At the National Review Institute Summit in Washington, D.C., today, a panel of conservatives addressed the question, “Do demographics doom the Right?” Pundit Michael Barone argued that Republicans aren’t doomed by demographics, necessarily, but they are “challenged” by demographics. Just how big is this challenge? Barone referred to younger Obama voters the GOP needs to attract as the “Lena Dunham” generation.
https://twitter.com/timothypmurphy/status/295266265667342339
*a* voice of *a* generation RT @patwcaldwell: Michael Barone of AEI refers to Millennial Obama supporters as the "@LenaDunham generation"
— Seth D. Michaels, Indoor Kid (@sethdmichaels) January 26, 2013
@MichaelBarone says the less said about the Lena Dunham ad, the better. Hahaha. @NRIsummit
— Kelsey Balensifer (@kbalensifer) January 26, 2013
Hmm, would that be that creepy “first time” ad about voting for Obama being like losing your virginity?
https://twitter.com/GayPatriot/status/295263697662787584
Could do a lot worse. RT @patwcaldwell: Michael Barone of AEI refers to Millennial Obama supporters as the "@LenaDunham generation"
— Tom Doran (@portraitinflesh) January 26, 2013
A lot worse? We suppose it could be the “Sandra Fluke” generation. And speaking of Fluke, Barone’s remarks on appealing to younger voters got Talking Points Memo publisher Josh Marshall thinking about birth control and the role it played in the 2012 election.
Seeing Barone's comments on Lena Dunham, he seems to think contraception is something millennials came up with
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 26, 2013
Amazing how many GOP politicals thot contraception was part of some outre alt lifestyle. Were genuinely surprised it hurt them at ballot box
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 26, 2013
On this pt, how do we think so many couples end up w/1 or 2 kids? or no kids.
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 26, 2013
Yeah, if Republicans hate birth control so much, how is it that married conservative couples don’t all have 12 or 13 kids? How does that work?
@joshtpm Excellent timing? Aspirin on knees? Storks on strike?
— Brennan Breed (@BrennanBreed) January 26, 2013
@joshtpm maybe they aren’t having sex with their wives?
— Barbara Smith (@nanaslugdiva) January 26, 2013
@joshtpm their misconception also applies to sex. They think its limited to every fourth Saturday night.
— gretchen anderson (@gretared) January 26, 2013
@joshtpm So do you really believe this, or is just flogging a strawman to generate moar clicks?
— Todd Lowman (@tclowman) January 26, 2013
@tclowman is difficulty to believe, but explain how GOP thot attacking birth control was winning political move?
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 26, 2013
Here’s a secret we’re going to let out for today only, just to help Marshall and his followers understand the conservative mind. No one wanted to ban birth control; conservatives were upset that taxpayers were expected to foot the bill for Sanda Fluke’s birth control, which she estimated would cost $3,000.
.@joshtpm Amazing how many journalists think opposition to public funding = support for outright ban. Stupid or willfully ignorant?
— Spam Elliot (@jones4440) January 26, 2013
@jones4440 don't think anyone thot that but hostility to treating as any other medical service was roundly rejected by electorate
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 26, 2013
Really. No one thought that Republicans wanted to deny birth control to people who wanted it? Not even Lizz Winstead, who tweeted that limited access to contraception was a cornerstone of the GOP belief system? Or Chris Matthews, who said an employer who opposed taxpayer-funded contraception was a “birth control Nazi” who “gets to decide who gets it and who doesn’t”? Or Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards, who said in her speech to the Democratic National Convention that Mitt Romney’s plan was to “get rid of Planned Parenthood”? Or President Obama, who told Glamour magazine that “access to contraception” should be a “no-brainer”?
Seeing many saying GOPs didn't want to outright ban contraception. Silly point. Saying it shouldn't be treated like any other medical (1/2)
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 26, 2013
… service signaled clear hostility, which voters picked up & rejected. Lets not be dishonest & pretend otherwise (2/2)
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) January 26, 2013
Yes, because we wouldn’t want anyone to be dishonest about conservatives’ actual views on contraception; for example, saying that a hostile GOP was “attacking birth control” by asking Sandra Fluke to buy her own condoms.
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