BY JAMES KIRCHICK,NY Daily News
Obama’s policies are going to hit the young people the hardest
The 2008 presidential race was widely trumpeted as the "Youth Election,"and for good reason. Inspired by Barack Obama’s relative youth and his message of "hope"and "change,"young Americans flocked to the then-junior senator from Illinois.
It is doubtful that he could have become the most powerful man in the world without them.
What did the young get for their critical outpouring of support? Though most of his youthful backers would be hesitant to admit it,the President has betrayed them on three issues of great importance to their wallets and sympathies:health care reform,the federal budget and gay rights.
As the first year of Obama’s administration draws to a close,the gap between promise and policy is astonishing,and all the more so considering how critical the young were for his victory. Early primary wins in Iowa and South Carolina owed much to his massive support from voters under 30;in the former state he carried them by a 5-to-1 margin.
That carried over into the general election;the cool,forward-thinking and culturally savvy Obama connected;the rickety John McCain did not.