South by Southwest: Democrats-the Generations

Monday, October 24, 2005

Democrats-the Generations

There will come a time soon, if it has not already, when there will be a widening gap between the generations in the Democratic party.

Though 15 years is not exactly a generation, I have arbitraritly divided Democratic party members - and those they elect - into the following generalized age categories. For purposes of discussion, I would like to suggest that these are some ways that their formative experiences make them different from each other:

Elders - 70+. If age 85, born in 1920. First voted at beginning of WWII. May have fought in that war. Used to sacrifices. "The Greatest Generation," according to Tom Brokaw. Democrats in control much of the time. If in office they helped author the Great Society.

We often think of Senator Robert Byrd, 88, as their "elder statesman." Starting as a conservative Southern Democrat, he has come a very long way into the mainstream since then. He has announced he will seek reelection. Venerable liberal Senator Ted Kennedy is 73. And I was very surprised to learn that Representative John Conyers, another outstanding liberal, was born in 1929.

Matures - up to 70. Probably started voting in the mid 1950's, generally middle of the road, proper, getting educations building homes and families. Economically better off that their parents. Sometimes shared governance with Repubicans.

Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader, is 66. The Matures who were born during World War II include Senators Joseph Biden and Richard Durbin (the Minority Whip), as well as General Wesley Clark, and Jesse Jackson. Several of today's prominant Dem leaders were born in 1947, just after the war ended (that building-families period). They include Hillary Clinton, Chicago Mayor Richard Dailey, Dem Party Chairman Howard Dean, and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. (for all, see reference list link below)

Mids - up to 55. Reached age of majority in 1971. "Child of the sixties," huge societal change going on. Vietnam war, assassainations, Watergate. May be estranged from previous generation. Equal rights, protests. Party and generational polarization.

The 2006 Democratic Senate Campaign Committee head is Charles Schumer, one of the Mids. (Here is a list of those 2006 Senate races). Barack Obama , 44, is probably one of their most charismatic newcomers. Others on the Wikipedia list include Georgia Representative Cynthia McKinney (1955). She was one of the few Dems who attended last week's meeting of the House Select Committee Investigating the Response to Hurricane Katrina. Her questions for Homeland Security chief Chertoff were particularly intense. Other Mids include Al Sharpton and Virginia Governor Mark Warner.

Thirty-somethings - up to 40. Could have voted as early 1983. Grew up during the Cold War, which then ended. More competition for resources than the smaller older cohorts. Education required to compete. America slowly becoming more individualized and conservative in some ways. Suburbs grew. Progress for women and minorities more apparent.

Regarding the Thirty-somethings, according to the WaPo article linked to my post title,

" . . . newcomers . . .are part of a new generation of Democrats who are working to try to topple the GOP. Their fresh ideas, modern media skills and aggressive political tactics have inspired a party that has drifted for much of the past decade -- wedded to old notions and seemingly incapable of capitalizing on White House and congressional Republican miscues."

Three of these young representatives often appear together on the C-Span House channel during the end of the day "morning business" time. They conduct a well-done colloquy with each other, a very effective new tactic for discussing current issues. They are smart and fierce. One of them, Representative Rahm Emanuel, now heads the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. The House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi was savvy enough to appoint him. Born in 1940, she is one of the Matures, and she often promotes young talent.

Age differences for Democrats need not be a barrier to becomimg more united. The big middle is where most of the current leaders are located. Those in the middle brackets can look to the Elders for the best of liberal philosophy and statesmanship. And they can look to the up-and-comers for fresh ideas, a familiarity with the current trend towards conservatism, and enormous energy for action. It is yet another of the ways Democrats can get their act together.

Reference links: