if you will stan with me and fight with me, i promise you we'll win this election. you and i together we'll change this country. we'll change the world. >> campaigning in 2008, barack obama energized the youth vote. >> fired up, ready to go slime >> he's so awesome, i love him. >> a politician that seems to care about us. >> we are less than one day away from bringing about change in america. [ cheering and applause ] >> over two million young people registered to vote for the first time in the election record-breaking amount. president obama won the white house with 66% of voters under the age of 30. on election night 2008, many

young people felt it was a victory for their generation. now, nearly four years later is the millennial generation still as excited for president obama with college tuition skyrocketing many buried in debt with no job prospects to help dig 'em out, six million have moved back in with parents putting their lives on hold. will these future leaders of america get the opportunity they need to be successful? what matters to them most in the 2012 election? >> announcer: tonight a huckabee special. me len yells speak out. -- ladies and gentlemen, governor mike huckabee. >> mike: from fox news studios in new york city. tonight we've got a great group of folks filled with millennials. young people raging in age

from 18 to 30 who are either in college or who have graduated in the past few years. i want to a thanks to all of you for being here. it is your future that is on the line in this election. we are delighted to have all of you here. [ applause ] >> mike: our audience include republicans and democrats and independents and libertarians and undecided voters. some will be voting in their first major election in november. others voted for the first time four years ago. tonight we give them a platform to speak out. i think it is going to be a fascinating opportunity for you to hear from them. [ applause ] >> mike: when i speak to college students or audience consisting of millennials, i try to remind them the consequences of this election are great are -- greater for them than baby boomers like me. many of the big decisions of my life have been made.

i've completed by formal education. back side career choices my children are grown having children of their own. those of the millennial generation are either still in college, workforce training many decisions about marriage, career and life are still pending. if they inherent the debt of our current government they will spend much of their adult lives paying for the excesses of spending for which they will receive no benefit and nothing to show for it. like having to pay bill of the restaurant for people who an expensive dinner years before but they never paid for it. tonight we do something that hasn't been done before. present an entire show for and about the generation of young americans who have hopes and dreams but also have had some of their dreams shattered by staggering education debts the lack of decent jobs available and the fear of what lights ahead. surveys indicate 77% of millennials are delaying major life decisions because of

economic restraints. for those of who us who are baby boomers, our parents sacrificed themselves for their children. unless something dramatically changes soon, we will have sacrificed our children for ourselves. that's not just a money issue that's a moral issue. tonight, the millennials speak and we listen. we better listen and washington, must listen. [ applause ] >> mike: joining me to set the stage are two millennials, both 24, both work here at fox news. peter doocy correspondent for our washington bureau and detail one of the producers for our show here at huckabee. peter, you really came up with this idea. first time we've ever done a show that to my knowledge anyone has done a show. >> like a huckabee flash mob.

>> mike: but a good one. what made you think this was going to be an important topic for us to talk about to focus on the needs, hopes of the millennials? >> it is important because nobody in this age bracket talks to each other they e-mail, text or message or facebook message. it is the social media generation. when people have a good idea, they will post it. just because you post something doesn't mean anybody is gonna read it. this is a chance for social dialogue instead of a virtual monologue. 20 somethings have changed a lot since the last election. 2008 the big concern with this age group was ending the war and national security. now fast forward to this election, security is still a concern but it is financial security. people i hear from in this group are worried about jobs and their parents' jobs it is important to listen to them. >> mike: what said about texting, i'm going to text my

questions to you from this point forward. carefully, let's talk about what is at stake -- carefully what is at stake? >> we group up in the 90s, we had peace, prosperity. i never imagined i would enter my adult live with nearly 16 trillion dollar debt if i had a child today he would owe $50,000 social security set to go broke. i'm paying into a system i might never take out of. we are worry, scared this is not the america we grew up in. 2008 i was in school, i got a question that disturbed me, does american exceptionalism exist? i thought of course. here i'm asking myself four years later is the american dream going to be there for my children? the answer may be no. this election will determine that. >> mike: meter what do you hope happens tonight -- peter

