James Mason

Website: http://www.youtube.com/jamesdukemason

Bio: I'm really into politics, and i'm 16 years old.

Jared Polis for Congress!

I haven’t written on this blog for a little while now. I’ve been busy with school, and I just finished serving as a United States Congressional Page. But for me, this race for Congress in Colorado’s 2nd District is far too important for me not to do everything I possibly can to get the word out about one particular candidate in that race, Jared Polis. Jared is a 33-year old internet entrepreneur who’s made millions of his own money by working hard and coming up with new technology. He’s used his financial success to build schools for homeless children, and served 8 years as the Colorado State Board of Education Chairman. He also happens to be openly gay, and would, if he wins the primary on August 12th, make history by becoming the first openly gay male non-incumbent in Congress. Whoever wins the primary will almost certainly win the general election, seeing as it’s a seat that’s gone Democratic since 1975.

I am a 16-year old openly gay political enthusiast. I support Jared because for me, as cliche as it sounds, he represents hope for the future. He represents a generational change, as well as a historic oppurtunity. Both of his opponents are in their 50’s and 60’s, and have been involved in politics for many years. Jared is the only candidate who truly represents me and my generation, and therefore it is so important that he wins his race on Tuesday. I encourage everyone on this blog to actively support his campaign for the remaining 6 days, by donating as much money as they can at his website, www.PolisforCongress.com, and getting the word out about his campaign to their friends and family. Again, this is a historic and unprecedented oppurtunity; Jared is a rising star who could make history for my generation and the gay community; he could one day end up as Governor of Colorado, or perhaps even President of the United States. So let’s make sure he wins on Tuesday.

My Youtube Videos- James Duke Mason

Hi everyone!

My name is James Duke Mason. I’m a 16 year old Democrat from California, and I’ve written a few articles here on Think Youth. I also have been doing my own videos on YouTube, and I hope that you’ll watch a few and consider subscribing to my channel. My account name is “JamesDukeMason“, and here is one of my recent videos just to give you a taste of what i’m all about. Thanks so much!

California’s Gay Marriage Battle

Due to the 2008 Presidential election’s domination of news coverage these days, it hasn’t gotten much attention in the media. But in California, a state which is known to lead the way for the rest of the nation, an epic battle is underway that could determine the future of the American gay rights movement. Not too long ago, on March 4th, the California Supreme Court began a process that will last 90 days, to hear from both advocates and opposers of equal marriage rights for gay couples. Among the advocates were San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, and John Duran, Mayor of West Hollywood. Among the opposers were State Attorney-General Jerry Brown, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.  It all began 4 years ago, when Mayor Newsom allowed gay couples to marry in San Francisco despite the fact that California, 4 years prior, had passed legislation that defined marriage as between one man and one woman. Shortly after Newsom began the process of handing out gay marriage licenses, the California Supreme Court ordered for San Francisco to stop, and invalidated all the gay marriages that had taken place. A few gay couples, understandably distraught, filed a lawsuit against the state of California, claiming that the fact they were being deprived of the right to marry was unconstitutional. That leads to where things are today, where the 7 members of the California Supreme Court are deciding on what could be one of the most important civil rights decisions in American history. California is known to lead the nation when it comes to these kind of things. In 2000, after California voted for an anti-gay marriage bill, other states began to vote to ban gay marriage too. In 2001, Gray Davis, the Governor at that time, established domestic partnerships for gay couples, and since then, domestic partnerships (or civil unions) have been established in other states across the country. If the members of the Supreme Court decide to legalize gay marriage, it could be the beginning of a string of successes for the gay rights movement. States which continue to ponder the issue of gay marriage (New York, for example) may be swayed by California’s decision. If the Supreme Court doesn’t legalize it, however, it could strengthen the fight against gay rights, and give ammo to gay rights opposers who will say that “even California, the most liberal state in America, won’t legalize it”.  It’s hard to tell which way it will infact go. Chief Justice Ronald George has indicated his support for legalizing gay marriage. Justice Carol Corrigan, on the other hand, has expressed her doubts about what she feels would be “tampering with the will of the voters”, seeing as California voted against marriage for gay people back in 2000. Whatever happens, it’s certainly going to be interesting, and very important. I understand that people are focused on Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton right now, but this is also an issue to watch. Following it’s development will make you a witness to something that really could make history- and change the dynamic of American politics forever. 

NEXT GENERATION: Jindal Wins Louisiana Governor’s Race!

NEXT GENERATION: Jindal Wins Louisiana Governor’s Race!

By James Duke Mason

Who would have thought that a young, Indian immigrant who studied at Oxford University in the United Kingdom would become Governor of Louisiana? It may have seemed unlikely up until recently, but now it has happened. Congressman Piyush Jindal, or “Bobby” Jindal, as he has come to be known, won the Louisiana Gubernatorial election by a landslide yesterday, defeating his nearest opponent by nearly 40 percent. Yes, Jindal is a conservative Republican, but his election does prove one good thing: that the next  generation of politicians is beginning to emerge, politicians who may, in 20, or 30 years, end up occupying the highest office in the land, and it makes politics even more exciting.

 Jindal, 36, will be the youngest Governor in America at the time of his inauguration in January 2008, although we have had younger Governor’s in the past, including Bill Clinton, who was inaugurated as Governor of Arkansas in 1978 when he was just 32 years old. Matt Blunt, son of Republican Congressman Roy Blunt, became Governor of Missouri in 2003 at age 33. Sure, a young Governor isn’t a uncommon occurence, but a young Governor of indian descent is, and it’s an example of how Americans are beginning to become more open and progressive towards people who are different from them. The same goes for the strong candidacies of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for the Presidency of the United States, their success is just more proof that America is changing, and for the better.

