One of the reasons why Hillary might not be popular with young people

[AGirl]

I have to say that I think one of the reasons Hillary is not as popular with young people could be that she reminds young people of their own mothers. The stereotypical image of a mom is one that is bossy and controlling of their own kids. It certainly doesn’t help the perception of Hillary when she wants to *ban* video game. If Hillary tries to be *hip* or *cool*, she will be laughed at. So I don’t think she will do well with the young voters. I think men have a better advantage of being perceived as more easy going and *down* with the kids. Obama’s mixed racial background is also probably appealing to young people because it is interesting but not threatening.

[Bitwit1234]

1. It's because

young people were raised on rock concerts, dancing and waving their arms. They have no substance except standing stupefied in an audience bowing down to the "rock star". They swoon over Lohan, Spears, Hilton and don't know which end is up....and this bunch of celeb cult members are going to be the upcoming people in charge in 10 years.

[joshcryer]

3. Pretty much it. Obama is their rockstar.

[SteppingRazor]

8. Ridiculous.

With the striation of media and the explosion of information over the last 10-20 years, today's young people who are politically involved are far better informed than the youth of any other generation.

[AGirl]

11. But most young people are cynical and not politically involved

only maybe except during the election.

[SteppingRazor]

23. Granted, but w're talking about the ones who do vote, no?

And for what it's worth, I think most of us are not truly cynical, we're just more aware of bullshit. Give us a candidate we can actually believe in, and we'll turn out.

[AGirl]

24. alot of cynical people will bother to JUST vote.

[karynnj]

32. Look at what they saw in politics in their life time - there's a reason for the cynicism

A 20 year old would have been born in 1987 or 1988. What was there first view of our government? They were 10 when the biggest political story was a President speaking of not having sex. Believe me, I hated the discussions that the kids had in the car pools I drove. Then they had the Gore/Bush election, where the candidate that won the popular vote and who obviously had more people who went out to vote for him in FL declared the loser. Then they had Bush.

[global1]

12. That's What They Said About My Generation In 1968......

we turned out alright - so get over it.

[RedCappedBandit]

17. This is such BS

Any young person vapid enough to act the way you describe is not even worried about voting. If they were, I promise you it wouldn't be for a democrat.

[karynnj]

27. That attitude is obnoxious

I am 57 and I think the current high school and college kids are slandered by that description. What I see is nearly the opposite.

The kids I know in my children's generation are more impressive than we were at the same age. Nearly every high school and college student I know has volunteered extensively on community service and social justice activities. In many cases, it has been a constant in their lives for years. They have also been pushed much harder than academically than we were. I know kids who started college already having 2 years of calculus and a year of differential equations - in contrast, most of my peers started calculus in college unless they went to an exceptional high school. My mom's generation only completed a second year of Algebra before college. The level of the research papers and essays was well beyond what we were expected to do.

If anything, there has been too much pressure to succeed placed on these kids, but they have handled it very well.

Your complaint reminds me of the sarcastic appraisal of the 60s generation in my local paper. The author wrote of Beatle fans in the same type of derogatory terms you use. As a furious 13 year old, I responded and my LTTE was published. It was unfair then and this is unfair now.

[demokatgurrl]

2. If only I had had the opportunity when I was young

to vote for someone who reminded me of my mother. She, like Hillary Clinton, was wise and tough.

[AGirl]

9. I am young, and I am very interested in politics and ideas.

I am fascinated with Hillary’s knowledges and her policy ideas. I am bored by Obama’s hollow rhetoric. I definitely don’t think Hillary is boring but that’s because I am *boring*. I like to stay at home and read books and newspaper , instead of going to concerts. That's just me.

[mondo joe]

4. Younger typically goes hand in hand with more idealistic - regardless of the reality

of the situation. I can understand them being smitten by Obama's pomp, despite the lack of substance. He's far more charismatic, a far greater speaker, and all in all an appealing candidate.

I am, incidentally, a Clinton supporter.

[AGirl]

13. I couldn’t stop listening to the “Yes, We Can” music video.

It is a really cool song and the message is almost addictive. It is very appealing, but I need more substance in the end.

