***New Date: Tuesday, Sept. 10***
The Truth & Freedom Foundation will be hosting Charlie Kirk, founder and executive director of Turning Point USA, and Dr. Sam Clovis, former chief policy adviser to the Trump for President campaign on Thursday, June 13 in Des Moines. There will be a VIP reception at 5 p.m. and a general reception at 6 p.m. Dinner and the program begin at 6:30 p.m.The event will be held at the Holiday Inn Des Moines Airport Conference Center.
Scott Petersen said the Truth & Freedom Foundation has started thanks in part to Dr. Mark Christian who lives in Omaha.
“He grew up in Egypt and he actually was a Sunni Muslim Imam at the age of 12,” Petersen said. “The way he described it is he hated America. Now he’s been on this 25-year journey for the truth and he’s ended up here, ended up a Christian, a citizen of the United States and he loves America. He’s a true freedom guy. He loves the Constitution.”
Dr. Christian is an expert on Middle East affairs. He appears from time to time on Fox News.
The Truth & Freedom Foundation has a lofty goal.
“Quite honestly, problem No. 1 this last election is ideology level and a demographic level,” Petersen said. “I think we’re finally paying the price of 30-40 years of indoctrination with our schools and media and everything. Those younger generations do not know the difference between freedom and socialism.
“So, OK, that’s our problem, but what are we going to do about it.”
The Truth & Freedom Foundation is focused on getting those who understand the true battle happening to fight and get involved.
“We want to give them a place to go and get active,” Petersen said. “There are a lot of good groups and we just want to be another one.”
Petersen said the group’s goal is to reach people 15-50 years old.
“We want to challenge them to learn the truth about freedom and the truth about socialism,” Petersen said.
There will also be an effort to start local chapters for anyone interested.
They plan to make 500 tickets available for the June 13 event. Kirk will speak on whether or not socialism is winning.
“So far the early feedback has been awesome,” Petersen said. “We sell sponsorships and we try to sell sponsorships for students so students can come for free. It will be interesting. Charlie is a good speaker and he’ll create some good energy. We’re actually targeting Iowa and about five or six other states.”
Petersen believes the younger generation will come around to conservatism if people are willing to talk to them about it.
“When Virginia did their infanticide bill, there was polling done in a two-month period,” he said. “The younger generation became 17 percent more pro-life in that two months of polling. If you get information out there and don’t insult them and challenge them to learn, you won’t get them all, but you’ll get a few.”
