December 10, 2007

Dodd/Clinton ByotchSlap

Posted by Sarah Burris at 4:30AM

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UPDATE: Biden and Richardson have also come out against Iowa Students. Rock the Vote and the PIRGs have released statements condemning the voter disenfranchisement.

Dude.... the shiznet that went down this past week with presidential candidate Chris Dodd and Hillary Clinton was a total slap in the face for students in Iowa (and indeed everywhere).

So it all started when this total douchbag named David Yepsen started saying that it was wrong that Barack Obama's campaign was asking Iowa students who's families live out of state and might be away for the break, to return to Iowa so they can participate in the vote on January 3rd. See.. Originally the caucus would be much later on after school started so this wouldn't even be a question, but because the primaries keep moving up on the calendar... well... now the holidays and the break has become an issue.

Ok... so the douchbag is one thing - what he said about Obama trying to get students who weren't really Iowan is what kills me. These kids pay elevated costs because they weren't originally from there. That money goes into Iowa. They pay Iowa state taxes if they work during the school year. They pay Iowa sales taxes. They live in Iowa probably 9 months out of the year - and he has the nerve to say that they aren't Iowan.... Seriously?!

Wait wait... there's more. So because Obama is getting a nice swell in youth support his opposition - Hillary Clinton and (not such strong opposition) Chris Dodd step up on this issue to agree.

Clinton Says:

“We are not courting out-of-staters. The Iowa caucus ought to be for Iowans.”

Dodd's Campaign Says:

“I was deeply disappointed to read today about the Obama campaign's attempt to recruit thousands of out-of-state residents to come to Iowa for the caucuses. ... ‘New Politics’ shouldn't be about scheming to evade either the spirit or the letter of the rules that guide the process. That may be the way politics is played in Chicago, but not in Iowa."

Oh... no... they didn't!

(More smackdown on the flip)

Dodd kinda simmered down later and said

"We welcome the participation of Iowa students in the process."

But Clinton is another story... In a quick email to Future Majority blogger Mike Connery the Clinton campaign said:

"Hillary Clinton’s Communications Director Howard Wolfson: “The Iowa caucus is so special because it is based on Iowa values. We believe that every Iowan and every student who is eligible to caucus in Iowa should do so and we hope they do."

As Mike notes - this would be great if it appeared anywhere on the HillBlazers site or it was said to anyone... other than Mike. There is an awesome video with Bill talking to young people. Maybe he could pass that memo onto her. that'd be great.

So both Marcy Wheeler and Jane Flemming Kleeb posted lovely replies. Jane says:

" This discussion raises an important question, if a person moved to Iowa for a new job and was only going to be there for few years, does that mean that they should not be allowed to participate in the state's political process? Few would argue that it would, why then tell students they should not?

The residents of Iowa passed tax credits to help young people stay put after college because, like many mid-western states, too many young people leave because of a perceived lack of opportunities. Having recruited talented young people to attend Iowa's high quality colleges, you can bet that the people of Iowa would like to see these young people stay and contribute to building the state's economy and its communities, and many do. Clearly the residents of Iowa take students seriously and want them involved in determining their state's future. Shouldn't candidates then as well?"

Marcy says

"It pisses me off not because she's dissing my vote (the MI primary/caucus monstrosity, that big contest for delegates that have been taken away, has been pretty much called for Hillary already). It pisses me off because I've run the precinct organization for a county with two large universities (U Michigan and EMU). And I'm well aware of the way that HAVA laws in many states have affected college students' ability to vote."

Now we're cookin!

YouTube is interviewing Chris Dodd today and Mike has posted an awesome question (I posted up there at the top too) to be asked that also quotes the Secretary of State (head Election's Official) in Iowa:

So both have kinda sorta retracted their statements but both were duped by the giant yutz from the Iowa Register who hates young people. So where is his accountability?

Either way - if you run into any politicians make sure you talk to them about being nice to young people. Cause some of them really don't get it.