There's an impression out there that young people are being so heavily schmoozed by politicians because they are easy to convince, not focused on substance and will give their vote away easily to anyone willing to toss a celebrity, musician or simplistic feel-good platitude their way. Do you feel like politicians are approaching America's youth with respect or are they assuming they can win 'em over with glitz and glamour?

It seems to me that politicians are not paying very much to youth at all. We are an unpredictable group, one known for having a lot of promise but ultimately not showing up at the polls. It is this reason that the drinking age is still 21 in most states: because we can't hold politicians responsible for their decisions if we don't vote.

As for being "easily manipulated," I'm not sure. The youth I know have lived through 8 years of the Bush administration, and are therefore very wary of politicians. I doubt we are significantly more easily manipulated than any other age group.