What makes a person vote Republican?

[Old and In the Way]

Poll question: What makes a person vote Republican?

Reading the latest posts from Wisconsin makes me wonder - what is it that attracts people to vote Republican? The last 10 years have seen our economy imploded and Republicans in Congress are doubling down on the same failed idea that taxcuts creates jobs. There's a clear history that shows the Reagan tax cuts and bigger Bush taxcuts grew the deficit and had no impact on job creation. As conservatives, do they really think having republicans use government to intrude on our personal lives is a conservative value? Do they not see who's pulling the strings on the Republican Party today? Do they think a unilateral takedown of the middle-class won't impact their living standards?

Given everything that went down in Wisconsin these past couple of months and the current controversy on the miraculously found 7000 ballots notwithstanding....what motivated 1/2 of Wisconsin voters to pull the lever for Prossner?

Seems to me, the bottom 98% have a vested interest in voting for people who will fight for their economic interests. Yet almost 50% appear to be willing to support an agenda that will assuredly make us all worse off. What's it going to take for the bottom 98% to find common ground on the important things that should unite us, instead of the diversions that divide us? We better figure this out quickly, because we are running out of time.

Personally, I think #1 is the big driver in people voting Republican. I really think it has less to do with any philosophical/policy issue than a certain smug satisfaction that they get by voting against those 'know it all' Democrats. Their team is the Republicans and they will never, ever root for their hated rival, the Democrats. It's Us against Them and it matters not a whit if my team cheats or robs me blind - they're my team and I'll go to my grave voting and cheering my team on to victory.

[wtbymark]

1. Fear

mostly through their xenophobia fueled by propoganda

[SlowFlowPro]

11. What were Prosser's #s

prior to the union's protests?

i believe Prosser was leading by a much wider margin than less than 1%

why don't you ask why that change occurred?

[Old and In the Way]

23. Proessner kicked ass in the primaries.

David Prosser (inc) 55%
JoAnne Kloppenburg 25%
Marla Stephens 11%
Joel Winnig 9%

So there was about a 5% swing. Not much change given what's gone on in Wisconsin since the primary.

[Paradoxical]

2. Stunted intellectual faculties.

[AsahinaKimi]

3. Two Words....

FOX NEWS.

[The Magistrate]

4. You Left Out Basic Racist Orientation, Sir

The driving force behind literally three-quarters at least of Republican voters is a deep-seated disdain for non-white people, an unexamined conviction that all non-whites are free-loaders off of the work and advanced development of white people. Every item in the Republican slogan cupboard boils down to this. 'Smaller government' means 'don't do nothing with my taxes for lazy Negroes', 'lower taxes' means 'don't give one dime of mine to lazy Negroes'. The basic rallying cry, the true crie de couer of the Republican party is, "Dammit, this used to be a white man's country!"

[rzemanfl]

6. Well said Sir. n/t

[Old and In the Way]

7. Quite right, sir!

Should have had that as an option. :toast:

[Ohio Joe]

8. Correct, I agree completely - nt

[Terra Alta]

5. They think voting Democratic is a sin.

Nevermind the fact that Jesus was a liberal. All they care about is aborted fetuses and gay marriage. Of course, Jesus mentioned neither of those things. What he did mention -- giving all your wealth to the poor, being peacemakers, being meek, etc. the Repukes conveniently ignore.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

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[Terra Alta]

25. Well, certainly no good can come from voting Republican. nt

[TheKentuckian]

28. Do they have any non-evil policy objectives? I mean besides the plain fucking stupid ones?

Or the greedy aims?

Stupid, evil, or greedy are the basic options and the half that defend them are little better due to similarity other than not being racist or a ardent theocrat or because they stridently demand chumping out to be "better" than the TeaPubliKlans which advances their wicked and brainless avarice.

