At the Netroots Nation Conference in Minneapolis, CURE’s Judy Lubin joined Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD) and other panelists on the Doin’ it Again — Getting 2008 First-time Voters Out in 2012 panel discussion on Saturday, June 18th. The discussion focused on offline and online strategies for engaging, energizing and winning back 2008 first-time voters, with an emphasis on youth and African American voters.
Joblessness in the black community combined with the oft-heard sentiment that the president has “dissed” his most loyal base has been the subject of heated public discussion, most notably the Cornel West/Al Sharpton debate on MSNBC back in April. But rather than focus on this issue, the Do It Again panel (video below) at last week’s Netroots Nation conference centered on grassroots strategies for re-engaging blacks and other first-time voters for the 2012 presidential election.
During the discussion, Lubin noted several trends that suggest black voters are likely to provide strong support for the president in 2012, despite high unemployment and criticism of Obama’s lack of a “black agenda”.
Despite the depressing joblessness rate and disappointment (expressed by some) in the Obama administration’s lack of targeted policy solutions to address their concerns, blacks overwhelming approve of the president’s job performance. Additionally, blacks, more so than whites, believe that a brighter future is ahead both for themselves and future generations. For many, the president is the embodiment of those hopes and dreams. This was true in 2008 and will likely be the same in 2012.
This does not discount the almost certain reality that getting disaffected voters back to the polls will be a challenge. The “enthusiasm gap” may very well cause an erosion of support among the president’s key constituencies. This will also likely play out with fewer small dollar donations.
But just in case anyone wants to inaccurately suggest that blacks remain loyal to President Obama because of his skin color, polling data suggest progressives and liberals on a whole still strongly support the president. Media reports on the Netroots conference focused on the tension between progressives and the White House, but as these Gallup numbers show, support among the president’s liberal base remains at about 90%, which is virtually unchanged since his inauguration.
The panel was moderated by LegalSpeaks blogger Debbie Hines and included Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD), Politic365.com Editor Kristal High, technology and politics blogger Jeneba Ghatt and progressive organizer Scott Roberts.
Netroots Nation is the largest annual gathering of progressive activists and bloggers.
PSC President Judy Lubin attended a White House health reform meeting on Wednesday, August 26th. Led by administration officials, the meeting focused on how to engage young adults in the current health reform debate.
An August 2009 CNN/Opinion Research Poll found that young people are more likely to support President Obama’s health insurance reform plan. However, as the poll results indicate, those that oppose the plan are more likely to attend a town hall to voice their opposition.
During the meeting, Lubin advised administration officials to consider reframing the discussion, especially for young adults, by making more of an emotional appeal and emphasizing the moral imperative inherent in denying millions of Americans access to health care solely based on their inability to pay. Young people have a strong desire for equality and social change. The same ideals of change, hope and opportunity that resonated with young adults during Obama’s campaign should be used to rally them around health insurance reform, Lubin said.
One in three young adults is uninsured. While primarily framed as an issue of concern for older Americans, health insurance reform will help lower costs, provider greater choice and improve quality and affordability for both young and older Americans.
For many young adults, the cost of health insurance is simply too expensive. Young adults are often between jobs, in school, or hold part-time or temporary jobs that do not provide health care coverage. Under the White House’s plan, children and young adults would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26. This would allow young adults to remain on their parents’ health insurance policy until they are more established in their careers and more likely to receive coverage as an employment benefit.