Jun 30, 2009 11:15 am US/Eastern
U.S. Congressman, 28, 'Schocks' Fans On YouTube
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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U.S. Congressman Aaron Schock appears on the Web site TMZ.com
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He's young. He's good looking. He's a U.S. congressman, but you are just as likely to see him on YouTube or the Web site TMZ.com as on Capitol Hill. But will he be able to save the Republican party? CBS station WBBM-TV reports.
His name is Rep. Aaron Schock. The 28-year-old was in Chicago Monday night for the Young Republican summer membership event.
Schock doesn't seem to mind that his youth and good looks are getting him noticed.
"Alternative media sources like TMZ, like the Stephen Colbert Report ... have allowed me to reach a demographic that otherwise would not watch traditional forms of media," Schock said.
The goal of Monday's event? Attract more young people into the Republican party. It's critical, political experts say, given what happened in the last election.
"The one age group where Barack Obama crushed John McCain was with 18- to 29-year-olds," Roosevelt University political scientist Paul Green said.
Some believe that events like this can help. State Sen. Kirk Dillard says it's all about making it "cool" to be Republican. Some say Schock is part of that, too.
"I saw Congressman Schock in a magazine earlier this year and I was like 'I have to meet him,'" attendee Lauren Lapin said.
Megan Monti said Schock is "a celebrity figure, almost like Obama was, where people are drawn to him."
Schock says in order to reach young people you need to reach them in places like Facebook, Twitter or TMZ, where he was captured poolside sporting a six pack.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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