Young Dems Talking to Candidates

Let Your Voice Be Heard!

We have seen unprecedented involvement by young voters in the Democratic Primaries all across America this year. We want to keep the momentum going by having a Voters Forum with candidates answering our questions and talking about the issues that are important to us. Too often politicians have ignored young/first-time voters and we don't always feel like we are a part of the process. What a great way to keep young people involved in the process by having the candidates talk directly to us.

The Young Voters Forum will focus on the Democratic Primary Candidates in the 34th State House District (Flint) and the 51st State House District (Grand Blanc, Fenton, Linden). These are two important and competitive races for open House seats in Genesee County. The people who win the August 5th Primaries will stand in the General Election in November and we need the put forth the candidates who will best advocate for higher education, job training, affordable health care, and all of the other issues that are important to our demographic.

It will be held at UM-Flint in the Michigan Rooms on Wed. 7/30 from 6-8pm. The Event is being co-sponsored by the Genesee County Young Democrats and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Please invite your friends and family and come out and hear from and talk to the candidates.

-Kyle M.

GCYD Takes a Stand on the MI Primary

This letter has been submitted to organizations and media outlets such as the DNC, Flint Journal, and Washington Post:

The Genesee County Young Democrats (GCYD) disapproves of the Democratic National Committee's (DNC) decision to sanction Michigan for setting the primary date before Iowa or New Hampshire. Iowa and New Hampshire have dominated the Party's nomination process for too long. Whoever wins the first few primary states tend to find themselves receiving the Party's nomination. This antique of party politics has narrowed the type of candidates to those who are more conducive to small states like Iowa and New Hampshire. Small states are not a microcosm of America and our candidates emerge from the primary ill-suited to compete in the general election as a result. Until this past approach is corrected, states like Michigan should have every right to refuse compliance with the DNC's primary process.

Michigan is a key battleground state in the 2008 elections. In 2000 and 2004, candidates focused on winning votes in our state because of the tight competition between Democrats and Republicans for the hearts and minds of the public. The DNC will lose Michigan by rejecting our primary results and refusing to come to Michigan to campaign. As a result, our presidential candidate will be unable to compete in the general election. Additionally, Michigan is a large state in a region which seems to have been forgotten by the DNC. Michigan has one of the worst economies in the nation because of the transition from an industrial economy to service-based. People in Michigan are the ones who are hurting in order to maintain the economic prosperity of the rest of the nation. It is about time that the DNC think about states like Michigan.