Living Liberally

Some reading material when you have time to take a break from the craziness:

• Music for Democracy has launched its "Be the Change" project:
  

  Hip-hop stars Chingy, Q and MC Lyte have joined forces with two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame singer-songwriter Graham Nash in an innovative get-out-the-vote effort that aims to mobilize young voters for election 2008 by leveraging the power of social networks. On November 4, music fans who sign up for "Be the Change" will receive an automated call from the musician of their choice to remind them to go to the polls. A selected number of voters will receive calls from the musicians themselves.

• A recap of why Election 2008 deserves the "historic" label, especially given the generational tensions.
• A commentary on why youth will show up at the polls this year.
• Attention political junkies: Google has created an elections map complete with results since 1980 for each state.
  
• Andy Kroll writes a couple (#1 and #2) posts on pushback on the Hip Hop Republicans and what they're doing to change the culture and approach the contemporary GOP has taken over the last decade or two.
• Want to watch the election results with some fellow liberals? Living Liberally lets you know where you can go.
• 35,000 Colorado mail-in votes from newly-registered voters could be nullified, thanks to confusion over the need to include an ID.
• Obama's not the only politician popular among young voters.
• A public-private partnership to fix our ever-mounting problems. A Green New Deal. Sounds pretty good, huh? Read more.
• Anna Quindlen at Newsweek has her own commentary on the potential of Millennial voters on Election Day

It's been just over two years now since I first started posting on Future Majority. In that time, we've grown from an audience of about 10 (all the old MFA staff), to ~1,100 unique visitors per day. And that's not including folks who read the site via RSS. We were credentialed to cover the Democratic National Convention, presented panels at Netroots Nation, and we've been quoted in news sources as varied as The New York Times, Washington Post, Politico, and CNN. In short, Future Majority has gained a name as one of the go-to places in the political blogosphere for information about the youth vote.

All of that is made possible by you, the readers (and occasional commenters), and friends and colleagues who email criticism, praise, and tips that keep this site running. And this is to say nothing of the incredible contributions that Kevin, Craig and Sarah make every week - without pay - to keep this site going.

As a small way of saying thank you, I want to offer you a gift.

As you may know, our friends at Living Liberally have a new project - The Liberal Card. The Liberal Card promotes Liberal Pride, Liberal Community and Liberal Discounts. The bearer gets a personalized wallet card that gets national benefits and for discounts at local establishments in a growing number of cities -- including discount theater tickets, books, movies, free drinks and more. There are national discounts as well as local ones for folks living in NYC, Austin, Des Moines, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Tampa, Boston and Chicago.

If you would like a free Liberal Card, send an email to 2008 [at] theliberalcard [dot] org and write "Future Majority Sent Me." in the subject line. The first 25 responders will get a free card, and everyone else will get a consolation prize.

I'm so humbled (and surprised) every time I get on a call or go to a conference and someone tells me that they read Future Majority. To everyone who supports this site, thank you so much.

As Michael noted yesterday, it can be frustrating just how much of our national discourse still, even after the enormous demonstrable progress in recent years, operates under the constraints of the myth of widespread civic disengagement and apathy among young voters. Like many readers of this site, I get tired hearing these kinds of myths repeated, along with the kind of concern they engender, in the whispered, just-between-you-and-me fears of older relatives.

Which makes me all the more glad to have a visceral sign of young voter interest to point to while assuaging said relatives, and that's the debate watch parties we've seen for the first Presidential debate through Drinking Liberally, which included young people (and young-at-heart people) packing bars, auditoriums and coffeeshops throughout the country, all just to watch that supposedly not-so-cool televised debate with a bunch of their peers. In New York City, no less an authority than Comedy Central described it as "insanely crowded" when we filled DCTV with 200 engaged, overwhelmingly young voters; in Salt Lake City, they teamed up with Young Democrats of Utah to fill the local tavern to the brim; and in Denver, over 150 progressive Coloradoans found their way to the Skylark Lounge. It was a great night.

Though not everyone thought it would be so - when the first Presidential debate was announced as being on a Friday night, some were skeptical. As NPR's Day To Day made clear, Friday night is widely seen as

a time often reserved for dates, sporting events, or the beginning of a weekend getaway.

Which brings up the question - why not make watching the Presidential debates feel like a night on the town?

As DL's Executive Director (and my colleague) Justin Krebs noted,

"Watching political events has become sort of like watching sporting events in New York and around the country...State of the Union nights have become regularly accompanied by drinking games, and the debates are no different."

If we can get people across the country to gather together to watch a football game together, we can get young people to gather together to celebrate retaking their country together. As we prepare for tonight's Biden-Palin debate, be it by playing Palin Bingo or agonizing over debate prep, we can all drink to that.

(I've been thinking a lot of values lately - namely, what it means to say you're in favor of "American Values." And I'm not alone - her disastrous media mystery tour notwithstanding, much of the right-wing noise machine's pro-Palin talking points in the last few weeks is predicated on her sharing "our values." And she showed her values alright, values that apparently include disparaging diplomacy and offering a talking-points explosion while feigning empathy for working people.

