Graying flower children lose their wonder - HRC v. Obama / op-ed

[groovedaddy]

Graying flower children lose their wonder - Op-ed - Courier Journal - Nov. 29, 2007
By Adam deJong

If you have been on a college campus in America recently, it doesn't take you very long to identify the student choice for president. Barack Obama stickers and signs litter college quads, academic yards and dorm grounds across the country, and his name and face elicit far more hope and enthusiasm for political engagement than any other candidate.

As a senior at UCLA, I've described this to my parents and several of their friends, all of whom are proud baby boomers, and they tend to give me a look that says, "What else do you expect?" Then I ask whom they are supporting, and they reply, almost indignantly, "Hillary."

I mention this because the bulk of the Democratic Party's base comprises baby boomers, who consider themselves Children of the Sixties but who long ago took the flowers out of their hair and relocated to very suburban, reliably blue-state, middle-age lives. These are the people who account for Sen. Hillary Clinton's lead in the presidential polls.

When I ask baby boomers why they are supporting another Clinton for president, the answer is almost always this: "Keep your eyes on the prize."

http://tinyurl.com/3a22d7

[mmonk]

1. That's why the party has changed.

A misreading of why Bill was elected two terms. At some point, I have to evaluate myself and my politics and what I can do to promote progressive (real progressive) democracy.

[zalinda]

2. Except not everyone was a flower child

Back then flower were the exception, no the rule. It didn't matter if you were in college or not, hippies were not that common, except on the TV news.

zalinda

[DangerDave921]

3. Good point

Just like most kids in the 1950's didn't look like Fonzie.

In the 1960's, most were middle of the road kids (albeit with some seriously ugly clothes), not the Woodstock image the media has created.

[groovedaddy]

4. Yeah, it seems like alot of young folks view every baby boomer

as a flower child.
I still like Kucinich. Does that qualify me as a "flower child?"

[denem]

6. Kucinich is gas. nt.

[venable]

16. the sixties were conservative culturally and politically, except for a lovely handful

Young Republicans were everywhere, Jesus-freaks abounded, and would turn into fundamentalists, and a vast majority looking toward middle class security blanded up the landscape.

The anti-war movement, and the cultural experimentation were fringe, though artistically powerful. the whole shebang has been co-opted, anyway.

my radical friends are now, mostly, apolitical. it's all too sad.

[denem]

5. Flower Children? Oh please!

What are we talking about here - the summer of love 67, which collapsed into the Democratic convention riots in 68, or the Stones Let it Bleed concert in 69, complete with Hells Angeles. Wonder? Bullshit. Even if one accepts a Flower Children demographic (and rose colored psychedelia) it's about a five year block. Just like the present 18 - 23 year olds.

[wyldwolf]

7. the student choice is always the "elite" candidate... McGovern, Brown, Bradley, Dean, Obama, etc.

Amazing every election cycle stories like this circulate as though it is anything new.

[denem]

9. Evidence - have the students been surveyed?

The whole piece is anecdotal.

[wyldwolf]

10. yes, the whole piece is anecdotal. But we get the same anecdotes every election cycle

"_______ is the candidate of youth... the new generation of politics... and he's mobilizing college students all across the country."

It usually falls apart during the primaries. I'm not saying it will this time, but history shows it usually does.

[Colobo]

14. Elite?

[wyldwolf]

15. dictionary?

[JohnLocke]

37. Prick?

[Adelante]

8. Graying baby boomer ex-flower child for Obama

We're here :hi:

[earthlover]

11. But....Hillary was a Goldwater Girl....!

I find it interesting the reponse given in the OP as a reason to support Hillary, keep your eye on the prize.

So, what IS the prize if Hillary wins?

I believe Hillary is the LEAST likey to win in the general election. Nobody gets the prize if he/she is not elected. There are just too many ways for her to lose.

But beyond this, what is the prize if she does win that we would not have if any of the other Democratic candidates got the nod?

If we nominate Hillary, take a good hard look at Huckabee. A vote for Hillary makes it easier for Huckabee to win. Because if Hillary loses....Huck will be our President. That should sober up anyone who looks at electability as just an abstraction, or something not important.

I don't think HIllary is going to get the nomination. I think those who are not already pledged to Hillary are not going to be enough, and I think the undecideds are going to break for another candidate. I think Obama has a better chance to get nominated, and to win in November. Neither is my first choice, but that is how I read things now.

[denem]

17. No, Huckabee is one she could win.

Huckabee can split the Democratic Party. The cold rationalists, professionals, big money and corporate power brokers would head for Clinton, Some Democratic and Independent Christians would move to Huckabee. The person who can't win against Huckabee is Obama. Why settle for a part time preacher when you can have the real thing?

(BTW I wish all our candidates the best of luck. They may need it.)

[polichick]

12. Keep your eyes on the prize???

I've never heard a single voter say anything like that. Fuck off Adam deJong!

[groovedaddy]

19. Still the # 1 reason given for why voters voted they way they did:

"I thought they were going to win"

[polichick]

20. That's an American way of thinking...

And, as pitiful as it is, it's not generational. I think this anti-boomer tack some folks are taking is really sad.

(Let's face it, the "jump on the rock star bandwagon" movement has everything to do with that kind of American thinking.)

[groovedaddy]

21. It's all part of the "cult of personality"

Kucinich gets slammed because of this all the time - great on content but just not tall enough, slick enough, etc.

[polichick]

22. Yeah, "cult of personality" is a good way to put it...

It's hard for me to feel excited about this election because the true leader who could take us into the next era has not stepped onto the stage imo ~ I'd like to see boomer activists and their children, who are now stepping up to the voters' plate, combine their talents, experience, energy and vision (with the passion that the two groups embrace the same music) and come up with a ticket that could actually change our national paradigm and move us toward our real potential as a nation and world leader.

