"To give youth voters a voice"
I am a senior at Washington University in St. Louis running to become a pledged delegate for Barack Obama to the Democratic National Convention because we deserve a voice at the table. The 75,000 votes of people aged 18-29 helped Senator Obama carry Missouri on Super Tuesday, where we won by a mere 10,000 votes. We've worked hard and we want to be heard.
Senator Obama inspires me to believe that young people have the ability to shape our own future. This campaign has moved me to reach beyond myself and think that I too can make change happen. I've been an activist on issues of immigrants' rights, workers' rights, gay rights, Katrina relief, and Middle East peace. If we are to succeed on these and other issues, we must work together to build a youth movement.
I've been involved with the campaign by volunteering in New Hampshire and coordinating Wash U student volunteers here in Missouri. Together, we canvassed every student dorm, phonebanked, and signed up more than 1,400 voters at the Edward Jones Dome rally. On Election Day, I worked with other students on a non-partisan get out the vote effort that helped turn out hundreds of new voters, 85% of whom voted for Senator Obama.
This election season, we’ve come out in record numbers to make our country a better place. The next step in making this change happen is to have a seat at the table. I want to represent your voice at the Democratic National convention this summer, but I need your help to get there. This Thursday evening, join me in leafleting the 3rd District Congressional Caucus. Email me at madler@wustl.edu to get involved. Thanks for your support!
For change,
Matt Adler
Washington University in St. Louis
Class of 2008
madler@wustl.edu