Why do young voters like Obama?

[kentuck]

Is it his personality? Is it because they distrust "baby boomers"? Do they truly believe that he will bring about change? What are the reasons the upscale, educated, young voters support Obama?

Do they find him inspiring? Is it because he is a "black man" and they feel it is some sort of delayed justice that a black man become President? Why Obama?

[Eurobabe]

1. I'm 48 and my mom is 66, do we count?

:eyes:

[skooooo]

76. Do you remember Kennedy assassination?

[Bicoastal]

I've explained this before, so I'll be brief.

He and his campaign actively works to make us feel like we can actually make a difference.

And so far, we have.

[Blue_State_Elitist]

2. Because he is great at creating hype and using "inspirational" generalizations.

[Bicoastal]

5. "Grrr, why don't they love ME best?" nt

[theHandpuppet]

12. Appealing to the American Idol generation

All sound byte.

[provis99]

18. I guess that snarky attitude towards the young you have

Is part of the reason the young voters prefer Obama, and not baby-boomer has-beens like the Clintons.

[theHandpuppet]

22. And the disrespect you've shown for people who have fought the battles...

... for decades before they were born is astounding.

[cgrindley]

41. Tell us again, Boomer, about these battles you fought...

you had NOTHING to do with the leadership of the civil rights movement
NOTHING to do with Roe v Wade (do you realize that one of those judges was actually born in the 1800s?)
NOTHING to do with ending the Vietnam War... that was done by your parents' generation in smokey rooms in distant lands

of course, you managed to elect Nixon twice, Reagan twice, Bush I once, and Bush II twice.

[Sapphocrat]

65. Your ignorance never fails to astound me. n/t

[NMMNG]

80. Ignorance, disrespect, immaturity, bitterness

The list goes on.

BTW, why did you vote for Nixon, Bush1, and Bush2 anyway? :sarcasm:

[Sapphocrat]

85. If you must know...

...I voted for Nixon because I didn't know any better when I was seven years old.

As for the rest, well, I'm a self-loathing "ex-gay" Cold War paranoiac warmonger who hates peace and prosperity.

[NMMNG]

86. Self-loathing "Ex-Gay"?

So I take it you'll be voting for Obama this time around? :evilgrin:

[Sapphocrat]

88. Since you put it that way...

...I guess I'm going to have to now!

[skooooo]

91. Jesus you guys...

Stop fighting. You both are a little right.

[Sapphocrat]

101. Thanks, skooooo, but it's really OK.

I mean really OK. Buffy and I are the best of friends, and we're not fighting. Honest. :)

[NMMNG]

109. Sapph's right

We're just playing around. :hi:

[Bicoastal]

67. Uh-oh...I wouldn't have gone down this road.

But I will say that Baby Boomers could have done more to prevent us from going into Iraq, which is our generation's Vietnam.

A LOT more.

[NMMNG]

90. But he would, and always does

As far as cgrindley is concerned anybody over 40 needs to STFU and get out of the way because they have done nothing of any benefit to the world. And if they don't "go gracefully" they're going to be "shoved". So off to the Soylent Green hoppers with the old people, because they're not wanted any more. It's the young peoples' "turn".

Somehow he thinks running the nation is something people have an inherent right to, and it's not something people need to earn.

I'm ashamed to be part of the generation that spawned him.

[IsItJustMe]

98. You trying to creat a generational war. Ignorant, at best.

On edit: Obama talks about uniting people across all lines. If you follow Obama, you should walk the walk.

[Bicoastal]

102. Nothing of the kind--that is, if I understand what you're trying to say.

I'm simply trying to point out a fact--a fact which may be the reason why many young people (and to a lesser extent, Obama himself) are now cynical about the Boomers' generation.

[Sapphocrat]

106. Fact, no. Opinion, yes.

At the risk of sounding like an out-of-touch old reactionary, you really need to go through an era before you can understand why a movement did or didn't work.

Believe me, your kids are going to blame you, big-time, for failing to stop the Iraq war, and for failing to keep them out of whatever future conflict will be happening during their young adulthood. And they're not going to be satisfied with any explanation you'll have to offer, even though Iraq wasn't your fault.

Don't take this as condescension -- just remember that your conclusions about a generation you didn't experience yourself are only that: your conclusions, and not "fact." I have my opinions about what my parents' generation did wrong, too -- but I can never claim them as fact, because I wasn't there.

And now that I'm older than my parents when they gave birth to me, I feel pretty foolish for making a lot of assumptions about the reasons they thought and acted as they did.

What's the old saying? The older I get, the smarter my father gets. :)

[theHandpuppet]

113. Wise as always, Sapphocrat

I would have more to say but you've summed it up nicely.

[IsItJustMe]

114. By the way, hate to bust your buble, but Obama is a baby boomer.

Barack Hussein Obama (pronounced /bəˈrɑːk huˈseɪn oʊˈbɑːmə/;<1> born August 4, 1961)


Baby boomer is an American-English term to describe a person born between 1946 and 1964<1>.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_boomer

[Sapphocrat]

105. Actually...

...Bicoastal is one of the few young Obama supporters who doesn't strike me as wanting to cut off my head and jam it onto a stick just because I'm "old."