[groovedaddy]

32. Start with a platform, then find the right person/ people to present it

It has to start with a vision, ideas & goals. We can't find good people to run and then hope they will support what we want. Most "good people" don't seem to want to put themselves through the campaign grinder.

[polichick]

35. The Obama situation is interesting...

He was drafted, but as a rock star or cult figure ~ not to represent a specific people's platform. An opportunity lost I guess. You'd think it was the fundies who drafted him from the looks of it now.

[groovedaddy]

38. His speech at the '04 Convention put him in the national picture

It's a shame that the fundies got so involved in politics. While they may stay involved, the dynamics are changing. Some people who have opted out are realizing their error and starting to get involved again. It can't happen too soon!

[Selatius]

27. That reason is more than justified, unfortunately.

If you vote for third party candidates in first-past-the-post voting, you risk fragmenting the voting bloc and handing victory to the ideological opposite. Basically, the system basically punishes voters who try to vote any other way come election time. If they do try to vote for the third party candidate, they end up with another Bush.

[BeyondGeography]

13. Well written...that kid has a future

[BridgeTheGap]

18. The kid is a little wet behind the ears, but the case he makes is well stated

if off the mark. Like someone else said: It's anecdotal. I know too many Dems in my age bracket who support someone other than Hillary. And, frankly, while Obama is my third choice, I like that he is willing to take on HRC and call her on her political "style."

[silverweb]

23. Bullshit.

Obama is indeed attracting the young en masse, but also people of ALL ages. I'm one of those hippie flower children, in spirit if not in fact, and have never fit the mold of middle-aged, establishment, suburbanite boomer.

My daughter is a UC university senior, like the author, and takes glad exception to the premise of this article. She has repeatedly exclaimed about how incredibly diverse the crowds are at Obama events in all respects. Campus support for Obama is very strong generally, but that certainly doesn't count out other age groups.

This student author may have reason to be disappointed in some middle-aged, former hippie types he knows, but he'd be wise to look outside his immediate environment.

He should either document the basis for his opinion or quit broadbrushing. As a journalism student, he has a lot to learn before he's set loose on the country.

In the meantime, this "graying flower child" never lost her wonder or her hope.


GObama!

[goodgd_yall]

24. Another us vs them op-ed

There's too much ignorance and generalizations about "baby boomers" to even bother discussing.

[Blue_In_AK]

25. Maybe, but...

I'm a hippie babyboomer (1946) who doesn't support Clinton OR Obama. I liked Bill at the time, but because of things I've learned in the subsequent years, not so much now, and Hillary leaves me cold. Obama's "rock-star" status makes me distrust him. Maybe Edwards, maybe Biden, maybe Richardson -- but I doubt they'll be able to overcome the media's fawning over the other two.

When I take the "who's your candidate" polls, I always come up most in line with Mike Gravel, and we know how HE'S doing.

I feel now, as usual, completely disenfranchised -- as if Alaska's Democratic votes mean anything at all, which they don't.

It's been very discouraging to be me politically ever since 1963.

[groovedaddy]

33. Isn't Alaska a seperate country now?

;->

I hear you about the disenfranchised feeling - it's deep and wide.

[Blue_In_AK]

36. It feels like it sometimes. :-)

All the shippers think so, anyway.

[mitchtv]

26. I arrived in SF in june '67

I don't support HRC I lean towards Edwards, but maybe Kucinich. I still call myself a liberal, I have not been frightened into calling myself a Progressive, I generally support the most liberal candidate.I have had a life as an activist, and luckily I married well otherwise I'd be in some dump.

[ChiciB1]

28. THIS "Boomer" Does NOT Support Clinton! No Way, Not Now &

NEVER! I "thought" she was the one, but now she's last on MY list! Many of us so called Boomers aren't stoopid ya know? We actually got out and DID something back then, and I MISS it now!!

What I AM sick of is APATHY and lack of investigative knowledge! Too many people, of all strip just listen to MSM and want to be part of what MSM tells them will be the winner! They don't even do any fact checking, just walk in line and smile a STOOPID smile!

It makes ME SICK!!

[rufus dog]

29. Age - 45 -- Support Obama n/t

[Madam Mossfern]

30. Class of '65 and then class of '69

I'm smack dab in the thick of 'boomerness'. Hillary could not possibly be the choice of former flower children because of her corporate ties. I guess the author of the article didn't do his homework. Real former activists and 'hippies' hopefully have educated their children on politics. I know that we have some lively 'discussions' at our dinner table.

And......please, just because of the generation, don't consider us all former hippies. I hate that term and although I was politically active and a protester, I don't consider myself as having lived by "turn on, tune in and drop out" philosophy even though Timothy Leary's Psychedelic Experience was the first required reading in my freshman year at college. I worked for Eugene McCarthy's campaign and am still quite politically active.

I do not support Hillary Clinton's nomination for the Democratic Party candidate.

[rufus dog]

31. Good Madam

I personally do not consider everyone from that generation a hippie. From my large family of older brothers and sisters. The two brothers that could be considered hippies, well the one that was and is a hippie, is a Kucinich supporter, the other undecided. The oldest brother, who never wore his hair long, smoked dope, on and on, is a Hillary supporter, even though six months ago he was all for Gore because this country couldn't elect a woman or black.

I agree, the flower children are not likely to be Hillary supporters, nor am I. Our reasons may be a little bit different. Good luck to you and your candidate.

[BridgeTheGap]

34. I personally do not consider everyone from that generation a hippie.

No shit - alot of baby boomers are freepers.

[LWolf]

39. I was born in 1960. I'm the daughter of a flower child.

I support neither Clinton nor Obama...go figure. :shrug: