Students say Democrats (are) misunderstood

[MaineDem]

Headline could be read as just a tad misleading.

ST. LOUIS --College Democrats sound a lot like the 1960s British rock band, the Animals, who sang -- "I'm just a soul whose intentions are good, please don't let me be misunderstood."

While a tangible sense of optimism was evident Friday at the three-day College Democrats National Convention, several students expressed frustration, saying voters simply don't understand the Democratic Party and its priorities.

Many of the 400 in attendance were upbeat about the party's prospects in the midterm elections, especially with polls showing a preference for Democratic candidates. Several were optimistic about the presidential race in 2008, with a few singling out former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., for praise.

But a dozen years of Republican control of the House and six years of White House rule have left young Democrats dismayed. They complained that Democrats have been unable to explain themselves to voters and Republicans are perceived as the party of moral values.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/07/21/students_say_democrats_misunderstood/?rss_id=Boston.com+%2F+News

[movonne]

1. I would think that if the voting public doesn't realize yet that the

Republican party is the most immoral bunch that roam the earth.. ones that still think they are the moral value party have to be insane and you cannot explain why they are wrong. All they would have to ask is what have they done that is moral..torture, giving to the rich,lying us into a war, and so many more..

[officerdorsey]

2. Moral Values???

I'm about to give up myself. If Republicans are still seen as the party of moral values, then we are all lost.

[WhiteTara]

5. only the people who don't want to look

(because if they do, they'll have to do something) still think the repukes are moral. They are actually morally repugnant. Welcome to DU officerdorsey. :hi:

[RamboLiberal]

3. Good to see activity by Dems on college campuses

Certainly has been one of the Repukes great success stories. Bet our college kids are a lot nicer than their college kids. IMHO the stories of the Young Repukes always made me think most of them were an arrogant bunch.

Anyone know how many attend the Young Repukes convention?

[SIU_Blue]

4. At Southern Illinois University

we started a group as an alternative to the college democrats (www.siu.edu/~spd) which draws largely from the pools of students who have liberal leanings but are fed up with the democratic party for one reason or another.

A large amount of the frustration stems from the fact that often the two parties are indistinguishable, with only minor social issues seperating them. Lots of us are saying, "okay, enough with the gay marriage and immigration, can we focus on healthcare? the national debt? the war? consequences of globalization? the minimum wage? education? anything important?" The democrats, while the lesser of two evils certainly, seem no more likely to confront important issues. After all, our current front-running presidential candidate spent large amounts of her time in the senate dealing with video game violence. wtf?

In addition, it's much more gratifying working on actual issues than holding mock debates with the college repubs and wearing candidatie t-shirts.

I can certainly understand the frustration.

[johnfunk]

6. it's all about the media INTENTIONALLY ignoring/distorting Dems' message

I'm surprised that the College Dems have not made the connection between the Democrats' "elevator speech" and what we hear in the media.

THAT is the big problem.

Example: the media narrative that "Democrats are divided" or "Democrats are feuding." Huh? It's the GOP that is divided: they're split on the social agenda (stem cells, gay marriage) and small government GOPers are at the throat of big-spender Neocons.

[Zorra]

7. Bingo. n/t