North Carolina Democrats took a major generational leap in choosing Anderson Clayton as their state party chair. Aged 25, Clayton represents a full break with the past several decades–and arguably even half-century–of party leadership in a state where Democrats have struggled in election after election. Whether out of desperation or hope, the Democratic Party has invested its future in younger North Carolinians.
It’s too easy to romanticize youth. Older and, especially, middle-aged leaders have the experience and perspective that are often necessary to make deeply informed decisions, and callowness is an eternal weakness of young people. My point is that the older generation that’s run the party since the 1970s is not simply a collection of dinosaurs to be defenestrated and sent to the Museum of Natural Sciences. For all the party’s failures in recent years, people like Bobbie Richardson built an organization that did elect Roy Cooper governor at a time when Southern Democrats had gone the way of, well, the dinosaurs.
But young people’s politics also has enormous virtues. Throughout history, it has been the idealism and energy of politically active young people that changed the world. This is a romantic narrative. But consider the role that college students played in the world-historical rights revolution of the long 1960s. Every social movement from civil rights to women’s rights to the campaign to the save our planet began and was nurtured by young people in our country. They deserve another chance, and this time within the arena of formal party politics.
In North Carolina, the Democrats owe young voters their sole victory of the last 20 years. Barack Obama lost every age group in 2008 except for voters 18-29 years old; Millennials, as young people were then, delivered the triumph the dissipating fumes of which have sustained Democrats ever since. Now, as I’ve written before, it’s time for Democrats to stop “living in 2008” given how much time has past and how much has been illustrated about the enduring conservatism of the state. But Democrats can learn from wins as well as losses and the clear lesson of 2008 is that they need the young.
It’s particularly important that Anderson Clayton is a Zoomer. While Millennial turnout has been nothing to write home about, Zoomers, so politicized in other states, have sat out North Carolina elections almost entirely. This is inexcusable on the part of the party, because there’s nothing inherently more apathetic about North Carolina’s Generation Z than the energized activists who have taken other states in a sharply progressive direction. Perhaps Anderson Clayton can reach young voters across the state in a way that other Democrats, and other generations, have failed again and again to do.
Alexander Jones is an original contributor to PoliticsNC.
I for one am very excited about Anderson Clayton’s new role in state politics. Friends who have met her tell me she’s got great experience, is very energetic and engaging. I hope she can energize the young voters in NC so we can retake the state senate and/or house and stop some of the madness coming out of there.
Talk about peculiar symbols that represent a political party–? Yeahh… and I note that the mascot of the Democrat Party is a jackass. How’s THAT for a ‘coincidentally strange parallel’…?
I rather doubt anyone really cares about Mayor Pete’s personal life; however, the fact that he took time away from his job for two whole months—while the United States was enduring a massive supply chain crisis? Yeahhh, I know somebody has to feed the new little guy, but…when you’re the Transportation Secretary for the United States of America and you can’t even take responsibility for the job that you were anointed to do…?? Yeahh—I’d say that’s a problem, and that’s on the Democrats. Democrats are the ones holding the White House now, therefore the onus and the burden of accountability falls on the Democrats. Don’t deflect, and whine to me about “Well, Trump this”, or ‘Well, Trump that…” Sorry, folks—you own it. That was then—this is now.
And lest you all deflect yet again—need I remind you of an earlier post that I put in here documenting the known, racist background and history of the Democrat Party? …because it was Democrats who opposed the Emancipation….it was Democrats who stood against black Americans being recognized as citizens. It was Democrats who stood against their right to due process of law. It was Democrats who opposed their right to vote. It was Democrats who created the racist organization known as the KKK, and it was Democrats who legitimized attempts to legalize Jim Crow laws against blacks. If it were not for the Republican Party’s efforts on behalf of black Americans, the Civil Rights Acts of the 1860’s and 1964 would not have happened! It seems to be Democrats who dream of a ‘kinder, gentler time’, when blacks knew their place, isn’t that right?? Yessir—your own party history indicts you!
