The Pace

YD Celebreties are Home for the Holidays!

Hailey Snow — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:50:19 +0000

Holiday Celebration

By Chris Huntemann / Journal Staff Writer

http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/512903.html

RANSON - A local celebrity helped usher in the holiday season in the city of Ranson on Saturday night.

Rod Snyder, a Shenandoah Junction native and semi-finalist on Season 4 of the reality show “American Idol,” was the special guest emcee for the city’s fourth annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony.

The ceremony took place next to the town circle off South Mildred Street.

Snyder serenaded the crowd with several Christmas songs and said that even though he has been lucky to perform all over the United States and the world, he loves coming back to the area where he grew up to take part in events like the ceremony.

“The people here mean the most to me and I love doing these things,” Snyder said.

The ceremony also featured an appearance by Santa Claus, who helped to light up the town circle and posed for photos with local children in front of Ranson City Hall.

Horse carriage rides were also available during the event, which served as the kickoff to the city’s holiday activities, including its Christmas parade set for Dec. 6.

Saturday night’s ceremony also featured musical performances by singing groups from Blue Ridge and Ranson elementary schools as well as Washington High School in Charles Town.

Ranson resident Wendy Payne, who attended the holiday event with her two daughters, said the ceremony helped her get into the Christmas spirit.

“It makes you feel like a kid again and it’s good to have a place to go to celebrate,” Payne said.

Michelle German, who stopped by the event with her husband and two sons, said her oldest son always gets excited by the lighting of the town Christmas tree.

“We drive past it on our way to preschool every morning and he always sees them working on the tree,” said German, a Ranson resident. She noted that decorating is her favorite part of the Christmas holiday.

Cheryl Mills, executive director of the Ranson Convention & Visitors Bureau, said she hopes the ceremony and other events give people a reason to come to Ranson for the holiday season.

“It really offers a sense of community and a sense of place,” Mills said.

Ranson resident Cindy Frye, who went to the ceremony with her granddaughter, said the holiday season often makes people happier.

“People lighten up and tend to want to do more for others,” she said.

Young Dems Want Coal Industry to Prosper

Hailey Snow — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:58:23 +0000

Rod Snyder: Young Dems want coal industry to prosper

December 02, 2008 @ 07:55 PM

The Herald-Dispatch

Over the past several weeks, Chris Hamilton, senior vice president of the West Virginia Coal Association, has submitted guest columns to various newspapers across the state insinuating that the West Virginia Young Democrats represent the voice of the “extreme left” trying to “force an anti-coal agenda upon us.” Nothing could be further from the truth.

Let me be clear. The West Virginia Young Democrats, as well as the entire state Democratic Party, are supportive of the coal industry and the thousands of mine workers who are the economic engine of this state.

WVYD has active members in the heart of coal country whose families have proudly mined these mountains for generations. Throughout the recent presidential election, we applauded Barack Obama each time he renewed his commitment to clean-coal technology as part of his solution for eliminating our country’s dependence on foreign energy sources within the next decade.

But let me also state emphatically that no group in West Virginia has more at stake in the decisions about our natural resources than our youngest citizens. It is the youngest generation who will have to live with the consequences of today’s policies, for better or for worse, for many years to come.

It is undeniable that coal is facing mounting social, economic and political pressures at the national level. Our collective response to these pressures will determine the long-term viability of the industry, as well as the economic stability of our state. The “greening” of our domestic energy supply should not be considered a threat to coal companies and workers. Rather, it should serve as an opportunity for this time-tested industry to adapt to the priorities of a new century.

With an eye toward the future and an effort to include all points of view in determining the direction of our party, WVYD established an environmental caucus last year along with several other constituency caucuses such as labor and veterans. The goal was to encourage open discussion about some of the most important issues of our day.

It is well known that WVYD passed a resolution in April calling for a moratorium on new mountaintop removal mining permits in West Virginia. We concluded that when all costs are considered, mountaintop removal mining is by no means the most efficient method of extracting coal. Mountaintop removal has generated fewer jobs than traditional mining practices, severely disrupted the landscape of our state and the health of our communities and created a dark blemish on West Virginia’s reputation.

It is worth noting that there is certainly an ongoing debate within WVYD on this controversial subject. However, members on both sides of the issue have established a common understanding that coal will continue to be a vital component of our nation’s energy supply while also recognizing that West Virginia can and should be on the forefront of building a clean energy economy. This includes the creation of thousands of “green jobs” that will enable a new generation of West Virginians to raise their families in our state.

Most of all, I am encouraged that our youth are lending their voices to this conversation. A strong and sustainable coal industry is critically important to the entire state, not just those counties with extraction jobs, and the Young Democrats will not shy away from these difficult issues for the sake of political expediency.

