Leadership Institute News

�Politics Addict� Goes Online

Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

So you think you’re a politics addict?

Leah Courtney says she’s one.

Leah was raised in a conservative, military family who idealized Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Oliver North. However, it wasn’t until college that these ideas spurred action and developed into her career calling: online communications.

IRS targeted Leadership Institute in growing scandal

Thu, 16 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

At the same time the IRS was bullying tea party and conservative groups, it was auditing the Leadership Institute. After a year investigation and  23,430 pages of records, the IRS accepted the Institute's tax return as filed.

"The IRS’ indefensible behavior is worse than we first thought, as it targeted both new and existing conservative groups in politically motivated attacks," said Morton Blackwell, president of the Leadership Institute.

Read more to see the timeline and some of the questions the IRS asked.

The 22Q: Jarrett Ray, Director of Online Fundraising at The Prosper Group

Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

Jarrett Ray, Director of Online Fundraising at The Prosper Group, explains his obsession with to-do lists and three things he'd tell every political junkie to read in this week's 22Q, an informal interview series featuring young conservatives connected to LI.

Politics & Trucking!

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

Today, 1992 LI graduate Mike Howe filed to run for the district two position of the Sequim, WA School Board. He is the communications and government relations manager for a major utility company, a radio show host, blogger for PolitiTruck.com, an elected board member to the University of Wyoming Alumni Association, a former advisor to two governors, and former president of the local chamber of commerce.

LI's Newest Initiative -- "Issues That Unite: Latinos & Conservatism"

Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

LI's Issues That Unite: Latinos & Conservatism event training was held last week in Las Vegas, Nevada -- the first city out of eight the Leadership Institute and its partnering national organizations will visit this summer and fall. Partners include: The Heritage Foundation, Libre Initiative, New America, Red Card Solution, Tea Party Patriots, and VOCES Action.

23-Year-Old Kazakh Changing Her Country

Mon, 06 May 2013 00:00:00 EST

Darya Nenakhova, from Kazakhstan, believes real change starts with young people -- and free markets. And that's why she founded in 2011 a think tank, the Institute for Development and Economic Affairs (IDEA), and the Young Entrepreneurs Club in December 2012. Kazakhstan, a country of 16 million people in central Asia, borders Russia to the north, China to the southeast, and Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan to its south. It was the last country in the former Soviet Union to become independent, a process finalized in December 1991. That’s part of what makes Darya’s work so important and exciting.

The 22Q: Gabriella Hoffman, Twitter Activist and LI Staffer

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:00:00 EST

Gabriella Hoffman, Twitter activist and Regional Field Coordinator for the Leadership Institute, describes her job in 10 words ("rewarding" is one of them!), the element of politics that most surprised her, and advice for college students in this week's 22Q, an informal interview series featuring young conservatives connected to LI.

The United Kingdom's 40 Days For Life

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:02:00 EST

"Abortion is the greatest human rights tragedy of our age," Robert Colquhoun said. "Unborn children are incapable of defending themselves adequately, and therefore we must be a voice for the voiceless."

Thirty-year-old Robert Colquhoun is the campaign director for 40 Days For Life London. He also is the head of international outreach, for which he helps find supporters in new cities and countries across the globe who are interested and willing to start their own 40 days for life campaigns.

Eight Rookie Mistakes to Avoid on the Campaign Trail

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EST

If you’re doing your job as a candidate or party leader, you’re going out speaking with a lot of people you haven’t met before.  When they don’t know much about you, it’s human nature to make quick judgments based on what little information they do have.

First time candidates, particularly for local office, often send signals that undermine credibility among potential supporters, costing them votes, volunteers, donations, or all three.

People make decisions based on cues and signals, and initial impressions can have a lasting impact.  Here are eight unforced errors you can easily avoid.

The 22Q: Francesca Chambers, Editor of Red Alert Politics

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 00:00:00 EST

Francesca Chambers, Editor of Red Alert Politics, shares the most important moment of her career, the element of working in politics that most surprised her, her most useful class in college, and much more in this week's 22Q, an informal interview series featuring young conservatives connected to LI.