NOTE: Cowritten by Lindsay McClusky, president of the United States Student Association, and Sarah Audelo, senior manager of domestic policy with Advocates for Youth
As the Senate prepares to vote on the repeal of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" and the passage of the DREAM Act, it would be wise for President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and their colleagues in both houses of Congress to take a moment and recognize the joint significance of these two pieces of legislation. Together, these two bills are a basic test of social justice for our elected leaders and for the country – and a political litmus test for the Millennial generation.
Over the past two years, young people have been at the forefront of grassroots activism in support of both of these bills. We see these issues as intersectional – much to the bewilderment of some of the national advocacy groups – and we refuse to "segment off" or abandon the fight for social justice.
Follow us below the fold for our thoughts on why today's votes are such a critical moment for Millennial voters and activists...
Passing the DREAM Act and repealing "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" is the right thing to do. When a majority of Americans support both of these actions, it should not be a politically complicated decision to do so. Doing the right thing – morally and politically – shouldn’t be too much to ask.
Yet, in the coming days, the Senate and the White House may just manage to grasp defeat from the jaws of victory. With Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress and on-the-record support for both the DREAM Act and "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" repeal from some Senate Republicans, this should be an easy win.
Certainly, Republicans in Congress deserve a large share of the blame. Their cynical insistence on knee-jerk opposition to nearly every piece of legislation is overshadowed only by the recent rise of transparent homophobia and racism in the halls of Washington. It is offensive when Congressmen proudly oppose the DREAM Act because it will hurt "non-minority citizens" or Senators claim to support the repeal of "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" repeal but obediently vote against it "for process reasons." It is nearly unforgivable that their Republican colleagues – many of whom have repeatedly promised their support for these bills – to allow this bigotry to go unchallenged. Far too many once-great Republican leaders have flip-flopped on basic human decency, without comment or consequence.
It’s equally disheartening that President Obama and members of Congress allow these scare tactics to go unchallenged or – worse still – dignify them as insurmountable political obstacles. The country is getting far too accustomed to this administration compromising its principles and ceding political victories without much of a fight.
The success or failure of these two initiatives will be critical, but not simply because they were among the president’s core campaign promises or because they are among the top priorities of the "professional left." In fact, while many national advocacy organizations were advising patience on gay issues or pushing for comprehensive immigration reform, both agendas languished. Comprehensive immigration reform never gained momentum, while the Employment Non-Descrimination Act and the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act were virtually ignored. The simple fact that "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" repeal and the DREAM Act remain possible is a testament to the tenacity and effectiveness of a new generation of activists willing to work outside the system and who refuse to let their priorities be pushed aside.
Young people have already proven their ability to be a powerful force at the ballot box. In the 2004, 2006, and 2008 elections, we saw young voter participation in a steady rise. The most recent presidential campaign was filled with articles attributing Obama’s victories (in both primaries and the general election) to the enthusiasm, support, and tireless work of young people across the country.
In the 2010 midterm election, we saw youth turnout slip back to a level slightly below the 2006 midterms. Pundits were eager to blame Democratic losses on young people, but they were looking at the issue from the wrong angle. Young people stayed home not because they somehow failed Democrats. Rather, young people stayed home because Democrats failed them. Beyond a few key policy wins – including expanding access to college education and the ability to stay on your family’s health insurance plan through age 25 – President Obama and this Congress have failed to deliver on many core campaign promises to young people. Moreover, candidates this year simply did not adequately engage young voters and ask for their votes.
The past two years have proven that "politics as usual" continue to dominate Washington, DC. None of us was expecting a magical new era of constant cooperation, but we were expecting leaders – from both parties – who would fight for the principles on which they had campaigned. Either our elected officials are willing to stand up and fight for justice and equality, or they are not. You can’t have it both ways.
In the meantime, we have each other to look to. We look to the DREAMers who marched from Miami to DC for a pathway to citizenship. We look to the young men and women who have risked discharge or chained themselves to the White House fence to force action on "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" repeal. We have given every possible argument from compassion to economics to move forward. We have organized online and rallied in the streets. We are calling the capitol switchboard by the thousands each and every day.
Our generation will continue to fight for the passage of the DREAM Act and the repeal of "Don’t Ask Don’t Tell," but we are watching your actions closely, hoping for leadership and wary of more empty rhetoric. Justice and equality can no longer wait. As 2010 comes to an end, Congress is fighting hard to approve a few, final pieces of legislation. President Obama is working to secure the votes he needs from both sides of the aisle. We are watching to see whether you will fight or cave. And, make no mistake, we will remember.
If, in the final days of the 111th Congress, "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" repeal and the DREAM Act both fail, this will be a catalyzing moment for Millennial disenchantment with Congress and the Obama administration. We all know that progress will become infinitely more difficult over the next two years.
We will keep fighting, but it may be impossible to trust that you are willing to do the same.