A New Class of "Dems for a Day": Parents

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 04:38:05 PM EST
Tags: Barack Obama, 2008 (all tags)

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The New York Times reports kids are pestering their parents to vote for Obama, and it's working.

Here's one example:

Megan Simpson, a Penn State senior, had not been able to budge her father, a Republican. But the day before the deadline for registering for the coming Democratic primary in Pennsylvania, she handed him the forms and threw in a deal-sweetener as well. “I said, ‘Dad, if you change your party affiliation in time to vote for Obama,’ ” recalled Ms. Simpson, 22, an Obama campus volunteer, “ ‘I will get you the paperwork the day after the primary if you want to switch back to being a Republican.’ ”

Thus did Ralph E. Simpson Jr., 50, construction company owner, become a newly minted Democrat. “I probably will switch my affiliation back,” Mr. Simpson said, “but I haven’t decided who I will vote for in the general election. If Meg keeps working on me, who knows?”

More...

Other parents just want to be in their kids' good graces and reward their interest in politics:

For some waffling primary voters, the relentless push by their children was good enough reason to capitulate. Eager to encourage their offspring’s latest enthusiasm, they have been willing to toss up their hands and vote for Mr. Obama, if only to impress their children.

There's been successful pestering that's worked for Hillary as well.

Rachel Mattson, 18, a freshman at Wellesley, called her mother, Michelle, in Memphis daily, pressing her to vote for Mrs. Clinton in the Tennessee primary.

“I don’t see a huge difference between the two candidates,” said Michelle Mattson, 45. “But Rachel never let it go. You’ll be sitting at the dinner table for an hour going over this stuff! Her enthusiasm and what it means to her inspired me.” She voted for Mrs. Clinton.

If the kids bring their parents into the Democratic party for real, it's good. If they're bringing in Dems for a Day, it's not. How to tell the difference? We probably can't, until it's too late. If Obama gets the nomination but doesn't win the parental age group in November, then we'll know.

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A New Class of "Dems for a Day": Parents | 59 comments (59 topical)

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Typical NY Times (5.00 / 2) (#2)
by ColumbiaDuck on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 04:45:44 PM EST

They do a trend article that claims to unearth some big movement. Yet this nugget is buried:

No poll has counted Obama supporters who made their choice at the urging of their children. But combined exit polls for all the primaries so far (excluding Florida and Michigan) show that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has edged out Mr. Obama, 50 percent to 46 percent, among voters ages 45 to 64 -- those who are old enough, and then some, to be the parents of Mr. Obama's young supporters.

So the only actual data they have would seem to refute the entire thesis of the article! Granted, this data is not strong either, but you'd think it would give an editor pause.

But I forget this is the same publication that did a whole piece on how there was a big "trend" afoot of women Ivy league grads dropping out of the rat race to get married. That was based on one reporter and her friends.

I love those trend articles. (5.00 / 2) (#6)
by Stellaaa on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 04:54:45 PM EST

Usually, late and limited to a socio economic group, typically the journalists.

[ Parent ]

: Which is (none / 0) (#11)
by AF on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:02:41 PM EST

also the socio economic group of people who email online news articles -- because they're always on the "most emailed" aka "do not read" list.

[ Parent ]

All the filler that fits to print (none / 0) (#4)
by Cream City on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 04:51:50 PM EST

a paper a day, huh? Good point you make -- I forgot that stupid rat-race story was from the NYT, i.e., the Not Your Times or anyone else's you know. . . .

[ Parent ]

It really isn't data (none / 0) (#23)
by rebrane on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:17:00 PM EST

that has anything to do with their thesis. It might if 100% of teenagers were advocating that their parents vote for Obama, and if they asked in the exit polls whether the voters had teenaged children, but since this is not the case, the data simply does not apply at all.

You could also say "According to combined exit polls, Obama has won the combined black and Hispanic vote by a significant margin" but that certainly wouldn't prove that he's ahead among Hispanics.

[ Parent ]

Exactly (none / 0) (#28)
by ColumbiaDuck on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:24:36 PM EST

They have nothing to back it up and yet they write a piece as if there is something BIG happening. It is misleading. And the only thing that even remotely relates to whether or not parents are influenced by their kids would seem to show ... well certainly not that they are flocking to Obama.

This is not "journalism" - it's "ancedotalism" and the Times should be embarassed for publishing it.

[ Parent ]

: Don't worry, folks (none / 0) (#33)
by Kathy on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 06:12:28 PM EST

if he's anything like my grandpa, he'll be whining about the bars being closed and looking for a lady friend come election day.

