Just a few days after highlighting some of the troubles at the University of Montana, The New York Times is profiling liberal activists at the same institution with a piece headlined, “A Growing Trend: Young, Liberal and Open to Big Government.”
MISSOULA, Mont. — This funky college town, nestled along two rivers where five mountain ranges converge, has long been a liberal pocket, an isolated speck of blue in a deeply red state. Now Montana is electing more politicians who lean that way, thanks to a different-minded generation of young voters animated by the recession and social issues.
It is no secret that young voters tilt left on social issues like immigration and gay rights. But these students, and dozens of other young people interviewed here last week, give voice to a trend that is surprising pollsters and jangling the nerves of Republicans. On a central philosophical question of the day — the size and scope of the federal government — a clear majority of young people embraces President Obama’s notion that it can be a constructive force, a point he intends to make in his State of the Union address on Tuesday.
The article did go on to note that views can later evolve once students get out of college and move into the workforce.
As that article hit newsstands in New York City and beyond, I also had a listener share a fairly comical YouTube video with me. The video, titled “So God Made a Liberal,” is a spoof on the Paul Harvey/ Dodge truck “So God Made a Farmer” Super Bowl commercial.
You may recall my post last week detailing the Montanans featured in the “God Made a Farmer” ad. Given the national attention shining on Missoula’s young liberals, I wonder- can we spot any of our friends in the “So God Made a Liberal” video? Click below to watch and find out: