which (if any) candidates can best communicate with the young?

[pstokely]

MTV didn't heavily promote rock the vote or choose or lose in 2000

[caledesi]

1. Howard Dean...no BS, answers questions w/o speaking "politicalese"

[JVS]

2. Dubya

He speaks at a 4th grade level, they should get along just fine :-)

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[tjdee]

3. Dean, Edwards....maybe Sharpton and Clark.

The others have work to do.

As I've said around here numerous times, I know quite a few young kids and am myself in my mid-late twenties.

Dean and Edwards are the only ones that even register with them. Sometimes Sharpton, if I'm talking to inner city kids (but they don't think he can win).

[chimpymustgo]

12. Edwards hands down.

And he's got a great program to allow everyone to go to college.

[Syn_Dem]

5. I think Dean

He seems to have the inner fire and a "fighters attitude"....at least thats what hooked me.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

6. Kucinich who has Wellstones spirit all over him!

all the young dems in Woodstock NY and Ulster County are for KUCINICH!!!!!

[JohnKleeb]

8. only young dem here in Northern Va for him

But the good news is I think I am gonna get one of my best buddies for him. He's mostly apolitical but we do share a hatred of Bush. I like Kucinich the best for many reasons: issues I know, but I also love his work ethic its simple yet very likable and respectable, and he's so right he sounds like one of us at times.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

7. Kucinich, what are the issues that the young are talking about?

How many of those young people were out in the streets protesting the WTO and the IMF? Class issues resonate with the young - especially the ones that vote.

[AntiLempa]

9. Kucinich

I'm a 22 years old and I vote.

Most of my friends support Kucinich. In fact, they can't belive that he is actually a politician (or a Democrat). He speaks about the issues that resonate with us.

With that being said, they are skepitcal to the abortion flip flop.

Kerry is bland and doesn't seen to reach out. Dean is all over the place. Lieberman is Lieberman. Sharpton has no credibility, but he says the right things! Gephardt, although he has a good labor record, is a hawk. What does Edwards stand for again?

[AntiLempa]

10. Response to an earlier post

An earlier thread asked the question why do old people vote while the youth don't (paraphrase). Here was my response:

I'm 22, an activist, and I vote.
The reason that people my age don't vote is because we are ignored. When I talk politics with "older folks" I am labeled an idealistic radical.

How radical is wanting to breathe in 40 years? How radical is wanting to be able to find a job in 4 years? How radical is wanting to eat? How radical is wanting health care? How radical is wanting to be treated like a normal person and not an idealistic radical?

The youth are involved, but we are ignored. I work with student environmental groups throughout the state of Illinois, and they are making things happen. Two campuses have recenlty convinced the administration to use clean energy. Another group is working to serve Fair Trade Coffee exclusively on campus. And these movements aren't limited to Illinois. Unfortuantely our so called leaders IGNORE us and the issues that are important to us. Clinton signed NAFTA (an atrocity for so many reasons). Daschle thought it would be a grand idea to pass last years energy bill. Lieberman and Gephardt think that imperialism is a great idea.

Do I have to mention how despicable the Republicans are?

We are also ignored by the candidates. When the elections come around, the Democrats and Republicans routinely ignore my college (and it is a state school). The Greens were there, the Libertarians were there, but the Democrats and Republicans were nowhere to be found. When I tried to volunteer for the Democrats, I was told that they would contact me. . .I am still waiting and that was two years ago.

"Shut up, stay in your place, and when you get old and wise you can participate" seems to be the message.

If you want the youth vote, let them know. Why do you think that the Green Party Rallies attracted so many young people? It's not because we worship Nader like a god or because we are stupid and were duped. The Greens speak to issues that are important to us. Social Security and Medicare are important issues, but so are the environment, imperialism, economic policies that turn us into slaves, and so many other issues that make us radicals.

So believe that young people don't vote because we are stupid or that we only care about drinking. That attitude will contnue to drive us away from electoral politics.

[smallprint]

13. i'm a 28 yr old in illinois and i agree

"How radical is wanting to breathe in 40 years? How radical is wanting to be able to find a job in 4 years? How radical is wanting to eat? How radical is wanting health care? How radical is wanting to be treated like a normal person and not an idealistic radical?"

amen to that... and i might add, how radical is not wanting to be locked up for years for having the wrong skin color?

answer that one, democrats, and you will have young people FLOCKING to your party

[AntiLempa]

16. the drug war

It's much more important to support the drug war ::sigh::

I'm with you on that one, as a matter of fact, I am ashamed that I left it out!

[jagguy]

11. edwards

.

[AntiLempa]

17. Edwards?

What does he stand for?

[revcarol]

14. Kucinich "speaks" to the young people AND LISTENS to the young

people.
He's into music with a lot of beat, likes rap, is concerned about college and technical school so much that he wants to have included in free public education,

wants them to have a FUTURE, a future with a good job, support programs for families,no massive national debt because of bloated military expenditures until hell freezes over,

appeals to environmental activists of all ages...

AND HE LISTENS, intently, wholeheartedly, and THEY ARE IMPORTANT NOW, NOT LATER WHEN THEY'RE RICH AND IMPORTANT.

200 kids4Kucinich in Santa Fe County alone..(outdated info from July 2)

[poskonig]

15. Ralph Nader

He did pretty well with the 20s demographic in 2000.

[FightinNewDem]

18. Rock the Vote 2004

MTV is partnering up with the NH Young Democrats and Jam! Magazine (a local music publication) to host a series of three voter registration concerts in August and September.

The concerts, featuring local rock, funk and rockabilly acts, will be held in Henniker (New England College), Durham (UNH) and Keene (Keene State).

So far, it looks like the Lieberman, Edwards and Dean campaigns are participating, with the others hopefully getting on board soon.

If you are in the New England area, and want to attend, volunteer or contribute, please let me know, and I will put you in touch with the organizers.