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groovedaddy

(6,229 posts)
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 11:59 AM Jul 2012

Stung by Recession, Young Voters Shed Image as Obama Brigade

Maria Verdugo, a 20-year-old graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, barely remembers the presidential election of 2008 — the one that spawned a youth movement that was singular in its scope and political effectiveness — except for “something about Obama saying we needed a change.”

These days, Ms. Verdugo is so busy working to pay off her student loans that she has not decided whether to register “as a Democrat, a Republican or what,” she said.

Chad Tevlin, 19, a student trying to pay for college by cleaning portable toilets in South Bend, Ind., cannot recall if he registered to vote at all. “Pointless” is how he describes politics.

And Kristen Klenke, a music student in central Michigan, has decided to skip this election altogether. “I know it sounds horrible,” said Ms. Klenke, 20. “But there’s a lot of discouragement going around.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/02/us/politics/economy-cuts-into-obamas-youth-support.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120702

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Stung by Recession, Young Voters Shed Image as Obama Brigade (Original Post) groovedaddy Jul 2012 OP
If the liberal media repeats this bullshit often enough tularetom Jul 2012 #1
Yep. Not to vote is a vote for Rmoney (& Rs), the job destroyer(s). Amonester Jul 2012 #23
um Skittles Jul 2012 #28
Sadly, I think unless today's kids are very careful they well might RKP5637 Jul 2012 #30
"something about Obama saying we needed a change" Lionessa Jul 2012 #2
The last 4 years have been a mixed bag aplenty Proud Liberal Dem Jul 2012 #3
Sorry can't blame all of it Congress Lionessa Jul 2012 #5
Agree, it's been a combined effort IMO. n/t RKP5637 Jul 2012 #31
College notwithstanding, 20-yr olds not known for critical thinking. Bake Jul 2012 #4
I don't think a coherent message will work, when they've since learned that coherent messaging Lionessa Jul 2012 #6
Exactly AnotherMcIntosh Jul 2012 #35
Oh, and skipping this election Blue_Roses Jul 2012 #7
I can't believe that youth can be so easily discouraged as to not give Obama one more term. ancianita Jul 2012 #8
Ms. Verdugo is so busy working to pay off her student loans... Drunken Irishman Jul 2012 #9
The media efforts to depress Dem turnout continues on course. JoePhilly Jul 2012 #10
and cheered on by the resident anti-dem contingent... dionysus Jul 2012 #11
Like clockwork. demgrrrll Jul 2012 #12
Works so well because it feels so clever. 'I won't get fooled again.' Well, the ones who believe.. freshwest Jul 2012 #33
And yet, they had no problem supporting Bill Clinton again. The double standard speaks volumes! Liberal_Stalwart71 Jul 2012 #13
The economy was taking off during the Clinton admin. amandabeech Jul 2012 #32
Yes, I understand that, clearly, as the beneficiary of Clinton's economic policies. Liberal_Stalwart71 Jul 2012 #40
I'll be trashing this thread. We don't need anything else to demoralize the base. Liberal_Stalwart71 Jul 2012 #14
For every youth sitting out this election Happydayz Jul 2012 #15
It's their future they are are ignoring julian09 Jul 2012 #16
I'm sorry. magnifisense Jul 2012 #17
I don't, either. July Jul 2012 #18
The media outlets want a race. magnifisense Jul 2012 #41
They are interviewing kids that are how old? LiberalFighter Jul 2012 #19
Many people like the "glamor" and excitement of campaigning, but don't like NYC Liberal Jul 2012 #20
The last people to give a shit about your Student Loan dilemma and-justice-for-all Jul 2012 #21
Oh well I guess they can borrow from their parents and start a business treestar Jul 2012 #22
Except these college kids didn't vote last time. They were too young. Jennicut Jul 2012 #24
I noticed that too. Robb Jul 2012 #25
Agree. It's a construct of the NYT and they got the quotes to "flesh it out". pinto Jul 2012 #26
Good catch. pinto Jul 2012 #27
Romney said they should only get as much education as they can afford BeyondGeography Jul 2012 #29
but that is part of the disillusion Skittles Jul 2012 #36
Some young voters will inevitably be fooled Rosanna Lopez Jul 2012 #37
I have never heard "Obama Brigade" Skittles Jul 2012 #34
Who will be counting the votes? I didn't post this to promote resignation to the groovedaddy Jul 2012 #38
We need to talk about what Obama is doing for young people. Wild_Dog Jul 2012 #39

tularetom

(23,664 posts)
1. If the liberal media repeats this bullshit often enough
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 12:11 PM
Jul 2012

"young voters" will actually behave that way.

