Smashin' the Vote

Apolitical niche organizations are reaching out to energize their bases.

(Updated @ 4:30pm)

You may remember the ill-fated “Vote or Die” campaign made famous four years ago by P. Diddy, 50 Cent, Mya and other MTV rock stars. It was part of Citizen Change, an organization that sought to empower those in the 18-30 age range to vote in the 2004 presidential election. The non-partisan organization says on its website that it wanted to make voting “hot, sexy and relevant to a generation that hasn't reached full participation in the political process.”

Now rising to take Vote or Die’s place on the pedestal of “Bizarre Ways to Create Voter Turnout” is Smackdown Your Vote! The call to “get off the couch and get in the booth” may make voting hot, but we’re not sure about sexy.

Smackdown is a project by World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., and is making a run at those elusive under-30 voters that did their duty to avoid dying four years ago. It’s not at all clear as to why the WWE started its wrestling-themed voter outreach during the 2000 election cycle, but with 5 million viewers tuning into Monday Night Raw each week, wrestling fans could throw the election to the mat.

Wrestlers aren’t the only niche group being reached out to. The Poker Players Alliance, which tracks legislation related to gambling and works to support their belief that "poker is not a crime," is forming PokerPAC, a political action committee backed by more than 1 million members. Their website encourages voter registration, saying that those who don't vote "simply aren't part of the equation of political power."

On a completely different note, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Advocacy Alliance is encouraging citizens to “vote for the cure” and make sure the next president sees a petition outlining steps needed to help cure breast cancer.

Your fellow citizens offer food for thought, part III

The ire of the public is up again!

Last week, Obama said in a Pennsylvania speech: "...you go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. And they feel through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not."

"And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

Read the full speech HERE (bottom of page)
Hear the speech HERE

Today, the Washington Post reported that McCain (as expected) disparaged Obama's remarks, saying "These are the people that produced a generation that made the world safe for democracy. These are the people that have fundamental cultural, spiritual, and other values that in my view have very little to do with their economic condition." 

The Depression, McCain said, did not destroy "their confidence that America and their own lives could be made better. Nor did they turn to their religious faith and cultural traditions out of resentment and a feeling of powerlessness to affect the course of government or pursue prosperity."

The Post blogs are already full of comments. Here is a sample of the range of remarks left by Post readers (chosen for no partisan reason other than I am biased toward thoughtfulness as equally as I am biased toward idiocy):

I seem to remember in history class learning that a lot of people threw themselves from windows when the Great depression hit. I guess since he married a beer heiress he doesn't have to think about that. Posted by: The Oracle
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So the guy with how many houses and a second wife that is how rich tells us Obama is "elitist." Obama's comments were in reference to all the emotional polling issues that Republican bring up each election because they have nothing else to stand on. Anti-gay marriage ammendments, for example, allow a person to cling to their religion as one issue they can vote about instead of facing all the real issues affecting the country. Posted by: BaselBob
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Note to all: while those with money may be the elite, the term "elitism" refers to an attitude of superiority, regardless of income. In other remarks, though less openly, Obama's elitism has shown itself. That *this* is his year, and we shouldn't look for him to run again, is an elitist sentiment. His entire posture when delivering a speech--gesturing and speaking out across the heads of the audience--reveals an elitist attitude. Posted by: Allen Hoey
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Why not just get down on your knees and beg for the votes? Oh, the Fine Hunting Tradition! The Glory of the Depression! Where did most of the residents hardest hit by the Dust Bowl go? California. That's a big reason why California is so 'Liberal'- It's made up of people who had their livelihoods taken away by nature, their houses taken away by banks, and their dignity taken away by 'farmers' in California. Posted by: McCainIsOld
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An elite, unqualified, gutless, hypocrite like Obama -- who would have voted "present" on the Iraq war resolution if he could have (like his hundreds of gutless Illinois legislature votes) -- shows what he is really made of when he lies about not being present during Rev. Wright's tirades (and then has to change that lie), and now is trying to get out of what he said and meant about people who "cling" to religion. Posted by: Sal
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I find it interesting that McCain and Clinton are both shocked... shocked! that anyone would dare insinuate that all is not well amongst the populace. Obama has not been a politician long enough to learn that most feel it necessary to sugar-coat and butt-kiss the voter at all times. Posted by: steve boyington
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In an honest conversation about what Obama said, i would have to agree that it smacks of a bit of elitism. I think it is a misstep for him, and I could see it being a bit problematic. If all he did was say that many blue collar voters were bitter, I think he should have stopped there. When he pulled in Religion and guns (erie) I thought uhoh...

NEWS FLASH: Politicians are elitist!
REACTION: shrug...

Posted by: sodumb

Seventeen Against One

Falling in line, a slate of Iraq vets hit the ballots as Republicans

Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reported that seventeen Iraq War veterans are running for the House, all as Republicans and all pledging to support John McCain. What the article didn’t mention is that they aren’t the first to try. If any of the 17 is successful, they will join Patrick J. Murphy, a representative from Pennsylvania’s 8th district, a self-identified Blue-Dog Democrat and the only Iraq vet currently serving in Congress.

The seventeen are all running under the guidance of Kieran Michael Lalor – a former Marine who is campaigning for the seat in New York’s 19^th – and his organization, Iraq Vets for Congress. Lalor’s opening remarks on the group’s website welcome his fellow veterans, but with a caveat:

“All veterans whose service to the United States brought them first to Iraq and now to a run for the House as pro-victory Republicans are welcome to become part of Iraq Veterans For Congress.”

What would Murphy say to that? He spent a year in Baghdad as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division. But the issues section of his own website openly states that he stood up against the troop escalation, voted to end blank-check funding for the war and introduced two resolutions in the House: the Iraq Accountability Act and the Iraq De-Escalation Act of 2007.

Corporal Lalor also writes, “We are unified in our commitment to relieve the Democrats of their command of Congress.”

Watch out, Captain Murphy. If enough of them are elected, the Republican warrior cabal might jump you, and your Bronze Star won’t protect you in halls of Congress.

This Week in Politics - Great Quotes

The two real political parties in America are the Winners and the Losers. The people don't acknowledge this. They claim membership in two imaginary parties, the Republicans and the Democrats, instead. - Kurt Vonnegut

We have come to realize that the only way the Democratic presidential campaign will end is either by bowling tournament, or the destruction of the earth. - NPR's Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me

McCain's Long Road Ahead and the Slipping GOP

A March 20 report by the Pew Research Center doesn't bode well for Sen. McCain, who is already having to shout to be heard above the ruckus of the Obama-Clinton campaigns. From the survey:

Fewer Voters Identify as Republicans

In 5,566 interviews with registered voters conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press during the first two months of 2008, 36% identify themselves as Democrats, and just 27% as Republicans. 37% claim no party affiliation.

As you can see, McCain is being met with an electorate that is increasingly turning away from the Republican party. Perhaps in response to this, part of the mission of his Service to America Tour aboard the Straight Talk Express is to "re-brand" the GOP.

If the problem is branding, I suggest a good place to start would be jettisoning the title "Grand Old Party." GOP sounds like a 19th Century gentleman's club (members only), and not something that's going to draw in the passionate crusaders of the next generation of political participants. It just reminds us that McCain is Old. He may be Grand, but so far he's not been the life of the Party.