The Greene Room

One of a Million

Hillary is one in a million. I am proud to be one of a million Texas women supporting her. Check out the video, join in, and help Hillary make history.

This One's for Ann

Remember when Ann Richards held up the t-shirt that read, A Woman's Place is in the Dome? This video made me tear up. Props to Courtney Spence, CEO, Students of the World for putting this piece together and answering the question, "What would Ann do?"

Campaigning for Clinton

Former Rock the Vote President Jehmu Greene Endorses Hillary Clinton

Austin, TX – Former Rock the Vote President and Austinite Jehmu Greene announced her endorsement of Hillary Clinton for President today.

"I have met young people all over the country who are following in Senator Clinton's footsteps, speaking out against injustice at home and abroad, courageously fighting for what they believe in not because it's popular, but because it is right," Greene said. "And they are raising their voices against the noise, to ask the hard questions and vote for Senator Clinton because their hearts and minds tell them that she is the right choice."

"Jehmu Greene has broken barriers while encouraging our youth to be active in the community and I am proud to have her support," Hillary Clinton said. "The youth in our country are hungry for change and I look forward to having her support and guidance in spreading our message."

Jehmu Greene was the first African American president of Rock the Vote. She will serve as a youth outreach adviser for the campaign and will be a member of the Hillblazers Steering Committee.

Under Greene's leadership, Rock the Vote's membership grew from 1,500 to 1 million and registered over 1.4 million new voters. Greene has an extensive background in public service and issue advocacy and is a leading expert on voting, activism and pop culture.

Hillary Speaks for Me

After 14 years working to organize young voters at the national, state, and local levels, I have never been more proud of the energy, enthusiasm, and turnout that young people are contributing to the 2008 elections. It proves that when a candidate appeals to young voters and gives them something to believe in, they will come out to vote and live up to their potential as citizens. As the former President of Rock the Vote, the unprecedented explosion in youth participation during this election cycle is the fruition of a long held dream for the political empowerment of our nations' young people. I applaud Senator Obama and his campaign team for their incredible grassroots organization and the insight to incorporate and target the youth vote and make it an integral part of their campaign strategy.

After careful consideration, it has become abundantly clear that there is only one logical choice for me to support for the Democratic nomination. I believe that Senator Clinton is the best candidate for president and I believe that she is best equipped to erase the egregious mistakes of the past eight years and get our country back on track. Senator Clinton has never wavered from a fight against enemies of progressive ideals and I believe she is the candidate who will mount the best fight for and win on the issues most important to me, especially universal healthcare.

As the daughter of immigrants who came to this country with nothing but their hopes and dreams, I have never been more proud to be an American and a Democrat than I am now. The Democratic Party will make history this election cycle. This election is an affirmation of our country's greatest ideals and the realization of the long held dreams of important and historically under-represented segments of our citizenry. This election is also a historic opportunity for America to recommit itself to the ideals that our founding fathers set out for us and return the governance of the country back to "we the people" to whom it rightly belongs.

I have long been inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's dream of a day when people would be judged by the content of their characters instead of the color of their skin, and I feel confident that Senator Clinton has proved the content of her character over the course of her three decades in the fight for social justice and progressive values.

I have met young people all over the country who are following in Senator Clinton's footsteps, speaking out against injustice at home and abroad, courageously fighting for what they believe in not because it's popular, but because it is right. They are raising their voices against the noise, to ask the hard questions and vote for Senator Clinton because their hearts and minds tell them that she is the right choice.

Hillary Speaks for Me because I know where she stands on the issues that are important to the most vulnerable communities. Hillary Speaks for Me because she has never taken a break from fighting in the trenches for those with the least resources and the smallest political voice. Hillary Speaks for me because I trust that she will deliver on her promises. Hillary Speaks for Me because I know she is the best candidate to marshal in the must needed change that progressives are yearning for and our country desperately needs.

Yellow Rose of Texas

Tejas is Spanish for "friend" or "ally". In the 17th century the Spanish referred to the land that later became the 28th state as "the great kingdom of Tejas." The name lived on to become - Texas. While folks focused on Senator Obama's sweep of the Potomac Primaries last night, Senator Clinton was in a Lone Star State of mind and rallied with thousands of her friends and allies in El Paso, TX. While growing up in Austin, I was taught Texas history before American history. So I could not be more stoked that Texas voters are going to play a pivotal role in determining the Democratic nominee. On Fox & Friends this morning, I talked about how Senator Clinton is counting on Texas to pull it out for her.

