There has been a major focus on the presidential candidates for the 2016 election. Major contenders include Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders as Democratic Party front- runers,whileontheRepublicanside, there’s a whole slew of candidates fighting for the nomination.

Are all of these candidates too old to reach out to youth? Yes.

Lately, many of the candidates have been going on TV trying to appeal to youth through various means, such as Clinton doing the “nae nae” on “The Ellen Show” while Donald Trump appeared in a comedy skit on “The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon.

Their antics do nothing to make them more appealing to millenials. Trump’s views are horrifying, especially his racist comments on immigration, but he’s the front-runner for the Republican nomination.

Clinton is trying to appeal to the youth vote by stepping up her game using social media and “YAAAS Hillary” shirts. I wish I were kidding.

All of this pandering to youth is patronizing. Clinton actually met with Black Lives Matter activists and spoke in a condescending manner.

The youth vote is incredibly important, making up almost 20 percent of the voting population. Youth are a powerful political force that can help sway the vote.

Passiveness on racial issues, being active in imperialism (The Iraq war, foreign policies, etc.), and supporting LGBT issues have been of no importance to most of these candidates, including Hillary Clinton. she only supports these issues now because it can get her the youth vote.

Even Bernie Sanders, considered to be more progressive than any other democratic nominee, is 74 years old and can’t speak to every issue that the youth face today. Foreign policy is important to young people and Sanders has voted in favor of policies such as George W. Bush’s original authorization for use of military force resolution, whichgavethegreenlightforthe war in Afghanistan.

Sanders also ignores racial inequality to the point were Black Lives Matter activists interrupted an event so they could be heard.

Age is a factor that definitely affects whether or not these candidates can connet with youth voters.