This video features over 20 top political figures discussing the existence and importance of Generation Jones—born 1954 to 1965, between the Baby Boomers and Generation X. Part of the focus of the video is Barack Obama’s identity as a GenJoneser, and why this matters. This video was made shortly before the election, but is even more relevant now that Obama is President (everyone who appears in this video is a frequent guest on major national TV political shows)
Some
of the political journalists, politicians and political advisors who
appear in
this video include:
David Brooks (New York Times)
Karen Tumulty (Time Magazine)
Dick Morris (Political Advisor)
Roland Martin (CNN)
Jeff Greenfield (CBS)
Michael Steele (Chairman, GOPAC)
Doyle McManus (
Los
Angeles
Times)
Chris Van Hollen(Chairman,
DCCC)
Stuart Rothenberg (Roll Call)
Karen Brown (CBS)
Clarence Page (
Chicago
Tribune)
Michael Barone (U.S. News & World Report)
Juan Williams(Fox
News Channel)
Howard Wolfson (Political Advisor)
Susan Page (
USA
Today)
Mel Martinez (U.S. Senator[R-Florida])
Lynn Sweet (
Chicago
Sun-Times)
Bill Press (Fox News Channel)
Carl Leubsdorf (
Dallas
Morning News)
Al Sharpton (Activist, Minister)
Aug
4, 2008… New Obama birthday poll released today:
Nationwide,
those who are exact same age as Obama
say they are GenJonesers, not Boomers or Xers
A
new poll released today, of a nationally representative sample of 500
U.S.
adults born in 1961—the same year Obama was
born—shows that today’s 47
year olds clearly feel not like Boomers nor Gen Xers, but instead
believe they
belong to the heretofore lost generation in-between Boomers and
Xers…Generation
Jones. ThirdAge, a popular website for mid-lifers, commissioned the
poll, in
conjunction with Obama’s Aug. 4, 2008 birthday.When
respondents were asked which generation they
believe they are a part
of:57% chose
Generation Jones,
while only 22% picked Baby Boomer, and only 21% said Generation X.ThirdAge,
a site that is known for prioritizing
consumer insight about
its audience, has used this insight to build one of the most popular
mid-lifer
websites, with over 500,000 unique visitors a month.The
underlying concept for the poll was that rather
than focusing on
expert opinion to determine the question of Obama’s
generational identity, a
very effective way of answering this question is to ask the actual
people born
in 1961 to self-identify their generation.
Question:
500
U.S. adults born in
1961 were asked:
“Do
you consider yourself to be a member of the Baby Boom Generation,
Generation X, or a lost generation in-between (usually called
Generation Jones)?”
Results:
22% chose: Baby Boom
Generation 57%
chose: Generation Jones 21% chose: Generation X
ThirdAge commissioned this
polling of
a nationally representative sample
of 500 U.S. adults born in 1961, conducted July 31- August 1, 2008.
Many
Top Media Outlets,
Blogs, Pollsters, and Websites have concluded that Barack
Obama is not a
Boomer or Xer, but is a part of Generation Jones.Below
are a few examples:
“Twilight
of the Baby Boom”
by Jonathan
Alter
Published
in Feb. 11, 2008 Newsweek Magazine
Excerpt:
“It's
not just that Obama has inspired young voters, who prefer him in large
numbers.
He also represents a new generation of leadership…In the
case of
boomers—those born between 1946 and 1964—the whole
frame is wrong. It's
based on birthrates, not common cultural and political
affinities… it's no
surprise that Hillary
Clinton (born 1947) would have a different generational identity from
Barack
Obama (born 1961). Late Boomers, dubbed "Generation Jones"... make up
the largest share of the voter pie—26 percent…if
we
weren't convincing flower children (or anti-hippies, like George W.
Bush), we
weren't part of Generation X either. The Gen-Xers were too cynical.
Instead we
became the perennial swing voters, with residual '60s idealism mixed
with the
pragmatism and materialism of the '80s. Even as demographers concluded
that
generations are really 10 to 15 years, not 20, no one represented
us.”
