GOP reliance on ‘culture wars’ turning off younger voters - Polidicks

[quote] FAIRFAX, Virginia (Reuters) – Colleen Wilson has all the makings of a foot soldier for whichever Republican becomes the nominee to oppose President Barack Obama in the November election. The Virginia college student comes from a conservative family and describes herself as a Republican. She is an intern at the county Republican committee and paid her own way to attend the prominent Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington this month. Her support should be a given for a Republican in Virginia, one of the closely contested “swing states” where the 2012 presidential election will likely be decided. But it’s not. “I may vote for Obama,” said Wilson, who is 19. “It’s possible. I can’t say now, but I’m not ruling it out.” The George Mason University student, like a majority of her peers, is a moderate on social issues. She supports gay marriage and some abortion rights and has been turned off by the strident “culture wars” now creeping back into U.S. politics. She had planned to vote for former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney because of his business experience and ideas for fixing the U.S. economy, but said inflammatory rhetoric at CPAC made her wonder if she could vote for any of the party’s candidates this year. “It scares me how extreme they are on social conservatism,” she said. “It wasn’t that they didn’t believe in gay marriage. It was how vicious and closed minded they were.” As former Senator Rick Santorum, a devout Catholic, emerged as a front-runner, the Republican White House hopefuls have increasingly promoted conservative views on social issues such as candidates’ opposition to abortion rights and gay marriage has broadened to criticism of contraception, prenatal testing and questioning of Obama’s religious beliefs. The Republican hopefuls say they are just defending religious freedom. But the shift could be devastating for the party in a year when the key to defeating Obama could be paring back his overwhelming popularity with voters under 30. Participation by young people in Republican primary races is down compared to four years ago and pollsters are seeing signs that the culture wars could weaken support for Republicans among younger voters. “Millennials (18- to 29-year-olds) are a very tolerant generation. They have very much of a live and let live philosophy and when you suggest that government ought to come in and determine how you live, you lose millennials,” said Morley Winograd, a University of Southern California professor and author of “Millennial Momentum: How a Generation is Remaking America.” A Reuters/Ipsos poll this month showed Obama’s approval rating at 53 percent among 18-34 year olds, compared to 48 percent for the overall population. Obama was ahead of Romney, then the Republican front-runner, by 51 percent to 37 percent among the young. REPUBLICANS SQUANDERING CHANCE “Who cares the most about contraception in America? Surprise, surprise, it’s people under 30. … They don’t have a clue why people make an issue over gay marriage. It’s something they grew up with,” said Geoffrey Garin, a Democratic strategist and pollster who has surveyed youth attitudes for MTV. Obama defeated his Republican opponent John McCain, by a 2-to-1 margin among voters under 30 when he won the White House in 2008, widening a political “generation gap” that has arisen since 2000 in which younger voters are increasingly Democratic. In theory, 2012 would provide Republicans with an ideal chance to claw back some of Obama’s advantage among the roughly 20 percent of eligible voters who are less than 30. Young Americans have been hit harder than any other group by the economic recession, with an unemployment rate of 15.8 percent – nearly double the overall 8.3 percent rate. Surveys show many are more concerned with finding jobs than politics. But there is little sign any Republican is doing much to capitalize on disillusionment on the economy, besides Ron Paul. The Texas congressman has attracted a committed group of young supporters with a small-government, anti-war message seen as anti-establishment, but he lags well behind Romney and Santorum in nationwide opinion polls. Paul’s supporters would not necessarily back the Republican nominee if he left the race. More than a dozen interviewed for this story said they would write him in. Some said they might back Obama, although he would have to dramatically change his policy positions to win their votes, including stopping all foreign military involvement, eliminating foreign aid and repealing the anti-terrorism Patriot Act, which allowed increased surveillance of U.S. citizens. The under-30s turnout in the early Republican nominating contests has been down, according to Circle, a Boston-based research center that studies young Americans’ civic engagement. For example, 99,822 voters under 30 participated in the 2012 Republican primary in Florida, compared with 134,412 in the 2008 Republican contest, according to Circle. In Nevada, just 2,632 people under 30 – or 1 percent of those who were eligible to vote – participated in the Republican caucuses on February 4, compared with 4,794 in 2008. “The Republican field is not energizing the Republicans,” said Tufts University political scientist Peter Levine, Circle’s director. Ron Meyer, 22, who works at the conservative Young America’s Foundation, said younger voters facing tough economic times were looking for answers and could turn to Republicans, but the party was not reaching out to them. “It’s a massive opportunity. It’s monumental. I don’t think many conservative groups … really get it,” Meyer said. Some Republicans said the party’s moral tone could even revitalize support for the Democrats. “If it’s perceived as telling people what to do, then Republicans could awaken a sleeping giant that could significantly boost President Obama’s re-election chances,” said Ford O’Connell, a Republican strategist. “They’re walking a very tight rope right now.” Obama’s approval rating among 18- to 29-year olds had slipped since 2009, but has been rising again. It hit 60 percent this month in Gallup’s tracking poll. “Young people are consistently higher in approval (for Obama) than the national average,” said Gallup editor-in-chief Frank Newport. Obama aides acknowledge that they expect a tough election fight this year, and his campaign is already well along on a sweeping program to reach millennials. Santorum and fellow Republican Newt Gingrich, who have small staffs, have mounted no similar efforts to target younger voters. And even the well-organized Romney has so far made relatively little headway with the young. Circle conducted exit polls in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida, the first four states this year to hold Republican nominating contests. Romney bested Paul among young voters only in Florida, and Paul came second there without campaigning.[/quote] [url]http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/02/24/gop-reliance-on-culture-wars-turning-off-younger-voters/[/url]