But speaking of Mayor Pete, let me remind you of something: the Trump administration ended over two years ago! Biden and/or Mayor Pete, and all of their fellow Democrats that have had full control of the White House, the Senate, and the House until recently, have had EVERY chance to rectify the situation about railcar brakes if they really believed it would cause an accident.
So NOW we have a massive Infrastructure Bill that the Congress has passed. Thus, if the Biden administration had properly planned to do so much regarding rail spending and safety under that infamous Infrastructure Bill since Amtrak Joe took office in 2021, then what was preventing the DOT from working–with a Democrat-controlled Congress–to reinstate this all-important law that our absent Transportation Secretary now wants to blame for the East Palestine derailment? If it was THAT important, and so dangerous to rail safety that they feared an accident like this could occur, then why didn’t this Infrastructure-obsessed administration get around to reversing it…?? OH—but it’s MUCH easier to simply blame Trump, and after all, Mayor Petey has to have his personal time off. Yeahh, sure.
I’ll say one thing—no one can claim the Democrats aren’t good at what they do (whatever that might happen to be at any given moment). The fact is—with Democrats in office, we got the best politicians that money can buy!
Wayne, historically, the Democratic Party is the most successful political party in the US. The party was founded in 1828 by the supporters of Andy Jackson, making it the oldest active political party in the world. We have won the presidency 16 times with the first president being Andy Jackson and the most recently Joe Biden. Throughout history, Republicans have been the losers. A trend that Trump and his marry little band of grafters and liars have reinforced. Although, Trump is gone, soundly defeated in the last presidential election, he has left behind a zany group of misfits and wackos hell bent on destroying any chance of future Republican political victories. What remains are folks who have provided tons of material for the late night TV comedians. Whether it be the lizards from outer space, or criminal conspiracies hatched in the basement of a DC pizza parlor, which in reality has neither a basement or attic, Republicans never fail to get a laugh. I would say some of the stuff you write like that Donkey business may be your best effort. Keep up the good work, you and your fellow crazies have done more to destroy your party than we as Democrats could ever accomplish by costly ads.
Dixiecrats did All of the evil things described, but when Black voters and elected officials joined the Democratic Party of Lyndon Johnson, Terry Sanford, and Jimmy Carter, Dixiecrats bolted to taking over the Republican Party, and have ejected those who helped pass Civil Rights and voting rights. MAGA republicans are undeniable heirs of the racist Dixiecrats.
Nobody is dumb enough to believe that MAGA is the Party of Lincoln, not even them.
While we can all applaud the idealism and energy of politically active young people, there is little that your new Democrat chairwoman can do to solve the intractable stupidity of the national Democrat Party.
The last few weeks have seen the DNC face disaster after disaster with abject failure. Biden gives away staggering sums of taxpayer money to prop up a corrupt foreign country, but can’t seem to find ANYthing to offer by way of assistance to the beleaguered folks in small-town East Palestine, Ohio. He can’t even seem to persuade FEMA to visit the town, let alone get his Transportation Secretary—the ever-proper Mayor Pete—to do something competent regarding aid and assistance to this destroyed town. Apparently, Mayor Pete needs his ‘personal time off’ with his ‘husband’, and cannot be bothered with environmental disasters, railroad disasters, airline industry issues, supply chain issues—you know, all the stuff that actually IS in the ‘wheelhouse’ of the Transportation Secretary…?
No—instead, Biden takes his victory lap with Vladimir Zelensky in Ukraine (where he is literally led around by the hand, lest he get lost), and comes home, where he promptly (and as always!) ‘retires’ for rest and relaxation to his Wilmington, Delaware home for the weekend. (where, no doubt, he gets pumped up with enough drugs to get him thru yet-another grinding week of gaffes, missteps, and incomprehensible malapropisms).
