Uber-conservative Liberty University could swing Virginia to McCain (Help VA For Obama now!)

[ClarkUSA]

From CNN:

:redbox: Chancellor of Liberty University pushes to register all 10,500 eligible student voters
:bluebox: Liberty could be "the university that elected a president," chancellor says
:redbox: Classes to be canceled on Election Day, buses to shuttle students to polls

Given the close nature of the presidential race, Jerry Falwell, Jr., chancellor of Liberty University, recently launched
an ambitious effort to register all 10,500 eligible student voters at the fundamental Baptist institution in Lynchburg,
Virginia.

Falwell kicked off the voter registration drive September 22, urging students -- including those from out-of-state --
to register locally.

"Liberty students have never been permitted to register locally in the past. The recent change in election law is
giving Liberty University the chance to make history," Falwell stated in an e-mail addressed to faculty and staff.
"Liberty University's 11,000 students and 4,000 faculty and staff could cause Liberty to become known as the
university that elected a president!"

In addition to the increased availability of voter registration forms, classes will be canceled on Election
Day, and buses will be available to shuttle students to the polls.

"It's a major election -- they really want students to vote," Liberty freshman Bethany Hernandez said. "Some
teachers are giving extra credit if you register to vote."

Falwell's belief that Liberty could impact the outcome of Virginia's election may seem like wishful thinking, but
Virginia's 2006 U.S. Senate race was decided by slightly less than 10,000 votes.

Those of you who live near or in Virginia, please help Team Obama register more voters, phonebank, do neighbor-
to-neighbor contact and basically GOTV like crazy up to and including Election Day.

Check out the Virginia For Obama homepage: http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/vahome
Come to Virginia! Find out what you can do: http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/vasistercity
Write a Letter To The Editor: http://my.barackobama.com/page/speakout/vaspeakout
Find A Local Office And Begin Volunteering (give 'em a call first!): http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/vaoffices

The deadline to register to vote in Virginia is October 6th. If you need to register to vote, request an absentee ballot,
or have any other questions about voting be sure to visit VOTEFORCHANGE.COM

Read this heartwarming story about an Obama volunteer who works 80 hours a week but has still found the
time to sign up 1136 new voters since June! http://narcosphere.narconews.com/thefield/

To those who are already helping, a big thank you! :hi:

[Alter Ego]

1. Yes, because of course Falwell can force all 10,500 of them to vote

and vote the same way.

Fucking idiot.

[FloridaGrl]

3. Exactly

Once you are in that voting booth, it's you and the paper or the machine.

[ClarkUSA]

5. True, but let's not get complacent, given that VA is a toss-up battleground state

Every vote counts and that's what GOTV is about.

[AndyTiedye]

9. This is Fundie U. They Will Almost All Vote for McCain/Palin

But surely we can use this tactic also.

Can we get students at more progressive schools in Virginia to register there too?
There are a lot more of them than there are at "Liberty".

[RichGirl]

2. First...

I think McCain had their vote.

Besides that...I don't think they are all robots. There's a rebellious nature in all young people. I think many will take well to be told to register and who to vote for.

Richard Dawkins did a lecture at Liberty. Even though most students disagreed with him, they were respectful and listened. I don't think young minds are as far gone. I think there's just a tiny crack into the real world.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

4. I have a friend who went to a fundie college. She's a big ol' liberal.

She went because that's where her parents wanted her to go.

[amborin]

6. that's

anecdotal

most students at fundie colleges are fundies

[Alhena]

7. That will encourage students at sane colleges to register and vote

[ClarkUSA]

8. Team Obama is on it but most universities aren't offering shuttles, pressuring kids to vote, etc.

So we need to push back with our grassroots teamwork.