Sure, I expect a lot of resentment toward the over-30s, over-40s, over-whatevers -- it's both the blessing and the curse of being young. I did it, the young folks are doing it now, and in 20 years, their kids are going to give them the same shit, guaranteed -- and I only hope I'm alive to experience the supreme Schadenfreude of witnessing it.

But I will say I've never seen the "All Boomers should fuck off and die before we kill you!" mob mentality ever manifest itself in Bicoastal.

Not yet, anyway. ;)

[Bicoastal]

112. That's the nicest compliment I've gotten around here lately!

Thanks! :hi:

[tekisui]

133. "follow Obama?"

Supporting a political candidate does not make one a follower.

[theHandpuppet]

74. Someone needs to buy you a calendar

I was very much around when all those battles were being fought and have been fighting for Democrats since I was in high school. But I wasn't talking about me, I was talking about the villification of other democrats who have long been in those trenches, attacks the likes of which Rush Limbaugh would be proud. It's disgusting and shameful. If this is the new face of the party, have at it.

[George_Bonanza]

19. Don't hold back the bitterness

[ginnyinWI]

123. Hype is short for hyperbole

I see nothing exaggerated about Obama's speech. He has plans and talks about them. If they inspire people,then so be it.

I think the young like him because they are very averse to BS, and he speaks with confidence and authenticity.

[Caseman]

3. Oprah.

It has to be Oprah.

[Bicoastal]

LOL--the kiddies love Oprah. nt

[demnan]

4. I've talked to people younger than myself who say

that ever since they started voting there has been either a Bush or a Clinton in the White House and they'd like a change. I think I can understand that feeling.

I just remember the Clinton years so fondly, that I'm for Hillary.

[VotesForWomen]

92. good, i wouldn't mind going back to the clinton years either - peace and prosperity. nt

[TheCool]

6. I'm young - here's why:

I consider myself well educated (currently in my senior year of undergrad and then heading to law school).

We like him for all of those reasons.

We like his personality. He excites us. We young folk were always a bit jealous we never got to experience the MLK/Kennedy era with all those inspirational leaders. We're taught so much about them that we want to experience it first hand. Obama is the first chance we have.

We believe he will bring about change. While he is a politician, he doesn't double speak like the rest of them. His answer about biggest weakness scored him major points with younger voters because it was honest.

We find him inspiring, yes. We also know that he is well educated. HE reminds us of that cool professor who keeps class interesting but never loses his edge of brilliance.

He's not a Bush or a Clinton. I've lived only 2 years under a president not named Bush or Clinton (Reagan from 86-88).

Also, he embodies change. It's tough for someone like John Edwards - an attractive rich white man - to talk change. It's tough for someone who has been in the spotlight for 20 years and is married to the President to talk change. But Obama - he has a funny name, he looks different, he speaks different, he acts different. He fits what we expect change to look like.

It really has little to do with race.

[dana_b]

11. TheCool..

that's a good name! My daughter and her 5 girlfriends all voted for Obama. They gave some of the same reasons but their #1 reason was that he was always against the war.

[TheCool]

20. Thanks!

It's the name of Lupe Fiasco's CD. I'm not much of a rap fan these days but this album is one of the best I've ever heard. Not rapping about bitches and hoes but stuff that actually has meaning.

Even if you're not a rap fan, I suggest checking it out.

If you want samples listen to Streets on Fire, Gotta Eat (this one might take a few listens to understand what it's talking about), Dumb It Down (about how people want him to dumb his rap down so it gets more play on the radio) or Little Weapons (about child soldiers).

There's my music plug.

[kentuck]

15. Thanks very much Cool.

:-)

[Skidmore]

29. TheCool, those sound like many of the reasons I have for supporting Obama

only I'm a bit older. Don't pay attention to those people who engage in trash talk about age. I'm a grandmother, and you are about my son's age. I welcome you and your friends to this process. You especially have the right to make a political statement in this time since young people are the ones being called on to sacrifice in an illegal war. I went to caucus last month and was so proud to see so many young faces there. Young people engaged and asking questions, some just seniors in high school. We need you to step up so that you can lead for your generation and make the world over for your children. Be leaders and be proud that you are part of constructive change. I am, and I'm an old lady. There's a lot waiting for us out there in the universe. Sometimes the stars to be reached for are not the ones in the heavens but those of our fondest aspirations.

Be cool! Stay cool!

[kentuck]

31. Why was TheCool "Tombstoned"??

Was he really one of "them"? ?

[Skidmore]

34. He was tombstoned? I have no idea whether he is one of "them" or

not? Hell, I don't even know who "them" are. Care to clue me in?

[kentuck]

"Them" that get banned...

"Us" get to say whatever we want...almost.

