Jason:

I am sorry you feel insulted or slighted by folk’s comments. You are an adult now and put yourself out there on national television. You will get comments that may effect your thoughts. You took the risk to going public. This is one of the most important elections in American history.

The reality of the issue is that you may have an very, very large responsibility. You can be on CNN joking with Anderson chatting up about all the folks you have met. You seem to be eating up the glamour of the super delegate role. Personally, if I were a super delegate I would not be on television. My vote and my role would be private and would benefit the voters of my state. I would be out chatting with my fellow voters and not spending time promoting myself with the media. That my decision my dear Jason only comes with experience.

Honestly Jason I don’t think that anyone should have more power than anyone else when it comes to voting in a president. What makes one person more qualified than the other? And how do we as voters know that the super delegates are on the up and up and not taking bribes? I’m not saying that you are, you say that you aren’t and I have to believe that but I bet others do. We need a system that works where everyone’s vote counts not just a few. If that is the way it is going to be then why bother voting in the first place?

As far as your age..I do think you are too young. Young people are easily persuaded to do things by others that they usually wouldn’t do on their own…that is VERY widely known!

All in all I think this super delegate thing needs to be done away with. I bet you anything it is going to cause MAJOR problems in this election! That is the last thing that we need!

Cynthia, Covington, Ga.

Jason:
I think this is a great beginning for you! Watching you on AC360 I have learned that you have many years of political experience at just 21 years of age. Politics have no age. You just live it, study it, think about it, eat it, breathe it, listen, and learn daily. I became interested in politics when I was 8 years, 50 years ago. I have a political science degree, am still deeply interested in politics and I can proudly say that no one knows my political preference. That is simply because I like to play devil’s advocate with people!

You keep going and NEVER apologize for your age or your intelligence!

Jason–
I saw you in a different interveiw last week, and my initial thought was total shock. There’s a guy who’s the same age as me who happens to be a majorly influential part of a polical party!
But once I got over that, I got to thinking that you’re one of the smaller populations of young people, those of us who actually care about the direction our country is going and who pay careful attention to politics and the news.
I think it’s absolutely wonderful that you care enough to be a superdelegate, and that you’re taking your position very seriously. I don’t think at all that you’re too young (because that’d be saying that any college student isn’t experianced enough to vote, and aren’t we getting record numbers of young people at the polls and caucuses and primaries?), and I wish you well in your vote.
You’re a cool kid, Jason.

–Chrissy, NYC, NY

Hi Jason:

The fact that you don’t think you are too young is a good indication that you are. Riding your bike and missing homework does not make you a qualified superdelegate whose vote should supercede others by 10,000.

What do you know about middle class families with kids to support, a mortgage, college tuition, education and more? As a single college student, I cannot imagine how much perspective you have in understanding what the country really needs but it’s good to see you working hard nevertheless.

It was good to hear you say that you hope to run for President someday because the decision you make now, will clearly affect what will happen to you in the future.

Good luck and I really hope you vote for change.

Hi Jason, Age is not as important as your knowledge and your enthusiasm for what you are doing. I have grand children older than you and I am excited that they are paying attention to this political campaign.
Their perspectives are refreshing and our discussions are lively. I have lots of hope because these kids “get it”. I certainly had no interest in politics at their age.
The next president of this country will face such serious problems that I hope the kids of your generation think seriously about voting and who they are voting for.

I guess the only way to convince ME that he is not too young, would be to have him STOP talking about how young he is. Ooooo, “Age is not as important,” then stop talking about it!!!

WOW, you are so young but seem to be put together well kid.

Don’t go to the darkside (lobbists and those arm twisters).

Stay strong and good and vote right for the rest of us.

Listen to what the masses are saying about the issues and be the representative you are designed to be.

healthcare for all (so long as it is provided for those who will never be able to afford it themselves), leaving Iraq wisely, not hastily and maybe a new recipe for ecomonic solvency would be ideal.

Listen to all sides and make the best decision based on the facts.

I think your age is very important. It is very important that a variety of people of differing ages, races, and gender be a part of this process. If you are old enough to vote, then you are old enough to be a part of the process. And Superdelegate is part of the process. I am thrilled that we have so many people involved and excited about this election.

An uninformed voter is to be feared, not a young voter.

