US Elections

New York Times: Young people not socially conservative

By Jonathan Bradley in Sydney, Australia

9 August 2012

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Dog bites man!

The Times is excited by its discovery that young Republicans aren't as socially conservative as the rest of the party:

In a break from generations past and with an eye toward the future, many of the youngest leaders of the Republican Party are embracing views on some social issues that are at odds with traditional conservative ideology — if they mention such issues at all, according to interviews, experts and some polling.

“When it comes to what you do in your bedroom, or where you go to church, or where you want to put a tattoo, we just couldn’t care less,” Mr. Hoagland said at a meeting last month of young Republicans in Charlotte.

Sure, but you know who tends to be more socially liberal than the rest of the population? Young people. Why should young Republicans be any different?

The Times points, for instance, to young Republicans attitudes on gay marriage:

A poll this year by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press found that the percentage of Republicans ages 18 through 29 who favor same-sex marriage has grown to 37 percent, up from 28 percent eight years ago.

Yep! [PDF] But among Democrats in the same age bracket, the same poll finds 74 per cent favor same sex marriage. (Independents are at 64 per cent.) A majority of Republicans aged 18-29 still oppose same-sex marriage — 59 per cent.

The story here is that young people are more likely to favor socially progressive policies than old people — even young Republicans. But young people are more likely to be Democrats, and Democrats of all ages are more likely to support socially progressive policies. The Republican Party is not being reshaped by a new generation. Society is being reshaped by a new generation, and the minority of young people resisting that are much more likely to be Republican. 

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(h/t thisisareallybadidea)

Tags: Age, Demographics, Journalism, New York Times, Same Sex Marriage, Social Conservatism

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