But never fear! While Creepy Joe is taking his nap time, we’re in good hands with our VICE President—Kamala Harris—remember her?? The one who cackles like a demented hen every other minute?? The one who has a peculiar fascination with Venn diagrams?? The one who can’t seem to find our southern border, even though she was anointed The Border Czar by Biden…??? Yeah…that one.
The list goes on….and on. Your Democrat Party is literally RIDDLED with idiots, morons, perverts, fools, and liars. Your party has NO moral standing whatsoever to attack or insult the Republican Party, especially when your default excuse for ALL your failures is to claim, “It’s TRUMP’S fault!” Yeahhh….that doesn’t sell too well in rural America, and especially in large swaths of rural North Carolina—which WAS doing very well under President Trump, and has steadily been going downhill under President Biden.
Good luck to your starry-eyed new chairwoman. She has her work cut out for her.
While we can all applaud the idealism and energy of politically active young people, there is little that your new Democrat chairwoman can do to solve the intractable stupidity of the national Democrat Party.
The last few weeks have seen the DNC face disaster after disaster with abject failure. Biden gives away staggering sums of taxpayer money to prop up a corrupt foreign country, but can’t seem to find ANYthing to offer by way of assistance to the beleaguered folks in small-town East Palestine, Ohio. He can’t even seem to persuade FEMA to visit the town, let alone get his Transportation Secretary—the ever-proper Mayor Pete—to do something competent regarding aid and assistance to this destroyed town. Apparently, Mayor Pete needs his ‘personal time off’ with his ‘husband’, and cannot be bothered with environmental disasters, railroad disasters, airline industry issues, supply chain issues—you know, all the stuff that actually IS in the ‘wheelhouse’ of the Transportation Secretary…?
No—instead, Biden takes his victory lap with Vladimir Zelensky in Ukraine (where he is literally led around by the hand, lest he get lost), and comes home, where he promptly (and as always!) ‘retires’ for rest and relaxation to his Wilmington, Delaware home for the weekend. (where, no doubt, he gets pumped up with enough drugs to get him thru yet-another grinding week of gaffes, missteps, and incomprehensible malapropisms).
But never fear! While Creepy Joe is taking his nap time, we’re in good hands with our VICE President—Kamala Harris—remember her?? The one who cackles like a demented hen every other minute?? The one who has a peculiar fascination with Venn diagrams?? The one who can’t seem to find our southern border, even though she was anointed The Border Czar by Biden…??? Yeah…that one.
The list goes on….and on. Your Democrat Party is literally RIDDLED with idiots, morons, perverts, fools, and liars. Your party has NO moral standing whatsoever to attack or insult the Republican Party, especially when your default excuse for ALL your failures is to claim, “It’s TRUMP’S fault!” Yeahhh….that doesn’t sell too well in rural America, and especially in large swaths of rural North Carolina—which WAS doing very well under President Trump, and has steadily been going downhill under President Biden.
Good luck to your starry-eyed new chairwoman. She has her work cut out for her.
Speaking of “…intractable stupidity…” and there you are.
So tell us oh wise one, how many disasters did Elaine Chow show up to while she was Secretary of Transportation under your peroxide blond demi-God? You want to whine about Mayor Pete though; because you don’t like how he lives his personal life. Sucks to be you.
I guess you like the Russian slant on things better than you do helping a free people fight to stay that way. “Better Red than dead” huh? Says a lot about you and your unique perspective on freedom and liberty. Says a lot about the Republican base and their totalitarian perspective on governance; their representative color is red too. How about that for a coincidentally strange parallel.
“Your Democrat Party is literally RIDDLED with idiots, morons, perverts, fools, and liars.” Is that so? Well now, who died and left you in charge? Might want to clean the manure out of your own house first before you start look at other houses to take on.
