WEBVTT - Civic Cipher 102922 How Important is Voting in Midterm Elections? (Part 1)

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to another episode of Civic Cipher. I am your

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<v Speaker 1>host Ramsay's job. Big shout out to my man q Ward,

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<v Speaker 1>who has the week off. But it is okay because

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<v Speaker 1>we have a special guest who is going to talk

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<v Speaker 1>to us today about some very important things. If you've

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<v Speaker 1>been paying attention to the news, it's or to really anything.

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<v Speaker 1>It's really hard to miss what's going on politically these days.

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<v Speaker 1>And so we will be taking some time to discuss

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<v Speaker 1>midterm elections, and we will also take some time to

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<v Speaker 1>discuss the voter suppression initiatives that we need to be

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<v Speaker 1>mindful for that have been enacted at different places around

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<v Speaker 1>the country. And we have a very special guest in

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<v Speaker 1>the building today to talk to us about both of

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<v Speaker 1>those things, doctor Camilla Westenberg. And I've given you the

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<v Speaker 1>introduction many times, but please just a brief rundown of

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<v Speaker 1>your akala aids for our listeners.

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<v Speaker 2>Oh my goodness. Well, I'm a professor emeritus of Phoenix College.

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<v Speaker 2>I taught there for approximately thirty years in the English department.

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<v Speaker 2>I advised the NAACP the Issue Club. While I was there,

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<v Speaker 2>I taught developmental English African American literature in a class

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<v Speaker 2>that I created rap literature of the oral tradition, and

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<v Speaker 2>I'm involved in a number of organizations within the community

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<v Speaker 2>beyond the Meericle, Maccunti Branch of the NAACP, AKA Top

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<v Speaker 2>Ladies of Distinction, the Links, and the National Council.

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<v Speaker 1>Of Necro Women wonderful and so we are definitely going

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<v Speaker 1>to enjoy today's conversation again. A lot to stick around

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<v Speaker 1>for and hopefully we will give you all the tools

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<v Speaker 1>you need not only to vote yourself, but to get

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<v Speaker 1>your community out and voting as well. But first and

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<v Speaker 1>foremost around here, we like to start off with q's

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<v Speaker 1>favorite segment. We call it Ebony Excellence, and today's ebny

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<v Speaker 1>Excellence is brought to you by Major Threads Athletic Menswear.

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<v Speaker 1>You can find out more at majorthreads dot com. Today

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<v Speaker 1>we are shouting out doctor Karen Harding, who is the

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<v Speaker 1>president of the Americopa County Branch of the NAACP, so

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<v Speaker 1>I will read. The Americopa County Branch of the NAACP

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<v Speaker 1>has continued to incorporate a segment of its get Out

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<v Speaker 1>the Vote outreach to be specifically designed to continue to

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<v Speaker 1>work with the hip hop and spoken word communities of

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<v Speaker 1>the population. Through the incorporation of the Circle to the

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<v Speaker 1>Cipher projects, this provides an expertise in terms of reaching

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<v Speaker 1>young artists and these specific genres and to encourage and

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<v Speaker 1>mentor them to utilize their skills to spread they get

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<v Speaker 1>out the vote message in their artistic formats. Dominant focus

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<v Speaker 1>of the outreach is to highlight issues that may be

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<v Speaker 1>directly impacting the next generation as well as the critical

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<v Speaker 1>issues that will restore democracy. It is felt that it

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<v Speaker 1>is imperative that the country not turned to an aristocracy,

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<v Speaker 1>as is the current momentum. And again, doctor Karen Harding

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<v Speaker 1>is spearheading this effort and among others at the Americopa

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<v Speaker 1>County Branch of the NAACP, and they're really making an impact,

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<v Speaker 1>really getting people excited about sharing information and really getting

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<v Speaker 1>the community galvanized and mobilized in terms of voting. And

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<v Speaker 1>we love to see that. We love to see more

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<v Speaker 1>of it, and this is why we've taken today to

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<v Speaker 1>highlight what we believe is a shining example of Ebony excellence.

