Meet the 22-Year-Old Beck Fan Who Traveled From Germany to Volunteer at the RNC (And Who’s Looking for Some Help to Join the U.S. Military)
- Posted on August 30, 2012 at 11:39am by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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German student Roland Egenolf, 22, chose to study abroad in the U.S. specifically so he could volunteer at the Republican National Convention. (Madeleine Morgenstern/TheBlaze)
Stay up-to-date on all the convention news by visiting TheBlaze’s dedicated RNC page. Also find out how you can watch exclusive, live reports and analysis on TheBlaze TV here.
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Roland Egenolf isn’t your typical Republican National Convention volunteer.
The 22-year-old student came all the way from Germany to lend a hand in Tampa, FL, this week. But aside from the unmistakeable accent in his voice, Egenolf’s politics are right in line with thousands of others gathered at the RNC.
“The only party who still really stands for America and is willing to preserve it and the values for which the country stands is the Republican Party and that‘s why I’m here,” Egenolf told TheBlaze. “I want to support the conservative cause because I think the conservative cause is the American cause.”
As a student studying business in Nuremberg, he was required to spend a semester abroad. There was no question he wanted to go to America, and chose the University of Tampa specifically so he could help at the RNC.
But just how did he come to espouse such views? He said it started during the end of George W. Bush’s presidency, under a steady wave of Bush bashing by his teachers.
“I always loved America,” Egenolf said. “I read up on the presidency of President Bush, I think he made it possible that two countries were liberated, and the Europeans didn’t like that at all. It was never an issue that the people there are suppressed and they have no human rights…the Germans just don’t talk about that, they say it’s all about oil.”
But he didn’t stop there; he started streaming Fox News online (”illegally,” he admits) to get access to different points of view. And that’s where he came across Glenn Beck.
“Some day he appeared on Fox — I never heard of him,” Egenolf said. “He taught a lot about George Soros and all that stuff, how the left is organized, nobody really knows about it, it’s shocking and how radical they are.”
Since then he’s become a regular reader of TheBlaze and a subscriber to TheBlaze TV. He pours over conservative blogs including Gateway Pundit and Pamela Geller’s Atlas Shrugs.
He said they all carry a different message from the one that’s pervasive throughout Europe.
“I think it’s freedom, I think you can put it in that word,” Egenolf said. “In Europe we lost that and the people don’t care about freedom, they care about…social security and all that kind of stuff, but not really to be free and I think the American people still has that spirit.”
Needless to say, he’s no fan of President Barack Obama.
“I think he’s a terrible president,” he said. “I’m mostly concerned about foreign policy and what we see in the Middle East…he shows at least a lack of support for Israel.”
So far, Egenolf has spent his week as a greeter and helped wave cars into parking lots. He said his ultimate dream is to immigrate to America and join the U.S. military. He hoped he might connect with a lawmaker at the RNC who could help facilitate the process.
“I just met [Sen.] John McCain and he said I should write him a letter, but let’s see what happens,” he said.
He said there aren’t too many people who share his political views back home.
“Honestly my family is not at all [interested] in politics,” he said. “I couldn’t give you the name of one person who has the same beliefs as I have.”
But while people in Germany might have a knee-jerk reaction to conservative American politics and politicians — he singled out Sarah Palin as one who provokes a particularly strong reaction — he said they can actually be receptive when you talk about the ideas, without the labels of “liberal” or “conservative.”
“In Germany, a lot of people when you ask them or continue to ask or know them a little bit better, they actually share your opinion,” he said. “But in Europe they are so afraid to be conservative because you are labeled a fascist, a right-wing extremist.”
He said it’s hard to sum up exactly what makes him feel so strongly about America.
“A lot of people ask me that, why I love America so much and it’s honestly hard for me to express that,” he said. “I think it’s just in the people somehow, who understand the American way. I don’t know, I always just put it in one word which is freedom.”
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Comments (60)
Larry E
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 5:39pmI think that all he needs to do to join the US military is find a recruiter and sign up. Good lad, and I hope that he stays and becomes a citizen.
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 6:24pmHe should apply for citizenship first, get accepted, then enlist. We don’t need to be paying wages to foreign citizens in our military.
Report Post »LimaBean
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 5:32pmmy in-laws are from Germany…both are American citizens.
Report Post »nocommie
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 2:22pmI do like this guy.You are a good fit for America.Can we say that we are gay,get married then you can become a us citizen then of course,we would need to divorce.I hear that if you are gay you have a good chance of getting into the military.Just sayin….