what do you hope happens tonight. >> good looking group. >> mike: that's pandering go ahead i've done it many times myself. >> you saw in that package in 2008 so many millennials were so excited to vote not only for president obama but also for senator mccain. since that election i can only pinpoint one time that the young folks have rallied around any one thing that was may 1st, when we found out that osama bin laden had been killed there were huge celebrations across the country coordinated with social media. i ended up, because i saw something on twitter, i ended up in front of the white house, great moment, people chanting and flags were waving. and with this group, it is rare to get this many young people together in a room. it is really rare, unless there's a keg involved. i don't think not all the 20

somethings have the time or the desire to ouch wall street or go to a tea party rally. if mitt romney and president obama are smart they will listen too. >> mike: i hope all of america will as well. coming up we are going to hear from megan, a law school graduate who has $200,000 of debt from student loans. we'll ask her was the law degree worth it? having an irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation puts you at 5 times greater risk of stroke. don't wait. go to afibstroke.com for a free discussion guide to help you talk to your doctor about reducing your risk. that's afibstroke.com.

>> mike: time to hear from the millennials who are with us. peter and kayleigh are in our audience and they've got personal stories.

peter let's start with you. >> governor, first let's meet megan, right here. megan, governor huckabee. >> nice to meet you. >> tell us your situation. >> like you said before which made it sound more real than it is i have 200 grand in student loan debt from law school. >> mike: was it worth it? that is a lot of money. >> it is a lot. >> mike: could you do it over the same way? >> people have asked me that. right now i don't know. right now it is so daunting, terrifying. i think will i ever be able to own a home? i'm 25, i have present putting down payments down. will i be able to do that? i don't know on a smaller scale every weekend, you want to go out to dinner? sure. i want to go. i have these loans and may have always have them. >> mike: tough situation.

kayleigh you are going to visit with sam. >> sam voted for obama last time. >> i turned 18 10 days before the presidential election and i voted for barack obama. i went to the convention in denver, i worked on the campaign i was so excited went to college i was from san francisco originally so you grow up in that climate where there is no other choice you are either a democrat or you are nothing. i came to my senses and i also it was changes on my part but changes in what i saw what my expectations were from the obama administration and came to be disappointed. i'm here today as an active and engaged college republican, romney supporter and i couldn't be more thrilled about the prospect of romney running obama out of the white house in 2012. >> mike: you may be the first person who went to georgetown went in as a democrat and came out a republican. >> i guess. i was caught up on hope and

change sells when you are 18-years-old it has a lot of energy behind it when your friends are doing it all the more. when you think about 50% of college graduates not being able to find a job, unprecedented spending and expansion of government it makes you think seriously about the issues. >> mike: sam, thank you. peter? >> last row christopher. >> hi. i have the inverse problem, i have three jobs. me, i supported barack obama in 2008. one of the things for me going to cause me to vote for him again in 2012 is the affordable care act. 6.6 million americans are covered under that mandate that allows people to join their parents' insurance policies. a lot of young people like myself have multiple jobs, temporary, they are not eligible for insurance. my friends have medical insurance but not offered by

their employers now being able to stay on their parents' plan that provides security. walking in the street everyday thinking that you could trip and fall and break your leg and be bankrupt is not a way to live your life. i was a staunch supporter in 2008, i canvassed for obama in pennsylvania and i plan on supporting him again. >> mike: chris, thank you very much. kayleigh, next one. >> bob from rutgers. >> governor thanks for inviting me of my teammates from the debate team here it is an honor and privilege to sit on this stage. [ applause ] >> mike: delighted to have debate team members i was once one myself, i'm very sympathetic. >> i'm going to go on a little tangent. i was and raised in new jersey, but spent about six, seven of my years growing up overseas. i lived in nigeria where my

parents are originally from and sri lanka, uganda and kenya where i graduated high school. kayleigh talked about american exceptionalism. we tack go china in relation to the united states in terms of their burgeoning middle class and growing economy. what i don't see is a real discussion about china's involvement in africa, where they've been making huge inroads investing billions to build the future of africa's infrastructure and many african militaries, legitimate and sometimes shadowy forces i'll say. i would like to say that i think more than anything the united states should focus on china, not in a whimsical sense but in a sense they are making serious geopolitical inroads into a large continent. >> mike: interesting perspective on the international front not all just economics for sure. peter? >> second row ethan.

