College Republicans to protest Obama

When President Barack Obama takes the stage at N.C. State University today, he will be greeted by a cheering audience.

But outside, protestors angry with his economic policies — including the N.C. Federation of College Republicans — will gather to oppose his visit.

“It’s laughable that President Obama is coming to North Carolina to speak about the economy he has failed to fix,” said the federation’s chairman, Nate Pencook, in a statement

. “He should use his time here to learn from the leadership of Gov. Pat McCrory, House Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate President Pro-Tem Phil Berger, who helped give North Carolina historic tax reform in the past year, while also lowering our unemployment rate to its lowest point in the last five years.”

Obama’s speech will begin at 1:05 p.m. in the J.W. Isenhour Tennis Complex, and the protest will begin outside the building around noon.

Valerie Procopio, spokeswoman for the N.C. Federation of College Republicans, said a large group, made up of several schools in the state, is expected to attend.

UNC-CH College Republicans Chairman Peter McClelland said he and the executive vice chairman, Ben Smith, will represent UNC-CH’s chapter at the protest.

“We as an organization stand 100 percent behind N.C. (Federation of College Republicans) and the N.C. GOP in their efforts to inform students and young people about how disastrous many of the president’s policies will be for our generation,” McClelland said.

Rebekah Bradley, co-chairwoman of the N.C. State Chapter of College Republicans, said in an email that her chapter will be participating in the protest to show their disapproval of Obama’s economic policies.

“We are fortunate to live in a state that is currently experiencing economic recovery under Republican leadership,” she said in an email. “Unfortunately, Obamacare is interfering with the progress that North Carolina legislators have made, and this gives graduating students a bleak outlook as they search for jobs. Obamacare’s success rests on the backs of young people.”

In remarks before Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Obama said he hoped to advance a unifying mission to make the United States a country where if you work hard, you can make it.

“I’ll be traveling tomorrow down to North Carolina to talk about a manufacturing innovation hub that we initiated, talked about in our State of the Union last year,” Obama told Cabinet members. “It’s going to be moving forward.

“And there are a lot of folks down in North Carolina who are excited, because it’s a perfect example of the kind of public-private partnership that can really make a difference in growing our economy faster and creating the kinds of good-paying jobs that help people get ahead.”

McCrory will greet Obama at the airport and welcome him to North Carolina, a McCrory spokesman said.

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