Has Obama Abandoned Young Voters?

The British publication, the Economist, raises the question of whether or not Obama, a/k/a the Liar-in-Chief, has decided to jettison younger voters. The case is made in part based upon Obama's ongoing efforts to retain DADT even as he lies through his teeth and does all in his power to claim he's against DADT. It seems younger voters care more about actions than insincere statements. The issue of the likely legalization of marijuana in California will also provide a wedge since the feds under Obama are saying that they will continue to prosecute marijuana use even if California decriminalizes possession for personal use. To me, it's all symptomatic of the fact that progressives and the youth vote all got suckered by team Obama. Instead of electing a leader, we elected a follower. Likewise, we elected someone who puts his own religious views over the U. S. Constitution. Given that the GOP is going out of its way to alienate younger voters, one has to wonder whether these newer voters will simply give up on politics. Here are some highlights:
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IN A letter to ex-DEA chiefs, Attorney-General Eric Holder said the Obama Department of Justice stands in stout opposition to efforts in California to legalise marijuana use and will continue to prosecute the drug war in the Golden State no matter the outcome of the upcoming vote on California's Proposition 19, . . .
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The politics of pot legalisation must be tricky for the Obama administration. . . . Earlier this week, Mr Obama looked to stoke the sputtering embers of his fresh-faced supporters' formerly flaming political infatuation at a "Town Hall" media event staged at George Washington University in Washington, DC. But far from basking in the warmth of the students' once fawning admiration, the kids put him on his heels. The New York Times reports: President Obama was put on the defensive on issues including the economy, gay rights and race relations during a televised town-hall-style forum on Thursday that captured the disillusionment taking root among younger voters who were a significant force in his election.
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Defending status-quo policy on gays in the military or the drug war is bound to alienate many of Mr Obama's most enthusiastic young supporters. . . . . The stances that would help Mr Obama consolidate support among especially young or especially liberal voters also risk scaring off older voters and capricious independents, and it's clear which tack the White House is taking. Either way, he may be in trouble.
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Were the Republicans to nominate a sane and rational presidential candidate in 2012, Obama could well be toast. Probably the only thing that may save him is the unlikelihood of a moderate and rational GOP nominee give the GOP base's continued movement to the world of the untethered and insane.

Generations Disagree on Same-Sex Marriage

No doubt this new poll reported by CNN will further enliven the aging Christianist and professional Christianist set to try to redouble their anti-gay jihad because it shows that time is running out for the Christianist/Mormon hate based agenda much as the racism seen in the older generations is far less prevalent in the younger generations who merely see blacks and other minorities as other people like themselves as opposed to some alien species to be segregated and looked down upon. The poll also shows the importance of LGBT Americans being out to friends, family and co-workers because those who know gays are much more in favor of LGBT equality. I truly believe that the day will come when the extreme homophobes of the Christian Right will be viewed in a similar light to George Wallace standing in the school house door blocking black children from entering an all white school. Here are some highlights on the poll results:

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[A]mong those 18 to 34 years old, 58 percent said same-sex marriages should be legal. That number drops to 42 percent among respondents aged 35 to 49, and to 41 percent for those aged 50 to 64. Only 24 percent of Americans 65 and older support recognizing same-sex marriages, according to the poll.

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While a majority of those polled oppose legalizing gay marriage, six of ten said states that do not recognize gay marriages should allow civil unions. When it comes to supporting civil unions, the poll indicates a similar generational shift.

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Forty-nine percent of those questioned say they have a family member or close friend who is gay. That's up eight points from 1998 and 17 points from 1992. Fifty-eight percent of those aged 18 to 34 say they have a family member or close friend who's gay. That drops to just one in three of people 65 or older. "People who say they have a gay friend or relative support same-sex marriage," Holland notes. "Most of those who say they don't know anyone who is gay, oppose gay marriage."

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The poll indicates that close to 40 percent of Democrats oppose legalizing gay marriage. But Schneider says there's a risk for conservatives if they make same-sex marriage an issue in the fight over a Supreme Court nomination. "Young voters strongly favor marriage equality. They're the future of American politics," says Schneider.

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I hope I live long enough to see the total defeat of the anti-gay Bible beaters on the issue of gay equality and marriage.