…but it may not happen in the South. At least, that’s what the McCain campaign is banking on. According to an article in the New York Times (check it out here), the potential for democrats to gain a strong foothold in the South could turn into a reality. If they can harness the votes of unregistered voters, that is. Voters who just happen to be young and black. They’re hoping that having Obama as a candidate will tip the scales toward democrats.

I can’t speak on behalf of the entire region, but let me just say I was shouting “Hallelujah! Finally somebody who hasn’t given up on democratic voters in the South!” It seems so often that democratic candidates do drive-by campaigning in the South. They stop by, give a speech or two in a few states and head for the nearest airport.

There are no statistics that say black democratic southern voters are discouraged. There are no statistics that say they feel their votes are unimportant so they decline to vote from the onset. But the sentiment is widespread, documented or not. And I’m not excusing voters who are unregistered but I am saying that knowing a candidate is actively campaigning for their vote incites people to get registered and get involved.

Democrats are banking on Obama’s appeal to young voters and black voters to turn things around in the South but they’re going to be hard pressed to knock down a republican regime that’s been going strong for over a decade. One thing’s for sure, John McCain is worried. That’s evident from the increased amount of campaigning he’s doing in a region that republican candidates typically bypass. For republican candidates, the South is considered a given. It seems at times that the region is pretty much ignored all around by both parties. But this time things are looking different. This time, the fight for America just might take place in the South, again.

Should republicans be worried? Do democrats stand a chance in the South? Will Democrats rise again? You tell me.

–Ashley

Posted by Ashley Slayton for BET You(th) Vote

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Posted by Travers Johnson for BET You(th) Vote!

 What’s your best caption for this photo? Here’s mine:

“What’s the best way to claim victory in November?  The writing is on the wall.” 

Think you can do better? Leave a comment with your best caption.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend,

—TRAVERS

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Posted by Ashley Slayton for BET You(th) Vote

There’s a lot of speculation going on over who’s going to run with John McCain. And even though Condoleezza Rice did everything she could to squelch the rumors that she was the presumptive candidate for the vice-presidency slot, they’re still running rampant. In February, Rice stopped just short of saying no.

(Check out the article here.)

What I want to know is how that would affect the African-American vote?

Currently Condi’s got a bad rap in the black community. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I heard something positive about Ms. Rice. But watching Hip Hop vs. America the other day, I listened to one of the panelists say that black women didn’t want to be represented by a black man or a privileged white woman. They wanted representation from a black woman who would understand their concerns.

Would black women respond well to Condoleezza Rice if she chose to become McCain’s running mate? Would black votes swing republican?

Call it crazy. Call it unrealistic. Call it what you whatever you want. The fact is, John McCain could effectively crush any image that he doesn’t support minority issues and politics by choosing her. McCain could snag a little of that change Barack’s preaching by demonstrating to the American public that he’s all about advancement.

Of course there are negatives in this for the McCain campaign. She’s very closely aligned with Bush. Maybe TOO closely, since McCain is trying to veer away from the perception that he’s Bush re-incarnated, come back to take over the White House for another term. And then there’s the war in Iraq. With Rice and McCain in office the American public could assume there would be no end to it in sight.

Since she seems so adamant about declining to get involved in McCain’s campaign, that power ticket republicans might be hoping for doesn’t look so promising. You have to wonder though … if he does offer Ms. Rice the vice-presidential spot and she turns him down, will she be singing “shoulda, coulda, woulda” down the line?

So what do you think? Will she run with McCain? How would this affect African-American votes? With Rice on his side would he have a better chance at the presidency? You tell me.

–Ashley

P.S. Am I the only one thinking that Condi looks p.o.’d in this pic?

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Posted by Travers Johnson for BET You(th) Vote! 

Well, the TermiNADER has struck again! Yesterday it was reported that the per-FREAKIN’-petual presidential candidate Ralph Nader (Lord, have mercy) has said that Barack Obama has to “talk white” and is playing on “white guilt” in order to get votes.  Excuse me while I go LMAO!!