>> in 2008 i voted for obama under the belief he would change many of the policies from the bush administration like indefinite detentions at go -- at guantanamo bay i'm disappointed more than anything i'm disappointed in myself for being sony eve to believe that one man can affect such change. it is tough when so many elected officials from both sides can make promises they won't keep. >> mike: hope you don't i go up. the fact is, the only way to really make the changes in country is for to you decide you are not going to let people just make promises they don't keep. that you will keep pushing and pressing until people keep their promises or you throw them out that's what it has to come down to. we are going to hear from more of our millennials, like derrick he earned a masters in economics sent out 300 job

applications never got a single offer. those stories and more, when we return. [ applause ]

>> mike: we are back. we have a huckabee special tonight: millennials speak out. megan is a 22-year-old graduate from virginia tech she has moved back in with her parents everyday she heads down to the computer in her parents' basement she has sent out more than 80 applications she is dedicated just not employed. hi megan. >> out basement, megan. >> governor thank you for inviting me. >> mike: brighter than that basement. >> yeah. everyday i wake up and set up

an office in my basement and i apply for jobs. not only do i apply, i call and follow up, set up an points to speak to people in the fields that i wish to be in. i send thank you notes. i keep my linkedin updated i have a personal website to speak more about me and i haven't been able to find a job. >> mike: what do they tell you? what kind of responses and what specifically do they say? >> i've had a lot of people say, oh thank you for calling, we have 60 applicants and we are expecting 200 plus by the deadline. i have a lot of competition. i only have an undergraduate agree in the d.c. metro area i'm competing with people who have higher degrees. i've had a couple of people say you are a recent graduate, we don't want to talk to you, we don't have the experience. >> mike: are you willing to relocate? >> i've given myself 90 days since the day i graduated to find a job with certain criteria, if i don't have a

have a job i will broaden by search. >> mike: kayleigh you are with derrick. >> thanks for having me governor. >> thank you. >> i have a masters in economics from the university of florida. at that point i was like, i was feeling good from a good school and i had a 3.8 gpa confident in finding a career in something i wanted to do. >> mike: you applied for 300 jobs? >> correct. >> mike: none have come through? >> i heard back from only five. any response at all that were, you know we would be interested in speaking to you. the other issue in the economy is the people with the jobs out there the companies that hiring, they have so much power now over us, because there are so many applicants as an earlier guest was saying they can string us out for months. i had within where i interviewed. months -- i had one where i interviewed, months went by,

four, five months later i found out they were never serious but they kept me hoping. it has been a tough journey. >> mike: tough stories all the way around. let's go back to peter. >> kirkland. >> university of alabama -- alabama. i grew up in a small factory milton my mom is a teacher dad is a small business opener. i had an interesting experience growing up seeing the positive effect of the democratic party on my town and the negative affects of the republican party i came experience, went to college and that excitement that president obama instilled in me in high stool was still present into my college career. what concerns me is what is right in front of me. i'm 20-years-old, social issues are important i'll pick up a picket sign to support

marriage equality, probably not for tax reform. social issues are important to me that. -- [ unintelligible ] >> mike: that may change once you get in the job market and those issues may become more important? >> maybe. i'm into mack s that industry is doing well so i'm -- into magazines that industry is doing well, so maybe. >> mike: neil? >> hello governor. i consider myself a goldwater republican -- >> mike: you weren't born when goldwater was around. >> i brief government should be limited. [ applause ] >> i believe the purpose of government is to protect individual rights, not dictate our lives. [ applause ] >> mike: you have -- go ahead.

