Young Democrats of America to Ignore Members and Vote Clinton?

The Young Democrats of America, the official arm of the DNC for people under 36 across the country, has three superdelegates that will be able to cast their votes at the convention in Denver. As we all know, every superdelegate vote is going to mean something significant...at least if the nomination process continues to be as tight as it has been. Each of these three people, the YDA President, National Committeeman and National Comitteewoman, were elected at the YDA Convention in Dallas by the members of YDA.

A few weeks ago, YDA President David Hardt, declared to the press that he was supporting Sen. Clinton, after receiving calls from the whole Clinton family (and yes, Bill included). Of course it is against the YDA rules for the organization to endorse a candidate in the primary, so why is David announcing he is voting for Clinton to the press when he represents YDA more than anyone?

From the Statesman of Austin, TX: http://www.statesman.com/search/content/region/legislature/stories/02/07/0207texprez.html

"Superdelegate David Hardt of Dallas, officially uncommitted because he is president of the Young Democrats of America, plans to vote for Clinton after fielding calls from her, her husband and their daughter Chelsea, who also visited him."

But it does not stop there. The YDA National Committeeman to the DNC, Francisco Domenech, has even officially announced he is supporting and voting for Sen. Clinton at the convention. The National Committeewoman, Crystal Strait, has yet to announce anything officially, but is rumored to be joining her fellow officers in casting her powerful vote for Clinton as well. As reported on the blog FutureMajority.com at http://futuremajority.com/node/981

"Domenech declared his support for Hillary Clinton in December. Crystal Strait would not declare support for a candidate during our conversation, but the youth rumor mill has it that she will likely cast her ballot for Clinton..."

While there is no official poll of YDA members to show who the body's members support, more than 60% of young people have turned out to vote for Obama in the primary elections held across the country according to exit polls and national media polling. In fact, as I have reported on this blog before, the young vote has been the deciding factor in several states for Sen. Obama. This sounds like a pretty good way to me to determine who the membership of YDA supports. And just looking around the conference hall of a recent YDA meeting will give you the exact same impression: The majority of YDA members support Obama.

I understand each superdelegate has the ability to vote for whomever they choose, I think the leaders of YDA need to recognize who they represent and, more importantly, how they represent them - they were elected by the members. The members who support Sen. Obama. If all of the YDA superdelegates cast their vote for Clinton, it shows that YDA casts its vote for Clinton. And this is just simply not the case. Follow your members David, Francisco and Crystal - support Sen. Obama.

Mayor Bloomberg is Out

It's official.

Mayor Bloomberg of New York City will not run for President of the United States.

Bloomberg is a highly respected politician. He has worked vigorously and successfully to reform the city's education system, keep guns off the street, maintain a strong economy and solve global warming.

Bloomberg's success is due to his ability to act independently of any one party's ideological constraints. Thankfully, in a NY Times editorial, Bloomberg has vowed to stay involved in national politics and endorse a truly independent candidate:

If a candidate takes an independent, nonpartisan approach — and embraces practical solutions that challenge party orthodoxy — I’ll join others in helping that candidate win the White House.

I believe that Generation Obama believes in Barack, because we believe in a new approach to politics. We believe in Senator Obama, because he believes in a nonpartisan approach to solving America's problems. Generation Obama is excited about a new approach to politics that escapes the partisan gridlock of the past.

I encourage all of you to send a message to Mayor Bloomberg that lets him know we would welcome and appreciate his endorsement, and that explains why you believe that Senator Obama is the true independent in this race that he is looking for:

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
City Hall
New York, NY 10007
PHONE 311 (or 212-NEW-YORK outside NYC)

FAX (212) 788-2460

E-MAIL:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html

Houston, We Have Liftoff

After an exciting win in Wisconsin last night, Barack Obama gave an inspiring speech in Houston. What follows is a firsthand account from Generation Obama member Christopher Gregg of Houston, TX:

It was amazing to walk to the Toyota Center and see the line to the entrance wrapped around the corner. It seemed as if all of Texas was represented in the line.

Before Barack spoke, I had a chance to sit with this older African American man and just talk about Barack. He had to be in his 70's, and he had a lot of good things to say. What really hit me, was when he started to talk about some of the struggles he had gone through growing up here in America. Then he kind of paused, looked up, let out a breath of relief and said, "I never would have thought in my lifetime I would ever see this day.”

That did it for me. I understood exactly what he was saying. I understood even more so how important this time is for America. The beautiful things is, what he said is exactly what Barack Obama's message is all about: Hope and Change.

When Barack came out, the place went nuts. You know when you witness something real dynamic and you start to get chills? When you can look in the audience and you know you are with the right party because you feel so comfortable? It was one of those moments.

The thing is, Barack has not changed or wavered from what he believes in and still manages to grow his party. I guess what I got out of the whole thing is what everyone is starting to get. McCain, Hillary and the others want to talk policy, which is fine. Barack has a plan of action also. The major difference that he brought last night is opening up the grey area between old America and the new America. That is the Change that he is talking about and Hope he explains.

He made a very good point at the end when it came to Hope. He explained how he was raised by a single mother and his grandparents after his father left when he was two. He went on to talk about how he went to school, got his education, did his time as a Senator, and now he is standing in front of us today. The place erupted and cheered, "That is what Hope is all about!”

