Fewer Young Voters See Themselves as Democrats (vs.

[babylonsister]

'the jury is still out'). So which is it? Seems the nyt has their own spin.


Fewer Young Voters See Themselves as Democrats
By KIRK JOHNSON
Published: September 2, 2010


FORT COLLINS, Colo. — The college vote is up for grabs this year — to an extent that would have seemed unlikely two years ago, when a generation of young people seemed to swoon over Barack Obama.

Though many students are liberals on social issues, the economic reality of a weak job market has taken a toll on their loyalties: far fewer 18- to 29-year-olds now identify themselves as Democrats compared with 2008.

“Is the recession, which is hitting young people very hard, doing lasting or permanent damage to what looked like a good Democratic advantage with this age group?” asked Scott Keeter, the director of survey research at the Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan group. “The jury is still out.”

How and whether millions of college students vote will help determine if Republicans win enough seats to retake the House or Senate, overturning the balance of power on Capitol Hill, and with it, Mr. Obama’s agenda. If students tune out and stay home it will also carry a profound message for American society about a generation that seemed so ready, so recently, to grab national politics by the lapels and shake.

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/03/us/politics/03students.html?_r=1&ref=us

[Hosnon]

1. As far as economic policy, they likely see little difference between the two parties. nt.

[boobooday]

2. I think you're right

And they are probably correct as well.

[Hawkowl]

6. They are correct

This gives me a little hope because apparently a lot of students are still developing critical thinking skills.

[Mimosa]

3. Maybe because the Party doesn't seem to stand for progressive ideals which appeal to youth? n/t

[msongs]

4. or the fairy tale campaign has turned into a frog nt

[Mimosa]

5. I think you've got it.

I'd forgotten how hopeful everybody had felt in Nov 2008 and Jan 2009.

[niceypoo]

7. The party has lurched rightward

Abandon your core ideals at your own peril

[Arkana]

12. Or maybe it's because the economy is weak right now and people

of that age group are more concerned with getting a goddamn job than worrying about which political party they identify with?

[Tarheel_Dem]

8. I think this is to be expected. When you've got a network that's played

in waiting rooms, restaurants & even at the gym, and you've got all the other M$M "news" outlets covering the idiots on that network; two billionaire brothers willing to spend whatever it takes; fake & very well funded K-Street inspired "grassroots" organizations; tabloids at the checkout declaring that "The President Is a Muslim".

Considering all of the above, I'd say this president has held his own with young voters. Poll after poll seems to indicate that, though somewhat disillusioned, young folks are still a strong base of support for the president. Some first time will succumb to the propaganda, others won't. This is nothing new. Young people are typically unreliable between presidential elections, witness what happened to Clinton in '94.

Sadly, for this White House, they don't have a Fox News Channel to bombard the airwaves. The propaganda arm of the GOP reaches millions of homes & businesses, and let's face it, none in the media can demonize like Fox News, and it's having some effect. Like it or not, Dems don't seem to have the messaging expertise, or "colorful" people in the media who can push their message out to the public, on a sustained basis. Republicans have all the bases covered when it comes to media. Bernie Sanders says that we need our own version of Fox News, and I have to agree.

[FrenchieCat]

10. Yep. The Media day in, day out tear this administration down

on the good or bad news....doesn't seem to matter.

In fact, when there is good news, they simply just report other less new-worthy stories,
so they don't have to linger on any good news that would make this administration look
better. What I don't understand is why folks don't see how obvious the corporate media
shows itself to be, day after day. And of course, many of us on the Left pile on
instead of defending this admin....although many of us were willing to defend Bill Clinton
through thick and thin.

[denimgirly]

9. One day we will have a Democrat who ACTUALLY wants to help the People

until then we will continue to shift right and continue to depress its base.

I am staying home this election...and apparently so many others.

[FrenchieCat]

11. This is good to know.

That you are not voting,
and will be walking around with a missing nose on your face,
but hopefully, this also means you won't really have much to say
anymore, since any success we experience will have
nothing to do with you.

[Arkana]

13. Thank you for doing the GOP's work. I'm sure Speaker Boehner

and Majority Leader McConnell will thank you as they gut social programs, cut taxes until we're bleeding red ink, and turn the country into Somalia v. 2.0.

And since you didn't vote, you don't get to bitch about any of it, either.

[Tarheel_Dem]

14. "I am staying home this election...and apparently so many others".

Is this really okay with the admins here? I mean, seriously? These suppression tactics are to be expected from the right, but to use a "democratic" board to declare that you've dropped out is beyond ludicrous as well as inflammatory.

Since you're "staying home", there's not much point in your being at DU any longer, unless you have a more nefarious agenda, right? This just shouldn't be allowed here.

[Tarheel_Dem]

15. UPDATE: Perhaps you should take a gander at this.....

Locking.
Topic URL http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9067635#9070621
9070621, Locking.
Posted by Robb on Fri Sep-03-10 05:49 PM

The moderators have discussed this issue at length, and determined that advocating not voting among Democrats is equivalent to advocating that members vote for Republicans or third party candidates -- which is not permitted here.

Thanks,

Robb
DU Moderator

I think it's pretty clear that DU still supports Democrats, and there are a gazillion sites on the net that don't, so perhaps you've outgrown DU?

[opihimoimoi]

16. as rookies, they are easily fooled by those "Memes" emoting from the GOP master psyop plan