The night before the Democratic National Convention started up a good friend of mine reminded me to always be critical of what I see, look at the deeper level of what is happening, and never take things by face value. That is essentially what the past two days of the Democratic National Convention has been about – the morphing of my Democratic ideals and Obama fascination into multiple layers of criticism.

During the meeting of College Democrats & Students for Barack Obama one disgruntled supporter voiced his resentment towards the Barack Obama campaign. He complained that the Obama campaign has neglected the youth support following his success in the primary elections. He asked why so few credentials were passed out among the young Obama supporters and expressed that he and others felt taken advantage of. The young Obama supporters on the panel explained that a majority of the credentials to get into the convention were given out to many of the people in Denver.

“We feel used. Used in the primary – forgotten in the general (election),” the young man said.

Shortly after, another young Sen. Barack Obama supporter raised his hand and said, “I just wanted to say, not all of us feel used.”

I personally don’t feel used by the Democratic or Obama Party, but the first young man’s words struck me. Mainly because I almost wasn’t permitted to come to the Democratic National Convention because the agency that handed out the Okays and Nays hesitated to give youth media reporters credentials because they didn’t want high school or college journalists at the convention.

The last time I checked the age demographics 18 to 24 years old is what made this election remotely interesting. The youngest delegate in the Democratic delegation is 17-years old. So, why allow young people the ability to pick the next leader of the free world as a delegate, but on the flip side restrict those same individuals from reporting and witnessing an event that their generation helped bring about.

But the discontent among young Obama supporters is not detectable on the streets as young men holding Obama 08 placards and playing brass instruments parading through downtown Denver on Tuesday afternoon and young girls sporting Obama tank tops.

In another youth meeting a few speakers made me wonder what exactly they were voting for come the general election in November.

One young woman said many young people were not excited about the candidate, Barack Obama, but about the change that would take place in their community once he is elected.

Another female speaker said the youth community is voting for change, not Obama.

What came first the chicken or the egg?

You can’t vote for an idea, or a concept, or a dog in an ugly sweater. You’re voting for an individual, the person you want to lead you into the next four years. When you say you’re ‘voting for change’ what you’re really saying is, “I’m only voting for him because the candidate I supported lost.”
—Eming Piansay