Report Post »65Plus
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 2:22pmWelkommen.
Report Post »heitjer
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 8:23pmactually its “Willkommen!” Rather rude by itself. If you want to express your welcome form the heart its “Herzlich Willkommen!”.
Report Post »woodyee
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 2:13pmVet. Vet. Vet. Vet. VET.
Report Post »luckyme
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 2:10pmI only hope that more Americans love this country like this foreigner young men does, God bless him.
Report Post »ERP
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 3:24pmCould it be that Roland Egenolf is the smartest man in Germany? Europe?
Report Post »ironsheik
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 2:07pmIf you finish your degree you might be able to go straight to officer’s corps school. Either way, after serving a certain period of time you’ll be given citizenship. If you don’t go the military route and need a “sponsor” to immigrate I (and I would think many others around here) would agree to sponsor you.
Report Post »westy98530
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 5:41pmFederal law requires that commissioned officers be U.S. citizens. He can certainly enlist, and he can go for a commission once he gets his citizenship, too. In my time, I’ve worked with officers that were English-born, Irish-born, and South African-born. The Irish guy got some kind of fast-track to citizenship thing. On the enlisted side, I’ve had all sorts. Lots of South Americans, a few Africans. None were citizens yet, so college didn’t matter. I even had an E-1 from Kenya that had a master’s degree in bio-chemistry. He had some of the nastiest jobs to do, but he did them with pride. He should have no trouble getting a commission once he gets his citizenship.
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 1:53pmBest of luck to you Roland! I hope Glenn has you on his show!
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 1:36pmAmerica right now isn’t far off from Europe and its getting closer very quickly and USA is not the country he thinks it is right now and he will find that out soon enough. not just because the so called liberals but the other group of progressives who call themselves conservative but are neo cons and want to turn America into a fascist nation.
Report Post »Raisingmy3boysright
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 1:33pmThere are plenty of foreigners in our military. When my hubby was in there was a Canadian who was in our military 2 dorm rooms away. He got out and made a good living in the US as an air traffic controller…
Report Post »piper60
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 1:20pmThis guy has the right idea. Nice to hear that not all Europeans are socialists.
Report Post »JohnGalt
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 1:30pmYou would be surprised there are still a few who haven’t had the kook-aid of socialism, they usually end up here though.
Report Post »ThoreauHD
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 2:00pmI was driving through Germany, in what at that time was a new PT Cruiser. We stopped at a castle overlook and were approached by a German man with a McDonalds keychain and all his clothes were American. He came up and asked us who we were, and where we were from, and about the car. He said he loved America, and tried to tune into radio stations that carried American news.
I was really shocked. He was so excited to meet us. He asked us about any news of what’s going on there, and the like. He still had a heavy german speaking accent, but said he studied English and read/wrote well so he could learn more about the US. He said he‘s read the Declaration of Independence and Constitution and knew all the founding father’s. The man was probably in his 40′s or so, which made it even more strange. In short, he loved the independent spirit of Americans.
Then we said Wiederholen Sie, and went on our way. I remember it to this day. A decade later. If our President had half the pride in American as this German did, the last four years would have been spectacular.
Report Post »eyestoseeearstohear
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:58pmUmmm, bad idea.
Thanks but NO THANKS.
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 1:44pmWhat?
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on August 31, 2012 at 3:26amWhy do you say that? Your country was built by immigrants, and this guy seems to be just the right sort…
Report Post »JUROR1
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:55pmHitler also raged about the left wing!
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 1:45pmYou’re a kook.
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 1:55pmwell the neo cons are kind of similiar except now instead of jews they go after muslims. idk what they plan to do with the fema camps but you can make a good guess on that plus NDAA is obvious.
Report Post »Toltepeceno
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 2:10pmIndividualism Yes, it was horrible those jews flying planes into buildings and strapping on bombs for suicide missions…….oh wait. Then again you are a complete moron.
Report Post »JUROR1
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:54pmAnother neo nazi
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 1:24pmon the ground now!, Taze!, yeah if you get them from there, its obvious why brutality rates have skyrocketed.
Report Post »Wool-Free Vision
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 1:46pmGo to hell, you hateful, moronic troll. I‘m sure you’ll be able to find a few like-minded jerks there who can correct your perception of who nazis are.