[TheFool]

60. Not one of them

The powers that be keep banning me. They banned my first name and ban me everytime I reregister. They refuse to respond to emails about my banning and refuse to explain why I'm banned and how anything I've ever done is worse than what someone like, say, Amurkin does.

I've come to accept it. It's a bit of a pain in the butt but I have an endless supply of emails. This one will be tombstoned soon too. Catch ya'll on my next name :)

[Skidmore]

70. LOL!

I love a contrarian.

[skooooo]

52. I keep thinking of what I was told about the Beatles...

...after the JFK assassination. They were new, fresh, exciting, and once they hit America, that was it. The analogy breaks down after that. Obama has substance. I hope he can do well. I am not all that young, but Kennedy died before I was born, so I don't remember all that stuff either.

[polichick]

111. That brings up some good memories...

My dad actually insisted that us kids watch the Ed Sullivan show when the Beatles appeared, then he took us to the store to buy an album. He also had us watch the Johnny Cash show the night Dylan was on. Lol ~ I think he was more excited than we were!

[Cant trust em]

115. That analogy doesn't break down

Maybe I should have Revolver for my avatar image. Another landmark album from 1966.

[VotesForWomen]

89. naivety and lack of respect for women. nt

[Dob Bole]

107. See post #104 below

[krabigirl]

116. wow

[IndieLeft]

7. I find him to be very inspiring.

He motivates me. He makes be believe this country can be much more than it has become.

I believe he sounds sincere. I believe he is actually on our side, and not just in it for the power and presige.

I like his stances on the issues. I admire the fact that he had the Iraq War correct from the start.

And, I just trust him.

I cannot say all of that about any other candidate.

[FrenchieCat]

8. They grew up during impeachment......

and they have only experienced Bush/Clinton/Bush during their entire lives and are sick and tired of it?

[Cant trust em]

9. Frankly, he's just exciting

He is such a change of pace from old, stodgy, boring politicians. Hillary would be a totally competent president, but exciting she ain't.

[Caseman]

14. Plus...

...He's damn sexy...

[Sapphocrat]

127. If that's it...

...then I do fear for the future of this nation.

And you can't see why you scare the bloody fuck out of us non-converts? You're voting for him because he's "just exciting," and against such "a totally competent president" as Hillary, because she's "old, stodgy, boring"?!

And you wonder WHY anybody bats around words like "cult" and terms like "American Idol"?! Oh. My. Fucking. Goodness.

Wake the fuck up and just LISTEN to yourself! :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[Cant trust em]

134. The question asked why young people support him, not me

I have perfectly well reasoned arguments why younger voters are more interested than Barack Obama. Now that we have my beliefs out the way, back to the original intent of the question.

I believe that many young people prefer Obama because he offers a change of pace and a breath of fresh air. I also believe that many people support Hillary because of brand name loyalty. They remember the Bill Clinton years fondly and even though Hillary had very little to do with that some of those good feelings rub off on her.

[shraby]

10. After 7 years of doom, gloom, terror,

I would surmise that the uplifting message he brings is music to all ears. He promises a new direction, a break from the old Washington politics, changes in Washington and that is what people want to hear. He backs his words up with a positive (for the most part) campaign. If he can change the tone of campaigning in the country from the old dog eat dog tactics, he can be believed when he says we will change Washington. Note: he uses "we" can change the politics in Washington, not he which shows he plans to listen to the people.

[RoadRage]

13. I'm 30.. and i'll give you my opinion on this:

We like Obama for a lot of the same reasons our parents liked JFK / RFK. He inspired hope, and had a different approach for a new generation.

Obama is a different type of candidate... he comes across as very honest when that is not normally seen in politics.

Another reason is that many in my generation DO NOT have the like & respect for the Clinton's that our parents do. I was in high school and college from 1991 - 1999. My teen years were the entire Clinton era, and I remember much less about a great economy, and much more about a woman named Monica Lewinsky. For better or worse, that leaves an impression on a person - and that impression is SCUZZY.

The "black man" part really doesn't impact me much - but i think it may be a big factors to other blacks who see someone that their kids can look up to. I like Obama for who he is, and who he seems to represent.

[kentuck]

24. Your comments are understandable...

But your perceptions did not happen a vacuum. We had the rise of right-wing propaganda unlike any other time in our history. Naturally young minds would be affected by what they saw and heard. Also, they heard what a great communicator and what a great person Ronald Reagan was and how terrible the "liberals" were. It is easy to see where and how many of your perceptions were formed.

[FrenchieCat]

73. Right wing propaganda made possible to take things over when Bill signed the

1996 Telecommunications Act.

Sounds like Clintons were responsible for what they ended up enduring.
Another miscalculation, I conclude.

[Cant trust em]

16. Possibly because they haven't been around long enough

to form strong alliances to the party structure. Obama talks about blurring the lines that separate Dems and GOP. They aren't bought into the system so much so that frees them up to think about what it would be like if things weren't so cut and dry.

[RoadRage]

45. You're absolutely right..

Many people in my parents generation were brought up with boxes..

