jmiller
July 21st, 2004, 18:20
P. Diddy puts a twist on voting
To encourage young people to vote, rapper P. Diddy is looking for fashionable people to help spread the word about the upcoming election.
BY NEKESA MUMBI MOODY
Associated Press
NEW YORK - Trendsetters, fashionistas, rappers -- P. Diddy wants you.
Specifically, he's looking for the ''sexy people'' to help him entice young people and minorities to vote in the presidential election, as part of his new nonpartisan voting initiative called Citizen Change.
''Now we're going to make voting cool,'' P. Diddy proclaimed as he trotted out fresh young faces, supermodels and even Democratic strategist James Carville at an event to begin his drive.
''For the first time in history, we're going to make voting fashionable,'' he said.
Of course, this isn't the first time a celebrity has been involved in politics, or that rockers or rappers have tried to encourage their fans to vote.
In recent years, Rock The Vote has enlisted stars, including Madonna, to appearing in public service announcements urging young people to vote, while MTV and BET have had campaigns to increase voter registration. Russell Simmons has had his Hip-Hop Summit Action Network hold several gatherings in cities across the nation to register voters.
''I think that Rock the Vote and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network has given birth to this organization,'' P. Diddy said. ``[But] I wanted to launch a new energy at a new time.''
Citizen Change plans to link up with MTV, BET, Clear Channel and other media outlets to increase voter awareness.
P. Diddy said there will be registration drives on college campuses and education initiatives to make people more aware of the election and the issues.
The organization will hold functions tied to both the Democratic and Republication conventions.
P. Diddy also said both President Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry will be invited to participate in Citizen Change events.
''It will be equal, 50-50,'' P. Diddy said.
P. Diddy already has enlisted stars Ben Affleck, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mariah Carey, and Mary J. Blige for the effort.Labels such as Ecko, Phat Farm, and his own Sean John have been tapped to create clothing featuring the initiative's motto -- ''Vote or Die!'' -- which Diddy himself wore at the news conference.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/9202305.htm?1c
Altough I give him credit for trying to help to get young/minority voters out to the polling stations, I don't like the tacttics being used by P. Diddy.
Personally I find it quite appauling that anyone would try to persuade an impressionable mind to vote in such a manner, especially when the given individual may not be given all the facts about any given candidate.
Sure, the young need to vote, but their decision to do so shouldn't be decided by a celebrity.
To encourage young people to vote, rapper P. Diddy is looking for fashionable people to help spread the word about the upcoming election.
BY NEKESA MUMBI MOODY
Associated Press
NEW YORK - Trendsetters, fashionistas, rappers -- P. Diddy wants you.
Specifically, he's looking for the ''sexy people'' to help him entice young people and minorities to vote in the presidential election, as part of his new nonpartisan voting initiative called Citizen Change.
''Now we're going to make voting cool,'' P. Diddy proclaimed as he trotted out fresh young faces, supermodels and even Democratic strategist James Carville at an event to begin his drive.
''For the first time in history, we're going to make voting fashionable,'' he said.
Of course, this isn't the first time a celebrity has been involved in politics, or that rockers or rappers have tried to encourage their fans to vote.
In recent years, Rock The Vote has enlisted stars, including Madonna, to appearing in public service announcements urging young people to vote, while MTV and BET have had campaigns to increase voter registration. Russell Simmons has had his Hip-Hop Summit Action Network hold several gatherings in cities across the nation to register voters.
''I think that Rock the Vote and the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network has given birth to this organization,'' P. Diddy said. ``[But] I wanted to launch a new energy at a new time.''
Citizen Change plans to link up with MTV, BET, Clear Channel and other media outlets to increase voter awareness.
P. Diddy said there will be registration drives on college campuses and education initiatives to make people more aware of the election and the issues.
The organization will hold functions tied to both the Democratic and Republication conventions.
P. Diddy also said both President Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry will be invited to participate in Citizen Change events.
''It will be equal, 50-50,'' P. Diddy said.
P. Diddy already has enlisted stars Ben Affleck, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mariah Carey, and Mary J. Blige for the effort.Labels such as Ecko, Phat Farm, and his own Sean John have been tapped to create clothing featuring the initiative's motto -- ''Vote or Die!'' -- which Diddy himself wore at the news conference.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/nation/9202305.htm?1c
Altough I give him credit for trying to help to get young/minority voters out to the polling stations, I don't like the tacttics being used by P. Diddy.
Personally I find it quite appauling that anyone would try to persuade an impressionable mind to vote in such a manner, especially when the given individual may not be given all the facts about any given candidate.
Sure, the young need to vote, but their decision to do so shouldn't be decided by a celebrity.