Rock the Vote

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Rock the Vote is a non-profit political advocacy organization founded in Los Angeles in 1990 by Jeff Ayeroff, co-chief of Virgin Records. The group states that it is a non-partisan organization; others disagree with this assessment<ref>Chris Arabia. Mock the Vote. Retrieved on 2006-10-26.</ref>, noting that it promotes books and organizations that are self-described "progressive" and promotes "progressive" issue advocacy on various topics, such as jobs, health care and social security both on their site and blog.<ref>http://www.rockthevote.com/rtv_partners.php</ref><ref>http://www.rockthevote.com/recommended_books.php</ref><ref>http://www.rockthevote.com/is_whyvote.php</ref><ref>http://blog.rockthevote.com/</ref> The organization's timeline states it was founded as "a response to a wave of attacks on freedom of speech and artistic expression"<ref>RTV timeline. Retrieved on 2006-10-26.</ref>. It was once affiliated with MTV, Dixie Chicks, and P. Diddy.

The goal of Rock the Vote's media campaigns and street team activities is to increase youth voter turnout and encourage positive social change. Rock the Vote coordinates voter registration drives, get-out-the-vote events, and voter education efforts, all with the intention of ensuring that young people take advantage of their right to vote.

The Canadian Rock the Vote organization founded in Toronto in 1979 by Zeke Zavier CEO of Rock Nation in Canada. That organization was involved and supported the Live8 campaign and petitioned the government to Make Poverty History. During the Canadian federal election 2006, Rock the Vote conducted youth opinion and voting polls. One of the most famous events, according to Zeke Zavier, one of the founders of Rock the Vote, is the introduction of world's first youth "Beer Polls".

Famously, in a 1994 Rock the Vote event that was aired on MTV, 17-year-old Laetitia Thompson, daughter of NBC Reporter Lea Thompson, asked President Bill Clinton, "Boxers or briefs?" After a brief moment of surprise, Clinton responded, "Usually briefs."

During the 2004 presidential election the group drew criticism from Republican Party officials such as RNC chairman Ed Gillespie for sending a mock draft notice to over 600,000 e-mail addresses. The message included the words "Selective Service System" and read "You are hereby ordered for induction into the Armed Forces of the United States, and to report to a polling place near you" on November 2 (Election Day). The Rock the Vote logo and a facsimile of Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's signature appeared at the bottom of the message. In addition, Rock the Vote created public service announcements featuring the subject of the draft.

In a letter to Rock the Vote president Jehmu Greene, a Democratic Party activist, Ed Gillespie accused Rock the Vote of "promoting a false and misleading campaign designed to scare America's youth into believing that they may be drafted to serve in the military." Gillespie's also claimed that the "urban myth regarding a draft" had been "thoroughly debunked" by President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Rumsfeld, Gillespie wrote: "This is the sort of malicious political deception that is likely to increase voter cynicism and in fact decrease the youth vote, as well as raising serious legal issues regarding the political motivations of your efforts." <ref>missingauthor (missingdate). missingtitle. missingpublisher.</ref> Rock the Vote replied pointing out that General John Keane, former Vice Chief of Staff of the US army "says the continued success of the all-volunteer military is not guaranteed” Keane has told Congress that adding more than 50,000 troops to the Army would require thinking about a return to the draft”"<ref>Jehmu Greene. Rock the Vote replies to RNC letter. Retrieved on 2006-10-26.</ref>, and saying her organization wanted an "educated dialogue".

[edit] Financial Difficulties

According to the Los Angeles Times, Rock the Vote is currently experiencing major problems. It is $700,000 in debt, and is down to two employees from 20 as of 2004. Its president resigned in the summer of 2005 "amid disagreements about the organization's direction", and has not yet been replaced.<ref>Charles Duhigg. "Rock the Vote Is Stuck in a Hard Place", LA Times, 2006-02-07.</ref>