Penn on Obama and the New Moderates
Though Mark Penn served President Clinton exceptionally well, he clearly stumbled in his more recent efforts on behalf of Senator Clinton. One possible explanation for the disparity in his performance may have been as simple a matter as Penn’s rising to his own level of incompetence, poorly executing the role of campaign strategist rather than playing to his strong suit as a master spotter and tapper of so-called “microtrends.”
Today, Penn returns to his roots, penning a column for Politico on “young moderates,” suggesting they are a fragile coalition that will help elect Obama president, but will only stay behind him if he governs to the center.
From page two of Penn’s Politico contribution:
These new moderate voters are better-educated, more in tune with the information age and far removed from the traditional labor base of the Democratic Party. They are more open to trade and sensitive to tax increases. They also oppose the Iraq war, but they want to see strength in national security. They overwhelmingly will favor new energy policies for ethanol and other biofuels, solar power and wind power.
They reject government handouts but believe that people must be empowered to make the most of their own talents. They are looking for new opportunities to become well-off and resume the problem-free lives they had until the economic crisis came along and shook them up.
Sounds pretty damn close to where I am, although I seriously doubt, as I stand on the doorstep of my mid-40′s, that Penn would count me among this “young” group. Regardless, I hope Penn is right about these younger voters and that Obama is paying attention.
9 Responses to “Penn on Obama and the New Moderates”
Young people are naive, idealistic, often unrealistic, and overwhelmingly liberal. Even so-called “moderates” simply don't want to call themselves liberal even though they are (as we see every day on this site), possibly if they don't regiment themselves into the PC-activist party line or buy the perennial chic radicalism of the farther Left.
A good deal of these people no doubt constitute the “moderates” or more often, “independents” who are named as such in Pew polls. When I was growing up, kids didn't declare themselves and didn't register themselves to be Democrats because that's what old people did, or they just didn't want to make that commitment. I would be intrigued to learn to what extent Obama has changed that among youth this year.
I believe, given youth's liberalism, Obama can rely on these people and can feel confident in moving somewhat to the Left insofar as retention of their support is concerned. (Especially if they benefit from such acts, for example, subsidized low-interest student loans.)
42 year old Obama supporting moderate here. Penn was an idiot for Hillary, but I think he is on to something here.
considering that the 20 something generation is less white that preceding generations, it is folly to believe that it is moderate. Every coming generation will be less white and thus less moderate. The idea that 20 something what to be left alone in affairs other than drugs and sex is laughable.
sd,
Do you only have one comment that you just post on repeat on every thread? It seems to go like this, “America is going in the shitter and will never, ever, climb out because of the “darkening” of the population.” This thread didn't, in any way, imply race, but you somehow able to pull out the “white male victim” card. I have no problem admitting that the changing demographics of this country are altering the political landscape as well. However, as long as people like you feel the need to mentally and rhetorically segregate all people who are not white males into one homogeneous voting bloc, the will continue to vote like one homogeneous bloc. Not because they all share or support the same liberal ideology, but because they share distrust and contempt for the party that has sought to marginalize minorities since the civil rights act was signed. You can only run on fear for so long.
Stemis,
Discussing politics without discussing demographics is pointless. When people talk about 20 somethings getting their news from the Daily Show, I always ask if they really believe that Howard University Students are watching Jon Stewart on Comedy Central. The same goes when talking about 20 something moderate when they really mean 20 something white moderates. There is no sign that black or Hispanic 20 somethings are moderate at all. If Penn was to make such a broad statement, then everyone else should pick at it.
Also, it is not Republicans who have put all non-whites into the same voting bloc. they have done it themselves becasue they believe that taxing whites to pay for minority specific programs is good government. Of course, this causes blacks to vote for politicians who support open borders and unlimited immigration even though it hurts blacks in the long run.
Until you can demonstrate that non-whites are open to any conservative economic policy, there is not need to believe that Repulbicans or conservative politics will be around for much longer.
SD — You're simply and grotesquely out of line in your comments.
There are many “non-whites” who are not only “open” to conservative economic policies, but who enthusiastically embrace those policies. To name just a few: Former Md. Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, former US Rep. from Okla. JC Watts, and TMV's own Dennis Sanders.
What's more, beyond these individuals, non-whites as a group enthusiastically supported President Clinton's very conservative economic steps to curtail “welfare as we know it” (his words).
All of this leads me to believe the concerns you voice have very little if anything to do with “demographics” and much more to do with the short-sighted, obstinate, and frankly insulting statements of people like you.
Pable,
The CBC openly opposed welfare reform. Welfare reform as part of the triangulation plan on Clinton where he knew he could openly ignore blacks because they will vote Democratic no matter what.
Also, Michael Steele has never been election to any office on his own. He is just another example of a quota black (See Alphone Jackson). JC Watts is no longer in office and was elected by white conservative Replubicans.
SD — You may not be a racist, but you certainly write like one. Your attitude is archaic and destructive and I sincerely hope you will take it elsewhere.
Pabel,
What did I write that was incorrect. Did the CBC support Welfare reform? Will blacks consider voting for a Republican? Wasn't Michael Steele promoted by the Republicans in Maryland because he was blacks? Wasn's J.C. Watts the only black congressmen who represented a majority white district?