And despite the allegations of some industry groups, I maintain that the state Democratic Party is truly a big-tent party where diverse ideas can flourish and where the best interest of West Virginia is at heart.

Rod Snyder is president of West Virginia Young Democrats. He is a resident of Shenandoah Junction, W.Va.

Hey! Havent We Been Saying This All Along?

Hailey Snow — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:28:10 +0000

So we’re finally getting some much deserved credit for swinging this election, and people are starting to look long term.

“Five years ago, I created our ‘30 Something’ working group, which consists of members of Congress under the age of 40 who have talked about issues that relate to young people through new media, on television through CSPAN, MTV, BET and other networks as well as in person on college campuses and at young professional organizations,” Speaker Pelosi, a Democrat from California, said in an e-mail message.

So the major political parties are pursuing starkly different goals in their youth outreach. Democratic leaders see their newfound dominance of the federal government as an opportunity to deliver the agenda they have promised, while the Republicans are stuck playing the catch-up game.

“We will continue to pass legislation that will help young people by making college more affordable, health care more accessible, helping stop global climate change and responsibly ending the war in Iraq,” Speaker Pelosi said in the e-mail message.

But Democrats’ control of both elected branches also means they are held more accountable for the nation’s destiny. The stakes are high: Democrats’ success in carrying out their promises could result in an insurmountable long-term advantage among young voters. But a failure to do so would raise doubts among the youth about whether they can actually trust their government.

check out the rest of the article here.

Some great stories

Alexandra Acker, Executive Director — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:53:42 +0000

Here are a few great national media stories about the youth vote:

Steven Stein at The Washington Post sums up how many of us are feeling.

MSNBC has a terrific story about youth turnout. Luke Russert’s blog post and video are great too.

The New York Times sums up Obama’s winning coalition.

And ABC News does as well.

We Did It!

Alexandra Acker, Executive Director — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:12:38 +0000

Wow. Winning sure feels terrific.

From coast to coast, young people were the margin of victory for Democrats. In four key states — CO, FL, OH and VA — MSNBC said the youth vote put Obama over the top, all states where YDA had active Young Voter Revolution campaigns.

According to exit polls, young voters supported Obama by a whopping 34 points, 66-32. Voters ages 18-29 made up a larger share of the electorate than seniors over the age of 65.

Attention nay-sayers: We told you so.

For years, YDA has been building a generation of young Democrats who will be with us for a lifetime. Our Young Voter Revolution campaigns contacted over 150,000 young voters in eight states through peer to peer contact, targeting young people at their homes and hangouts. We knew this was the best way to get out the youth vote and our tactics were proven right once again. Thousands of Young Dems all across the country worked to get their peers to the polls.

Thank you. Thank you for the thousands of hours you put in going door to door, doing the hard ground work that is so often overlooked. Thank you for the thousands of phone calls, emails, text messages, and Facebook messages you sent to your friends. And thank you for believing young voters could have a revolutionary impact this election cycle.

Now the real work begins. But before it does, take a moment to enjoy this historic election. You earned it.

“I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to – it belongs to you…It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation’s apathy..” — President-Elect Obama

Young Voter Revolution Overthrows Conventional Wisdom

Alexandra Acker, Executive Director — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 06:40:29 +0000

Young Democrats of America Swing Races Across Country

Washington, DC – The Young Democrats of America’s Young Voter Revolution campaigns helped swing elections all over the country, contacting a record 150,000 young voters in eight key states. Thousands of Young Dems mobilized their peers all over the country. Over 1,300 paid canvassers, street teams, and volunteers worked to get out the youth vote for Democrats up and down the ballot.

“We saw a true revolution tonight, as young voters turned out in for President-Elect Obama by an astonishing 38 points and created a seismic shift in our electorate,” said David Hardt, President of the Young Democrats of America. “This is a historic night for Young Democrats, the Democratic Party, and our country.”

On and before Election Day, the Young Democrats mobilized young voters across the country through emails, text messages, and Facebook messages, as well as our peer to peer canvasses and phone banks in targeted states. After receiving numerous reports of deceptive practices aimed at students, YDA responded swiftly to get accurate information out to impacted voters.

YDA’s Young Voter Revolution campaigns target young people at their homes and hangouts by using both door to door canvasses and street teams, focusing on in-person, peer to peer contact. YDA targets young people under the age of 36 in areas where the youth population can swing key elections. Young Voter Revolution campaigns also employ new media, particularly SMS text messaging and interactions on social networking websites like Facebook. Our Young Voter Revolution campaigns targeted young voters and members in all 50 states but focused on Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Utah, and Virginia.

“There is no doubt that the Millennial generation established themselves as a political force tonight,” said Alexandra Acker, Executive Director of YDA. “Across the country, we saw unprecedented enthusiasm among young voters, from Virginia to Ohio to Colorado to California. Young people were the margin of victory for Democrats up and down the ballot, all across the country.”

