Amber Lee Ettinger, better known as Obama Girl from YouTube's "I Got a Crush ... on Obama," did not vote for Barack Obama yesterday. Or anybody. "I didn't get a chance to vote because I'm not registered to vote in New York," Amber Lee Ettinger told the New York Times. So why didn't vote in New Jersey, where she is registered? "I was in Arizona for the Super Bowl -- every time I get in the airplane I get sick," Ettinger told Times reporter Jennifer 8. Lee -- as they spoke at the Svedka Fembot election returns party in Chinatown Tuesday night.
UPDATE: I totally agree with Christian's assessment in the comments section that the Obama Girl's failure to "Buh-rock" her own vote is symptomatic of relying on young voters to turn out over the long haul:
This is the challenge with the youth vote. Howard Dean went into the early primaries polling 36% in 2004 with enthusiastic supporters spending virtually all their time hanging out together in orange hats that most forgot to even register or get out out and vote. It's amazing to see every four years to hear the promise, dreams and hopes expressed by youth fizzle as predictably as timed traffic lights ....We can count on younger voters as long as everything stays eye-popping and entertainment-oriented (or there is sex-appeal; cue G4 TV). But I don't seem them turning out in November--regardless of who the nominee is--as strongly as they are in February. The novelty will have worn off of voting by then.
She was too busy being excited about Obama on the YoutTube. This is the challenge with the youth vote. Howard Dean went into the early primaries polling 36% in 2004with enthusiastic supporters spending virtually all their time hanging out together in orange hats that most forgot to even register or get out out and vote. It's amazing to see every four years to hear the promise, dreams and hopes expressed by youth fizzle as predicatably as timed traffic lights, and that's sad.
ReplyDeleteSadly I'm afraid you might be right. That's why politicians look for older voters who have been around the bend several times. Politics and voting are really fairly plodding work except for a few exceptional days.
ReplyDeleteI'm having these same concerns about the youth vote. I'm glad to see them getting involved behind a candidate that inspires them.
ReplyDeleteBut what happens if he is not the nominee? Will they stay home in disgust, and complain that the system is rigged and voting is a waste of time, especially after putting a lot of time and effort into it?
Neal,
ReplyDeleteMost will go out and vote for Hillary, but many won't likely give up their free time to work for Hillary. Nor should they unless she earns their trust and support.
I'll wager that most will NOT give up their free time to work for the Democratic nominee next Fall whether that person is Clinton or Obama. It has nothing to do with trust or support. It has to do with the fickleness, shallowness, and halfheartedness of youth. They too easily commit themselves to personalities over principles and agendas.
ReplyDeleteWhen they grow tired of personalities the evaporation of their youthful vigor leaves a gaping vacuum. Relying on mobilized youth works in the short-term, but as a long-term strategy is destined to fail with or without Obama. In that light, the Democrats may be doomed by Obama's short-term success, unless he can build the same stalwart base that Clinton has.
Stalwart base? I see a lot of quasi-engaged voters who like Hillary and don't quite care to give Obama much of a chance.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is, Obama's base is far more motivated and hard working than Hillary's, thus his enormous wins in caucuses which require more active, engaged, and energized supporters.
The states he has won have not been solely on the backs of the young, they are the icing on the cake that help expand his victories. His ability to have an enormous grassroots campaign may be on the back of the youth to an extent, and there is no reason to believe that is changing anytime soon.
I wish he could pull in the Matlock crowd (yes, I'll be just as dismissive of the Seniors as you are of the youth) like Hillary has, but it is what it is...in this primary you can't always appeal to everyone, and I'd rather him appeal to the future than the past.
As I quoted a reporter the other night:
ReplyDeleteThe picture that's beginning to emerge of Hillary's supporters is that they are stealthy - but deadly. It is Obama's supporters I meet most often online, Obama's supporters who are seemingly the most vociferous, the most exuberant, the most contentedly swept up, thrilled, and exhilarated by being part of a young political movement. If I depended merely on my own experience in the blogosphere and among friends, I would have expected Obama to sweep Hillary in most of the states she's won ....
But that is not what has happened. Quietly but certainly, Hillary's supporters have given her solid wins in six states so far, even as Obama is winning among every age demographic up to age 50.
Sounds like a strong base to me, even as Obama is the "in-thing" frontrunner right now.
I don't doubt that Obama's base is motivated and hard working for the moment. The external motivation has been exceptional. What I doubt is their longevity and persistence. That would only be dismissive if I did not base it on evidence: the track record of youth vote turnout is horrible compared to those whom you call "the Matlock crowd."
Youth have more to prove than seniors because they have a dubious track record on voting. Nothing personal; it's just reality. Until they consistently turn out to vote on issues rather than because of celebrity and novelty and style, then my skepticism is warranted. I've got no reason to take the leap of faith that you have; believing that people over 45 will show up to the polls more consistently than youth is hardly believing in the Spaghetti Monster.
Well, any candidate who relies solely on the youth vote is in for a rude awakening...fortunately, Obama isn't doing this.
ReplyDeleteNow, because of voter preferences and demographics, Obama does better among youth (under 50) and Hillary does better among her age group (over 50)...he's still competing for every elderly vote he can get, but there is only so much he can do...he can't magically age, whiten his skin, and adopt the Clinton name.
I will say, young voters did turn out for Kerry in 2004, voting in record numbers; it just so happened that the older folks also turned out for Bush...not our fault.
This is the first time in a long while that young voters have had a candidate who they could get really excited about (not just get excited about getting rid of the other guy) so if he is the nominee, I see no reason why we shouldn't expect record turnout among young voters. I think you will also see record turnout among African Americans as well.
Will older people turnout in record numbers too, in ways that will offset record youth turnout? Well, we don't know that yet.
but there is only so much he can do...he can't magically age, whiten his skin, and adopt the Clinton name.
ReplyDeleteSo, are you really insinuating that older voters support Clinton because of her age, the color of her skin and her name? Really? Are you really intending to advance the identity politics card to help Obama win?
In fairness, I've heard Obama's race appealed to more as a reason to vote for him (you even made that argument on one occasion that I can remember). I saw a NY Times article the other day that said among African Americans most likely to mention race as an issue, most voted for Obama.
If you are keeping up the identity politics card, surely you realize that you are playing with fire that can only burn Democrats in November. If that wasn't your intention, I don't understand what you are trying to say.
Are you really intending to advance the identity politics card to help Obama win?
ReplyDeleteHow does that help him win? Old white voters are a huge voting block in the Democratic party.
Does race play a factor, yeah. Is his race a factor in his overwhelming support among african-americans? I can't see how it isn't. But do I think that his race (or his name) plays a factor in his lack of support by white rural voters in the South? I don't think its unreasonable to think that could be true.
Lemme ask, if the Clinton legacy, her age, or her race aren't a factor; why do you think that she does extraordinarily well with seniors, and he does extremely well among the youth?