The Executive Board is proud to announce that today it has passed two resolutions - the passge of the National Committee Resolution and the integration with the Delaware Young Democrats Movement, both of which can be found on our “Resolutions and Statements” page.
High School Democrats,
The YDA will be hosting it’s Spring National Conference in Nashville, Tennessee between May 30th and June 1st. Register online today at http://www.yda.org/nashville/!
Our meeting is set for Sunday morning 9am-10am. Guess everyone will have to wake up early, but it’s Tennessee after all! Why would you want to sleep late during this?
If your group plans on going, it would be great if you could email us [Executive Director Erich Reimer; erichreimer11@aim.com] saying that you’re group will be attending, and around how many people, so we can get a head count for our meeting.
See you in Nashville!
High School Democrats of America Statement
Statement: The Caucus of Faith: Necessary and Desirable [S.001]
Author: Executive Director Erich Reimer
Date: April 11th 2008
Text:
Religion and faith have been central to our nation’s history and heritage throughout its entire existence. It was the belief in the rights given to man by God that inspired the American Revolution, and it was faith that has helped our country and its people survive the countless ordeals that have threatened it. Over 86% of Americans are religious, an overwhelming majority that cannot be ignored or sidelined.
The Young Democrats of America has caucuses for groups that it believes are based around certain issues that are of great concern to the members of that caucus. People of faith are most certainly organized around certain issue points, namely moral living, belief in a greater being(s), and a moderation of one’s life and one’s duty to society. The proposed Young Democrats of America Faith Caucus by Reverend Kitchen is a brilliant proposal to meet this growing demand that our party face – that of appealing to voters of faith.
The Democratic Party has been often seen as being unfriendly to the devout and faithful. Though this is untrue, this is the public perception of many, who are alienated and deterred from the Democratic Party as a result. The YDA Faith Caucus would serve to give the ‘moral majority’ a direct and organized voice in the Young Democrats of America – a voice that would help expand the outreach of the Democratic Party and YDA into the Churches, Mosques, Synagogues, and other centers of religion. This would be a caucus for all religions, all people who allow their faith to guide them in their daily actions and decisions.
Personally, as a very devout and passionate Christian, I see the possible realization of this caucus as an extremely vital turning point in the direction and flow of the Democratic Party and YDA. The Republican Party is extremely friendly to faith, and doesn’t try to hide it, while sadly at the moment many of our Democratic organizations do try to hide our own friendliness to religious belief. There is a fine line between respecting all religions and ignoring all religions, and that is a line we as a party must carefully tread. We cannot afford, nor should we want, to alienate the mass majority of America that are devout believers in faith, but we should instead desire to reach out and embrace our brothers and sisters of the religious community.
I fully support the creation of the Young Democrats of America Faith Caucus, and will personally continue to devote my time and effort to realize its creation. I hope that all my colleagues in the YDA and anyone else in the YDA who wishes to finally see realized this caucus that reaches out to the ‘moral majority’ of Americans.
Note: All Statements are non-binding notices and press releases by the High School Democrats or various members of the Executive Board, and are not endorsed or passed by the High School Democrats of America as a whole. Statements remain the sole opinions of various members of the Executive Board.
Our new Resolutions and Statements section is up! This is generally where important notices or statements will be posted up while also being posted up on this main page. This is to make it so that all the documents are visible for viewers in one easy quick reference place. While it is currently still in the works, eventually we hope to fashion it into a large and comprehensive document and news area.
By a vote of 8 to 1, the Executive Board of the High School Democrats has today passed the Resolution on the US Public Service Academy, authored by Executive Director Erich Reimer and seconded by Southeast Regional Director Stephen Ratner; [The document can further be found on the resolutions and documents page]
Resolution Name: Resolution on the US Public Service Academy
Resolution Designation: R. 001 [Resolution 001]
Resolution Author: Erich Reimer
Seconded By: Stephen Ratner
Proposed: April 6th 2008
Passed: April 6th 2008
Margin: 8 Yes, 1 No
Be it that;
Our country faces serious domestic and international conflicts and problems in the twenty-first century. With an increasingly shortening supply of systematically trained public servants in an era where we need precisely more public servants, we need more young people to go into public service. Young people want to serve our country, but many want to serve in a civilian rather than a military capacity, and at present lack such a national university to fulfill such a desire.
And so thus, the High School Democrats of America resolve that;
It has been 40 years since Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s heroic life was cut short by a madman’s bullet. Let us today remember and observe his beliefs and the ideals of universal freedom, peace, and justice that he fought and died for, and let us continue to live by and try to continue to sustain those ideals in our own modern world.
