CONVENTION 08: Obama-Biden an Easy Pick for Young Voters

Despite John McCain's recruitment of a female running mate, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska, the youth vote rests overwhelmingly with Barack Obama and Joe Biden.  In hopes of stealing a little fire from the Democrats' historic finale to their Convention, McCain also chose the first-term Palin to galvanize ex-Clinton supporters.

Again, as if.

Palin is anti-choice, supports off-shore drilling and has been a lifelong member of the conservative National Rifle Association.  In contrast, in last night's acceptance speech Barack Obama highlighted the need for developing new renewable energy sources, pro-choice policies that put women first, and the need for strategic gun control--paraphrasing that you don't have to be against the 2nd amendment [right to bear arms] to remove AK-47s from the hands of criminals.

Nearly all the speakers went on to stress the importance of issues important to youth--most especially funding for college, funding for public schools--including teacher salaries, job creation here in the US and an end to the was in Iraq.

The mixed-generational audience was absolutely electric!

"I've never been so excited for the future," said Jennifer Pae, of California, the youngest Korean delegate in the country in her early 20s.  "This convention represents real unity, and a real commitment for change."

Historically, the nomination acceptance speech has made and broken Democratic presidential bids.  This one, by far, gave the campaign a positive head start.

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United We Stand!

The activities, speeches and turn out at the Democratic National Convention continues to demonstrate a significant turning point in US history.  The speakers on stage were one thing, but the mass of people that turned out to be a part of this event (25% of whom were from a trade union and a huge population of youth and students) stole the show!  

As more and more working people unite with Obama and his progressive message, the more un-strategic and even pathetic the nay-sayers look and sound.  The tiny and not-so-loud crew of Clinton supporters who made attempts to steer voters towards McCain, exposed their hissy-fit as pompous and self-defeating in light of Hillary Clinton's eloquent call for unity in support of Obama.  

And the other "radicals", the most disgraceful of the lot--who manipulate people into thinking that participating in the 2008 elections is somehow not progressive enough-- exposed themselves as naive and utterly disconnected.  These folks should simply know better, and I thought this as I happened to catch one of the young couples--"struggling-by-choice"--of course demonstrate that they were arrogant enough to tell older, Black and Latino workers not to vote.  

As if.

This Convention is indicative of a country that is ready to turn a corner; of people that recognize the challenges ahead but are ready to unite to tackle them.  In light of these incredible times, those who promote a defeatist, stand-aside attitude, be they from the Right or the Left, are not only playing a divisive role when the country needs to unify most, but they also set themselves up in opposition to real, progressive change...a small step necessary in our longer term struggle for socialism.

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