comment #1

Sonic Boom says ...

Yes, because nothing gets people to actually be active like celebrites! Leo DiCaprio is TALKING DOWN TO ME! Well, I'm going to shut him up and vote. You're acting as if this is the first election in U.S. history which younger people aren't as interested as older voters. That's every election ever held.

I'm 22 and I think young people are paying attention. They'll come out big for Obama. They probably would've done the same for Kerry in '04 if anybody actually liked him.

Also, older folks are self-absorbed too, you know. I'd say most of them. It's not just young people.

comment #2

DavidF says ...

Ignorant Canadian Question: If your country is the vanguard of democracy etc etc, how come people have to go out, make the effort themselves, to register to vote? how many millions of dollars are wasted trying to get people to register?

Up here in Backwardsland, you hit the age of majority, you show your ID and you vote. Isn't that, like, totally crazy?

Of course, the flipside is we don't get PSA's with Celine Dion and Seth Rogen telling us that if we want to vote we have to go to a government office and sign some stuff.

comment #3

MDOC says ...

Leo probably learned a lot about science and international relations in his GED classes.

comment #4

Krazy Eyes says ...

Is it even physically possible for Dustin Hoffman to talk down to someone? Is he on a chair?

comment #5

LYT says ...

"They probably would've done the same for Kerry in '04 if anybody actually liked him."

If I recall correctly, Kerry actually got the biggest youth turnout in history - the one demographic he got much more of than Bush. It just wasn't enough.

comment #6

Chapman Carruthers says ...

Before calling the under 25ers by such an insidious label, shouldn't we at least give them thirty or forty years so they can get into positions of power, drain the treasury, amass massive amounts of debt, commit an endless seres of aggressions, fuck over their fellow man, and do their best to dumb down our society even more?

If they're the generation of shame, what does that make the baby boomers, or the generations immediately before or after? The generation of disgust? The generation of our-parents-should-have-used-some-fucking-protection?

comment #7

MDOC says ...

My only problem with the younger generation is all the rough tatoos.

comment #8

VoiceOfReason says ...

Did Jonah Hill write his own lines for this thing? Funny shit. Anyhow, if you're going to go this far just go ahead and say 'Vote Obama.' Jeeze.

comment #9

LYT says ...

DavidF - because there's a heavy strain in this country that hates any kind of automatic national registration system.

Never mind that there already is one called the Social Security Administration, and every business in the nation asks for your damn number every time you talk to them.

I think a large number of Americans would rather have the "choice" to be registered or not, and risk disenfranchisement, then have it guaranteed.

comment #10

gruver1 says ...

Wells to Chapman Carruthers: Boomers are bad news in every respect you mentioned. No argument from me. I'm grappling with the remark that MSNBC's Joe Scarborough made on MSNBC in '04, which is that young voters "will always leave you at the altar." And they do so for the lamest, cheapest, emptiest and most utterly contemptible reason imaginable, which can can be summed up as "we've got other shit going on in our lives, dude!" Which mainly means attending to hormonal urges.

comment #11

va says ...

LYT - the young adult turnout did not help Kerry in 04, especially in Ohio --- Scarborough was right on 04, and he will probably say the same thing on 11/4-- side note - I visited my daughter, who's 24 and a journalist, in NYC last month - she questioned the validity of her vote, and whether she should take the time to vote, because Obama was a lock for NY anyway. A 20-minute lecture ensued, with Kerry and Ohio the focal point. I'm happy to report she will be one young person who will cast a ballot this November - if she wants to continue getting free dinners from the old man....

comment #12

Zimmergirl says ...

Sorry but I don't think celebrities should ever do this kind of thing. No one cares what they think especially when they're lecturing us about what to do with our lives. It's counter-productive. They want to use their fame for good, I get it, I get it. But "talking down" to "the people" is a waste of their pricey time. The youth WILL turn out for Obama because he's the first candidate in half a century that inspires them to do so. It doesn't matter that it's because he looks good on a t-shirt. A vote's a vote.

comment #13

Chapman Carruthers says ...

Makes sense. The democrats need to find some way to get the young voters vested in the system so they'll vote, not out of a sense of duty, but to protect their interest. Just like everyone else. Bring back the draft and tell them that voting provides immunity.