Hey, Jason!

Where is it written that with age comes better political perspective?

They say that this year’s primaries and caucuses’ turnouts have been higher than in years past largely due to the young voters who have taken their eligibility to vote in what is, for many, their first presidential election seriously and with excitement. You are a part of that new wave of political energy, and one older voters should remember was something that when they were your age probably electrified them as well.

Too many older generations look at the American political system with jaded eyes and a belief that it will just be status quo no matter who is elected president. It’s that kind of apathy and cynicism coupled with a lack of interest to get out and vote that is helping to fuel the negative criticism being levied at you and your unique part in the democratic process.

I say, if they don’t like the way things are, then the naysayers and curmudgeons of this country ought to quit playing armchair political critics and do something to affect change.

Jason, enjoy your part in this process that you so obviously are passionate about and don’t let any one rain on your parade!

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on your first voting experience.

Cheers!

Carolyn

Great for you to be so involved at your age. Heck, I’m trying to get the local counties to allow students to work at the voting precincts for Civics credit, as well as to get them involved.

Your age is not the issue, nor is experience (or lack thereof). Look at what “experience” has given us.

The issue is whether there should be Super Delegates at all. Your vote should carry no more weight than mine - one person, one vote … not one person, one vote and one Super Delegate 10,000 votes. We, the party members, did not elect the Super Delegates. A bunch of other insiders did and certainly did not solicit my input.

So my feeling is that Super Delegates should not exist, let alone carry more weight than me. And, unfortunately, it is an insult to many that you, who have never even voted, can have so much more say than someone like myself who has voted in every election since turning 18, shall we say, a number of years ago.

But please be proud of your accomplishments and do not let the naysayers (those who think you are too young) dissuade you from continuing your passion.

Jason,
You are very cute, but I do not think you should be a superdelegate. You are to young and to inexperienced. Do not think about yourself as celebrity yet, but enjoy the given moment. By the way, how do you like Chelsea?

Hi Jason, I for one don’t think that age matters. What matters is maturity, and you seem to have that. So as long as you cast your vote with maturity, knowledge, and level-headedness, you have done your duty for this country. Would it be possible to know in tonight’s show who you voted for? If you don’t want to disclose it, I’d understand. Thanks, Jason.

Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington

First, Jason, I’d like to commend you for your interest in politics and in serving your country.

I don’t think you are too young to be a superdelegate. You do have a constituency, so to speak, and that would be other people in your age group. However, I don’t think someone your age has enough life experience and the judgment it ought to bring to be able to make decisions that would benefit the entire country. But you seem like a bright, thoughtful young man with good intentions, so by all means, follow your dreams and continue to grow and learn.

Jason,

I am 27 years old, and am ECSTATIC that you’re 21 and a superdelegate. It’s almost comical that we’re watching the democratic party nominate the first African-American or first woman as its candidate, and people are getting hung up on your age. To paraphrase Orwell’s Animal Farm, I guess some of us still are more equal than others.

The democratic race has already been greatly impacted by young voters, and our so-called apathetic generation is finally standing up and showing the rest of the country that we’re not quite as apathetic as we were made out to be; we are observant the world around us. It’s good to know for me that if the democratic nomination does go to the decision of the superdelegates, there’s at least one superdelegate in the room who’s going to remember the issues that drove this demographic to the polls, and hopefully keep them in mind when they vote for a candidate.

But even without that, and without the pressures of representing a whole generation of young Americans at the convention, you’ve flat out done more for this country’s democratic process at the awesome age of 21 than most people three times your age, and you should OWN it. Don’t let people call in to question your age; your intellect and passion for this process are undeniable.

Amber
West Hollywood, CA

Jason

You do not pay attention to those who tell you that you have no experience. You set a goal for yourself when you were just a small child, now you are settiing that plan in motion. I look at you and see a bright future. You are a steller young man and I wish you much success in your life.

Susan
Phoenixville,PA

It is not a matter of age, but democracy. Why hold a hugely expensive election to determine the popular vote if unelected superdelegates can choose to ignore it? As the Dems use proportional rep already an override make even less sense than a winner takes all system where the winner could have a minority of total votes ( the majority being split between candidates). Even then it is hardly democratic. It is the concept of superdelegates at fault.

