‘Incredible turnout’ for Brown’s visit

From Daily Kent Stater:

Congressman Sherrod Brown, a Democratic candidate for U.S. senator, spoke to a crowd of about 50 students Friday as part of his statewide Road to Change campaign tour.

...In regard to the 2006 election, Brown, who is running against Republican Sen. Mike DeWine, said the senate race in Ohio will be the most watched race in the country because of the great deal at stake.

"This race may determine which party will be the majority in the senate," he said.

A Democratic majority in the senate would have an extremely different approval process of important issues such as the War in Iraq and how the national government spends public money, Brown said.

"It could also dramatically change the dynamic of the 2008 presidential election," he said.

The day after Election Day, Brown said he foresees two major headlines gracing the front page of newspapers across the country.

"Newspapers from the Los Angeles Times to The New York Times will read 'Democrats take the House and Senate,'" he said. "And 'Ohio is finally a blue state.'"

...Katie Hale, sophomore political science major, said she was excited to have Brown here for the second time this semester. She said he is a strong democrat, which is exactly what the party needs to win.

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04/25/2006 / Permalink / Northeast Ohio, students, (all tags)

Sherrod Brown Speaks To College Democrats

From TV2 Kent:

Brown began his speech with praise for student activists such as the College Democrats, comparing them to canaries (mine workers used to bring canaries with them down into the mine shaft, and if the bird passed out the workers knew to leave because of noxious gas in the air) in the sense that they are often part of the front line in political battles.

"Young people were going south to Missouri and Alabama to give their lives to the civil rights movement," Brown said. "Throughout the progress of this country...you have a tradition of these Democrats coming out of youth."

Brown cited a Washington Post editorial that said "the Senate race in Ohio is going to be the most watched in this country because it may determine the majority in the Senate."

"No longer with Republicans think they have the upper hand," Brown said, "It will mean a different Democratic party, the training of young activists and a different direction for this country."

At this point, applause broke out among the crowd as Brown said, "I have two jobs for each of you...Get involved in the minimum wage effort...and commit yourself that you will find five [undecided] people...and get them to vote...to elect Democrats and progressives."

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04/25/2006 / Permalink / Northeast Ohio, students, (all tags)

Students for Sherrod Hold Organizing Summit in Columbus

Sherrod speaks at student organizing summit.

Earlier this month, student leaders from around the state gathered in Columbus to kick off an organizing drive to elect Sherrod to the U.S. Senate.

Sherrod told the student organizers that their involvement in his campaign would play a decisive role in this year's election.

"Young people have been at the forefront of every great social movement in our country's history," Sherrod said. "They will be a critical part of our victory in 2006."

The event took place at Drinko Hall on the campus of the Ohio State University.  Sherrod talked about jobs, health care, and the need to make college affordable for all.

"A few decades ago, 30% of college aid was in the form of loans, and 70% was grants. Today, those proportions have switched.  I have fought in Congress to make college tuition in Ohio once again affordable, and I will keep fighting in the Senate."

Sherrod's opponent in the election, Republican Mike DeWine, voted in 2004 against an amendment that would have increased the Pell Grant and indexed it to tuition costs. If the amendment had passed, the maximum Pell Grant would have increased whenever tuition costs rose.

"Year after year, President Bush has broken his campaign promises on college aid. And year after year, the Republican leadership in Congress has let him do it," Sherrod said. "Instead of helping students afford college, they have helped our nation's millionaires afford more yachts by passing trillion dollar tax cuts."

Voter turnout among young people rose significantly from 2000 to 2004. According to the nonpartisan Center for Information and Research on Learning and Civic Engagement, turnout among Americans aged 18-24 rose from 37% in 2000 to 46% in 2004. In battleground states like Ohio, the increase was even larger--a change from 38% in 2000 to 54% in 2004.

"Ohioans are demanding change, especially young Ohioans," Sherrod said. "This year, we are going to take our government out of the hands of corporate special interests and put it back into the hands of Ohio families, where it belongs."

04/20/2006 / Permalink / students, Volunteer, (all tags)