Bill Clinton Suggests Young Voters Too Easily Fooled

Older voters gravitate to Hillary Clinton because they're too wise to be fooled by Barack Obama's rhetoric, former president Bill Clinton told Pennsylvania voters today.

Clinton's comments, to a packed high school gym about an hour north of Philadelphia, were one part presidential politics and one part legacy protection. His beef was with Obama's contention that many of the problems facing the country today were simmering long before President Bush took office seven-plus years ago.

"I think there is a big reason there's an age difference in a lot of these polls," he said. "Because once you've reached a certain age, you won't sit there and listen to somebody tell you there's really no difference between what happened in the Bush years and the Clinton years; that there's not much difference in how small-town Pennsylvania fared when I was president, and in this decade."

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[littlequeenie]

This older voter - who supported Clinton through his impeachment - is proudly supporting Barack Obama. I do not drink kool-aid. I have read as much as I can from various sources, have watched most of the debates, as well as speeches from all candidates. Obama is not perfect, but I sincerely believe he is the best hope for this country.

[LawSource]

I AGREE 100%!!

I LIVE IN BROWARD COUNTY Florida, (A CLINTON STRONG HOLD), Obama Open a Campaign Office yesterday, it was pack people had to stand out side. Approximately HALF of THE Volunteers WAS Between 50 to 72 years old. MOST OF THEM RECENTLY SWITCH because they saw Bill and Hillary Consistently lying about the BOSNIA Sniper incident, among other stuff¦.!

One 65 year old woman, stood out side, said she know the Clintons for many years and Encourage EVERY BODY to take a look at this http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=8464923602139974671&hl=en

[user168]

The Clintons are the fool-fooling fools. They can't fool the truth seeking voters. America is not as dumb as the Clintons hope. And the superdelegates aren't going to let America fall into the hands of fools.

[docofbb]

As someone the same age as Mr. Clinton, I know he is blowing smoke.

In addition to winning the youth vote, Mr. Obama also wins the 'better educated' demographic, and the 'wealthier' demographic. This is a strong argument against Mr. Clinton's logic that the youth are suffering from ignorance. I believe the little old ladies who think Hillary could be a satisfactory President are the ones who are naive. Hillary has proven herself to have neocon ethical standards, a child's penchant for exaggeration and deception, and an inability to see the obvious: she is second-place for the nomination and will remain there for all of history. Not Presidential material now or in any future election. New York can keep her in the Senate if they don't find a good candidate.

[zoh]

Someone needs to tell the young voters that Bill Clinton went on MTV when he first ran 1992 and to remind those who forgot.....

[dizmo4]

I do wonder, if the roles were reversed and Hillary was getting the youth vote while Obama was winning with the blue collar workers, would Bill Clinton feel this way?
No. They'd be championing the participation of young voters. This is clearly them trying to marginalize the Obama supporters.

Secondly, to Thebishop08's point, unless you can cite the method used in the survey that gathered those statistics ( not to mention the source) it's essentially meaningless. Youth that participate in politics are generally well informed. That doesn't mean that ALL youth are well informed. Participating in primaries and caucuses is very different than just voting in a general election. It requires more dedication and the processes are more arcane.

Its sad that instead of praising the youth turnout and their participation, they're attempting to marginalize them by calling them naive.

[foreffectivegovernment]

The youth participation in this election reminds me of my grandchildren's first soccer game.

They have no idea what the rules are, they have no sense of fair play or sportsmanship. They just know the object is to kick the ball into the goal and they attempt to do this with zeal, regardless of who they might hurt in the process. The only thing that prevents a complete riot is the adults who know the rules and try to supervise.

I am afraid the adults in this election have been intimidated by these young players into abdicating their responsibility to teach sportsmanship and fair play because they think these tactics will defeat the other team and that is the real goal.

In this case, I fear that these tactics will become the downfall of the Democrats and will lead to a win by the Republicans. The Democratic Party is not being destroyed by Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama but by the "Temporary Democrats" who don't understand the process.

