OPINION:
Sen. Bernie Sanders has spent a fortune — more than $115 million, in fact — in capturing the youthful imaginations of America, selling them on socialism, and hoping, wishing and praying they make it to the polls to pick him over former Vice President Joe Biden. OK, maybe not praying; Fidel Castro fawners aren’t exactly the stuff of spiritual stock, after all.
But he’s spent loads, according to OpenSecrets.org tallies. And what’s it got him?
Heartache and loss.
Sanders is finding out the hard way that getting the young people to come to a rally is one thing; getting them to get to the ballot boxes and cast votes is entirely another. And for a generation being raised at a time when half the states have either legalized or decriminalized recreational marijuana smoking, the only conclusion can be: Political rallies, like music concerts, offer a great opportunity to get high, hang out and enjoy the show. Day-after voting is a downer. It’s, ugh, work.
And nothing says killjoy to a stoner like, ugh, work.
“Have we been as successful as I would hope in bringing young people in? The answer is no,” Sanders said to reporters at a news conference in his home state of Vermont, post-Super Tuesday, NPR wrote.
He ain’t a-kiddin’.
As NPR noted, only 11% of those under the age of 30 turned out to vote Sanders in California. Only 16% of voters under the age of 30 cast ballots for Sanders in Texas. Only 11% of those under the age of 30 turned out for Sanders to vote in Vermont.
“I think that will change in the general election,” Sanders said — without explaining how. “But I will be honest with you, we have not done as well with bringing young people into the process. It is not easy.”
Yep. First, you have to get them to put down the bongs.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley. Listen to her podcast “Bold and Blunt” by clicking HERE. And never miss her column; subscribe to her newsletter by clicking HERE.
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