“I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality… I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word…The time is always right to do what is right.” - Martin Luther King
- Erich Reimer
To save many days of checking empty inboxes, we are letting everyone know that we will not be frequently using the club email addresses until Late May, or when we post an update about it on the website here. Once Late May arrives, check your club email inboxes frequently for very important information about various events. Check only when you feel the need to for now, but by late May, check frequently, at least weekly!
Erich Reimer
Executive Director
High School Democrats of America
As the final polls closed yesterday, March 11th 2008, the great state of Mississippi finally had a choice in the selection of the Democratic Party’s candidate that the state had long complained it was deprived of, due to the fact that the primary often ended too early for MS’s delegates to be decisive. Yesterday however, the results clearly favored one of the two current viable contenders for the Democratic nomination. With PA coming up very soon, the people of Mississippi are very happy that they finally have had a decisive voice in the selection of our party’s candidate. Results are as follows;
Mississippi: [40 Total Delegates]
Senator Obama: 61% [253,453 Votes]
Senator Clinton: 37% [154,989 Votes]
The current delegate count, including Superdelegates, follows as such, according to CNN’s Calculations;
Senator Obama: 1611 [13,278,372 Votes]
Senator Clinton: 1480 [12. 576, 210 Votes]
Senator Gravel: 0 [Not Viable]
After a suprising turn on “Super Tuesday II” in what many thought would be a defining moment of the campaigns, we have five more states now that have chosen their candidate.
Ohio:
Clinton:54%
Obama:44%
Texas:
Clinton: 51%[Primary], 44% [Caucuses]
Obama:47%[Primary], 56% [Caucuses]
Rhode Island:
Clinton: 58%
Obama: 40%
Vermont:
Obama: 59%
Clinton: 39%
Wyoming:
Clinton: 38%
Obama: 59%
February 19th 2008, and the Democrats of Wisconsin and Hawaii have gone to the polls. Results follow as such;
Wisconsin:
Senator Obama: 58% [646,007 Votes]
Senator Clinton: 41% [452,795 Votes]
Hawaii:
Senator Obama: 76% [28,347 Votes]
Senator Clinton: 24% [8.835 Votes]
Yet besides in Hawaii and Wisconsin, the votes from Democrats from all across the planet, from Mexico City to Moscow to Tokyo to Singapore to Beijing to Baghdad to Vienna to London to Mogadishu to New Delhi, have finally been counted. Results are as follows;
Planet Earth:
Senator Obama: 65.6%
Senator Clinton: 32.7%
Senator Obama’s strongest showing was in Asia, where he captured a strong 70% of the vote, and Senator Clinton’s strongest showing was here in the Americas. Senator Clinton won countries ranging from the Dominican Republic to Israel, to the Phillipines, to Lichtenstein, while Senator Obama won countries ranging from Russia, to India, to China, to Mexico.
Full World Results: Democrats Abroad Primary Results 2008
The results are in! The Democrats in Virginia, Maryland, and our nation’s capital Washington D.C. have spoken - and here are the results;
District of Columbia: [98% Reporting]
Senator Obama: 75% [85,534 Votes]
Senator Clinton: 24% [27,326 Votes]
Uncommitted: 1% [297 Votes]
Maryland:[92% Reporting]
Senator Obama: 60% [439, 979 Votes]
Senator Clinton: 37% [273, 828 Votes]
Uncommitted: 1% [9600 Votes]
Virginia: [99% Reporting]
Senator Obama: 64% [619,490 Votes]
Senator Clinton: 35% [345,211 Votes]
Currently, according to CNN, the estimated delegate count, including Superdelegates, stands as such;
Senator Obama: 1215 [1059 Pledged, 156 Superdelegates]
Senator Clinton: 1190 [956 Pledged, 234 Superdelegates]
And the map of the race stands as such;
[Light Blue for Clinton, Dark Blue for Obama]
As 2008 rolls in and we all realize that the 2008 Presidential Election will likely be one of the most important elections in United States history, the High School Democrats of America are announcing a new campaign plan of action for 2008: The Democratic Restoration Plan, proposed by Executive Director Erich Reimer, to restore contact, coherence, and direction with our roots.
The Democratic Restoration Plan is going to be a complete restructuring of how the High School Democrats do business. The Teenage Democrats of America are now going to step up to the plate and take lead of the nation’s high school student’s efforts to elect Democrats into office in 2008. As such, we are now going to be in frequent and meaningful contact with every single chapter registered with us, giving directions, information, updates, purpose, and encouragment. We will be beginning our massive email-based communication system and getting into contact with all of you very soon, but for now we ask all high school chapters to do as such;
2008 will be a great year, high school democrats. High school democrats across the nation are going to take back the White House in 2008 - in what may be the greatest election in recent United States History.