“In
the Eye of the Beholder”
by Jenny Lynn Bader
Published
in
Feb. 17, 2008
Sunday New York Times (NYT
graph
below
accompanied article)
click to enlarge
Excerpt:
“While
it’s clear boomers
are under siege, it’s less clear who they are. The baby boom
itself, a
quantifiable event that certainly produced Mrs. Clinton in 1947,
nevertheless
has controversial boundaries… Neil Howe and William Strauss
argue in their
book “Generations” that the baby boom actually
began in 1943, when
servicemen started coming home…The generation-spotter
Jonathan Pontell, on the
other hand, argues the boom began in 1942 and ended in 1953. He places
Mr. Obama
in “Generation Jones”… What’s
a candidate on a generational cusp to
do?...”
“Obama
and Generation Jones: It’s Our Turn To Lead”
By
Bennet Kelley
Published
April 24, 2008 in The
Huffington Post
“Obama
is from Generation Jones, born in the shadow of fallen heroes, tempered
by
Watergate and disciplined by economic uncertainty... Senator Obama is
the first
Joneser to emerge as a serious candidate at the national level and just
as Senator
Clinton represents the Baby Boom era and Senator
McCain the Ice Age, Obama's campaign embodies the Generation Jones
zeitgeist... Historically, "the torch has passed" to a new generation
when an energetic challenger faced a ruling generation that had simply
lost its
steam... There are tremors indicating such a shift is occurring
today... Boomers
are increasingly aware of the advancing Jonesers who have ascended into
power in
countries such as
Australia
,
Austria
,
Canada
,
France
,
Germany
and
Mexico
.
President Bush has acknowledged that
"Generation Jones is undeniably an
important group. If we Baby Boomers don't lead, they're right behind us
ready
to." With Senator Obama, the Jonesers have found the moment and
candidate
to do just that.”
“Clinton
vs. Obama; Boomer vs. Joneser”
by
Brent Green
Published
April 29, 2008 in The
Boomers Blog
Excerpt:
"Generation
Jones came
of age in the 1970s, not
the 1960s, and this generation's values differ from Boomers enough to
merit new
conceptualizations of generational identity…This is also why
we need to think
of Barack Obama (born 1961) as belonging to a different generational
unit than
Hilary Clinton (born 1947)… Barack Obama
is a Joneser; Hilary Clinton is a
Boomer."
“Baby
Boomers Vs Gen Jones”
by
Andy
Barnett
Published
July 13, 2008 in the Daily
Kos
Excerpt:
“Those
of us in Gen Jones are tired of being tarred with the Baby Boomer
brush, which
doesn't really apply…Gen Jones politicians include Barak
Obama (1961)…
Environmentalism, feminism, Vatican II, rock music, two paycheck
families (are
there any other kind?), the end of great power warfare, globalization
and many
other movements are all taken for granted by most Gen Jonesers, but
barely
existed for young Boomers…Politically,
Jonesers are much more numerous than Boomers, with over four million of
them per
year for a decade. they are a key to the next election.”
We
are currently working on a major renovation of www.GenerationJones.com
Our
new site will feature numerous sections covering the many recent
cultural, political, and business developments with the Generation
Jones movement
GenJonesers dominated U.S. political affairs in 2009, and are set to play a similarly huge role in 2010
Here are just some of the many GenJonesers who are now playing a major role in leading the U.S.:
White House Jonesers President Barack Obama First Lady Michelle Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel Chief Strategist David Axelrod Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett
GenJones Economic Leaders Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke Director of National Economic Council Larry Summers Secretary of The Treasury Tim Geithner
GenJonesers & U.S. Defense Commander of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan Stanley McChrystal Secretary of Homeland SecurityJanet Napolitano U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice
A wide range of other Jonesers were also in the news in 2009: from Ex-Governor Sarah Palin to Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, from music legend Michael Jackson to talk show host Glenn Beck, from singing judges Paula Abdul / Simon Cowell to singing star Susan Boyle
The term “Generation Jones” has been brought up in many TV discussions
in 2009, including on MSNBC, ABC, CNN, FNC, BBC, CNBC, and NBC
GenJones increasingly popular in business circles
Many corporations from a wide variety of industries are increasingly focusing resources on GenJonesers, in areas ranging from product development to target marketing
Several of the largest global ad agencies have now created departments and special teams to research and implement effective strategies which work best with GenJonesers
New research confirms the surprisingly large spending power of GenJonesers
Marketing Guru Jim Welch (longtime head of marketing
for Hallmark Cards) discusses why Generation Jones has become such
a hot demographic in marketing and advertising circles.
As awareness spreads about GenJones, it is becoming increasingly
influential politically, culturally and economically.
