Tuesday, Nov. 2, Take Your Kids to Vote

Campaign Has Simple, But Important Message to Parents: On Tuesday, Nov. 2, Take Your Kids to Vote

To: National Desk, Political Reporter

Contact: Sarah Howe of Council for Excellence in Government, 202-530-3270 or showe@excelgov.org http://www.excelgov.org

WASHINGTON, Oct. 12 /U.S. Newswire/ -- How does one generation teach the next about the importance of voting? How can parents play a role in increasing voter turnout in future elections?

Here's one answer: On Election Day, Take Your Kids to Vote!

This is the message from the Council for Excellence in Government's Take Your Kids to Vote! 2004 campaign, a public education effort designed to introduce young people to voting.

Democracy is not a spectator sport. All of us -- even the kids -- must get in the game. The goal of Take Your Kids to Vote! is to have parents teach their children to be voters as they teach in so many other ways: by example. This simple effort makes voting a family affair and a family tradition. By starting early with kids voting can to be a habit that lasts a lifetime.

The need for such an effort is critical. The percentage of young adults who vote continues to decline. In 1972 (the year 18-year-olds became eligible to vote) 55 percent of 18-24 year olds voted. In the 2000 Presidential election, only 42 percent chose to do so.

Parents can make a real difference in their children's future voting habits. According to a 2002 Council for Excellence in Government study, parents who take their kids to vote, talk with their kids about politics, and vote in all or most elections raise kids with higher levels of political knowledge and political engagement. A previous study by the National Association of Secretaries of State found that parental voting behavior has a profound effect on whether their children vote.

The Take Your Kids to Vote! 2004 campaign is a project of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Council for Excellence in Government, which works to improve the performance of government at all levels as well as citizen participation, understanding and trust in government.
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Visit http://www.takeyourkidstovote.org and http://www.takeyourkidstovote.org for more information

http://www.usnewswire.com/

Voter Intimidation Marc Racicot John Sweeney

Letter on Voter Intimidation to AFL-CIO President John Sweeney

To: Interested Parties
From: Bush-Cheney '04 Communications
Date: 10/11/04
Re: Violence At Republican And Bush-
Cheney '04 Campaign Headquarters
Across The Country

Below is the text of a letter sent by Bush-Cheney '04 Campaign Chairman Governor Marc Racicot to AFL-CIO President John Sweeney via fax at 10:15 a.m. today. The letter asks Sweeney to put an end to protest activities that have led to injuries, property damage, vandalism and voter intimidation at Bush-Cheney '04 and Republican Party offices around the country.

Bush-Cheney '04 has created a hotline for victims of voter intimidation to report what happened. The hotline, 1-888-303-7125, will begin operation at 11:00 a.m. today

Letter To AFL-CIO President John Sweeney

Mr. John Sweeney
President
AFL-CIO
815 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20006
October 11, 2004

Dear Mr. Sweeney:

Over the past several weeks, acts of violence and vandalism have occurred at Republican and Bush-Cheney campaign headquarters across the country. In addition to the injuries, property damage and disruption associated with these acts, these events have created a threatening and intimidating atmosphere abhorrent to our democratic process.

On October 5th, according to news reports, witnesses, police reports and admissions of your members, the AFL-CIO, as part of a national strategy, protested at more than a dozen of our campaign and party headquarters across the country. In many locations, the protestors attempted to enter, or entered, campaign or party facilities. As one protestor said, "Actually, we're storming into an office." In Orlando, Florida, injuries and damage were sustained. Protestors forced their way into the facility, fracturing the arm of one staffer, and vandalized the office. In Michigan, protestors entered a headquarters and engaged in activities apparently intended to disrupt volunteers trying to make phone calls.

Protests by your organization come on the heels of several other incidents at Bush-Cheney '04 offices around the country, including a break-in at our Seattle office where laptop computers were stolen from the Washington State Bush-Cheney ’04 executive director and the state Republican Party 72-hour director. Just last night in Canton, Ohio, a Bush-Cheney '04 staffer was forced to lock herself in an office while another break-in was in progress. The facility was seriously damaged and property was stolen. Additionally, gun shots have been fired into Bush-Cheney '04 offices in West Virginia, Florida and Tennessee, windows broken in West Virginia and campaign staffers threatened. In Wisconsin, a supporter of the President had a swastika burned into his front yard simply because he had a Bush-Cheney '04 lawn sign. We urge your support in helping us ensure the safety of all individuals working on our campaign and others as we are making every effort to secure the safety of all participants in the political process.

I hope you will put an end to protest activities that have led to injuries, property damage, vandalism and voter intimidation. We will hold you and your organization accountable for the actions of your members and urge you to immediately discontinue any coordinated protest efforts that result in damage to our facilities, or injury to people who may hold different political views than your members, but who share an equal right to be involved in the political process without suffering violence, intimidation and threats.

Respectfully,

Gov. Marc Racicot, Bush-Cheney '04 Campaign Chairman

and in a unusual conjuction of the stars and planets

UAW Launches TV and Radio Ad Campaign in Eight Battleground States

DETROIT, Oct. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- UAW President Ron Gettelfinger today announced that UAW V-CAP is launching a $2.3 million independent expenditure ad campaign in support of presidential candidate John Kerry. The ad campaign is funded by UAW members' voluntary contributions to the UAW Voluntary Community Action Program (UAW V-CAP), the union's federal political action committee.

TV and radio spots will start running today at 8 p.m. Eastern time in major media markets in eight battleground states. The ads will run through next Monday, Oct. 18.

The 30-second TV spot, "Wrong Choices, Wrong Leader," which focuses on President Bush's record on jobs and health care, will run in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri and West Virginia.

The 60-second radio spot, "America Can Do Better," which contrasts Bush on jobs and health care against John Kerry's plan, will air in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan (Detroit market only).

The TV and radio spots will be available for viewing/listening today at 8 p.m. Eastern time on the UAW's Web site - http://www.uaw.org .

SOURCE UAW
Web Site: http://www.uaw.org