Twilight of the Baby Boom

A generational struggle is underway. What's so unusual is it's taking place within a single generation.

By Jonathan Alter | NEWSWEEK
From the magazine issue dated Feb 11, 2008

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  • Posted By: chinshihtang @ 02/13/2008 11:13:11 AM

    My post on his excellent piece, in my blog (chinshihtang.blogspot.com)

    Twilight of the Baby Boom?

    Thus (without the question mark) was titled the Jonathan Alter piece in this week's Newsweek. I think it made some very important points, and its thesis of a political and sociological divide between the Early Boomers and Late Boomers was right on target.

    Like me, he's actually right from the peak years which were neither Early nor Late Boom. He seems to feel that if you're not Early, you're Late, but no matter: I think he's way too pessimistic and dismissive of the boomers--as only a boomer should be. Obama--clearly representative of Late Boomer thinking (thought no "late bloomer"!) represents only the beginning of the end of boomer (especially Early Boomer) political dominance, the earliest expressions of post-boomer politics.

    As I've said before, while I love the term "post-partisan", and it does fit in the sense that Obama is clearly "post-" something, I don't think anyone should think the future's politics will not be partisan. Just that the cleavages will be somewhat different from those in the cycle ending with the final days of Bushite Misrule.

  • Posted By: Ganpat @ 02/04/2008 2:24:53 PM

    Relax, folks.

    What difference does it makes if this empty, loud-mouthed, incredibly arrogant and patronising conman, Obama, fools the poor gullible Democrat voters into giving him the nomination?

    He will still have McCain to face. He will still have a largely conservative and intensely skeptical country to face.

    It will never be easy, going around smooth-talking about his non-existent achievements, while McCain, a liberal Republican, points out his immense experience in war and politics.

    That is to say, Obama will be whipped.

    That means, the Clintons are discredited, and people are no longer interested in edwards.

    Who does that leave to face 76-year old McCain 2012? Al Gore !!!!!

    No wonder Al is keeping very quiet. He is the big winner in all this.

    Obama already belongs to the trashheap of history.

    By the way, for the people here who go about YOUTH. America is an increasingly OLD people's society. Youth are a minority, and often don't bother to vote, preferring to shoot up on cocaine - like their hero Obama.

    • Posted By: piinalu @ 02/06/2008 9:49:42 AM

      Wow.. talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

      • Posted By: bduboftexas @ 02/13/2008 11:00:11 AM

        Wow - Thank you very much for calling us 40somethings Youthful!!! Woo Hoo. Wow - but shooting up cocaine??? That's a bit over - reaching don't you think. Most of us just smoke it

    • Posted By: allmankindminusone @ 02/05/2008 11:36:14 AM

      What a disappointing post. One normally finds better on the Newsweek site. Generalizations and speculation can be fun, but not when they're this mean-spirited. And have you seen the impact of the younger vote in the primaries thus far? Hardly the drug-addled, apathetic generation you appear to fear so much.

    • Posted By: jaymiller @ 02/04/2008 5:36:14 PM

      Interesting - you start with a comment asking people to relax, then spout off some of the worst venom I've ever seen in this forum. Did Obama steal your girlfriend in high school?

  • Posted By: Hillary'sSupporter @ 02/04/2008 4:32:16 PM

    All this selling-Obama-phycology talk is proving again how biased media is. Thank God for American people that can come to their own conclisions who is a best President for this country. It's too early to write off late baby-boomers generation. This country will need their brains, experience, education and powerful contribution for a quite some time.

    • Posted By: bduboftexas @ 02/13/2008 10:57:43 AM

      what - so the "brains" can invent more viagra like substances? We 40 somethings have plenty of brains, experience education and power as well....

    • Posted By: jazmatician @ 02/06/2008 9:47:51 PM

      heh. They sure did. And the media silence is DEAFENING. The facts of last night are: Obama won more states. Obama won more total votes. Obama won more delegates. That's not spin, that's fact. And what are the headlines? A draw, a dead heat, a split decision. But you know what? I'm not complaining. The American people ARE smart. They will see the results of last night for what they are, they will get a good, up-close look at Obama over the next couple weeks, and they will make him our 44th President.