With 91% Reporting, Maine’s Caucus results follows as such:
Senator Obama: 59%
Senator Clinton: 41%
Senator Clinton has asked her campaign manager to step down. The “Potomac Primary” is coming up on tuesday, when Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. go out to vote. Right now, according to CBS, the delegate count follows as such;
Senator Obama: 1,134
Senator Clinton: 1,131
Senator Edwards: 26
Results: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/10/politics/main3813759.shtml
In a half-suprise, half-expected victory, Senator Obama took the states of Louisiana, Washington, and Nebraska yesterday, pulling into the lead in terms of pledged delegates, while Senator Clinton still leads overall in terms of delegates.
Louisiana:
Senator Obama: 57%
Senator Clinton: 36%
Nebraska:
Senator Obama: 68%
Senator Clinton: 32%
Washington:
Senator Obama: 68%
Senator Clinton: 31%
In a post-primary speech, Senator Clinton, speaking from Virginia, called for unity in the Democratic Party, for us all to unite, regardless of our differences in this primary election, to “put a Democrat in the White House in 2008.” Now, with the “Potomac Primary” coming up in three days and the state of Maine caucusing today, the primary race still continues with no clear victor in sight.
The Primary race so far, stands as such [Light Blue for Senator Clinton, Dark Blue for Senator Obama]:
But there is one thing we can all be sure of. No matter if Senator Obama or Senator Clinton wins, we’re all going to be united, pledged to our delegate, and put a Democrat back into the White House in 2008!
Governor Romney has just dropped out of the Republican Race, leaving just the marginal Ron Paul, the weak Huckabee, and the winner Senator John McCain. The Republicans have their nominee, and now it is time for the Democratic Party to take back the white house - we now know our enemy. Go to Democrats.org to begin, along with Howard Dean and Democrats across the country, to pledge your support for the 2008 Democratic Nominee and it is time to begin the fight against the Republicans and Senator John McCain!
Yesterday night, Senator Obama won 14 States, and Senator Clinton won 8 states in one of the closest primary races in United States History. Senator Obama picked up his expected wins in Illinois, Georgia, and Utah, while Clinton picked up her expected wins in California, New York, and New Jersey.
Suprising to both camps however, was the sudden shift in actual primary results versus polls. Massachussetts, a Clinton state two weeks ago and a Clinton state now, with Clinton winning over 57% of the vote, was hoped for by the Obama campaign to go to their camp because of Senator Kerry, Senator Kennedy, and Governor Patrick’s endorsements. The most liberal state in the nation, decided to go with the apparently ‘less liberal’ Senator from New York, giving her a large delegate boost. On the Obama side however, he unexpectedly sweeped the states of Colorado (Winning 67%), Connecticutt (Winning 51%), and Deleware (Winning 53%), all state where Senator Clinton had been leading strongly in the polls until recently, and it is to say that many were shocked at the results last night from those states.
Perhaps most suprising of all was New Mexico, the heart of the Latino community in America. Exit polls for the past month and from yesterday night all showed that Senator Obama trailed badly among Latino voters - often in the low 20’s percentage-wise. Yet Senator Obama won that state with 49% of the vote to Senator Clinton’s 48%, Edward’s 2% and Richardson’s 1%. Certainly his strength in a state written off as lost for him will be helpful in the coming days, when Texas and other states go to the polls.
Yet Clinton was not without suprises too yesterday night. Everyone expected Senator Clinton to sweep Arkansas easily, as she was the first lady there for many years, but few expected her to do so in the way she did. She won over 70% of the vote, while Senator Obama won only 27% - it is suprising because this was a primary, not a caucus, so the often abnormal percentages from there do not factor in. In short, the percularity of Arkansas is that she won it in a greater landslide than even her own home state of New York, where she won with a solid 58% majority.
In Summary, most of the Midwest went to Senator Obama while the general northeast went to Senator Clinton, with the south and mid-atlantic being divided about evenly among both. The results were as expected - a tie for both candidates, and now it all depends on how each candidate uses his or her momentum to try to score victories in the coming states this saturday and next tuesday. Clinton still leads the delegate count 783 to 709, but with nearly 2500 delegates left to go, that can quickly change. We shall just have to see.
But one thing is certain - last night was definetly an exciting historical moment, no matter which candidate one supports.
Full Feb. 5th Results: Feb. 5th Results
- Democratically Yours,
Executive Director Erich Reimer
Today, is the day when 22 states go out and select their nominee for the Democratic Nomination for 2008. Tens of millions of people will be going out to the polls today, in the biggest primary day in the history of the human race, in the most important American election in United States History.
