I have to agree whole-heartedly with the last sentiment expressed by young people on this poll. Every person I seem to talk to lately has said something along the lines of “Hillary is too cold,” or “Obama is too inexperienced.” These comments are tame in comparison to the ones I have heard regarding the race and gender of candidates. In fact, an older woman, and lifelong democrat, told me this weekend that she would vote for McCain if Obama won the nomination. When pressed about the differences over the issues between the two candidates, she had no answer. “Perhaps I am still a bit prejudice,” she was forced to admit.
Although obviously appalled at her remark, it helped me to realize how naive I was in thinking that there were not people like this anymore. In any case, though this comment was the most blatantly racist I had heard as of yet, it serves as a representation of the entire primary campaign process. I think that this woman and others like her will be in for a rude awakening should McCain win the presidency and they find that, “oops, he doesn’t want what I want.” For at the end of the day, better healthcare will be worth more than any persona ever will be. I am not by any means denying that personalities matter in a presidency, but race and gender are far cries from charisma, and even further cries from the real issues of politics.
Campus Progress received an advance copy of an MTV/CBS poll this morning (which will be published on chooseorloose.com later today), which shows some significant things about a national sample of 18-29 year olds:
About two-thirds of young people believe they have as much or more influence on the presidential election as other generations. Of those, 31 percent believed they had more influence.
The economy now takes place as the number one issue young people are concerned about. The breakdown of issues is as follows: 22 percent said the economy was the number one issue, 13 percent said the Iraq War, 6 percent said education, 5 percent said the environment, and 5 percent said health care. About two-thirds of young people also think they have a fair or poor chance with job prospects.
Young people overwhelmingly (34 percent) listed economic problems as the number one problem that needs to be addressed in the next 20 years. The next biggest group (18 percent) listed the environment as the biggest problem to be addressed in the next 20 years. Interestingly enough, they can both be tackled by investing in green jobs.
Sixty-five percent of respondents said the coverage of the presidential race as focused too much on race and gender. Young people want to talk about issues.
Please remember that Campus Progress' terms of use do not allow promoting or endorsing any particular political party or candidate for office. Posts or comments that do this will be deleted.
!
Although obviously appalled at her remark, it helped me to realize how naive I was in thinking that there were not people like this anymore. In any case, though this comment was the most blatantly racist I had heard as of yet, it serves as a representation of the entire primary campaign process. I think that this woman and others like her will be in for a rude awakening should McCain win the presidency and they find that, “oops, he doesn’t want what I want.” For at the end of the day, better healthcare will be worth more than any persona ever will be. I am not by any means denying that personalities matter in a presidency, but race and gender are far cries from charisma, and even further cries from the real issues of politics.