Shit, if I directed that celebrity circle jerk at the top of the page I would have surely used it to play on the "hormonal urges" of the young voters. Probably by forcing Halle Berry, in a very David O. Russell sort of way, to say she would release previously unseen footage from Monster's Ball if X percentage of 18-25 year old males turned up at the voting precincts.

Doesn't matter my age. I hear that. I'm the first hombre in line.

comment #14

MDOC says ...

Zimmergirl

"The youth WILL turn out for Obama because he's the first candidate in half a century that inspires them to do so."

Not true, I remember in 1992 when Clinton went on MTV and told young people everywhere what kind of underwear he wore, the kids were excited and inspired. He was cooler than Young MC, coupled with a catchy Fleetwood Mack tune, there was no stopping him. I voted Bush 41, but was one of the only ones in my class that did.

comment #15

Jay T. says ...

As someone who probably votes the same as all of these celebrities (so I'm not biased): please SHUT THE FUCK UP! Wow, you guys being condescending is really going to motivate people.

One exception: Jonah Hill was actually pretty funny.

And Jeff, get off the generation thing... you're being ignorant. Go check the voting turnout for your generation at the same age.

comment #16

CitizenKanedforChewingGum says ...

How about doing some manual labor, Jeffrey? What's that, you have "better things to do, dude?" "Other shit going on in your life, homie?" What, like watching films, dying your hair, and attending to your "hormonal urges?" Typical of your "generation of shame," leaving us at the altar.

Unfair? Yeah, that's kind of what it feels like to be accused as a demographic instead of an individual.

People from all races, generations, walks of life, etc. drop the ball everyday. By not voting, but in more harmful ways, believe it or not. By not being productive at work, not respecting co-workers, not teaching children proper values and critical thinking, not spending enough quality time with siblings and spouses, letting them know they're loved.

And like someone else noted, young people have had little (if any) career opportunities to get solid footholds in the corporate world, and many of them don't have children of their own yet, so their personal investment in this world can be limited. This doesn't really excuse the disenfranchisement of youth, but it's sure as shit a better reason than any an absent baby boomer voter can give.

Gut check time: you're not exactly saving the world in your little corner of the world, either. You write about fuckin' movies, man.

comment #17

buster says ...

...to which I must reiterate that YOU, Jeffrey, are part of the Generation of..., let's see: destruction, corruption, compromise, and, byu your logic, awful parenting.

Not only is this generation of 'shame' the progeny of the baby boom generation, but today's government and "evil" corporate sector are run by, you guessed, baby boomers.

Bravo.

comment #18

CitizenKanedforChewingGum says ...

MDOC - I was too young to remember clearly, but that Clinton hype was mostly media-driven. I think Obama is a different animal. I can tell you first-hand that there are young people who are REALLY inspired and respect him, and more importantly, the principles he stands for.

P.S. Your analogy is way off and now I question your age because Young MC was most definitely *not* cool in 1992, or even in '91 when the election cycle started. His only decent album came out in '89, and he was well over by the summer of 1990, when he rapped a jingle for Taco Bell.

comment #19

buster says ...

apologies, didn't see chapman's better, less hastily written comment...

comment #20

Chapman Carruthers says ...

You brought the goods, buster. And, according to Colonel Dax, repetition isn't grounds for an apology.

"I apologize... for not being entirely honest with you. I apologize for not revealing my true feelings. I apologize, sir, for not telling you sooner that you're a degenerate, sadistic old man. And you can go to hell before I apologize to you now or ever again!"

comment #21

MovieBob says ...

DavidF
"Ignorant Canadian Question: If your country is the vanguard of democracy etc etc, how come people have to go out, make the effort themselves, to register to vote? how many millions of dollars are wasted trying to get people to register?"

Short version: Because we're not a democracy, we're a republic with democratically-elected representation. So we can't be a very good vanguard of something we don't practice ;)

Me, I like to think of the voter-registration system - imperfect though it may be - as pretty-good form of Moron Insurance for elections. I dunno about anyone else, but as far as I'm concerned if someone is too dumb/detatched/unmotivated in their political ideas to register and vote... a process only SLIGHTLY less complicated than getting a Blockbuster membership card... I'd rather NOT have their vote canceling out the votes of informed/intelligent/engaged people in elections to determine the future of the entire country. That's just me, though.

comment #22

D.Z. says ...