Either you were black or white, christian or jewish, rich or poor, democrat or republican, blue collar or white collar, gay or straight.

Those lines aren't nearly as strict in our generation. We have friends that are 1/2 black, Christian but converting to being Jewish. We have friends who are very rich because they started their own companies, and still support their poor parents - so have a poor upbringing. Or, vice versa.. rich parents, but barely scrape by on $20,000 a year.

We have friends who are a blue collar married to a white collar (my friend is a lawyer married to a fireman). We have friends who grew up straight and discovered that they're gay.. and a few who have even flipped back to straight and now want to get married and raise kids.

My point in all of this is that our generation doesn't like the idea of being Democrat OR Republican. Many of us - to the dismay of our elders don't want to be either. We see serious faults with BOTH parties. Republicans want to keep every dime to themselves. Democrats want to give every dime I work my ass of making to a poor guy who is content with living on welfare for life. Both are extremes. Both suck. I don't want to be a part of either.

Many of MY generation dispise the conservatives social policies... they're not pro-life, and are all for gay rights. We are fond of stem-cell research to keep up with other countries. But, we also don't like the constant social program after social program of the Democrats. Frankly it's one of the reasons I like Obama's health care plan better then Hillary's. Most of us are sick of this war, but we also see the need after 09/11 to spend $$$ on keeping up a large military.

We DON'T fit into the boxes.. and we don't want to. We want to have our cake and eat it too.

[kentuck]

55. Also, are you happy with the volunteer Army?

Or would most go fight for this country if called? Just curious?

[RoadRage]

68. The volunteer Army is fine, until it isn't.

If we pay the armed forces a livable wage, continue giving benefits while they're in the services AS WELL AS WHEN THEY GET OUT and need help, then I don't think we'll need to move to a draft system.

But, we need to increase the medical help that these soldiers recieve (physical & mental) when they return from war.

Would our generation welcome a draft? NO! Did the baby boomers? NO! They protested, had sit-ins, etc. No one wants a draft.. but if we can't get enough volunteers and we have to keep our country safe - then we have to do something. Not my first choice.. i'd rather see funding increased to attract more volunteers.

[lligrd]

17. They Are Color And Sex Blind

They look at the issues and listen to the candidates. Obama wins hands down if you take out the BS.

[George_Bonanza]

21. Probably for the same reasons why most of America likes him too

[Dob Bole]

23. My wife and I are 26, 25

We voted for Obama 1) because of the war, 2) he is an inspiring candidate, and 3) we don't like Hillary.

WHY we don't like Hillary is harder to pinpoint...maybe she seems too calculating is a good way to put it, even though all politicians are. For me, it's mostly the issues, but with my wife I think she just rubs her the wrong way.

[paulk]

25. because Bill and Hillary remind them of their parents.

always telling them what's best for them...

[RichGirl]

28. You're right....

Obama is the boyfriend we are head over heels in love with. Hillary is our mom who annoys us with her constant preaching. But...the boyfriend will break your heart. Your mom will be right, as usual, and she'll love you even when you don't deserve it.

[FrenchieCat]

35. I don't know about that. My daughter married her Boyfriend.....

and they are very happy together.

As the mom, I know that their happiness is my happiness!

[RichGirl]

54. I hope that your daughter and her husband have a...

...long and happy life together. But, the fact is, he could leave her some day, but you will never leave her.

It's not the best analogy in the world...LOL!!!!

[FrenchieCat]

75. My 24 year marriage is working out fine........

in the end, living your life is normally not about your parents.

[RoadRage]

57. Hillary actually reminds me of my mother-in-law..

She THINKS she's always right, but she never is. She THINKS she's entitled to interfere with my husband & I and the way we want to raise our kids.. but she didn't even do that great of a job with my husband (his words).

I think many of my generation see Hillary as a Mother-in-law much more then a mother. Cold, Calculating and trying to use our relationship to her advantage.

[Sapphocrat]

128. Best. Post. Ever.

From your keyboard to those deaf "But he's so kewwwwwwwwwwwwwwl!" ears.

[Dob Bole]

38. No, they remind us of Bill and Hillary Clinton...

and John McCain, and Tom Daschle, and Joseph Lieberman, and all of the other "centrists" who voted for the war. If I, a lowly rural college student from Alabama making less than 5k a year could tell that Iraq didn't have WMDs, then why couldn't they? They could...they just did what was politically expedient. And that's the kind of thing that we're tired of.

[Sapphocrat]

78. That's how it strikes me.

The responses in this very thread say to me: "youthful rebellion."

I don't see a lot of "issue talk" here -- just that he's young, he's sexy, and he's not Hillary.

But hey, I'm just a stupid old fucker whose 1970s ERA marches mean nothing. I'll be fed into the Soylent Green hopper soon enough.

[Recursion]

124. Character matters

I don't see a lot of "issue talk" here

And it's been a (false) Clintonian assumption for 16 years now that issues outweigh character.