GenJones Icons Depart
On June 25, 2009 GenJonesers lost two fabled icons: Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett
Jackson, born in 1958, was a legendary Joneser, and had a major influence on his fellow Jonesers as a child with the Jackson 5 , and later as a solo artist
Fawcett, born in 1947, was a Boomer, but nonetheless an icon to GenJones teens in the 1970s: it was mainly Joneser girls who copied her trademark hairstyle, and GenJones boys who put her classic swimsuit poster on their bedroom walls
In late June '09, numerous newspapers, blogs, and TV &
radio talk show discussions brought up Generation Jones in the context of the deaths of Jackson and Fawcett
From judge Sonia Sotomayor to singer Susan Boyle
GenJoneser Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to the US Supreme Court has prompted discussion about how GenJones high court judges—like Sotomayor and Chief Justice John Roberts—will change the Supreme Court
Renowned Columbia Professor Amy Stuart Wells’ latest book “Both Sides Now”—about the impact of desegregation on GenJones children in the 1960’s/1970’s—has been attracting major attention in academia
Numerous observers have discussed the generational meaning of GenJoneser singing sensation Susan Boyle’s sudden rise to prominence
New songs, poems, and comedy about GenJones continue to appear as awareness of this generation spreads further throughout the culture
Jonathan Ross’s take on being part of GenJones. This classic clip is from the BBC’s “Friday Night with Jonathan Ross”—the highest rated UK night chat show (this show is the UK equivalent of the USA’s “Tonight Show” or “Late Show with David Letterman”)
FFFFF
Buzz throughout Europe about Generation Jones
Obama’s April 2009 trip to Europe drew attention to the fact that generational
leadership of the West has shifted from Baby Boomers to Generation Jones.
More than two thirds of current EU & NATO country leaders are GenJonesers
Many publications ran articles about the new GenJones global leadership:
In addition to print and web media attention, Generation Jones’ new
pivotal leadership role was also discussed on numerous European TV and
radio talk shows. Jonathan Pontell appeared on several European TV and
radio shows in early April 2009 to discuss the new GenJones role
1111
As awareness of GenJones spreads,
its many implications become clearer
With Generation Jones now increasingly part of many discussions on TV and radio shows, blogs and other media, its impact is more obvious. Some of the buzz about GenJones in March '09 is in the context of these topics:
How Generation Jones leadership differs from the Boomers' style of leadership
How Jonesers—hit particularly hard financially sandwiched between the needs of their parents and children—are coping economically
How Michelle Obama’s fashion sense is drawing attention to the GenJones gap in the women’s clothing industry
The phenomenon of middle-aged “Boomerangers” returning home to live with their parents in this troubled economy
On March 4, 2009 Lisa Orrell, generation relations expert and author of “Millennials Incorporated”, talks about the phenomenon of middle-aged (mostly GenX/GenJones) “Boomerangers”— recently discussed in “Time Magazine”--on ABC’s San Francisco TV station.
Generation Jones catches Canada's eye
In February 2009, several of the biggest media outlets in Canada covered the increasing popularity of the Generation Jones concept
On Feb. 18, the largest Canadian national newspaper—“The Globe and Mail”—published an op-ed about the importance of GenJones leadership in both Canada and the U.S. Numerous other major Canadian media venues also ran their own stories about GenJones
Jonathan Pontell discussed Generation Jones on over 20 Canadian TV and radio talk shows from Feb. 18 to 24
On Feb. 19, 2009 Jonathan Pontell discusses Generation Jones on the most-watched national Canadian TV talk show–CTV's "Canada AM" (this show is Canada's equivalent of NBC's "The Today Show" or ABC's "Good Morning America" in U.S.)
Major media interest in GenJones builds as 2009 begins
1111111111111111111111In USA TODAY on Feb. 2:111111111111111111111 "In big and small ways, Generation Jones changing the world"
New RNC Chair Michael Steele embraces his GenJones identity in this video
Nancy Snow article about GenJones in Huffington Post on Jan. 30 here
Jonathan Pontell op-ed about GenJones in USA TODAY on Jan. 27 here
Andrew Sullivan discussed GenJones on “The Daily Dish” on Jan. 19
Rush Limbaugh discussed GenJones on his #1 radio show on Jan. 13
New:
another GenJones AP article, carried by over 300 publications this month
On Inauguration Night (Jan. 20), a panel of CNN pundits discussed (between Inaugural Balls) the passing of the generational torch to specifically Generation Jones. Panelists included Roland Martin, David Gergen, Hilary Rosen, and Candy Crowley.