Report Post »Toltepeceno
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 2:37pmWool-Free Vision You tell the neo communist my friend.
Report Post »whocares99
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:49pmNo foreigner needs help to join our military!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There are laws, porcedures and policies setup for this, all he needs to do is go to a recruiters office, present his credentials and go through the lengthy process already put in place,
There are obvious checks and procedures that must be followed, if he wants to join bad enough, he will follow the procedures for this and not ask for any special assistance,
We have enough foreigners here already who think they are special, follow our laws and procedures or get out.
Report Post »lefty5005
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 1:28pmPal,
Report Post »You want good Germans on your side. They are bright with imagination and purpose. I will trade a bunch of liberals and he can come over. It wouldn’t be hard to fill in for a bunch of deadbeats anyway.
You can have this guy, or you can have people like the guy who is on trial for betraying his country by becoming Muslim.
Wool-Free Vision
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 1:56pmXenophobic much?
As a reminder, I feel I must point out to you that immigrants are not the problem, nor do they deserve your irrational ire. But ILLEGAL immigrants seriously need to GTFO.
Report Post »Anadara
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 2:13pmTrue statement. There are alot of non-citizens in the US military. The military would be fortunate to have this young man.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:20pmI spent three tours in Germany and I can say with conviction that there are a good number of conservatives in that country. One particular interpreter I had working with me over night right after the ‘92 elections just blew up and was confused at how American could elect somebody like Clinton as president. He was still a young child when WWII ended, but he could tell in great detail how he had experienced what an extreme left wing government can do to a country.
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:47pmGood 2 see young ppl with the hope of this great idea this country has. We will rise from this great mistake & right the wrong. God Bless USA.
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 1:47pmSome of the most conservative people I’ve ever met in the US were German immigrants. I wish this guy all the luck in the world! I have no idea how immigration works for foreigners looking to join the military, but I would imagine it’s not too diffulcult.
Report Post »Man-On-A-Mission
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:16pmYea…come here and be able to get more Education grants and funding to be what ever you want to because your from another country and not here. Try migrating to Germany as an American and see how your welcomed there!!!!!!
If he was a kid from Haiti would you feel the same???????
Report Post »Elena2010
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:27pmYes, I would.
His character fits our nation well. Who gives a rip abt country or ethnicity?
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 1:50pm“If he was a kid from Haiti would you feel the same?”
What‘s up with the Left’s obsession with skin-pigmentation? Are you a racist?
Mia Love is from Haitian descent. She got a huge ovation at the convention. What else ya got?
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:09pmIf he is really sincere, I think he would be a great addition to the Republican party and U.S. military. I hope he gets the help he needs. I spent 4-1/2 years in Germany and I must say the young people are the ones who impressed me the most. They were so eager to speak to me in English and I tried to answer in my broken Deutsch. All German students must learn English. That is why it is important all Spanish speaking children in the U.S. learn English. You learn the language of your host country.
Report Post »Overton Window
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:08pmI hope someone hooks him up with Glenn and Joe Kerry and maybe they can help him get started to legally become an American. God bless him and it is so impressive to see someone that respects our country as he does. So many of the people here take it all for granted. We would love to have all immigrants like this young man come through the front door and we would be very proud to proclaim it to the world. Good luck, Roland. Hope you you can soon call this your new homeland.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:24pmHe really should not have that much difficulty getting into the military. Naturally since he speaks German they will send him probably to South Korea. Anyway, While I was in service I came across about a handful of Germans serving in the U.S. Army. We have a good number of Canadians, and Mexicans. Can’t really picture how he would be turned down except for medical or background investigation reasons.
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:06pmHe needs to learn some more about the Repubs before giving them a blank check, but he seems to have the American spirit and understand Freedom.
Report Post »Tissy
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:03pmIsn’t it amazing some foreigners are more patriotic than some Americans? They know first hand what is at stake.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:18pmThere was a caller on the Bill Bennett show who was from Mexico and lived in LA. He said most of his friends from Cuba were voting for Mitt Romney and he and his family as well. Cubans know communism when they see it. Europeans are supposed to as well. But I have a sister in law from the Netherlands, who just doesn‘t get the loss of freedoms we’ve experienced lately because she’s not American. I’m glad some do get it.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:30pmLORIANN12, I was at the Mariel Boat Lift from Ft Bragg, and Carter had hoped to receive thousands of potential Dem voters and their influenced children to come to American. That turned around on him quickly, when as they became citizens, so many registered as Republicans. Being more or less natural conservatives, it was Bill Clinton when in ‘94 stopped the next Cuban boat lift from making to America. He had the Navy pick up the first of the refugees and kept them at GITMO. When the Haitians did the same thing as in 1980 during that boat lift Clinton diverted them to GITMO, and moved those Cubans and all Cuban refugees from that point to Panama. He was not about to let them set foot in this country. He eventually repatriated both the Cubans and Haitians. As for those Cubans, I have often wondered how many are still alive.