[RichGirl]

26. Americans are....

Obsessed with celebrity. Particularily but not exclusively the young. Obama has substance, of course, but he has been turned into a celebrity. It seems like the bulk of his support is based on pure hero worship. Making someone a hero before he has performed heroic acts is risky. We love our celebrities, until they slip. Then we step all over them.

If Obama wins the presidency...and if he is our nominee I certainly hope he does...he will have unrealistic expectations to live up to. Expectations that go beyond what any president is capable of doing.

I've seen Obama twice and yes, he was a rock star. But that was never on my list of requirements for a president. We are not just voting, we are hiring someone to do a very difficult job. If you were to hire an accountant, a nanny for your children, security for your home...what would you look for? Excitement, inspiration, hope???? I don't think so.

[cottonseed]

37. Just a few years ago Hillary was the rock star. Until she went all Brittany on us.

nt

[RichGirl]

59. You have quite the imagination.

You waste your talent here. You should be writing fiction.

[cottonseed]

69. You're telling me she wasn't a favorite in Hollywood?

You're quick witted, but you kind of ignore what people are saying.

[Dob Bole]

71. Only old people care about "rock stars..."

Just kidding.

But really, rock and roll is no longer that popular. It's a niche market now. I find myself listening to alternative rock from the 80s, because nothing new is being made.

[Jed Dilligan]

27. Hillary reminds me of Bush

She's really sure of herself and really wrong a lot of the time. They both remind me of a lot of bosses I've had of around the same age.

Barack Obama seems like someone who would listen to me or someone like me. I don't think Hillary Clinton would have any respect for me or someone like me.

[LordJFT]

30. because he's much better on the issues than Hillary and much more electable

[blogslut]

32. I dunno

My young person is taking a nap after a busy week college plus two part-time jobs.

As for this old white lady, I'm voting for him because I've wanted him for president since I first saw him speak at the Democratic convention in 2004. I loves me some John Kerry but as I said at the time: "To hell with Kerry! I want this guy for president!"

[cgrindley]

33. It's because you keep asking about him being a "black man"

you have to understand that we don't give a fuck what color he is. Stop mentioning it. You're embarrassing yourself.

PS we also distrust Boomers. You guys had your turn. Clinton didn't get the job done and was too busy nailing fat interns, and Bush was the worst president evah.

[kentuck]

39. Well, thank you very much...

I don't feel embarrassed. I'm very happy that color is not part of the equation. By the way, you are a rude a**hole.

[Dob Bole]

42. lol

Sorry, that last sentence cracked me up for some reason.

[cgrindley]

49. Me too

I richly deserved it, too, might I add.

[cgrindley]

48. Thank you very much

at least I'm not still living in the last millennium.

[Codeine]

36. WTF is wrong with "inspiration?"

People keep using that phrase in a derogatory manner, but dammit -- that's what the President is supposed to do! He sets the tone, plants the seeds, gives voice to our dreams. Did JFK go down in history as a great president because of his achievements, or because he was an inspirational motherfucker who made the country embrace a new dream?

I want inspiration. I want high-flown rhetoric and talk of social justice. I want the milquetoast bullshit of the last thirty years replaced with hope.

I want Obama.

[kentuck]

44. Who is talking about "inspiration" in a derogatory way??

I must have missed that post?

[Codeine]

56. A few quotes from this thread.

"Because he is great at creating hype and using "inspirational" generalizations."

"Appealing to the American Idol generation"

"If you were to hire an accountant, a nanny for your children, security for your home...what would you look for? Excitement, inspiration, hope???? I don't think so."

[kentuck]

63. Thanks Codeine.

I thought you might have been referring to one of my posts also? I think we need "inspiration" very badly at this time. It's nothing to sneer at.

[provis99]

99. No kidding. It's ironic isn't it

That the Clinton supporters, drawn from the starry-eyed JFK generation, are the ones criticizing Obama supporters because Obama is inspirational.

[Tweed]

40. My story is a little different seeing how I'm from Illinois and knew Obama before 99.9%

of Americans. I got to see him in the late fall of 2003 when he was on a panel discussing the future of Social Security. The auditorium could sit about 1,000 people, but only 100 people came out on that night. Obama was running for the Senate at this point, but I wasn't following the race and of course didn't know who he was. Everyone on the panel had their turn at speaking, and now Obama was up.

Within the first couple of sentences, I was immediately drawn into what he was saying. He wasn't speaking for sound bites, he spoke about the topics with a frank and honest approach, and his words didn't sound like pure outrage. I think so much of the 90's were filled with politicians yelling at each other that I think I was immediately drawn to Obama because he didn't come out swinging. He held his own and was quick to defend himself, but the crux of his argument was first and foremost his ideas, not an attack against the opposition. In retrospect, that is what I found to be appealing about him. At the time I immediately though, "Well this is the guy I am supporting in the Senate race!", but I didn't think about exactly why until later. If people asked me why I was supporting Obama, I would just reply because he seems to be the most intelligent and genuine guy in the race.

