Young Americans Are Leaning Left, New Poll Finds

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By ADAM NAGOURNEY and MEGAN THEE

Young Americans are more likely than the general public to favor a government-run universal health care insurance system, an open-door policy on immigration and the legalization of gay marriage, according to a New York Times/CBS News/MTV poll. The poll also found that they are more likely to say the war in Iraq is heading to a successful conclusion.

The poll offers a snapshot of a group whose energy and idealism have always been as alluring to politicians as its scattered focus and shifting interests have been frustrating. It found that substantially more Americans ages 17 to 29 than four years ago are paying attention to the presidential race. But they appeared to be really familiar with only two of the candidates, Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton, both Democrats.

They have continued a long-term drift away from the Republican Party. And although they are just as worried as the general population about the outlook for the country and think their generation is likely to be worse off than that of their parents, they retain a belief that their votes can make a difference, the poll found.

More than half of Americans ages 17 to 29 — 54 percent — say they intend to vote for a Democrat for president in 2008. They share with the public at large a negative view of President Bush, who has a 28 percent approval rating with this group, and of the Republican Party. They hold a markedly more positive view of Democrats than they do of Republicans.

Among this age group, Mr. Bush’s job approval rating after the attacks of Sept. 11 was more than 80 percent. Over the course of the next three years, it drifted downward leading into the presidential election of 2004, when 4 of 10 young Americans said they approved how Mr. Bush was handling his job.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/27/washingt...amp;oref=slogin

[Heracles 417]

Boy people do not learn from history here. Rather than questioning and analyzing the candidate they are simply saying I will vote Democrat.

[Alex+R 0]

I saw that article this morning. It mentioned that we are significantly more for gay marriage than the older generations. We don't differ THAT much from the general population. We lean left, but don't the young almost always lean left?

[GaryC 7]

Young people have always tended to vote dem. Then they grow up and become reps.

[Heracles 417]

We need to focus on the real issues which affect this country's people as a whole rather than minorities and their rights. The young need to travel more and live in other developed nations to realize there is a lot more to running a country than gay rights, watching MTV and John Stewart.

Such as what will be done with:

Health care

Greatly needed infrastructure improvement

Crime Reduction

Illegal Immigration

Reviving the economy

Bringing Americans together since everyone hates each other

Getting people out of the ghettos into paying jobs

Edited June 29, 2007 by Infidel

[no name 1]

Young people have always tended to vote dem. Then they grow up and become reps.

Except if they had GWB as their pres, then they learned to keep voting blue.

Edited June 29, 2007 by devilette

[Alex+R 0]

Young people have always tended to vote dem. Then they grow up and become reps.

Except if they had GWB as their pres, then they learned to keep voting blue.

And I think the fact that most of us voted in our first election/became politically aware during GWB's reign or shortly before will really make an impact and shape our views for the rest of our lives.

[GaryC 7]

Fortunatly the new congress has given them a lesson on what dems stand for. It all evens out.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Fortunatly the new congress has given them a lesson on what dems stand for. It all evens out.

Yeah - at this rate noone will bother to vote at all.

[Heracles 417]

Fortunatly the new congress has given them a lesson on what dems stand for. It all evens out.

The fact that they are willing to sell out America for votes.. harry reid, kennedy and pelosi make GWB look like Einstein.

I must say though I cannot wait for cheney and his buddies to leave. They have abused the trust of republicans long enough to advance their own personal agendas.

Edited June 29, 2007 by Infidel

[GaryC 7]

Fortunatly the new congress has given them a lesson on what dems stand for. It all evens out.

The fact that they are willing to sell out America for votes.. harry reid, kennedy and pelosi make GWB look like Einstein.

I must say though I cannot wait for cheney and his buddies to leave. They have abused the trust of republicans long enough to advance their own personal agendas.

I will repeat my prediction. There will be a clean sweep of congress next year. The reps blew it before and now the dems are going down in flames. I don't know which side will come out on top but I bet there will be a lot of new faces.

[no name 1]

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

<<shudder>>

[GaryC 7]

No chance of that happening. Way to many skeletons in her closet. Her getting the dem nomination assures a rep winning.

[Alex+R 0]

I'm all about Obama, but I wish he'd stand up for gay rights a little more....