From Shanghai, China: "1st time I have ever seen a US president's image on a T-shirt here"

By GottaLaff

What a great piece this is. Every so often I relive that heady feeling I got on the night of November 4, 2008. This is one of those times:

[A]dmiration for Obama remains strong, particularly among young people in China. This is great news for Obama. As the long-term future of US-China relations is dependent ultimately on the youth of China, they are the audience he should pay special attention to. If he can maintain popularity among them, his influence in China has high potential. [...]

Many – including my own students – seem to hold Obama, not merely in admiration, but even in a kind of awe: From them I have heard the mantras of "Change" and "Yes We Can" repeated on more than one occasion. More than any other recent US president, Obama is seen by many young Chinese not merely as the chief executive of one powerful overseas trading partner, but as a world leader of special importance, and one from whom much is expected. [...]

In the past 18 years of traveling and living here, I have watched four presidents come and go from the White House, but this is the first time I have ever seen a US president's image on a T-shirt here. [...]

Even older and less idealistic Chinese will tell you that Obama is "better than [George W.] Bush." [...]

A face-to-face event with Chinese young people, like his talk with Egyptian students at Cairo University in June, could also go a long way toward cementing hearts and minds among those who hold the future of US-China relations in their hands. [...]

Come November, I hope to see many Chinese young people wearing T-shirts like the one I recently saw for sale outside Yu Garden.

Ready for the money line? Wait for it... (Click on big red button after reading)

Perhaps I'll even see Zhou the Plumber wearing one.

TeddyCare Watch-- Healthcare reform's biggest fans: young adults

By GottaLaff

We need to get this demographic off their collective asses. Time to get pro-active, TeddyCarers:

Adults 18 to 29 are the group most supportive of President Obama's plan to overhaul healthcare, according to a recent poll by SurveyUSA. They are also the age group that most supports creating a government-run health insurance option.

Young people account for 30% of the uninsured population, according to a report by the Commonwealth Fund, a health policy research foundation. They are least likely to be offered health insurance through employment benefits -- just 53% of working young adults are eligible for employer-based coverage. And since their incomes tend to be low, buying coverage on their own is usually too expensive.

So what's stopping them? One guess:

But the age group that heavily favored Obama in the election last fall has been silent and, some say, put off as it watches the healthcare debate.

Members of Congress and activist groups are urging young people to tune in. Last week, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) held a joint news conference with people who represent youth organizations, including Rock the Vote, a grass-roots group that has mobilized millions of young voters.

"The hyper-partisan spectacles of the town hall meetings, which got so much media attention, are just not an attractive venue for young people," said Thomas Bates, a Rock the Vote spokesman.

Problem: Hostility and negativity are effective. Solution: Outnumber them, out-vocalize them, and outsmart them.

9,000,000

By GottaLaff

No, that number isn't the amount of hits we've received here at TPC... not yet anyway. It's all about the voters:

Ben Smith: "Turnout guru Michael McDonald has an early look at the 2008 turnout numbers, and finds that 9 million more people voted in 2008 than in 2004. He finds that black, Hispanic, and youth turnout were up notably, and that white turnout lagged."

I love this on so many levels. And oh, this just in: Guess who the party of the future is...

It's going to take an awful lot of disenfranchisement to counter this trend.

The Obama Generation

Hahahahaha!! You know, after hearing the cablers double down on "punch drunk" bullshit, it's refreshing to remember not everyone is so plugged into the crap. Obviously, not the younger generation. Via Taegan-

A new Democracy Corps poll shows the Republican Party is "growing more and more irrelevant to America's young people. In marked contrast, young people's support for the President has expanded beyond the 66 percent support they gave him last November."

"Republicans struggle among young people for a very specific reason. At a time when young people are paying close attention to politics and when so many are struggling economically, even more so than older generations, the Republicans simply do not speak to the reality of their lives or to the issues important to them. This perception stands in marked contrast to their reaction to Barack Obama."