  • Posted By: bduboftexas @ 02/13/2008 10:51:43 AM

    Ever since I was a teenager, I felt that my generation was ignored and unidentified. I found this article to be such a relief, not only because I learned about the Generation Joneses (which in another article claimed to be called Joneses - because we were always Jonesin for an identity) but it helped me understand why Obama has been such a breath of fresh air and represents some hope for the future. Born in 1963, I too am tired of all these old guys running our country!

  • Posted By: ElectionMaven @ 02/05/2008 4:17:04 PM

    The more I think about this column, the more I realize how important a story this is. Those who think of Obama as an Xer completelly miss the point. This isn't a matter of some sort of demographic trivia. The generational subtext to this election is very salient, and it is crucial to understand that Obama is part of Generation Jones, which informs his political views and orientation. I think Alter is dead-on right about this, and if Hillary loses, Alter is right that she can attribute that loss in part to a backlash (perhaps led by GenJones?) against the real Baby Boomers that she represents.

    Jonathan Alter, you've arrived in this column, upon a very important component to really understanding this election...now it's time for you to spread this idea more. There are a lot of us Generation Jonesers out here that I'm sure would love for you to discuss this idea more. How about bringing this up on Countdown with Keith (who is also a Joneser), and/or in other TV commentary which you do? A generation looks to you to help us get recognized finally...

    • Posted By: ruthinia23 @ 02/09/2008 6:41:48 AM

      All I can say is AMEN! on your idea.

  • Posted By: ruthinia23 @ 02/09/2008 6:40:00 AM

    What a great article!Now, I know why I'm supporting Obama rather than Clinton. As someone who was born in late 1956, I have often felt that there was this gulf between those born in the mid 40's and early 50's and those of us born in the late 50's to early 60's. When our older brothers and sisters were out protesting, we were at our desks in an elementary or junior high school somewhere. We were the "stay at home" kids who kept on going while the older boomers got all the attention. I'm just grateful that we're finally getting some attention, even if just a little.

  • Posted By: kcarizona @ 02/09/2008 6:14:44 AM

    I am personnaly ashamed at OUR behavior as Americans over what happened to our beloved president Bill Clinton while he was in office BUT OUR boy came through like a CHAMP-MONEY that boy played through it all and took that dagger in the chest and pulled it out and went about business. You don't play with that Big Boy or you walk away Crying. The Clintons aren't bulletproof but you bullet tested and approved - that is the team that i want reping me.

    Bring it world i have a true gangster bullet tested team on the lead and if you front this United Team is going to jump you punks - fo sho. Just a little comic relief white cracker gangster rap to keep it light ya no.

  • Posted By: astara999 @ 02/08/2008 11:28:15 PM

    I respect a lot of what Bill Clinton did, but, I also am aware of what he failed to do. I don't judge what went on in his and Hilliary's personal sex life-with the Monica ordeal-and feel that was simply result of the Republicans to kick them out of office. Finally they found his "Achilles Heel". But, I don't feel we can go backward, and that we must move forward, and they type of change I feel we need, only an Obama has the courage and will to brings.

  • Posted By: astara999 @ 02/08/2008 11:09:19 PM

    I respect a lot of what Bill Clinton did, but, I also am aware of what he failed to do. I don't judge what went on in his and Hilliary's personal sex life-with the Monica ordeal-and feel that was simply result of the Republicans to kick them out of office. Finally they found his "Achilles Heel". But, I don't feel we can go backward, and that we must move forward, and they type of change I feel we need, only an Obama has the courage and will to brings.

  • Posted By: sean2002 @ 02/04/2008 11:52:45 AM

    Newsweek's pro-Obama stand has turned it into a 24/7 Obama Marketing campaign.

    I am not surprised that there are at least four pro-Obama pieces (as the following) now on Newsweek's site while there is no one article for Hillary leading to Super Tuesday.