Right, THAT'S the most terrifying thing about the GOP. She is right though. As soon as the Baby Boomer generation and certain parts of Generation X die off, issues like gay marriage won't be an issue anymore.

[QUOTE=Strike 86;34861677]Right, THAT'S the most terrifying thing about the GOP. She is right though. As soon as the Baby Boomer generation and certain parts of Generation X die off, issues like gay marriage won't be an issue anymore.[/QUOTE] Mainly Baby Boomers, who fucked us over in the first place.

The next two decades will see a giant shift as people who grew up with the internet come into the prime age for politics.

[QUOTE=DarkSpider;34862036]The next two decades will see a giant shift as people who grew up with the internet come into the prime age for politics.[/QUOTE] The second dark age is nigh.

Ok, the younger you are, the less dumb you are in your political choices. Can everyone over forty not vote please, and we'll see what happens.

[QUOTE=Reds;34862192]Ok, the younger you are, the less dumb you are in your political choices. Can everyone over forty not vote please, and we'll see what happens.[/QUOTE] No-one is suggesting that. But when the liberal internet generation begins to vote, there will be a big change in politics.

[QUOTE=DarkSpider;34862036]The next two decades will see a giant shift as people who grew up with the internet come into the prime age for politics.[/QUOTE] Obvious things like gay marriage and the religion of the nations will most likely be sorted, but things that we're still heavily split on like the death sentence, some cases of transgendered rights and the stance on Creationism will most likely remain a schism. I mean, if everything could be sorted out so easily, we just wouldn't be being very realistic.

[QUOTE=Cone;34862508]Obvious things like gay marriage and the religion of the nations will most likely be sorted, but things that we're still heavily split on like the death sentence, some cases of transgendered rights and the stance on Creationism will most likely remain a schism. I mean, if everything could be sorted out so easily, we just wouldn't be being very realistic.[/QUOTE] People still believe in creationism? In what country?

[QUOTE=Miskav;34862703]People still believe in creationism? In what country?[/QUOTE] oh yes what uneducated savages the creationists are

[QUOTE=DarkSpider;34862036]The next two decades will see a giant shift as people who grew up with the internet come into the prime age for politics.[/QUOTE] And sadly we will probably realise that most of these people are not pseudo-intellectual facepunchers but instead more resemblant of the quiet, "ignorant" majority.

[QUOTE=Mythman;34862426]No-one is suggesting that. But when the liberal internet generation begins to vote, there will be a big change in politics.[/QUOTE] You do realize the vast majority of the "Internet" generation are like the people you see on Facebook right

[QUOTE=Falchion;34862906]And sadly we will probably realise that most of these people are not pseudo-intellectual facepunchers but instead more resemblant of the quiet, "ignorant" majority.[/QUOTE] Hey, As long as they get the point.

[QUOTE=Reds;34862192]Ok, the younger you are, the less dumb you are in your political choices. Can everyone over forty not vote please, and we'll see what happens.[/QUOTE] I think it's more important to make a law that makes everybody aged 18 and up vote. There are unfortunate incidences in which lazy people don't bother to vote at all.

