• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Because dads don’t always think like moms™

  • Dad
    • Celebrities
    • Gay Dads
    • Sex
    • Single Dads
  • Pregnancy
    • Labor or Delivery
    • Pregnant Wife
  • Baby
    • Baby Naming
    • Feeding
    • Sleep
    • Toilet Training
  • Kids
  • Teens
  • Activities
    • Local
    • By Age
    • Movie Reviews
    • Celebrations
  • Toys
    • We Recommend
    • Toys
  • Coaching for Dads
  • Great Dad Talks Podcast

Did Obama’s role as a father influence the election?

November 13, 2008 by John Thompson 1 Comment

It is difficult to picture President-elect Barack Obama in the White House without also envisioning him surrounded by his wife and two daughters.

In fact, the public’s perception of Obama as a younger family man concerned with fatherhood was part of the reason that he won the election, a University at Buffalo professor suggests.

Associate professor of sociology Sampson Lee Blair explains that people have a tendency to ascribe caring and nurturing characteristics to public figures who are parents of young children.

He suggests that these ideas could stretch beyond Americans’ perceptions and affect how the U.S. is viewed abroad.

"Obama will not only be a young president, but a young father, and it will be assumed that his domestic and foreign policies will be colored by the effects they will have on his daughters," Blair said.

In the recent past, many presidential candidates have directed their policies at the baby boomer generation, but Obama’s win reflects a shift away from this focus, he added.

If the media’s recent treatment of Obama is anything to go by, Blair’s hypothesis seems to hold true. Current headlines seem nearly as interested in what type of puppy the family will adopt as what policy changes the new president will enact.
ADNFCR-1662-ID-18873448-ADNFCR

Filed Under: Dad

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. PeopleWatching says

    November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Thought-provoking post and blog. Relevant to your comments is the fact that many experts have argued that Obama is a member of Generation Jones…the heretofore lost generation between the Boomers and Xers, now 42-54 years old.

    I’ve noticed that there’s been quite a bit of buzz about GenJones in the context of this election; I saw several discussions on national U.S. TV about Obama being a Joneser, as well as about GenJones voters being a key swing vote.

    You may find this link interesting, my friends and I have been linking people to this page because we think it matters: it has a bunch of print excerpts and videos of big time publications (e.g. The New York Times, Newsweek, etc.) and pundits (e.g. David Brooks, Clarence Page, etc.) all talking about Obama’s identity as part of Generation Jones: GenerationJones (dot) com

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
SIGN-UP TODAY to receive the only baby newsletter written by dads, for dads. Act now and receive a free copy of the popular GreatDad E-Book!
My baby's due date or birthday :
Profile picture
Privacy Policy and Terms
Baby Name Finder!

what's in a name

  • Show names for:
  • Boys
  • Girls
  • Either
Finding a name you can both agree on isn't always easy. Use our simple name generator to get started.
First Letter
Last Letter
Number of Letters
Origin
Find a name!

More to See

family under a cardboard

Over 40? The Five Types of Insurance You Should Have

October 22, 2022 By Contributing Authors

A Dad’s Guide to Bonding with Your Kids Through Computer Games

May 5, 2022 By Contributing Authors

Tags

529 Plan budgeting for teens college savings compromise dad dads Father's Day fatherhood friendship in-laws love marriage Movie Review parenting advice parenting skills prepaid cards ritual Sundays travel vacation

Footer

Hi mom!

Would you like to share this site with your husband or a friend?

Just enter his email address and your name below and we'll let him know all about GreatDad.com.

His email address
Your Name

Recent

  • Special Clarity session – $25
  • Over 40? The Five Types of Insurance You Should Have
  • A Dad’s Guide to Bonding with Your Kids Through Computer Games
  • 5 Ways to Prepare Your Child for a Surgical Procedure
  • How to get kids excited about dental hygiene

Search

Tags

529 Plan budgeting for teens college savings compromise dad dads Father's Day fatherhood friendship in-laws love marriage Movie Review parenting advice parenting skills prepaid cards ritual Sundays travel vacation

Copyright © 2023 . GreatDad