Young People Pro-Bush, So Are They “Optimistic or Ill-Informed?”

MRC ^ | 10/31/03 | MRC

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

The kids aren’t alright: They like President Bush! A new poll showing 18 to 29-year olds strongly favor President Bush’s overall job performance and approve of his handling of post-war Iraq meant to CNN’s Paula Zahn that today’s college students and twenty-somethings are either naively optimistic or ignorant as she Zahn offered only these two options: “Are these potential voters optimistic or ill-informed?”.

On Tuesday’s Paula Zahn Now, anchor Paula Zahn interviewed Crossfire co-hosts Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson about the political leanings of young voters and their potential impact on the 2004 presidential race. Zahn started off by citing a new CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll showing that 62 percent of 18 to 29 year old respondents polled approve of President Bush’s overall job performance while 53 percent approve of his handling of post-war Iraq. (66 percent have a “favorable opinion” of Bush.)

[MRC analyst Ken Shepherd wrote up a draft of this item for CyberAlert.]

Zahn prompted Carlson’s reaction, “Tucker, does any of this surprise you?”
Carlson offered: “It does surprise me. I mean, I think the theme throughout all of these numbers is hopefulness. People under 30 just are much more optimistic about America's future. They feel more secure in the job market with the economy. They think things are getting better. They think Iraq is going better than people over 30 do. It doesn't surprise me necessarily that they're going to vote or they say they're going to vote for Bush. How often they really do vote is an open question.”
Zahn interrupted: “Well, that's a good question, because the last election, it was what, somewhere hovering around less than a third of them voting?”
Carlson replied: “Well, it's always much lower for younger people, but it doesn't surprise me that they gravitate towards the more positive candidate. Agree or disagree, I think we can all agree, [not] with the policies [but], we can all agree that Bush is the most optimistic candidate running right now.”

Zahn then prompted Begala for his spin: “Alright, let me ask you this, Paul: Are these potential voters optimistic or ill-informed?”
Begala replied: “Uh, well, yeah, if ignorance is bliss, young people are the happiest folks in America, Paula. I mean, one of the things that comes out of the CNN poll here is that they are three times less likely than their older peers to be plugged into issues and ideas. In fact, Paula, they are our future and they are hopelessly ill-informed.”

After finishing the interview, Zahn plugged an upcoming town hall forum which will subjecting the Democratic presidential candidates to questions from young voters: “And be sure to join Anderson Cooper next Tuesday for a 'Rock the Vote' special beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern. We will be following it up here with analysis at 8:30 where we will be standing by live in the spin room and I will have the opportunity to talk with most of the major Democratic candidates.”

One doubts that Zahn will question if the predictably partisan audience eating up anti-Bush one liners is “ill-informed” on the economy or the war in Iraq.

[KellyAdmirer]

Maybe they just like the man's policies. What a startling concept.

[anniegetyourgun]

"In fact, Paula, they are our future and they are hopelessly ill-informed.”

Wait a minute, these lib/dems blamed it on the over 30 folks (voters) when Congress changed hands in the 80's. Now the under 30 crowd is uninformed too? I'm guessing that Begala, et al think all Americans are stupid....unless they vote for D's, of course.

[Savage Beast]

"Are these potential voters optimistic or ill-informed?"

They're realistic, Paula. They are in touch with reality--something that you and your fellow "Liberals" cannot comprehend.

[rintense]

Like I said after 9-11, President Bush's leadership will grow a generation of Republicans. I also think that many project father figure-type qualities and expectations on President Bush. Heck, some kids don't have a father at all. They may actually look up to Bush and his decisive decision making, rather than living in an atmosphere of constant turmoil. One could even argue that the President may provide the only stability they have.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Perhaps they're optimistic AND well-informed.

[Liberty Valance]

Actually, i think they are tired of the 90's Clinton Used Car Salesman, tell them what they want to hear, bull crap. Pres. Bush is a breath of fresh air compared to the former side show act of the Clintons. JMHO

[LiteKeeper]

they are hopelessly ill-informed

Almost correct - the antecedent to "they" however is correct..."they" refers to themselves and their buddies.

[Pest]

Just another example of the dems digging themselves into an even deeper hole. It seems to me that the dems have always counted on the support of this demographic. I think they are seeing the sand slip through their fingers and they're scared. Alienating this age group by calling them uninformed isn't going to help them at all.

So, by all means Paula and Paul, keep up the rhetoric.

[metesky]

Zahn started off by citing a new CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll showing that 62 percent of 18 to 29 year old respondents polled approve of President Bush’s overall job performance while 53 percent approve of his handling of post-war Iraq. (66 percent have a “favorable opinion” of Bush.)

Young people who were 7 to 18 yo when the StainMaster was elected grew up with a "feel your pain" faker in the WH.

It must be a relief to see a sincere president with huevos.

Begala only wishes they were ignorant.

[Mr. Bird]

If we had a Democrat in office, Zahn would likely introduce the numbers with "the generation some claim has access to more information than any in history, thanks to the internet, has great confidence in the president's leadership".

In fact, the media used to play up Clinton's numbers among the young, claiming it was indicative of his concern for the "future" of America. That G**damned bridge to the 21st century crap.

[eskimo]

Zahn started off by citing a new CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll showing that 62 percent of 18 to 29 year old respondents polled approve of President Bush’s overall job performance while 53 percent approve of his handling of post-war Iraq. (66 percent have a “favorable opinion” of Bush.)

I seem to remember this age group polling about the same for the Clintoon. I guess those who purchase polls are bound to get the results they need to support their own propaganda.

[metesky]

Let me check a poll and I'll get back to you on that.

[Made In The USA]

“Are these potential voters optimistic or ill-informed?”.

Willing to bet that Paula doesn't view this comment as indicative of her left wing bias. She probably believes the premise is factual. Would love to know if Ms. Zahn ever had the courage to read "Slander" and what her opinion of it was.

[subterfuge]

I happen to believe that many in this demographic actually listen to their parents who were politically engergized by X42's disgraceful occupation of the Presidency.

While never a liberal, I admit to being pretty naive before Clintoon and FRee Republic. Now I make sure my kids get the other (re: correct) side of the issues.

[tkathy]

This is the internet generation, and they are informed by other means than the midget thinking of the liberal media.

[visualops]

Younger folks today are also more conservative than previous generations at those ages. I think they see the results of liberal policies. My 2 teens are well aware of the ill effects of liberal values, political correctness, and feminazi ridiculousness. My 15 yr old son knows that defining 'looking at someone too long' and 'staring' as sexual harassment is insanity. My daughter once asked a boy she was interested in if he wanted her phone number, and he told her no, it was 'too much pressure'. They've seen more feature movies in school that we see at home or in the theater. They see how much of my income gets eaten by taxes, and that I can't afford health insurance for the whole family. That's the world we live in folks.
My daughter will just make it under the wire to vote in the 2004 Presidential election. That's one more 18 year old for Bush.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

The baby boomers are nothing if not notoriously ego-centric.

When they were kids and thought they were better than everyone else, it was "Don't trust any one over 30."

Now that they are in their 40s, 50s and, soon, 60s, it's become "don't trust anyone UNDER 30."

As a group, they are a bunch of Dr. Spock-fed, overly indulged, self-absorbed, nitwits

(and, yes, I am NOT a baby boomer).

[anniegetyourgun]

I am a babyboomer, and I agree with you. They didn't call my subset of that generation the "me generation" for nothing.

[Freee-dame]

Perhaps they're optimistic AND well-informed.,

Let us hope.