How does all of the politics in the news play out among young voters? Well, of the 77 students in attendance in my 101 class this morning, 6 could correctly identify Pres. and VP candidates for both major parties (correct included "Bowden" or "O'bomba"), 28 didn't make an attempt as VP names, 38 knew something about at least one VP candidate (including being John Edwards or Clinton or "lady senator from Alaska" or "woman from Canada [sic][ACK!]") only one of those mentioned "Alaskan gov w/preg 17 yold". One knew McCain but not Obama, one had McClain with "women" for vice and "men" as Obama's veep and three could not name one of these four individuals.
As far as I know, these are all American citizens of voting age.

Plantnerd -- just wow. Kids today!

I like what someone on Phog.net said. That kid is living the 17-year-old's perfect nightmare: He finally gets laid, and he ends up standing on stage next to John McCain at the Republican convention. Talk about consequences.

I wish his name was O'bomba... Is that Irish? Seriously - holy crap. And I keep hearing the phrase 'the year of the young voter'...

I thought O'Bama was an Irishman from Birmingham.

Hasn't every election since 92 been all about the "young" voter?

Finally gets laid? Yeah right.

http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2008/09/were_sorry_but_palin_babydaddy.html

True... and kids were probably just as dumb back then. Or are they dumber? I'm completely out of touch with that demographic these days.

The good news at least is that more People watched Obama's speech than any other convention speech before. That's something.

I thought you taught plants, not civics. The responses could have been affected by the no/low stakes nature of the quiz. Plus, I always thought that quizzes about current events in non-relevant classes was condescending. What, if I didn't know something would the teacher be appalled by my ignorance or feel smuggly superior?

I don't get freaked out by people's ignorance. 45% of the people are going to vote Democratic regardless of the situation and 45% of the people are going to vote Republican regardless of the situation. It really doesn't matter if these people know the candidates or not.

Indeed, I teach biology. I don't think that anyone knew Biden and intentionally didn't write his name down because of the low stakes. I believe I ask enough variety of things that students realize I am generally curious about how they think-- it's true I've asked how many US Supreme Court Justices there are, but I've also asked if they have a cell phone or not, what job they thought they wanted when they were ten and a favorite fungus.

Plantnerd, I wasn't accusing you of those things, just expressing how I felt even though I always knew the answers...