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<v Speaker 1>So once again shout out to doctor Karen Harding, the

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<v Speaker 1>President of the Americopa County Branch of the NAACP, and

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<v Speaker 1>all of her supporters at the Americopa County branch of

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<v Speaker 1>the NAACP. Now, midterm elections, Doctor Westenberg, you and I

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<v Speaker 1>have had quite a few conversations about the midterm elections,

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<v Speaker 1>the upcoming midterm elections, will say it that way, and

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<v Speaker 1>there's a lot to account for, a lot to take into,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, consideration as we approach election day, if I'm honest.

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<v Speaker 1>So before we start, you know, you you have so

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<v Speaker 1>much more perspective than me and a lot of our listeners,

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<v Speaker 1>and I love to hear you talk about it. So

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<v Speaker 1>can you share a little bit about how important voting

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<v Speaker 1>was to your elders.

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<v Speaker 2>It was extremely important. It was a privilege, and it

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<v Speaker 2>was something that was not taken lightly by any stress

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<v Speaker 2>of the imagination. But I think in terms of the

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<v Speaker 2>restrictions that were placed on me growing up, and then

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<v Speaker 2>I consider the restrictions that were placed on my elders,

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<v Speaker 2>you can do a comparison and understand what my elders

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<v Speaker 2>went through. Now, I was not born too many moons ago.

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<v Speaker 2>I just had my seventy fifth birthday. But in my

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<v Speaker 2>growing up, oh thank you, but am I growing up?

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<v Speaker 2>As you have heard, I living here amongst you was

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<v Speaker 2>not able to drink from a water fountain, So you

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<v Speaker 2>can imagine what it was like for my mother and

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<v Speaker 2>my father. I could not use the rest room, I

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<v Speaker 2>could not eat at a restaurant. I would have to

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<v Speaker 2>sit in the balcony of the movie theater if we

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<v Speaker 2>were even able to go in, I had to sit

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<v Speaker 2>at the back of the bus. I could not try

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<v Speaker 2>on shoes or hats. There were just so many restrictions

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<v Speaker 2>that were placed on me as an individual. So for

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<v Speaker 2>my mother and my father, it was much much worse.

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<v Speaker 2>They were very fortunate. My mother taught, so she had

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<v Speaker 2>some things that worked for her a little bit better

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<v Speaker 2>than others in the community. But we were poor. We

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<v Speaker 2>were poor people. We did not have a lot of money.

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<v Speaker 2>We did not have privileges to enjoy life the way

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<v Speaker 2>young people or even I enjoy life today. It's completely different.

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<v Speaker 1>So we recognized that, you know, voting, as you say,

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<v Speaker 1>a privilege, and most of the time when people think

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<v Speaker 1>of voting, we think of voting for the president of

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<v Speaker 1>the United States. This happens every four years, right Well,

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<v Speaker 1>this upcoming election is what's known as a midterm election.

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<v Speaker 1>So again for folks who are just being becoming acquainted

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<v Speaker 1>with the political process. Explain what midterm elections are.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, it is during the midterm elections that you have

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<v Speaker 2>the opportunity to vote on a lot many of the

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<v Speaker 2>local public officials and those of the individuals with whom

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<v Speaker 2>you have to be very concerned because they are making

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<v Speaker 2>some the decisions that are germane to your current life

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<v Speaker 2>right in your community. Whether it is the school board,

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<v Speaker 2>which is one that really advocate that people look at

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<v Speaker 2>and make a determination as to who are you electing

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<v Speaker 2>for your school board, for your city council. Each of

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<v Speaker 2>those individuals make a determination as to what is happening

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<v Speaker 2>in your personal environment, whether it's in school, whether it's

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<v Speaker 2>in the streets when I say streets lights, whether it

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<v Speaker 2>has to do with the police system, whether it is

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<v Speaker 2>the water system. May may have said that all of

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<v Speaker 2>those factors are germane to your everyday life and what

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<v Speaker 2>is taking place, and so one should be very very

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<v Speaker 2>concerned about midterm elections. Yes, the presidential election is important,

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<v Speaker 2>and then the next thing is during the midterm elections,

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<v Speaker 2>you're making a determination about who you're going to send

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<v Speaker 2>to Washington, d c. For the to be a part

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<v Speaker 2>of the Senate and the House to make some of

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<v Speaker 2>those larger decisions. Deal with it at two levels, at

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<v Speaker 2>the local for your city, for your county, as well

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<v Speaker 2>as who is going to represent you at the national

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<v Speaker 2>level as well. And so you need to look at

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<v Speaker 2>that ballot, and you need to look at it up

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<v Speaker 2>and down all the way through and not go to

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<v Speaker 2>the governor at the top, but you need to look

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<v Speaker 2>at all aspects of it and do as much research

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<v Speaker 2>and investigation as you can, and also find some reliable

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<v Speaker 2>sources within your community that will have done the research

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<v Speaker 2>that you can trust to give you information about those

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<v Speaker 2>individuals or those propositions for which you should vote. So

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<v Speaker 2>it's really quite crucial.

