- Originally published in The Frontrunner September 23, 2004
Copyright 2004 Bulletin News Network, Inc.
The
Hill (9/23, O'Connor) reports, "Hoping to capitalize on a younger, more
affluent generation, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has
launched an unprecedented effort to solicit contributions from African-Americans.
Something New, the DNC committee charged with this initiative, held its
first event at Acropolis nightclub in Washington in June 2003. The
group has held eight subsequent events and raised $1.7 million." But
"while its financial stake has been relatively small this cycle, the
group has tapped into an eager network of young supporters with more
disposable income than their parents' generation." African- Americans
"have been a loyal Democratic constituency since the 1960s, but this is
the first election cycle that the party has made a direct appeal to
their pocketbooks as well as to their votes. ... To date, former
President Bill Clinton and his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton (N.Y.),
Illinois Senate candidate Barack Obama and the rap groups OutKast and
the Black Eyed Peas have made appearances at Something New events. The
group also has the support of entertainment moguls such as Russell
Simmons and club owners such as Mark Barnes, who owns Dream nightclub
in Washington."
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