Jackson Free Press

CBS News reports: "As people wondered if former President Bill Clinton was here yet, and college-age guys scanned the chatting celebrities in the VIP area for actress Natalie Portman, the packed club of young Democrats cheered wildly. Former Gov. Howard Dean was on stage, chopping his arm, yelling passionately. The 2,000-person crowd roars. Dean avows: 'If you want a draft, vote for George Bush!'"

"It was that kind of a night at MTV's 'Rock the Vote' party. It was a long night of drinking and rallying young party activists, on the eve of the Democratic National Convention in Boston. The party went late, past the normally fervent Boston bar time of 2 a.m., as Lauryn Hill finished the night with a brief two-song acoustic set, taking the stage just as bars normally close down."

"Earlier that night, Dean's sleeves rolled up as always, the former Democratic candidate for president who six months ago led the field thanked the young audience for once supporting him and then asked them to help elect Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic nominee to be president."

"Dean tells audience, 'There are two bills in Congress to reinstate the draft.' He hammers home the issue. Then he asks the crowd how many have health insurance, and about four in ten raise their hands."

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137080

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More from the same story: "No group in America is so affected by the policies of this administration than young people because it's young people who are fighting and dying overseas in the war in Iraq," said Jerry Springer, jumping onstage and taking over the rhetorical reins as Dean wrapped up his speech. [...] Springer stood up and the crowd chants: "Jer-reee, Jer-reee, Jer-reee," in a low tone, swinging their arms. Springer then asks for "two minutes of seriousness" and it is granted. Leaning forward, impassioned, shaking his right hand, he intoned: "It is middle America that needs help from the government. We need the public schools. We need the public transportation. We need the hope of the job." "It's young people who can't afford to go to college anymore. They are settling for a two-year college or maybe no college at all," said Springer. "It is young people that are finding an economy that doesn't have jobs anymore. So the only way we are going to change that is if they go out and express their interests and then we will have a different result in the election."

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-07-26T12:28:14-06:00