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Inspiring the opposition
By JOHN BALZ © St. Petersburg Times, published February 10, 2001 One in an occasional visit with new U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam. WASHINGTON -- Adam Putnam, the new congressman from Florida's 12th District, likes to talk about getting young people involved in politics, whether it's handing out campaign literature or boning up on the latest policy debate. He says the reason he first ran for office was his frustration with the lack of a younger view in government. "I want to energize a whole new generation of young people to re-engage in politics," Putman says. "You know, Kennedy did it, Reagan did it, probably Clinton '92 did it. We've got to do a better job talking across generational lines." Embarking on a legislative career at the ripe old age of 26, Putnam might just be the man -- the boy wonder, perhaps -- who can dispel the apathy and soothe the distaste for Washington that has left so many youths turned off by the political process. If only he agreed with the nation's youth on the issues. From abortion rights to free trade, the Bartow legislator stands in opposition to how many young Americans think their government should work and their society should live. That means he faces the unenviable task of trying to reach and inspire a group of impressionable voters who disagree with much of what he tells them. Young voters tend to be more liberal than Putnam, particularly on social issues, says Sara Jane Boyers, author of Teen Power Politics. It's a trait that comes from an incessant urge to challenge authority. "Why do I have to pay money for Social Security? Why do I have eat breakfast? The issue doesn't matter, kids ask questions all the time," she says. Two hot button social issues at the forefront of college minds are abortion and hate crimes. A nationwide poll by the Kaiser Family Foundation in conjunction with Music Television showed two-thirds of respondents favored abortion rights policies and more than three-quarters said Congress should pass a law to increase penalties for people who commit hate crimes toward gays and lesbians. Putnam opposes abortions and does not support hate crimes legislation. Nor does he express much support for the 1999 Nondiscrimination Act that extends federal work force discrimination protection to gays, although he says discriminating against someone because of their sexual orientation is wrong. Part of the disparity on issues can simply be explained by geography. Like Putnam, his district is unwaveringly conservative, even though Democrats have a voter registration edge in the district. Putnam himself, while only 26, is not the archetype for institution-shaking rebellion. He has never taken part in a protest or gotten any of his body parts pierced, and he declined MTV's request to follow him on the campaign trail, saying he didn't want any "purple-hair yahoo" asking about "boxers or briefs." But 16- to 25-year-olds are by no means a monolithic block or a group that only responds to an MTV wild child. Many favor crime policies that are far harsher than their parents, and President Bush's Social Security privatization plan has sparked serious interest among those about to enter the work force. On some issues, Putnam is generally in step with his age group. He cites drugs and paying for college as two top problems facing young people today. He disagrees with including contraception and sexually transmitted diseases in the sex education curriculum at high schools -- a measure overwhelmingly supported by young people -- but says if local school boards wish to teach those lessons, they should have that right. On AIDS funding, Putnam refers to Randy Shilts' And the Band Played On, a book critical of the gay community as well as the Reagan administration for its delayed response to the crisis. Yet Putnam didn't overwhelmingly carry the youth vote in his congressional campaign despite running against Democratic car dealer Mike Stedem, who is almost twice Putnam's age. An August poll by Stedem's campaign team showed Putnam and Stedem enjoyed fairly even support from voters aged 18-29. It was among middle-aged adults that Putnam enjoyed a substantial advantage over his Democratic rival. Putnam's campaign manager disputes the poll and offers another version that shows Putnam convincingly trouncing Stedem among young voters. Official voting results from the November election do not break down voters into age blocks. Because they represent individual districts, members of Congress inevitably clash with the beliefs held by large segments of the nationwide voting population. But for younger politicians such as Putnam, the expectations are different. The media and political analysts expect them to generate a motivational link between teenagers and civic involvement. Putnam says his primary message for young people is simply to get involved, no matter what side of the issue it is on. When he speaks to adolescent crowds, he doesn't preach philosophy; he encourages student activism. "I'm not invited to a high school class to articulate the merits of permanent normal trade relations with China," he says. "I'm invited to classes to talk about why it's important for young people to get involved and how they can do it." It is a message that Rep. Harold Ford, D-Tenn., another Gen X legislator also elected to Congress at age 26, echoes. Generational connections, he says, can frequently trump ideological ones and connecting with a teenager can leave a surprisingly permanent imprint. "Once you get young people to pay attention, you find that you've turned on a faucet that's hard to turn off," Ford said. Recent coverageAge jokes grow old for Putnam (January 4, 2001)
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