Based on some first-hand experience of 90's politics (I did organize a mock debate in 8th grade for Clinton-Dole-Nader), but mainly reading about 90's politics, I put a lot of the yelling blame on Gingrich. He was very adversarial himself, but he was also the one who instituted the three/four day Congressional work week and encouraged house members to go home and campaign more often. I think it is much easier to get wrapped up in the ideological platform of your party if you spend all of your time with members of your party and the constituents of your gerrymandered district. Then since the new guys from the '94 Republican Revolution don't know compromise and aren't staying around to talk to other Reps and Senators from the other aisle (or even more moderate members of their party), the veteran members of Congress can only debate with these guys by yelling on the floor on the respective houses.

Like I said, I don't blame Clinton for this mess, I blame Gingrich. However, I think the Republicans in Congress are too wrapped up in this debating style with Clinton that we will just continue to have 4 or 8 more years of the same kind of 90's yelling style politics. I think Obama can change the tone in Washington mainly because of his own personal style but also his lack of experience of working in Washington in the 90's. It goes beyond that for me personally and politically but I think that is his appeal to people my age even if they can't put their finger on it right away.

[superduperfarleft]

43. "black man"

:eyes:

[MadBadger]

46. Not this again.

[StoryTeller]

47. I'm 33...

So I'm sort of in-between the "young voter" demographic and the older demographic, but I'm closer to being a young voter.

I'm in that "gen-x" category that finds cynicism to be an easy rut to fall into, especially with politics. I politically came of age in 1992 as a high school senior, and what I remember most about the Clinton presidency was the whole impeachment nonsense. I was, at the time, a registered Republican (though all I did was show up and vote), and I remember being really embarrassed by the way the Republicans were hounding Clinton as well as by the humiliation of having our president's personal failings aired for the entire world to see. It totally turned me off to politics in general. My cynicism said that all politicians were opportunistic, power-hungry liars. I voted out of a sense of duty and generally tried to ignore the whole political world because it pretty much disgusted me.

That changed during W's presidency because not only was I disgusted, I saw the horrible damage he inflicted on...every good about our government and our country. That anger made me start paying attention to politics--with the result that I realized that while I'd been ignoring politics, my own moral compass and beliefs in right and wrong had taken me down a path that my party affiliation didn't line up with. Becoming a Democrat corrected that discrepancy between what I'd come to believe and what party I was part of.

John Kerry is actually my "first love" in terms of my political awareness. What I admire about him is his integrity and his attitude that being an elected official is not about garnering power but about service and doing your best to do what is right. He showed me that there are SOME in politics who are not dishonest and power-hungry.

So when he decided not to run again, I started looking to see if there were any other candidates who had some of those same qualities of honesty and integrity, an attitude of service, and a desire to make good decisions for the benefit of people.

I found Barack Obama.

Not only does he display those qualities that are most important to me, but he brings a new dimension to it: He encourages us all to be part of the process of change. He makes it clear that there's more to improving our country than just electing a good president. A good president can do a lot, but he or she needs the citizens of the country to care and to be active in working to make the country the way we want it to be.

Obama challenges my cynicism. He pushes against it and tells me there's no room for it if I really want to see things get better. If I want to have a country I don't need to be ashamed of any more, then I have to give up my cynicism and give the political process a try.

Getting people to dismantle cynicism and to engage in the process of improving their own lives is the hardest thing for ANY leader to do. And yet it is the most important aspect of leadership. Obama's leadership style is not about demanding his own way or steamrolling over other people. He has mastered the knack of bringing people along with him. He knows how to set the pace, but then he invites others to do what he's doing.

I agree with his policies, I respect his character qualities. I love that he is smart and has good ideas. But I could say most of that about Clinton as well. The ability to lead through empowerment, to bring people along with him--THAT'S what I treasure most. That's what is going to give him the ability to restore our country's reputation in the world and accomplish the things that we want our president to do.

And sometimes when my cynicism threatens to reassert itself, I have to remind myself that hope and change (as much as they have become buzzwords, they are both powerful and necessary ideas) are choices we each have to make. Obama understands this and challenges us to make those choices.

So this Gen-X'er is endeavoring to set aside the cynicism and give hope a chance. I rather like the idea of being a hopemonger. :)

[Whisp]

50. why do old neocon mass murderers prefer Hillary? nt

[Altec]

51. That's like asking....

Why did Rubin Studdard win American Idol?

Young people are quick to latch on to "the next big thing." It is cool to like Obama, it's cool to support him. I hear many high schoolers talking about Obama, even though they probably disagree with his liberal views.

After he is sworn in, he'll be the joke on The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, China will import Guitar Hero 4, and he'll be old news.

[Elspeth]

53. Because they don't know about his record

If they did, they'd have backed Kucinich or Edwards.

[Codeine]

58. I did back Edwards.

He dropped out. Now it's Obama.

I like Dennis Kucinich, but he had about as much chance at winning the general election as I do.