But, if it's true, these kids are only cutting their own throats by not voting because they are the ones who will spend their entire adult lives suffering the consequences of their selfish behavior. Most of us old farts will be gone by the time the shit really hits the fan, but today's student will have to support their aging parents in their declining years.

It's gonna be really hard for them to do that without a job.

Amonester

(11,541 posts)
23. Yep. Not to vote is a vote for Rmoney (& Rs), the job destroyer(s).
Tue Jul 3, 2012, 10:46 PM
Jul 2012

It's also a vote for more Climate Change (droughts, famine, etc.), more wars, more recession, etc.

What are they thinking??? Not to vote even just "against" Rmoney (& his thugs) is like not voting for their own life!

RKP5637

(67,030 posts)
30. Sadly, I think unless today's kids are very careful they well might
Wed Jul 4, 2012, 05:55 PM
Jul 2012

ignore and/or vote themselves into some type of theocratic dystopia in the US. The kids today have to pay more attention to the political process than ever. This country is at a crossroads and if it goes down the wrong path, the kids today are never going to fair very well in their lifetime.

"... if it's true, these kids are only cutting their own throats by not voting because they are the ones who will spend their entire adult lives suffering the consequences of their selfish behavior."

 

Lionessa

(3,894 posts)
2. "something about Obama saying we needed a change"
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 12:18 PM
Jul 2012

I can understand why the young voters aren't too excited and that quote says it all.

Something about change ended up instead pretty much following the status quo, so they've learned not to get too excited about candidates or voting because in the end, it's an oligarchy, and no change for the masses is going to come from voting for a president of either side. Obama ignited something in the youth, and cynics of many other ages, then turned out to be only a hair's width different from his predecessor, in some ways worse, and some ways better, but overall about the same.

Proud Liberal Dem

(24,353 posts)
3. The last 4 years have been a mixed bag aplenty
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 12:30 PM
Jul 2012

However, President Obama has hardly strove to maintain the status quo. Maybe his initiatives (once they went through the Congressional machinery) didn't end up being as strong or far-reaching as hoped but he has, you know, done stuff (not going to pull out "the list" as I'm sure that everybody is pretty familiar with it). It sure hasn't helped that a significant portion of this country either aren't voting or if they are, they're voting for people whom are merely increasing the obstruction/gridlock in Congress (and hence keeping important things from getting done) and a severely regressive agenda being pushed in statehouses throughout the country.

 

Lionessa

(3,894 posts)
5. Sorry can't blame all of it Congress
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 01:20 PM
Jul 2012

He's the one who had a raging homophobe give his inaugural prayer.

He's the one that kept so many of the financial guys who got us into this mess.

He's the one who has continued opacity rather than transparency.

He's the one calling for drone strikes in non-warring nations as well as on our own citizens.
And more.

Yes, Congress has been a pain in the ass, but Obama has in his right, maintained the status quo through his appointments and their decisions to continue to prop up the 1%, wars, and civil rights infringements, imo.

Bake

(21,977 posts)
4. College notwithstanding, 20-yr olds not known for critical thinking.
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 01:09 PM
Jul 2012

They need to focus on what's at stake. And WE need to give them a coherent message.

Bake

 

Lionessa

(3,894 posts)
6. I don't think a coherent message will work, when they've since learned that coherent messaging
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 01:21 PM
Jul 2012

turns out to be a pile of lies.

For example, "Change you can believe in." turned out to not be so much change at all.

Blue_Roses

(12,894 posts)
7. Oh, and skipping this election
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 01:22 PM
Jul 2012

or voting against their own best interest will help them get what they want?

Give me a break and grow up. These "kids" have no idea how bad it can get for them if Romney gets in the WH. They think they got it bad now...shit.

Somebody needs to educate or remind them that this country was founded on perserverence and that nothing worth having comes easy. Of course, as a parent of teens myself, I am constantly reminded of how we live in the, "it's all about me generation."

When I see selfless teens stepping up to help others (which happens but is not reported on near enough) it warms my heart and gives me hope for their generation and others to come.



ancianita

(35,812 posts)
8. I can't believe that youth can be so easily discouraged as to not give Obama one more term.
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 01:33 PM
Jul 2012

Before they stay home, they should consider that

among the less obvious strategies of this election's Republicans and their corporate media is to say that
first, (name your state) is a "sure thing,"
second, the youth and oldsters' votes are hopelessly lost,
third, scare blue dogs away from being loyal to Obama,
fourth, suppress voters with tricks and traps,

all to try to manipulate public opinion through their media so that people stay home and/or vote for a third party.

