Grandma Got Run Over By the Youth Vote
In the Iowa caucus, young voter turnout tied with senior citizens. Yesterday in New Hampshire, people under the age of 30 surpassed voters 65 and up. After doubling their turnout in New Hampshire, young voters are in the pole position heading into the next primary battles. A whooping 37% of people under 30 voted in the New Hampshire primary, compared to 18% in 2004. After losing the youth vote 5 to 1 in Iowa, Sen. Clinton pledged to do a better job reaching out to young people. She asked the young people in New Hampshire to vote with "your heart and your mind," and that helped her shave some much needed votes away from Sen. Obama, particularly with single women. Sen. Clinton even won with 25-29 year olds – reversing a 57% – 15% Obama win with the same age group in Iowa. Young voters are finally being courted by the leading Democratic candidates. Will speeches about saving social security be replaced on the stump with calls to end predatory student lending? While we have to wait to see the full impact the rise of young voters will have on the election and ultimately legislation, the Democratic Party should be thanking their lucky stars. Young people are coming out in droves for them while Republicans are only getting a trickling of support. 61% of young voters in New Hampshire went for the big D, while only 39% were down with GOP. The young and restless are this cycle’s NASCAR Dads. Democrats captured the hearts and minds of this generation in 2004 and again in 2006. If a Clinton/Obama or Obama/Clinton ticket keeps them loyal to Democrats for the 3rd election in a row, it’s "three strikes, and you’re out" for Republicans.
Listen to me discuss how young voters are learning they matter on NPR’s News and Notes yesterday.
I made a point over at Skeptical Brotha’s blog a few days ago that hit on this phenomena. There are several dynamics at play and yesterday the mommies of these kids had their say.
I am rooting for the younger kids. They deserve the respect and acknowledgement of the power they bestow and could bestow. Their generation is bigger than mine and bigger than our oppressors, the Boomers (also their parents too).
I am praying that they increase their momentum to be the generation to alter the course we have been on for the past 40 plus years in Boomer Politics. My generation is too beholden to the Establishment to be as rebellious as these kids who are not afraid new thoughts and new attempts. They are not afraid to fail. They will take the risks.
As much as their generation is plagued by cell phones, celebrity, and text messaging, these kids that provided that cultural shift which resulted in backlash with the mommies turning out were not those kids that hang out at the mall or spend their time gossiping. Those kids that are moving this election are my HOPE. I just wish their parents valued them as much as I do in hope for redeeming our future.
I just am so disappointed in how many Boomer moms can’t see it is now their children’s time to lead. They can’t see the bigger picture that they need to allow us to be adults. My generation, X, is graying into irrelevance but the kids may free us fromt the hostage takers who are our parents’ generation and their cultish ideas.
Dear Fellow Americans:
>NOTE< IF you agree with this effort, forward this email. BUT if you do NOT agree, just smile and delete.
This is NO attempt to influence your vote and NO…. I have NOT been approached or solicited or asked or paid or anything….to "launch this letter". I am reminded that when Americans fail to speak out against what they perceive as bad politics and bad policies, we ALL loose.
I have always been a taxpaying and voting citizen. My first vote was for John F. Kennedy. I have felt great disdain for African Americans who vigorously support the Republican Party. When the Clinton's were being attacked by Ken Star and were subjected to the dirty tactics of a smear campaign by the Republican Party, even 'tho personal misbehavior invited that, I wrote letters of support to the Clinton's and, on their behalf, to numerous politicians, media pesons and to church leaders across this nation.
In my opinion, this 2008 Presidential political contest is NOT so much about race or/and gender, as it is about POWER. But it MUST also be won ethically and fairly. As it appears to me, BOTH the Clinton's are making a strong case to validate the belief that the abused, once gaining power, may become the abuser.
Speaking for myself only, I am grateful that when there was a call for the bus boycott in Montgomery, AL, that NOT one African American Minister called for support of continued segregated busses. Every "chance" to support a candidate is NOT the same thing as an opportunity to promote the GOOD of the people. To express my concern about their actions, I have personally contacted certain community leaders via web addresses, who have been motivated or/ and felt obligated to step forward with unnecessary and untimely "ENDORSEMENTS" or/and divisive debasing comments.OH! What would Adam Clayton Powell think now?
~~~ PLEASE help God BLESS America~~~ It IS our responsibility to step IN here. The media, while we NEED them for information, IS also fanning the flames of a fire that has the potential to become big and dangerous.
I hope to have as many people as possible call the Clinton Headquarters; numbers listed below. I have called.YOU tell them:
1. Tell any one who answers the phone that you want to see an end to the negative campaigning
2. That you are a private citizen who does NOT like the personal attacks and distortion of the record
3. That you WILL withdraw support and WILL campaign against ANY candidate who initiates and maliciously perpetrates "personal" and cheap attacks
4. That we Americans want POSITIVE campaigning on THE ISSUES from a leader who seeks to unify, NOT just win ………….OR……. say whatever YOU choose, but DO call to say something that may help foster a more civil campaign
I have sent this email to HUNRDEDS OF PEOPLE on hundreds of sites including Nat'l Democratic Party, THE CLINTON'S…..library etc et al, COLLEGES, URBAN LEAGUE, NAACP…… talk radio hosts, popular news media……… and HUNDREDS of other people have sent it out also.
IF people started calling me THE Queen of England, I would likely wonder why, but in NO case would I believe myself to be unequivocally entitled to the socio-political advantages of that office. Maybe someone should tell Bill. He was "NICKNAMED" the first Black President. He wasn't REALLY him.
Thanks, Janet
OHIO
THE NUMBERS FOR YOU TO CALL
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703-469-2008
Fax: 703-962-8600
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501-244-0200 |
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