You're watching...
Salvator J. La Mastra helps young voters get up-to-date on the major issues facing our country
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
Q you knew all right how we were talking about the various groups that may play a significant role in this election.
Obviously one of those one is being talked about a lot this week with President Obama obviously you have putting and his policy.
On student loans is the young of the youth vote -- -- joined now by Salvatore.
Fabulous -- Salvatore.
First of all and Salvador the author of this book.
The 20122012.
For twenty somethings.
A young voter's guide to the 2012 elections -- you see it all not screen.
Salvador out of where we always seem to end up talking about young motives and whether they gonna get out.
Whether they are inspired to why should they be.
Well.
This election is going to be completely different from 2008 Barack Obama got sixty.
I think for a 66% of the youth vote in 2008 and it was -- because this message of hope and change we all wanted it especially the young voters.
And he can't recycle that for 2012 -- always having to come up with a different approach.
And I think he's taking -- student loan as one of his signature campaign.
Propositions for 2012.
And I don't know if it'll work because.
Although we do you want the interest rates to stay low for -- loans as he was on Jimmy Fallon talking about.
And doesn't matter what the interest rates are if young voters don't have jobs and unemployment is and then the double digits for young voters and I think at the end of the day it's going to be all about jobs and you know as you talked about -- demanding on your last segment.
No can it really has any real plan for jobs right now and that's going to be a big challenge for both sides in 2012.
There's some until you obviously -- a lot of time talking to the twenty somethings who will be voting -- -- didn't vote.
-- -- -- -- -- -- Do you get a sense that with the economy the way it is then retreating into that thing we've seen as sometimes the full with the younger voters is that they just sort of I'm not going to ball there or are they -- fired up this time around.
They're not fired it yet I think both sides have.
I huge potential to come up with a platform to get them fired up but as of right now it's looking like motion voters are pretty apathetic about politics in the election and can't take.
-- gonna take someone did to get that spark back in the and to get them excited to sell up and vote again and that's going to be one of President Obama is big hurdles is getting.
The young voters to get inspired and excited to go out and and I vote for him and more importantly he campaigned for him there -- -- he had young voters is is that soldiers and 2008.
And they really get a big job in getting his message out and if they're not showing at this time to help is gonna have a a lot harder time do you see any any.
-- evidence that -- day off.
About moving towards the Republican side obviously did the majority voted -- President Obama.
In in 2008 I think living jewels a Republican side or they just becoming apathetic do you think and -- -- -- -- -- hope.
Well I think that.
Young voters who voted Republican in 2008 will vote Republican again.
And that the thing you have to watch as does 66% that didn't go over President Obama.
Some of them might not show -- there for eating up these boats and I think Republicans if they pick the right VP candidate.
Thank you inspire young voters such as Ron Paul would be the perfect -- in my opinion for the Republican Party.
I think they would have a huge chance of at least you mean Al the youth vote or -- I gain a majority of the youth -- that's the selection.
Some -- -- -- in a couple of the chapters in the book our media I guess your tapping into what we called the apathy.
I'm the sort of distaste shall we say.
Wind with the process of politics in chapter ten where you say is this -- or -- or an episode of Jeff acts but what.
What exactly as you point -- I think he's probably pretty obvious actually but what do you explain it.
Yes well I mean is is you've seen the polls I mean congress has -- and nine are a lot of personal approval rate.
They get absolutely nothing done it's all about partisan politics as you parity in the senate has yet to pass the budget and I don't know how long and that Republican House is putting up.
Far far right bills that the senate won't even take them up and I think.
We need a lot more compromise in the senate and the house to come up with jobs that jobs -- that really help the country and I mean all you're seen as partisan politics you have you know been playing chicken with the debt ceiling and now what they interest rates for that student loans and you know I just don't see them doing their job and you have -- to Anthony Weiner scandal and you know one after another and that they just don't have the respect I think for the office they hold and I think it's very important for 2012 that we become educated voters my -- is about.
Not creating -- Democrat voters -- Republican just educate young voters so when they do show up at the voting Booth they know.
What platform will be the best whether Democrat or Republican and which candidate what have -- respect and honor for the office that there that they -- -- but and we would.
Obviously we -- seen all the data which.
Tends to indicate that twenty somethings gonna be a little -- -- roll.
-- on the us social issues and you talk about that abortion gay marriage marijuana and -- -- -- do they do they still hadn't generally lean liberal on those particular issues.
Yeah I think they lean liberal or they just don't care about those issues I don't think they hold the legalization of marijuana is that big of an issue they don't.
Care about same sex marriage that I am whether I mean they care about -- the liberal side I think they are like well we you know let him do what they wanna do it's not a big deal -- them wet -- they think it's right or wrong.
And I do want to -- it.
That's going to be very hard for it Democrats this election because young voters I mean that is there.
So this is our sulphide on the list this election that I don't think they're gonna matter that much on what they can't -- stand where they stand on those issues.
So and I think that would be -- sorry -- I don't.
Oh I think that's the my another -- I think they should -- crime policy is such an advocate for.
The federal government -- out of the business of being a legalization of marijuana -- -- same sex marriage and so.
And abortion and let the states decide and I think that attracts young voters and -- like won't get the total amount of Atlanta my state decide -- you know California in New York Washington wanna allow same sex marriage Clinton might not happen here in Texas that's located them as long as they can let their states make up their mind.
And that's that's I think that's what Ron Paul would be a perfect -- is that yes he might not agree with some of socialist is that he advocates for them not to be a federal government issue.
I mean that you you talk about them and then maybe perhaps not -- sometimes -- social issues either leaning liberal not carry.
For them for the twenty somethings.
Is it as Mitt Romney eluded the other day all about the economy and then -- stupid.
Yet they they are not stupid I mean even if I mean if congress does pass this the best X extension on the lower interest rates for the student loans that's not gonna change anything because they were well you know ten days -- double -- well in November.
And -- you saw -- the problem with -- unemployment which is you know and the double digits and it's going to be all about I have friends you know I just graduated from Baylor university and there's my lot of my friends are living at home they can't find jobs and so it's it's gonna be huge they -- they want jobs they spent four years in college.
They want to have employment and they want a president if you.
Is going -- give them a good jobs and it's gonna get the country working again I think Mitt Romney has a huge potential with his message especially being a successful businessman ideas.
Did you just say you graduated you just graduated from Baylor.
Yes I graduated from Baylor in 2000 tanner started dental school this July inside and how I'm -- listed in the -- don't loans.
-- debate going on right now because when Mandela dental school I'll be about 300000 in the hall.
When -- dad's side definitely -- -- -- -- rates will be.
Well my interest in -- is just thanking you for our G three -- great quarterback who will yeah hopefully off to tonight be a Washington.
Redskin and -- my favorite team to the Super Bowls and thank you -- And a -- thank you for being here Salvatore all what -- let me get this right Salvador.
Correct yes thank you for having me all right thank you it's a fascinating book it's 2012 for twenty somethings I will put it up on the screen again available at tell all your local bookstores and online I'm sure in the iTunes -- that Salvador thanks so much fascinated until --
