Interesting, the anti-youth sentiment on DU...

[jakem]

are they just not voting for your candidate?

was it so long ago that youth in politics was a good thing?

sounds like a bunch of sour grapes or old coots, not sure which.



were you not smart enough to vote in your 20's?!

[Bluebear]

1. Yes, saying "old coots" certainly is hopeful and unifying, isn't it?

[jakem]

6. im not in my 20's either dude.

dont take it personally.

[Bluebear]

7. I've seen more of "you old farts have had your chance" sentiment here fwiw

That rolls off my back though, for true progressives age is just a number.

[MalloyLiberal]

2. They aren't paying attention to the issues

They're paying attention because he's a 'rock star'
Sickening

[LucyParsons]

4. sort of like with... RFK?

eh?

[MalloyLiberal]

8. No more like JFK

[jakem]

9. are you saying JFK was a mistake to elect?

:popcorn:

[MalloyLiberal]

14. It was about celebrity and good looks

[LucyParsons]

I was referring to the messianic factor

which to me is more similar to RFK - that and the youth movement.

Don't get me wrong - I have great respect for RFK - but he was, after all, Establishment. I would like to have seen where he and Malcolm X would've taken us if they had not been assassinated, though.

:/

[NYdemocrat089]

17. As an 18 year old,I can tell you that it is more than that.

You are right. They do not pay attention to issues, but for many young voters, issues aren't their prime concern.

In my politics class we recently had a mock caucus. Of the students who considered themselves Democrat eight voted for Obama, one for Edwards (me), and one for Clinton. The Obama supporters felt Obama represents change. He has managed to send that message to the youth of this nation, and that is what they want. They are sick of George Bush and look to Obama as the one person who can turn this nation around. No one in my class saw Obama as a "rock star." They didn't support him because of his personality. They felt he was the one who would actually change the direction of the United States. Most students saw Clinton as corrupt or power-hungry and had no idea who Edwards was.

Obama is gaining the support of youth because he has been the best at convincing them he will bring change. Edwards and Clinton have to convince young voters that they will be better at bringing change if they wish to win the youth vote.

[cornermouse]

27. Well they better get with the program then.

The "program" is issues not personality. If they are voting for personality, then they're simply doing the same thing that foisted Bush on us for the last 8 years. I don't want to be "convinced". I want rock solid plans completed and ready to implement by a person who has the will to do it. I haven't seen that in Obama. I have no real interest in yet another political dynasty.

Note to Obama supporters: don't bother posting your endless list of what you perceive to be accomplishments. I don't see the same thing you do.

[ellisonz]

34. So you've read every candidates internet position papers in depth?

[jakem]

28. well spoken.

this whole "rock star" think i find crazy.


is this how low we rank enthusiasm these days?


---


rock stars... Schwartzeneggeer maybe, Ventura, sure, Sonny Bono- um.. whatever.

[skipos]

3. DU's answer to question #1: YES

Anything that doesn't favor Edwards has been brainwashed by MSM and sucks butt.

[Blue_In_AK]

5. It's probably a backlash

to all the anti-Boomer threads that pop up here periodically.

[Warpy]

10. Got a link?

Make an accusation, back it up.

Thanks.

[jakem]

11. here's one.

many others are out there.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3970522

[Warpy]

20. Thanks

but it sounds more like the demographic of Facebook posters is being slammed than youth in general.

My advice to you is to concentrate on growing a thicker skin. Given all the anti Boomer stuff that has been out there ever since we were first demonized in the 60s, we've all had to grow skins like rhinos just to survive an average day. There will always be intergenerational friction. It's part of the human condition.

Now how about posts that bring us together instead of whining about the few who buy into division?

BTW, I'd have alerted that one. I went through being labeled part of a "children's crusade" for campaigning for Eugene McCarthy even though I was old enough to vote for him. It's not fun. It's also not necessary nor is it productive to label Obama's supporters the same way.

[jakem]

23. hey, im 36 and my hair is grey.

this is not a persoanl issue for me.

i have no facebook account (though i sure know what it is!)



i just figure a 20 y/o is just as qualified to give an opinion.

(maybe experience is not all its cracked up to be.)

[gaiilonfong]

12. It is all coming from the Clintonistas

Because she can't get the youth vote, sour grapes, they are our future!

[ellisonz]

37. Some of the Edwards camp too.

[Blue_Roses]

13. wondering the same thing myself...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2611639

[L0oniX]

15. The young always hate the old and elder abuse is rampant and is at record levels..

[jakem]

19. that is a bit blanket, no?

i mean, of course elder abuse is a problem, as is child abuse-

but is doesnt mean older people hate children, does it?


this is a cultural or maybe even a class bias-

most of the implication i see is that 'kids' who are old enough to vote (and, remember, die in war!!) arent smart enoughg to make an educated choice.

i think that sucks. especially coming from supposed liberals.