>> i believe government's purpose is to protect individual rights. obama is not doing that. looking at romney's records he supported romneycare which was a model for obamacare, i've decided to vote for gary johnson who has a wonderful fiscal record and is going to fix the most important issue facing our country now the national debt it has taken down europe and we are next. >> mike: i appreciate it. i am just glad you knew goldwater was not the villain in early james bond movies, thank you very much. fear you are up there with ashley. >> two masters. >> yep, i have two masters degrees got my first undergraduate degree came out, bright, great prospects, my first masters fully funded and totally paid for. went got it, came back to the u.s., no jobs what do i do?

okay, you know what i can get a second masters. i have greater aspirations than the first one, i'll get a second. i went to school. no jobs, still going to school. found a part-time job. >> mike: what are you doing? >> i work in retail management. >> mike: are you worry about your future? >> i am worry. i thought i would be married maybe thinking about starting a family. here i am just going, okay i have a job i'm thankful, i'll go to work everyday i have greater aspirations in life and i'm not sure if i will be able to achieve those. >> mike: done give up. you -- don't give up. you took what was available not what wanted. it is easier to move up from something than it is to move up from nothing that is your story and i think that is an important one. thank you. coming up, we have a democrat who will try to appeal to the millennials. former congressional candidate

will take questions from our audience. you have heard their stories now let's see what kind of now let's see what kind of questions they've got.

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[ applause ] >> mike: 66% of millennials voted for barack obama in 2008. recent polls show that age group is not a slam-dunk this time for the president. joining us a former deputy public advocate for new york. also ran a democratic see the campaign in 2010 and hopes to make another run for public office in the future. why? i have no idea. good to see you again. >> good to see you too. >> mike: we are going to let some of these millennials ask you questions. since you are a democrat, i hope they really, really go after you. i'm just kidding. peter you have a question? >> this is naomi. >> i recently was a

congressional candidate in arizona running to be the youngest democrat woman in congress. my question is regarding something that came up on the campaign traeufplt it was a recent race. we know about the union issues going on in wisconsin and the recall effort. can the democratic party continue to be as loyal to unions with the millennial generation rising up that seems to be more supportive of democrats than republicans? can they challenge the state of unions in america and will the unions survive? >> i think unions are so important to the middle class, right. regardless of what party you are part of, unions have put forth policies that benefit all of us. the five-day workweek that was because of unions. right now, in the past decade, there's very few americans that doing super well. but at majority of us we are seeing paychecks decrease, household expenses increase. and we need unions to continue to fight for the middle class

and make sure they protect voters. it is not about unions. it is not the issue, right, it is about getting americans back to work. >> one of the things that i'm concerned about is voter equality issues we are seeing in florida with governor scott. i wanted to know your opinion, do you think america is being aggressive enough in the context of infranchising minority vote as's progressive, i think is important that we see participation of everybody in our electoral process. do you think that the democratic party is being aggressive enough in ensuring that the infranchisement of everybody is always end ed in our democratic process? >> great question. absolutely being aggressive we need to do more. what is happening in florida is about voter suppression. >> mike: you really believe that? >> absolutely. governor of florida sent a letter to a world war ii vet

asking him to prove his citizenship. that's absolutely wrong. we know florida is going to be incredibly close and the minority vote is critical to obama winning. what is happening there is wrong. i think every one of us in this room need to get activated and engaged on this issue. >> mike: the issue was dead people, illegal people. >> but they weren't. hundreds stepped forward and said i'm a citizen i have the right to vote. >> mike: let's move on. peter. >> jonathan. >> thank you. my question is about the deficit. deficit spending isn't free money. do you agree it is a practice that unfair liburds young voters? what steps can you take to -- unfairly burdens young voters what steps can you take to stop it? >> good question. obama has sign signed a bill that reduced spending by two trillion lowest amount of

domestic spending since eisenhower's administration. he is making sureal of us pay our fair taxes which includes millionaires and billionaires who continue to benefit. andkmç companies continue to get tax breaks that create jobs here and not abroad. >> i'm concerned with high unemployment rates why should i vote democrat? >> three reasons: number one, the president's position on student loan reform. how many of you think college is too expensive? when you graduate you not only get a diploma, you get $26,000 in debt. outrageous. we can the out-price college education. the president has tirelessly fought for reform. he's reduced 60 billion dollars in bank subsidies. he's increased the amount of pell grants. provided families with a $10,000 tax credit. this past week, he has been

