The Republican Party may have problems with blacks and Hispanics, but their biggest problem is probably with the young. During the Bush era, the combination of the Iraq War and the resurgence of the Christian right turned off younger voters in increasing numbers, and these young voters began voting in increasing numbers for Democrats.
In fact, things are probably even worse than this. The Pew study reminds me of a great chart that the New York Times produced back in 2006 showing the effect that presidents have on brand loyalty to their party. Basically, a popular president gains the votes of 20-year-olds, and those voters retain much of their loyalty to the president's party for the rest of their lives. The opposite happens with an unpopular president. So Democrats spent eight years with a president that 20-somethings liked (Clinton), then Republicans suffered through eight years with a president they hated (Bush), and now Democrats have eight years of a president that 20-somethings like again (Obama). That's 24 years worth of 20-year-olds who are likely to retain a fairly strong loyalty to the Democratic Party.
Whenever I think of our future, I get the BIGGEST grin on my face.
If this is the generation that we have raised then I guess we Baby Boomers didn't do such a bad job after all.
(H/T to Andrew Sullivan.)
I’ve made my share of mistakes, but raising republicans wasn’t one of them.
ReplyDeleteMe too! My four children are wonderfully progressive! And so our their combined eight children. One of my grandsons, living in a small town in Alaska, is the first person who told the family about Barack Obama, back in 2007, whom he learned about through internet friends. Another grandson (from this same small town) has leadership roles in environmental organizations, he went to DC when he was 14. I am a proud "baby boomer" who grew up in CA in the sixties. - The majority of young people today can hardly relate to the morphed Republican party. We just need to keep them engaged. I was very proud of the Occupy movement when it first unfolded.
DeleteSame here, Darlene.
ReplyDeleteBut we mustn't get cocky...the evil ones have ways of negating our positive, progressive gains. It is our responsibility as parents, and Democrats, to make sure that these millenials understand the danger of voting Republican.
But I gotta admit, the future looks bright and shiny in that regard. Four more years could make all the difference. Congratulations, voters!
There is another hope, looking at the chart... I feel the 30+ year olds, will tend to become liberal as they age. I've noticed with friends over the decades, they begin to leave their churches, their family dogma, and even their narrow-minded spouses, in their 40s.
ReplyDeleteBREAKING: GOP proposes legislation to raise voting age to 30.
ReplyDeleteGreat Friday night laugh!
DeleteTwo of my children are science majors, the other is majoring in math.
ReplyDeleteI am the only Republican in the house.
They think it´s ¨cute¨ when I claim President Obama is a Moderate Republican.
(Well. he is.)
ot
ReplyDeleteBeck-backed gold fraud?
http://www.salon.com/2012/11/29/more_legal_trouble_for_beck_backed_goldline/
“Faith in America's Future” as the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Theme
ReplyDeletehttp://www.inaugural.senate.gov/media/release/release-112912-inaugural-theme
Things keep looking better and better everyday! President Obama was giving away free lunch, and Romney was the first in line!
ReplyDeleteWell, Willard HAD to be first in line, just as he does at "family" dinners...
DeleteI am so grateful that we don't have to be mortified by a POTUS Rmoney who shoves his chair back at a White House state dinner and leaves the table, still chewing.
Lolz guys! Gryphen and these comments made me realise that everyone here is much older than I'd realised. I hope I'm not the only Gen Yer frequenting this blog? Hello, anyone out there?
ReplyDeleteThe biggest challenge is fiscal really. What eventually will happen for the GOP (that has already occurred for the Tories in Britain) is that they will become socially moderate and then socially liberal over time, and the only point of difference will be fiscal and foreign affairs. On those points, we still need to take great care. Social issues will be irrelevant, it just depends how long it takes but trust me it will happen, and former anti-gay people will lie about their past statements etc. I assure you when Bachmann is 85 years old and wanting exposure and to be embraced warmly by the GOP for their convention, she will be quietly turned away while organizers sigh and shake their heads and whisper 'I almost feel badly for her but can't. Can you believe people voted for her? It's so embarrassing she showed up. Silly old bigot!'
But lowering taxes and fighting dumb wars will always, always be an issue we need to educate people on and ensure catchy slogans and platitudes do not work.