Why Are Democrats Ignoring the Young?

Millennials hold the future of the party
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 25, 2010 11:42 AM CST
Why Are Democrats Ignoring the Young?
In this May 12, 2008 file photo, young supporters cheering for then-candidate Barack Obama at a rally in Louisville, Ky.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

Democrats aren’t paying attention to the demographic that ought to be the foundation of a new progressive era of politics: Young people. Millennials, those born in 1981 or after, are the most liberal and democratic demographic out there, argues EJ Dionne of the Washington Post. They’re not only socially liberal, a majority believe that the “government should do more to solve problems”—something that’s not true in any other demographic.

They voted for Obama by a 2-1 margin in 2008. But his approval rating among them has fallen to 57%. “Democrats face disaster this fall …if the millennials become disaffected,” Dionne says. Politicians are, as usual concentrating on older voters, assuming that the young don’t vote in midterms. It’s foolish. “The young helped them rise to power, and can just as easily usher them to early retirements. Obama can’t afford to break their hearts.” (More millennials stories.)

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