Quick Hits - September 9th: Voting Rights, and Gift Cards are a Republicans Best Friend

  • Hat tip to Tony Cani, the Political Director of the Young Democrats, for catching the most cynical youth story of the week. From the conservative Washington Times:
    Republicans can keep young voters who support Democratic nominee Barack Obama at home by giving their young relatives and friends gift cards to iTunes and Starbucks that are good only on Nov. 4, election day.

    “That’s the only way to keep them away from the polls,” said Kellyanne Conway, president of The Polling Company, during a breakfast with the delegates at their hotel near the University of Minnesota.

    Tony has the appropriate response.

  • That last gem comes courtesy of a speaker addressing the Virginia delegation at the Republican National Convention. But I don't think the Virginia GOP needs any help suppressing the youth vote, they're already doing a bang-up job of that, according to this New York Times article. A local registrar near Virginia Tech is improperly and inaccurately threatening students with the loss of financial aid if they register to vote in the state.
  • Meanwhile, in another swing state, the Ohio Secretary of State is actually doing her job and is taking precautions to prevent voter suppression at the polls in November.
  • Everyone should read Glenn Greenwald's post about why McCain and Palin can lie with impunity on the stump.
  • On September 18th, the Center for American Progress is hosting an event on Millennials and how they will reshape the electorate. RSVP here.
  • AEI has their own event on Millennials as well. Let's say that their take is not so optimistic. Details and RSVP here.
  • The WE Campaign, 1 Sky and Green for All are teaming up for a day of action to promote Green Jobs Now. So far there are 232 events scheduled for September 27th.
  • YP4 is offering an online course (Free!) on how to fight the Religious Right. The course begins Sept. 15th.
  • YP4 is also recruiting a new class of Fellows. Find out more here.
  • The New York Times has an interesting piece on the state of the money-race, including an interesting bit about Obama donors collecting checks that will go to the state parties in Battlegrounds.