Obama, Courting Youth Vote, Returns to Orangeburg

[MadBadger]

http://www.thetandd.com/articles/2008/01/21/news/12922921.txt


Sen. Barack Obama is returning to Orangeburg Tuesday as he continues to court the youth vote in advance of the Jan. 26 Democratic primary.

Obama will make a campaign stop at South Carolina State University with Grammy Award-winning musician Usher and actress Kerry Washington, who has starred in films such as "Ray" and "The Fantastic Four."

The event is designed to get students excited and out to vote next Saturday, said Obama volunteer Diandra Hilliard. She handed out literature at Saturday's "Black Youth Vote" event at the university.

Hilliard, a junior at SCSU, said, "We're trying to get the word out to youth voters because I think S.C. State and Claflin will have a big impact on the primary."

Students weren't having a big impact on the Republican primary Saturday. Poll managers waited at SCSU's Fine Arts Center for voters who didn't come, with no voters showing up by about 1 p.m. The poll serves students at SCSU and Claflin University as well as people who live in the surrounding area.

Students instead showed up at Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium for the "Black Youth Vote" event, where young voters surrounded the Obama table while the staffer at former Sen. John Edwards' table was left with little to do.

While the organizers weren't endorsing any candidates, many of the students who attended said they're supporting Obama.

Claflin junior Brian Colclough said Obama's his first choice, because "I believe he stands for change." He especially likes Obama's emphasis on early childhood education and health care reform.

Also, "I don't believe the country wants another Clinton in office," he said.

Voorhees junior Marcello Virgil Jr. said he also likes Obama's support for education, including historically black colleges and universities and private institutions.

"I believe he can make an effective change," Virgil said.

Casiana Shepard, an SCSU freshman, said she and her friends agree they're voting for Obama.

When asked why, she said, "I don't know yet, but I know I'm voting for him."

Then, after a little consideration, she said, "He would be the first black male president. It's different. It's a change."

Claflin junior Antoine Marshall says between now and Saturday, he'll be working Obama's phone banks, encouraging people to vote and offering rides to the polls.

Students are often ignored by politicians, Marshall said. "He's trying to tell us youth matter."

[loveangelc]

1. Usher? i wanna go.

[FrenchieCat]

5. LOL....

me too.

[MadBadger]

6. Sadly Edwards seems to have cornered my music tastes :-(

Though Bruce has not endorsed!

[NJObamaWoman]

2. Thats kind of nice to hear. That YOUTH matters.

As a 24 year old black woman its nice to hear how excited everyone is. I remember a few years ago I didn't vote. My family took me to task for that saying that our people fought long and hard to get that right. I understood but I also told them that I never felt any of the politicians really cared about my vote or me and my future. I have friends who felt the same way and they didn't vote either. Since Barack Obama started his campaign I've become more informed about the issues. I finally see someone who is interested in YOUTH and our future. I've recently volunteered for his campaign in NJ. Now I'm encouraging other young people, especially blacks to get more involved. This will be my first primary so I'm excited for Feb 5th. No matter if Obama wins or not I thank him for being a positive politician who encourages young people (especially blacks) to get out there and vote.

[MadBadger]

3. If you dont mind me asking, where in Jersey are you from?

[NJObamaWoman]

4. check your PM

[murielm99]

7. Youth have always mattered to the Democrats.

I was not able to vote until I was 21. The twenty-sixth amendment came too late for me. As a boomer, and a child of activist Democrats, I was one of the people who supported it.

I was a college student then, getting ready to graduate. I had little time to work on getting it passed. Most of my political time was spent trying to end the Vietnam War.

I have to tell you, that amendment scared the crap out of Nixon. He hated us kids. I think repukes STILL hate the youth vote. They are mostly old, white men. Look at their conventions. Nearly everyone there is old, white and male. If there is a woman, or an African American in the crowd, the MSM cameras zoom in on them to give a false sense of diversity. It makes me laugh every time I see it.

I live in Illinois. When Obama ran for the Senate, I was doing quite a bit of table in my county for all the Democrats who were running. It was encouraging to see all the young people who came to my table for Obama literature, buttons and bumper stickers. We could not keep enough of his material on hand. The African American youth were more excited than I have ever seen them.

The more people we can get into the process, the better. When turnout is high, Democrats win.

I do not necessarily support Obama. My primary is Feb. 5th, and I am still thinking. Of course, if he is the nominee, I will be working hard for him.

No matter how things turn out, please stay involved. I have been doing this, to the degree I have been able, since I was old enough to understand what politics are. Like many other Democrats, there have been times I was so disgusted and discouraged that I wanted to quit. I can't. You can't , either.

My youngest is 24, the same age as you!

[NJObamaWoman]

8. Not from where I come from.

They are mostly old, white men. Look at their conventions. Nearly everyone there is old, white and male. If there is a woman, or an African American in the crowd, the MSM cameras zoom in on them to give a false sense of diversity. It makes me laugh every time I see it.

This right here is how I've always viewed both parties. While the Democrats had more minorities I've never really seen a minority run for president with tons of support. Yes I know Jesse Jackson and others have tried. But with Obama there seems to be more support from alot of people. I mean what shocked the hell out of me was going into Obama's NJ HQ's and seeing white people there. I had to do a double take and say to myself "am I in the right place? white people are supporting Obama?". That is one of the reasons why Iowa was so important because in a way it gave me hope that Americans can just look at the issues and NOT as his race. Iowa opened the door and allowed me to examine the issues and see if Obama was worth my support.


While I respect you and your views I've grown up with the belief that politics and our government is run by old white men. If there are a few minorities good but they will never rise above anything. They will never be president. I will NEVER see someone my skin tone in the oval office. So leave all the politics to others because I don't matter. Many of my friends felt the same way.



I know people may want to jump on me because of race. Thats not why I support Obama. His race inspired me as a black person to believe in politics and to understand how important politics is in my life. Laws affect my future. This is the first time that I've truly understood that.