 Although I disagree with him on most issues, I do congratulate Governor-elect Jindal on his victory, and I wish him all the best for the future. He made history last night, and hey, who knows, maybe one day he’ll make history again, by becoming the first Indian President of the United States. It could happen. We’ll just have to wait and see.

The first gay President of the United States

The first gay President of the United States

By James Mason

The chances are that when the clock strikes noon on January 20th, 2009, history will be made. Why? Because in the current election for President of the United States, there is a female candidate, a hispanic candidate, an African-American candidate, and a mormon candidate, each with a decent chance of winning the Presidency and each, if elected, would be a first for the United States. But the question is: how about a gay candidate? When will America have it’s first gay President?

 

James McGreevey: Governor of New Jersey, 2002-2004

Congressman Barney Frank: Massachusetts’ 4th District, 1981-present

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin: Wisconsin’s 2nd District, 1999-present

Homosexuality is generally accepted in the United States, and every single Democratic Presidential Candidate supports gay civil unions or gay marriage, ending the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy in the military, banning job discrimination based on sexual orientation, and protecting gays against hate crimes by law. Also, a recent poll shows that 55% of Americans would vote for a gay person for President- showing that technically, if a gay candidate was right on the issues and the majority of the American people liked their ideas, they could win.

 Then why is it that there is still so much doubt about the electability of a gay candidate? Why hasn’t there ever been a serious gay contender for the Presidency? The only openly gay candidate for President was David McReynolds, who ran as the nominee of the Socialist Party in 1980 and 2000- gaining approximately 5,000 votes in each election. There are plenty of gay politicians who could mount a decent campaign for the Presidency- people like Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA), who is the Chairman of the House Banking Committee, and considered one of the most articulate and intelligent members of Congress.

 Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin is another example, a Democrat from Wisconsin who spoke at the 2004 Democratic National Convention on the issue of healthcare. Another possibility is former New Jersey Governor James McGreevey, who resigned in 2004 after coming out as gay and admitting he had an affair with an employee- but has managed to rebuild his reputation and political credibility since. Why haven’t any of these people stepped forward? Even if they didn’t have a real chance of winning, they would still be able to make an impact on the race and on future races as well.

 They might be able to make the idea of a gay President of the United States more realistic, and show the American people that there is no such thing as a “gay agenda”, that gays are concerned about the same issues that straight people are, issues like the Iraq War, healthcare, the minimum wage, and global warming. In 1984 and 1988, Rev. Jesse Jackson was a candidate for President. At the time, people said that he was the first real Black candidate for the White House.

 Now, in 2007, Senator Barack Obama has a real chance of winning, and it’s because 23 years ago, Jackson began building the road towards a Black President. Without Jackson, it’s likely that Obama would have no chance today. Same with Hillary Clinton; in 1972, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm became the first woman who mounted a serious mainstream candidacy for the Presidency. In 2000, Elizabeth Dole made a run for the Presidency, and while Dole’s candidacy may have been shortlived, it still helped make the idea of a female President more realistic for the American people. And in 2004, former Senator Carol Mosley Braun made a run for President too.

 Without Chisholm, Dole and Braun, Hillary Clinton would probably not have a chance of becoming President. It’s all about building towards the White House, and while we may not have a President McGreevey, President Baldwin or President Frank come 2009, their candidacies would build the blocks towards a gay Commander-in-Chief at some point in the future. Some would probably say that their candidacies would be a waste because they’d have no chance of winning, but unlike some people who have already announced their candidacies even though they have no chance, a gay candidate would be serving a purpose.

 Somewhere in America, there’s a teenager dreaming of one day becoming President of the United States. However, they’re not too sure if it’s worth trying because it might not be possible, simply because they’re gay, lesbian or bisexual. Back in the 1940’s, there were Black teenagers thinking the same thing, and female teens might have felt the same way, maybe until even the 1970’s or 80’s. But now, they have people from their community standing up for them by running for the highest office in the land, but what do gay people have? Nothing.

 It’s time for that to change. Governor McGreevey, Congressman Frank, Congresswoman Baldwin, stand up and make history. Be the person who made the difference, who changed America forever and who made the possibility of breaking the glass ceiling, of a gay person becoming President of the United States, a little more true. Millions of Americans are asking for your help and leadership- and now it’s time for you to answer their call.

Why Bill Richardson won’t be President OR Vice President

When Bill Richardson first entered the race, he seemed to be a guy who really could win the Presidential or Vice Presidential Nomination. A south-western, moderate Governor who also had served as Secretary of Energy and had foreign policy experience from his time as United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Sounds like a shoe-in, doesn’t it? Well, as time has gone on, Richardson’s campaign, in my opinion, has began to crumble away. Sure, he may not be doing so bad in recent polls, but I would bet you a million dollars that he won’t get any higher than where he is now, which is around 13 percent in Iowa, and something like 10 percent in New Hampshire, I believe.

And the reason this is, is that he simply isn’t Presidential, or Vice Presidential, for that matter. In all the debates I’ve seen so far, he seems tired and somewhat cranky, and he isn’t that great of a speaker. He’s chubby, he’s short, and he makes a lot of gaffes, his most famous one being the “it’s a choice” comment he made, in reference to homosexuality, at the GLBT debate in Los Angeles on August 9th. President’s and Vice Presidents have to be on the ball and aware all the time. Read more