Today the New York Times ran a story regarding the "Obama Youth Vote” and
their impact (or lack thereof) on the 2010 Midterm Elections.(NYT Article) Essentially,
Times writer Megan Thee-Brenan points out that they are NOT going to come
back out. Most pundits would argue this would be a no-brainer since it is
a midterm election and this tends to be the voting pattern of young voters.
The political establishment ought not be so quick to dismiss these voters
as being forever lost because President Obama is not on the ballot.
Political parties on both sides of the aisle will spend money, particularly
here in Harris County, to capture what is known as the youth vote. These
under funded efforts will consist of fancy receptions, happy hours, and
mixers at local Houston establishments with the hopes of bringing these
voters out to the poll.
Those of us most involved with the process know these type of outreach
methods have limited reach and ultimately don't help to increase the
turnout of this targeted demographic. The Democratic Party doesn't have to
forfeit these election-changing votes, but it's going to take a change in
approach if we really want these folks to have an impact.
Let's face it, you're talking about folks that voted in their first
election in 2008. The Obama Campaign did something that had never been
done before, by using popular culture, a powerful message, and targeted
branding, this country elected the first African American POTUS.
That same momentum can be duplicated in states and counties all around this
country to assist traditional campaign methods. These voters simply can't
be phone banked, mailed or door canvassed. Modern technology combined with
new messengers can create a democratic victory.
For the sake of transparency, many of you know that I, along with some very
dedicated young professionals conceived the Houston Hip Hopolitic Coalition
and the Say Something Campaign, with the purpose of registering and
mobilizing these Obama young voters, using the nontraditional medium of hip
hop culture. Although many in both the hip hop and political communities
have expressed their support this effort has been completely moved by a
group of grassroots supporters with limited resources.
While there will be millions of dollars spent on traditional campaign
methods to reach voters, there will be very few dollars invested in using
new media such as text messaging, email blasts, and online organizing
marketed through popular culture to achieve victory. Let's face
it...that's what brought about sweeping democratic victories in 2008.
There should have been many lessons learned after the 2008 election cycle.
As a loyal supporter of President Obama I supported him because I believed
he would bring about the change that our country so desperately needed.
Unfortunately, a large number of folks that voted for him couldn't give you
three of his policy positions during the election. They could however
recite the words to the popular ballad penned by Will.I.Am entitled, "Yes
We Can."
Don't believe the hype. These voters are still on the voter rolls and
ready to be engaged. We just have to reach them where they are, as opposed
to where we are. Until then Houston/Harris County we have a problem. Why
transcend our own science only to revert back to where we started?