Now lest I be accused of taking his comments out of context, here is a more complete idea of his statment to Colorado’s Rocky Mountain News as reported by CNN :  ”I haven’t heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos. Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead. What’s keeping him from doing that? Is it because he wants to talk white? He doesn’t want to appear like Jesse Jackson? We’ll see all that play out in the next few months and if he gets elected afterwards,” Nader added…Nader also said Obama is making a concerted effort not to be “another politically threatening African-American politician…He wants to appeal to white guilt. You appeal to white guilt not by coming on as black is beautiful, black is powerful. Basically, he’s coming on as someone who is not going to threaten the white power structure, whether it’s corporate or whether it’s simply oligarchic. And they love it. Whites just eat it up.”

Sen. Obama didn’t let it get under his skin and said that Nader was simply trying to “get attention.”  Obama’s aides, though, called Nader’s remarks “Reprehensible and basically Delusional. 

 I would have to agree.  I think Nader, the man who is blamed partially for Bush winning the election in 2000, has OFFICIALLY LOST HIS MIND! 

First, only a CRAZY (or attention-seeking) politician would EVER fix their mouths to say that a black person is attempting to “talk white” because they use proper standard English!!! This goes down as one of the DUMBEST and most inaccurate and offensive things I have ever heard a politician say.  It’s bad enough when black people say stupid ish like this about each other.  The idea that being educated and knowing how to make the subject and verb agree in a sentence is acting “white” is TIRED! Give me a break!

Nader’s argument that eradicating poverty in the ghettos should be at the forefront of Obama’s campaign JUST BECAUSE HE’S BLACK is equally ludicrous!  It implies that all black people grow up poor and that black politicians are so monolithic and short-sighted that they shouldn’t or can’t focus on issues that relate to ALL Americans regardless of race or socio-economic status.

But his argument about pandering to “white guilt,” while I don’t agree with it, is definitely interesting.  Obama’s success has often been attributed to his “post-racial” message—a message that some say sits well with white voters because it doesn’t constantly remind them of the racial injustices of the past and present. 

So what do you think? Were Nader’s comments out of line? Is there such a thing as “talking white?”  If so, does Barack Obama “talk white?”

Also, Is Obama using “white guilt” to get elected? Do black politicians have to be “post-racial” to get elected?

Hit me up to break it down.

Yep. This fool has lost his mind,

—TRAVERS  

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Posted by Travers Johnson for BET You(th) Vote!

Well he wasn’t literally on the catwalk, but close enough.  In what was the fashion world’s equivalent to a high-powered political endorsement, Donatella Versace (yes, the Donatella Versace) dedicated the Versace Spring/Summer 2009 collection to none other than Barack Obama in Milan last Saturday.  Obama wasn’t at the show, but that didn’t keep Ms. Versace from praising her new muse, calling him “the man of the moment.”  Paying homage to Barack, Donatella described her new men’s line as fit for “a relaxed man who doesn’t need to flex his muscles to show he has power.” 

However, this isn’t the first time that my boy Barack has made CHANGE in the fashion industry.  In fact, the July issue of Italian Vogue only features black models and includes articles about black women in the arts and entertainment industry.  New York Times Fashion Critic Cathy Horn says that the magazine’s Editor, Franca Sozzani, “said that, as an Italian, she has been intrigued by the American presidential race and Mr. Obama, which was one source of inspiration when she and [photographer Steven Meisel] began discusssing, in February, the idea of an all-black issue.” 

 And we’re not even gonna talk about how Mrs. Obama has become the new darling of the fashion world.  She’s ALREADY getting her “Jackie O.” on.  It’s been reported that after guest hosting The View recently, she is responsible for LOADS of women rushing to their nearest White House/Black Market clothing store to buy that pretty little number that she wore on the show.  And according to fashion/lifestyle blog Lateboots.com some of the industry’s bigwigs are already clamoring to be able to dress the next First Lady.

But some say that all this attention from the fashion elite could damage the Obama’s chances of proving to voters that they are not elitists.  Barack has been trying hard to tear himself from the “elitist” label that his opponents have given him and his wife this election, and although I think it’s preposterous to call them that, don’t you have to be somewhat elite (not elitist) to get a freakin’ VERSACE collection dedicated to you!?!? Ha!