Jason,
You are correct that there should be diversity in superdelegates. One of the great things about this election is that we are seeing the age breaks of the voters reflect the general population. Young voters should be half of the voter population because they are half of the adult general population.
You are also correct that wisdom doesn’t necessarily correspond to age. We are seeing this play out in the primary election too. Hillary Clinton at age 60 says she finally “found her voice.” Barack Obama at age 46 found his a long time ago, as shown in his autobiography.

Jason, Riding your bike to county meetings and putting off homework so you can volunteer for candidates??? Thats your resume?? Last night, my husband and I had a heart to heart talk about whether or not we can still afford our health insurance! And, said a prayer of thanks that we opted for a fixed rate mortgage and that business has picked up at the factory where he works! I like you, you seem like a good kid (yes, you are a kid). Keep going, you have a bright future; but your nowhere close to being in the position to decide the future of this country. Honestly, its not about age. Its about life experience, and yours has just begun.

You have a good attitude, BUT I have to comment on the emphasis you put on working for candidates. C’mon, what does that involve exactly? Making repetitious phone calls, being a gopher, etc. I seriously doubt your candidate experience makes you qualified to be a superdelegate. Sorry, but that’s the way most people see it, I would bet.

Sorry, Jason… I’m not a fan. It seemed to me that you are more excited about meeting Clinton, Obama and their families then taking this roll as Superdelegate seriously. Frankly I’m frightened that the fate of this Nation is partly in your hands. Sorry, dude!

Jason

If there have to be superdelegates then they should represent the spectrum of American voters and there are a lot of young people voting in this election. You are representative of the young and their voice in this election. I don’t think you are too young but I also hope the election doesn’t come down to the superdelegates having to decide it.

Do your best and remember as long as you feel like you did a good job, it doesn’t really matter what the rest of us think.

Annie Kate
Birmingham AL

I cannot even believe our process has permitted someone with very little experience in life have such a significant impact on a presidential politics. Jason indicated that he was selected 4 years ago (during the interview) which would make him 17 when the party chose this guy. What were they thinking? He hasn’t even started to generate income, pay taxes, even have a mortgage. Before we as a nation can take this process seriously, we have to scrub the apparent inadequacies in this backroom election superdelegate catastrophy.

As a young adult myself, I can’t believe what some of you are saying! Do you mean to tell me that, because I’ve never voted in an election before, my opinion doesn’t matter? Jason’s opinion doesn’t, either?
That’s simply not fair. As someone mentioned before, “experience” got us into this mess of a government I’ve been growing up with. I want the chance to change that, but if I’m not important or experienced enough to, then who is?
Not every American is a suburban middle-class parent. Some of us are college students–”kids” who happen to care about our country. I think Jason’s just the guy to inspire younger people to vote, especially by going on television and writing. He’s proving it really DOES matter who votes for which things.
Our opinions should count.

–Chrissy, NYC

Jason, you’re not too young. Your involvement should be a role model for others to get involved. I was a delegate for Bill Clinton in 1992, 26 years old. I think I was the youngest person in the room. It felt weird but stimulating, a kind of feeling that I was “breaking the rules”.

You proved that anyone can get involved, an especially important lesson for those twenty-sumthin’s who feel like it doesn’t matter. When I first got involved was at a time of a large Young Republicans movement on campuses across the states. It was nothing like I’d ever seen but it was successful in recruiting a large group of educated and energetic people to the GOP. Dems could capitalize on this new surge of energy in the party.

Thanks for being brave enough to get involved.

Robert
Jakarta

Jason,

Congratulations for being involved and being a leadership for those your age. I’m been working in #2 position of a major NGO in Brazil for the past two years and the first thing I hear when people meet me in persn is “You can’t be Dr. Diana. You’re too young. We have some important issues to deal with so please get Dr. Diana”.

I was lucky to work in this field as long as I can remember; maybe those who barely know our line of work can’t understand what it is like to grow up inside this environment.

Of course I don’t have to say this, but remember what we are carrying here. Although youth is a major group, most youngsters aren’t interested in building, only in complaining about the system, whatever system it is. We are building it, working for it. This is ours to carry, so good luck in your work - I hope you have a fruitful and long carrer.