The following is a transcript of the Choose Or Lose online chat with special guest Art Alexakis of Everclear -- from the second day of the Republican Convention in San Diego. Art answered questions from America Online and IRC users. His screen name in the following transcript is AALEXAK1S.

MTVNewsGuy : Welcome to our event, Art Alexakis of the great Everclear! Glad you could make it!
AALEXAK1S : Thanks for having me. I never thought I'd be sitting where I am sitting. I got involved with Choose Or Lose because I am pissed off with how apathetic young people are about politics.
MTViolator : Art, does the convention seem as much like a desperate scripted facade to lure moderates in the flesh as is does on TV?
AALEXAK1S : I don't feel lured, but I do feel that said Republicans are making every attempt to put a shiny happy face on this convention and to not repeat the disaster of '92.
MTViolator : MASTERNIC asks, "How old were you the first time you voted?"
AALEXAK1S : 18. I voted in '80, the year Ronald Reagan took over America and yes, voted for Jimmy Carter.... I was talking to young people involved in the Republican party, asking them what the Republican message meant to them and the majority of people I spoke to under the age of 25 seemed to be Republicans because they were "born into the party", i.e. their parents are Republicans. That is all they have ever known. There were a few people I talked to who had a pretty good idea of why they considered themselves Republicans and why they were here. Almost everyone I talked to seemed to use the buzz phrase of inclusion and opportunity and I'm still not sure if I Am buying it.
MTViolator : SEALYGAL asks, "Do the republicans have a chance?"
AALEXAK1S : In my opinion, with the addition of Jack Kemp they are now in the race. But I don't believe that any candidate that is pro-life, i.e. anti-choice, will ever be elected president again. I don't think women -- Republican, Democrat or otherwise -- are going to let a majority of older white men make decisions for them.
MTViolator : SANDO asks, "Art, Politically, do you consider yourself libral right? And if so, how does it feel being surrounded by so many conservatives?"
AALEXAK1S : Well, I consider myself liberal in a lot of social issues but I consider myself moderate on other issues. But to answer your question... I feel like a lonely little lamb in a den full of elephant bedecked wolves.
MTViolator : RISC asks, "Do you really prefer government handouts over stimulating the economy?"
AALEXAK1S : Actually, in the famous words of Clint Eastwood, from the classic movie "Every Which Way But Loose", "I believe in handups, not handouts" I believe in helping people to empower themselves. I believe in educating people in how to take over their own life again.
MTViolator : Philsux asks, Which Republicans do you feel send the best messge for younger Americans?
AALEXAK1S : I think Colin Powell -- If the Republican party had a chance of defeating Clinton they lost it when Mr. Powell withdrew from the running
MTViolator : Billy asks, "Art, are most people you know as concerned about politics as you are?"
AALEXAK1S : No... I think a lot of people are concerned about it this being an election year but I find myself in the last three years being pretty immeresed in the music business, and the majority of musicians that I come in contact with are interested but not involved. I am interested in finding ways to get people involved. That is why I am here.
MTViolator : OBJIM57 asks,"Do you think Clinton will be re-elected because of his policies? And what he has done, or by the fact that Bob Dole is just not good enough to fulfill the task?
AALEXAK1S : I think it is a little bit of both. I think most people have prospered in the last four years, much to the dismay of the Republican party. But at the same time Bill Clinton makes himself an easy target by a lot of his past and present actions. I feel like Bob Dole doesn't come close in charisma, action, or being able to inspire people.
MTViolator : RISC asks, "What do you think about Clinton promising tax cuts, then imposing tax increases first chance he gets?"
AALEXAK1S : If you check the record, he has made a # of tax cuts that Republicans never talk about and he never made the promise that George Bush did -- that he broke several times -- of no new taxes.
MTViolator : BOBTRUB asks, "Does it seem like the media has the say in what a "typical Republican" beleives in. It seems that you never hear of an pro-choice stand besides Powell's.
AALEXAK1S : I think the media likes to make all public figures easily explained and cartoon-like. I think because a lot of things the Republican party professes to support they get type cast a lot more than they probably deserve. On your second point, I don't know of any other pro-choice Republicans of Powell's stature that have the guts to go against the party line.
MTViolator : SANDO asks, "Art, How do you feel about Ross Perot (be nice...)?"
AALEXAK1S : I think he meant well initially and I would like to thank him personally for pulling enough people away form George Bush and helping to get Bill Clinton elected. But I think the movement that he started has outgrown and gone beyond him. He should get out of the way.
MTViolator : DoBBoLe asks, "What would you say to young voters out
there that feel lost and don't really know what's best for them. What advice would you give them on choosing a candidate?"
AALEXAK1S : If it means as much to you as it does to me then I would urge you to read the papers every day, watch the news as much as possible, read any books that the candidates have written, and most importantly find like-minded people to talk about and discuss it and be open to other people's opinions.
MTViolator : Masternic asks, "OK, are any of this year's political issues gonna end up in any of your new music and whats up -- is there a new album anytime soon?
AALEXAK1S : Well, on our first record, "World Of Noise," I dealt with abortion, domestic abuse, AIDS, political figures, and drug abuse. On our next record, which will be out late next summer, it will be more of a return to social issues but not neccessarily on a political tip.
MTVixen: Loorrrii asks: "How do the people on the floor react to you? Do you feel they are open minded?"
AALEXAK1S: I'm wearing very very holey blue jeans and my hair these days kind of looks like a cross between Albert Einstein and Billy Idol. So with that in mind, I think people have been downright neighbolry to me, i.e.: no one has tried to beat me up yet.
MTViolator : Billy asks, "What's the first thing you would change about the government if YOU were in charge?"
AALEXAK1S : Not that it would ever happen... but the first thing I would change would be to move the seat of power, only because my daughter considers Mickey and Minney to be the Bill and Hillary of the next millenium..
MTVixen : Teeny99 asks: "What do you think you can do to help younger people become involved in voting?"
AALEXAK1S : That is what I am trying to figure out. Again, the reason I am doing this is with the hope that someone with my visibility will inspire people to pay attention. Frank Zappa inspired me back in the 70's with his knowledge and sense of humor.
QUESTION: "Art, you don't strike me as the Republican type. Are you here for the entertainment value?"
AALEXAK1S : Well, I am confused by your question. I am not here to entertain anybody else, but I must say seeing 200 pd. 40-year-old men jumping up and down in elephant hats beats the hell out of kickin it on the porch.
MTVixen : Thank you, Art Alexakis, for being here in the MTV Arena for this special Choose Or Lose '96 convention coverage.
AALEXAK1S : Thanks for having me. Talking on the internet is still such a new thing for me, but the possibilites of where this medium can lead staggers the mind and inspire the heart.
MTVixen : And thanks to our online audience for their terrific questions! Choose Or LOSE!
AALEXAK1S : Oh my god I am starting to sound like a Republican. I am out of here. BYE.