[ Parent ]

The young always think they know more (5.00 / 3) (#3)
by waldenpond on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 04:51:41 PM EST

than their parents. My 15 yr old son started in on me yesterday. I have never in my life had difficulty saying 'no.' I had no difficulty last night. I also gave my son a few messages for his instructor... First, that he should have the students write down 3 policy changes each of the candidates were committed to.. and that, despite what the instructor has told my son, I am capable of making an analytical evaluation of the candidates. I also told him to tell his instructor he could kiss my you know what and I said he was an a#$.

You are my hero... heroine?? (none / 0) (#16)
by jimakaPPJ on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:10:16 PM EST

Either way, good for you.

Now call the school and raise hell with the Principal, then call the Supt. of schools and raise hell with him/her and then call each school board member and hell with them.

These people have absolutely no right to be discussing politics of any flavor with 15 year old children.

[ Parent ]

what? (5.00 / 1) (#24)
by Jeralyn on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:18:37 PM EST

Of course politics should be discussed in school. Maybe you mean telling them how to vote?

[ Parent ]

: Nope (1.00 / 0) (#55)
by jimakaPPJ on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:39:11 AM EST

K-12 should be devoted to teaching the basics, with a heavy emphasis on math, science, US history/civics, English and such practical things as how to balance a check book, change a tire, cook a meal and repair your clothes, do your state and federal tax returns...etc.
When you start to use current politics as a teaching vehicle the natural and unavoidable tendency is to start preaching for your side.
We don't need that from either the Left or the Right. Please note that I have seen no comments/articles anyplace about McCain.. which merely reflects the bias of the educational system.

[ Parent ]

College (5.00 / 1) (#25)
by waldenpond on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:20:17 PM EST

He's in college. I think it would be inappropriate to call a college instructor no matter his age. Just sayin'.

[ Parent ]

Your son is in college at age 15? (none / 0) (#39)
by shoephone on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 06:46:19 PM EST

That's one smart kid you got there. You must be very proud.

[ Parent ]

: Not necessarily smart (none / 0) (#50)
by waldenpond on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 08:06:36 PM EST

At 15 smart really isn't an issue. He's mostly obnoxious.

[ Parent ]

The young always think they know more... (none / 0) (#54)
by workingclass artist on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 04:55:52 AM EST

Early on my daughter was being overtaken by THE FORCE. Then I printed out the latest labor/pay scale stats revealing the pay inequity across all fields,classes,races between men and women.
She became the only youthful HRC supporter at her highschool and is sucessfully resisting THE FORCE. Her teachers were suprised and many delihted each time she's defended her choice, particularly when tied to gender equity issues like this. Point is she had no idea what sexism was and how it effects all women. Probably most young women don't.

[ Parent ]

Keep post up (5.00 / 1) (#5)
by Stellaaa on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 04:53:36 PM EST

I want Kathy's rant on "those kids". ( I bet T-ball will be in it)

haha! (5.00 / 2) (#35)
by Kathy on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 06:16:28 PM EST

all right:

If you're stupid enough to listen to a bunch of spoiled little Snotleighs about who you should choose to get us out of this miserable war, take us out of this humiliating recession where the Loony is worth more than the freakin' dollar, and stop torturing and killing in our name, then you should have your fingers and toes duct taped together to give you something more constructive to do than trying to vote.

I mean, for the love of peeps. Let Bratleigh advise you on who to vote for on American Idol, not who gets to lead the free world.

[ Parent ]

: If you are stupid (none / 0) (#59)
by kenoshaMarge on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:45:00 AM EST

enough to let anyone tell you how to vote, please stay home and spare the process your lack of intellect.
And just in passing, indulging in "gaming" the system is a great way to teach offspring about integrity or lack thereof. This little "chip" wasn't far from the block.

[ Parent ]

It's the exact opposite (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by stillife on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 04:56:38 PM EST

of my own experience. I downloaded the forms for my son to switch his PA voter registration from Independent to Dem so he could vote for Hillary. His girlfriend will do everything, short of going into the voting booth with him, to make sure he does. ;) Poor guy, only 22 years old and already henpecked!

I don't know anybody personally who's been influenced by their kids to change registration or vote for a particular candidate. However, this story does remind me of Caroline Kennedy and some other pol - was it Sebelius? - who said that their kids influenced them to support Obama.

: Jimmy Carter (none / 0) (#32)
by Ben Masel on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:56:47 PM EST

[ Parent ]

Uh.... (5.00 / 2) (#8)
by kredwyn on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 04:57:21 PM EST

" `I will get you the paperwork the day after the primary if you want to switch back to being a Republican.' "

What?!?