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[The Magistrate]

33. You a Funny Little Fella, Ain'tcha?

[Old and In the Way]

38. I take it he couldn't contain himself?

Where's the self-discipline in this new generation of trolls? :-)

[The Magistrate]

39. No, Sir: Way Too Obvious

[DeadEyeDyck]

44. wish there was a plave to go to read these posts before they are TS

miss all the excitement

[Old and In the Way]

47. I agree...there should be a Hall of Shame here.

A place where we can showcase the thoughts and ideas of the dedicated conservative intellect who sign on to share their intellectual prowess. We could name it- Thoughts and Comments from Anonymous Conservative Intellectuals. Should be good for some chuckles.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

67. LOL, Sir!

I missed the twerp, but I love your reply anyway!

Effective :)

[ReturnoftheDjedi]

9. an inherent selfishness

[Old and In the Way]

12. yes, the "rugged individualist" vote.

The anti-socialist who doesn't need government to tell him/her what to do. Would never show up for a pro-republican rally, because that's an act of socialism. Funny thing, but if government ceased to exist at all levels, this is the person who'd have the hardest time coping with survival. Because he doesn't believe in the concept of sharing or working for the common good. Ironic, that.

[Old and In the Way]

10. Misinformed seems to be the biggie.

But, with a smaller % of people who watch Fox (maybe 2% of the lectorate?), most would get their news from the same sources we do, at least mainstream media-wise....so how do they arrive at the same place the typical Fox indoctrinatee ends up?

[Ohio Joe]

16. I'm not sure that is correct... It was not for me at least

Before I came to DU, I got almost all of my news from the major networks and I expect most people still do. Since coming here though, I see a lot more varied news sources. I feel that a lot of times I have to read the same story from a number of perspectives to get to something I feel might be close to the truth. If I am correct and the majority of people are still getting their news from major networks, they are just hearing the same story over and over, little to no different content.

[Old and In the Way]

24. Definitely concur with your point.

But that means the average non-internet reader of politics is getting most of his information from the networks. Maybe half interpret and vote Democrat, the other half vote Republican? Their both not getting much information, but are they being misinformed or just drawing different conclusions? I've been here 10 years and I have to tell you, it hasn't done my BP any good. But it is enlightening with the information that we are exposed to.

[Old and In the Way]

59. 66% think the Republican voter is misinformed.

I'd love to see a similar poll on FR or some other Rightwing political sight about what motivates a person to vote Democrat. I wonder if these options would generate the same results? The difference would be in the comments. I'd expect no more than a single sentence to explain their thoughts on the subject.

[FailureToCommunicate]

14. Family tradition:They have disdained Democrats since Roosevelt

made them share their wealth. They believe their own nonsense that fellow Republicans will be more fiscally responsible with "their" money.

(AND they don't like that there is a black family in the White House - but they wouldn't say that aloud)

Two of my cousins and their families are Republicans. Our side of the family found this out, at my mother's memorial last year. We were shocked!

[elleng]

15. Brain structure

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x836126

[provis99]

18. +1.

[Old and In the Way]

49. Thanks for posting that link.

I wish I could add that idea...sure does seem to be an organic component to what differentiates us. In that light, the label Republican/Democrat doesn't really begin to describe the personality differences between the political parties. I think it's safe to say - we look to the future, they look to the past, and we co-exist, miserably, in the present.

[elleng]

54. Yes, miserably.

[TheKentuckian]

17. Other: Stupid, greedy, evil, or some combination.

[davidthegnome]

19. Hopelessness, despair... and religion

Not so long ago (six or seven years) I was in one of the most desperately lonely, unhappy positions in my life. I was 20 going on 112, or so I felt at the time. I had just broken up with my fiance and lost my kids (one biologically mine, one not, but I loved them the same) - not due to any real bitterness or hatred between she and I, but due to my lack of financial resources, her lack of financial resources - and the fact that we lived many, many miles away (I had initially moved to SD with her). She in SD, me in Maine. We made it for four years, but in the end we made each other miserable. I give this background to explain what followed.

I moved back up here to Northern Maine in the hopes of finding a job to work my way towards financial independence. I had no resources to fall back on to stay in South Dakota, lost my medicaid - but was fortunate to have parents that let me move back in. Initially I was full of hope and spirit, I believed I'd somehow manage to pull myself up by my bootstraps, support my kids from a distance and eventually be in a position where I could visit them at least a few times a year.

