The youth vote that elected Obama in 2008 has grown tired of him. The Obama Administration’s stance on drug policy could save or cost the election for Obama.
Remember summer of 2008? The economy was good, the wars seemed to be improving, and a young, energetic Barrack Obama had captured America’s attention. Obama’s message of hope and change spurred him on to victory in the general election. His message particularly resonated with the eighteen to twenty-nine crowd. This demographic had long been ignored by politicians because they never turned out to actually vote. With three consecutive elections of increasing young voter turnout, Obama broke with tradition and aggressively courted the younger voters. In 2008 Obama carried this demographic with nearly a two to one ratio. Young people also turned out in record numbers accounting for 18% of the total vote in the general election. Four years later can Obama count on the continued support of this important demographic? Maybe.
Hope and change long ago became a bad joke. On the issues that matter to young voters, it appears very little has changed. Many of the issues Obama campaigned upon have seen no progress since his election. In 2008 the youth were concerned about Iraq, Afghanistan, Gay Marriage, Health Care, Government Debt, and Civil Liberties. The only difference in 2012 is the economy now tops most people’s list of grievances. Obama’s inability to make progress on these issues cannot be completely blamed on him. Despite this, the general perception is that President Obama is not as progressive as Candidate Obama claimed.
If Obama decided today he wanted to get serious about any one of the a fore mentioned issues, he would face serious hurdles. If he started today, there is a good chance he would not be able to make progress before the 2012 election. There is one issue that could re-solidify the youth vote behind him and requires no approval from Congress. If President Obama would follow through on what Candidate Obama said in August of 2008, he could guarantee his reelection. On August 28, then Candidate Obama said, “I would not have the Justice Department prosecuting and raiding medical marijuana users. It’s not a good use of our resources.” Despite this statement, his administration has continued DEA raids on users and dispensaries. All Obama needs to do is tell Gil Kerlikowske, head of his National Drug Control Policy, to end raids on legal dispensaries and make marijuana violations the lowest enforcement priority.
On this issue President Obama has regularly ignored Candidate Obama. Obama was recently asked by a doctoral student at the University of Maryland, “When are our economic perspectives going to be addressed? For example, when is the War on Drugs in society going to be abandoned and replaced by a more sophisticated and cost effective program of rehabilitation, such as the one in Portugal? What will be with welfare drug testing?” Not taking my advice, President Obama again turned his back on the youth that elected him. After promising more funding for prevention and rehabilitation, something every drug czar has promised and immediately ignored, Obama stated “am I willing to pursue a decriminalization strategy as an approach? No.”
Obama can turn his back on the people who got him elected because he is confident the Republicans will not be able to field a candidate that excites the youth either. The Republican candidates that do have a strong youth following are those that are most friendly to ending the drug war. If the Republicans are smart, they would choose one of the candidates that can win the youth vote. Most likely the Republicans will chose someone who resonates with the youth about as well as Bob Dole. The only question that remains is who would win the youth vote, if they are willing to vote all.
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