Are Youth Voters Tuned In To President Obama?

Politics Daily:

And anyway, at the end of the day, it's not so clear just how pivotal the youth vote will be in determining who wins Congress this November: while various polls have shown the percentage of millennials likely to vote ranging from 78 percent to 45 percent, the reality is that their highest turnout on record for a midterm election was a much lower 31 percent in 1982. In 2006, only 25.5 percent of them voted -- which was an improvement on the previous two midterm elections.

Read the whole story: Politics Daily

Comments

[ugly american]

10:59 AM on 10/20/2010

It is interesting that Obama is trying the tactic of putting the blame on his supporters.
If youth is losing confidence in him, he might want to look inward for why.
When you make a promise, people may expect you to keep it. To kids, there is no "May".
He promised Health Care Reform, and we got it, but it was a LOT less than advertized. He promised to try to fix the financial system. Well, a lot of people don't count just making the bankers happy as a "Fix".
He cut taxes for those under $250K. As ridiculous as it seemed, the Bush checks worked better. A lot of people would never notice because they can't afford to pay much to begin with.
Loads of other things were halfway measures or made him look like he was on the fatcat's side.
Kids are even smart enough to know that bipartisanship is a dumb idea right now and he keeps it up.
All these things work against him with youth and the American public.
He might try talking and acting truely populist and just say no to helping Wall Street anymore.
If Obama studies Roosevelt instead of Lincoln, it will take him a lot further in the circumstances existing today.
Lincoln freed the slaves.
Roosevelt reined-in the banksters.
Which one would Obama think we need?

[EPLURIBUSUNUM1]

09:48 AM on 10/19/2010

President Obama, speaking at a fundraiser in Boston, said, "People out there are still hurting very badly, and they are still scared. And so part of the reason that our politics seems so tough right now, and facts and science and argument does not seem to be winning the day all the time, is because we're hard-wired not to always think clearly when we're scared. And the country is scared, and they have good reason to be."
He might as well have reminded his listeners that you can expect little else of people who "cling" to their Bibles and guns and hostility to those who are different. If the people of the United States are losing confidence in President Obama, he wants it clearly understood that he is losing confidence in them as well. If they are considering voting for candidates Obama disapproves, it's because fear has paralyzed their capacity for reasoned judgment.
That must be it. It couldn't be that voters gave Mr. Obama a chance and are now holding him accountable for his failures.

[justalurker]

10:11 AM on 10/19/2010

Okay, now you're clearly talking about obama's words. And they are true. History shows that xenophobia is heightened during tough economic times. People look for scapegoats other than themselves - usually in the form of "others" they already believe to be inferior through sterotypes. See 1930's Germany for one example.

For the past two years, irrational fears gave been the hallmark of republican tea party talking points: birthers, death panelers, obama's tax cuts are tax raises, he's indoctrinating school kids (he told thm to do their homework and stay in scoop), he's a Muslim with a 20-year christian pastor, govt. takeover of healthcare (it's still all private), he bashes big business, he's in the pocket of big business, etc.

Irrational.

[ugly american]

11:16 AM on 10/20/2010

We don't need xenophobia.
We have real boggymen in our banking and financial sector. The rich have again in history been allowed to get completely out of hand and now they wonder why people are talking of sharpening guillottines? And Obama has up to now appeared to aid and abett them. And don't get started on that idiotic bipartisanship idea...
The Tea Party and it's nutty hangers-on are the same kind of blip on the radar the Moral Majority was. A loud, small minority. Corporate funded, no less.
No, Obama has indeed given Americans in general good real reasons to be at least disappointed in him. It is up to him to change that but he is not nearly that radical.

[justalurker]

10:15 AM on 10/19/2010

Two minor edits in my first reply:
have been (not gave been)
stay in school (not scoop)

[jamaicalover]

08:17 AM on 10/19/2010

Moving America Forward Rally
with
PRESIDENT OBAMA

Friday, October 22nd, 2010
Doors Open At 11:00 AM

University Of Southern California
McCarthy Quad
Los Angeles, CA
USC McCarthy Way and Figueroa St

Event is Free and Open to the Public. No Tickets are Required,Though an RSVP is Strongly Encouraged.

To RSVP, Please Visit
my.BarackObama.com/LARally

All Guests Will Go Through Airport-Like Security. Please Limit Personal Items. For Security Reasons Please Do Bring Bags or Laptops. Signs or Banners are NOT Permitted.

