What are conservatives doing to attract young voters?

12/4/2003 | mwfsu84

[mwfsu84]

As I understand it, Democrats are making a serious effort to reach out to young voters. "Rock The Vote" is one example. Their efforts worry me. Young people don't vote, are generally ambivalent about politics - which makes them perfect candidates for the Left. These people are vulnerable to the lies the media tells: Republicans are warmongers, they starve homeless babies, and poison the environment.

What are Republicans doing to counter this?

[WinOne4TheGipper]

Republicans used to be able to say that they won't steal from the future just to buy the old folks' vote.

[MayDay72]

"Republicans used to be able to say that they won't steal from the future just to buy the old folks' vote." -will1776

My thought exactly.

I had always hoped that REAL Social Security and Medicare reform would be THE issue of the early 21st century. And I had also hoped that the Repulicans would "spear-heard" these reforms to the dismay of the socialists (Democrats) and to the benefit of younger and future generations. It isn't too often that a political party can do the right thing and gain the loyalty of an entire generation of voters.

But now I fear that this will never happen. We will be stuck with these entitlement programs until the proverial "sh*t-hits-the-fan". The Republicans could have been part of the solution instead of part of the problem...

[cyborg]

Pubbie establishment is not doing a thing to attract young voters. It's the intestinal fortitude and brass ones of college republicans and conservatives that are spreading the wordn by promoting people like Ann Coulter,etc. I think Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham,etc. appeal to younger people because of their 'in your face' attitude. Sean Hannity is okay but sometimes he can get a bit pushy. I've ALWAYS loved Rush myself.

[Consort]

Whining turns off the young, the old, and everyone in between.

[luvbach1]

My daughter has been virtually apolitical all her young adulthood(now 29). afer voting for the first time recently, I got her commitment to vote for Bush in 2004 solely upon her trust in my recommendation. Those with similarly politically uncommitted (and uninformed?)offspring should try to do the same. Of course it would be better for her to reach her own conclusions, but I'm thankful for the influence I can still exert.

Agree with you re Rush. The visceral hatred for Rush by the Left proves he's been hitting the mark for years. Privately they know he's much more than an ineffective buffoon, but rather, has their number. They are wrong in thinking that millions of conservatives take their marching orders from Rush. I often reach independent conclusions that I later hear echoed by Rush. Just parallel thought reaching like conclusions. I'm sure I am not unique. I'd like to have more young people listen to him. But how?

[cyborg]

My dad was a loveable old fuzz bull, and very conservative. Just based on the way my parents raised me, and their views, I started voting republican after I had voted for Bill Clinton and all the lies came out. That's when I REALLY started to listen to Rush Limbaugh.

Not sure how to get more young people to listen to Rush. They're so hard to pin down. I started listening to him since 1990 or so, when I was in high school. I remember watching him on the Donahue Show and really liking him. Besides I was a big Clarence Thomas supporter and thought it was cool that CT officiated Rush's wedding. Rush is a gentleman and not as 'brash' as other radio personalities.

[Chummy]

Not that conservatives should not address young people, far from it, but consider a couple of things:

"...Young people don't vote, are generally ambivalent about politics...."

and

"Democrats are making a serious effort to reach out to young voters. 'Rock The Vote' is one example...."

If young people don't vote and are generally politically ambivalent, it's not likely that some flashy campaign is going to draw sufficient attention in all the noise that otherwise lures the interests and whims of younger people, generally speaking.

If Rock the Vote is used, would that necessarily lead the younger citizens to the Democrats? What if it's enough to light a fire within a younger person with a conservative or libertarian bent?