[timinhi]

"foreffectivegovernment":

You are so right. This "majority" of young "Temporary Democrats" as you call them, when they are older, like most rational older voters, will not consider supporting an ill-experienced newcomer candidate who has puffed up and misrepresented his/her resume and is 10 or 15 or 20 or 30 years their junior to hold the highest office in the Free World. Right now, as naive 20-somethings, they look at 46 year-old Barack and think he is so old and wise compared to them. This country is resilient and can survive the leadership of an unqualified and unready president. We've had our share, we have one now, and we will survive even him. Unfortunately, America is at a crucial turning point in her history and it is not a good time for such foolhardy experimentation. Also, it hurts that time after time, the Democratic Party shoots itself in the foot and has to learn the hard way who not to run against the Republican nominee. As an experienced (several times moreso than Obama) attorney, I'd like to know the true, actual circumstances under which Barack left the practice of law after only two years as an associate attorney, and not having made partner in his firm. NO ONE with a Harvard Law degree, quits a prestigeous law firm after only 2 years to "pursue other interests" and become a "community street organizer" (whatever that is) unless he has been "encouraged" to do so by the firm's partners.

[k6007]

I'm 48 yrs old. I was 34 when I knew I'd never vote for a Clinton again. Perhaps you can explain how the education level in this country, affected my decision.

The fact is, people are smart enough to know when they've been lied to. Unlike hillary sympathizers, they have no problem admitting that fact then moving on.

[SoulSistah]

Thank you young people everywhere.

In every great movement that has occurred in the history of this nation, it was young people front and center that forced the change. You've fought in wars, you've marched against injustice, you've rallied around human rights issues.

Without the fearless, intelligent youth, our country would not be what it is today. Because of your embrace of technology and willingness to communicate in ways never tried before in a presidential race, you -- America's Youth -- have made a tremendous difference.

We need your energy, bright ideas and fearlessness to get this country where it should be.

From the old folk to the young folk . . . thank you for caring, sharing, and fighting to secure your future and what's left of our future.

.............................................................................
Baracking My Vote with the Young Folk.

[foreffectivegovernment]

SoulSistah: You said, "Without the fearless, intelligent youth, our country would not be what it is today."
I thought that "what our Country is today" was what this election is all about. The young folks seem to think "the fearless, intelligent youth" of my generation have screwed thing up and they are trying to fix it by electing a new President that has magical powers. My question is, are they qualified to make this decision for me. For you and them to think that surviving our broken educational system intact gives them superior intellegence is definitely "elitist" thinking.

This Country is not the one my generation fought for and I think we have a perfect right to help to select who we think can make the changes we want and not be intimidated by those with less of life's experience.

[lgmurphy]

This may not be the country your generation fought for, but it is the country your generation is sending our youth out to fight and die for. You have had your chances to make changes and it looks as though you don't have a clue. The rich keep getting richer, the government bails them out and the poor keep getting poorer. I think the youth have it spot on.

[itsme23]

the worst....YOU...THE GENERATION THAT PROMISED NEVER AGAIN WOULD YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE TO FIGHT AND DIE FOR A LIE....YOU who are sending MY GENERATION AND THE OTHER ONES THAT YOU BASH INTO BATTLE TO DIE....You have the absolute NERVE to say we shouldn't get a voice...if this is what your "LIFE EXPERIENCE" gets us...then bring on the newbies!!!! it is US that are sent to Die in Iraq and Afghanistan.....HOW DARE YOU IMPLY WE SHOULDN'T HAVE OUR SAY!!!!! It is US who will have worse causualties of war with PTSD due to unfair troop deployment and prolonged and unfair rotations..and everything else and OUR boys and girls that are going to need proper representation when they get home.....so YOU put your head to your pillow and think about this tonight.
YOUR FREEDOM AND RIGHT TO SAY THAT IS BEING DEFENDED RIGHT NOW BY SOMEONE YOUNG LIKE ME WHO WAS WILLING TO SERVE THIS NATION FOR UNGRATEFUL BIG MOUTHS LIKE YOU WHO DON'T DESERVE IT!!!! YOU DON'T MATTER TO US ANYMORE...how many voting cycles do you have left.....and now how many do we have left????? Sorry WE WIN!!! You guys will be looking to us to take care of you in your old age soon enough.....I pray to God that we find it in ourselves to forgive...so that we can take BETTER CARE OF YOU ALL...then you have EVER taken of us!!! Like apples?... how bout them apples!

