Young Democrats: It is time to put up or shut up!

For years the Democratic Party machine has been broken.  They have been sending uninformed volunteers relying on parental indoctrination and saturated television as a guide to their opinions on political issues.

The result has been lost elections.

Clearly, the only way to win is to bring the passionate and dedicated together in force to surge this movement forward.  Markos and Jerome began this movement, and they have spawned thousands of successful copycats: Raising Kaine being one of them.

When I show up to campaign events, I often see people in their 40+óGé¼Gäós and up.  People with families and long-time community advocates who spend their time talking with younger volunteers, helping them get organized and educated.
The most surprising revelation is that the young people showing up at these events to learn from the older crowd are less often young Democrats committed to the party and more often bloggers, committed to their futures and to holding government accountable.

Bloggers are NOT trying to convert the converted, rather they are showing up at events, helping disseminate information, and keeping the passionate and dedicated informed.  They are enabling an alternative media that brings Democracy back to the people.  They are going out and encouraging recruits for Democratic campaigns all across the country, including those without access to computers.

In Northern Virginia, we have been attempting to guide young Democrats into the campaigns.  Campaigns need our help RIGHT NOW.  Unfortunately, a bureaucracy exists in the young Democratic community: One that does not commit its troops until late in the campaign season.

Fortunately, boiling just under the surface in these groups are committed volunteers lacking direction.  They are the best resource we have to tap into.

I wish to tell every one of them, the answer is clear:  Go to the campaigns.  After all, who do you think is the Democratic Party anyway? The local party apparatus, or the Democrats who represent us in Congress and State government?

If you believe the former, than you should wake up and realize that Congressmen and state representatives are increasing turning over to the Netroots for help.

I believe that we have an opportunity for victory in 2006, but the emphasis must be to rebuild the Democratic Party to keep it strong for years to come.  This takes action, not just bland mission statements or disorganized happy hours.  The campaigns are waiting for us to help them.  We can shape the structure and focus of campaigns for years to come.  We can elect the type of candidates WE believe in.  It takes joining the game rather than sitting on the sidelines.  It won't be easy.  It won't be cheap.  It won't be something you can do in between the gym and American Idol.

Tell Young Democrats across America to put up or shut up.  Tell them to join up with Congressional campaigns, and if they can, join up with blogs/PACs like Raising Kaine that are helping lead the effort to turn Virginia Blue.  Blogs throughout the country have the resources and the tools to get them active right now, and keep them informed.  Apathy has been the crime for too many young Democrats, Eight years of President Bush has been our punishment.  We can't wait any longer.  Recruit Young Democrats out of the bars and into the campaigns, or send them home with a bottle of SoCo and a Clay Aiken record while the non-pusillanimaniacs do the job that has to be done!

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