Seriously. Please don't fall for yet another of the many hail mary ways that corporate media try to swing a losing war.

 

Drunken Irishman

(34,857 posts)
9. Ms. Verdugo is so busy working to pay off her student loans...
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 01:44 PM
Jul 2012

...that she hasn't decided to register as a Democrat or Republican? Are you kidding me? Has she not been paying attention to the student loan fight and who's constantly gone to bat for her and people like her against Republicans?

Yawn. I'm these kids' ages and I'm embarrassed to listen to them. They're not very bright, are they?

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
33. Works so well because it feels so clever. 'I won't get fooled again.' Well, the ones who believe..
Wed Jul 4, 2012, 06:08 PM
Jul 2012

In one thing or the other, do vote and change things. It's just our part of the picture never gets any credit, thanks or fame. Neither is one victory achieved set in stone and cannot be overturned.

We make a choice where energy will go to sustain it. Media has performed a service for the plutocrats to divert us away from the same issues they have their underlings working on everyday. So we let the system flounder and then don't like it when it morphs into something we don't like or think it should be done.

Work is defined by the energy or labor invested to change things. One election season cannot over turn decades of work to push the world the other direction. If you don't make a choice, it will be made for you:



Free Will - RUSH

There are those who think that life
Has nothing left to chance
With a host of holy horrors
To direct our aimless dance

A planet of playthings
We dance on the strings
Of powers we cannot perceive
The stars aren't aligned ---
Or the gods are malign
Blame is better to give than receive

You can choose a ready guide
In some celestial voice
If you choose not to decide
You still have made a choice

You can choose from phantom fears
And kindness that can kill
I will choose a path that's clear
I will choose free will

There are those who think that
they've been dealt a losing hand
The cards were stacked against them ---
They weren't born in lotus-land

All preordained
A prisoner in chains
A victim of venomous fate
Kicked in the face
You can't pray for a place
In heaven's unearthly estate

Each of us
A cell of awareness
Imperfect and incomplete
Genetic blends
With uncertain ends
On a fortune hunt
That's far too fleet...

You can choose a ready guide
In some celestial voice
If you choose not to decide
You still have made a choice

You can choose from phantom fears
And kindness that can kill
I will choose a path that's clear
I will choose free will
 

amandabeech

(9,893 posts)
32. The economy was taking off during the Clinton admin.
Wed Jul 4, 2012, 05:57 PM
Jul 2012

Young people got decent jobs. There are reasons for that that have little to do with Clinton himself, but he was in charge and there were more and more jobs. College and student loans were much cheaper then, too.

Now, jobs are hard to come by for everyone, and not just because of what Obama has done, although I think that he has had bad economic advisors all along. College is really expensive, and student loans still aren't what they used to be.

These kids are like a lot of their folks.

They vote their pocketbook.

 

Liberal_Stalwart71

(20,450 posts)
40. Yes, I understand that, clearly, as the beneficiary of Clinton's economic policies.
Thu Jul 5, 2012, 04:10 PM
Jul 2012

But what I don't understand is why they would vote for someone like Mitt Romney who is intent on going after their livelihood. Why blame Obama for all these economic woes? Why not hold the GOP in Congress accountable for their obstruction? If they stay home and fail to vote, that's giving the GOP the election!! Therefore, I disagree that they are rational and "vote their pocketbooks." It was Obama who reform the school loan program, cutting out the middle man, reducing interest rates on loans. If the GOP had their way, they'd raise tuition rates and perhaps put students in jail for failing to pay back their loans. Again, they are neither thinking nor voting rationally here.

 

Liberal_Stalwart71

(20,450 posts)
14. I'll be trashing this thread. We don't need anything else to demoralize the base.
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 02:22 PM
Jul 2012

We need to get out there and WORK!!!

Happydayz

(112 posts)
15. For every youth sitting out this election
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 03:00 PM
Jul 2012

There are many more who aren't, trust me I know because I've been registering new voters here in FL every day. One thing that annoys me is how the youth vote is always hyped up as so important, but every election cycle they have the lowest turnout. Even in 2008, it was the same as the previous years. I'm not saying the youth vote is useless or doesn't help because it doe. I'm just saying it gets hyped up so much but the results of them actually showing up on election day is dismal.

 

julian09

(1,435 posts)
16. It's their future they are are ignoring
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 03:14 PM
Jul 2012

Obama helped them with staying on parents insurance until 26 years of age, student loans, equal pay, cut bankers out of lending to students. Did away with DADT, so they can serve in military. Didn't they see the obstruction, didn't they help elect repug House in 2010, with this very attitude. Do they even know who their senators and reps are and how they vote on issues.

