‘Ask Not What You Can Do For Barack Obama, Ask What Barack Obama Can Do For You’
Dear Young Americans:
I won't tell you how special you are because you've heard it before. For the past nine months, the mainstream media have showered you with adulation. Before the Iowa caucuses, Barack Obama's campaign said you'd be his secret weapon, showing up for him like you'd never shown up for a presidential candidate before. Reporters didn't believe it; they'd seen that MTV special before, heard about the hidden youth vote and knew it never panned out.
But you proved them wrong; you did pan out. You surprised the media, and the media like nothing more than a surprise. Since then it's been a nonstop lovefest—your reputation is secure as the most idealistic and engaged group of young people since the '60s, an optimistic lot who believe that Obama really is different from all the rest. You've made his rallies into cultural events, his candidacy into a movement. You've done what no one thought was possible: you've made politics seem cool again.
So I don't have to tell you how special you are—which is good, because I don't think you're particularly special. Then again, I'm one of you, so I wouldn't. Born in 1981, I am part of a generation that is accustomed to being coddled and cheered and championed, even when we haven't done much at all. It started in the cradle when our baby-boomer parents gazed into our innocent faces and saw perfect, wondrous reflections of their perfect, wondrous selves. It continued as soccer coaches and ballet teachers turned into SAT tutors and career counselors—people whose job was to make sure the world understood just how wonderful we were. The Internet sealed our fate. Our parents and grandparents, enthralled and a little terrified by the transformative power of technology, watched as we neatly picked up our lives and moved them into HTML. We learned to expect applause for simply showing up.
And really, if we're honest, that's all you've done this year—show up. You voted (umm … you're supposed to vote). You didn't get hung up on a candidate's race (umm … you're not supposed to care about race). Your one lasting gift to political posterity this year: the text message. Greatest Generation, watch your back.
All this would be fine with me—who doesn't like praise?—if it weren't for the sneaking suspicion that for all your earnestness and self-congratulation, you haven't done enough. True, Obama may well win the White House about a month from now. If he does, after African-Americans, people our age will deserve the largest share of credit for putting him there. But despite all the enthusiasm for Obama, you, his young supporters, have done little to ensure he'll be the kind of transformative leader you long for. Your biggest failure: you've hardly asked Obama for a thing.
No doubt, this failure makes you look virtuous—you are above the politics of personal interest. But no generation of young people, except maybe the radicalized '60s youth, has ever organized as an interest group. The problem is, on his long road to the White House, Obama has met plenty of groups who do want something from him. He has encountered senior citizens who worry about what he'll do to their Social Security checks, union members who worry he'll trade away their jobs and small businessmen who worry he'll tax them into oblivion. These people are not as enamored of him as you are and have made it clear that he has to work for their vote. He's taken their challenge, making promises to each of these old interest groups that, in the White House, he'll look out for them.
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Member Comments
Posted By: irism @ 10/20/2008 9:36:03 AM
Comment: I agree that we need to be a player in global trade, but to our benefit, not detriment. What about the trade deficit, the fact that other countries own our buildings, industires, and God knows what else.....What about American jobs?
I don't think it's just about what Obama can do for that generation.....Just because they're there, doesn't mean they're owed anything but oppurtunity......
What would McCain "do for them?"
I think we're all needed to address the complexity of our problems, but I agree that we "the older generation" should not be irresponsible with our materialism.....let's stop importing all that crap that Walmart sells.
Posted By: haynessemperfi @ 10/18/2008 2:04:24 AM
Comment: PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE TO BE HELD SUNDAY AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
The Free and Equal Elections Coalition (FREE) and the Columbia Political Union are pleased to announce that a Presidential debate will be held this coming Sunday, October 19th, 2008, on the campus of Columbia University.
ALL SIX of the Presidential candidates who appear on enough state ballots to acquire the 270 Electoral Votes needed to become President are invited. They are as follows (listed in alphabetical order by affiliation):
Constitution Party Candidate: Chuck Baldwin
Democratic Party Candidate: Barack Obama
Green Party Candidate: Cynthia McKinney
Independent Candidate: Ralph Nader
Libertarian Party Candidate: Bob Barr
Republican Party Can John McCain
The Columbia Political Union will present the debate from 8:00pm to 10:00pm in the Altschul Auditorium, located at 417 International Affairs Building. The debate will be moderated by Pacifica Radio's Amy Goodman, the host of "Democracy Now!". CSPAN will cover the debate, and live radio broadcasts are expected.
"The Columbia Political Union is committed to energizing political discourse on Columbia's campus," said Allon Brann, Columbia Political Union Publisher. "As a non-partisan organization, we work to provide students with opportunities to encounter and engage with political ideas across a wide ideological spectrum, and on a wide range of issues."
"It is with these goals in mind that we have organized this Presidential Debate: to give all candidates-- either within or outside of the political "mainstream"-- the opportunity to speak directly to students about their goals on the issues they deem critical for this country."
"We have invited all eligible candidates, and it is our sincere hope that all will participate, to ensure the substance and rigor of the dialogue which we believe is crucial at this time."
Certified letters officially inviting each candidate have been sent to the respective campaigns.
The Free and Equal Elections Coalition and the Columbia Political Union await the response from the candidates. All candidates' supporters are encouraged to contact the Presidential campaigns and urge them to attend.
The Columbia Political Union seeks to enhance involvement in the political process, domestic and international, and draw every member of the campus community into an ongoing discussion of political ideas.
FREE is a coalition of political parties, independent citizens and civic organizations formed to promote free and equal elections in the United States.
http://www.freeandequal.org/events.php?id=7
FREEDOM ISN'T FREE
Posted By: wendydk @ 10/11/2008 12:26:36 PM
Comment: John McCain is a good man, who got carried away by ambition, bad people and bad decisions. I think his conscience is bothering him now, and makes him more appealing, and more the man I know him to be.
Sarah Palin may be smart, but she's not who you think she is. Sarah Palin is a traitor to America and to her party.
Palins un-American activities
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/10/07/palins_unamerican/index.html
Alaskan Independence Party chairwoman Lynette Clark talks about why she does not identify herself as an American, and about her kindred spirit Sarah Palin.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/10/alaska_secession/index.html
The pastor who clashed with Palin
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/09/15/bess/index.html
Troopergate Report Concludes Palin Abused Power. Full 263 Page report here???
http://download2.legis.state.ak.us/DOWNLOAD.pdf
Palins Attack On Obamas Patriotism Legitimizes Questions About her Association With Group Founded By America-Hating Secessionist
http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/palins_attack_on_obamas_patrio.php
Palin And The Alaska Independence Party
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/09/the_alaska_independence_party.php