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This is what the Washington Post considers journalism
When Gene Rutherford, 65, tries to make sense of the meteoric rise of Barack Obama, and the rampant enthusiasm for him among younger Americans, he thinks of the local mall, where as director of operations he often deals with teenagers.
"Kids today have been given everything they want, and don't have to work for it. They have no respect for authority," said Rutherford, standing at the bar at the Elks lodge here. "They'll make remarks right to the face of the [mall] cops. I get to the point where I want to do something," he said, cocking a fist as if to threaten a punch. "But the police say we can't, that we just have to stand there." It makes him worry for the country. "I see it going the Roman way."
If the senator from Illinois is going to achieve his goal of bridging the nation's divides, he is going to have to overcome a generation gap with older voters unlike any such split a Democratic presidential nominee has faced in years.
In other words, Obama is responsible for the insolence of all those cocky young whippersnappers who smart off the geriatric security guards at the mall.
Old folks resenting ungrateful youngsters? This is a unique feature of the 2008 election, never before seen in the history of humankind. Wow.
Comments (11)
Forgive me for defending the WaPo TO A DEGREE in this instance, despite the fact I have found other stories of theirs egregiously biased.
The Post's inclusion of this interview in a story about Obama would seem unfair, particularly in the light of it building a narrative about division, ageism, reinforcing stereotypes about elder resentment of unruly youths, and connecting dots not in evidence ss fact.
Yet a search for facts is exactly what this WaPo reporter conduced. There is an age gap in Obama's support, as delineated by an overwhelming body of exit polls, opinion polls and anecdotal evidence.
In the end, it's fair for a reporter to gather facts from anyone, particularly if they represent similar views held by others. I have heard other older people make similar comments. No one knows exactly why Obama isn't as popular among older voters as McCain, other than they identify with him in some way(s). If this piece helps flesh that out, that's good for Obama to know, particularly if McCain intends to exploit that information, also.
August 12, 2008 12:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
I agree that there is actually substantive information in the article -- more than anything, it's just the ridiculous abruptness of the non-sequitur at the beginning of the article that screws the whole thing up.
It's like -- WaPo, are you kidding me? You think an anecdote about a grumpy old man and a bunch of teenagers at the mall leads directly to, "thus, Obama has a major issue with seniors."
August 12, 2008 2:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, there are grumpy old men and women but nothing new--remember: whippersnapper- hippie- upstart. However, teenagers are not his total demographic-- it is the cellphone only users that pollsters can not poll---the professionals that are commutting between 5/7pm that are also unavailable...The 18 to 36 group are very much in his camp and not deluded by the MSM and pundit spew...or his old opponents either...The clintons are racebaiting with the Penn release...implying she did not turn neg but try this:
"Sen. Obama's remarks are elitist and out of touch," she said. "they are not reflective of the values and beliefs of Americans, certainly not the Americans I know, not the Americans I grew up with, not the Americans I lived with in Arkansas or represent in New York." Hillery clinton
August 12, 2008 4:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
2nd graf: "conduced" should be "conducted"
August 12, 2008 12:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
Damn. It's 3rd graf. Sorry for gumming up your thread with typos.
August 12, 2008 12:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
So many clouds, so little time.
August 12, 2008 1:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
"No one knows exactly why Obama isn't as popular among older voters as McCain..."
Take a look at surveys regarding racial attitudes, Ripper. Older Americans are more likely to harbor prejudice toward people of color.
August 12, 2008 12:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
That may be so, but this article seems to be pointing to another explanation: older generations' distrust of youth as irresponsible, reckless, etc.
August 12, 2008 3:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
I already made fun of this article once today.
August 12, 2008 3:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
"In other words, Obama is responsible for the insolence of all those cocky young whippersnappers who smart off the geriatric security guards at the mall."
The article clearly isn't suggesting that. It's showing an attitude among a demographic of voters Obama hasn't connected with.
August 12, 2008 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is a mistake to turn to the Washington Post in search of journalism.
August 12, 2008 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
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