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<v Speaker 1>You know. It's something that I learned recently. If I'm honest,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, I'm well aware of our history. And obviously

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<v Speaker 1>I've been voting in every election since I was eighteen,

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<v Speaker 1>and and I've been tapped in certainly with our history.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, you are partially to blame for that, being

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<v Speaker 1>my teacher and mentor when I was in college. So

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<v Speaker 1>it's sort of strange to admit this on the radio,

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<v Speaker 1>But I don't think that I became intimately familiar with

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<v Speaker 1>much of the political process until President Obama was elected. I,

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<v Speaker 1>like many folks, thought that well, once President Obama gets

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<v Speaker 1>into office, with the perspective that he has, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>he can you know, change everything, just you know, by

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<v Speaker 1>waiving a magic presidential wand and you know, everything will

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<v Speaker 1>be better on the other side out of this presidency.

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<v Speaker 1>And I realized as I paid attention to the news,

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<v Speaker 1>because he was a very celebrated individual in our circles,

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<v Speaker 1>I realized that a lot of what I was reading was,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, how there was so much opposition to him.

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<v Speaker 1>And then I started to dig a little bit deeper,

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<v Speaker 1>and I realized the source of that opposition was found

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<v Speaker 1>in Congress and in the Senate, you know, primarily in

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<v Speaker 1>the Senate. And you know, there's another branch of the

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<v Speaker 1>government as well, the judiciary branch, which is the Supreme Court.

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<v Speaker 1>And that isn't a branch that has too much to

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<v Speaker 1>do with our electoral process, because those folks are nominated

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<v Speaker 1>by the president him or herself. However, for President Obama

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<v Speaker 1>to realize that he had encountered opposition at almost every turn,

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<v Speaker 1>it let me know, Okay, there's more going on here

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<v Speaker 1>than I understood anticipated. And so because of that, I

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<v Speaker 1>recognized that, you know, there's a little bit more as

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<v Speaker 1>I mentioned, and what that was was the people that

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<v Speaker 1>were elected in the midterms helped keep a much of

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<v Speaker 1>I guess Obama's power in check, right, and yeah, yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>and that's very problematic. And what we've seen is that

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<v Speaker 1>there was a backlash to the election of President Obama

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<v Speaker 1>by conservative podcasts of this country saying, Okay, well, if

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<v Speaker 1>he made it to office, we are going to do

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<v Speaker 1>our best to block his agenda at every turn. So

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<v Speaker 1>let's electors who are who are not along party lines.

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<v Speaker 1>List if he's Obama's Democrat, let's elect Republican senators, let's

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<v Speaker 1>elect Republican congress people, and they will represent our interests

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<v Speaker 1>in DC and hopefully stall or block Obama's agenda. And so,

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<v Speaker 1>in that time in my life, I realized exactly what

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<v Speaker 1>Obama was up against, and I realized that for a

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<v Speaker 1>lot of our listeners, a lot of people who might

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<v Speaker 1>be casually engaged in the political process, it may feel like,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, politics don't speak for you. It doesn't affect

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<v Speaker 1>your day to day life. They're not speaking your language.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, you voted once twice whatever, and you felt

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<v Speaker 1>no change in your day to day, So why bother?

