Young voters: Obama's "change" message still resonates
WASHINGTON -- While pollsters detect a disconnect between how the public feels about President Obama and his policies, there's no split among young people: a new poll shows 70 percent of voters between ages 18 and 29 say president has lived up to his message of change so far.
"In the expanded under-30 demographic, nearly two-thirds of young voters say that Obama’s policies as President have jibed with with his campaign rhetoric—that fervent trumpet of 'change we can believe in,' " according to a statement by Scoop 44, a youth-oriented news website specializing in coverage of the new administration. The web site, along with Zogby International, a political polling organization, conducted the poll earlier this month.
"Seven months after Obama’s election, more than 80% of Democrats and a majority of independent voters agree that their votes for change translated into tangible action," according to the statement. "Amid a chorus of recent criticism from the left, including comments by popular comedian Bill Maher, that the President has abandoned campaign proposals on health care and environmental reform, corporate regulation, and military redeployment, the poll renews confidence in the 'change President.' "
Maher, host of the HBO political-talk series “Real Time with Bill Maher,” backed Obama on his show during the 2008 presidential campaign, but recently chastized the president for not moving more quickly or boldy on issues more important to liberals. When he voted for Obama, Maher said, he was "hoping for a little more audacity" and a little less "television celebrity."
The youth vote was crucial to Obama's historic win in last year's election, in which the number of registered voters under age 30 surged to near-record levels. Obama's rallies drew large numbers of young people, and those ages 18 to 29 voted for Obama by a wide margin over Arizona Senator John McCain, his republican challenger: 68 percent to 30 percent, according to a Newsweek Magazine post-election report.
This week, two new polls show that among the general public Obama's popularity still remains at about 60 percent, but a growing number of people are concerned about his plans to handle the economy, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and his proposals to overhaul health care.
Read more: http://www.scoop44.com/2009/06/19/zogbyscoop44poll/
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Obama is focused on results. Most people who the media covers are more interested in their own celebrity than they are on accomplishing things for the country. People will stick with Obama even if they do not completely agree with them because they have a sense that he means well and knows what he is doing to accomplish things.
If Obama had followed the lead of the hot heads, McCain being the spokesman, Obama would have become the issue in Iran instead of the corruptness of their election.
If Obama does not get a public plan as part of the health care it will be a setback for him and his economic policy. On this one he has to keep fighting, it is necessary to bring down health care costs.
Funny! Today I just read the Wall Street Jnl and the NY Daily news and they said that his ratings have dropped according to the WSJ/NBC poll. Nice spin Boston.COM.
BTW-Kennedy put in his health bill that all CONGRESS AND FED EMPLOYEES CANT BE DUMPED ON THE GOV PLAN(EXEMPTION SECTION 116) !!!! It's good enough for everyone eles but congress. PLEASE READ WHAT THE BILL STATES!!!!
Obama has been unable to deliver on the "change" he kept promising. The voters still want change, and that means cleaning house in congress in two years, and putting a new president in the White House in three years. Obama had his chance - and he blew it.
I posted my comment and why is not shown? All I said was the WSJ/NBC poll showed OBAMA's RATING FALLING!!!!!!!
What exactly has Obama been doing since he has been in office? He is one of the best presidents in history at domestic PR, but the problem is that all of the PR is really just talk.
What we need is an action president, someone who is willing to not only say things should be a certain way, but actually do it. Obama makes lots of empty promises with no intention of ever fulfilling them. For some reason, young Americas have become ignorant enough to believe what he is saying, even though he never follows through. Older, more experienced Americans, understand that most of the time it is not about what you say you are going to do, but rather what you actually do.
No more handouts. No more bailouts. No more stimulus spending. No more pork. No more empty promises. No more government controlled economy. No more socialism.
It is time for America’s youth to stop complaining and looking for a handout and take whatever job they can find. It doesn’t matter if you have a doctorate, you are still not “above” flipping burgers or mowing grass. Don’t ask for a handout, just get a job!