: as in (5.00 / 1) (#36)
by Kathy on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 06:17:24 PM EST

"don't worry, grandpa, you won't have to vote for any REAL democrats in November!"

[ Parent ]

This is just wrong (5.00 / 1) (#12)
by rebrane on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:06:39 PM EST

If Obama gets the nomination but doesn't win the parental age group in November, then we'll know.

No we won't. If they ask "Did your children ask you to vote for a candidate? For whom?" in the exit polls, then we'll know.

While making calls (5.00 / 1) (#13)
by nell on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:07:21 PM EST

I talked to a man who was totally pro-Hillary until one of his kids started begging him to vote for Obama. He said his kid softened him, but then when he read Caroline's op-ed, he realized that it was important for your kids to have someone inspiring, so now he will vote for Barack even though he admitted he thinks Hillary will be a better president. Befuddles me, but I guess my parents had no trouble saying no.

I'd just like to know when parents stopped (5.00 / 1) (#47)
by Anne on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:31:52 PM EST

being parents.

I have two daughters, 21 and 24, and I can assure you that while we have certainly had many, many conversations about politics and elections over the years, there is no way they would have bullied me into voting for someone because "it's important for kids to have someone inspiring;" I mean, what is that, exactly?

Who's in charge? Honestly, I am just over these spoiled rotten babies whose parents allow themselves to be led around by the nose - gee, maybe if these parents tried standing up for something once in a while, their kids might actually find them inspiring, might think their parents knew a little something about the world, might learn something.

I don't tell my kids how to vote, and I don't tell them how to vote. I don't even think I have to tell them who I voted for - sometimes, I've answered "I voted for the person I thought would be the best for the job," and left it at that.

It's very hard to usher one's kids into adulthood when one refuses to be an adult - it's like perpetual childhood for some of these parents.

Grow a spine, please, before it's too late.

[ Parent ]

: Wii came2 vote4 Poppin' Fresh + Ronald McDonald (none / 0) (#53)
by Ellie on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 09:57:32 PM EST

My adolescent nephews are always primed to go on a quest looking for the hot corporately mandated iTune that's in the blanketed ads.
What's spooky is that a lot of them are songs they already know from hearing them without the benefit of commercials -- like Toots & The Maytals or Quantic Soul with Nicodemus -- but the commercials trigger a sudden, desperate need to run and buy them from iTunes.
("Guys, we've already got that!" and then they kind of run around with the ambient energy.)
The "inspiring" messages directing enthusiastic adherents of where to go and what to say at caucuses, how to pester other voters and even how to concern-troll pro-opponents' sites only automatically work so often.
It would be great if the messages included causes and principles that the fans could get involved in apart from empty flash mob stuff.
If polls are being done that are tracking this very focused phone / txt message geared mobbing, THOSE I'd love to see.
I'm sticking to my strong sense that the end game is the "fight" to beat the evil Sen. Clinton not only won't survive the summer, but will be multiply more difficult to get going again for the GE.

[ Parent ]

I saw in the exit polls (none / 0) (#15)
by rebrane on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:09:09 PM EST

that a non-negligible amount of people voted for one candidate and said that the other would make the better President. It's interesting to hear the story of how one person came to vote that way...

[ Parent ]

heh (none / 0) (#21)
by jimakaPPJ on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:13:46 PM EST

He said his kid softened him, but then when he read Caroline's op-ed, he realized that it was important for your kids to have someone inspiring, so now he will vote for Barack even though he admitted he thinks Hillary will be a better president.

That is the worst reason I have ever read for voting for someone.

[ Parent ]

Yes, it's not quite up there with (none / 0) (#52)
by Dark Avenger on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 08:23:55 PM EST

"You could have a beer with him." as a reason for voting.

[ Parent ]

DA (1.00 / 0) (#56)
by jimakaPPJ on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 08:48:44 AM EST

Link and context?

Actually that would indicate that you could have a conversation with the candidate rather than being expected to faint in a euphoric swoon at the mere sight of His Holiness.

A leader's ability to listen and converse with everyone is an important trait. I learned more about high level clients by chatting with their assistants than anyplace else.