[Elspeth]

62. Well, Codeine, when you run, let me know. :)

Kucinich is being punished though. LBN has an article on it.

[cottonseed]

64. Here's one.

If people wanted 100% purity, they'd probably vote for one of their old High School teachers. At some point in the system we have today a person needs to make a choice about the people running. Many declined to vote for Kucinich or Edwards. They may be better in your own view, but not for most.

[rug]

61. Gullible.

[cottonseed]

66. Rude.

Hoping for the second coming of Bubba shows no gullibility?

[rug]

72. He's not running. Did you vote for him in 96?

[cottonseed]

77. Yes I did.

nt

[rug]

79. He really sucked, didn't he.

[cottonseed]

81. Thought he was great. Don't feel that way about his wife.

nt

[cottonseed]

121. nt

nt

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

82. HERE'S WHAT MY TEENAGER SAID

Why people like Obama:

"people can understand him, they can't understand what Hillary is talking about.

He is a very good speaker.

He is calm, they can't listen to McCain because he gets so angry when he speaks.
He's just angry, watched something on the history channel that he gets angry easily
because he was a prisoner of war.

Hillary doesn't seem approachable.

Hillary seems so uptight, and I don't want any more Clintons. Had enough!

People that are young voters - all they hear is about her and her husband, Bill Clinton fooling around in the office again. That is what they recognize the name Clinton before."

[Dob Bole]

83. NOOOOOOO!!!!!! YOU'RE ALL WRONG!!!!!!!!!!

This thread is suddenly full of older people(which is fine, I'm on my way too)'s interpretations of why we are voting for Obama. And I have to tell you, they are all wrong.

Please do not think of us as children. Young voters are old enough to think, and we vote based on the issues. We hate the war, because we're the ones fighting it (figuratively speaking...I'm not, but most of the guys that I graduated from high school with are) and that is probably the number one issue. It's not because we are mindless zombies who like a "rock star" (NEWS FLASH: Rock and roll is dying, if not already dead. It's a niche market now, and overall is not that popular. I personally listen to 80s alternative rock because nothing new is being made.)

I do not claim that Hillary voters are stupid old people, so please don't be as condescending as you are now being in interpreting our reasons for voting for us. That is part of the problem.

Thank you.

[Sapphocrat]

131. If you claim to be voting on issues...

...then you'd better start taking a good, hard look at the overwhelming number of "He's so sexy / cool / a rock star / not Hillary / meaningless-bullshit-reasons" blanketing GDP as if they were actual reasons for a well-informed choice.

'Cause I tell ya, buddy, half your fellow Obama supporters are making the reasoned ones look like... not what you want them to look like.

Convince me. Convince me the majority of Obama supporters aren't 14-year-old fans. Hardly a goddamned one can talk issues with us grown-ups. Start by looking at some of the posts in this thread. Then tell me why I shouldn't believe the country has been taken over by teenyboppers -- or GOP plants.

Convince me. I'd love it if you could.

[Sapphocrat]

132. If you claim to be voting on issues...

...then you'd better start taking a good, hard look at the overwhelming number of "He's so sexy / cool / a rock star / not Hillary / meaningless-bullshit-reasons" blanketing GDP as if they were actual reasons for a well-informed choice.

'Cause I tell ya, buddy, half your fellow Obama supporters are making the reasoned ones look like... not what you want them to look like.

Convince me. Convince me the majority of Obama supporters aren't 14-year-old fans. Hardly a goddamned one can talk issues with us grown-ups. Start by looking at some of the posts in this thread. Then tell me why I shouldn't believe the country has been taken over by teenyboppers -- or GOP plants.

Convince me. I'd love it if you could.

[polichick]

84. This is what I see happening...

Obama is both a boomer and not. He continues the boomer legacy in furthering civil rights, human rights, green technology, etc. ~ but does it his own way by breaking away from the old rules that have had government stuck for so long. From what I've seen, he appeals to boomers as much as our children. Caroline Kennedy and Maria Shriver said they were uniting with their kids in supporting him ~ sharing enthusiasm for Obama with my kids is like sharing our enthusiasm for Bob Dylan. Good stuff!

[skooooo]

93. hey polichick!

:hi:

[polichick]

95. Hey skooooo! :)

[JayWyss]

87. Youth voter here!

I'm 22, a college student, and yes, voting for Obama on Tuesday!

My reasons boil down to these:

1. All I have ever known are Bushes and Clintons. Can the presidency alternating between 2 "royal families" possibly be a good thing?
2. If Hillary is president, while I'm sure she would do a fantastic job, I see a continuance of governance in the 50%+1 method, where there may be a majority, but never a mandate.
3. $4,000 for college every year in exchange for national service? I'm planning on going to grad school and wouldn't mind some of that!
4. Obama's ability to inspire is just amazing. He makes me want to be part of something greater than myself.
5. He presents a fresh, hopeful face to a world that has come to see us as part of the problem, and not the solution.

They're so close on policy (with some notable exceptions), that it is very much a decision on style versus substance.