[itsme23]

YOU OUGHT TO BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF!!!!!!!!! HOW DARE YOU SAY ANYTHING THAT CARELESS!!!! IT WAS THE BABY BOOMERS THAT TOOK OUR WORLD AND TRASHED IT!!!!

I am the generation that must clean up ALL of your messes!!! The generation sandwhiched between you and the brand new voters that you speak of!!! Shame on a generation that was all about free love and drugs...that went around trashing morality only until it suited them to find some....that introduced a virus through promiscuity that kills and sickens millions in this country......that had a bunch of kids you didn't want or feel the need to raise, so you parked them in front of a tv and hoped Cliff and Claire Huxtable would do it for you.....you the generation that has trashed the environment and left us on the brink of nautral distruction...you who has us the youth paying into YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE...when you all know GOOD AND WELL THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BANCRUPT IT....so that MY generation and those under mine will not be able to GET OLD...because as usual...You took it all away.....We will be forced to work at wall mart into our elderly years because retirement with dignity will no longer be possible.....

[Thebishop08]

(9) The typical American teen who is voting doesnt know that washington DC is not a state.


(10) The typical American teen who is voting does not know their state capital.


(11) The typical American teen who is voting has never read or even know about the Constitution but will argue with you blue in the face about freedoms they know nothing about.

(12) The typical American teen who is voting knows nothing about the cost of living in a free country.


The typical American teen who is voting is ignorant.

[THXPLS]

How do you jump from statistics (statistics for which you conveniently cite no reference) about "typical" American teenagers to "typical American teen who is voting". Just by voting, they are outside the "typical" teen statistics.

[SoulSistah]

FYI: Trolls don't define, clarify, initiate, set the agenda, dictate the substance of discourse. Trolls are limited to posting devisive, dehumanizing remarks that usually are intended to offend large blocks of United States citizens.

Many preteens (aka tweens) know much about your statements. Have you ever watched a program called "Smarter than a Fifth Grader?"

[cdub1991]

And it happened on our watch. Take some responsibility instead of just calling them fools.

[foreffectivegovernment]

The Bishop08: Plus they didn't even know the rules when they entered into the process. This has lead to constant screaming about "the rules" when they don't even know what they are.

I have added data to explain what you posted.

UNICEF rankings of educational systems in the world's richest countries, indicating the percentage of 14 and 15 year olds scoring below a minimum level in literacy, math and science.
1. South Korea 1.4 percent
2. Japan 2.2
3. Finland 4.4
4. Canada 5
5. Australia 6.2
6. Austria 8.2
7. Britain 9.4
8. Ireland 10.2
9. Sweden 10.8
10. Czech Republic 12.2
- (tie) New Zealand 12.2
12. France 12.6
13. Switzerland 13
14. Belgium 14
- (tie) Iceland 14
16. Hungary 14.2
- (tie) Norway 14.2
18. United States 16.2
19. Germany 17
- (tie) Denmark 17
21. Spain 18.6
22. Italy 20.2
23. Greece 23.2
24. Portugal 23.6

[SoulSistah]

People were warned to be afraid of the Clinbushton monster. Monsters do eat babies (including teenagers). Do not send monsters to the White House they'll destroy our youth.

[folksonomy]

Thank goodness my children aren't "typical"...and where's your # 1-8?

[folksonomy]

n/m...browser delay...

[Thebishop08]

Is he wrong?

(1) The typical American teen who is voting cannot find Iraq on a map yet is against the war.


(2) The typical American teen who is voting cannot give one valid and logical reason behind the "Theory" of global warming. Yet will cry tears about the polar bears, coincidentally enough they do not know the difference between Arctic and the Antarctica.


