New Infrastructure at Work: Growing The Vast Left Wing Conspiracy
In light of all the criticism on this site, I wanted to post something that looked at solutions. Or more specifically, at a relatively new piece of infrastructure that seems to be working.
Exhibit A that money is being invested in programs that are expanding progressive capacity is Represent - Penn State's non-partisan voter registration/GOTV organization. Now, I know what many are probably thinking - non-partisan = not effective. But this groups seems to be non-partisan the way that the Center for American Progress is non-partisan.
The group was founded through the Young People For Fellowship program, a majority of its leadership is progressive or legitimately non-partisan, and the Penn State College Republicans refuse to participate in the program.
An examination of their programming shows some solid goals, creative tactics, and even more progressive ties.
Represent will also be hosting a variety of events throughout the fall that is meant to increase student awareness of the upcoming election.
"We are looking to do a 'rock the vote' charity event where a bunch of different bands will play," Cross said.
Represent will also be hosting the Pennsylvania Political Hip-Hop Convention in October that will be open to all Penn State students, Cross said.
. . .
Represent also works closely with the United States Student Association and the Pittsburgh League of Young Voters.
So you have a program funded by Young People For, giving money to College Democrats at Penn State, being used to do culturally-based GOTV work on campus, and coordinate with PA subsidiaries of the National Hip Hop Political Convention and the League of Young Voters.
There's a long way to go, and we'll have to see how successfully they GOTV, as well as what emerges from their coordination. One thing I'd like to see is a Campus Progress publication spring up at Penn State. But this is what the beginning of the young VLWC looks like.
2008 Youth Vote in Context
The following charts and graphs are meant to contextualize the unique role that young voters played in the 2008 election, and their increasingly important role in a winning electoral coalition:
2008 Youth Electoral Map

2004 Youth Electoral Map

Youth Vote Partisan Advantage: 2000 - 2008

Youth Vote Historical Support: 1976 - 2008

Breaking News
Political Wire:
Obama and Romney Deadlocked On EconomyA new a ...Political Wire:
Romney Way Ahead in Texas, OklahomaA a href="http://www.texastribune.org/texas-politics/2012-elections/uttt-poll-runoff-prospects-loom-us-senate-races/"Texas Tribune poll/a finds Mitt Romney crushing President Obama in the Lone Star ...Political Wire:
Obama Defends Attacks on Romney's Business ExperiencePresident Obama said that attacks on Mitt Romney's experience at Bain Capital were fair game and that Romney's years heading the private equity firm were "worthy of serious debate," the a ...The Caucus:
Republican Officials End Relationship With Adviser Tied to Ad ProposalRebecca Donatelli was listed as a member of what was called Your Recommended Team of Pirates in a proposal for an ad campaign aimed at blocking President Obama's re-election.The Plum Line:
Jonathan Bernstein: Happy Hour RoundupSo the Senate did vote on Ninth Circuit nominee Paul Watford and confirmed him by a count of 61-34. That leaves just two vacancies on the Ninth Circuit. Just two? That’s two too many. And lots of ...
Featured Video
Recent Blog Posts
-
We've seen that members of the Millennial generation tend to fall on the left side of the political spectrum, but there are of course exceptions. A good indicator that you may be one of those ...by: Kevin Bondelli | 0 comments
-
This post was originally published for the 2010 election cycle. I thought it would be valuable for campaigns in 2012 who may have missed it. INTRODUCTION TO PEER-TO-PEER Peer-to-peer campaigning is ...by: Kevin Bondelli | 0 comments
-
The College Republican National Committee, Young Republican National Federation, American Crossroads, and the Republican State Leadership Committee have launched an independent expenditure superPAC, ...by: Kevin Bondelli | 0 comments
-
Romney and the GOP have made some motions indicating they want to make a play for the youth vote, but today's block of the Democratic bill to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling is ...by: Kevin Bondelli | 0 comments
-
The Young Democrats of America have announced the dates and location of their 2012 Summer National Conference. It will be held in Philadelphia, PA at the Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel from June 29 to ...by: Kevin Bondelli | 0 comments
Blogroll
- Ablogistan
- Apophenia
- Bad Subjects
- Burnt Orange Report
- Campus Progress
- Campus Vote
- College Democrats
- Culture Blog
- The Daily Background
- The Daily Taylor
- Ezra Klein
- Everyday Citizen
- For Which It Stands
- Generation Next
- Got Democracy
- It’s Getting Hot in Here
- Kevin Bondelli
- Kid Oakland
- Kossacks Under 35
- Left in the West
- Liberal College Kid
- The Low Post
- Matt Ortega
- Michigan Liberal
- Michigan Youth Political Alliance
- Millennials Changing America
- Open Left
- Penn Progress
- Planting Liberally
- Policy Farm Team
- Political Teen Tidbits
- Prose Before Hos
- Pullman Progressive
- Pushback Network
- The Raw Story
- Rethinking Youth
- Rock the Vote
- Scoop 44
- Tapped
- Think Youth
- Young Democrats
- Young MO Politico
- Young People For
- Young Philly Politics
- Young-Politics
- Youth and Politics
- YouthinkLeft
- WireTap
- Wonkette
If you have a blog written by or for young progressives, and you would like to be listed, contact Mike.
Young Progressives
- 21st Century Dems
- Black Youth Vote
- The Bus Federation
- Campus Climate Challenge
- Campus Progress
- Campus Wellstone
- Center for Progressive Leadership
- College Democrats
- DNC Youth Council
- DMI Scholars
- Forward Montana
- Future 5000
- Generation Change
- Generational Alliance
- The League
- Kossacks Under 35
- Lose the Label
- Minnesota Youth Caucus
- New Era Colorado
- Oregon Bus Project
- Progressive U
- Roosevelt Institution
- Run For Office
- Students for a New American Politics
- Swing Semester
- USSA
- Washington Bus
- Young Democrats of America
- Young Elected Officials Network
- Young People For
- Young Voter PAC
Cultural Capitalizers
- All Ages Movement Project
- Billionaires for Bush
- Drinking Liberally
- Free Culture
- Head Count
- Hip Hop Summit Action Network
- Ironweed Films
- Justice Through Music
- Laughing Liberally
- Lokahi Outreach
- National Hip Hop Political Convention
- ONE Campaign
- Progressive Book Club
- Rock the Vote
- Screening Liberally
- Vera Project
- Youth Movement Records



