As the months went by though, there were no real jobs up here. I remember getting in line at Mcdonalds and Burger King to apply, going to gas stations where I couldn't work because I was too young to sell alcohol. I utilized the local career center to the best of my ability and frequently sought advice about how to present myself to potential employers. After some six or seven months of searching, all I'd found were odd jobs, mostly under the table work for construction workers, carpenters, people involved with lawn care, etc. The money I earned through that work barely paid my gas, but I figure if I kept it up long enough, I'd find a break...

That break didn't come. What did happen, was that I made a friend while I was working odd jobs. He was about 15 years older than me, very intelligent, charming and charismatic. Eventually we were hanging out every night, working together during the day. We talked a great deal about the greater issues of the world and the grand scheme of things. I had an inquisitive mind full of questions and he seemed to have all the answers, constantly he would refer to the bible or mention something about Christ and the path of the individual.

Somehow, bit by bit, following him around like a dutiful apprentice and disciple, I changed from a fanatic democrat (in a family of fanatic democrats) into an almost radical right wing Christian fanatic. He offered guidance at a time when I felt I could find it no where else. I even (in my dementia, desperation, loneliness... call it what you will) saw him as a great spiritual leader and mentor, leading me back into the light of Christ. I came from a Christian (if democratic) background and had lost my faith in my early teens. I felt he had helped restore it. Every day and night he preached to me - and I listened, believing nearly all of what he had to say. It was so easy to rely on another for answers to all of life's greatest mysteries. So easy...

It all came to a head one night (after about a year of being this man's lackey) when my Father and I got into a shouting match. I was, in my bigotry and ignorance that disgusts me now, telling him about how evil certain things were. Take everything you would expect a liberal to support and flip it upside down to become something corrupt and evil (civil rights, welfare... everything). That was how much I had changed in a short time. We really got into it, even came close to coming to blows physically.

To make a long story very short, he held up a mirror in front of me and showed me what I had become. I was working for a man who earned 20-30 dollars an hour and paid me 5 (and I did more of the work than he did, being younger and somewhat stronger) if I was lucky. I was doing some of the most back-breaking work I had ever done in my life. From cutting and stacking wood, to cleaning out cellars loaded with overwhelming amounts of junks, taking care of yards that had seen no lawn mower for years. Going through enormous piles of horse doo with a pitchfork and a shovel... I could go on and on, but I'll spare you. Let's just say that after I showered when coming home at night, there would be at least an inch of dust and dirt in the tub.

I had no health insurance, I definitely wasn't in a position to save money or move forward, but I had been so warped in my philosophies and ideals that I had become something I once despised. I needed some time to think about it.... and ironically, when I had a week apart from my mentor - the majority of the ignorance in his "teachings" - his contempt for humanity, all became clear to me. Then I learned from a friend of the family that he had been in trouble repeatedly for beating his girlfriend (something I had never had a clue about, the fear in her eyes when he was near should have demonstrated it, but I was blind to his flaws, certainly I never truly believed he could or would do such a thing). I discovered that his girlfriend was also his cousin. I learned all kinds of despicable things about him that I never could have imagined being true. I also discovered I was not his first apprentice - the one before me had committed suicide.

I never confronted him about it - which I regret to this day, but his girlfriend eventually threw him out on his ass. With my (old lovable liberal) Father's guidance, I slowly found my way back to sanity and decency... but it wasn't easy. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do - to abandon a simple life of black and white, right and wrong, good and bad clearly and simply defined.

So from my experience - I call it misguidance, I call it desperation and ignorance. They honestly (most republicans, not all) believe liberals are evil, free loaders, criminals out to get them and steal their hard earned pay at gun point. Their religions permit them to be extremely ignorant in their hatred and contempt for minorities, those in need - the vast majority of the world, basically. They even believe that God is on their side - that they have his blessing in their hatred and contempt for humanity.