[EPLURIBUSUNUM1]

08:15 AM on 10/19/2010

Obama clearly believes that his brand of politics represents "facts and science and argument." His opponents, in disturbing contrast, are using the more fearful, primitive portion of their brains. Obama views himself as the neocortical leader -- the defender, not just of the stimulus package and health care reform, but of cognitive reasoning. His critics rely on their lizard brains -- the location of reptilian ritual and aggression. Some, presumably Democrats, rise above their evolutionary hard-wiring in times of social stress; others, sadly, do not.

Though there is plenty of competition, these are some of the most arrogant words ever uttered by an American president.

[justalurker]

09:10 AM on 10/19/2010

All I see here are your words. I do agree with your words saying that democrats use reason and logic to get out their vote and republicans use fear and anger to get out their vote. That's been obvious for many years.

If you want arrogance, how about:
saying deficits don't matter, while keeping two wars off the books and not paying for Medicare part d and tax cuts for the rich in a time of war (Cheney).
Or:
telling school children that our closest allies are still inferior to us (Reagan).

[justalurker]

10:17 AM on 10/19/2010

I see you actually quoted Obama in a newer post, so I addressed obama's words there.

[ShanaJuly]

07:59 AM on 10/19/2010

The media drones continue their republican talking points...and attempts to demoralize anybody associated with the Democrats and the President...the fourth estate has no credibility.

[carester]

07:59 AM on 10/19/2010

Whoever thought that young people, below 29, will stay engaged all throught Obama presidency is out of his/her mind. Young people have very short attention span. Once the hype is gone and reality settles, they don't want to have nothing to do with it. Maybe they'll be back in 2012, at least I hope so !

[leftLibertarian]

06:22 AM on 10/19/2010

Your AG Holder will arrest me for smoking weed and you want me to what?

[ShanaJuly]

07:54 AM on 10/19/2010

And that is different from any other AG in history how? Oh that's right it's a Democratic administration...

[Minolta]

03:44 AM on 10/19/2010

In the final analysis, Sorros may have it right. There is nothing that can be done to stop this wave. No amount of money, no amount of press, no amount of anger or spin. The wave is coming.

[ShanaJuly]

07:56 AM on 10/19/2010

Keep on believing that shite. We are going to fight every step of the way...

[MartyJo]

10:23 AM on 10/19/2010

You must be referring to the neop1gs trying to buy elections. Of course you are!!

[Eagleman]

02:30 AM on 10/19/2010

Give up hope
Now they all are busy with their dope

Ha Ha

[George Hanshaw]

01:36 AM on 10/19/2010

Slip slidin' away
Slip slidin' away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you're slip slidin' away

Despite optimistic talk and President Obama's nearly constant transcontinental campaign carbon footprint, a new Gallup Poll today finds Republicans holding a strong lead in the generic congressional poll among registered voters or likely voters, in big ballot turnouts and lesser ones for the Nov. 2 voting.

With but two weeks left before Obama's first midterm verdict, for the third straight week the Gallup Poll finds registered voters choosing the GOP over the Democrats, 48% to 43%. Among the now more important category of likely voters, Republicans have built a lead ranging from 11 points to 17 points.

According to Gallup, the wide disparity in the findings indicates Nancy Pelosi's days as House speaker are numbered, indicating a likely turnover of control to Republicans, at....
...least in that body. The GOP needs to gain 39 more seats to hold a majority in the legislative chamber where all financial legislation originates.

Some polls indicate the party's gain may be more like 55. The largest turnaround in U.S. history occurred in 1894 during the Cleveland administration when Republicans gained 130 out of a then-total 357 House seats.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/10/republicans-lead-in-gallup-generic-congressional-poll.html

[Guscat]

06:44 AM on 10/19/2010

If you are correct what are the Republican party and the teabaggers going to do if they gain power? Cut taxes, de-regulate, and start another war in Iran?

[MartyJo]

10:24 AM on 10/19/2010

Don't fret... Obama holds the veto pen :):)

[George Hanshaw]

10:55 AM on 10/19/2010

The thing is, you can't make government bigger with a veto pen. You can only make it smaller. You can't add a dime to the federal budget with a veto pen, you can only veto appropriations.

The repub Congress tried to scale back government under Clinton and Clinton vetoed the smaller budget in an act of political chicken, and the repubs blinked first. I'm not sure who will blink first between Obama and the tea party, they both seem equally dogmatic, but if nobody blinks the government eventually stops - except for national defense.

