Young Democrats want to prove they're still engaged

[FrenchieCat]

SACRAMENTO — Youthful Democratic activists were swept off their feet in 2008 by an African-American senator from Illinois about to make history, voting in record numbers and helping to usher in a modern technological approach to campaigning.

Now that the heady days of the presidential campaign are behind them, with President Barack Obama settling into the White House, will they stay engaged? Traditionally, voters ages 18 to 30 experience a significant drop-off in enthusiasm in midterm elections.


Ian Magruder, a UC Berkeley student and candidate
for the president of the California College Democrats,
Magruder was the past college field director
for President Barack Obama in 2008. (Ray Chavez/Staff)

In the 2006 midterm elections, voters ages 18 to 29 made up only 10 percent of the actual voting population, though they accounted for 20 percent of eligible voters. Young voters actually may be easier to persuade to vote in midterm elections than their older counterparts, said Melissa Michelson, a political science professor at Cal State East Bay.

Democrats say that they will employ the same "peer-to-peer" campaigns among young voters that worked so effectively in 2008. That is where young activists use the casual atmosphere of cafes, bars, movie theaters and concerts to make their pitch. "We saw that young people will turn out when they're reached by their peers, and we talk issues important to them," said Claire Conlon, the executive director of the California Young Democrats. "Young people don't respond to mail or TV ads. It's the personal conversations about issues that engage them."

The Obama campaign has been hailed as revolutionary in its use of the communication tools familiar to young voters, such as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and YouTube. Young Democrats are promoting those tools at the convention, hosting a technology booth throughout the weekend, where people will be able to post pictures, videos, Tweets, and Facebook updates during the convention.
Snip
"One thing Obama did was to encourage young voters to form grass-roots groups — Obama volunteer groups — which was really effective for mobilizing supporters and for allowing volunteers to feel like they had leadership roles in the campaign," said Magruder, 19, a student at UC Berkeley. "I hope all candidates will empower their young supporters in the same way."

more..... http://www.insidebayarea.com/dailyreview/localnews/ci_12210681?source=rss

[Runcible Spoon]

1. Maybe this crop will reverse the trend to elect DLC DINOs.

I'm cautiously optimistic.

[RollWithIt]

5. At least name names

Which specific Democrats are you favoring to lose to Republicans?

[Runcible Spoon]

17. Because that's exactly what I said.

:eyes:Derf.

[Tarheel_Dem]

2. Contrary to post #1, young Dems are just as assorted as their parents.

My college aged nieces and nephews are lifelong Democrats, but they aren't as liberal as we were a generation ago. I welcome Democrats of all stripes to the BIG TENT. I do not want this party to become the mirror image of the almost defunct Repuke party, with only the most extreme elements having a place at the table.

There's room for moderate voices, and I hope they aren't driven away by the divisive tactics of the far left groups.

[Metatron]

8. What are the divisive tactics of far left groups?

Respectfully, I'm unfamiliar with this concept because the young Dems I have worked with in Indiana and Florida don't seem to be big fans of Nelson and Bayh (my current and former Senators).

[Tarheel_Dem]

9. Neither are the young people I know. But they aren't fans of the Nader,

Kucinich element either. I guess you'd place us all somewhere in the middle. I don't dislike Bayh or Kucinich, I just think they represent the extremes of the party. Bayh is far too conservative, but Dennis represents the far left, however it seems that only fans of Kucinich seem to be represented in the media consistently. There's a whole reservoir of us between the two extremes.

[Metatron]

10. Thanks for the clarification.

I see where you are coming from. I guess I view the media's portayal of the far left as a bit skewed, since I guess I am considered to be far-left as my main concerns are with labor issues and the plight of the poor and disenfranchised. Those issues used to be mainstream Democratic values but cuurently aren't presented that way in the mainstream media. Additionally, I just don't see that the far left is trying to divide the party (not that I mean to say you were implying that - more my beef with the media!).

Edit: spelling

[Tarheel_Dem]

13. I, too, share most of your concerns. However, maybe I've fallen victim...

to the media's portrayal, as you say. But, if we're honest, it's not just the M$M, it's sites like this as well. The blogosphere is a brutal place for moderates. Either they represent far right or far left views. It may not be intentional, but we've seen how the new GOP treats it's moderates, and they seem to have fled the party. I think that's precisely why Pres. Obama has such high approval among Dems and Indies. Far fewer people are identifying themselves as Repubs, and the Democratic party has benefited from that. I'm just fearful that the only voices who get any play in the M$M are those of people I consider extreme.

I don't want this party to make the same mistakes as the GOP made, and effectively become a fringe party.

[Metatron]

16. I just don't see Democratic leftists as extreme

There is a platform for our party and if people don't agree with most of the tenets of it, then maybe they aren't really big-d Democrats, no mattter how many individual Dems they support. Of course, Nader is not a member of the Democratic party. I honestly don't see how "sites like this" are hurting the party.

[avaistheone1]

14. You must be kidding.

What is so extreme about Kucinich and Nader?

You sound like you listen to too much Faux News. You are speaking their kind of rhetoric.

[Runcible Spoon]

18. Contrary to your display of poor reading comprehension, I didn't assert otherwise.

I merely said "caustiously optimistic". I'm sure there are plenty of corporate-minded selfish little shits mixed in.

[nomaco-10]

3. So called "YOUNG" people crack me up....

They all think they discovered Politics and Sex at the same time.:P

[sagetea]

4. LOL!!!

n/t

[RollWithIt]

6. DU bashes young Democrats?

So young Dems don't matter>

[nomaco-10]

7. NO! Go get yourself a sense of humor...

You too my darlin' may get some age on you too one of these decades.

It's not so terrible. Trust me.

[TankLV]

11. Youth is so wasted on the young...

[nomaco-10]

12. No Shit....

What I could do with my 50 year old brain in a twenty something year old body...

[Jennicut]

15. These kids grew up under Bush, they are very loyal to Dems

I am 33. I grew up with Clinton and my generation (Gen X) too it for granted that we had a Dem President. Hopefully these kids won't make that mistake and stay involved long term. When you get a little bit older and then have a mortgage, job, possibly kids its even more important to stay informed/involved.