(3) The typical American teen who is voting wants alternative fuels but do not know the cost/benefit of such a move. The typical American teen who is voting does know know what CO2 stands for.


(4) The typical American teen who is voting might be a college student and is horribly uneducated on the smallest subject matter.


(5) The typical American teen who is voting cannot understand that having a ***** degree in college will not get them a 6-figure salary afterwards.


(6) The typical American teen who is voting cannot understand that their parents are paying threw the teeth so that they can attend college and get drunk/have sex and ***** up.


(7) The typical American teen who is voting thinks that they deserve the best in life while not earning any reason to.


(8) The typical American teen who is voting ranks 26 in math, science, biology, physcis and pretty much every subject in comparison to teens in other nations.

[PoliticallyDesirable]

We have no idea whether this is correct about the "typical" American teen. It sounds like made up "statistics." It also sounds to me like a lot of these things might be true of the "typical" American voter, sad to say. And the writer, who sounds so angry about someone else's supposed ignorance, should learn how to spell "through."

Barack Obama has already brought positive change to this country. He has energized people, not just youth. He has motivated people to get politically involved, to be educated about who the candidates really are, and be well informed about the issues. He has caused many people to toss the last vestiges of racism that they had carried for decades. He is the best thing that has happened to this country in a very long time.

And, please, spare me the people who are so offended by Rev. Wright but they've never bothered to listen to the entire sermon. It is amazing how differently it all sounds when it is heard in context.

[lgmurphy]

And exactly whose fault is it they do not know these things? If they know nothing, they do know that things are a mess and they need to be remedied somehow. They are also experiencing this anti-youth thing from the Clintons and understand that it is because of their support of Barack Obama. They are smart enough to know that its time to try someone new and different. They are smart enough to know when they are being excluded and insulted. They are not just our future, they are our now.

[ADVOCATE4ZPG]

.....but, but, they're "hip," "cool," or whatever the most current word for stylishly-assimilated is.... The proper course of action is to ENCOURAGE vigourously that minority(?) or PERIPHERY who are at once sentient, humanistic, and energetic to strive to come to the fore......and exert the only positive force that operates in the U.S.: PEER PRESSURE for excellence and civic good--NOT mere DOMINANCE and wealth accumulation.....

[Briarcircle]

Bill, there you go again, tripping up Hillary. You really don't want her to win, do you? She's going to make your impeachment look like a cake walk when she's finished with you. Hope the GOP is making it worth it.

[foreffectivegovernment]

"Dumbing down" the schools in the United States has lead to the problems Bill Clinton describes. Bill Gates has to go to Europe to get Programmers and Engineers because American kids get their degrees from these "Cracker-Jack Universities" that teach "Liberal Arts" The only thing they learn is to look down their noses at the very people who did without so they could attend these places where the "Liberal Elite" teach.

Here is a shining example of the Truth I have stated.
(George W.) Bush attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, where he played baseball, and was the head cheerleader at the all-boys school during his senior year.[16] Following in his father's footsteps, Bush attended Yale University, where he received a Bachelor's degree in history in 1968.[17] As a college senior, Bush became a member of the secretive Skull and Bones society, although, by his own characterization, he was an average student.[18]

[k6007]

Bill Clinton is also a member of the skull & bones.

[docpooh]

Yeah, and from what I hear Bush graduated at the top of his class!
Soooo... are you against "Liberal Elite" but all for "Conservative Elite".
Sounds fair-minded to me...

[foreffectivegovernment]

Sorry dogpooh:
I don't understand your post. The last line states, "he was an average student". I was simply pointing out that having a college degree does not automatically give a person the wisdom to be President of the United States or the right to tell someone who to vote for in this election.
Threatening to "riot in the streets", "hold your breath till you turn blue", and using other tactics to convince your parents and the super-delegates to support your candidate is kind of juvenile.
I am a Degreed Engineer with 40 years in the field so you may be able to understand why I too am "bitter" at these young college educated first time voters when they assume they are somehow better than me because they are smart enough to "see the light" and idolize Senator Barack Obama.
And then, maybe not.