AVERAGE USER RATING
Recently On News
Featured Sponsors
Christian Living Resources, Bible Study Tools, Jesus Christ
Young Folks Voting Style over Substance?
Cal Thomas
Syndicated Columnist
October 7, 2008
A new USA Today/MTV/Gallup poll has found that young people prefer Barack Obama by a margin of 61 percent to 32 percent. What is striking about this is nowhere in the interview with some of those polled does a young person articulate what Obama believes.
Lisa Kettunen, 24, of Otego, New York, is an administrator at Hartwick College. An administrator at age 24? She says, “We have a lot of really great ideas and hopes for change and Obama is really speaking to what we want.”
And what might that be? She doesn’t say. And how knowledgeable can a 24-year-old be about world affairs, world history and the intentions of those who wish to destroy us?
The key is turnout. Young people have historically failed to vote in numbers anywhere near their numbers. Maybe they will this time and if they do and if they mostly vote for Obama, the election could be a landslide.
The economy dominates, not terrorism. But both are important. I worry about an electorate that chooses feelings over substance.
Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.
Most Recent User Comments
Report this post
JulieSoucy
10/7/2008 9:42 PM
I am offended by this author's blatant disregard for the facts. In quoting Ms. Kettunen, he provides only a portion of her statement. Perhaps for those in his audience who haven't read her original statement, this ploy works well. But for those who are more educated, this is a feeble attempt to twist the truth.
I am also appalled by the author's harsh attack of Ms. Kettunen's creditials. Yes, she is an administrator at a college, and yes, she is only twenty-four-years old. Yes, there are people out there, albeit not very many, who are talented enough and motivated enough to attain such goals at a young age.
Grow up, Mr. Thomas, and face the truth. Manipulating the facts to suit your fancy can only last so long.
I am also appalled by the author's harsh attack of Ms. Kettunen's creditials. Yes, she is an administrator at a college, and yes, she is only twenty-four-years old. Yes, there are people out there, albeit not very many, who are talented enough and motivated enough to attain such goals at a young age.
Grow up, Mr. Thomas, and face the truth. Manipulating the facts to suit your fancy can only last so long.
- Read more feedback
- Give us your feedback on this article - (login required to comment)
I find your attack on Ms. Kettunen unjustified and in poor taste. The problems with the American electorate, I do not believe, stem from America's youth at all and I fail to see you provide any evidence as to why that is the case. Is it your position that the average American is savvy in matters of world history, world affairs, and "the intentions of those who wish to destroy us?" Because if that is the case I believe you will find a great deal of evidence to the contrary.
I myself am 22 years old. This would put me squarely in the demographic you seem to hold in such contempt,granted I do not have the understanding and expertise some of the economist at the IMF may have, I do however subscribe to the Economist, New York Times, watch Cspan regularly, as well as a reading articles from other major news outlets on the internet. Do you still believe my age is such a burden? If so you should take your case to the congress and try to have the voting age changed.