So tell me:  What do you think of the Obamas’ fashion sense? Do you agree with Versace using Barack as a muse?

And more importantly,

Will the Obamas’ new status as burgeoning fashion trendsetters play into the idea that they’re “elitists” and thus, hurt Barack in November?

Hit me up to break it down.  

As my fellow Texan, Marquis.Phifer of Lateboots.com would say, “Tip, Barack and Michelle…TIP!” Lol. 

In the spirit of  CHANGE across the board,

—TRAVERS  

If you want a fashion fix from the streets, check out my boy sP’s blog SWAGGER , and for more Obama fashion check out this slideshow.

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Posted by Keisha Courtney for BET’s You(th) Vote!

Hillary Clinton lost the race for the White House, but it seems that she is still campaigning…or rather having Barack Obama do it for her.

Since losing the Democratic Nomination to Barack Obama the New York Senator has found herself in debt, 22 MILLION DOLLARS in debt to be exact! Although 12 million of that amount came from her own pockets that still leaves Clinton with 10 million dollars in debt to pay off.

Barack Obama must feel bad for Clinton because he is letting his top contributors know that she needs help with the issue. Although Obama did not say outright that people should give money to Clinton, he did suggest that those who want to help her alleviate this problem should proceed to do so.

If the shoe was on the other foot do you think Clinton would have done the same for Obama?

Is he being too kind with this gesture?

Is there possibly a bigger reason for why he has decided to help her out? You tell me.

- Keisha

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Posted by Angel Elliott, BET News for You(th) Vote!

So we all know that R. Kelly was found not guilty of his child molestation charges, all 14 of them. It had to be in part with his celebrity, his money, and that fact that the prosecution waited until the girl got of legal age to actually try the case.

In my opinion, we are WAY to lenient with child molesters and rapist in this country. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decisionthat convicted child rapist can’t be executed, and that capitol punishment is only reserved for murderers.

Now I’m not going to exactly give my opinion on capitol punishment, but I will say that if the death penalty is a punishment for murder, then it should DEFINITELY be a punishment for child rapist and molesters. The emotional and physical trauma inflicted of these children follows them for the rest of their lives, it MURDERS their spirits.

How many times has a murderer been on trial, and his attorney brings up the fact that he was molested and abused as a child, which in part why he committed a crime? I know its abstract, but can’t we see a pattern here?

The ruling stemmed from a trial in which Patrick Kennedy, a 43 year-old 300 pound rapist convicted of molesting his 8 year-old stepdaughter REPEATEDLY, received the death penalty for the heinous crime and appealed the sentence he was given in the state of Louisiana. This story is a sad one because at his sentencing, his goddaughter testified saying she had also been raped by him, 20 years earlier when she was 8 or 9, but never reported it.

Justice Anthony Kennedy (no relation to the CHESTER MOLESTER) wrote the majority decision saying that the  death penalty would go against his 8th Amendment right, which is not to receive cruel and unusual punishment.

But who is looking out for that little girls rights? HE violated all of hers! Look at how many molesters go back into the communities and re-offend! When is the justice system going to see that 10-15 is just NOT enough for these bastards?

What do y’all think, was the U.S. Supreme Court right in ruling that child molesters cannot receive the death penalty, because it is cruel and unusual punishment? Or should they receive the same capitol punishment as murderers? Let me know!

-Angel

Posted by Travers Johnson for BET You(th) Vote   

WARNING:  We have received reports of a DANGEROUS psychological disorder that is infecting the minds of millions of Americans, and could very possibly infect the minds of millions more!  Unlike other psychological disorders, this mental illness is HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS and is likely to result in Americans making stupid mistakes at the voting booths in November!  Symptoms may include rage, shock, and anxiety, but the most common symptom is FEAR.  This disorder may also be called The Ghettofication of the Obamas , but the official name of this illness is BARACKNOPHOBIA.