I may still be broke, I may not be in great health, I may be in pain... but I am no longer in despair. I abandoned those philosophies, those ideals that are so tempting to swallow... in exchange for faith and love for humanity. I need no God, I need no mentor to tell me what is right and wrong or to give me an excuse to hate others - to blame them for my failings or all the ills of the world. Some though... some would go absolutely mad without it.

It is the foundation of such beliefs that must crumble before we can move forward. It is ignorance, hate, contempt, bigotry - all covered up beneath the convenient excuse of religion, "spiritual purity" and what is often referred to as "the path of the individual".

I've gone on long enough - but let me add one more thing. Don't hate them. For then you allow yourself to become like them and the cycle repeats itself. Rather, care for them, give them consideration and empathy... and if you can, show them a mirror. Help them find their way back to humanity.

That's all I've got to say, thanks for reading.

(edited for spelling... I'm sure I missed some errors)

[Old and In the Way]

29. Wow, great post Dave!

Deserves it's own thread, if you ask me. We've all been under the influence of some mentor at one time or another. Wisdom, rightly or wrongly, is assumed earned by age - believe me, that's not the case. I know 2 things for certain - (1) I don't know more than I do know and (2) you never stop learning. A third thing I'm pretty sure about is, I'm suspect of anyone who voices, with certitude, opinions as fact. Usually, when you challenge those opinions, there's precious little facts to back them up. That's what I normally find at the core of all Republican talking points. Proclaim loud with total certitude, but, when challenged for facts to back those opinions up, resort to personal attacks or change the subject.

Anyways, you sound like you've got a great outlook on life and have life experiences well beyond your years. Glad you posted this....I'm a fellow Mainiac and I know how tough the job situation is up here in rural Maine. We're surrounded by republicans, but there are more than a few of us around. :-)

[davidthegnome]

32. Thanks

I was wondering if I got carried away or if I was way too long winded. I'm glad someone read what I had to say and appreciated it. :)

[themadstork]

20. Leading motivator is the corporate-propaganda machine.

It ruins a potential public citizen before he/she ever steps in a polling booth. 2nd motivator is the rich who wish to consolidate their wealth. 3rd is those motivated by a rabid enthusiasm for some one cultural issue.

[Raine]

21. As a former republican I can say in one word ... FEAR.

They play on your paranoia, you fear everything and everyone who is "different". Once you see that you have more in common with who and what is "different" you leave them in the gutter where they belong.

[DeadEyeDyck]

57. I am in a strange circle of influence

I was born in Germany to a black father and white (german) mother. In my early years, she was a communist. My green beret dad was apolitical.

As we grew up, both moved to the right. My Mon read Ayn Rand and is a dyed in the wool Objectivist. My Dad started a personal security business and now protects an Atlanta radio DJ, Herman Cain. He is a teaparty rally conservative republican. My Sis is like my Day.

Me? I am finishing my doctoric at Emory and have resisted political affiliations. Actually, I became a DU member as a result of a PolySci assignment as an undergrad. But to be sure, many of the people here are running me away from the left. I specifically hate that I owe the left something because I am black!!

I joined the FR the same day I joined DU and for the same assignment and I have to admit that the tone here is far more ugly than there. I am not active very much on FR but I am treated very respectfully by those bigoted christians.

All I am saying is that I don't know anymore. I mean, I expect to make good money upon graduation. I will need it to pay off my student loans. I struggled for too many years in school. Not sure how I feel about having to give so much of my income in taxes to others that did not struggle as I did.

Just saying...

[upi402]

22. TV News lies of commission, and OMISSION n/t

[Initech]

26. A combination of douchebaggery, racism, and "I'm against what these guys are for".

[Octafish]

27. What Poppy Bush told Sarah McClendon...

“If the people were to ever find out what we have done, we would be chased down the streets and lynched.”
— George H.W. Bush, cited in the June, 1992 Sarah McClendon Newsletter

EDITO: Not Mary McGrory

[Old and In the Way]

35. Poppy's New World Order.

Took a little longer than he expected, but the results are paying huge dividends for the first family of disaster capitalism. I will always give him the full credit for keeping this country dependent on ME oil and making sure we would never realize our full democratic potential.