They voted once and the world didn't change, except we didn't go over a cliff. We are not losing 750,000 jobs per month but creating jobs in spite of banks feeble lending, business not hiring while sitting on trillions of dollars to keep economy down to defeat Obama.
They want to go back to Bush on steroids, elect Rmoney and repugs so they can privatize, push everything else on the states so state taxes will go up along with local taxes.

magnifisense

(285 posts)
17. I'm sorry.
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 03:34 PM
Jul 2012

I don't buy it.

If it is true, I have to ask, do these young people realize how they would be jeopardizing their future if they voted for Romney and he were to win?

July

(4,750 posts)
18. I don't, either.
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 07:01 PM
Jul 2012

The significance of this article is that it appears above the fold on the front page of the New York Times.

Even though the article itself states that Obama has double-digit margins over Romney among youths, it is mainly a forum for anecdotes about a handful of young people who seem to find thinking about politics daunting.

Given that the same paper has another article in the A section that is a lovely half-page puff piece about the Romneys' family vacation in New Hampshire, it's hard not to see editorializing by the NYTimes editors.

Maybe they just want a close race for their own sake, but that's not what I'd call journalism.

magnifisense

(285 posts)
41. The media outlets want a race.
Thu Jul 5, 2012, 08:54 PM
Jul 2012

It's all about profits. I think it's despicable. Dan Rather is correct about the state of "modern" journalism. Disgrace!

LiberalFighter

(50,477 posts)
19. They are interviewing kids that are how old?
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 08:39 PM
Jul 2012

This will be the first time that they can possibly vote in a presidential election.

How many of them have even voted in an election before?

NYC Liberal

(20,132 posts)
20. Many people like the "glamor" and excitement of campaigning, but don't like
Mon Jul 2, 2012, 08:47 PM
Jul 2012

getting involved in the hard, often tedious, work of actual governance.

Obama's message was never, "I'm going to change things by myself, just you sit back and watch."

Well, many things have changed for the better and are continuing to change. The work isn't finished.

Oh, and fuck everyone who doesn't vote. They are part of the problem.

Jennicut

(25,415 posts)
24. Except these college kids didn't vote last time. They were too young.
Wed Jul 4, 2012, 10:07 AM
Jul 2012

This is their first election unless they were 18 4 years ago. They also did not grow up with any remembrance of life under Bush unless they were very aware high school kids.

Robb

(39,665 posts)
25. I noticed that too.
Wed Jul 4, 2012, 05:34 PM
Jul 2012

Of course they don't remember the message of the campaign when they were 16.

Yet they are "the Obama brigade??" How stupid does the NYT think we are?

BeyondGeography

(39,276 posts)
29. Romney said they should only get as much education as they can afford
Wed Jul 4, 2012, 05:54 PM
Jul 2012

Sounds like he's worth a try there, kids.

Rosanna Lopez

(308 posts)
37. Some young voters will inevitably be fooled
Wed Jul 4, 2012, 09:38 PM
Jul 2012

Some young voters will definitely be voting for Romney, even though it may not be in their best interests to do so.

But they are no more foolish than middle-aged voters who do the same thing, now are they? Millions of blue-collar workers, average Joes, whatever you want to call them etc. buy into the Republican philosophy that the Democrats are socialists, anti-American, anti-business etc.

And while the Republicans are much worse than the Democrats, let's face it - the current Democratic Party is not the party of FDR. It is largely controlled by corporations, Wall Street and the right-wing. People have every right to be disappointed with the way Democrats have sold out.

If the Democrats want to increase turnout among the youth, then start moving towards the left.

groovedaddy

(6,229 posts)
38. Who will be counting the votes? I didn't post this to promote resignation to the
Thu Jul 5, 2012, 12:36 PM
Jul 2012

sorry ass conditions we are facing. IMHO, the very foundation of the electoral process is compromised by electronic voting machines. If we lose this election, articles such as this come in very handy for explaining why we lost. When will we get that these bastards will do ANYTHING to hold on to (or get back) power? I firmly believe that the first order of business is ensuring free and fair elections. I want countable ballots. And, yes, even bringing this up can be seen as just one more cynical viewpoint to keep people from the polls because, you know, our votes might not really count. But there's this concept called THE TRUTH, and we really need to face it and deal with it.

 

Wild_Dog

(57 posts)
39. We need to talk about what Obama is doing for young people.
Thu Jul 5, 2012, 03:09 PM
Jul 2012

Such as healthcare under parents policy.

Holding down interest rates on student loans.

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