    Pro-Obama pieces:

    1. Twilight of a Baby Boom
    2. Barack + GOP = ???Obamacans???
    3. JFK???s Heir
    4. The Wrong Experience

    Pro-Hillary peices:

    zero

    What's Newsweek's fairness in terms of news reporting?

    Is Hillary not a legitimate candidate who at least should be given the equal exposure of Newsweek's coverage leading to Super Tuesday?

    I was an Obama supporter until mainstream media's unfair treatment towards this primary election circle. It doesn't sit well with my sense of fairness.

    I know Obama phenomenon has everything to do with 24/7 mainstream media's favorable courage. Without mainstream media???s macrophone, can Obama so quickly enlarge to god-like stature? I sense that mainstream media???s love for Obama is originated from certain anti-Clinton sentiment.

    I am not surprised Obama is doing so well so quickly. As a candidate if you have 24/7 mainstream media on your side and they are eager to give you a free ride, how can you not get ahead?

    • Posted By: jazmatician @ 02/06/2008 9:53:18 PM

      So, could you please point out a positive story about Hillary that could be reported? Obama won almost every media cycle between SC and 2/5.

      Oh, and Obama won more states, more votes and more delegates than the up-by-20-points nationally Clintons. But what were the headlines this morning? Split decision, draw, stalemate. That is the BEST possible way to present it for the Clintons. Good luck making the vast-MSM-conspiracy argument.

  • Posted By: watergate @ 02/06/2008 9:46:06 PM

    i was born in 1961 and I'm eight days younger than Obama. Thank you for finally writing about my generation that has been ignored for so long. Most of Clinton and the Woodstock generation were my teachers when I was in school, so I can't understand how we could be from the same generation. Hillary Clinton tells Obama that he is too young to president, yet in the U.S. job market he would be too old to hire. That's what people born in the late boomer years are facing. We are too old to work but too young to retire. I support Obama , because its my generations time to take charge from the hippies.

  • Posted By: DefendX @ 02/03/2008 6:18:57 AM

    This is such a fundamentally incorrect article. The hallmark of the 70's generation boomers is the all too "me" decade characteristic of self indulgence. It was largely these folks that sparked the cocaine boom of the that period. Irony, on the other hand, is the absolute hallmark of generation X, and suggesting that 70's era boomers have any claim to it is flatly carpetbagging. It's also incredibly amusing to hear the boomers were "a generation that has done a good job raising its kids, and not much else". I think your garden variety X-er who came of age during the biggest boom of divorce and single parentage in history might have a different opinion. This desperation to ???claim??? Barack Obama as one of your own isn't ironic: its yet another sad attempt to express boomer self-importance. Lets just keep in mind it wasn't ???late era boomers??? who lit the torch for Obama in Iowa , It was X & Y. That 1961 birthdate being outside the office X start date is irrelevant when you consider he shares that year with such X touchstones as Henry Rollins and Bill Hicks. Obama is for all intents and purposes, a Gen-x-er: marked split from previous generation, tech savvy, pro-military, but anti-colonial, entrepreneurial, and keenly aware of the mess left in the wake of the baby boom: environmental destruction, huge national debt and budget deficits, highly attuned to importance of family and community, and yes, cynical about media and politics. Here's the thing boomers never understood about X: no matter how cynical we are about politics, we absolutely believe in government. We just believe, like pretty m,uch everything else, no one else is going to do it for us, we have to do it for ourselves. Obama is our first real opportunity. There will be more coming.

    • Posted By: jazmatician @ 02/06/2008 9:42:44 PM

      Generations: The History of America's Future puts Obama into the X'er generation. It absolutely nails the Culture wars, Bush invasion of Iraq and the dynamic of Millennials' powering of Obama's candidacy.

      I'm X. I'm insulted when Boomers try to claim Obama as their own, as you say, as an expression of Boomer self-importance. Late era boomers indeed.

    • Posted By: emmarcee @ 02/04/2008 9:47:22 AM

      It is just smke .. O'bama propoganda machinery working.. wroom..... Got you all spinning

  • Posted By: sean2002 @ 02/03/2008 9:11:44 AM

    Newsweek's pro-Obama stand has turned it into a 24/7 Obama Marketing campaign.