Glad to see you on the thread, my friend! :cheers:

[Octafish]

46. Warmongers and Greedheads -- same thing at essence.

Really liked what you wrote, Never-Old and In the Way. The Pukes and their minions hate the Democratic brand because in their heart of hearts, they don't believe the rules apply to them.

So, what did they do? They bought the Congress and just about everything else having to do with governance and the law. Toss in their craven Corporate McPravda raising kids from age 6 weeks and what we get is a type of mentality little capable of empathy, compassion or ability to visualize a just nation, let alone humane society and world.

Really appreciate your Poll and this thread, Young Guy. You're helping shine Truth -- what keeps the turds from taking over.

[Logical]

31. I think they are stupid and misinformed. n-t

[underpants]

34. "If I vote Republican will it make me feel richer?" question to Auntie Pinko in 2001

When I first joined DU that was one of the "Ask Auntie Pinko" questions. The question itself hits the nail on the head.

[Old and In the Way]

37. Feeling richer is almost as good as being richer!

There's gold at the end of that rainbow...you just gotta believe. Republicans have been chasing rainbows for 30 years and they're no closer to finding it now - but I see no evidence that they still aren't committed to chasing it.

[iris27]

36. Fuck You I've Got Mine syndrome.

Seriously, just a general lack of empathy and a Me First attitude.

[unkachuck]

40. I believe....

....all pukes of whatever stripe or brand, have anesthetized assholes....what else could explain the way they keep taking it in the ass and not feeling a thing?

....the trouble is, we get fucked along with them....dry with beach sand; Washington and those shitty corporations don't use vaseline....

[Lyric]

41. Other: Greed, Selfishness, and a general dislike/distrust for other human beings.

[ismnotwasm]

42. Hate and fear

Combined with a strong sense of entitlement

[Boojatta]

43. This isn't inspirational.

Seems to me, the bottom 98% have a vested interest in voting for people who will fight for their economic interests.

People are willing to make some sacrifices in the name of justice. If you appeal to people by promising that a vote for brand D is in their economic interest, then they might be reminded of emails requesting that their bank accounts be used as parking spaces for vast sums of money, with a share to go to the lucky owner of the parking space. (In other words, the 419 scam.)

What's it going to take for the bottom 98% to find common ground on the important things that should unite us, instead of the diversions that divide us? We better figure this out quickly, because we are running out of time.

It's going to take people who don't agree with the idea that if it isn't about money then it's merely a diversion. It's going to take challenging the status quo in non-obvious ways. It's going to take clear descriptions of what is wrong. It's possible to unite people who agree that it is wrong, but who don't necessarily know what should be done to correct the situation.

You should work on your description of the relevant "who." The "bottom 98%" isn't inspiring. An alternative: "those who care that some parts of the status quo are wrong."

Maybe nobody is willing to stand up and defend those parts of the status quo. However, lots of people want the problems to be ignored. Others are no longer willing to ignore things that are wrong, very wrong.

[Old and In the Way]

55. Would you agree...

if 98% of the people reached common ground on the problems and solutions, that, by definition, the state of our political democracy was working as planned? If 98% of the voting public were on the same page, the status quo reality that we exist under today, it would be would be history.

[flvegan]

45. Branding. n/t

[BigBearJohn]

48. RULE 1: Because you are so heartless, selfish and cold that butter would not melt in your mouth.

[Hugabear]

50. Fear of a Black Planet

Sorry, I can never resist the opportunity to throw in that Public Enemy title.

Seriously though, I do feel that racism plays a part for many people, along with lack of education.

[rpannier]

51. Fear and Hatred nt

[one_voice]

52. Brain damage...didn't read further than the subject line....

and I knew the answer.

[Teaser]

53. Apparently, Microsoft Access

.

[Old and In the Way]

56. Good one!

:-)

[theDash]

60. lol @ Microsoft Access

I have lived in the south all my life. Judging from what I hear from most of the people that I know personally who vote for (or at least verbally support) republicans, I think that religion and racism are tied for the top spot. It's in all the emails that are circulated, jokes about Obama's race, and accusations of him being a muslim, shows that their hatred for him is fueled by their racist and religious views.

