Free Speech and Youth Activism: Plenty of Exciting Energy at the RNC

What has been in the news over the last day or so has been the extremely tight police presence at the RNC, and the arrests of hundreds of protesters. Less in the news has been the peaceful and respectful protesting by tens of thousands of concerned Americans in sleepy St. Paul, including Monday's very large march from the Minnesota State Capitol to the RNC convention site. The marches have complicated getting around St. Paul, to say the least, and on Monday Common Cause President Bob Edgar and communications director Mary Boyle, on the way to meet with media near the convention, had to cool their heels for over an hour and enjoy the view of Americans from all walks of life peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights- and demanding political reform. Some photos of the colorful sight are posted.

There have also been rallies and concerts at the Minnesota State Capitol, which as you would expect drew thousands of young voters gathering to talk politics on dozens of issues (and eat and drink and dance). The University of Minnesota's Democracy Matters chapter has been there, with a table on how money in politics is so fundamental to the ability to get anything done today in American politics, and the opportunities to organize at college campuses around the country on this issue. Daryn Cambridge, Common Cause's brand new youth outreach director and recently of Democracy Matters, has been in St. Paul and received a firsthand experience of all this energy and idealism. There's no doubt today's youth are demanding reform and change, and want to get special interests out of politics. It will be very exciting to build on that energy in the weeks to come across college campuses. Some other photos of some of this activity at the RNC are posted here.

"Big Tent" Reception: Reform is Nonpartisan

On Tuesday night, Bob Edgar and Common Cause staff attended as guests of George and Sally Pillsbury the Republican "Big Tent" reception. This was a reception attended by hundreds of Republicans who want to make government work better, and want to work with Democrats to create bipartisan reform. Bob was invited because, as Sally Pillsbury put, "I knew John Gardner, and the values and traditions of Common Cause are more needed today than ever." This reception featured many nationally known speakers who frankly described how much of Republican leadership has become too partisan and too out of sync with voters, gravely jeopardizing their electoral chances this fall. These "Big Tent Republicans" are very interested in democratic and political reform and working with Common Cause, very much what John Gardner had in mind.