And then, there was the 2008 Values Voter Summit, where said voters got to express their deep values by buying "Obama Waffles" replete with a classically racist caricature of the Senator.

These are values, alright - deeply regressive, hateful, reactionary values, but values nonetheless. But just because they *have* values doesn't make them the only type of value voters. Our summer intern, Seth Pearce, just left for his first semester of college, but before doing so got to come with us to the Democratic National Convention, where he got to record a commentary for the Tavis Smiley Show on why he's a true values voter for Obama. I've inluded the entirety of Seth's wonderful piece below - just some food for thought before tonight's debate, now that it's actually happening.)

Too often, people assume that first time voter means the same thing as ignorant voter. This is just not true. Young people care about this election like never before because we know that the biggest impact of this contest will be the impact on our lives. In fact, here in Denver at the Democratic Convention, young people represent 16% of all convention participants, all of whom are here because they care about the future of our country.

Politics plays a role in almost every aspect of our lives. My friends and coworkers at Living Liberally, a national network of over 280 social communities built around progressive politics, are fond of saying that politics isn't something that should be confined to one November day every four years. Nor should it be trapped in linoleum-floored fluorescent lit rooms. It should an active part of the places we socialize, live and learn: our cafes and classrooms, comedy clubs and book clubs and even our prayer communities.

I am a first time voter and I assure you I will not cast my vote based on ignorance or empty rhetoric. I will cast my vote based on my values.

Like millions of other Americans I am a person of faith, and my faith, my core values undoubtedly inspire my political views. I aspire to serve God and love my neighbor to the best of my abilities. I view the issues through this religious and moral lens.

A core part of Judaism, my faith, is Tikkun Olam, the act of repairing the world, curbing the forces that divide us and uniting all people for common good. I want a President who has a plan to repair our Nation and our World.

I want a President who won't spend four more years uniting our enemies and dividing our friends: one who will strengthen our international alliances and use our military responsibly and effectively. Under our last President, terrorist groups around the world grew in size and reach, and extremism took hold in many more world communities. This is a major threat to our national security and our generation knows this. If we continue with these faulty foreign policies, our generation will have to deal with a whole new level of extremism and hate around the world. We need a President who will unite the world against the common threat of terrorism and violent extremism.

I want a President who will establish universal healthcare, not only because it is politically popular, but also because as Americans and as human beings it is our moral obligation to take care of each other. It is a disgrace to our Country and to our moral stature, when people suffer from preventable illnesses and lives are lost even though in our great nation the treatment they need is available.

In the same vein, it is our duty to care for the "least of these" in our community, and for this I want a President who has a plan to reduce poverty and to work towards human dignity for all. One who will create jobs and do that great American task of helping those in need help themselves.

My generation is starting to feel the beginning global warming, a crisis that threatens God's creation that we are morally bound to protect. I want a President who will fight global warming and encourage Americans in the spirit of service and patriotic duty to do their part in tackling this potential catastrophe.

Finally, I want a President who will fight for equality and recognize that all people are made in God's image. Because my conscience cannot stand it when our gay brothers and sisters, who were also created in the divine image, are told that they must remain "separate but equal."

My name is Seth Pearce. I am a first time voter. I am a values voter. I am eighteen years old, and I support Barack Obama.

Maybe you've had a sit-in. Or taken part in a teach-in. Well, now, you can join a "lie-in."

Which is probably a less absurd phrase than a "nose-in" -- even though the concept is about that absurdity level.

You see, folks have decided it's time to call the McCain-Palin ticket out on their lies. And what better way to do that than with long, rubbery noses.

They call it Pinocchio Politics. If McCain's going to have a speak-no-truth approach to campaigning, these Pinocchio Posses are going to point it out...with their noses.

Seriously, it's a weird idea; an entertaining website; and it might even become a catchy idea. A man in a chicken suit followed the first George Bush around, until the President of the United State snapped at him...giving the fowl friend far too much credibility. In 2000, "Tax Man" hounded Hillary Clinton's opponent Rick Lazio for not releasing his tax returns. And, of course, in '04, the GOP delegates waved flip-flops and wore purple band-aids to mock service to our country.

So, weirder stuff has happened. Who, ahem, nose how this will turn out?

It was Primary Day, or was supposed to be, seven years ago in New York City, when word came: first, a freak accident; then, clearly something more. By the time the 1010 WINS radio reporter sobbed "Oh my god, my god, it's gone, the tower is gone," we all knew that something new, frightening, unanticipated was happening.

We put the elections on hold, and New Yorkers sought out their loved ones, found their way home, and tuned into their televisions. Except for Lower Manhattan, it wasn't chaos on the streets. It was quiet, almost eerily so -- everyone found the people and places they loved the most and waited.

The next day, as New Yorkers emerged from their apartments, the cloud of smoke hanging above the city and a burning smell present miles from the site, we found our way to common ground, such as the vigils in Union Square. We found each other.

We had put our elections on hold, and engaged in our civic life in other ways -- checking on neighbors, lining up to give blood, sharing tears and looking at photos of missing people in the open churches our parks had become.

