Don't Believe the Hype: Houston/Harris County We Have a Problem

Today the New York Times ran a story regarding the "Obama Youth Vote” and

their impact (or lack thereof) on the 2010 Midterm Elections.(NYT Article) Essentially,

Times writer Megan Thee-Brenan points out that they are NOT going to come

back out. Most pundits would argue this would be a no-brainer since it is

a midterm election and this tends to be the voting pattern of young voters.





The political establishment ought not be so quick to dismiss these voters

as being forever lost because President Obama is not on the ballot.

Political parties on both sides of the aisle will spend money, particularly

here in Harris County, to capture what is known as the youth vote. These

under funded efforts will consist of fancy receptions, happy hours, and

mixers at local Houston establishments with the hopes of bringing these

voters out to the poll.



Those of us most involved with the process know these type of outreach

methods have limited reach and ultimately don't help to increase the

turnout of this targeted demographic. The Democratic Party doesn't have to

forfeit these election-changing votes, but it's going to take a change in

approach if we really want these folks to have an impact.



Let's face it, you're talking about folks that voted in their first

election in 2008. The Obama Campaign did something that had never been

done before, by using popular culture, a powerful message, and targeted

branding, this country elected the first African American POTUS.



That same momentum can be duplicated in states and counties all around this

country to assist traditional campaign methods. These voters simply can't

be phone banked, mailed or door canvassed. Modern technology combined with

new messengers can create a democratic victory.



For the sake of transparency, many of you know that I, along with some very

dedicated young professionals conceived the Houston Hip Hopolitic Coalition

and the Say Something Campaign, with the purpose of registering and

mobilizing these Obama young voters, using the nontraditional medium of hip

hop culture. Although many in both the hip hop and political communities

have expressed their support this effort has been completely moved by a

group of grassroots supporters with limited resources.



While there will be millions of dollars spent on traditional campaign

methods to reach voters, there will be very few dollars invested in using

new media such as text messaging, email blasts, and online organizing

marketed through popular culture to achieve victory. Let's face

it...that's what brought about sweeping democratic victories in 2008.



There should have been many lessons learned after the 2008 election cycle.

As a loyal supporter of President Obama I supported him because I believed

he would bring about the change that our country so desperately needed.

Unfortunately, a large number of folks that voted for him couldn't give you

three of his policy positions during the election. They could however

recite the words to the popular ballad penned by Will.I.Am entitled, "Yes

We Can."



Don't believe the hype. These voters are still on the voter rolls and

ready to be engaged. We just have to reach them where they are, as opposed

to where we are. Until then Houston/Harris County we have a problem. Why

transcend our own science only to revert back to where we started?