Obama adds 'Youth Ball' to festivities

What is with this man and his "inclusion" fetish? I mean really, first letting any DFH with an internets spy on an inaugural ball and now they're letting in the snot nosed kids? Well. I. Never. /villager

WASHINGTON—President-elect Barack Obama is adding a "Youth Ball" to the parties planned to celebrate his Jan. 20 inauguration.

The Presidential Inaugural Committee said Tuesday the ball for people aged 18 to 35 would celebrate "the role young Americans can play to serve their communities." Tickets will be available for a reduced price of $75. Most inaugural ball tickets are $150.

MTV to host inaugural ball in Washington for Obama

Wow, is MTV even relevant any more? Nice that the kids want to party for the Prez though.

NEW YORK---- MTV is throwing an inaugural ball for President-elect Barack Obama.

The network announced Tuesday that it will host the ''Be the Change Inaugural Ball'' at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington on Jan. 20. The event will be televised live across MTV's many channels and platforms, including MTV and MTV.com.

The Viacom Inc.-owned network said the event will feature leading artists, celebrities and government officials. To celebrate the large youth voter turnout in the election, hundreds of young people will be chosen to attend based on their demonstrated volunteerism.

Students Rename School for Obama

Note that one word, students. Makes me verklempt. Go read the whole thing since I can't use it all.

A New York elementary school has been re-named in honor of President-elect Barack Obama. Ludlum Elementary School in Long Island's Hempstead Union Free School District was re-named at a board meeting Thursday, at the request of numerous school students.

"Just to watch these kids after the board voted on what they asked them to do, they were so elated," school district superintendent Dr. Joseph Laria told ABC News. "You want to talk about "Yes we can!"? That was a lesson in democracy."

Effective immediately, Ludlum will now be known as Barack Obama Elementary School, following a decision by the board to adopt the resolution drafted by students and staff.

Youthiness

By GottaLaff

(Via)

"Obama's margin of victory in the 18-29 demographic was astronomical "

By GottaLaff

The Who - My Generation (Marquee Club 1967)

Good news for Democrats, and props to young voters!

In his latest blog, NBC's Luke Russert breaks down the youth vote from Tuesday's election and finds good news for the Democratic Party.

"In swing states, the youth turnout greatly helped Barack Obama beat John McCain," he writes. "Latino youth went for Obama 76%-19%, showing that Democrats have firmly entrenched themselves with the nation's fastest-growing voting bloc. And Obama's margin of victory in the 18-29 demographic was astronomical (66%-32%), and suggests that the Millennial generation is convinced by the policies and direction of the Democratic Party."

Read more at Luke's blog over at NBC's iCue.com.

Once again, the younger demographic gets it. This is why I love working with teens.

This is also why I will never mentally evolve beyond age 25. Okay, 30. Okay, 16.

Virginia registers 5,021,933

By GottaLaff

If Obama can get the youth vote out, it truly will be a landslide:

Virginia now has more than five million registered voters, a new record, as the deadline for registration for the fall election closed on Oct. 6th, according to the Virginia State Board of Elections.

The total number of registered voters in Virginia is now 5,021,933.

Since January, Virginia, a swing state this cycle, has experienced a net gain of 436,000 new voters, including what they call an "onslaught" of new voters in the last week of registration.

Nearly 40 percent of the newly registered voters across the state are under the age of 25. Trends show that, regardless of age, females represent the majority of new registered voters.

Females like Obama. I should know.

Among the biggest gainers were cities:
-- Williamsburg: Nearly 20% increase
-- Richmond: More than a 17% increase
-- Arlington County: More than a 14% increase
-- Hampton city: 15.4% increase
-- Charlottesville: 14.6% increase
-- Fairfax County: 9% increase, but that means 61,000 new voters
-- Fairfax City: 7%

Now let's hope we can keep voter suppression to a minimum.

