The Young Voter Myth

Maybe it's another Clinton running for president or maybe its American Gladiators being back on television or maybe it was the late night monologue jokes during the writer's strike -- but I'm suffering from some déjà vu. It's all sounding vaguely familiar -- I've seen this -- heard it before.

The story is this: Young voters are being galvanized and energized... more than ever... this time.

Time Magazine ran a story of the youth vote on the cover, "Frustrated by feckless Washington, energized by the unscripted, pundit-baffling freedom of a wide-open race, young people are voting in numbers rarely seen since the general election of 1972."

In 1970, Congress extended the Civil Rights Act of 1965, giving 18-year-olds the right to vote for federal offices. In the general election in 1972 between George McGovern and Richard Nixon young people for the first time were able to cast their ballots. The war in Vietnam was raging. There was, after all, a draft. The average age of a GI in that war was 19. They could go and die for their country but couldn't have their vote counted. This was their moment. History was calling upon the young people of America to step up and change the course of history!

That year 1972 will forever be plugged as the year for 'the youth vote'. It is the young voter's election that all other young voter's elections will be judged by. What happened? Only half of those 18, 19 and 20 year olds that became eligible turned out to vote and Nixon won in a landslide.

Which poses the question: Why would we still want that demographics' participation?

In 1992 when running against the first George Bush, Bill Clinton was roughly the same age then as Barack Obama is now. Early to mid-40's. JFK's age. Clinton, as a presidential candidate went on MTV. That had never happened before. President Bush at first refused. All the reports said that it was the most young people energized by an election since 1972. It was exciting. The numbers? According to the census bureau about 48% of young voters (18-24) turned out as compared to the 30 and over crowd, of 72.4%.

And let's not forget the 2004 youth vote. "Vote or Die!" The word 'blog' was being used by pundits for the first time. Howard Dean and blogforamerica.com had excited the youth vote and there were more young people energized by an election since 1972! It was exciting! MySpace had just blown Friendster out of the water and grass roots had taken hold on this thing called 'the internets'. What happened? Less than half (46%) of the youth voters turned out -- way below national average of 61% of that year. And we re-elected a man that was nearly killed by eating a pretzel.

I'm not a cynic. I want all to be involved. Young, old -- willfully uninformed -- I say let's all get together! I'm just cautiously optimistic. We as Americans have been stood up on prom night by young voters before. And then every couple of years we collectively forget, forgive and re-hype the next batch of flaky young people.

I know. I know. As we think every time we are about to get duped again. "This time it's going to be different."

On Super Tuesday I went to the polls half expecting the turn out to look like a Hannah Montana concert. When I got there it looked more like a Hannah and Her Sisters reunion. There was a group of young Latino males exiting as I walked up. They had shaved heads and baggy pants. At first glance, they looked like gang bangers. As they approached I could make out their "I Voted" stickers on their hoodies. As we passed in the hall, one of them whispered towards me with a giddy skip in his step, "Eh -- vote Hillary!"

Different? Yep.

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Comments

[CarlyCorday]

I think the other half of the "young voter myth" is that without a gigantic 18-27 turnout, or 28-44, McCain is somehow going to win...or Hillary will nab the nomination by some sort of default... But it is far far FAR from just "young people" who are supporting Barack Obama. That's a big silly myth. He is WINNING. Accept it. Quit making these excuses.

Carly
Born in 1950
Obama '08

(Oh, and if there is a "delay" on this post, it will be my last. Because I am finally officially CRANKY.)

[TommyMcCarthy]

We can only hope so........................tm

[Rule Of Law]

Carly, Don't count Hillary out till all the graft is done! Also, how did you pick up on Earl Hutchinson being a closet Republican?

[foreffectivegovernment]

Not only are the young people energized by this cultlike movement, their parents are joining them in droves.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) Missouri, elected for the first time to the United States Senate in November 2006, explained why she was supporting Senator Barack Obama to be President of the United States. She is the only one of the 16 female Senators who is so far.

These are her words. “It was a little nudging from my 18 year old Daughter.” “It was Maddie in my face.” “She, (Maddie), said, ‘How can you look yourself in the mirror, you’re a slug, you’re playing it politically safe, I believe in this guy, I’ll never speak to you again if you don’t stand up and have some courage.’ “ “It was pretty intense, she was right, it was like a cold bucket of water on my head, she was absolutely right.”

Plus, Senator Obama gave me $10,000.00 for my campaign in 2006. Oops, I wasn’t supposed to say that. (I added that last part.)

This is one of the new Democrats we sent to Congress in 2006. Didn’t take her long to learn to play the game, did it. She is a super-delegate and this is part of the approximately $496,000.00 that Senator Obama donated to the campaign of super-delegates.

[NC4Obama]

Yep its a myth we young folks all dont have any idea who Obama is. Its not like I asked who someone was rooting for in the primary while waiting for a check up at my UNI and she said that she was rooting for Obama and was involved in a group for Obama for the campus and they were starting to set up events. Nor do i ever talk to people in classes about the recent news about politics and how Clinton is making one sad attack after another. Nope it never happens.