[OzarkDem]

36. That's just bizarre

and also divisive.

[L0oniX]

38. Try to get a good job when you are over 50 and see how it goes.

Age discrimination is a real issue. Young people do not want to work around or hire older people. Gee ...why is that ?

[sendero]

16. I welcome younger voters..

.. even if I don't think most of them know shit from shinola.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

18. "Young wolves show us your teeth." John Steinbeck

Said to young Russian writers during the Brezhnev era when they were content with another corrupt system.

[Rosemary2205]

21. I was shocked at a poll I saw once in GD.

From day one I thought the majority of GD were college kids too immature to resist a kneejerk. (not all college kids are, but I always have thought of the younger crowd as still maturing) -- turned out I was way off the mark. Some of the consistently least mature posters that I knew of at the time turned out to claim an age over 50. It was a real eye opener.

Disclaimer - I admit I do get my moments of the sillies and jump in on totally frivolous threads just for a laugh once in a blue moon.

[cornermouse]

22. I'm tired of all this crap and I haven't even been a part of it.

1. I don't know who the youth are voting for. Quite frankly, they can vote for whoever they want. I have every intention of voting for who I want; even if I have to walk over the youth to get there.

2. I've voted in every election since I was old enough except one and the only reason I didn't vote in that one was we had moved to another state about a week before the election.

[Dawggie]

24. As a Boomer, I concur.

I'm and Edward's guy, but I am so happy that Obama is bringing in the largest influx on young voters I have seen since McGovern ran.

I am also the same guy who carried a "Dump Dick" sign to every Nixon speech I could attend and I have the same attitudes today and if Bushco would allow dissent I would be carrying a n Impeach Bush & Cheney sign at any of Bush's speeches.

That being said, there are not that many of us 50+ year olds that I see bashing the youth here. You guys are the next standard bearers and we are tickled fucking pink that you are here and supporting ANY Democratic candidate.

And if Dawggie says it, you know it's got to be true. :)

[Perry Logan]

25. As I recall, we were perfect when we were young.

[Blue_In_AK]

31. I know I was.

:rofl:

[Dr Fate]

26. The kids are alright.

When they get involved, peope bitch. When they dont get involved, people bitch.

[Buns_of_Fire]

29. Ha! In my day we had to walk to the polls...

Fifteen miles. Uphill. Both ways. In the snow. And we didn't have no E-lectronic voting things. We didn't even have pencils and paper. We had rocks. Everybody got a rock. Then we'd use our rocks to pound on the heads of anyone who disagreed with us.

And we liked it that way!

[donkeyotay]

30. I hope pitting age against youth isn't going to be the new divide and conquer

tactic. One of the things I like about DU is that it brings people together who probably wouldn't meet in 3D. Or, as the incredibly old mr bob dylan once said:

Each of us has his own special gifts
And you know this was meant to be true.
So if you don't underestimate me
I won't underestimate you.

I can hardly wait for the primal-aries to be over.

[frogmarch]

32. First we who don't support Obama were called racists

and now we're being labeled as anti-youth.

Every time I start to warm up a little to Obama, along comes a post like this from one of his DU supporters, and I'm pissed all over again.

[tnlefty]

40. My oldest will turn 18 5 days after our primary so I told him

a few months ago that we'll discuss and debate my primary vote and that because it is my vote I'll have the final say when I go to vote, but I'll keep his concerns in mind when I go to vote because he's so damned close to being able to vote in the primary. We're having lively discussions between DK and Edwards (who were my first 2 choices anyway, with Dodd thrown in just to keep me in limbo, :rofl:). I noticed that he currently has an Edwards avatar here at DU, but that could change.

Sen. Obama just isn't on his radar screen.

edited to include a little more info.

[Arugula Latte]

33. Get off my lawn!

And take that loud rock and roll devil music with you! *shakes cane in air*

[OzarkDem]

35. How about discussing issues

instead of trying to play the politics of division?

Believe me, when inflation kicks in and you're working for minimum wage with your college degree, you'll feel a lot less inclined to play games trying to divide Dem voters.

[leeroysphitz]

39. I don't know if there is an "anti-youth" sentiment on DU but I do get a distinct

"You kids get off my lawn!" vibe when holding discussions with certain older DUers.

[JerseygirlCT]

41. Wow. Well, I'm quite excited about the excitement we seem to

be seeing in younger voters. It's long overdue, and very welcomed by me, at least.

Then again, I'm the parent to one of those younger people, who will be able to vote this year for the first time. We're both thrilled about that. He's also far, far better informed than most adults I know.

Younger people becoming connected again to our political process? A very good thing.