Results will be posted as they come in, which is expected to begin around 9pm EST.
After yesterday’s Florida Primary, with over a million voters voting, the results followed as such;
Hillary Clinton: 50% [857,208 Votes]
Barack Obama: 33% [569,041 Votes]
John Edwards: 14% [248,604 Votes]
Dennis Kucinich: 1% [9,537] [Dropped Out]
Due to the Democratic National Committee’s ruling that since Florida moved its primary too early, Florida will not be allotted delegates in the Democratic National Convention in August. In other news, the Democratic race shortens to a 1v1 match up.
“…So that history can blaze its path.” said Senator Edwards today, as his reason for dropping out of the Democratic Primary race which he had previously claimed he would follow “all the way to Denver” [The Convention]. He says he is finally at peace, as “They [Obama and Clinton] have both pledged to me — and more importantly, through me to America — that they will make ending poverty central to their campaign for the presidency,”. In the other candidate’s responses, “John has spent a lifetime fighting to give voice to the voiceless and hope to the struggling,” Obama said. “At a time when our politics is too focused on who’s up and who’s down, he has consistently made us focus on who matters.”, and Clinton said that Edwards ran a campaign of “compassion and conviction”.
Edwards has strongly refused to endorse any candidate.
Certainly the fallout from Edwards dropping out will be interesting indeed for all of us - and with only less than a week till the ultimate “Super Tuesday”, where over 20 states will decide their choice for the Democrats in 2008.
Read the Article Here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/30/us/politics/30cnd-edwards.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Senator Edwards Quits the Democratic Primary
It’s clear the primary season won’t be over till March, April, or mabye even August. Thus there is still plenty of time to get involved with a campaign. Here’s the contact information for the various campaigns:
Senator Clinton:
Hillblazers [Young Leaders for Clinton]: http://www.hillblazers.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hillaryclinton
Senator Edwards:
Young America for Edwards: http://www.johnedwards.com/yafe/
Facebook: http://hs.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2228099275
Senator Gravel:
General Register: http://www.gravel2008.us/user
Senator Obama:
Contact Harris Mercer [National Coordinator] @ harris@studentsforbarackobama.com
Website: students.barackobama.com
Facebook Page: http://hs.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5418573135
South Carolina’s Primary is over - and the people of South Carolina have spoken. The “First in the South” primary has, with 98% of precincts reporting and 45 pledged delegates and 9 unpledged delegates at stake, decided as such;
Barack Obama: 55.3% [289,126 Votes] [25 Delegates]
Hillary Clinton: 26.5% [138,831 Votes] [11 Delegates]
John Edwards: 17.7% [92,581 Votes] [5 Delegates]
Mike Gravel: 0% [239 Votes] [0 Delegates]
Senator Obama won 54% among both males and females. Among Young people, Senator Obama won with 67%, Senator Clinton with 23%, and Senator Edwards with 10%. Among African-Americans, Senator Obama won with 78% of the vote, and among Whites, Senator Edwards won with 40% of the vote. Among voters 65 years and old, Senator Clinton won with 40% of the vote to Senator Obama’s 32% and Senator Edward’s 27%.
By County: Senator Obama won every county in South Carolina except for Oconee County, where Senator Edwards won with 45% of the vote, and Horry County, where Senator Clinton won with 39% of the vote.
Senator Obama’s victory in South Carolina proves that this primary is far from over, and that no matter who we support, there is still a lot of campaigning in front of each and everyone one of us. The race only heats up from now on - and will likely go beyond even Super Tuesday in 2 weeks, into March, and possibly even April - even more oppurtunities for us youth to make our voice heard and ourselves seen! We are the future, and here is our chance to change it.
Democratically Yours,
Erich Reimer
For more detailed exit poll information: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/epolls/#SCDEM
Fellow Democrats,
Today, January 22nd, is a special day. 35 Years ago, on this very day, the Supreme Court of the United States of America declared proudly in “Roe vs. Wade” the right of a women to determine her own destiny - with the passing of Roe vs. Wade, women’s rights took a new turn for the better, and will continue to do so. Yet it could not be where it is right now without the success of Roe vs. Wade, 35 years ago.