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
Thomas A. Edison
i am not concerned about obama's action so far. so don't put words in our month that there are 40% of youth that are concerned please. Obama has been doing what he has promised in his champaign. oh btw, i am over 30.
I agree that President Obama is leaning hard on the issue that matters most - providing every American with the opportunity for health care. This is the one domestic policy change that he must bring through as soon as possible, despite the many other issues competing for his attention.
As someone not in that youth demographic, I think my middle-aged peers are revealing their own discomfort with real change and projecting it on to Obama. Most of the issues he is being criticized about are long-range problems that will not be solved overnight.
This article shows that I was born into a generation of morons. These kids - my friends and peers - had no idea what they were voting for (or against) back in November. They have no idea what is going on right now in the country. It was "cool" to vote for Obama and to know enough about politics to make yourself sound intelligent to the other morons.
Ron M - Obama is FOCUSED on NOTHING. He is touching on every issue he comes across but I would not use the word focused for any of what he has done.
Kids that age still have a penchant for Care Bears, too. Unicorns and rainbows. RAISE THE VOTING AGE TO 30!!
a president has very little real power it is up to congress to pass laws- he has asked them to pass a lot of legistlation but cannot force them- as long as he continues pushing for change i will be happy with him as president even though many of our views are different
I agree that President Obama is leaning hard on the issue that matters most - providing every American with the opportunity for health care. This is the one domestic policy change that he must bring through as soon as possible, despite the many other issues competing for his attention.
As someone not in that youth demographic, I think my middle-aged peers are revealing their own discomfort with real change and projecting it on to Obama. Most of the issues he is being criticized about are long-range problems that will not be solved overnight.
President Obama, of all recent american presidents realises that if he does not achieve his goals, america is going to lose its predominant position in the world. Already america is at the threshold of leaving the so-called 1st world and in some aspects is very much like a 3rd world nation. With unemployment and health-care costs rising to twice the rate as they are in Europe he realises that he must get significant health-care reform through.
The undermining of the competitive position of america by having the cost of health-care on the shoulders of the employers, instead of arranged if a more modern and practical fashion as in the rest of the industrialized world simply gives him no other option.
As for his foreign policies, he presents a refreshing departure from the 'fear & loathing' inspired conservative hammer-like approach, to whom each and every problem seemed to look like a nail. President Obama is not above practicing humility, but he also exudes a personal strength that his predecessor, despite all of his blustering, sorely missed. He also has a freshness and drive that I imagine will gain him a foothold in popularity, even with those who do not fully subscribe to his policies.
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Are these young people serious. Please, WAKE THEM UP. This PHONY LIED his way through the primary and has has accomplished NOTHING Except nominating
and then having TAX EVADING LOSERS in his disgusting cabinet.
Why is there such a disconnect between what the public wants and what government seems willing to consider?
Because the public is not the one being bribed.
In other words--and not just on the health care front--through legalized bribery Big Everything controls government, which means there will never be any meaningful reform re. any Big Business, EVER!
As we know, the public option currently being discussed is modeled after Massachusetts Plan, under which about 97% of all Massachusetts residents are now covered. However, in recent estimates, CBO left out two crucial features, including a 'public health insurance option' and 'employer mandate and an individual mandate'. The estimates with 'no employer mandate and an individual mandate' ended up with 36 million uninsured.
By contrast, in case the proposed provisions with respect to the strong public option, medical IT, increased efforts in prevention, and a broader array of cost-saving plans and beyond add to the Massachusetts Plan with the provision of employer mandate and an individual mandate, the cost containment does not matter at all. And most importantly, the promising stem cell research is making its way.
To date, private insurers have coexisted profitably with Medicare and Medicaid for many years.
Basically, healthy society leads to better productivity and better performance.
I'm just curious what Joe would connsider "real action" by the President. Giving even more tax breaks to all the rich people? Maybe invading another country or two? Letting regulators sit on their hineys while the bankers roam free with all of our money? For my part, I am much happier with "non-action" by Obama than I ever was with any action taken by Bush!
As for Obama following through- he may have hit a wall called reality, but at least he has the right ideas! And its been what, six months? Patience, man!