Posted on 01/04/2008 3:51:25 PM PST by unspun
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
SOURCE Ann Fishman and Generational Targeted-Marketing
Michael Frenkel of MFC PR, +1-212-808-6556, or michael@mfcpr.com, for Ann Fishman and Generational Targeted-Marketing
ping
Iowa Caucus Results Show that 'Spin' is Out, Authenticity is In
Is it now?
1992 - Iowa Caucus winner: Tom Harkin in a landslide victory -eventual party nominee and next President, Bill Clinton only got 3% of the vote
This is me.
Any “lessons” to be drawn from last night apply to Iowa and maybe a Minnesota and Wisconsin. Drawing larger conclusions based on the currently observed data is wholly unwarranted
That’t because you’re annoying.
Children who grew up in the richest, most secure period in US History "had to fend for themselves from an early age"? Talk about drama queen teen angst and hysteric nonsense.
Xers were born in the 70s. Yers were born in the 80s.
Many Xers got stuck with Carterite families.
Huckabee doesn’t tell it like it is...
It’s hard to say when we will see
A Lib more glib than Huckabee.
Religion is his tool of choice,
He’s armed with sermonizing voice.
Self-canonized, and very shrewd,
He sneakily gets others screwed.
He puts out dirt and then retracts it.
Is repentant — (I think he ACTS it).
Xer Ping
Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social (and sometimes nostalgic) aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.
Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.
No, many of the so called Generation X were born in the sixties also by the standard calculations.
Speaking of spin: If McCain's Iowa result was "success," then what of Thompson? Or Romney, for that matter. To ignore either one, when both finished higher, isn't just "spin." As part of a statement that "spin is out," it's hypocritical.
No, it was actually because my father died when I was still in school.
True. I should have said that most of them *grew up* in the 70s.
I’m a “late” “Xer”, and some of my earliest memories are of Carter’s election campaign...
I am sorry for that but then it has absolutely nothing to do with the political climate of that generation’s parents.
Gen Y is my generation (I was born in 1981). The sheer number of kids close to my age that I've seen and know personally that have gone ga-ga over B. Hussein Obama is scary. Gen Y, by and large, is composed of sheeple, IMO.
If they are libtard kids, then yes. And add lazy to that roster!
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>>Iowa Caucus Results Show that ‘Spin’ is Out, Authenticity is In
1992 - Iowa Caucus winner: Tom Harkin in a landslide victory -eventual party nominee and next President, Bill Clinton only got 3% of the vote <<
I think they said last night that Harkin was from Iowa.
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