    I am not surprised that there are at least four pro-Obama pieces (as the following) now on Newsweek's site while there is no one article for Hillary leading to Super Tuesday.

    Pro-Obama pieces:

    1. Twilight of a Baby Boom
    2. Barack + GOP = ???Obamacans???
    3. JFK???s Heir
    4. The Wrong Experience

    Pro-Hillary peices:

    zero

    What's Newsweek's fairness in terms of news reporting?

    Is Hillary not a legitimate candidate who at least should be given the equal exposure of Newsweek's coverage leading to Super Tuesday?

    I was an Obama supporter until mainstream media's unfair treatment towards this primary election circle. It doesn't sit well with my sense of fairness.

    I know Obama phenomenon has everything to do with 24/7 mainstream media's favorable courage. Without mainstream media???s macrophone, can Obama so quickly enlarge to god-like stature? I sense that mainstream media???s love for Obama is originated from certain anti-Clinton sentiment.

    I am not surprised Obama is doing so well so quickly. As a candidate if you have 24/7 mainstream media on your side and they are eager to give you a free ride, how can you not get ahead?

    • Posted By: jazmatician @ 02/06/2008 9:39:14 PM

      Are you seriously endorsing the idea that government to take over the independant media and enforce "fairness?" Really? That argument is going to go over terribly in most of America.

      Oh, and pardon me if I remind you that "whining" is something I believe I heard a million times from Hillary supporters before SC.

      Before you accuse me of "Hillary Bashing." Anyone can see I have not said one negative word about your candidate. In fact, I think Hillary is an government expert, a beaureucrat par excellance. Obama is a better leader, and the fact that he won more states by more votes and more delegates seems to have borne that out. Especially the extremely strong showing in most of the states he visited: Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Deleware. When people see him, or even talk to one of their neighbors that got to see him, they beleive.

  • Posted By: bustermorrison @ 02/03/2008 12:09:11 PM

    I do not find Obama speaking for me (born 1964). You point of gen jones of combining pragmatism and idealism may be true, but I am more convinced by Hillary's pragmatism. Obama seems to appeal to Gen X'rs more than the Boomers. The country needs to be fixed, then maybe transformed. You can "transform" the country and still have underlying problems that affect people every day. I also suspect the media is getting off on the power trip of influencing the election by slanting towards Obama.

    • Posted By: jazmatician @ 02/06/2008 9:31:44 PM

      Could it be that Obama's news has been "slanted" because it's just been more consistently better news? This idea that the media is obligated to hunt up good news and make the candidates appear eqal is hogwash. One candidate is better than the other, and is having more good things coming to him.
      I believe it was churchill that said "you're entitled to your own opinion, sir, but not your own facts."

  • Posted By: ElectionMaven @ 02/03/2008 4:54:04 PM

    Excellent column. It's amazing to me that more isn't made of what generation Obama is a part of, given how much focus that he has made about generational issues. He obvioulsy doesn't consider himself a Boomer, and he's spoken often about it being time for "his" generation to now answer the call, but which generation is that? To anyone well-versed with generational issues, Obama is obviously a GenJoneser, not a GenXer. His political orientation is the pragmatic idealism that marks Generation Jones, not the cynicism that defines Generation X. Obama was a formative child during the idealistic '60s, which partly gave him his hopefulness ("The Audicity of Hope" is not exactly the kind of book title one would expect from Xers, who understandably tend to have the pessimism steming from being formative children during the disillusioning '70s.

    • Posted By: jazmatician @ 02/06/2008 9:27:09 PM

      Please read Generations, A History of America's Future by Strauss & Howe. It is a seminal work on the topic of American generations. It puts Obama (just barely) into a generation he calls "13'er" but has many of the characteristics of Gen-X. I agree with you that he doesn't have some of the cynical characteristics of the Boomers, but it comes through sometimes ("You're likeable enough").