And WTH is Hannah Montana?
Iam kidding i know who it is since the media keeps bringing up some stupid story about her and her concerts.

It depends on who wins the democratic nomination, if Obama wins youth vote will go up.
If Hillary wins it will drop like a rock, since we can read between the lines.

[V4Vigilance]

HUH?!?

Lots of stats on the youth vote from general elections past.

Lots of comparisons between youth turnout and the national average turnout in past general elections.

No stats on the youth turnout in this primary campaign or comparisons with the youth turnout in past primary campaigns. Just a lame anecdote that stereotypes latino males as "gang-bangers".

SHEESH! I'm glad I'm not on YOUR debate team.

OBAMA '08

[gallonjug]

so this is the new Clinton talking point? That Obama's historic support among young people is an illusion?

[RHR]

Hmmm... For clear reasons, you missed the Colorado caucuses.

Despite two large high-rise buildings planted firmly in my precinct that are wholly filled with senior residents, there were only 4 people who looked like they were over 50 years of age in my precinct group of 66 participants.

Recognizing statistically that seniors tend to vote disproportionately high for their age group, holding a caucus which required that a few thousand people report to one single location within a half hour period was a complete and utter travesty.

[ProgressiveNotLiberal]

I guess you haven't bothered to look at the polls. The number of young voters has been dramatically on the rise.

[YellerDawg]

Her point was that those of us who got to vote for president for the first time in 1972 managed to get an anti-war candidate (George McGovern) nominated by the party, but only half of us showed up to vote in the general election. I was one who showed up and voted for McGovern. Imagine my disappointment that more of my peers didn't bother. I hope I don't have to remind you of what happened during the Nixon administration. Young people haven't been there when it counted in too many elections. We shall see what happens, this time.

[TommyMcCarthy]

Don't worry "dawg"....President McCain will remind them...of this and many other things.

When he completes stackig the supreme court to the point where it resembles the politbureau (look it up, no wait don't bother).

When he not only makes the Bush tax cuts permanent, but EXPANDS them to the point where it is futile to expect health care reform, infrastructure solidification, or ANYTHING other than debt service and weaponry from the Federal government

And when he anounces a new middle east policy that resembles Nixon's "secret Plan" to end the war..INVADE CAMBODIA!! (Iran?

And when one of the "new voters" that has bestirred themselves to engage in the political process for a period lasting from early Jan. to mid February stands up and asks "He Can't really DO that, can he

McCain will answer them with a resounding, "Yes we can!!....................tm

[afgail]

Just like New Hampshire. The youth vote that put Obama over the top during winter break in Iowa caucuses evaporated in NH because the kids were back in school. Nobody was busing them to the polls. Does anybody in their right mind want a kid who doesn't read much of anything deciding who will be our next president? It is painful enough just reading the rantings of the Obamanites on Huffpo to know they are uninformed and behave just like the neo cons. No facts and no evidence needed to justify their opinions. Very scary.

[daveny]

God, I know... Clearly, only well-educated and well-informed types are smart enough to support Hillary....

Oh, wait. Is that why her campaign claims Obama has an advantage in college towns and among upper-income, college-graduate "Latte Liberals?"

[Geoffreys]

In the course a few lines you managed to cross the line into codger-dom. Congratulations.

I turned 18 in 1984 and have voted in every state and federal election since then. I guess my support of the 'approved' candidates was no help until the '96 elections since before that I was just a dumb kid deserving only derision. And all along I thought I was a constructive member of society.

BTW, telling Obama supporters that they're stupid is not going to get them to suddenly change their minds and vote your way.

[HowardRoarke]

The following refers to Democratic/Independent voters. Republican voters are another kettle of fish.

The problem with young voters is young people have a good sense of who is authentic, and who is scamming them.

If we put up an candidate who panders and fakes it, expect the young voters to tune out. They've seen that show before, and they're not motivated by reruns.

[mouselion]

I noticed nothing noted by about 18-24 y.o. voters in 2000 (I couldn't find the statistics on that myself). Although, I do recall that a large number of new voters voted for Nader. Apathy aside, did that curtail enthusiasm for the youthful vote in 2004? I'd say 2000 was an object lesson in what happens to you if you vote your conscience -- for a lot of people, not just young voters. That being said, if you really don't want to be supporting the "establishment-status quo", you might feel disenfranchised, if you know your votes not going to count. So then, the "Why Vote?" sentiment of the under 32 crowd.

Obama does seem to be supported by youthful voters, according to polls, and he IS an "establishment" candidate, so, perhaps higher voter turnout is a reasonable -- hope -- for the younger demographics of voters.

It will be interesting to see. . .

[GonzoBum]

Perhaps, if we did away with the electoral college and every vote actually counted, more people in general would care. A great majority of voters have become apathetic towards the nonsensical rantings of do-nothing policians who are, for the most part, puppets to the interests of the highest bidder, and the rest of the country is only provided with token lip-service and media distraction to attempt to keep us in state of constant fear and confusion.

[YellerDawg]

Right on! Your sentiments aren't gonzo at all.