 Baracknophobia has been defined as: 1. the irrational fear of hope; 2. the irrational fear that behind the mild-mannered facade, Barack Obama is intent on enslaving the White race.   Experts say that the sickness manifests itself through internet smear websites, rumor-mill chain emails, and photoshopped web images.  The illness is spread by the mass media as a whole, but studies show that the FOX News Network is responsible for the overwhelming majority of new infections!  The most common ways that FOX spreads the disease are by referring to Michelle Obama as Barack’s “baby mama,” calling a fist bump shared between Mr. and Mrs. Obama a “terrorist fist jab,” and consistently perpetuating the idea that the Obamas are Muslim, unpatriotic, or racist.

But have no fear!  YOU can stop the spread of Baracknophobia before it becomes incurable!  And it only takes 30 seconds!

Visit this link that takes you to the ColorofChange.org website.  With one click you can automatically send a pre-written letter to FOX News President Roger Ailes demanding that his network stop its race-baiting and fear-mongering propaganda.  You can even type in a personalized message to Mr. Ailes expressing your disdain!  And, again, the best part is that IT ONLY TAKES 30 SECONDS!!! It’s so easy!

Are you going to continue to sit around and complain about this infectious disease, or are you going to HELP CURE IT? This is of the utmost importance!  Visit ColorofChange.org and MAKE A CHANGE NOW!

Until we find a cure,

—TRAVERS   

Shout out to my boy TREVOR for letting me know about this piece of internet activism! Thanks bro!

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Posted by Keisha Courtney for BET’s You(th) Vote!

The 2008 Presidential election has been filled with several religious controversies. The biggest one for Obama involved Rev. Jeremiah Wright and for McCain it was Pastor John Hagee. Well now it seems that it is once again Obama’s turn for religious controversy. American evangelical Christian James Dobson has accused the Democratic Nominee of distorting the Bible. Click here to read the full article.

Focus on the Family, a conservative Christian Group, provided The Associated Press with a copy of an 18 minute radio segment from a speech that Obama gave in 2006 to the Christian Group Call to Renewal.

In his speech, Obama makes reference to Biblical passages that Dobson felt the need to point out. Chapters like Leviticus which Obama said suggests slavery is okay and also about Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, on which Obama says “a passage that is so radical that it’s doubtful that our own Defense Department would survive its application.”

The Senator also goes on to say “folks haven’t been reading their Bibles.”

At one point in the speech Obama says, “even if we did have only Christians in our midst, if we expelled every non-Christian from the United States of America, whose Christianity would we teach in the schools? Would we go with James Dobson’s or Al Sharpton’s?”

Powerful and plausible words for some, but Dobson says Obama is “deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own worldview, his own confused theology…he is dragging biblical understanding through the gutter.”

So this all got me thinking. LET’S JUST SAY that your candidate was not a believer at all, but still stood by the same policies that they are promoting today. Would you still show your support for him or would you simple disregard him because he did not believe?

Should religion guide the way you vote?

Is religion taken too seriously in the race?

Do you think that Mr. Dobson is right in this article or is he blowing what Obama said way out of proportion? You tell me.

- Keisha

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It’s what you don’t hear enough of, young republicans speaking out for John McCain. There seems to be a media frenzy circulating around young Obama supporters but seldom do you see youth on television raving over republican senator John McCain. It seems like the McCain crew is absent from the media spotlight.

Leaving WalMart the other night I saw a bumper sticker that read NOBAMA’ 08. It reminded me that there are republicans out there who are standing up  for John McCain and proud to do so. So I did a little investigating. McCain supporters had a laundry list of reasons why they were voting for him but the chief reasons people said they supported McCain were because:

-”I like his ideas and his reasoning is legit.”

-”I’m against abortion and so is McCain.”

-”He aligns with my religious beliefs and way of thought.”

-”I’m not a fan of teachers being paid based on student performance.” 

Prior to talking with young republicans, I was baffled that anybody even voted for McCain during the preliminaries. But these voters are just as passionate as Obama supporters and just as invested in this election. You may not agree with their reasoning, but the way these voters deliver their arguements is enough to convince you that McCain is a worthy adversary and leave you wondering if McCain could be an effective president.

Where do you see America heading if McCain becomes president? Where are all the NOBAMA supporters? Are young republicans represented enough in the media? You tell me.

-Ashley