Published: April 13, 2008 09:03 pm            

Weekly wrap - Monday, April 14, 2008

On young voters:

If you’re college age or slightly older and a young, hip candidate for president hands you free tickets to a Dave Matthews concert, he’s got you registered and he’s got your vote.

Well, not necessarily.

While some fans at Sunday night’s show in Bloomington described themselves as swung voters, it remains to be seen whether the Barack Obama campaign’s rockin’ outreach will roll over as dividends in the May 6 Indiana primary or beyond.

Voters in the 18-to-29-year-old bracket tend to vote Democratic and thus far have favored Obama over Hillary Clinton. Their turnout has been higher than normal throughout the primary season, as it was in the 2006 midterm elections.

For Republicans, however, there is plenty of comfort to be found in recent history. John Kerry expected to profit from a massive “Rock the Vote” effort in 2004; but after all the music and celebrity exhortations had died away, turnout by the young only modestly improved over the 2000 election. And their allegiance was not to be taken for granted: Just 56 percent went for Kerry.

Since the cutoff was dropped to age 18 in 1972, the youngest voters have proved to be the least interested in the process and the least informed about public affairs.

Whether the lure is dead-serious debate or a modern-day Pied Piper with a guitar, increased political participation by the emerging generation is not just welcome, but vital. The paramount issues — debt, defense, health care, education, jobs, Social Security — are issues of the future and of the young.

Word to the newcomers: After the rock comes the hard part.

– The Indianapolis Star

On the Gaithers:

Bill and Gloria Gaither have brought happiness to so many, enriching lives through the inspirational music they create.

The Alexandria husband and wife were recognized by Gov. Mitch Daniels with the highest honor the state of Indiana confers, the Sachem Award. The governor presented the award, bestowed just once annually, to the Gaithers at the Great Hall of the Indiana State Museum.

Since Daniels revived the Sachem a few years ago, it has been given to such Hoosier notables as basketball legend John Wooden and former University of Notre Dame President Theodore Hesburgh. The award is meant to recognize “excellence in the pursuit of life’s work,” Daniels said.

The Gaithers, who have written and recorded more than 700 songs and have won eight Grammy Awards, have been atop the gospel music industry for decades, and their music has inspired thousands, often lifting people above suffering or revealing to them the beauty of God’s grace.

Through it all, the Gaithers have been humble and approachable. They’ve managed to accomplish something few celebrities do: staying grounded and genuine despite the adoration of multitudes.

The Gaithers’ successes are the community’s successes. So, when it comes down to it, we all get a little piece of that Sachem Award.

– The Herald Bulletin, Anderson

On Gary investigations:

When Lawrence Meeks of Gary pleaded guilty to failing to report income from the Gary Urban Enterprise Association, he became the ninth person convicted in the GUEA scandal. The now-defunct agency’s sordid tale of public corruption and wasteful spending is enough to make anyone shake his or her head in disgust.

Nine people convicted, and yet the investigation remains open, according to acting U.S. Attorney David Capp.

It is a sad commentary on the state of government in Lake County, and Gary in particular.

GUEA was set up to help rebuild a troubled city, yet it became synonymous with public corruption. It is not the only scandal to rock Gary recently.

• The Gary Public Transportation Corp. had its federal funding yanked after the feds decided the agency was incapable of handling its money.

• The Gary Sanitary District is being investigated by the feds for environment compliance issues.

• The police chief and two other top Gary police officers have been indicted for alleged civil rights violations.

Lake County has received a black eye from all these federal investigations. The best response to that nasty reputation is to keep up the federal investigations. Those probes must continue in order to clean up local government and make holding public office an honorable profession again.

– The Times, Munster

        

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