They are against welfare, and subsequently taxes, because they feel that the money is going to no-good blacks who are lazy and are getting a free ride off the taxes they pay.

Of course, the abortion issue is based on religion.

And the reason they are against public schools is based on both racism and religion. They are mad that religion was taken out of schools. And they want the public school abolished because they are being forced to share their schools with blacks.

There are a myriad of other issues, here in the south of course the gun issue is also another reason they support republicans.

So they will vote republican based on the above. They view all economic woes to be a result of taxes. They fail to see that lower wages and corporate greed has had much more of an impact on their financial health than any tax. And so they will continue to vote republican, to the detriment of their own, and the country's, economic health.

[Populist_Prole]

58. God & ( or ) Guns

I can think of at least a dozen people I see nearly every day who, other than for those issues, would have nothing to do with the Republican party.

There's a few racists and mind numbed warmonger flag-wavers too, but it's mostly the above. ( from what I can see )

[grahamhgreen]

61. Because when the Dems wont tax the rich like 81% want them too, they try the other guys.

[Old and In the Way]

63. Now that's counter-intuitive.

Not sure Democrats are turning to Republicans for increasing taxes on the wealthy...but I suspect that Democrats are turning off a lot of potential voters who don't see either Party doing anything to deal with the inequity. I think it's more complicated than that, but the end result is what matters, I guess.

[Cresent City Kid]

62. I think it's a combination of #1 and #6

They have a visceral hatred of the Democratic brand fueled by misinformation from the right wing media. The circular logic has become a circular firing squad.

[zinnisking]

64. Mostly number one. It's all about being a tough guy.

Randi Rhodes talked about this briefly the other day. She said middle-class Republicans like bullies.

I couldn't agree more. Especially the middle-aged and older.

My half brother is an uncompromising Republican. He is not a bully but he inherited Republicanism from his dad who is a big burly guy with a supremacy syndrome.

If you can find a way to make crass chauvinism an impertinent quality, let me know! We will change the country and maybe the world!

[OmahaBlueDog]

65. I couldn't just cite one reason, so I cited five.

Reason #1: Because people with joint household incomes of six figures and up don't want to pay their taxes

They don't see America's problems as their problems.

They will typically offer reasoning along this line: I work hard, I obey the law, I got ahead -- if all of those lazy asses on welfare would do the same, we wouldn't need welfare or food stamps or any of that crap.

Reason #2: For a variety of reasons, people have decided it's just easier to let Rush Limbaugh or Bill O'Reilly do their thinking for them.

Reason #3: Abortion

There is little living memory remaining of women getting butchered in back alleys. Ending abortion is the #1 social issue for a sizable number of Americans.

Reason # 4 Dave Ramsey

This one may seem like a head scratcher. Dave has teken his shots at the Dems, but he runs a mostly non-political show about personal finance. However, here's the thing - he is conditioning a an ever growing number of Americans who got into financial trouble with credit cards and mortgages that debt is bad, and that living debt free is the way to go. In my opinion, this anti-debt theme is increasingly informing people's thinking on government spending and the deficit.

Reason # 5 - Ayn Rand and Rand Paul

Rand Paul is to the GOP what Howard Dean was to the Democratic party in 2004. Paul has largely focused the youth (end their energy and creativity) of the party. They are a generation who want to radically reshape government back to the size and scope of 1880. No social safety nets of any sort. No Federal Reserve Bank. No income tax.

[Boojatta]

66. This poll deserves more exposure.

[Shrek]

68. Because Libertarians generally don't win elections

Most of the "Republican" voters I know actually lean Libertarian. But they vote (R) because they know that's as close as they can reasonably expect to get.

[caty]

69. You should have added

Fox News lies and Fox not giving needed information to your poll.

[mr clean]

70. Or whom the church pastor tells the sheaple to vote for and

"Who God has chosen to lead our country."

[stuntcat]

71. Fear

.