Young people react with hostility to the Republicans

[cynatnite]

A new Democracy Corps/Greenberg Quinlan Rosner survey finds young people "profoundly alienated from the Republican party and its perceived values."

Key finding: "Young people react with hostility to the Republicans on almost every measure and Republicans and younger voters disagree on almost every major issue of the day."

In the presidential race, "both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama lead Rudy Giuliani -- the most acceptable of the Republican offerings among youth -- by significant margins. The President’s standing is substantially worse, to the degree that is possible, than we find in the broader electorate. Moreover, the disconnect we see between the Republicans and our nation’s youth runs so deep, that it likely will not only outlive the Bush administration, but potentially haunt the Republicans for many years to come."

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2007/07/27/republican_support_collapses_among_youth.html

Here is the survey in PDF:

http://democracycorps.com/reports/surveys/Democracy_Corps_May_29-June_29_2007_Youth_Survey.pdf

[Bluebear]

1. All we need to do is GOTV! nt

[Subdivisions]

7. Bingo! That is the key. And at some point, probably next

summer, I am going to organize a GOTV drive in the black community -- in Ohio! I encourage the same effort be made in Florida and any other state where they will implement caging activities and where they will try to supress voter turnout by preventing African-Americans to vote.

I will also, of course, help do whatever I can to turn Texas BLUE!!!

[MrMickeysMom]

2. Wasn't it a line out of "Airplane!" in which someone said-

... "No young person has ever survived the Republican Party!"

:*

[ninkasi]

3. As an older American

a great-grandmother, there is something disturbing about young conservatives. Youth should be about change, about something positive, and uplifting. It should be about trying to bring about a better society, about embracing change, and uplifting the majority of us. Young college Republicans seem to be old, cranky souls trapped in young bodies.

There will be no uplifting, no social change, nothing good, if conservatives are in the majority. Maybe so many years of neocons dictating social values, this is a much needed, and much desired for change. Youth sometimes is rebellious. I approve of that.

[Old and In the Way]

5. Young Republicans are cynical opportunists.

They see how the game is played. It's not about public service, it's about getting ahead by getting along...with the Republican Party. At one time, I think there was a real philosophical disagreement on the role of government, but they now see the Party has a way to get ahead in a system that values obedience to message and willingness to put Party before country.

[genie_weenie]

10. Young Yellow Elephants are Brilliant.

Not only can they appear strong, WE must fight the terrorists, but while others spill their blood they get the bonus points for aiding in the war here on the homefront (kind of contact courage) and they aren't wasting their time learning such useless skills as Motor T mechanic or M249 Golf machinegunner but useful things like how to schmooze and contacts with awesome people like Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and other HEROES and, of course, other young people who might have competed for jobs and mates will be eliminated from the pool.

[LordJFT]

4. young people have the power to swing both the primaries and the GE

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. Now if they would only vote !

[Blue_In_AK]

12. They need encouragement from their parents

(us). I'm proud to say that my 21-year-old even voted in the election for city assembly a few months ago -- WITHOUT ME EVEN TELLING HER TO. I couldn't have been prouder.

[Robbien]

8. I would expect the abrasive tactics of the Young Repub groups

plays a part in this. Ever since the GOP organized the Young Republican groups at Colleges across the country, everyone stays as far away from them as they can get.

[W_HAMILTON]

9. George Bush turned me into a Democrat

Back in 2000ish, when I was 20, I was technically a "Republican." I hadn't ever really voted or paid much attention to politics, but I grew up in a conservative household.

Well, Bush comes along, fucks up everything possible, and pretty much kick-started that whole "thinking for myself" thing. I tried vote against him in 2004, but found out I missed registration. So, right after the elections, even though I wouldn't get to vote for another year or so at least, I registered to vote, as a Democrat. In 2006, I voted for the first time, in the mid-term elections.

Young people as a whole seem to be more inclined to be Democrats anyway, and that was before Bush came along and pretty much solidified it for a lot of people.

Time is not on the side of the Republicans.

[Bluebear]

11. And we are glad to have you! nt