John McCain | Keeping it real

Young people are energized about this year's elections unlike any in recent memory.

Turnout has increased dramatically across the country, demonstrating a passion and dedication not seen among youth in a long time.

This newest generation of American voters feels more connected to and affected by politics. They are demonstrating this zeal not only at the polls but in political gatherings, among friends and on campaigns.

My daughter Meghan has similarly been inspired to get involved and share her experiences.

She and a small group of her friends have been following me on the road and providing young people across the country with their own, unique perspective of my campaign and the 2008 presidential race through their independent reporting at McCainBlogette.

Meghan is proving that young people are participating in the political process without losing their sense of self and authenticity.

Blogs and Web sites like my daughter's blog, MySpace and YouTube have changed the way young people participate in the political process.

I have made it a priority to reach young people by participating in such venues as the MTV/MySpace Presidential Dialogue, hosting a blog or Web site and reaching out through social networking sites.

Reaching young voters, however, isn't simply about the logistics of how you communicate but is more seriously about what you communicate.

Too many politicians running for office make the mistake of assuming that young people have one set of priorities.

Young voters are not single-issue voters.

They want leaders who will address the multitude of critical issues that affect their lives, the lives of their families and the people in their communities.

They are not satisfied with boilerplate answers and political sidestepping, especially on the major issues of the day.

At town hall meetings across the country I am inspired by the commitment of the young women and men who crowd in to ask their questions - veterans home from Iraq, relating what they saw, telling us to let them win; volunteers with the ONE Campaign talking about alleviating global poverty; recent college graduates wondering what I will do to make health care affordable for them; and the countless young people who ask how I plan to combat the problem of climate change.

After September 11, leaders in Washington missed an opportunity to call young people to service.

Young men and women want a leader who will recognize the commitment to service that exists among their generation, a leader who will ask something of them. They are willing to give of themselves and sacrifice.

As Meghan always reminds me, young people want to be respected and taken seriously.

I know this and will continue to call on young voters to serve causes greater than their self-interest.

Meghan has taught me that today's young people are everything but apathetic when it comes to politics and the issues of the day.

They understand the inherent power that the political process wields as a force for change, and they are actively engaged in harnessing that power to bring about change in their families, their communities and their world.

I see, in the effort and enthusiasm of young people like Meghan, that our nation's best days are ahead of us.

I hear the message of young voters, and I work to address their concerns while remaining true to myself and ideals, or in Meghan's words, "keeping it real."

John McCain is a Senator from Arizona and the Republican Party's presumptive nominee for President.

This is part one in a four-part series. On Tuesday, we had a guest column by Senator Hillary Clinton. On Wednesday, we had a guest piece by Senator Barack Obama. And on Thursday, we released our endorsements for the Republican and Democratic presidential nominees for the April 22nd Pennsylvania Primary.

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