luke A. Sarsfield III '95 and Amanda P. Williams '96, two defeated candidates for positions on theboard of the Republican Club, agree with theDemocrats' assessment of the club, but hope thatRepublican members will not accept the offer tojoin the Democrats.

"This is no reason for moderate Republicans tojoin the Democrats," Williams said. "What theRepublican Club has become is not whatRepublicanism is about."

"This takeover has been the result of thecareful planning and plotting of a smallminority," Sarsfield said.

Thomas E. Woods '94--who is acting as presidentof the Republican Club since Karen E. Boyle '94stepped down in order to oversee Wednesday'selections--said that any member enticed by theoffer should not be part of the Republican Club.

"Anybody who would join the Democrats in somesort of centrist front," he said, "is not aRepublican."

The whole situation baffles Woods. "I've beeninvolved in this club since I came here, and thisis the most bizarre and laughable turn of eventsI've seen," he said

"This is no reason for moderate Republicans tojoin the Democrats," Williams said. "What theRepublican Club has become is not whatRepublicanism is about."

"This takeover has been the result of thecareful planning and plotting of a smallminority," Sarsfield said.

Thomas E. Woods '94--who is acting as presidentof the Republican Club since Karen E. Boyle '94stepped down in order to oversee Wednesday'selections--said that any member enticed by theoffer should not be part of the Republican Club.

"Anybody who would join the Democrats in somesort of centrist front," he said, "is not aRepublican."

The whole situation baffles Woods. "I've beeninvolved in this club since I came here, and thisis the most bizarre and laughable turn of eventsI've seen," he said