The Nation: Democrats Cannot Ignore Young People

[struggle4progress]

by John Nichols
November 16, 2010

Everyone knows that young voters were less enthused about the 2010 mid-term elections than they were about the 2008 presidential election, when their votes powered Barack Obama to a landslide victory and gave Democrats big boosts in congressional contests. But detailed studies of the election reveal that the decline in voting by Americans aged 18 to 29 was actually more serious than initially imagined.

In 2008, polls showed that young people were overwhelmingly supportive of Obama and the Democrats. And they turned out in droves. According to the research group Circle: The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, which tracks civic engagement among young voters, 51 percent of 18 to 19 year olds voted that year.

In 2010, polls showed that young people were still supportive of Obama and the Democrats. But only 20.9 percent of them bothered to vote.

Circle director Peter Levine said that: "For liberal students, this election felt, at best, as a defensive move, protecting a Congress they don't like that much" ...

http://www.npr.org/2010/11/16/131353061/the-nation-democrats-cannot-ignore-young-people

[damntexdem]

1. Actually, they've shown a talent for ignoring almost everyone ...

except rich donors and lobbyists.

[ixion]

2. exactly

[SocialistLez]

4. +100

That's exactly why this young person thinks the Dems get whatever they deserve.

[struggle4progress]

5. Well, there's an offensive and dishonest remark

[Kolesar]

3. slackers...eom