VIDEO: The youth vote is in, and it says Obama will win

By GottaLaff

This is why I love working with kids. They have a perspective that is sometimes a little crazy, sometimes hard to fathom, but nearly always direct, honest, and refreshing:

In a poll of a quarter of a million students who are too young to vote, Democratic nominee Barack Obama sailed to victory with 57 percent of the vote while Republican nominee John McCain received 39 percent.

It may be easy to dismiss the poll — orchestrated every four years by Scholastic, a children’s publishing and media company — as mere child’s play. But here’s the uncanny thing about this educational exercise: Since 1940, student voters have accurately chosen all but two presidents.

More details on how the poll works here.

H/t: I don't remember, but thank you!

Comedy Central to run funny Obama ad

By GottaLaff


Comedy Central has chosen the above ad by MoveOn.Org to run for a week:

For the first time, Comedy Central’s “Daily Show” with Jon Stewart and “The Colbert Report” will be broadcasting a political advertisement, one promoting Senator Barack Obama.

Tony Fox, a spokesman for Comedy Central, said he did not know why the cable channel had not accepted political advocacy advertising before, but said of the decision to do so now: “Political advertising in an election year is good business.”

He also said that this particular spot, produced by members of MoveOn.org Political Action, the liberal action group, was humorous and would be a good fit with Comedy Central’s young, politically sophisticated audience. It is entitled “It Could Happen to You” and features Rider Strong, the former star of “Boy Meets World,” and Amber Benson of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”

MoveOn will spend $150,000 to run it for one week on Comedy Central and MTV, which had not accepted political advertising for more than a decade but reversed that policy a month ago. [...]

MoveOn said its commercial was “in part” a response to an anti-Obama commercial that ran last week on MTV by Let Freedom Ring, a conservative advocacy group. It said it also wants to try to increase turnout among young voters.

“It Could Happen to You” was selected by members of MoveOn.org in a contest for 30-second pro-Obama videos and was voted the funniest. The title refers to the possibility that voters could catch Mr. Obama’s message of hope, making fun of “hope” as if it were a contagious disease.

The spot is to run both nationally and on local cable in Washington, D.C., where political journalists are likely to see it and promote it for free.

Humor is always a great vehicle for communication and for creating a bond. I know that to be true, because I teach comedy. Making people laugh also makes people listen. If I can get talkative hormonal teens with permanently affixed iPods and cell phones to listen, MoveOn should be able to reach a few young voters with a funny 30 second ad. Funny works.

Obama predicts huge increase in black voters in Republican Southern states

By GottaLaff

GObama!

[A]n Associated Press analysis of U.S. Census and voting data from the past four presidential elections shows a potentially dramatic impact should Obama fulfill his pledge to elevate black participation by 30 percent.

That would add nearly 1.8 million votes in 11 Southern states, the analysis shows, enough to tip the balance in several that have been Republican strongholds.

Besides the likely increase in black turnout, the Illinois senator also expects a surge of young voters to help him compete in states that have been reliably red since the once solidly Democratic South flipped to the Republicans in 1964.

Fingers, toes, legs, arms, eyes all crossed.

"I can tell you that North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama will be in play," asserts North Carolina Democratic Rep. G.K. Butterfield, an Obama adviser. "We're looking strongly at Tennessee and Mississippi."

Obama:

"I guarantee you African-American turnout, if I'm the nominee, goes up 30 percent around the country, minimum," he said. "Young people's percentage of the vote goes up 25-30 percent. So we're in a position to put states in play that haven't been in play since LBJ."

Yeah, yeah, but does the math back up your analysis?

The math backs up his analysis - if he can deliver the turnout he promises.

Tom Schaller, a University of Maryland political science professor:

"I'll believe a 30 percent increase in the black vote when I see it," Schaller said. "If Obama does it, he will have proved to doubters like me that his organizing skills in Chicago coupled with his vision and charisma are truly transformative. It'll be a thumping on Nov. 4."

Obama's advisers admit they have a distance to go.

Then here's hopes that they go the distance.