The Hillary Clinton campaign held a press conference Tuesday prior to Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Clive, Iowa. The four speakers, all under 25, should make every Iowa Democrat proud. Democrats frequently discuss the desperate need for building a deeper and broader bench of future candidates. They lament the fact that they don’t have enough candidates running for school boards, city councils or local offices. Those offices serve as the farm team for the Iowa House and Senate seats and Democrats find it difficult to find young people that want to run and serve. Electing Democrats at the most basic city and county levels will guarantee a full and vibrant pipeline filled with experienced and knowledgeable talent. Eventually they will be our governors, congressional representatives, senators and possibly a future president.
Speaker Tip O’Neil’s infamous statement “all politics is local” is as relevant today as ever. These young Democrats participating in the press conference yesterday are just the tonic that a party growing older needs to rejuvenate and reinvigorate. Ideally the party would love to clone several hundred of these inspiring young folks and sprinkle them across Iowa. It was extraordinary listening to these incredible young Democrats speak with authority and passion for Hillary Clinton while warning about the threat of Donald Trump.
Josh Hughes is just 19, a college student and was elected last year to the Interstate 35 School Board. Further, he was elected as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention this summer, one of the youngest in history.
Hughes said his generation is the most progressive in history. They won’t tolerate the bigotry of Donald Trump and predicted, “millennials cannot and will not stand with Donald Trump as a candidate … Trump’s ideas and policies stand in stark contrast to our generation and Hillary Clinton’s.”
Hughes focused on the burden of student debt and how Clinton’s plans will benefit Iowa families and reminded the audience that Iowa’s core values are based on showing decency and respect for one another. Fundamental to Iowans’ shared values, he pointed to Clinton’s ability to work together to get things done. Assuring the audience, he added that he “believes millennials will stand with Hillary because she stands with them.”
Monica Reyes, a 25 year old Dreamer (undocumented children brought to America) was born in Mexico and is co-founder of Dream Iowa. Keep in mind, that for Monica Reyes and the Latino community a Trump presidency could be devastating. Trump’s loose talk about mass deportation and rescinding the protections President Obama instituted could result in life or death consequences. The fact that she can’t vote but is working to gain the right to vote for others should inspire all of us.
“I’m not a rapist or criminal,” Reyes said, adding she won’t let Donald Trump define her with his disparaging comments. “What matters to me is how I define myself as an American … All my family asks for is protection, dignity and respect.”
She described a Hillary Clinton presidency as, “Instead of building walls she wants to build bridges of opportunity.” Pointing to several incidents of racism Reyes has experienced recently, she places the blame directly on Trump. Her overall message is that millennials will reject and stand up to Donald Trump by supporting Hillary Clinton.
Austin Wadle, a 20-year-old student at Grinnell is President of College and Young Democrats. Wadle is quickly becoming a rising star among college youth.
“I’m concerned with promoting candidates whose character and priorities are in line with young people who are future leaders in America,” they said.
Wadle spoke about their concern of a Trump presidency turning back the clock for the LGBTQ community. They highlighted the contrast between Clinton and Trump on LGBTQ rights. Wadle is certain a Trump presidency would threaten marriage equality and the progress that has been made on gay rights.
Jordan Sabine at 21 is already highly respected in local Iowa Democratic politics. She is a student at Drake and has already achieved quite an accomplishment by serving as campaign manager to another young Democrat, Nate Bolton.
“I’m speaking as a millennial and a woman,” Sabine said. “This election is about breaking barriers and giving every American a chance to succeed.”
Sabine focused on how women would benefit from a Clinton presidency.
“Most importantly she is committed to making it possible for girls that dream of being president, because like them, someone was already able to do so,” she said.
Concluding, Sabine predicted a Trump presidency would roll back women’s rights and “it is unacceptable.”
by Rick Smith
Posted 9/15/16
4 Comments on "Young Millennial Activists Make Democrats Proud"
This is fantastic, but we need many more with the ability, and desire to change the things that don’t work. While being simplistic with enacting laws, and being fiscally responsible at the same time, leaving the old labels placed on democrats by conservatives, behind.
Donald Trump is not deplorable, he is not sexist, he is not racist or xenophobic. The fact that the Democratic Party can offer nothing but name calling as their campaign plan reveals who they are. The facts are obvious:
The major US cities are places where Democrats control the lives of many including the majority of African Americans. These people are living in poverty with no jobs or opportunity and living in fear because of drugs, crime and murder.
Yesterday President Obama arrogantly said I’m planning to impose a major refugee population on the nation and the next President. Without any improved vetting he is planning to authorize another 100,000 Syrian refugees. He is willing to risk the lives of Americans to terrorists embedded in the refugee population. His foreign policy failures created the very refugees he wants to being in and has caused millions of people to be ripped from their homes and relocated in Europe.
The workforce emolument rate is in the tank. The unemployment rate under reports actual unemployment. The jobs people are forced to take under employ them and are largely low skilled and part time jobs. African American unemployment is double white unemployment.
The world is aflame. North Korea just detonated a nuclear weapon. Iran is challenged our ships and aircraft in international space. They paid ransom for terrorists giving Iran billions on top of a nuclear agreement that guarantees they will develop nuclear weapons and funds terrorist by retiring $150 billion in sanctions.
Don’t see anything Democrats to cheer about so what do they do? They call people names, what a novel campaign strategy.
And all these things you mentioned Trump is going to fix in four or eight years ?
If you’ve paid attention Trump has made several policy speeches and published his plans for a Trump Presidency. Clinton is sitting on her hands and has basically endorsed continuing to follow Obama’s policy’s under which people are suffering.
Trump’s economic plan will turn around the growth in GDP and give the American people opportunity in the job market and will create prosperity.
Trumps education plan will start to give hope to those lost in the shadows under the Democrat plantation.
The immigration and security plans Trump has proposed will do a better job of protecting the American people and recover our image around the world.
You used the term “all, I did not. Trump will turn it around and move in the right direction. Today 75% of the American people believe things are moving in the wrong direction.
You think Clinton can do better by lying to the American people, selling access to the office and continuing policy’s that make us less safe and give away American prosperity to foreign nationals?