Americans admire president -- but not teens in Carson

President George W. Bush led the list of men Americans most admired in an end-of-the-year Gallup poll, but his name didn't leap to mind during some random interviews in Carson City this week.

There was no strong consensus for the most admired woman in the Gallup poll or in Carson City. New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, talk show host Oprah Winfrey and first lady Laura Bush topped the national list, though they were not substantially higher than other women mentioned.

The president claimed 28 percent of the votes -- giving him the the title of most admired man for the second year in a row. His percentage dropped from 39 last year -- the highest percentage received by any man in Gallup's history.

And this year's 28 percent vote is one of the highest vote totals in the question's history.

With young people in Carson City, the question provoked a different response.

"We don't admire George Bush," said Kate Diana of New Jersey and Lauren Holden of California, both 18. The two were visiting Lake Tahoe for New Year's and staying at a hotel in Carson City.

While they mentioned Susan Sarandon as admirable because of her political activism, the Vassar College students had trouble coming up with an admirable man.

"It's depressing that no one really jumps to mind," Holden said.

"Yeah, is there like a none-of-the-above answer?" Diana joked.

For inspiration, they flipped through the 25 most intriguing people listed in a copy of People magazine.

"Let's see, Saddam Hussein, no. Brittney Spears, oh, yeah, she's really intriguing. Wynona Ryder, she's admirable only because she's defiant. Serena Williams, well, athletes are pretty cool, I guess. But most of them ... it's like ... Anna Kournikova, she's just a body, dude."

Shepherd Darquea, a 13-year-old Carson Middle School student, could think of an admirable man, but it wasn't George W. Bush.

He chose his friend from church, Jacque Negrete of Carson City, with whom he hangs out each week. He said Negrete is admirable because he's "smart, wise, understanding and fun."

As for his most admirable woman, he chose his mother, June Joplin, owner of Comma Coffee at 312 S. Carson St., because she is so caring and works so hard.

Laura Valenzuela, 19, is a student at the International Academy of Style in Reno. The people she most admires are those younger than her.

"I admire the younger kids who are growing up now because school's a lot harder for them than it was for us," she said. "Even kindergartners have homework now."

She said they have come into a more complicated world.

Other men described as admirable by Americans in the Gallup poll are those who are dealing with that more complicated world on the front lines: Colin Powell, Jimmy Carter and Pope John Paul II.

Carter, who was recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, was the second most admirable behind Bush, with Powell taking third and the Pope in fourth place. To see the rest of the results, go to the Gallup Poll Web site.

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Gallup Poll news service:

www.gallup.com/poll/releases/pr021227.asp