Atari Democrat

Atari Democrat, a phrase first popularized during the early 1980s, references both the video game company Atari and Democratic legislators who suggested that the support and development of high tech and related businesses would stimulate the economy and create jobs.

Definition

The definition of an "Atari Democrat" varies. A 1984 article for the "The Philadelphia Inquirer," defined the term as "a young liberal trying to push the party toward more involvement with high-tech solutions."Citation
first =Trudy
last =Tynan
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title = DICTIONARIES ' EDITORS MINE A MOTHER LODE-POLITICS
year = August 23, 1984
pages =C09
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publisher ="Philadelphia Inquirer" (Associated Press)
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id = ] It also noted that, "Since July 1982, it has appeared in the "The New Yorker", "Business Week", "Fortune", "Time" and [...] in "The Wall Street Journal"." A few years later, in 1989, "The New York Times" suggested that "Atari Democrats" (also known as "Democrats' Greens") are "young moderates who saw investment and high technology as the contemporary answer to the New Deal." cite web
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE3DF1430F937A25755C0A96F948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print
title=Greening of Democrats: An 80's Mix of Idealism And Shrewd Politics
accessdate= 2008-06-28
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last=DIONNE,
first=E. J.
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date=June 14, 1989
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publisher= "New York Times"] The "New York Times" also discussed a generation gap which developed during the 1980s between older liberals who maintained an interest in traditional visions of social liberalism and Atari Democrats who attempted to find a middle ground:

Politicians

Specific individuals have been identified with "Atari Democrats". Al Gore's "passion for technological issues, from biomedical research and genetic engineering to the environmental impact of the "greenhouse effect," linked him with other technophiles on Capitol Hill known as "Atari Democrats."cite web
url=http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/VP_Albert_Gore.htm
title=Albert A. Gore, Jr., 45th Vice President (1993–2001)
accessdate= 2008-06-22
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publisher=senate.gov] "TIME" magazine noted that Tim Wirth "made a reputation as the typical "Atari Democrat," who urges growth and investment in high-technology industries."cite web
url=http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,962870,00.html
title=NEW FACES IN THE SENATE: Atari Democrat
accessdate= 2008-06-29
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date=Nov. 17, 1986
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publisher="TIME"] "The New York Times" referred to Paul Tsongas as an "Atari Democrat","a member of the young generation of politicians and economists who looked to high technology as a source of jobs and economic growth."cite web
url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0CE2D7123BF936A15751C0A964958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print
title= THE 1992 CAMPAIGN: Record in Congress; In House and Senate, Tsongas Went His Own Way
accessdate= 2008-06-28
author=
last=Pear
first=Robert
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date=February 25, 1992
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publisher= "New York Times"] Gary Hart also referred to himself as an "Atari Democrat" and stated, "I was, early on in my Senate career, described as an Atari Democrat. No one would know what that means because there are no more Ataris, but we were among the first - a small group of us to forecast the transition of the economy from industrialized manufacturing to the information age."cite web
url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/02/28/cf.opinion.gary.hart/
title= Gary Hart pitches for president
accessdate= 2008-06-28
author=
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date=February 28, 2003
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publisher= "CNN"]

ee also

*NetDay

Notes