On Friday, I was finishing up a run around campus and at every major intersection on campus for pedestrians, cars, or both, there were only Obama supporters. He is making us a part of the process. The Democratic party has a chance to bring in millions of young men and women solidly under their tent...and if Obama performs, should he win the nomination and the presidency, he may have just brought them in for life.

[rug]

97. It is very much a decision on style versus substance.

OK.

[kentuck]

110. Your #2 reason is very important to me also.

I agree with your post...and I am a Vietnam veteran.

[dugggy]

94. Because young voters are gullible.

Then they get older and wisdom comes with it.

[provis99]

103. Didn't happen with the baby-boomers, did it?

They're the ones who gave us Reagan, Bush I and II, Gingrich, and Clinton's intern foibles. The only thing that comes with age, is more age, not wisdom.

[dugggy]

118. Who did Reagan beat? Carter !!

I don't know if you are old enough to recall we had double digit
interest rates during Carter which made buying cars & houses atrociously
expensive. And to top it off we had high inflation and a slowing economy.
That made it easy for Reagan to cream Carter.

[Dob Bole]

104. And you are wrong, for a number of reasons.

Personally, I'm 25 and I have been working for 14 years. I practically raised my baby sister, and first read the Bible when I was six, even though my parents weren't religious. I have been a history teacher for three years, after paying for my own college, but before that I have worked in IT, been a farm worker, bagged groceries, and even held public office. I am married, and I have lived in three states.

You claim that my age makes me gullible, but I have never been gullible enough to believe that there were Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq. True, I may not yet know what it is like to enjoy having grandchildren, but each part of my life has brought experience, and with that experience wisdom.

[dugggy]

119. You sound like an exception to the young & gullible rule.

As for WMD's in Iraq, did'nt Saddam use them on his own people?
So he had them for sure before Gulf War I. In the early 2000's
Saddam was trying to fake presence of WMD's to keep Iran at bay.
Apparently Saddam was successful in fooling every one including
Bill Clinton's admin, our CIA, and intelligence services of UK,
France, Russia etc. Then again there are satellite photo's of a
large caravan of trucks going to Syria prior to Bush'e Iraq invasion.
So who knows.

[Teaser]

96. I'm not that young

34...but I will say there is a tremendous disaffection with Boomers in Gens X and Y. I feel it to a degree. So that could be part of it. Maybe.

[gravity]

100. Because he takes a refreshing approach to politics

Too many candidates these day play by the same political rules and don't see any other way to run the country.

Obama is the only candidate challenging conventional wisdom, and has the potential to change the dialogue of this nation.

[JBoy]

108. Because he doesn't smell like Vaporub? n/t

[DiamondJay]

117. because he, like them, is relatively young

and young people have been indoctrinated in diversity training and preaching, so they think electing him will make it all worth while, because it will validate what they have been told AND prove to themselves how they think they are "better" than their parents in that they can trust people of other races. He also is different than the image of the old feminist lady Hillary represents to some.

[killbotfactory]

120. He treats young voters with respect, and doesn't dismiss us as flakey slackers

He was against the war, which young people are fighting and will end up having to pay for. And we grew up during the Clinton era, and we want to do better than that.

[cottonseed]

122. He represents leadership void of cynism, fear, and devisiveness.

nt

[Political Heretic]

125. I don't know but I'm sick of being insulted.

[SteppingRazor]

136. A-fucking-men. n/t

[Recursion]

126. Hillary said "Young people think work is a four-letter word"

Maybe we like Obama because he doesn't insult us. Because he realizes that we face a much, much more difficult economy than our parents did, and that most of us have to work 2 or 3 jobs.

[NMMNG]

129. People said that about my generation too

You know, the "slackers", GenerationX. I've worked since age 14, and all my adult life I've worked substantial overtime or up to 3 jobs at a time to stay afloat. Slacker my backside.

But I'm voting for HRC for a variety of reasons mainly because I trust her far more than I do Obama, and because I believe she's going to be better for the job.

[Perry Logan]

130. It's natural for young people to want a fresh face.

[marlakay]

135. Had long talk with my 26 yr old daughter last night

We were talking about superdelegates and the election. She said she is for Obama because she wants someone new in the Whitehouse and because she believes he is very smart and will do the right thing for America. My daughter and her husband are both military (he is captain in air force) are for Obama together. My son n law has a masters degree in business and my daughter a BA in accounting.

She is very into womens issues as am I but both of us feel not Hillary as the woman. We want to win in November and both agree that Obama has a better chance against McCain.

She said she can't even think about the superdelegates because it is too upsetting for her. I kind of feel the same way. I am hoping against hope if our votes pick Obama the supers will go along with it because if they don't either a lot of people will drop the party, not vote in Nov, or be out on the streets and how is that going to help us win against McCain when we have a dem civil war going on??

I hope the people who thought up this bright idea of supers think about that!

[Political Heretic]

137. By the way - read a lot of responses in this thread, then connect it to this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4534133&mesg_id=4534133