Yeah, I never really felt for Clinton the way I did for Obama. He was more like Kevin Spacey's character in "American Beauty" than a guy who spoke to our generation.

comment #23

RDP says ...

"DavidF - because there's a heavy strain in this country that hates any kind of automatic national registration system."

There's also the adamant opposition amongst many in power to any kind of requirement that a person show ID at a polling place.

"I'd rather NOT have their vote canceling out the votes of informed/intelligent/engaged people in elections to determine the future of the entire country."

Eh. I think we could have automatic registration and not see a significant uptick in turnout. The people too unmotivated to register now would still be unmotivated to go vote. I wouldn't think their automatic registration would suddenly make them motivated.

comment #24

D.Z. says ...

Bob: "I dunno about anyone else, but as far as I'm concerned if someone is too dumb/detatched/unmotivated in their political ideas to register and vote... a process only SLIGHTLY less complicated than getting a Blockbuster membership card... I'd rather NOT have their vote canceling out the votes of informed/intelligent/engaged people in elections to determine the future of the entire country. That's just me, though."

I think the problem with that argument is that the people who can be "intelligent" tend to think more emotionally, while the "dumb" people at least know where their bread is buttered.

comment #25

Jimmycrackcorn says ...

If someone sent this piece of crap to me as one of their five people, I'd think twice about that friend. Geez, this is awful.

I do find it very credible that Jonah Hill has no idea what Darfur is. I hope he doesn't vote.

comment #26

The InSneider says ...

I'm 100% with Zimmergirl. That video was a crock of shit. You think these celebs really care if I vote? First of all, they're all in the can for Obama, and if I told them I wasn't gonna vote but watching that video made me realize my duty, which turned out to be voting for McCain, they'd be like fuck it, don't vote. Cuz I mean, that's a 2 vote swing. They'd rather me not vote than vote for the opposite of their guy. The video was sanctimonious preachy bullshit and it's remarkable that their reps let them do that. Voting is a choice. It's not a responsibility. It's not fucking mandatory. So stop rocking the vote and urging me to get off my apathetic ass. I'm quite comfortable where I am. I can't wait for this shit to be over. If I have to watch friends watch one more debate I think I'm gonna puke. Jeff I know it's your blog and you can do what you want with it but these political posts are getting really distasteful. It's turning me off and I doubt I'm alone. We get it already. Obama rocks! I hope he wins too. Moving on...

comment #27

LexG says ...

CALIFORNIA NONVOTER HERE:

Since Obama will take this state in A LANDSLIDE, where is the sense in bothering to show up?

Whether you're for him or for McCain, a vote either way won't change the result in this state.

AND if you're gonna say, WELL, WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE PROPOSITIONS and such?

THEY SHOULD BAN *ALL* MARRIAGE.

comment #28

D.Z. says ...

LexG: There's other issues on the ballot, such as parental notification for pregnant teens who want to get an abortion.

comment #29

LexG says ...

D.Z.: Nope, that doesn't affect me either.

Unless they're thinking of banning vodka or getting boners to Christina Ricci, with all due respect to the purpose of this thread, I can't think of much of anything that would affect my day-to-day workaday douche life. More specifically, I doubt there's anything that my ONE VOTE would really make the difference on.

And don't even try to come back with some bullshit populist needling point like HIGH GAS PRICES or TAXES BEING RAISED. If they raise taxes, I'll pay it, I don't care. I'll just make more money.

And anyone who complains about HIGH GAS PRICES has NO RIGHT TO COMPLAIN if they still have money for cigarettes, alcohol, movies, music, video games, Blackberries, etc.

You better be one GRAPES OF WRATH-living destitute sadsack before you go running your mouth about the economy or gas prices or taxes. If you've got money for an iPhone, you shouldn't raise the SLIGHTEST FUSS about paying 15 DOLLARS a gallon.

comment #30

Norwegian guy says ...

Does anybody remember the south park episode Douche and Turd with the vote or die tagline?

It was about famous urging people to vote but only if they voted for "their" candidate. I think of this episode when i see this stupid video ad.

comment #31

SaveFarris says ...

Up here in Backwardsland, you hit the age of majority, you show your ID and you vote. Isn't that, like, totally crazy?

No, but according to Democratics, having to show your ID at the polls is racist and unconscionable.

comment #32

pm123 says ...

