Teen Thrives On Liberal Helping Of Conservatism

David Anthony spent a few evening hours last week - on a good TV night making “G. Gordon Liddy for Attorney General” bumper stickers at Kinko’s.

Most 17-year-olds hang Kurt Cobain on bedroom walls. Anthony has autographed pictures of conservative icons Ollie North, Bob Dornan, Jesse Helms and Pat Buchanan. Barry Goldwater’s call to repeal laws and reduce government shouts in black and white.

“There’s not much more fun than a bunch of Republicans kicking back in a steakhouse and lighting up cigars and telling jokes,” said Anthony.

The Shadle Park senior is bound by and bound for politics. He reads local and national newspapers daily but publishes the Spokane Conservative newsletter to ensure that others read him.

The newsletter, produced 17 months in a row, is the voice of young Republicans, Anthony said. In the May issue, the proposed minimum wage boost is deflated and political activism plugged.

“Even kids who have opinions don’t do anything,” said Anthony.

Anthony traces his political leanings like a family heritage - a libertarian papa and conservative Republican mother. He supports Internet free speech but opposes abortion. Gay rights are special rights.

And don’t try to take his guns. A member of the National Rifle Association, Anthony talks about his 9mm like most teenagers talk about their cars.

To glean information, Anthony surfs the Internet regularly, jumping topics faster than a bar fly - from the Libertarians to Heckler and Koch handguns to Don Tomas cigars.

“I’m not basing my opinions on some Newt Gingrich speech,” said Anthony, who wants to be a cop.

He has an anarchist streak. He challenged Shadle Park administrators when he was told a year ago not to post fliers for the young Republicans at school.

“Conservative,” he was told, has the connotation of “radical.”

With the advice of conservative talk radio host Richard Clear, Anthony persuaded administrators to back down.

“He’s a good kid, seems very sharp,” said Clear. “He sends me faxes all the time.”

This spring, Anthony’s politics again caught the attention of school administration. His Internet home page, saved on a school-owned computer and posted on Shadle Park’s World Wide Web site, advocates gun ownership. A woman in a short skirt points a big gun.

School district brass huddled, talked with Anthony’s teacher and inspected the home page but didn’t ask him to change it.

“I think this is in relatively good taste,” said Anthony. “It’s not urging people to go out and shoot kids.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo