So we got a generational divide...

[datguy_6]

Polls across the country show overwhelming support amongst Millennials and Gen-Xers for Bernie Sanders, while Baby Boomers and the Greatest Generation overwhelmingly support Hillary Clinton. This trend also seems to be same (generally speaking) across races / ethnicities.

So what (if anything) can Sanders do to attract more Baby Boomers and what (if anything) can Clinton do to attract more Millennial and Gen-Xer support?

And winning the nomination is not a valid response...

Just to hear your input...

[Xipe Totec]

1. I think it's bunk.

Baby boomer here, supporting Bernie.

So is my mom.

[TM99]

17. Statistically this is true

even if there are some Millennials voting for Clinton and some Baby Boomers voting for Sanders. The numbers are clearly lining up like this.

[Xipe Totec]

21. According to who's sketchy statistics? nt

[TM99]

22. Well the exit polls in IA, NH, and NV

pretty much confirm this as do other polls. Young women turn to Sanders more than older. Older white's making six figures and above turn to Clinton. Young Hispanics gave Sanders the overall higher Hispanic voter turn-out in Nevada. AA's went for Clinton more there but it will remain to be seen whether they are older or younger once SC is complete.

I am definitely not trying to insult you. These are just the stats thus far. This the reality we have to face. Hopefully the youth vote will hold strong. It made the difference in Iowa.

[tazkcmo]

77. It may not fit your narrative or reality.

But it does fit the nation's reality. We live in a country where 20-40% of the population decides elections and that's in a "good" year. 2008 was a "terrific" year for turn out but compared to other democracies very weak. Our population is not involved, educated or interested in politics for the most part and only skim the info available or get it from their more active friends who may or may not be neutral and well informed. It's true, we have a generational divide.

Love to see a DU poll on this. Any Star members care to start a generation poll?

[djean111]

2. Another baby boomer here, woman supporting Bernie. Same for my sister.

I think the age demographic is getting useless, because we all have access to the same information now. JMO, of course.
Gender, same thing - gender is not even on my list of issues for supporting a candidate. This is not for prom king or queen, or junior high class president. Not something to "make a point" with.

[Vattel]

2. Bernie supporters need to quit puppysplaining

to their elders. It is so condescending to them. Old folks don't owe their vote to anyone. They have a relationship with Hillary that started long before a lot of these Bernie yelps were even born.

[Lizzie Poppet]

4. A pity their "relationship" with progressivism isn't as deep. (nm)

[Vattel]

5. Quit telling old people what to think!

And don't start talking about how in the 60s Bernie helped an old person safely cross the street. What has he done for us lately?

[Lizzie Poppet]

8. I'll tell 'em any goddamn thing I like, thanksverymuch.

It's a political discussion board...where opinions are expressed. Don't like mine? Put me on Ignore...

[Vattel]

9. You should ask your mom if you can put me on ignore!

The ageism of Bernie supporters knows no boundaries.

[Lizzie Poppet]

11. Ah, okay, I see: you're just angling for conflict.

My radar's usually better attenuated than this.

Bye, now...

[Vattel]

16. I thought we were partners in satire.

Did I misread? If so, I apologize for not using a sarcasm indicator or something.

[Agschmid]

48. I saw the satire...

Sometimes people miss it, hopefully you didn't actually end up on their ignore list.

[Vattel]

49. Well I am glad someone saw it, lol.

[Ghost Dog]

84. Well done!

[dimple]

28. Bernie Sanders is 74 years old but his supporters are somehow ageist?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

20. Our taxes pay for retirement benefits. We'll gladly pay but we demand that we be allowed to

stop the corporatism and needless wars older generations have heaped upon us.

If that's too much to ask than feel free tell us to go our separate ways.

[Art_from_Ark]

71. +1

[Tanuki]

60. True, and boomers' taxes paid for your education, and the infrastructure and public services

you have had your whole life, before you were old enough to contribute, and were glad to do so. We are all in this together. No point in pitting one against the other or pretend it is a one-way flow of benefits from one group to the other.

[Vattel]

61. It was satire. I am on your side.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

87. fair 'nuff

<back at you

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

26. Ditto in reverse.

So don't expect the 'puppies' to vote for Hillary in the general.

[Vattel]

34. wow, never has a post of mine been so misunderstood, lol

I really need to remember to use the sarcasm thingy.

[PowerToThePeople]

36. FTFY

They have a relationship with Hillary money that started long before a lot of these Bernie yelps were even born.

[Vattel]

59. It was satire. I am on your side.

[Live and Learn]

55. Please stop acting like you are speaking for baby boomers. I assure you, you are not. nt

[Vattel]

58. It was satire. I am on your side.

[Live and Learn]

62. Oops, and I should have known that. Sorry. nt

[ladjf]

65. I'm one of the "old folks" and yes, I've had a political relationship with Hillary that

started long before I had ever heard of Bernie. But, I've had a malaise about American politics since Jack Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King were murdered. I vividly recall the rigged election of 2000 when Republican thugs obstructed the vote counts in Florida and the SC gave the election to Bush. Justice O'Connor later in an interview said that she regretted her vote.
Then 9/11, the anti-Ir ag hysteria, the 24 hr period when the only civilian flights were the Bid Laden family members fleeing from the U.S, Bush flying around in his plane all day, the fact that it took our fighters hours to get to New York from their bases,
on the same day as 9-11, our air force was carrying out a training mission simulating an attack on one of your cities, all the FAA traffic control tapes were immediately erased because we need the tape space, CIA connections to a Berlin Bank that involved stock transactions related to pre-knowledge of 9-11.

And, moving on into the present, Republican candidates who are so dangerous, ignorant and obviously unqualified to led America makes is appear that maybe Republicans weren't in charge of their own campaign. A narcissistic, politically ignorant carnival barker is in the lead to likely become President, while the Dem field a candidate who has become fabulously wealthy by donations from big business because "she is such a talented speaker" is leading the Dems primary. My long political relationship with Sec. Clinton has convinced me that she is not the person we need at this time. She seems to have cast her lot with her benefactors.

This "old person" greatly admires the judgment of our young people, who are flocking to hear about a revolution that must begin soon if we are ever going to have any hope of regaining control of the Government for all the people. They don't want another 40 years of general political decline where the rate of wealth acquisition for the very rich is multiplying exponentially, a situation that if allowed to continued can only end in the most devastating serious of events.

The body of this revolution will continue to grow and mature. If not now, in the future, I believe that they will prevail because they are among the first to have fully realized what a criminal enterprise our Government has become and will have the intellect, energy and COURAGE to do whatever it takes to bring down the greedy, crazy, megalomaniacs who are now in control.

[Vattel]

72. Very nice post and I agree with you. My post was satire, but I should have made that clear.

[ladjf]

75. That's OK. I liked you post and it gave me an opportunity to put in writing

some thoughts I've been having lately. If space had permitted I would have expanded. But, I'm not a good enough writer to feel that I can just fill up space on DU with my philosophical ramblings.

[Ghost Dog]

85. Useful thoughts

Thanks.

[VulgarPoet]

91. Congrats, you've actually given me this morning's first chuckle on this site. Needed that.

[Qutzupalotl]

6. Remind them we can strengthen and expand Social Security

by lifting the cap. Hillary has also recently started talking about this, but we need down-ticket success to make it happen, and I doubt she can deliver there.

[ladjf]

66. Raising that cap is among the absurdly simple solution to a serious problem.

The relative extra money then paid by the rich will be "pocket change". But, to the insanely greedy, that far too much. Not so much the value of the money itself, but the strict control that the rich desire over the masses. The egotistical rich love their special social status and will fight vigorously to maintain status quo.

[cantbeserious]

7. Baby Boomer Here - All In For Bernie - Will Never Vote For HRC

eom

[ladjf]

67. I'll see your vow and carry it a step further.

in the future , I'm never voting for any candidate who I believe to be politically dishonest.

[cantbeserious]

74. Agreed Completely

eom

[SamKnause]

10. Female baby boomer here.

I support Bernie 100%.

[Lizzie Poppet]

12. Female Gen-X'er here.

Bernie, all the way (and "no" on Hillary, regardless).

[SamKnause]

14. Agree.

Write-in Bernie or vote green for me.

[fun n serious]

51. Female Gen X'er here

For Hillary but will NOT destroy the country I love and let repukes have it. I will vote For Bernie should he be the nominee.

[ladjf]

68. Good for you. Apparently you are capable of logical thinking. nt

[Le Taz Hot]

13. More divide and conquer.

<yawn>

[datguy_6]

46. I'm just going from what the polls are showing...

What can be done?

[ladjf]

69. Interesting post.

Which leads me to comment that I believe the root of racism is as an effective tool for dividing and conquering. If just by innuendo one can convince many others that the members of a certain race are somehow inferior to "our race", then the competition for social resources such as jobs, political offices, and other important social connections is dramatically decreased. (The late Malcolm X discussed this idea extensively and intelligently). For the haves, this leads toward a caste system , that once in place, serves and the social structure blueprint that can remain for many years. (India , for instance)

[kgnu_fan]

15. Around here in Colorado, many many baby boomers, women included support Bernie.

So with my own experience, various polls on news do not reflect reality. Today, I went to a coffee shop where Bernie volunteers are coming to pick up materials. Those volunteers were of all ages, gender and class... so there are some gap between polls and the reality on the ground. Everyone seems happy and gun-ho about their task knocking neighbor's doors....!!!!

[ladjf]

70. You are describing a population that has reached a level of objective political thinking

that is higher than one usually finds in the Southern states. (I was born and raised in the South.)

[olddots]

18. could this have something to do with the polls

shall us boomers blame this on the Bosa Nova ?

[TIME TO PANIC]

19. It's all about where they get their information from.

Older voters are likely to rely more on corporate media, while younger voters get most of their info from the internet/social media. This is why the establishment candidate is doing better with the older voters, and the anti-establishment candidate is doing better with the younger voters.

[ladjf]

73. I agree with most of your thinking here. However, as a very senior citizen, I feel that you

might be over-generalizing the thought processes of older voters.

I believe the more accurate statement would have been "Many older voters are likely to rely more on corporate media."

I've got some good news people who are not , as yet, one of the "older people".

Many maturing people, if their physical health is good, will continue to improve their cognitive processes for as long as the good health continues. Those continued cognitive processes allow them to connect relationships between all things that are directly observable.
And that includes such social activities as politics. Their thinking skills may also include experiences of love, creativity and world view enabling them to achieve a wonderful sense of being connected to everything, or to put it another way, to feel "at one" with
the Universe in a realistic way. This is not quite up to the level of "Nirvana" as the Buddhist teach but close.

[TIME TO PANIC]

81. I didn't mean to over-generalize, and I apoligise if I offended anyone.

There are quite a few senior-citizens on DU, many of them are a zillion times sharper than I could ever hope to be.

One thing I failed to mention in my previous post is that, it's not just generational when it comes to who gets their information from where. Income may have just as much an influence on where people get their information from. The poor have to rely more on corporate media because they can't afford access to other sources. Ever noticed how poorer states (especially in the south) vote against their own interest.

[ladjf]

82. There was absolutely nothing offensive in your post. I just couldn't resist the opportunity

to do my "rant" about what many older people experience. I called myself adding to your very good post. Thanks.

[TIME TO PANIC]

92. Thank you. I love your take on people maturing, and becoming "at one" with the universe.

[Warren DeMontague]

23. She should go beyond her token move of changing cannabis from schedule I to II

Which is better than nothing, but not by much, and really only benefits the big pharma companies. It does not provode any protection under federal statute to medical marijuana patients, who can still be sent to federal prison for using cannabis in their own homes.


She has made an oral committment to not proactively go in and overturn various states legalizatiom regimes, but the conflict between federal and state law- not just in the 4 (and counting) states that have legalized for recreational use, but also the half or so that have medical mj laws- will need to be resolved sooner or later.

Given that most Americans now support legalization, including heavily skewed numbers towards younger voters, this is an issue she could "evolve" on sooner rather than later.

[grossproffit]

24. Which groups are showing up to vote?

[Arazi]

39. In 2008, Obama managed to get 14% of the 17 - 29 yr olds in SC to vote in the primary

http://www.pewresearch.org/2008/02/11/young-voters-in-the-2008-presidential-primaries/

Bernie got 15%.

He's generating excitement amongst the millennials. We destroy that at our peril

[WillyT]

25. Male Boomer Here:

Bernie... all the way to the convention.

[Trajan]

27. Color me ...

A solid Bernie VOTE at age 59 .... There was never any question ....

[datguy_6]

47. Exit polls say otherewise...

So hoe can Bernie change that?

[Dem2]

57. So "majority" doesn't mean 100%

Who knew?

[anotherproletariat]

33. As a college student, I see people moving toward Clinton as Bernie's campaign deflates.

There are some hard-core Bernie supporters who clearly would rather see a repub win than vote for Hillary, but by and large, I think this problem will solve itself.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

88. It's not that we would rather 'see a Repub win'.

It's that we think Hillary IS a repub.

[Robbins]

35. all those voting for clinton have ensured

destrucon of social security and medicare.nothing will be done to save them.Clinton has made clear she won't raise a penny in taxes
so the future bankruptcy of ss and medicare are now on schedule.

people on SS can forget about ever getting a cost of living increase again.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

38. I've never heard HRC suggesting that we would tamper with Social Security or Medicare.

Last edited Sat Feb 27, 2016, 10:37 PM - Edit history (1)

Do you have a link to her platform that does?

[Robbins]

40. inless something is done

both will go bankrupt.and she has shown she is unwilling to raise the cap to make rich more more.

where do you think money will come for to pay for more wars? Cuting social safety net that's where.

I don't care what her so called platform says I know the truth of clinton.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

37. In SC, black voters under 30 went for Hillary Clinton.

[Robbins]

41. then congradulte them for throwing election to trump

now that they handed nomination to her.

Nomination fight and election is over.clinton won nomination,and trump wins election.

after i vote for bernie in Missouri primary i stay home.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

42. That's your choice. I respect that. See the difference there? I'm not insulting or demeaning you

for your choices...unlike how black voters have been treated by Bernie supporters.

Shameful!

I'll me here to remind you of your decision should Trump win and you complain about how things are as a result.

Have a great evening.

[Robbins]

43. doesn't matter who wins

I will be screwed over regardless.

I live in Missouri.my vote as liberal is just about useless.

but there you go calling bernie supporters racist just like clinton supporters did to bernie and those who support him.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

44. But wait a minute...weren't many of you Sanders' supporters just belittling people in SC for their

votes? Now you tell me that you live in a Red state.

I would never discount your vote because of that.

I live in an overwhelmingly Blue state and I believe that my vote matters just as much as yours.

[Robbins]

45. except my vote doesn't matter

trump like romeny will carry missouri easily.I am stuck in f-ing tea party congressional district.of course bill clinton called me one.

why should a support another prosecutor for governor.one of those who gave blind eye to ferguson whitewash.yep not all bernie
supporters are the racists we have been called.some even voted for obama.

Clinton as nominee makes it easy for me to stay home.

[Ghost Dog]

90. What percentage of black voters under 30 went for Hillary Clinton?

... And, are your stats from MSM exit polls, which are all I've seen so far, or from the official count?

[Cobalt Violet]

50. Hillary can stop triangulating and lying. She can release the transcripts.

She can start acting like a Democrat even when she thinks no one is looking.

[CBGLuthier]

52. I am 55 and would not vote for Hillary for anything. My wife is almost 50 and feels the smae.

I have many friends my age who support Sanders. The old guard is on its way out. After Clinton clinches the nomination and then loses the general election maybe there will be more change.

As for the current state of the democratic party vs the republican party I give you this final line from Animal Farm

The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.

[monicaangela]

53. I believe..

Baby Boomers and even some Gen-Xers should think seriously about who is going to have to live under the rules and regulations of government the longest. Who the policies of those elected to office are going to effect the most in the long run, and take into consideration the reasons why more Millennials prefer one candidate over the other.

I am a Baby Boomer, my children are Gen-Xers, my grandchildren are millennials, and we are all voting for Bernie Sanders.

[BainsBane]

54. No, S Carolina shows otherwise.

[datguy_6]

56. South Carolina seems to be the outlier...though expect similar results in the rest of the South...

Given last night results, I would stunned if Sanders got more than 35% in GA, AL, MS, LA or TN...

[betsuni]

63. ...

[RufusTFirefly]

64. I'd love to see the correlation between candidate preference and TV usage

My hunch is that many people who grew up in the era of the Fairness Doctrine remain under the mistaken impression that television is still a reliable source for news. Unfortunately, it isn't. But it's a great source for corporate propaganda.





(As is National Petroleum Radio, by the way.)

[krawhitham]

76. So the two generations that put us in this mess just want to keep on keeping on

[BernieforPres2016]

78. The New Republic has a good article on this topic

https://newrepublic.com/article/130220/baby-boomers-dont-get-bernie-sanders

I am a boomer who does get Bernie Sanders despite being reasonably well off financially. I understand why millennials get him. This article is right on the money.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

89. That's a really good link. Thanks. nt

[Zorra]

79. Millennials will have to do some serious hacking, and disable all TV reception for 6 months

if we want to attract more Baby Boomers and GG to the Bernie campaign.

(Speaking from experience gleaned over many decades of observation)

[DrDan]

80. vote - only 1 in 4 under 30 voted in 2012, only 1 in 5 in 2014

they just don't show up

[BernieforPres2016]

83. Amen to that

I don't get why a generation that is getting shafted like they are would not be storming the polls.

[Codeine]

86. If your support is that overwhelming

then get out your damned vote. :shrug; You have all these "overwhelming" numbers in those demos -- make 'em count! I'll vote for Bernie if you guys can win the nom, but you're not doing a great job right now.

[Samantha]

93. Proud Babyboomer supporting Bernie Sanders

and so are most of my friends.

Sam