Many Influential Media Outlets Say
Obama is Part of GenJones
Since Election Day, over 100 media outlets have referred to Obama as specifically a member of Generation Jones, including:
Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, Los Angeles Times, CBS News, US News and World Report, Houston Chronicle, Chicago Tribune, The Spectator, Minneapolis Star Tribune, The Washington Times, International Herald Tribune, Salt Lake Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Newsweek, Newsday, Seattle Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Miami Herald, San Diego Union Tribune, Forbes, Seattle Post Intelligencer, Baltimore Sun
Here are a few examples
of media since the Nov. 4 election discussing Obama’s
identity as a GenJoneser:
On
Dec. 29, 2008, legendary trends guru Marian Salzman
of Porter Novelli tells CNN that the emergence of
Generation Jones is one of the main trends of 2009,
as Obama and his fellow GenJonesers ascend to leadership.
Dec
18, 2008 - “ Members
of Generation Jones…were too young to really experience the
tumult of the 1960s, though some of them were around to see
it…Obama's peers were defined by Watergate, stagflation, gas
lines and 20% interest rates… Their cultural touchstones
were
groups like the Carpenters and Steely
Dan (on cassette or eight-track
tapes, of course)… in Hawaii, young Barry Obama was tuning
into "Soul Train"… They tend to be…more
pragmatic and a lot less likely to get bogged down by the shibboleths
of the 1960s, according to historians, marketers and
pollsters.”
Dec.
7, 2008 - “… Generation
Jones… Barack Obama (born in 1961) or Timothy F. Geithner,
his nominee for secretary of the Treasury (born in the same
month)…Does America need to worry that this group is taking
over as our national leaders? Probably not….They're practical and resilient, they handle risk well, and
they know how to improvise when even the experts don't know the
answer.”
Dec
25, 2008 - "…generational
power is shifting one notch down: to…Generation
Jones…who
arrived in style in 2008 with their first truly major figure, Barack
Obama (born 1961) …
For marketers and
brand specialists…they are a fast-emerging challenger brand
that's fascinating to watch as it defines itself and attracts
fans…
Obama himself has made clear he thinks in terms of generational
difference.”
Media notices key role of
Generation Jones in 2008 election
Here are a few examples of media
attention
about
Generation Jones in just the last two weeks before Election
Day:
“Generation
Jones is in play” By
Clarence PagePublished
October
22, 2008 Excerpt:
“Sen.
Barack
Obama and Alaska Gov. Sarah
Palin…are
both…in a generation that
could make a big difference in the outcome of the Nov. 4
election…members of
Generation Jones tend to be…wider swing voters than other
generations. They
probably made the difference for Bush's 2004 re-election and could do
the same
for either John McCain or their fellow Joneser, Obama…McCain's
attacks…show little effect in reaching swing voters, who
make up about half of
Generation Jones.” - link
to full article
“Why the ‘Generation Jones’ Vote
May Be Crucial in
Election
2008” By
Peter Fenn Published
October
23, 2008 Excerpt:
“The one
group that might be worth
a
special look is the “Generation Jones”
voters…they are very much up for
grabs in this presidential election
and in the down-ballot
Senate and House
races…as Campaign 2008 enters the final days, keep an eye on
these voters —
they will be critical to the outcome.” - link
to full article
“Attention
GenY'ers! Talk To Your Parents!
Don't Let GenJonesers Vote Against
Themselves!” By
David Paulsen Published
October 26, 2008Excerpt:
“The
biggest threat to a
Barack Obama victory ironically comes from his own generation, your
parents'
generation - Generation Jones…This
generation called Jones is nearly a third of all voters. It remains
evenly
divided with many still vacillating
one way or the
other.”
- link
to full article
November
4, 2008on
CNN
Election
Night discussion about
Obama’s identity
as part of Generation Jones
November
3, 2008 on CNN Talk
about
Generation Jones voters
one day before Election day
Oct.
25, 2008 on MSNBC
Discussion
of key Generation Jones
swing
vote in last week of election
Oct. 26, 2008 on NBC
Talk
about importance of Generation
Jones
swing voters to election outcome
Oct.
20, 2008
on CNN
Discussing
importance of Obama’s identity
as
part of Generation Jones