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<v Speaker 1>And I think you said it best doctor Westernberg when

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<v Speaker 1>you said you have to bear in mind that there's

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<v Speaker 1>two battles. There's there's a battle on two fronts. I'm

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<v Speaker 1>not sure exactly how you set it, but basically you

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<v Speaker 1>illustrated that it's twofold. It's not just voting for the president,

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<v Speaker 1>it's also making sure that you bolster the president by

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<v Speaker 1>mid term elections by getting representatives, congress folks and senators

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<v Speaker 1>to d C and as well as local folks in

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<v Speaker 1>your in your immediate vicinity, people that, as you mentioned,

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<v Speaker 1>are responsible for municipal operations and so forth. So you know,

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<v Speaker 1>to everyone that has felt that those feelings of like

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<v Speaker 1>being disconnected from outcomes, being disconnected from whatever it was

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<v Speaker 1>that you were hopeful for, whatever it is you thought,

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<v Speaker 1>you know, this happened me too. So I'm not mad

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<v Speaker 1>at you. Just know that there's another card to play,

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<v Speaker 1>and it's midterm elections. So let's lean into this a

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<v Speaker 1>bit more. Let's discuss how the let's discuss what's at

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<v Speaker 1>stake if we don't participate fully in midterm elections.

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<v Speaker 2>Well, this year, probably more than any other year, not probably,

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<v Speaker 2>it's for real, there is a possibility of losing our democracy. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>mind you, as a representative of the NAACP and the

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<v Speaker 2>second right Vice president for Political Action, I must say

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<v Speaker 2>that the NAACP is a non partisan organization. Sure, and

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<v Speaker 2>so I cannot support any particular political candidate according to

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<v Speaker 2>political affiliations. But I certainly can do it or address policy.

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<v Speaker 2>And what is at risk is, above all things, this

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<v Speaker 2>notion of democracy. Whenever you have a cohort of people,

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<v Speaker 2>and I tell all listeners that you need to do

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<v Speaker 2>your research. You need to listen to what the positions

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<v Speaker 2>are of individuals and make sure you understand what the

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<v Speaker 2>positions are of those candidates. But any time you have

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<v Speaker 2>a candidate or an individual who is willing to overturn,

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<v Speaker 2>overturn the votes of the masses are to put in

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<v Speaker 2>position a policy that would allow them to look at

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<v Speaker 2>how the masses voted and if they did not like it,

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<v Speaker 2>to simply overturn it, or to identify electors who are

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<v Speaker 2>not elected electors, then it becomes problematic. Sure, then you

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<v Speaker 2>have individuals who are anti democratic, and it no longer

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<v Speaker 2>this country no longer becomes a country by the people

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<v Speaker 2>for the people, the voice of the people, and so

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<v Speaker 2>above all, losing our democracy in this mid term election

0:17:55.960 --> 0:18:01.200
<v Speaker 2>is the most paramount concern that we have. Now, there

0:18:01.320 --> 0:18:06.359
<v Speaker 2>are another number of other factors that we need to

0:18:06.400 --> 0:18:12.119
<v Speaker 2>look at. Women's rights, abortion is one. You need to

0:18:12.160 --> 0:18:17.000
<v Speaker 2>look at those candidates and see what their their positions are.

0:18:17.880 --> 0:18:23.560
<v Speaker 2>As it relates to abortion. You need to look at

0:18:23.600 --> 0:18:27.680
<v Speaker 2>them and see what their positions are. As it relates

0:18:27.760 --> 0:18:31.679
<v Speaker 2>to gun rights, you need to look and see what

0:18:31.800 --> 0:18:36.720
<v Speaker 2>their positions are. As far as the freedom of LGBTQ

0:18:36.960 --> 0:18:41.040
<v Speaker 2>and choice and marriage is concerned. It's a host of

0:18:41.160 --> 0:18:46.200
<v Speaker 2>things that are right at the core of what this

0:18:46.320 --> 0:18:53.639
<v Speaker 2>particular election is going to impact, absolutely absolutely everything about

0:18:53.680 --> 0:18:57.159
<v Speaker 2>who we are, what we have, what we stand for.

