'It's Generations X and Y, Stupid!'

Iowa Caucus Results Show that 'Spin' is Out, Authenticity is In, as Presidential Candidates Must Match the Generational Characteristics of the Youth Vote

NEW YORK, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The victories of Mike Huckabee and Barack Obama with a good showing for John McCain in Iowa demonstrate that spin is out and authenticity is in, as Presidential candidates address the most important voting block in the 2008 race: Generations X and Y.

"Some have overlooked what Iowans told us with certainty last night - a critical factor in this election is not race, religion, or gender, but speaking the language of Generation X, the language of authenticity and with the tone of optimism and hope of Generation Y," said Ann A. Fishman (www.annfishman.com), President of New Orleans-based Generational-Targeted Marketing Corp. and a commentator on generational trends in politics and culture.

She continued, "Generation X, born between 1961 and 1981, are a huge block of voters in this year's election, and a major key to victory. Although they are proud to be the first generation to consider themselves both color-blind and gender-neutral, they will not elect a President for those reasons alone, nor on the basis of party affiliation. Being practical-minded and averse to being 'sold' on spin or empty promises, they are looking for candidates who address them with authenticity and passion, and not as mere partisans - so far, Mike Huckabee and Barack Obama have connected with them on this level."

"GENERATION Y, born between 1982 and 2000 are the second key to the road to the White House. While Huckabee, Obama and McCain remained true to themselves, a trait necessary for the new-style politics of Gen X, the idealism and hope Obama and Huckabee displayed, perfectly match the optimism and civic-mindedness of Generation Y."

As exit and entrance polling made clear, Obama and Huckabee garnered a disproportionate share of Gen X voters and GEN Y voters in Iowa, to supplement the strength of the former among women, and the latter among Evangelical Christians.*

Based on Fishman's research into the habits and values of the working generations - Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y -, each generation brings a distinctive set of traits, habits and characteristics. These are important as keys to understanding political dynamics and voting patterns in elections.

Fishman concluded, "Understanding the changeover, now underway in American society, from the values of Baby Boomers to those of Generation X and generation Y is a key to understanding what moves contemporary voters and their attitudes. Candidates would do well to heed the call - as it seems, Huckabee and Obama have begun to do."

About Generations X, Y and the Baby Boomers Generation Xers are "latch-key kids," children of Baby Boomers whose divorce rates were high. Xers had to fend for themselves from an early age and are a generation of practical "survivors" whose attitudes are reflected in their politics, values and consumer preferences.

Baby Boomers are the 79 million Americans who were born between 1943 and 1960. Among other trends, they presided over the relaxation of societal standards in a variety of areas, including the liberalization of rules governing the traditional family, loosening strictures on corporate responsibility and the popularization of the drug culture.

Generation Y feels empowered. This generation was raised with the societal supports necessary for young children - strong families, strong religious upbringing and strong government programs for the disadvantaged. This is a generation that wants a voice in its future.

*"Polls of Iowa voters as they entered the caucuses showed that Obama outpolled Clinton among women, and benefited from a surge in first-time caucus-goers and young voters . . . In their victory speeches, Obama and Huckabee struck similar cords and distinguished themselves from their respective fields portraying themselves as unifiers and change agents who didn't view the world in simply Republican and Democratic hues."*

- Associated Press story, January 4, 2008 About Ann Fishman and Generational Targeted-Marketing More information on Ann Fishman's generational expertise can be found at www.annfishman.com/ . Fishman's company, Generational-Targeted Marketing Corp. (GTM), is a specialized marketing firm providing insight into consumer preferences, buying habits and trends affecting the American consumer. As GTM's president, Fishman has served as a consultant to numerous corporations, government agencies and non-profit organizations on generational issues and also serves as a member of the Adjunct Faculty at New York University. For further information on GTM, call 1-504-813-7890.

Contact: Michael Frenkel, MFC PR (212) 808-6556/michael@mfcpr.com

Michael Frenkel of MFC PR, +1-212-808-6556, or michael@mfcpr.com, for Ann Fishman and Generational Targeted-Marketing

I'll let someone speak for his own soul.

Now who's got closed ears? I didn't say anything about Huckabee's soul, Huckabee did! At the press conference he told the reporters that he had chosen to pull the ad because "what does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul?" Then, while standing between placards with text from the ad, he showed it to them. He talked about his soul, not me.

He said he didn't want to run those commercials. He didn't want to change the focus of his campaign. He didn't want to get mired in negativity.

Then he should have pulled them and shut up. I mean really, you're thinking this guy will be a great president, but even if I'm wrong about him and it was totally honest, this incident just means that he's afraid to tell the press, "Sorry, you can't see that." Yeah, that's exactly the kind of guy who can stare down America's enemies.

And there is a difference between saying something once and saying it over and over again.

A man who claims to be qualified to be a Christian minister and President of the United States should be expected to know that taking words back is like getting toothpaste back in the tube. That goes triple for words said in front of a room full of reporters on a national political beat.

If he isn't a weasel, he's incompetent. Neither is what I'm looking for in a President, and as I noted before, this press conference is not the only issue I have with him.

And there is a difference between saying something once and saying it over and over again.

I told you -- he has nothing to take back, here.

You're posts are getting too silly, not to mention off-topic. See me elsewhere, if you like, Mr. gorilla man.

You're posts are getting too silly, not to mention off-topic.

1. Not true. This is a thread about Huckabee's appeal (among others) and we have been discussing reasons conservatives should be/should not be supporting him.

2. Discussion of character and leadership are never off-topic during a presidential campaign.

See me elsewhere, if you like, Mr. gorilla man.

Hmmm...guess you're infected with a bunker mentality.

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