With record breaking attendance at the polls, there is no doubt that young voters sealed Barack Obama’s victory on Tuesday.
But just how well was our next President able to relate to senior citizens? After all, they are said to be the most reliable voting group, with as much as 70% voting on Election Day.
“My grandson convinced me to vote for Obama and I’m very happy with my decision. Everything he’s done, and the campaign he ran, you have to commend him for it,” said Sam Binder, one of senior citizens who is a regular at the Queens Community House.
Marie Dina was reading a newspaper not too far away and couldn’t help but disagree. “This generation is too gullible. [Obama] wants to accomplish all these tasks but where is he gonna get the money? From our taxes, that’s where.”
The disputes were beginning to remind me of my own political arguments with friends.
While there were faithful Democrats at the Center who have always voted with their party, as well as skeptics who doubted Obama’s plan, one woman, Jessie Hamilton, focused on a completely different aspect of the election – the history in the making.
“Above all else, this is a historic win. It gives my grandchildren an opportunity unlike any other,” said Hamilton. She later added that she has never felt more proud to be an American.
Lynne Rubin, a participant in a number of senior activist groups, said that she is very excited for Obama’s win and hopes that he will work well with the Republican Party, because they are not the enemy as many would like to believe. “In any case, no matter what your opinion or party affiliation is, one thing is for sure, the future will be much different now, so let’s see what happens.”