arguing that for 7.5 million students that their student loan rates should not double. the republicans have stood in the middle of that. that is wrong. second, this issue was an raised earlier. because of president obama, 2.5 million young people have health care. third, i was so proud of my president last friday when he signed the executive order for dream act students. [ applause ] >> there are thousands and thousands and thousands of kids who have been brought here by no act of their own who want to be doctors and engineers and the next steve jobs. instead they are not able to go to college. that's wrong. we gotta make sure we are educating everybody at their fullest potential. i believe immigrants are our best import. half of all start-ups were started by immigrants in this country. that's why you should vote for obama. >> mike: thank you very much. also all no who have

brought questions to you -- us to. we have heard from folks on the left. we'll hear from the right. at 31 he's the youngest member of congress, he will take questions.

millennials are speaking out. i wonder are their voices being heard? now with us the only member of congress who is part of the

millennial generation, 31-years-old he has been in congress since he was 27 illinois republican eric shaw. i'm going to turn you over to this group. the first question comes through peter. >> right governor and congressman this is carlos. >> hi governor. my question is in regards to immigration reform. i'm personally vested in immigration reform because i come from a family of immigrants some of my closest friends have been directly affected by obama's recent executive order. my question is regards to if romney were to win the 2012 election do you believe he would repeal obama's order? if he did what actions or steps would be taken to address giving work to people that were brought here at a young age from other countries? >> first of all, i think a president romney would uphold the rule of law and like a president romney i believe in a balance of powers.

no matter how park schtick you are about any law you would like passed we have a congress not a king. what i first say, it is inappropriate for any president no matter how passionate they are about a law they would like to see passed to do something unilaterally, as the president did. [ applause ] >> that said, if president romney is elected as he has said he will work to pass a bipartisan dream act or provision to deal with those who are brought here under no effort of their own but by their parents illegally, so they can stay here, go to school and ultimately get a job. look at what senator rubio has been working on in the senate, bipartisan version of the dream act. there have been very important pieces of legislation that have passed throughout our country's history over 200 years, many has taken years to do it but they've taken presidential leadership. democrats and republicans have to agree on one thing for the

last 3 1/2 years there has been little to no presidential leadership on the issue of immigration reform. i think it is pure politic was the president just did a few weeks ago. [ applause ] i'm from rutgers. my question is more geared toward educating specifically in the new jersey area. currently as a lot of people know chris kristi has cut a lot of money from pub -- chris christie has cut a lot of money from school i've seen how the cuts have hurt public education, especially in my school. do you think the federal government should use education cuts as a means of balancing the budget? >> well, as you know, as our constitution says the crime mary role of public education is the role of the states that's why you are seeing the greatest impact on public education k-12 specifically at the state. i'm not sure the federal government will have as big an impact when it comes to cuts.

to your point about cutting education, i started on a school for four years public school board. i think funding for public education is extremely important, great equal lighter in our -- equalizer, if you work hard you can accomplish great things because of our school systems we have. that said, i believe just as businesses have to cutback during down economic times, people have to do more with less. i don't think public sector positions should be exempt, schools, universities, or the military. any unit of government i think ought to have to share that burden. i think educating should be up there with all of the other sacred cows that people might have in terms of cutting back. [ applause ] >> mike: thank you. peter the next question. >> from kevon. >> my question is concerning the youth vote. i'm a number registered voter,

democrat. i grew up in a family that is purely democratic. my brother and sister, 9-years-old look up to obama especially the president for being the hope of change, the face of change for america. my quick question is, why should i vote republican? >> why should you vote for the ran candidate this fall is simple. president obama aptly said when he was installed as our president if he didn't have things turned around in 3 1/2 years it would be a one term proposition. the president laid out his course for how he thought the economy should be turned around. whether it be bailing out the auto industry, dealing with the affordable care act as one of his major proposals. the republicans offer a different plan. we believe we've got to rein in the mountain of debt. you are young, the 16 trillion in debt is not going to be paid for by foreigners, it is going to be paid for by american citizens of the next generation. we belief in a free economy

where people can compete their determination will determine their success not a nanny state government where more government jobs and more government jobs leads to more debt and less opportunity for people of our generation. it is one of government versus the private sector one that believes in limited government versus one that believes in big government. he >> mike: when we come back more questions. these guys get to go after they -- go after me. we'll be right back, stay with us.

