An opinion piece published on Fox News argues that young conservatives should reject Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin's recent comments urging them to stay out of government service. The author, a former United States Senate Page, contends that the senator's remarks constitute a threat that young people should interpret as a call to action rather than a warning to withdraw.
Last week, Senator Slotkin visited the University of Chicago to address young conservatives. According to the opinion writer, the senator spoke about fighting for the middle class and criticized President Trump’s economic policies while keeping her name in the running for the 2028 presidential race. The author states that during a question about impeaching the president, Slotkin pivoted to discussing effectiveness. The senator reportedly argued that the 67-vote threshold for conviction in the Senate was too difficult to meet and suggested targeting the people around the president instead. The author interprets this strategy as an attempt to discourage young people from participating in the Trump administration, claiming Slotkin wanted them to avoid potential legal problems.
The author describes feeling personally targeted by these comments, citing their experience serving as a U.S. Senate Page during high school. In that role, the author selected from a group of thirty juniors who spent a semester working in the Senate. They recall doing math homework on the Senate floor and delivering messages during sessions. The author states that senators, regardless of political allegiance, encouraged the high schoolers to enter politics, leaving them more optimistic about government than expected. The author contrasts this experience with Senator Slotkin's recent remarks, which they view as an exception to how the Senate typically operates.
The opinion piece warns that Senator Slotkin's words are not empty but represent a game plan for Democrats if they retake power in Congress during the upcoming midterms. The author notes that these midterms are two weeks away from the time of writing. The writer also points out that Slotkin left the door open to running for president in 2028, suggesting it is not inconceivable she could become president-elect two years later.
The author argues that young people must speak out and show up, regardless of their educational background, from holding a PhD from Harvard to dropping out of high school. They acknowledge that serving in government may come at a great personal cost if Senator Slotkin is serious about her stance. The writer references how Democrats in the White House and Congress targeted young conservatives during the Biden Administration and mentions Charlie Kirk’s assassination last September by a radical gunman. Despite these risks, the author asserts that preventing a future where power is used for revenge requires young people's involvement.
The piece concludes by invoking a remark by John Adams to young patriots in Philadelphia, stating that America and the world will look to youth as one of its firmest bulwarks. The author asserts that 250 years after the nation’s founding, these words remain true and urges readers not to cower in the face of Senator Slotkin's threats, but rather to take them as a reason to serve the country.