The New York Times' Latest Bogus Trend Story.

[babylonsister]

http://www.prospect.org/csnc/blogs/tapped_archive?month=09&year=2010&base_name=the_new_york_times_latest_bogu

The New York Times' Latest Bogus Trend Story.


If you opened up your New York Times today, you would have seen this headline on the front page: "In a Shift, Fewer Younger Voters See Themselves As Democrats." More terrible news for the Dems! "There's a vibe," one college hunk says while pumping iron at the gym. "Right now it seems like Republicans just care a lot more than Democrats."

Wow -- I guess the nation's young people are abandoning the Democratic Party in droves. So how big has this swing been? Ten points? Twenty points? Let's amble on down to the 21st paragraph of the story:

Self-identification figures for Democrats — in national polls asking young people what party they lean more toward — peaked at 62 percent in July 2008, according to the Pew Research Center. By late last year, the number had dropped eight percentage points, to 54 percent, though researchers saw an uptick earlier this year, back to 57 percent. Republican gains roughly mirrored Democratic losses.

Well now. That doesn't seem so dramatic anymore, does it? In the heart of a presidential campaign in which the Democrat, a dynamic young candidate, would go on to whip the Republican, a crotchety old candidate, the proportion of young people identifying as Democrats peaked at 62 percent. And now, with the economy in the toilet, the president's approval ratings in the 40s, and Democrats facing huge losses in November, that number has plummeted all the way to ... 57 percent.

The Democrats do have a problem with young people, but it isn't that they've abandoned the party. The problem is that young people don't turn out in midterm elections, while old people do, and old people are much more heavily Republican. The Obama campaign registered and activated huge numbers of young people, but it will be a difficult task to get them to the polls in November. That is their youth problem.

--Paul Waldman


And yes, here's the nyt story:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x429261
Fewer Young Voters See Themselves as Democrats

[underpants]

1. Are the youngsters going to actually vote for Palin, Romney, NEWT?, Barbour?

no of course not.

this is 1984 all over- no real counterpart to the sitting President. In this case the negatives will suppress votes (we are in a bubble that even cable news can't permeate) but Obama will still win.

[pstokely]

13. They'll stay home before they vote Repuke

and most of them do in mid term elections

[stray cat]

2. We will see in nov If DU is more accurate - I doubt it

[rocktivity]

3. Operation Dead Dem Walking, I call it

Plant stories in the MSM convincing Dems to stay home because they can't possibly win (unless they stay home.)

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Beartracks]

4. LOL. It goes up 3% this year, and yet the story...

... is all about how it is DOWN from 2008. Overall, right now, it seems to be trending... UP... from what I can tell.

---------------------

[FrenchieCat]

5. NYT treating its readers like suckers......

and a few suckers are spamming this information on these board....not suprisingly.

[anthroguy101]

6. I'm one of those "young" voters

and I WILL turn out in 2010 in my first election. I even have a "Joe Sestak" bumper sticker on my locker. I will not let my country down.

[babylonsister]

7. You rock, anthroguy101, and

welcome to DU! :yourock:

[anthroguy101]

8. Thanks

I've already registered as a Democrat, and I will turn 18 on the 28th. This election means so much to me, and even more for my country.

[Ramulux]

11. Whats the feeling among others your age?

Are there others as motivated as you and are there a decent amount of republicans in your age group?

[anthroguy101]

12. The high school poll was very lopsided towards Obama.

One of our most outspoken Republicans in our High School is also one of the most hated people (one of those "big ego" types). Fortunately, he is not of voting age.

One of our history teachers is encouraging the students to go out and vote. He will be talking about both parties (since it's an American Government class), hopefully in a non-partisan way.

Other than that, the election isn't on most people's minds. Hopefully that will be turned around.

EDIT: Also, yes, there are a good percentage of Republicans. Just not as many as there are Democrats. This is a small town, and a lot of people like to hunt here. Most of the Republicans I know are only Republicans because of their parents.

[TuxedoKat]

9. Thank you!

Love your generation! And welcome to DU! :)

[pstokely]

14. But what about your apolitical friends?

How many of them have even registered to vote if they have turned 18 in the past 21 months?

[KingFlorez]

10. Why would anyone think that Republicans care more?

Anyone who says that is already a Republican and is trying to sell something that isn't true.