Why we lost---the youth and minorities didn't vote like the fundies did

[Zuni]

Our base didn't go to the polls in the numbers expected. Millions of people registered and then did not vote. College kids especially. They'll regret it when the draft comes in.
Minority turn out was lower than expected too.

We need to motivate these people and make sure they understand what is on the line.

The GOP managed to get all kinds of things out to get the fundies to vote: Gay marriage votes/stem cell stuff. at least 4 million fundies who didn't vote in 2000 came out for this one.
College kids voted in similar numbers as 2000. We need to hammer it home what is on the line at schools across the nation.

[arcos]

1. Young people were the ONLY age group were the Democrats increased their %

In 2000 they went slightly for Bush, but Kerry got a commanding lead 2 days ago. It was THE ONLY age group that Kerry actually WON.

[Zuni]

2. But not nearly enough of them voted

for all the work and effort to get them out, they pretty much did the same thing as they do every four years: nothing.

They will go to protests and buy Michael Moore films, but when it comes to actually doing something concrete, they always let us down.

[JI7]

3. the problem is the other groups

i'm 25 and voters 18-29 were the only age group to vote for Kerry more than for Bush. the rest of the age groups let US down. they care more about opposing gay marriage than about making the nation and world a better place for everyone to live in the future.

[arcos]

4. Yeah, they did "nothing"... they only prevented a Bush landslide...

NOTHING at all...

:puke:

[Tweed]

17. What the HELL did your age group do?!

How old are you and why didn't you get your age group to vote for Kerry. Sickening....

[Selatius]

5. I'm not sure the youth sat on their asses

From what I can tell, the youth vote has never been larger in decades, and they went for Kerry. The fact is voter turnout was up across the board. As a result, any gains from a higher youth turnout was balanced by higher turnout in other demographic areas. I wouldn't count them out completely, but what would help is if candidates aimed better at issues that many young voters care about (i.e. the Pell Grant program or minimum wage).

[Zuni]

13. The numbers registered and those that voted are very different

far too many of them failed to vote in an election that is largely about their future.

[fujiyama]

6. We lost a lot of ground

among seniors and hispanics. Both backed Gore by much higher margins than they backed Kerry.

[JI7]

9. in 2000, Joe Lieberman

spend most of his time campaigning among senior citizens.

[Zuni]

10. Hispanics crossed over big time.

I was shocked when I saw how many of them went Bush this time. 40%. That is the largest minority group in the GOP by far.

[ComerPerro]

7. We didn't have tax-exempt preachers invoking religious freedom

and using it to tell us to go out and vote for a certain candidate, either. But fundies did. And I want some fucking heads to roll. I want to bust the Robertsons and Fallwells of the world.

[Zuni]

12. They are better funded and organized. They started out like us years ago

in the 1960s and 1970s they were in the same boat we are now. But they organized and made money and now they can bring millions to the polls to vote as a solid GOP block.
That is why we can't give up.

[dethl]

8. I'm part of the youth (19, in college)

and I voted for Kerry. Its such a shame that my generation could have prevented the tempest to come.

I have talked to many of my classmates and such. They don't believe a draft is coming. Apparently, they don't care about the rising deficit either, which we'll have to deal with in 20 years or so.

[Zuni]

11. Exactly. Young people have the most at stake.

I tried to tell some myself but I was ignored. No one seems to care about the defecit that us 20 somethings will be paying for.

[UdoKier]

14. Young people NEVER turn out.

Every so often some candidate pops up with a core of youthful supporters expecting the youth vote to propel him to victory. It NEVER happens.

As for minorities, they turned out - but they are MINORITIES. 5% of the whites beats 20% of the blacks, 'kay?

We need white, hetero, even religious votes too.

[Nile]

15. There is not going to be a draft.

It is lies like that that made us look bad because most knew that they were nothing but lies. They were quickly labeled as typical democrat election year BS.

[sonicx]

16. you know this how?

[Kahuna]

18. Common sense tells me there will be a draft. W has more wars to

fight. We don't have enough soldiers to fight the wars we're fighting now. How will he have the soldiers to fight them unless he drafts them?

[THUNDER HANDS]

19. i think you're missing the "De"

in front of your name

[ckdexter]

20. I don't buy it.

Even if youth and minorities didn't get out the same percentage as the fundies, there's no comparison between the two. There just aren't that many fundies. Until I see some statistics showing that the right wing fundie population is high enough to explain Bush's inconceivable popular vote, I'm waiting for a better explanation. Yes, there are a lot of religious conservatives in the US, but that's not the same thing. Most religious conservatives are not the loony rabid anti-gay marriage type.

It is not inconceivable that Bush would win. But the margin he won by is absolutely incomprehensible, and I've yet to see one plausible explanation of it.