There are 44 million young voters eligible to vote in 2008, 22% of all voters. Final turnout estimates will be available in the coming days.

Go to www.youngvoterrevolution.com to read blog posts from organizers, check out photos from events, and review resources like our campaign toolkit, Election Protection guide, and online vote pledge.

YDA Congratulates President-Elect Obama

Alexandra Acker, Executive Director — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 06:14:58 +0000

Washington, DC – On behalf of our 250,000 members and the millions of young voters who cast a vote in this election, the Young Democrats of America congratulate our President-Elect, Barack Obama, on his historic win.

“I proudly congratulate our next President, Barack Obama. Young voters were inspired by his candidacy and he embodies the change young Americans crave,” said David Hardt, President of the Young Democrats of America.

“Senator Obama prioritized young voters and they responded, proving what we’ve been saying for years – when you target young people, they come out to vote,” said Alexandra Acker, Executive Director of the Young Democrats of America.

Young voters supported President-Elect Obama by an astonishing 68-30% margin, higher than even the most optimistic polls in recent weeks. Final turnout numbers will be available in the coming days.

YDA Email on Youth Vote Suppression

Tony Cani, National Political Director — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:27:19 +0000

I just sent this email out to our national membership list.

Dear Young Democrat,

We are getting reports, from multiple states, of a recent influx of fraudulent emails, fliers, and text messages incorrectly telling students that voting has been delayed or polling places are moved for students.

Obviously these assertions are FALSE and an obvious attempt by supporters of Republican candidates afraid of the impact you are having on this election.

No voting has been delayed, all remaining voting will take place today, and you can find your polling place at www.govote.org. If you or your friends encounter any problems voting, call 866-OUR-VOTE for assistance.

If you have received any of these emails or texts do not delete them. Please forward them to chapter@yda.org immediately. If you are unable to forward text messages from your phone, please take a photo of the text on your phone and email the photo to us.

Do not allow these cheap, dirty, and irresponsible voter suppression tactics to succeed. Forward this email on to all your friends so they know the truth, post the blog post we wrote on this topic on your facebook wall, and do whatever you can to spread the word.

Sincerely,

Tony Cani
National Political Director
Young Democrats of America
tcani@yda.org

Voter Suppression Emails, Texts to Young Voters

Tony Cani, National Political Director — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:11:57 +0000

We are getting reports from multiple states that false emails and text messages, arguing that voting is delayed or otherwise moved until tomorrow due to long lines, are being send to young voters around the country.

These statements, obviously, are false.

Mike from FutureMajority has the story and a copy of one of the emails:

A George Mason University student forwards over a pair of emails that went out to the student body of the Virginia school:
First:

—–Original Message—–
From: ANNOUNCE04-L on behalf of Office of the Provost
Sent: Tue 11/4/2008 1:16 AM
To: ANNOUNCE04-L@mail04.gmu.edu
Subject: Election Day Update

To the Mason Community:

Please note that election day has been moved to November 5th. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Peter N. Stearns
Provost

And then:

—–Original Message—–
From: Office of the Provost on behalf of Office of the Provost
Sent: Tue 11/4/2008 8:08 AM
To: PROVOSTOFFICE-L@mail04.gmu.edu
Subject: Urgent Voting Information

Dear Colleagues,

It has come to my attention early this morning that a message was hacked into the system fraudulently stating that election day has been moved. I am sure everybody realizes this is a hoax, it is also a serious offense and we are looking into it. Please be reminded that election day is today, November 4th.

Peter N. Stearns
Provost

We will report more as we learn it.

Voters are voting!

Alexandra Acker, Executive Director — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:59:06 +0000

I am always like a little kid on Christmas morning every election day. Voters are voting! Polls are open! Just nine hours until the first polls close! Horserace! Polls! Electoral college maps!

The process IS kind of mind-blowing, when you stop to think about it — Americans all over the country go to pre-determined locations (some ahead of the pre-determined date or by mail) and vote to peacefully transfer power from one leader to the next. WOW.

A few things we’re hearing:
– Long lines in lots of places (we’re getting video from our Virginia Beach office). Hang in there! It is worth it!
– The media has written John McCain off. Even stalwart Republicans. Remember 2000 and 2004; it ain’t over ’til it’s over.
– Surprisingly, the media seems to have accepted the youth turnout story line. On the segment I did for CNN this morning, the question wasn’t only will they turn out, but by what margin for Obama?

UPDATE: Folks are worried about Prop 8, the anti-gay marriage ballot initiative, actually passing! If you have friends or family in CA, please remind them to VOTE NO ON PROP 8!

UPDATE 2: Lori Poole, our FL ED, has reported that there is some confusion with student IDs and whether they count as proper identification. If you encounter any problems when voting, let us know, but also call 866-OUR-VOTE.