But you are right about one thing (I can’t believe I’m writing this). It’s not all Donald Trump’s fault. Nope. Donnie boy took advantage of an already rotten core and dug the hole deeper. He didn’t start the fire, but he piled the clean coal on. Rural America doesn’t believe in listening to anything other than those things and ideas that re-enforce their own particular notion of how life should have stayed in the 1950’s.
No, Republicans like you talk about and claim to embrace liberty and freedom. But not for everyone. You want freedom for yourself and those of your own ilk. You only want those freedoms you like and care to indulge in. But those liberties and freedoms aren’t for everyone, despite the Constitution declaring “…all men…” are they? You fantasize of a kinder, simpler time and place where everyone knew their place. And since it says “…men…” we aren’t talking about women either. Ain’t that right, Bladen County boy?
Wayne, you must be a foreign propaganda bot. Several folks have mentioned that to be the case, but I always held out hope you were just another misinformed individual who lived to stick your finger in the eye of anybody who was not like you.
Truth be told, the train accident would not have occurred if the braking system had worked properly. The reason the braking system was not up to the job is Trump’s desire to deregulate the train industry. In simple words Trump and his happy little band of self-serving industrialists and lobbyists did away with the requirements for effective inspections and repair of safety equipment. It cost the companies too much to comply. There is also the issue of an improperly maintained bearing, that froze up setting into motion a series of events which contributed to the derailment.
“Mayor Pete” as you call him, runs the Department of Transportation, an agency which is not charged with the responsibility of cleaning up and rendering aid. That responsibility typically lays with the Federal Emergency Management folks. Several honest news agencies have reported the feds have aided the state government , established clinics, assisted in the clean up and helped the residents get their lives back together. One of the major problems, however, has been the laws regulating what is a disaster they can address. This red tape type issue has not prevented the Biden administration from jumping in.
You are correct in saying Trump did conduct political activity in the area, however, he did not throw paper towels this time, he tossed out Trump labeled water bottles. What a guy!
If you believe those Ukraine soldiers and their leadership fighting to save their country from Putin and his thugs are corrupt, think back to a telephone call placed by Trump where he threaten to withhold military aid if the president of the Ukraine did not dig up dirt on his political opponent. That is corruption which resulted in his first impeachment. The second involved the Jan. 6 attack on the capital to prevent congress from preforming its constitutional duty.
I would find it more palatable if he were Coco. No, our resident Republican soothsayer is a domestic propogandist. Home grown, corn fed, the product of local schools.
TC, you may be correct. The last election involving Big Donnie we had a few strange folks who appeared from nowhere and overnight peddling lies and deceptive information but with more class. They seemed better at their trade and did not repeat themselves by posting two identical comments. (see above) This may indicate the Republicans are short of cash, requiring the hiring of bargain basement agitators.
Theodore Ropp’s generational theory of social change is available for free online “History and War.” It is not, though, a mere tool for warriors, it is atool for all who would lead. I suggest that future party leaders understand their place in this generational scheme in which a generation that sees naught but failures and challenges is followed by a generation that produces an array of solutions which followed by a generation who implement the best solutions which is followed by a generation of do nothing slackers content to wallow in the comfort produced by preceding generation….only to be challenged by a generation who see naught but failures and challenges. Ropp’s model is accompanied by tables of generations covering over a thousand years. See if you can find where you fit in, what your generational function may be. Enjoy it if you are a slacker, be alarmed at the slacker, produce solutions to the alarmists’ concerns, sort through them and find the ones that might work, then implement change.
I, for one old codger, am relieved that the Party had the collective wisdom to select a change agent.
Anything is better than what we’ve had.
I would agree this is a step in a positive direction for Democrats, especially considering the average age of people moving to the Triangle, Triad, and Charlotte is most likely under 45 (although redistricting may(be) dilute(ing) some of these population trends). While a 60+ y.o. politician may be able to effectively communicate to a 30-something constituency, I think it feels more authentic coming from a generational peer. Let’s hope it bodes a brighter future for NC.