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Thursday, September 18, 2008

Trick or Vote

posted by on September 18 at 17:10 PM

I have to admit, I didn’t quite understand Trick-or-Vote when it was first explained to me by the good people from Washington Bus. Looks like it took Katie Couric a few minutes to catch on, too.

But it’s an interesting concept—essentially, turning Halloween into one giant get-out-the-vote opportunity—and it reminds me of something I’ve been thinking: Everyone says young people (like the folks at Washington Bus) are the secret, somewhat hidden weapon in Barack Obama’s election arsenal.

I think there’s another side to that coin: Young people are the ones who got the Democratic party to buy into the very idea that Barack Obama could win. He would not have won the Iowa caucuses so convincingly without that huge surge in voting by young people in the state, and if he hadn’t won the Iowa caucuses so convincingly, the Democrats might very well have had a different candidate going into the general. Someone safer. Someone, most likely, named Hillary. Whatever you feel about how events actually transpired, it’s pretty clear that young voters are on the hook for this Obama business—for better or for worse.

Yes, young voters get blamed every cycle for not turning out. But this time, if they don’t turn out, it will be a doubly-damning type of blame. They’ll be the people who convinced everyone else to join the Obama team, and then found something better to do when it really counted.

RSS icon Comments

1

Well, every young person (

Considering his numbers are only okay in Washington State, that's important.

Posted by me | September 18, 2008 5:26 PM
2

Ooops something happened there.

Every young person I know is canvassing for Obama so that's something.

Posted by me | September 18, 2008 5:28 PM
3

Wait, those whippersnappers who devoted hours to attending a caucus, (which I understand was unprecedented turnout for a primary) will then suddenly have better things to do come election day? What would cause that to happen?

I don't buy it. The kids are all right, Eli.

Posted by Seriously | September 18, 2008 5:29 PM
4

Yeah, give us a little credit, man.

Posted by Lorenzo | September 18, 2008 5:33 PM
5

Trick or Vote! It's going to be a big one folks!

If you're interested in participating, either email Kate - kate(at)washingtonbus(dot)org, or go to www.trickorvote.org and sign up online.

And fyi, it's a non-partisan canvass. We'll be targeting youth heavy precincts and making sure young folks go to the polls and make their voices heard!

Afterparty/bands info coming soon...

Posted by The Washington Bus | September 18, 2008 5:36 PM
6

That video is the shit! Lucifer is hilarious and on point, way more able to roll with the punches than Couric (and in her own game).

Trick or Vote should be massive.

I went on a Bus trip once and it was great, we had coffee and pastries in the morning, rode the actual bus up to Mt. Vernon, met with a great candidate and then canvassed for a while on his behalf. All followed by a nice late afternoon party at a ranch house with those BASSHoles camp DJs providing a dope soundtrack. Quite a satisfying Saturday.

Put your B's up, it's the BUS!


Posted by Mr. F | September 18, 2008 5:40 PM
7

yeah, I too think the youngsters will come through, but I'm still a little afraid there won't be enough kids to overcome the old racist asshole vote...

These kids showed up to fucking caucuses and primariers. No casual airhead shows up for that shit unless they are really into it.

Posted by Mike in MO | September 18, 2008 6:21 PM
8

Stay away from Democrat households, kids, they put LSD and razor blades in the apples.

Meanwhile,

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13584.html

"New polling suggests that the Republican Party is beginning to regain some of its luster and, perhaps as important, is experiencing a surge in excitement among its political base.

A new poll by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press reports that independent voters have an equally favorable opinion of both parties, 50 to 49 percent, a one-point edge for the GOP. That compares to an 18-point Democratic advantage as recently as August, a wide gap that had generally held for more than a year."

Posted by John Bailo | September 18, 2008 8:06 PM
9

@8 - got debt?

With Republicans you do!

Posted by Will in Seattle | September 18, 2008 10:06 PM
10

@8 Since when did the Republican party have "luster"?

My favorite thing about that link you posted is that right underneath the picture of McCain is an ad - 'I "Hate" my Yellow Teeth - The Secrets Dentists don’t want you to know about Teeth Whitening.'

Luster indeed.

Posted by votef*cker | September 18, 2008 10:41 PM

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