>> mike: welcome back. millennials speak out. peter and kayleigh are in the audience. they have more questions this time to me.

better be good ones. >> the lead off guy is matt. >> how are you governor? >> doing good. >> my first question is about jon stewart and stephen colbert they both have two shows that popular with our generation. both shows use satire to slant an issue or a view on a politician. how do young conservatives and ininches in the millennial generation bring awareness to this slant or push back against the slant? >> mike: first of all, cope in mind they are comedians and satire is a wonderful reflect shun you can only do satire when there's a ting of truth i look both of those guys i fan them entertaining. even though i have a very different point of view i appreciate the fact they illuminate issues sometimes they will pick on people on the left. the main thing i recognize

they are comedians. sometimes i get better information from comedy central television shows than i from center blogs and other supposedly legitimate news courses. -- news sources. i say sit back and enjoy the ride, always be your own editor. when i was your age there was an editor between me and the source of the news. somebody that asked tough questions of the person who wrote the story. how do you know is true? what is the veracity of the story? today there are no editors, everybody is a journalist. everybody can blog and make up stuff. don't ever believe something is true because you saw it on the internet. ask where did this story come from if it didn't have two or three sources dismiss it as probably a bunch of you know what. i'm leave it at that. >> mike graduated from columbia. >> i don't see huge different between romney and obama i'm

more inclined to vote for gary johnson. i wanted to ask you, do you think that romney is the real champion of change this country needs? >> i think he will be a very different president than barack obama in part because he's managed in the public and private sector. my big problem and disappointment with barack obama is not just partisan. i celebrated, i was glad that i lived to see this country elect a person of color to be president. i said it on this very television show. there was a part of me as a child of the deep south who thought i would never see that that celebrated we had come past that moment of race in our politics in electing a president. but i've been overwhelmingly disappointed policy-wise not party. a lot of it is because the lack of executive experience in standing how do you move things from point a to point b? what i had seen in mitt romney is that he's not only been very effective in the public

sector as a governor but in the private sector not just in capitol markets but taking over the olympics when they were in the tank. i think he needs to talk about that more. i believe that may be one of his most an amazing success stories was the olympics. very good question. >> another good question from sam. >> hi governor thank you for having me on the program. my generation is the least partisan to come around in a long time. i like many my age not recently centered with any party affiliation. my question is, why does your program and other programs like yours only bring on democrats and republicans to talk to us about these issues? where the independent voices, libertarian, green voices, other third-party voices why only two parties that have so consistently failed us in the past? >> we've had independents, libertarians, the harsh reality is the election for president for exam gonna be decided, like it or not --

between a democrat and republican if a green party candidate gets more than single digits in the ballot they will get more information. i would like to say i would loved to have had more attention four years ago when i ran. you only get traction when people are paying attention they don't pay attention if you don't have enough money. i think it is good that you aren't just automatically aligning with a party yet. the fact s you ought to make politicians earn your vote. don't sign up for the party unless you are willing to go in and you really believe ideologically and philosophically with that party in the meantime, make them earn your vote. don't ever let them take for granted that you are going to vote for them. i've often wondered why is it automatic that a union member or african-american or a latino would vote democratic? why is an automatic that a corporate ceo or small business owner would vote

republican? make them earn your vote that makes them work harder. [ applause ] >> i hope you have enjoyed our visit tonight with the millen s. this is a great opportunity -- mill yen is a great opportunity for us to talk about what matters to them i believe we failed to recognize that the election is going to touch their lives so much deeper than it going to touch minor perhaps yours. if a politician makes a decision and i live out my life expectancy the impact that a politician can have on me might be 25 years, maybe 30, it may be 60, 70 years on the lives of these millennials that. that why more than any other age group in the country, this group of voters needs to make their voices heard, and they need to be listened to. because the consequences for them are greater than for any other americans among us. i'm glad they were here. and i'm glad you joined us.

and i'm glad you listened from the fox news studios in new york city, good night and god