Hey LexG:

Think of it this way: a whole bunch of old folks are getting ready on November 4 to vote to increase your taxes, reduce your civil liberties, take away your rights, make it harder for you and your kids to go to school and get paid for the work they do afterwards. These old folks are gonna vote, I can assure you. And they're very pleased to hear that you won't.

comment #33

pm123 says ...

LexG:

I should clarify: they plan to raise YOUR taxes, while LOWERING their own - after all, they don't have young kids any more, and even if they did, they sure as hell wouldn't send them to public school, so why the hell should they pay for it!?
If you agree with them, by the way, I personally thank you for not voting.

comment #34

televisiontears says ...

Wells, to hammer the point into your self-righteous skull, your embarrassing generalization of an entire generation of people is shameful. I should just laugh this off. I really should. But it's hard to when you spew an entirely unfounded insult at a group of people who are voting, volunteering, and organizing in record numbers - doing their best to curb some of the IRREVERSIBLE damage that YOUR generation has passed down the line.

Your entire generation suffers from a severe superiority complex as a result of your brief little flirtation with idealism in the '60's. You sold out your cute little ideals, patted yourself on the back for "making a difference" and spent the next forty years to make sure that your children inherited a crumbling economy, a vanishing middle class, and a rapidly deteriorating environment that at some point will literally become unlivable. This is the "Generation of Shame".

How's that for a generalization?

comment #35

Deathtongue_Groupie says ...

As has probably been said above (sorry, rushing out to lunch meeting), if someone hasn't registered to vote at this point, do you really want them to do so now? I mean, you might be talking about a sea of lazy-ass, mentally deficient types who will vote for McCain because the find Palin to be their equal.

Haven't we had enough ignorance in the poll booths for several generations???

comment #36

Krazy Eyes says ...

I say scare the little buggers and tell them flat out that a McCain win = a good chance we'll see the draft reinstated (after he bomb, bomb, bombs Iran, of course).

Nothing penetrates their self-centered brains like the thought of going to war.

comment #37

D.Z. says ...

Lex: "Unless they're thinking of banning vodka or getting boners to Christina Ricci, with all due respect to the purpose of this thread, I can't think of much of anything that would affect my day-to-day workaday douche life."

Being drafted if McCain wins would probably affect you.

"More specifically, I doubt there's anything that my ONE VOTE would really make the difference on."

How about helping people afford more environmentally-friendly cars, so they can't continue polluting our air?

"If they raise taxes, I'll pay it, I don't care. I'll just make more money."

Not if the dollar depreciates to the point that you can't afford taxes...

"And anyone who complains about HIGH GAS PRICES has NO RIGHT TO COMPLAIN if they still have money for cigarettes, alcohol, movies, music, video games, Blackberries, etc."

What if they give up on those things and still can't afford health care?

Farris: "No, but according to Democratics, having to show your ID at the polls is racist and unconscionable."

Probably because the only people required by Republicans to show their ID tend to be black and old.

Deathtongue: "As has probably been said above (sorry, rushing out to lunch meeting), if someone hasn't registered to vote at this point, do you really want them to do so now? I mean, you might be talking about a sea of lazy-ass, mentally deficient types who will vote for McCain because the find Palin to be their equal."

I think the problem is that the ones who are like that are already registered.

comment #38

Devin Faraci says ...

Jeff Sneider, are you on some kind of personal self-destruct mission?

comment #39

televisiontears says ...

Krazy Eyes: Maybe it's foolish to legitimize your knee-jerk post with a constructive counterpoint, but I do agree that the threat of a draft will undoubtedly spark significant action among young people. It is, after all, the sole reason for the magnitude of the Vietnam protests. You can't tell me with a straight face that there would have been nearly as much outrage had there not been a draft.

It's disillusioning to think that, back in '03 when we were attempting to prevent this never-ending tragedy, that I looked to that generation as an example to follow - only to realize years later that they were out there only because the war directly impacted their lives. THAT'S self-centered. And boomers like Jeff sit back comfortably behind their laptops and deride us for failing to alter the course of history. It's disgusting.

This whole disgust with the supposed inaction of our generation is like walking into someone's house and smashing their laptop into a million pieces, calmly walking out and saying, "What, you can't fix it? You lazy, self-centered "hoo-ha". Seriously, you guys make me fucking sick.

comment #40

Norwegian guy says ...

The comedy bit with Dustin Hoffman at the end was so lame by the way.