John Kerry = Old Geezer?

Ted Rall doesn't think Kerry is connecting with voters under 30. He has a point.

Young people tend to skew left but they vote in low numbers. Clinton persuaded a record 38.5 percent to drag themselves to the polls, and won; the 2000 youth turnout was down to 32 percent. Youth apathy doomed Al Gore. If history repeats, Kerry's inability to energize the young will cost him dearly...

A visit to John Kerry (news - web sites)'s website helps explain why going on MTV and hiring the lead singer of Blink 182 haven't done him much good. JohnKerry.com lists links to the candidate's stances on 27 topics from agriculture and AIDS to veterans and women's issues. There's only one platform plank targeted to the 18-to-30 set, and--unlike his litany of giveaways to senior citizens, who are America's wealthiest people-it's more of a threat than a promise. (Kerry's national service plan would force college kids to sacrifice two years of indentured servitude to the government to continue receiving financial aid.) ...

Neither Kerry nor Bush have presented a credible plan to generate good jobs, stop the war, or address any other of the perennial problems relevant to younger voters. The costs of healthcare, college tuition and housing are out of control and off the agenda.