That’s the way they see it over at MTV.com:
Barack Obama’s hot streak in recent
primaries has caught many people by surprise, and has led many to wonder
just how he’s managed to mobilize such a large percentage of the population so
quickly and so thoroughly. Two strong factors include his popularity on the
Internet, and his ability to motivate not only young people, but also a voting
bloc that other candidates thus far have not: the so-called “creative class.” …Matt Yglesias, a 26-year-old political blogger for the Atlantic Monthly,
has dubbed the Illinois senator “The Cool Candidate.” “The people who support him want to talk about supporting him [and] want to link up with people who are also into Obama — that’s why you’re seeing such large rallies,” Yglesias told MTV News. “And some of his user-generated viral
content … Hillary Clinton supporters are older and less inclined to make a Web site about
something they’re into, whereas Obama has a critical mass of creative-class-type
people.”Richard Florida, a professor of business economics at the University of
Toronto’s Rotman School of Business and author of the book, “The Rise of the Creative
Class,” agreed. “I think this is the first creative-class election in
American history,” he said. “The creative class is an online class; it’s
YouTube, it’s MySpace, it’s music.” Based on his research, Florida estimates
that 40 million Americans are members of this group. “They’re inventors, they’re
entrepreneurs, they’re people who work in arts and culture fields. They design,
[they're] musicians, artists. Certainly you might think that more young people
have these values, but all age groups are members of this class of people.”Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas, who wrote a song and made a video (with
guest appearances from John Legend, Common, Scarlett Johansson, Nick Cannon and
others) inspired by Obama’s New Hampshire
primary speech, said he feels the presence of this class too.“When people come up to me on the street, they say, ‘Yes We Can,’ ” he told
MTV News. “It’s consumed people and inspired people so much that nothing else
seems to matter as far as any other songs I’ve written.”Indeed, many experts that MTV News spoke with in recent days believe that
Obama’s campaign has tapped into a new category of voters.“There is no doubt in my mind that the creative class is a new voting bloc,”
Florida said. “The Republicans appeal to them on individualism, economic
opportunity and keeping the finances in order. Democrats appeal to them with
social liberalism, treating women with respect, treating the environment well
and valuing the gay-and-lesbian community.”
The rest, here.
February 21st, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Barack Obama is President 2.0.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:59 pm
“…The Republicans appeal to them on individualism, economic opportunity and keeping the finances in order…”
I agree we appreciate the qualities you list here. However, in an era where Republicanism is synonymous with blown federal budgets, government enforcement of “moral values,” Orwellian spying and economic corruption I honestly don’t understand how you attribute those particular values to the Republican Party.
Does the Creative Class have libertarian leanings? Certainly. Does the Republican Party of the 21st Century represent any of the ideals you listed? Not that I can tell.
February 22nd, 2008 at 2:26 am
The GOP of George Bush did not. The GOP that Reagan led (what he actually stood for as opposed to what he’s now equated with) did. Of course, Reagan is an old model from a different era and set of issues. But he marched to the beat of his own drummer, very entrepreneurial politics, very creative class. McCain kind of appeals to this insofar as he’s post-partisan, results-oriented and authentic. But he really isn’t dynamic enough to capture the creative class completely. Obama walk the walk and talks the talk, but he appears to be an orthodox liberal with little to offer by way of new policies– unless he’s waiting to spring them at the opportune moment. BUT, bottom line, the creative class is, FINALLY, the swing voting block that will have to be appealed to in order for any new candidate to win elections and, in particular, mandates.
February 23rd, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Obama is the Republican machine’s doppelganger in a shiny happy way.
You are being misled and fooled.
February 24th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Nanu, nanu….
February 25th, 2008 at 3:21 am
Here in Vancouver, one of the mayoral candidates, Gregor Robertson, just released his four priorities today. One of them:
“Making Vancouver the “Creative Capitol” by encouraging entrepreneurship, arts and culture and sport.”
Looks like he wants to be a Creative Class candidate as well.
February 25th, 2008 at 8:44 am
I’ve been looking for a politician to catch on since I first read your first craetive class article.
Do you think it’s that the technology has changed, or is at matter of awareness?