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Rock the Vote

 

            Good Afternoon! We are all gathered here today to promote the continuation of MTV's "Rock the Vote". My name's Alison Bryne Fields and as the head of MTV's "Rock the Vote" I understand how important it is for the youth's voice to be heard. MTV has had an amazing effect on the pop culture of this country and its wide-spread ability to capture youth attention has enabled the channel to positively effect youth activism in politics. The group of voters 18-25 has the lowest voter turn-out in our country. (fec.gov np) Politicians hardly see them as a voting class anymore. Their ideas, needs, and wants are not heard because their voices are not heard through voting. However, such programs as our "Rock the Vote" have greatly increased political activism in youth. The November after "Rock the Vote" premiered "the number of 18-25 year olds who actually showed up went up for the first time in recorded voting history, climbing over 20%" ("Who Cares About the Youth Vote?" np) Youth voters are often hard pressed to find, however, because politicians refuse to see them as an important class. When these politicians go on CNN and NBC addressing issues like Medicare and Social Security that don't affect the younger age-groups, the youth feel unimportant. However, President Bill Clinton went out of his way to address the youth problems. By going on a channel like MTV that is a channel clearly designed for the voice of the youth, Clinton was shown great support in his "92 and "96 elections from that voting class. Obviously realizing the need to capture the youth vote; he appeared on MTV's "Rock the Vote" answering questions not only on his political policies but also on his personal affairs e.g. the question heard round the world "Boxers or Briefs?" ("Who cares about the youth vote? np) His willingness to answer such questions in a positive way proved him able to relate to this younger crowd. MTV provided this platform for the youth vote.


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