[Danchi]

11:37 PM on 10/18/2010

Whenever I read polls or surveys I'd like the people behind them to be more specific with their data and facts. Young adults I know still think Obama is the bomb. They are bewildered as to how the country got to the state it's in become some are just becoming politically aware. They don't understand how the bush cabal took a surplus and ran it into the ground, destroyed the economy, started two wars and allowed wall street and big business take over the country and no one did a thing about it. They can't get a grasp of how a handful of wealthy people are actually running the country. They can't understand how the people they vote in to represent them in Washington are more concerned in lining their own pockets and having a lifetime job. My kids said they really don't understand how the republican party can announce they are not going to legislate and not work as long as Obama is in office and not lose their job. They said they couldn't get away with not working yet still get paid. Most of all they don't understand how any one with a brain can support people like Angle, Palin, Miller, Paul, O'Donnell, Fiorina, Whitman and the rest of the nut jobs out there. This is what discourages the young adults. My son said: run for the senate-anyone with an IQ over 50 need not apply.

[Lucas Temple]

02:31 AM on 10/19/2010

Perhaps you dont know enough young adults. Im 21 myself, and I was aware of the dishonesty of politicians when I started wondering where my tax money was going.

Granted I hang out with alot of people younger then myself, the general attitude is that of distrust for the government in general, something I'm somewhat surprised about considering all the brainwashing we got in higschool portraying the government as some sort of messiah

[Danchi]

08:01 AM on 10/19/2010

I know plenty of young people. Most Americans don't trust the government. What has happened in America is during the bush cabal era was a Presidential sanctioned extortion of the country and under the guise of homeland security it was allowed. That's what the young people I know are bewildered with. How and why it was allowed considering there are supposed to be laws to prevent. What happened with bush is unprecedented in history. Fortunately my children were in a school system with heavy parental involvement and I know on a number of occasions I challenged what they teachers were trying to teach. Not so much distrust of the government as civics and government courses were removed from the curriculum, but more propaganda or the teacher taught topic they themselves were not very familiar with. Making it difficult for the children to receive teaching that allowed critical thing and analysis of the topic.

[InLosAngeles]

11:22 PM on 10/18/2010

Most kids are into Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino, not Barrack "The Embarrassing Situation" Obama.

[MartyJo]

10:29 AM on 10/19/2010

More kids are not into The Neop1g Situation!

[phae100]

10:59 PM on 10/18/2010

Very strange how on 3 separate articles which were talking about Obama's unpopularity and so-called enthusiasm gap, I posted this link to today's Ohio rally at which Obama and Michelle spoke to 35,000 hugely enthusiastic supporters who seemed unaware of their supposed lack of enthusiasm; I also suggested that it was rather odd how HP carries no mention of the rally altho it attracted such a huge crowd and would seem newsworthy in the face of the frequent stories posted here about O's lack of popularity.


None of my comments made it past the censors. Will this one? Here's the apparent culprit: proof that plllennnttttyyy of people still believe in Obama and the job he's doing, despite the popular media meme:
http://www.c-span.org/flvPop.aspx?src=project/politics/politics_101710_obama.flv&msg=You+are+watching+the+C-SPAN+Networks+LIVE&start=7.523&end=-1

Don't buy the message were being sold by the conservative media! Check it out for yourself...

[Bumpkins]

12:03 AM on 10/19/2010

Caught part of Hardball on the tube today. The show came from the University of Louisville. Well over 50% of the students backed the Democrat Conway.

[new beginning]

10:44 PM on 10/18/2010

Of course the kids won't support Obama. They are looking around and realizing that when they graduate, there will be NO JOBS thanks to the Obama policies.

[PinkOne]

10:50 PM on 10/18/2010

welcome to the pink zone where i am highlighting your bs in hot pink ink -

you spin, ain't got no traction cause the kids LOVE THE MAN!

he just saved the the federal student loan program from the jaws of the big banks ... and don't think these kids don't know who really shipped all the jobs out of the country ... their middle class parents have been out of work for more than 2 yrs thanks to bush and slash and burn cheney!

[Bumpkins]

12:05 AM on 10/19/2010

Wow are you mistaken.....the youngsters know who put everyone in this mess......the kids are smarter then what you think.

[Uchenna Oguekwe]

10:43 PM on 10/18/2010

It has nothing to do with Obama. We like him. The problem is that many of the Dems running this year aren't him. If Obama was on the ballot, the youth vote would come out.

[progressiveamerican]

01:22 AM on 10/19/2010

Nope..more interested in slurping beer.