Hands down this is one of the most important things I have ever experienced and I am so glad I had the chance. Most of the people I know have parents that fought, struggled, and suffered so we could get to this point. Let's not let them down, it is now our turn to do our part. They got us the right to vote, let's make the right choice!

And in case you missed the Houston speech, here it is:

Part I

Part II

Give Your Age

If you are part of Generation Obama, you are probably a lot like me when it comes to money. I do not have a lot of expendable income, but I still believe it is important to give to the charities and causes that I care deeply about. So, what is someone my age supposed to do if they want to contribute to Barack Obama?

Well, I think I've stumbled upon a good strategy that will help out the campaign and not hurt my wallet - I am going to give my age.

With two critical contests on the horizon in Texas and Ohio, I am going to make a contribution for change with some of my own.

I encourage you to do the same!

For the price of a few cocktails or a dinner out, Generation Obama can contribute to changing America.

So, how much am I giving? $25! But I promise, I don't look a day over 24.

Contribute: https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/main?source=homedropdown

70% of Young Voters Vote Obama in Wisconsin

The news is in. And, as has become par for the course over the last 3 weeks, Obama is victorious in yet another state. With an estimated 57% of the vote, Obama will win Wisconsin to add to his post-Super Tuesday sweep. The state has a total of 92 delegates, and with this win, Obama will lead the total delegate count (including supers) by close to 60 delegates. Since this is the Generation Obama blog, let's focus not only on the unstoppable momentum behind the campaign, but specifically on how the youth vote continues to turn out in force to support Senator Obama.

CNN Exit Polls show a whopping 70% of voters under the age of 30 voted for the Senator from Illinois, compared to just 26% of the vote for Senator Clinton. The under 30 vote made up 16% of the total estimated turnout, with the under 44 vote accounting for 38% of the total vote. One other unrelated, yet interesting exit poll stat: the female vote was split 50/50 between the two major candidates, with the male vote heavily in Obama's favor. Barack is showing he can pull support from all demographics and is not just a candidate of the young or the black or the men, he has support from all groups.

The Obama Generation is stronger than ever and shows no signs of slowing. I predict closer races in Texas and Ohio, but I think this momentum of hope will still deliver 52-54% of the vote for the Obama campaign in Ohio. Texas might be very close, and may give the edge to Hillary because of the predicted Hispanic support. But if Barack sweeps both of these, there will be surprised bloggers here!

Full CNN Exit Poll numbers available here: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/epolls/#WIDEM

Texas Students Organize for Obama

There is no doubt that the March 4th contests in Ohio and Texas are going to be critical to the Obama campaign. In a tight race for delegates, surprising wins in these states could make an important difference. Again, it will likely fall on Generation Obama to push the Senator to victory in these states. It turns out, students in Texas area already heeding the call to action:

On the University of Texas campus students for Obama are already organizing - hoping to push him to victory on March 4 primary.

Austin City Councilman Mike Martinez is leading the troops.

"We think we can win Texas, we know we can win Texas. But we can't do it without you guys," Martinez told of group of students.

Nearly 150 students putting their hearts into political action - attending a Valentine's Day rally for volunteers.

"The whole campus is really excited about it, people wearing shirts putting up signs and everything like that," Obama supporter Bryan Farmer said. "It's going to be a huge youth involvement come March 4th. I think it's going to be a huge blowout for Barack Obama here in Austin and probably the whole state."

Here's hoping Bryan is right!

Mom Voted Democrat!

Below is a great story that we received via email from Kess Leake-Campbell of Lorton, VA. If you have a story that you would like to share, email stories@generationobama.com:

When I turned eighteen in 1981, I registered to vote Democratic. My mother accused me of registering Democrat simply because my parents were Republican and I was being a rebellious child and “just had to be different”. The conversation would be revisited over the years at various family gatherings when politics would come up and I would tell her again, what I told her then, "It's how I feel I should vote, Mom," and leave it at that.

Yesterday, I sat down with my Mom and played the "Yes We Can" video for her and asked her if it reminded her of Kennedy's campaign for president. She said that it was very much like watching that event happen all over again. And then she said to me, "Don't tell anyone, but I voted for him too." I almost fell out of my chair! My mother...voted Democrat!

She then went on to tell me that she had been listening to Senator Obama's speeches and had seen him on Oprah, and that she felt he just might be the person to help us keep from losing our country. "I was holding you in my arms, crying as I watched the news tell us that President Kennedy had been shot," she tells me, "and it was if all the dreams, the hopes....it was the end of an era. Now, there's a new era, and it has the same feeling of hope, of promise, that we had back then. I never thought I'd live to see it happen again, and I am so grateful I am part of it now."

I, too, have hope.

For generations, my family members have served our country, and have always respected the office of the President. We may not always like the person inhabiting that office, but we do respect the position and duty. This time around, I have felt that our country is being systematically deconstructed. Freedoms, ideals, concepts and beliefs are being challenged and blocked. The basic rights - to be able to love whom we wish, to live in peace, to have privacy and security - those rights are being challenged and blocked and removed piece by piece. I have hope that Senator Obama will be the president that restores our rights, restores our peace and reinforces our security. I hope that as our President, Barack Obama will rebuild the trust that the United States of America once was given by other countries and other peoples.

Like my Mom said, "I am so grateful I am part of it now." - I am grateful to be part of the new generation of hope.