At the time, it was unthinkable that life would go on as normal. But 10 days later, a tearful Letterman returned to the air; sooner than that, people had returned to their offices; the subways never stopped running for long.

But our politics didn't get back to normal.

What's more fun than watching an inspirational speaker deliver soaring oratory as he historically accepts his party's nomination?

Doing so with drink in hand, of course.

So sip if he says "hope" -- really when he says it -- and enjoy the other rules below to share a celebratory toast as you drink liberally tonight.

Take a Sip when
He Says:
- hope
- change
- community organizer
- Bush
- Hillary Clinton
or when:
- he says how much he loves America
- he tells a joke that actually makes you laugh
- he implicitly/explicitly compares himself to MLK
- compliments Michelle for being accomplished

Rocking Liberally Sound of Change

I don't know about you, but in the Living Liberally offices, the main topic of conversation all day has been Obama's running mate. A pattern emerges, gradually developing into a familiar cycle: the office is relatively quiet as we all work diligently on our given projects, until someone has some new rumor they just have to share ("ObamaSebelius.com seems to be owned by the Obama campaign!" "Joe Biden says he's 'not the guy'!"). Ecstatic to have a potential new lead, we pick it apart in a fever pitch of speculation, hope when considering some of the better options and dread when contemplating some of the worst, and then try futilely to settle back into our work...and all becomes quiet again. Until someone has a new rumor to share...

Yep, waiting can drive you crazy, something that Max Bernstein knows all too well - tired of the wait-and-see approach, he created the 100,000 Strong Against Evan Bayh for VP facebook group you might have heard about. However, even this didn't slake our thirst for any and all VP information.

Thankfully, Max gave us even more material.

Yesterday, Mazhira Black -- Young People For Fellow and Living Liberally intern -- posted about starting off your school year on the left foot.

It got us thinking: it's not just the annual tradition of buying new gear, books and attire that deserves a how-to guide with a sustainable slant and lefty lean. There are dozens of events in the calendar year (holidays, Election Day) and in the human life (rites of passage) that would be well marked with a scoop of social consciousness.

So we're kicking off a Liberal Lifecycle Series...and we'd love your help. Whether it's bringing a baby into the world or wishing dearly departed farewell, we hope you'll send us suggestions for those life moments that could use a liberal lilt.

And here's the post that got us thinking this direction...(good luck back in Waco, Mazhira!):

Are you concerned that your free-thinking tyke will forget his liberal roots this fall in the classroom? Why not equip her with all of the essential back to school items that a liberal pupil needs? When you're bombarded with ads telling you what type of parent you are if you don't shop at Walmart to buy your kid the newest Hannah Montana threads or what sugary fruit drink you should pack in their lunch it can be easy to get lost in the crowd.

Bill Scher had a great post up yesterday at Blog for OurFuture about the latest offshore drilling/tire inflating madness.

On Thursday, conservative radio host Sean Hannity claimed Obama said, "All you need to do is inflate your tires. That's all you need to do. If every American would join in this effort, of inflating one's tires, then it's all going to be fine. And we can still import 70% of our oil from Saudi Arabia. Just keep those tires inflated."

Conservatives -- lovers of childish mockery over substantive ideas -- later today are apparently planning to distribute tire gauges at an Obama energy event.

However, as it turns out inflating your tires will actually save you more money in the next year than offshore drilling will save you in the next twenty. How much more? DOUBLE! Bill continues:

Where did he get that crazy idea? From George Bush's Energy Department and Environmental Protection Agency. (hat tip: Get Energy Smart! Now!)

Their joint site fueleconomy.gov is loaded with fuel-saving, money-saving tips. Keep your tires properly inflated, for example, can save you up to 12 cents a gallon.

Compare that immediate savings from that single tip, with what coastal and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge drilling combined would get you two decades from now: 6 cents a gallon.

And that's being generous, because Bush's Energy Department says we can't expect any impact on prices from coastal drilling until the year 2030.

So yes, McCain's energy plan is so ridiculously dumb that you'll save more money on gas by just inflating your tires, than you would from the core of his energy policy! And you won't even save any money more McCain's plan for another 20 years!

Ben Smith also notes that "As Republicans mock Obama for saying you can save gas by inflating your tires, the noted environmental activists at NASCAR back him up." These people know cars. They know how to make them run efficiently and they advocate the same solutions that Obama is proposing.

Add to that all of the other energy proposals Obama has put forward and you've got a pretty clear distinction on the energy issue.

But there is another aspect of this story that has largely been missed. And that is that by asking Americans to inflate their tires, Obama is giving more and more people responsibility for protecting and strengthening our Country and our planet and bringing more people into the political process.

He's asking them to take some personal responsibility, to make a small (but very important) change in their regular lives for the good of them and their fellow man.

It's amazing how big of an impact little actions like getting your car tuned up, your tires inflated or eating a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich for lunch, can have on the world. These are actions that all Americans, whether you're a millenial, a boomer or even a little kid, can do.

So kudos to Obama for offering a plan that empowers people to take action, and that will hopefully do some good for our economy, our environment, and our pockets. In short, Obama is asking America to live liberally and we like it.