About four years ago, Keli Goff had an inkling of what many political experts are just not starting to realize — that when it comes to politics, young black Americans are no longer in lockstep with their parents, the old-guard black leaders, or the Democratic party. Driven by this concept, Goff, a political analyst who got her start in the field as an intern on Hillary Clinton's first senatorial campaign, talked to young black voters, conducted surveys, and put her ideas on the page.

She came up with a book, Party Crashing: How the Hip-Hop Generation Declared Political Independence, about how the Democratic establishment has lost the unshakable loyalty of many young black voters who don't have any first-hand experience of the Civil Rights era, which was when the bond between blacks and the Democratic party was forged. Many feel only weak ties to a Democratic party that doesn't necessarily relate to them, and, as a result, are registering as independents at unexpected rates. The data in the book, which Goff conceived of years ago and finished researching and writing last year, is at least one answer to the question of how a solid, traditional Democratic candidate like Hillary Clinton is less popular with young voters than the more youthful upstart preaching an end to bitter partisanship.

I spoke to recently Goff about her book, in which your own Lauren Williams makes an appearance, spouting off about how Al Sharpton isn't my leader and gushing unbecomingly about B.O. After the jump, get the low down on her book, recent campaign issues, Barack Obama, working for Clinton, and a horrifying on-air run in with Pat "Say Thank You" Buchanan.

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