NOTE: The Moderate Voice runs Guest Voice posts from time to time by readers who don’t have their own websites, or people who have websites but would like to post something for TMV’s diverse and thoughtful readership. Guest Voice posts do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Moderate Voice or its writers.

This Guest Voice post is by Kevin Anderson, a graduate of Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, and a freelance writer.

Obama’s (and America’s) Generation Problem

By Kevin Anderson

Let me say in advance that I wish I did not feel compelled to write this article. You see, I am an unashamed, for the most part, Barack Obama supporter. I wrote an article published on this fine website in October encouraging the Illinois Democrat to run for President. I think he could help unite a divided, almost rudderless nation. I still believe this, but certain facts have compelled me to conclude that Hillary Clinton will win the Democratic nomination.

The reasons for this conclusion are many indeed. One could point to the “Clinton machine,” Obama’s lack of experience, race (though this is, in my view, a minor factor), and the historical impulse of the American people to avoid dramatic political change (more on that in a future piece). All of these factors are important, but it strikes me that one factor above all gives us the answer.

In short, blame it on the “Baby Boomers.”

Yes, that’s right, blame the Boomers. Since 1992, American presidential politics has been dominated by this generation. The election of Bill Clinton in ’92 wrestled political control away from the World War II “Greatest Generation.” Clinton then, relatively speaking, routed Bob Dole four years later. The Boomers’ time had most certainly arrived.

George W. Bush, Al Gore, and John Kerry are all products of the Boomer generation; not coincidentally, they are also the three men who have represented the two major political parties in the last two presidential elections. One could say that the 2000 and 2004 elections were battles between liberal Boomers and conservative Boomers.

So what, you say? Well, one needs to understand (broadly speaking) what experiences shaped the political makeup of this generation. This is the generation of Vietnam, civil rights, the assassinations of JFK, RFK, and MLK, Watergate, women’s lib, and an overall revolution in the culture. It goes without saying that the Boomers lived thru a tumultuous and transformative time in American society.

Of course, they are not unique in that distinction. The Greatest Generation lived thru the Depression and a World War. The difference, however, is that while that generation’s character and identity was forever altered by these events, it did not define their future. After World War II, most Americans agreed that American foreign policy had basically succeeded, and while the New Deal would become controversial in the years to come, few argued with it at the time. Ultimately, while forever influenced by their past, the Greatest Generation was able to move ahead and see the future.

Regrettably, the turmoil that the Boomers experienced informs their current understanding of the world. Liberal Boomers never liked Vietnam and were the ones pushing the cultural and political envelope. To this day, many conservative Boomers believe that Vietnam would have been won, if not for a left-leaning media that opposed it. These same conservatives were repulsed by the liberalization (sometimes in excess) of the culture in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s and are equally repulsed by attempts to liberalize it now (think gay marriage).

These ideological struggles were never satisfactorily settled and brought to a resolution. Instead, these fights continue in the form of “proxy wars.” Liberal and conservative Boomers no doubt see Iraq as a new way to battle over Vietnam, a war that ended 32 years ago. Liberal Boomers not only want the U.S. out of Iraq (a position I support), but many also hold the very post-Vietnam view that the U.S. should have a much smaller role in the world. Conservative Boomers see diplomacy as an exercise in futility and seem to believe that, given enough national will, every military intervention will succeed.

Both of these positions, of course, have almost nothing to do with the realities of 2007, but that’s the point: 30 year old battles are being fought using current, actual struggles. In so doing, they have, in my view, hijacked the politics of this republic in order to continue the argument. Keep in mind that Steve Gillon, author of Boomer Nation, estimates that Boomers account for 29% of the total U.S. population. Given the fact that few under 30 bother to vote, this generation can dominate the political class.

2008, then, will be yet another Boomer battle. Perhaps the turmoil of the times made resolution impossible, but it is clear that the two sides are still using the cultural and foreign policy debates of today to settle the debates of 1970. Furthermore, neither side has any interest in moving on…, yet.

Barack Obama, though technically a Boomer, has written of the tired debates of the Boomers. Vietnam means nothing to him, and the cultural issues strike him as silly. He may be right, but his own intuition into the American psyche eliminates him from consideration for any nomination. Regardless of what they tell pollsters, this generation is not tired of partisanship. After all, this generation has perfected it to an art form, precisely because they wish to continue their old arguments. Neither side is fully satisfied yet, so expect the bickering to continue, at least thru November 2008.

Hillary Clinton may not be loved by many liberal Democrats, but it strikes me that she best represents this generation. She opposed Vietnam, has been associated (fairly or not) with feminism, and, most of all, is extremely partisan. This is the woman who coined the “Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy,” and enjoys using Republicans and conservatives as foils.

In the end, though, she best represents the jaded cynicism that is conventional with all Boomers, especially liberals. In the minds of many, she represents pure pragmatic ambition, with a willingness to hide ideology in order to gain power. Boomers assume all politicians are power-hungry cynics, so Sen. Clinton does not faze them. She will fight conservatives and they will fight back. It’s unpleasant for us non-Boomers, but it is what they want.

As I said, issues like experience, a relationship with Tony Rezko, and lackluster debate performances will also hold Obama back. It’s just too bad that he cannot do anything about the biggest obstacle in his way.