0:18:57.400 --> 0:19:02.960
<v Speaker 2>Our freedoms are at risk, truly, truly at risk. I

0:19:03.119 --> 0:19:07.639
<v Speaker 2>don't know that the masses understand that. And to be

0:19:07.760 --> 0:19:15.040
<v Speaker 2>complacent it's problematic. As I've always said, you better get

0:19:15.040 --> 0:19:17.240
<v Speaker 2>in the game because they are playing the game, and

0:19:17.359 --> 0:19:21.600
<v Speaker 2>this year they're playing at hard. They're playing it very

0:19:21.640 --> 0:19:28.600
<v Speaker 2>hard with some serious hardcore differences from the values and

0:19:28.800 --> 0:19:33.040
<v Speaker 2>the thoughts that the Constitution was built on. And so

0:19:35.040 --> 0:19:38.120
<v Speaker 2>we need to get our act together and look at

0:19:38.160 --> 0:19:41.560
<v Speaker 2>it very very closely, make some decisions and get there

0:19:41.600 --> 0:19:45.160
<v Speaker 2>and vote. That is what is at risk. Your education

0:19:45.440 --> 0:19:48.600
<v Speaker 2>is at risk, your jobs or at risk, your transportation

0:19:48.800 --> 0:19:51.960
<v Speaker 2>is at risk, your health is at risk, your taxes

0:19:52.080 --> 0:19:57.120
<v Speaker 2>are at risk, absolutely everything everything.

0:19:58.440 --> 0:20:03.399
<v Speaker 1>So you know, there's a lot of people who you know,

0:20:03.440 --> 0:20:06.040
<v Speaker 1>I mentioned earlier that you know, there are people who

0:20:06.040 --> 0:20:10.000
<v Speaker 1>feel disconnected from the political process and the only thing

0:20:10.119 --> 0:20:16.359
<v Speaker 1>that anyone can really point to is inflation or gas

0:20:16.440 --> 0:20:21.200
<v Speaker 1>prices or you know, things along that along those lines, right,

0:20:22.560 --> 0:20:27.320
<v Speaker 1>And I realized that you can't you know, delve into

0:20:27.359 --> 0:20:32.159
<v Speaker 1>this to any great degree because of your position with

0:20:32.320 --> 0:20:37.320
<v Speaker 1>the NAACP having to be a formal capacity nonpartisan. But

0:20:37.600 --> 0:20:40.240
<v Speaker 1>I will do my best to kind of articulate what

0:20:40.400 --> 0:20:46.640
<v Speaker 1>I believe is the case in folks because they feel

0:20:46.680 --> 0:20:51.960
<v Speaker 1>disconnected from many of the outcomes, They feel disconnected from

0:20:52.040 --> 0:20:55.399
<v Speaker 1>their vote, meaning something in their lives. And when the

0:20:55.440 --> 0:20:57.960
<v Speaker 1>only thing that's measurable that is, for lack of a

0:20:57.960 --> 0:21:03.920
<v Speaker 1>better term, tactile they can see touch field taste, et cetera,

0:21:04.240 --> 0:21:06.600
<v Speaker 1>is gas prices, you know, or you know, things like

0:21:06.640 --> 0:21:17.160
<v Speaker 1>along those lines, they may feel like, well, the current administration,

0:21:19.040 --> 0:21:22.879
<v Speaker 1>under the current administration, prices are higher and under the

0:21:22.920 --> 0:21:29.200
<v Speaker 1>previous administration, prices were lower, and they may not consider

0:21:31.840 --> 0:21:37.400
<v Speaker 1>the move to you know, release you know, simple possession

0:21:37.480 --> 0:21:41.080
<v Speaker 1>crimes for marijuana on the federal level. They may not

0:21:41.680 --> 0:21:46.639
<v Speaker 1>consider the move to attempt to cancel twenty thousand dollars

0:21:46.680 --> 0:21:51.280
<v Speaker 1>in student loan debt. They may not take into account

0:21:51.400 --> 0:21:56.680
<v Speaker 1>that the current administration may perhaps be playing the long

0:21:56.800 --> 0:22:04.640
<v Speaker 1>game for everyone's benefit, and they may be hyper focused

0:22:04.680 --> 0:22:10.400
<v Speaker 1>on this short term uncomfortability in terms of the gas prices,

0:22:10.840 --> 0:22:12.840
<v Speaker 1>and so that may cause a lot of folks to

0:22:13.160 --> 0:22:17.640
<v Speaker 1>sway away from you know whatever without dealing with all

0:22:17.680 --> 0:22:20.080
<v Speaker 1>of the realities. And so I love what you said

0:22:20.080 --> 0:22:23.240
<v Speaker 1>about being fully informed, kind of immersing yourself in the

0:22:23.240 --> 0:22:28.920
<v Speaker 1>political process, because for folks that don't know, it's very

0:22:28.920 --> 0:22:31.600
<v Speaker 1>easy to say, well, you know, as bad as it was,

0:22:32.200 --> 0:22:36.520
<v Speaker 1>it didn't affect me, you know, you know, twenty sixteen

0:22:36.560 --> 0:22:38.639
<v Speaker 1>to twenty twenty, as bad as it was, as scary

0:22:38.640 --> 0:22:42.040
<v Speaker 1>as it was, I can't point to anything too expensive.

