For the American Teenager to be influenced by anyone, they would have to be hearing their message. There is no way young Americans are being influenced by television and radio talk show conservatives, Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck and Bill O'Reilly, because they just aren't listening to them. The percentage of these conservative pundit's listening audience of individuals under 20 is under 5%. The only way teenagers could be affected by them, is if their grandparent's or great grandparent's politics influenced them. But, when seeing the huge difference in voting patterns, to include the fact that the under 30 voter voted 68% for the Obama-Biden ticket compared to 29% for the McCain-Palin ticket, it shall be concluded that the older generation influence on the younger one in very minimal.
To substantiate my claim that the teenagers are not following these conservatives self-proclaimed leaders, the following numbers are visits to their respected websites during May 2009. For Rush Limbaugh, 43% were 50 years or older; 3% were 12-17 and 90% of the visitors had no children in the home. Glen Beck's numbers were 47 % (50+), 1% (12-17) and 83% (no kids). Bill O'Reilly numbers were 54% (50+), 4% (12-17) and 86% (no kids in the home).
These numbers alone show that their messages are not be heard or even sought to be heard by the Generation X or Y. The number one radio format listened to by the age group 12-17, is pop / contemporary music. Talk / All News Format is #22 among that age group. The Talk Format rises to #2 in the 45 - 54 age group and # 1 in the 60 + group. To have an influence, they have to be listening and this proves they are not listening.
The average age of the Fox News Network, a home for the conservative voice and movement is over 60. The average age of the Limbaugh listener is over 65. It is almost a given, that anyone under 30, doesn't even know what the AM dial is for, the usual place to find talk radio.
This is in contrast to the network MSNBC, who with its more liberal leaning stance has made a concentrated effort to recruit the younger listener. MSNBC is number one in the 18-34 age group. An interesting point here for further analyzing and seeing where the country is leading to, is look at the popularity of the three cable news networks and their followings. The number one network is the conservative Fox Network, which is heavily concentrated with older viewers. You have the liberal leaning MSNBC, number two, which has a younger viewer audience. Then you have a politically balanced CNN, who has fallen to number three. It seems that for a cable news network trying to remain in the middle is detrimental in getting viewers. Viewers will gravitate toward a network that displays to their political point of view.