      Seriously, read it. It answered a lot of questions I never knew I had. It gave me a much clearer understanding of my place in the arc of history. It also explains Obama's pull with the Millenial generation, with his focus on civic values and service.

  • Posted By: jazmatician @ 02/06/2008 9:15:50 PM

    Back off, Boomer. Obama is the X'er candidate. Don't believe me?

    Please, read Generations, The History of America's Future by William Strauss and Neil Howe. That is a much better explanation of the generational differences between Obama and Clinton than this. This book was published in 1991, but essentially predicts the character of the Clinto years, as well as the reaction to 9/11 by the Boomer Bush adminstration. It additionally underscores the reasoning behind Obama's rise. He embodies the practical, no-nonsense approach of the "13'er" generation (aka the Xers). In addition, he is rallying the youth vote in the millennial generation by appealing to their civic tendencies, asking them to step up to serve.

    I am very grateful I read this book. I always knew my generation (X) was getting dumped on, but now I see my place in the arc of history. I, like Obama, am taking my place as rallier/manager of the incredible energy in the generation behind me to solve the crisis of the day.

  • Posted By: piinalu @ 02/04/2008 12:15:27 PM

    In response to sean2002... we get your frustration. Posting the same commentary on virtually every political article will do that. I support Obama, but I like Hillary a lot. Unfortunately, you're not helping her. And to itpro336 and the other Hillary supporters. I think if you take the long view - recent months and years versus recent weeks - you'll see that your girl has gotten her fair share of puffery as well.

    Unfortunately the media is a herd and tends to follow the pack, amplifying good or bad sentiments of the consensus. That's why I like this piece. It gives voice to something that's been missing for awhile. Maybe the commentators are finally catching up to the electorate.

    • Posted By: seanmac @ 02/04/2008 3:08:04 PM

      Thank you for your concern. But I do want to point out I was an fervent Obama supporter until his Iowa victory. At that moment, I realized that Obama supporters and mainstream media went overboard; they were committed to a personality assassination towards Hillary. That didn't sit well with my sense of fairness. So I changed from Obama supporter to Hillary sympathizer.

      It is hard to quantify how fair and balanced mainstream media is. But based on my own eyes and own ears, I have to say undeniably that in this primary race, media has been very negative towards Hillary while giving Obama a free ride or simply praising him too highly. I agree with you this almost became a media sentiment (but not a right one).

      Taking Newsweek as an example, why I got sense that Newsweek is pro-OBama. Because when I was an Obama supporter, I had always been pleased to come to the website. There were always positive articles about Obama on newsweek.com--which reinforced my support for Obama. Certainly, until I changed my mind, I never felt that Newsweek was not fair.

      I posted the same posting several times is because it is my way of protest. At least I want to raise the awareness to readers and to Newsweek. Let the other readers examine my point and let Newsweek knows that readers are not blind if they use their platform to promote their chosen candidate, readers, at least some readers like me, will find out.

      • Posted By: piinalu @ 02/06/2008 9:47:31 AM

        Didn't expect you to be a former Obama supporter... which makes your rationale more compelling. Hillary seems to be getting the best of it today, though, or at least a lot of positive reporting. As some predicted, Obama could come in second and still get the positive stories because of closing the gap. The initial coverage seems to giving her a lot of credit with few qualifiers. I'm all for holding the media's feet to fire on this stuff. The Fourth Estate needs its checks and balances, too.

  • Posted By: SteveJennette @ 02/05/2008 4:29:50 AM

    As always, dead on. Good job Mr Alter. Hope your health is strong. We need your steady voice in this election year. Steve Jennette, Grand Rapids, Michigan

  • Posted By: placid lake @ 02/05/2008 1:27:28 AM

    Analysis of early and later boomers is dead on - i am 1961 - and know exactly what you are referring to. I would add that the cynicism with regards to politics also stems from growing up under watergate.

  • Posted By: placid lake @ 02/05/2008 1:26:16 AM

    Analysis of early and later boomers is dead on - i am 1961 - and know exactly what you are referring to. I would add that the cynicism with regards to politics also stems from growing up under watergate.

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