Students from across the country took part in a conference call Monday to discuss President Barack Obama's new initiative to engage young Americans in the political process and the 2012 presidential campaign. The conference was held by the Obama for America Campaign, headed by National Campaign Manger Jim Messina and Youth Vote Director Valeisha Butterfield-Jones. The initiative has the tagline "Greater Together" and hopes to gain the attention of young voters less than a year before the presidential campaign.
The Rotunda took part in the 4 p.m. conference call from Chicago, Ill. Monday to listen to what some students from across the nation had questions about for the 2012 campaign and this new push to target 18-29-year-old voters. In addition to phone conferences, the program will use Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr to spread its messages. The group will also host student summits via the Internet, the first of which is today.
The Obama for America Campaign will be visiting college campuses soon in swing states to campaign for the American Jobs Act and his 2012 campaign. The job act will push for an additional one million jobs in the next year. The goal is to reach as many people as possible before the 2012 elections.
"I think the president's done more than his campaign promises," Messina said. "You know, if there's one thing I didn't say to you, it's ‘He's done.' ‘Cause he's not." Messina said he believes there is much more the president must do in order to get the youth vote this year.
A student from Colorado Heights University asked a question about tuition increases and the stagnant job market. The spokesman said Obama has vowed to try and make payments more manageable, so the burden of student debt will not weigh so heavily on students. He's hoping to have tuition increases capped at 10 percent. Further, concerning the aspect of student debt, Obama is pushing for loan forgiving of 20 years instead of 25 years after the loans are first due.
The questions of gay marriage and abortion rights were on the mind of a student from UNC-Greensboro. Messina said the initiative starts with campaigning. It starts with state directors to begin meeting for initial kick-off meetings. He said the LGBT rights are at "the core of many issues." He added that, after all, the president signed the Don't Ask, Don't Tell legislation.
A student from Cleveland State University asked if the president truly knew what was good for young people. Butterfield-Jones said the president is beginning to plan bus trips to visit campuses to gain a better understanding of what students want to see and understand the heart of the issues that are facing them the most.
The organizers hope to have more conferences like the one on Monday so more students can follow the campaign and voice their concerns and questions to the president. Taking note of the trend in 2008 where more youth voted in any presidential election, Obama hopes to repeat that success.
Assistant News Editor Sarah Adams contributed to this report.