[robbedvoter]

5. Or, because some are unaware of the TRUTH - during the Clinton years -

who were the good guys? Who were the bad? It's not like they teach The Hunting of the President in school - and they so should!(it has so many lessons for present & future!)

[Little Star]

15. The Hunting of the President , young people should really

order this documentary: The ten-year campaign to destroy Bill Clinton.
http://www.amazon.com/Hunting-President-Morgan-Freeman/dp/B0002IQK9U

[Little Star]

6. I had a great mom who I admire, Grandmother too. My four

daughters seem to like me just fine. They are all grown and married, they call me to do girl things with them all the time. I think they actually like me and I was very strict but fair. You seem to be swiping with a wide brush on the Hillary may not as popular with young people, because she reminds young people of their own mothers. Maybe we need a poll on who likes/dislikes their mothers? jmho

[slor]

7. Interesting theory...

sad if true. I would have loved having my Mom as president these past 8 years.

[scheming daemons]

10. It's because young people are tired of typical politician bullshit....

...and they want something new. An 18-24 year old has never known a time when someone other than a Bush or Clinton was President.

Young people don't want to live in an oligarchy.

[RedCappedBandit]

18. This is the truth

[abluelady]

14. What a Sad Family That Must Be

I never felt that way about my mom and I know my daughter doesn't feel that way about me. Hopefully, by the time you're old enough to vote, you realize just what a "mom" is. If not, I think that is a sad state of affairs for this country.

[YOY]

16. It you want to feel some "Hill hate" go over to a gaming site

I've gotten flamed for pointing out that she really is more moderate and is trying to appease the soccer moms and NASCAR dads with her, Lieberman's, and a few other conservative Dem's view that being anti-video games are an easy way to get some easy votes.

It's not. Primarily because all the "anti-video game" movement is supported by people who have never gamed a moment in their lives and hindered by a complete lack of evidence that gaming leads to violence and or negative lifestyles.

[yardwork]

22. My teenage boys have a very negative impression of Hillary based on her anti-gaming record

They're too young to vote, but they've definitely noticed this about Hillary. They even did some research and discovered that Hillary was taking sides in a gaming fight that involved a corporation in NY, so she was behaving like a typical politician in that regard, but even so, it made them mad.

I agree with the OP that some young people's impressions of Hillary are influenced by their feeling that she is kind of like a strict mom, or librarian, or something.

Obviously I support Hillary so I don't agree with this assessment but I think that the OP has a point. Both Obama and Hillary have reached out to more conservative voters, which has made the Democratic base cross with them.

[RedCappedBandit]

19. nm

[Bodhi BloodWave]

20. Couldn't it be as simple as that

the younger voters approve and respect Obama more because he actually seems to be interested in them, and actually focus/care about their worries aswell rather then do what 99% of other politicians do, which is ignore them since the youth vote is 'not reliable'. Way i see it, if politicians deem the youth to be unreliable and ignore them then the youth is likely to adopt the same stance in return

[calico1]

21. I agree. She's not "cool." n/t

[abluelady]

28. It Frightens Me

that people who want a "cool" president may be the same people who want to have a beer with their president! And we know where that got us.

[Iceburg]

25. You do know Hillary beat Obama in the 18-29 age group in CA ... hmm???

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/primaries/results/epolls/#CADEM

So I guess one could say that in the "coolest" state, Hillary IS "hip".

[AGirl]

26. thats true. I love that she won.

[awaysidetraveler]

29. Why this young person will never vote for Hillary Clinton: Iraq.

Her plan is to remove troops from Iraq and keep bases there until 2013.

It's a recipe for permanent war, and I'll have no part of it.

That's why I'm angry at her and her voters--you. You don't get it, we have only one chance for peace and victory here.

It's not HRC.

[mtnsnake]

31. I hope to hell you voted for Kucinich in the primaries, then

because as of current date, TODAY, there is virtually no difference between Barack and Hillary when it comes to Iraq. Both of them continue to vote to fund the war. With each opportunity to END it, they and other Democrats vote to ENABLE it.

[mtnsnake]

30. Hillary is popular with many young people. It's just that Obama is VERY popular w/them by comparison