Report Post »Elena2010
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 1:23pmIt ws the US Coast Guard who picked them up and dropped them in Gitmo. I was ashore in Key West at the time and saw the Coasties shuttling in and out. We supplied them w/Bibles for the refugees who were wanting one. Every last 110 and 220 the East Coast had was in Key West at the time. When the tropical storm came thru, you could cross deck fm one to the next at Trumbo Point Annex pier.
On that operation, the Navy support the Coast Guard who sat on the international line and waited for the refugees to come out and be scooped up.
Abt the same time, the Haitians decided to jump on the bandwagon. The Coasties put out their larger cutters to intercept them. They were parked on the USNS COMFORT (hospital ship) or shuffled to Gitmo (different corner).
Many of the Cubans did end up in the US while nearly all the Haitians ended up back home.
Report Post »Mrflannery
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:02pmBush liberated two countries? Which ones? Not Iraq, where we got run off by the Iranians, who now run the country. Afghanistan? yeah, right. Why do I still see burquas on all the women?.What have we spent so far, a TRILLION dollars? The funny part is that is was about oil, but we never did get our hands on it! The greatest military ever gets beat down by ragtag rebels in two countries at once! FAIL!
Report Post »Elena2010
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:24pmAfghanistan has no oil. It was abt 9/11. The failed policy was trying to remake a bunch of Taliban into modern Western men and women. Those folks reject everything fm the 7th century onward. They use to tech to destroy the tech.
First Gulf War was about oil, but not the second. Desert Storm allowed you to continue driving your car and heating or air conditioning your home as you pleased. Second one was abt getting rid of Saddam who was the neighborhood menace.
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:34pmIt has never been about oil and you need to quit believing those Liberal lies. In case you forgot we went into Afghanistan for Osama Bin Laden. We missed him as he fled to Pakistan. Afghanistan isn’t know for its oil fields. It was know as the cocaine capital of the Middle East. We decided to stop that flow of drugs. We then decided to free the Afghan women from subjugated Taliban men, who felt women are their property and can beat and rape them at their whim.
Now perhaps you are one of those men who support rape and beatings and have problems calling out such activities, but as a woman I am not. If a man ever touched me, he would not live to brag about it.
Iraq was not about the oil at the time either. There were twofold reasons why the U.S. went into Iraq. Saddam was defiant on 15 UN sanctions and refused to comply. We waited, I believe, 8 months before we acted. The second reason was Bush wanted to settle a score with Saddam, since he had arranged an assassination attempt against his dad.
As for oil, about 20 other countries import more Iraqi oil than the U.S. This site will break it down in simple to understand graphs for you. http://www.scottmanning.com/archives/howmuchoilfromiraq.php
A little education goes along way. Maybe it is time to get off your butt and read up and get facts rather than sit on your butt and blow statements out of it.
Report Post »Elena2010
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 1:18pmNot cocaine but heroin. It grows poppies rather than coca plants.
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 1:52pm“Not Iraq, where we got run off by the Iranians”
What planet do you live on?
Report Post »Individualism
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 1:56pmhe murdered their people, stole their resources and installing a puppet dictatorship.
Report Post »DRed
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:01pmI am so impressed with this young man! Maybe we can swap him for some of those OWS young people who hate America!
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:33pmNot a bad idea. Not only would it get so many of them out of this country, they would not really be a bother to Germany. I would expect them to haul butt to Holland to hang out in the Doper Coffee Shops, and all of those needle parks. The Dutch can later use them as fertilizer.
Report Post »libertylover55
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 12:01pmHe sounds like someone who would make a great citizen of our nation. I hope he can realize his dream of becoming an american.
Report Post »Elena2010
Posted on August 30, 2012 at 11:56amI would encourage you to become a Naval Officer after you finish your degree. We have two “flavors” – blue and green. If you like the sea, go blue. If you like dirt, go green!
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