We also commenmorate today the death of Lyndon B. Johnson, who died the same day as Roe vs. Wade was passed, back 35 years ago. Lyndon B. Johnson, passing the Civil Rights Act during his presidency, finally ended legal segregation in America - no longer were those of other races seen as inferior or sub-human by the law, but now they were rightfully recognized as equal. Lyndon B. Johnson’s efforts, combined with Martin Luther King’s vision, who’s birthday was but yesterday, helped bring about a glorious new era in the history of America, where people finally followed the premise that Thomas Jefferson had laid down over 200 years ago - that “All men are created equal - that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
On this day, 35 years ago, the history of America entered a new age - finally one of legal equality for all people, regardless of race or sex. Today, we applaud those turning points and heroes of that day - and hope that in the future these turning points and heroes will continue to emerge in America’s never ending path to establish justice throughout the world.
Democratically Yours,
Executive Director Erich Reimer
After a grueling few weeks of campaigning, the Nevada Caucus’s are over. The Final results, with 98% of precincts reporting; (Note: In the next paragraph, “State Delegates” means the delegates to the state’s nominating convention, not to the Democratic Convention)
Hillary Clinton - 5,355 State Delegates - 51 percent
Barack Obama - 4,773 State Delegates- 45 percent
John Edwards - 396 State Delegates- 4 percent
Uncommitted - 31 State Delegates- 0 percent
Dennis Kucinich - 5 State Delegates- 0 percent
According to CNN, Senator Obama won the rural counties, Northern Nevada, and Reno. Senator Clinton won Las Vegas, which is in Clark County.
The Breakdown of the DNC Delegates Awarded:
Senator Obama : 13 Delegates to the Democratic National Convention
Senator Clinton: 12 Delegates to the Democratic National Convention
Right now the race is incredibly close - Senator Obama leads against Senator Clinton in terms of pledged delegates 38-36, but Clinton leads the race as a whole when superdelegates [Governors, Former Presidents, etc. who have votes at the convention as well], Clinton leads Obama by 210-123, with Edwards with 51 Delegates, and Kucinnich with 1 Delegate.
The Race Tightens
The Democratic race is certainly heating up - now it is a very close race, with no clear victor in sight. With South Carolina next saturday, the race could become even closer. There is certainly something very special happening here in this election - and let us all be glad that we can be part of it. But let’s not just speculate from the sidelines, let’s join in the fray!
More Info on the Nevada Caucus Results: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/epolls/#NVDEM
The Race as a Whole: http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/scorecard/#D
Democratically Yours,
Erich Reimer
Executive Director
The Republicans have become even further divided after today’s Michigan Primary, with Romney, McCain, and Huckabee now all engaging in a fierce fight for top runner, and with the shroudy Rudy Giuliani waiting to pounce from the background to further divide the Republicans even more. Current Democratic preliminary results with 99% of Precints in:
Hillary Clinton: 55%
Uncommited: 40%
Dennis Kucinnich: 4%
Mike Gravel: 1%
Note: ‘Uncommitted’ means that the voters decided that all the candidates on the ballot were not worthy of their vote, and thus voted that if seated, the delegates would abstain from voting for a nominee. The unusually large uncommited vote was because Mr. Edwards and Mr. Obama removed their names from the Michigan ballot after the DNC declared that Michigan would not have voting rights at the Democratic Convention because it moved its primary from Super Tuesday instead to January 15th.
A few days ago, the New Hampshire Primaries closed and with it another chapter in this election’s history. Senator Biden, Governor Richardson, and Senator Dodd have all dropped out of the race. The results were as follows;
Hillary Clinton: 39%
Barack Obama: 36%
John Edwards: 17%
Bill Richardson: 5%
Dennis Kucinich: 1%
It has been observed that every candidate that has won the New Hampshire Democratic Primary has went on to win the Democratic nomination…except for the past Democratic President, Bill Clinton, who broke the age-long tradition. The race is still tight, with no clear victor in sight.
Fellow High School Democrats,
2008 is finally upon us. Tonight, the unfolding of a new chapter in our nation’s history has begun, as Democratic voters in Iowa today went to the caucuses to declare who they believed was most qualified to lead our nation in the coming years. According to preliminary results with 90% Reporting, the results follow as such;
Barack Obama: 37%
John Edwards: 30%
Hillary Clinton: 29%
Bill Richardson: 2%
Joe Biden: 1%
Source: http://www.iowacaucusresults.com/
With record turnouts of Democratic voters, the democratic strength in Iowa looks strong - and as this year goes on, undoubtedly the momentum and fire lighted from today’s historical events will simply continue to grow brighter as our nation heads toward change. But don’t just sit on the sidelines watching history - become part of it! Highschooler’s, volunteer in the elections this year, go out into the streets, and door-by-door, city-by-city, state-by-state - become part of history itself as we elect a Democratic President in 2008!
- Democratically Yours,
Executive Director Erich Reimer