0:22:42.520 --> 0:22:46.200
<v Speaker 1>So you know that that may be just the path

0:22:46.200 --> 0:22:49.760
<v Speaker 1>that we have to take versus you know, bearing in mind, okay,

0:22:49.800 --> 0:22:52.000
<v Speaker 1>we have a planet to say, we have you know,

0:22:52.000 --> 0:22:54.440
<v Speaker 1>there's a lot of things, as you mentioned women's right.

0:22:54.440 --> 0:22:57.560
<v Speaker 1>There's a lot of things that are on this midterm ballot.

0:22:58.320 --> 0:23:01.879
<v Speaker 1>And I think that the point I'm making is that

0:23:01.960 --> 0:23:08.440
<v Speaker 1>I really appreciate you articulating that folks need to inform themselves,

0:23:08.480 --> 0:23:12.399
<v Speaker 1>folks need to really understand sort of that stake. So

0:23:12.480 --> 0:23:13.520
<v Speaker 1>let me ask you this.

0:23:14.920 --> 0:23:19.280
<v Speaker 2>And one of the things. And remember I said, because

0:23:20.400 --> 0:23:26.399
<v Speaker 2>politics can be overwhelming and confusing, but you are not

0:23:26.680 --> 0:23:33.600
<v Speaker 2>alone in the process of trying to lead through everything.

0:23:35.040 --> 0:23:40.520
<v Speaker 2>So you need to find some resources but in your

0:23:40.600 --> 0:23:45.520
<v Speaker 2>community that you know have the same values and concerns

0:23:45.560 --> 0:23:52.040
<v Speaker 2>that you have to help you in leading through all

0:23:52.240 --> 0:23:55.159
<v Speaker 2>of the information and all of the decisions that have

0:23:55.240 --> 0:23:58.480
<v Speaker 2>to be made. And I think sometimes that's what the

0:23:58.800 --> 0:24:04.920
<v Speaker 2>problem is is it's just overwhelming for people. So don't

0:24:05.040 --> 0:24:11.040
<v Speaker 2>just carry the burden yourself, but look for resources, and

0:24:11.119 --> 0:24:16.280
<v Speaker 2>look for resources that you value as an entity within

0:24:16.400 --> 0:24:19.879
<v Speaker 2>your community. And I guarantee you that there is some

0:24:20.040 --> 0:24:24.040
<v Speaker 2>messaging there that will help you in your decision making process.

0:24:25.000 --> 0:24:29.080
<v Speaker 1>And while we're there, just because I can do this now,

0:24:30.160 --> 0:24:33.560
<v Speaker 1>if you want these resources, if you want to motivate

0:24:33.560 --> 0:24:36.320
<v Speaker 1>the people around you, Let's say you know exactly where

0:24:36.359 --> 0:24:39.200
<v Speaker 1>you stand. Okay, if you want resources to motivate those

0:24:39.240 --> 0:24:43.400
<v Speaker 1>around you, go to NAACP dot org. You can get organized,

0:24:43.440 --> 0:24:45.760
<v Speaker 1>you can organize within your community, you can get folks

0:24:45.840 --> 0:24:49.040
<v Speaker 1>out to the polls to vote. And if you are

0:24:49.160 --> 0:24:52.200
<v Speaker 1>under informed, you can also go to NAACP dot org

0:24:52.480 --> 0:24:57.200
<v Speaker 1>and start there. In terms of your learning process, and

0:24:57.720 --> 0:24:59.560
<v Speaker 1>there's lots of resources, you can't.

0:24:59.359 --> 0:25:02.880
<v Speaker 2>Go wrong exactly. And I would also say you need

0:25:02.920 --> 0:25:04.560
<v Speaker 2>to check out your black press too.

0:25:05.480 --> 0:25:06.120
<v Speaker 1>Absolutely