[ Parent ]

: Don't remember the 2000 campaign? (none / 0) (#57)
by Dark Avenger on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 09:14:13 AM EST

Bush you could have a beer with him Google search.
Actually that would indicate that you could have a conversation with the candidate rather than being expected to faint in a euphoric swoon at the mere sight of His Holiness.
I don't think you should talk about your feelings about the current President that way, PPJ, some people won't understand your sense of humor.
Sadly, yes, folks such as you describe are rather annoying:
It must be very strange to be President Bush. A man of extraordinary vision and brilliance approaching to genius, he can't get anyone to notice. He is like a great painter or musician who is ahead of his time, and who unveils one masterpiece after another to a reception that, when not bored, is hostile.
A leader's ability to listen and converse with everyone is an important trait. I learned more about high level clients by chatting with their assistants than anyplace else.
I want someone who is competent at their job, not someone who can schmooze and make me feel like they're my buddy while everything they touch turns to sh*t, like some sort of Bizzaro Midas.
Of course, you've also stated that a good leader does what is right without worrying about public opinion, but then consistency isn't one of your strengths, is it?

[ Parent ]

My sisters and I got our dad to support... (5.00 / 1) (#20)
by cmugirl on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:13:45 PM EST

...Hillary - a man with four daughters who has occasional chauvinistic tendencies (mostly as a joke no because he knows he'll get slapped down) not only supports Hillary,but my mom got him to the rally in Detroit in March and I have a picture of him wearing buttons and holding signs and they actually got their picture taken with the candidate herself!

She's her father's daughter, isn't she? (5.00 / 1) (#51)
by lambert on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 08:10:45 PM EST

Since when is it OK for Republicans to choose the Democratic nominee for President?

Suppose Obama ended up with a popular vote margin of exactly 1 (It's a thought experiment!)

Would it be OK if that 1 vote were this Democrat for a day?

And if not, why is it OK at all?

: Agreed - It's nice to get (none / 0) (#58)
by eric on Thu Apr 10, 2008 at 10:37:18 AM EST

cross-over support, but not in the nomination process. If you can get republicans to vote for you, good. If you get republicans to infiltrate the party and win the nomination for you, it's subversion.

[ Parent ]

This stuff has had (none / 0) (#1)
by andgarden on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 04:40:11 PM EST

a negligible impact so for (except, perhaps, in Iowa and Wisconsin).

The most famous example of this (none / 0) (#9)
by ruffian on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 04:59:05 PM EST

was Caroline Kennedy, who endorsed Obama on advice from her teeanagers.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

McCaskill too (5.00 / 1) (#18)
by miguelito on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:13:01 PM EST

right?.. I think that's actually horrible. I would think a Senator could make up their own mind and not have to turn to their teen aged kids for who to support for the Presidency.

[ Parent ]

McCaskill (5.00 / 1) (#22)
by cmugirl on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:15:14 PM EST

I wonder if her kids prepped her before she questioned Petraeus yesterday?

[ Parent ]

The way McCaskill tells the story, her (none / 0) (#27)
by tigercourse on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:23:40 PM EST

daughter basically bullied her into endorsing Obama. That doesn't build much confidence in my Senators.

[ Parent ]

: those senators can't stand up to Bush (5.00 / 1) (#37)
by Kathy on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 06:18:40 PM EST

what makes you think they can stand up to their kids?

[ Parent ]

Caroline Kennedy is a Senator?? (none / 0) (#48)
by FlaDemFem on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:44:03 PM EST

Since when?? Did I miss an election?? I am sure I would have heard if she had run for office, never mind won the election. I agree that letting your kids tell you who you should support and supporting someone because they are "inspirational" is silly. But she is not a Senator. Her uncle is.

[ Parent ]

Right, not quite the same - she was already a Dem (none / 0) (#10)
by ruffian on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:00:01 PM EST

Sorry

[ Parent ]

: It appears to me intellectually (none / 0) (#30)
by thereyougo on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:53:00 PM EST

dishonest to change affiliation just as Obama ads urge. I hope people see that.
especially since it says that they can go back to their original affiliation.
what does it teach their kids? That its ok to be 2 faced? and not true to your core values? Just doesn't sit well with me.

[ Parent ]

Or Bob Casey (none / 0) (#14)
by rebrane on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:08:05 PM EST

Didn't he also say his kids were the ones who finally convinced him to endorse?

[ Parent ]

yep (none / 0) (#19)
by miguelito on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:13:21 PM EST

[ Parent ]

And Gov. Doyle who said (none / 0) (#26)
by Jeralyn on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:21:19 PM EST

his 7 year old grandson was persuasive? The kid said Obama would work hard.

Or Sarah Jessica Parker's five year old who wants Obama -- she used a press junket to let everyone know.

[ Parent ]

That's just embarrassing (5.00 / 1) (#44)
by shoephone on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:11:20 PM EST

5 and 7 year olds? I wonder if Sarah Jessica Parker's kid advised her on the "Sex and the City" movie too. After all, the youth perspective could have been helpful.

Generation Z? Or maybe Generation zzzzzzz... at least when they have to go down for their naps.