I'm not an environmentalist

Years ago I served on the Advisory Board of the Center for Environmental Citizenship. At the beginning of one of their strategy sessions, the moderator asked everyone to talk about what they were doing when the Exxon Valdez accident happened. If I remember correctly, he likened the moment to when JFK was assassinated. One by one the folks at the table recalled where they were, what they were doing and how big an impact it had on them. When it was my turn I asked, "when did it happen?" I'm not an environmentalist, but I sure do like what David Wilheim has to say in this video. It's the economy, stupid.

Plaxico Burress is a Cry Baby

After the Giants won the Super Bowl last night, my victory dance was extra special. After scoring the winning touchdown for the Giants, Plaxico Burress' victory interview ended in tears. We live in a country where it's alright for 6ft 5in man made up of 232 pounds of muscle and pure athleticism to cry like a baby after winning the Super Bowl, but god-forbid Senator Clinton show any bit of emotion on the eve of taking a big step towards becoming President. On Your World with Neil Cavuto today, I intended to mention Plaxico's breakdown but I was so annoyed at Christine O'Donnell that I just yelled instead. I don't usually get so emotional on-air. Considering Christine's willingness to be a pin-up girl for chauvinism, I'm surprised she didn't ask me if it was my time of the month.

Elbow Room?

There is a growing divide between young black leaders and the old guard. How come people don't retire anymore? When I get old, I'm ditching it all for some lakefront property and Jack & diet.

In a tacit endorsement of Obama, Jamal Simmons writes at theroot.com:

More often than not, it seems, African American leaders are playing "Keep Away" with the next generation...the savvy members of the Civil Rights generation should spend more time looking for opportunities to support the next generation of leaders and start planning an orderly transition

Back in '06, I did a speech at the DNC African American Leadership Summit that caused quite a ruckus when I questioned why all the old fogies had left the room once the youngins took the stage.

We gotta be about grabbing the reigns of leadership, as Jamal goes on to say:

the Obama campaign has added a lot of new people who are voting, volunteering and learning how to raise the money without the full support of the black political establishment. Soon, these Obama supporters may be ready to put their new knowledge to use, and rather than wait for the torch to be passed they may just snatch it away

Yep.

Grandma Got Run Over By the Youth Vote

In the Iowa caucus, young voter turnout tied with senior citizens. Yesterday in New Hampshire, people under the age of 30 surpassed voters 65 and up. After doubling their turnout in New Hampshire, young voters are in the pole position heading into the next primary battles.  A whooping 37% of people under 30 voted in the New Hampshire primary, compared to 18% in 2004. After losing the youth vote 5 to 1 in Iowa, Sen. Clinton pledged to do a better job reaching out to young people. She asked the young people in New Hampshire to vote with "your heart and your mind,"  and that helped her shave some much needed votes away from Sen. Obama, particularly with single women. Sen. Clinton even won with 25-29 year olds - reversing a 57% - 15% Obama win with the same age group in Iowa. Young voters are finally being courted by the leading Democratic candidates. Will speeches about saving social security be replaced on the stump with calls to end predatory student lending? While we have to wait to see the full impact the rise of young voters will have on the election and ultimately legislation, the Democratic Party should be thanking their lucky stars. Young people are coming out in droves for them while Republicans are only getting a trickling of support. 61% of young voters in New Hampshire went for the big D, while only 39% were down with GOP. The young and restless are this cycle's Nascar Dads. Democrats captured the hearts and minds of this generation in 2004 and again in 2006. If a Clinton/Obama or Obama/Clinton ticket keeps them loyal to Democrats for the 3rd election in a row, it's "three strikes, and you're out" for Republicans.

Listen to me discuss how young voters are learning they matter on NPR's News and Notes yesterday.

 

Barack the Vote on NPR

Barack won the youth vote by a landslide. The young voter turnout was historic. To all the naysayers, "it's not a fluke!" Young voter turnout increased significantly in 2004, again in 2006, and now in 2008.

Just the facts:

Obama won 57% of the 17-29 year old vote
65,230 Iowans under 30 caucused
Young people tripled their turnout in Iowa
22% of the Democratic caucus participants were young voters

Listen to me discuss Obama's landslide victory with young voters on NPR's Day to Day.

For more information on the historic turnout of young people, check out civicyouth.org