DEL.ICIO.USTHE FERVOR '08
Too young to vote, they’re still politically involved
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday, October 12, 2008
• First in a series on people passionate about the presidential campaign
HYOSUB SHIN / hshin@ajc.com
Having too-young-to-vote people like himself involved in Barack Obama’s campaign might help some voters take a second look, Zachary Taylor said.
KIMBERLY SMITH / ksmith@ajc.com
Young Republicans club member Rebecca Pope is learning as much as she can for her future and to influence others.
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They are committed and caring citizens, as excited by the upcoming presidential election as seasoned politicos.
Yet there’s a bittersweet tinge to their fervor. Zachary Taylor and Rebecca Pope are too young to vote. On Nov. 4, they’ll be sitting on the sidelines, watching and willing others to do their bidding.
Disenfranchised but not disconnected, these political neophytes tell us why this election matters to them.
Zachary Taylor
Taylor, 15, is a 10th-grader at the Paideia School. He lives in Atlanta’s Ansley Park neighborhood, listens to punk rock, and watches “Law & Order” and other investigative TV shows. He witnessed Sen. Barack Obama’s acceptance speech in person as a campaign volunteer. No, he was not named for the 12th president of the United States, but he is a direct descendant of Martin Van Buren.
How were your views formed?
“Partially from my parents, although they’re both a little bit more moderate than I am. And a lot of my views came from my own research and my own morals and feelings.”
Why does the Obama campaign inspire you?
“The first thing was I read ‘The Audacity of Hope’ and agreed with a lot of what he had to say. Then I looked at the movement he had created, and I got inspired. Especially being someone who couldn’t vote, I wanted to feel like I was engaged in the process.”
What issues matter most to you?
“A lot of social issues are important to me that are not being addressed right now, anything that has to do with rights — abortion, gay rights, First Amendment violations. Other things like the economy are important, too, and withdrawing our troops from Iraq.”
How have schoolmates reacted to your fervor?
“Some of them get annoyed that I talk about it too much, but a couple have started volunteering with us every weekend.
“There’s one person in particular who’s figured out that pretending he’s for McCain gets on my nerves. I have some friends who are conservative, and we just try to talk about this as little as we can.”
Why bother, if you’re too young to vote?
“A lot of people may see younger people getting involved, and they’ll give the campaign a second look. And it’s my future. It affects me more because the economic decisions made now will have huge long-term effects. And I will be voting in the next election, so I’d like to be re-electing Obama.”
How will you feel on Nov. 4?
“I’m going to try to keep myself busy and go to a watching party. But there’s a part of me that really wishes I could be there at the polls, pushing the buttons.”
Rebecca Pope
Pope, 16, is an 11th-grader at Pope High School. She lives in Marietta, loves country music, and watches “24,” “The Office” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” She takes part in passionate debates with other members of her Young Republicans club at school.
How were your views formed?
“My family was definitely a big contributor. But I also read about the parties and read about the candidates and formed my own views. I watch the news as often as I can. I read news sites like cnn.com and usatoday.com.”
Why does the McCain campaign inspire you?
“I really agree with a lot of his views. He’s a strong political figure who’s been very active in the Senate. Change is being called for by both parties, but it’s a matter of which form of change you agree with.”
What issues matter most to you?
“Definitely the way the candidates are approaching the war in Iraq and just making sure that all the efforts of the soldiers over there and all the lives that have been lost don’t go unhonored.”
How have schoolmates reacted to your fervor?
“The Young Republicans has been a really good way to meet other like-minded people, where you know you have something in common when you walk in the room. When one of my best friends realized how strongly opinionated I was, she was a little taken aback. But the awkwardness went away, and we saw past the differences. I don’t want it to ruin a friendship.”
Why bother, if you’re too young to vote?
“The person who’s put into office will be making decisions that affect me regardless of my age. And by the time the next election rolls around, I will be old enough to vote, so I’m getting informed now about the candidates and the issues. And even if I can’t vote now, maybe I can affect someone who can vote.”
How will you feel on Nov. 4?
“I’m definitely disappointed that I missed the voting age by just over a year. But there will be other people out there voting, and that gives those of us who can’t vote a voice.”
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This installment focuses on young people who are passionate about the presidential campaign but are not yet voting age. Reporter Holly Crenshaw found Rebecca Pope through a faculty adviser for the Young Republicans club at her high school. Crenshaw learned of Zachary Taylor’s interest through his trip to the Democratic convention.
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