It's implied the young lady they cover at the beginning has always been in a Republican mindset, but this following line [quote]“It scares me how extreme they are on social conservatism,” she said. “It wasn’t that they didn’t believe in gay marriage. It was how vicious and closed minded they were.”[/quote] It's interesting to me that she didn't quite realize this, or at least by her own admission. Not sure what to make of it since it's readily apparent how strong hardline social conservationism plays in many GOP circles that it wasn't obvious to her. I can relate somewhat though, I use to consider myself a Republican for much of my youth, though this was mostly due to my perception that the Republican Party was for Americans who worked hard and didn't cause trouble. Indeed much of what I was originally thinking was partially due to my own resentment of people that I considered 'Democrats'. [QUOTE=DarkSpider;34862036]The next two decades will see a giant shift as people who grew up with the internet come into the prime age for politics.[/QUOTE] Depends. I can relate that people in my age group (I'm 22 and in University) still hold on to some conservative views, independent of any real 'interference' from their parents. Even within my particular school (Natural Sciences), I still see people refuting things like evolution from a religious standpoint- though I guess this is in part due to a great deal of them only taking science courses for medical school requirements, rather than any care for the topic. Even with the reputation of Campuses being some hotbed of radical activity among some odd conservatives (ex David Horowitz and "The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America), among the largest groups in my campus are religious oriented groups. There wouldn't be a purpose for Young Republican groups on many campuses if youth were as 'liberal' as one might think for some reason. On my Campus at least, some of them don't find the Republicans conservative enough and made a political group called 'Young Conservatives' for that very reason. Overall though, I think there's generally confusion of politics and most people settle for just saying they're independent- though this is one of party affiliation rather than their political views, despite them thinking it plays into both. I think the lack of engagement with the youth plays more into the problems with apathy in the electorate. The Democrats for what it's worth are also trying to go into overdrive to get some of that youth vote they got in 2008, because some indicators show that youth may not come out in the numbers they did for Obama. Just looking at the way lot of facebook, youtube, and other popular sites operate though, I don't think there'll be a major ideological shift. These people seem to be as easily taken in by sensationalism and short-term results with a chronic short-term memory when it comes to politics, which is what politicians rely on today and have done so in the pass.

Obvious thread of the week, of course young people are turned off by assholes like Santorum wanting to use political office to force their outdated dogmatic beliefs on everyone else in the country.

[QUOTE=Reds;34862192]Ok, the younger you are, the less dumb you are in your political choices. Can everyone over forty not vote please, and we'll see what happens.[/QUOTE] more like the younger you are, the more you agree with facepunch (which is full of young people)

[QUOTE=Sobotnik;34863118]I think it's more important to make a law that makes everybody aged 18 and up vote. There are unfortunate incidences in which lazy people don't bother to vote at all.[/QUOTE] The thing is, while a lot of young people are very progressive as far as societal issues are, they tend to have issues on the economic side of things. Very often that is.

[QUOTE=DarkSpider;34862036]The next two decades will see a giant shift as people who grew up with the internet come into the prime age for politics.[/QUOTE] I hope that means no more bills that will destroy the internet.

Hopefully as time goes on, the GOP can be restored to its former glory, the way Lincoln had it, not concerned with what the Christian Right wants.

[QUOTE=Miskav;34862703]People still believe in creationism? In what country?[/QUOTE] America.

[QUOTE=Cone;34862508]Obvious things like gay marriage and the religion of the nations will most likely be sorted, but things that we're still heavily split on like the death sentence, some cases of transgendered rights and the stance on Creationism will most likely remain a schism. I mean, if everything could be sorted out so easily, we just wouldn't be being very realistic.[/QUOTE] the difference being that future generations literally could not care less what other people's thoughts on those issues are, but are inspired by the fact that we can all possess different opinions [editline]25th February 2012[/editline] coming from a younger guy who knows his peers well

[QUOTE=Mr._N;34864733]Hopefully as time goes on, the GOP can be restored to its former glory, the way Lincoln had it, not concerned with what the Christian Right wants.[/QUOTE] Nope.

wait so she describes herself as conservative but is socially liberal? she's more a libertarian then.

[QUOTE=wraithcat;34863839]The thing is, while a lot of young people are very progressive as far as societal issues are, they tend to have issues on the economic side of things. Very often that is.[/QUOTE] Well they aren't any worse than the ones who spend billions and billions on the military while a country's economy is collapsing.

Funny how I noticed this generation of Conservatives (like teens and young adults) have way more women than older generations. Like almost all older Conservatives are overwhelmingly male, but it seems like every Conservative below the age of 30 I ever met is a woman. And they are all Bible-thumpers who claim they are feminists and every pro-woman. But against abortion :downs:

conservatism is by definition close-minded. that's its goal.

It's like this TV trope became real: [url]http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/BlondeRepublicanSexKitten[/url]