[ Parent ]

Couldn't they just give these kids a popsickle? (none / 0) (#41)
by MMW on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 06:57:18 PM EST

I don't get the pre-school endorsements, or coercion. My son just asked me for a baby dolphin, two weeks ago it was a stable of horses. But that's up from the rhino. I'm pretty sure he's getting none of the above.

[ Parent ]

: My six year old (none / 0) (#46)
by Fabian on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:25:28 PM EST

wants to live in Antarctica with the penguins. We have Happy Feet on DVD. He knows it is too cold for humans, but he still brings it up.
If he gave me advice on who to vote for, I would be intrigued and have a nice long chat about politicians. He already understands about advertisements - politics is only a hop and a skip from that.
I think we've just found a subset of "low information voters" - people who are so low info that their kids know more than they do. (Five year olds?)

[ Parent ]

It was Claire McCaskill (none / 0) (#17)
by cmugirl on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:10:56 PM EST

as if the country isn't down a sh*t hole (5.00 / 1) (#31)
by thereyougo on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:56:11 PM EST

and we need to leave it to minors to decide what to do about it.

doesn't look good for Obama. His campaign reminds me of snake oil salesman. very creepy.

[ Parent ]

: Oh, doesn't he though?!!! (none / 0) (#49)
by FlaDemFem on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:50:03 PM EST

He is so full of it.. and can't discuss policy to save his life. Ask him for something besides a prepped speech or sound bites, and you get "Uh..uh". Not inspiring in my book. I keep wondering what those people are on to not be able to pick up on the hollowness that is Obama. I mean, he is so empty, he almost echoes!!

[ Parent ]

Exactly what I have always said (none / 0) (#29)
by jen on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 05:51:48 PM EST

about Nevada -- if O is the nominee, in theory, he should win NV in an unprecedented landslide.

In my little Red town, where Democrats are scarce, our caucus was literally flooded with Repubs and Indys -- majority of whom where there to caucus for Obama. One man was very vocal about his reason for being there -- to stop Hillary. He was not at all shy to let everyone know he would vote for McCain in the GE. We all had to wonder how many of the others were there with the same intent.

I know (none / 0) (#38)
by nell on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 06:33:07 PM EST

Many in Indiana who are republicans concerned only about their pocketbooks. They are planning to vote for Obama only to stop Hillary because they think she will actually implement universal health care. When I asked if they would vote for Obama in a general election if he were the nominee they laughed at me and said of course not, the guy doesn't know anything and we're in the middle of a war!

I have no idea how widespread this is, but I was surprised at the fact that there were people I knew very well in my home town who were planning to do this.

My fear is that his support has been exaggerated by republicans and independents flooding caucus states who have no intention of really voting for him in November...I am sure some of them are genuine, but my own anecdotal experiences tell me his support has been overstated due to Dems for a Day.

[ Parent ]

exit polling shows (none / 0) (#42)
by Kathy on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:02:30 PM EST

that just as many repubs are trying to edge out O as are trying to edge out Clinton. They cancel each other out.

[ Parent ]

: I don't know (none / 0) (#43)
by Florida Resident on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:08:14 PM EST

as I have yet to see an add by the Clinton campaign trying to lure Republicans to vote for her. Also from my Repug days they hate Hillary I don't think they would do it unless they were thinking of voting Democrat during the GE.

[ Parent ]
: But (none / 0) (#45)
by nell on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 07:17:48 PM EST

this is much more recent. This started mostly in Ohio and Texas when the republicans started to realize it would be better for the contest to go on a la Rush Limbaugh. Obama still beat Clinton in Repub categories, but she got more Republican votes as a result of this, I think. Both of them have had legitimate, genuine republican support - I think I saw numbers from NH where she was very closely behind him in crossover votes, but I think the stop Hillary vote was pretty big in Wisconsin, MD, VA...etc...

[ Parent ]

The plural of anecdote is not evidence (none / 0) (#34)
by fuzzyone on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 06:16:08 PM EST

That is something the Times and a lot of commenters around here should keep in mind.

What gets me is that when (none / 0) (#40)
by Florida Resident on Wed Apr 09, 2008 at 06:49:15 PM EST

I and others brought the fact that open primaries and this kind of things could in the long run hurt the party we were told that this was to open the party to newcomers. Well color me pessimistic but this is the kind of voting you will be getting for the primaries and come the GE they will return to their base. As an ex- republican who took a long time (years) of voting for Democrats in the GE to make the switch I find these convenience cross-overs very disturbing. But if that is what the DNC believes will make the party grow the best of luck to them. BTW when I was a registered Republican I would have never gotten involved in a Democratic primary except maybe to donate money to the party.