Posted on 08/15/2015 10:34:12 AM PDT by markomalley
Given the proclivity of Republican politicians to deride the federal government and the bureaucrats that fill its ranks, it stands to reason Democrats would be more likely to seek out Uncle Sam for employment.
And that is true. But only barely.
In a recent survey conducted by Government Business Council, the research arm of Government Executive Media Group, 44 percent of respondents identified as Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents, while 40 percent identified as Republicans or Republican-leaning independents. The remaining respondents were undecided or did not identify with either party, though a plurality of them said they were “conservatives.”
Top-level management is more likely to lean to the left, with 49 percent of GS-15 and Senior Executive Service employees identifying or leaning Democrat and 40 percent Republican. Respondents serving as GS-14s and below saw a 42/38 split toward Democrats.
Federal employees appear to be as partisan as the rest of the nation; just 5 percent of GOP feds approve of their ultimate boss -- President Obama -- while 91 percent disapprove. About 8 in 10 Democratic respondents gave Obama’s performance positive reviews, while 11 percent disapproved.
Democratic feds seem more willing to consider Republican presidential candidates, giving Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush higher favorability scores than their party’s own Martin O’Malley and Jim Webb. Meanwhile, just 4 percent of Republican respondents viewed Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton favorably.
Republicans in the federal workforce are more likely to view national security as the most important issue when choosing a presidential candidate, while Democrats are more likely to consider federal workforce issues. Democratic feds listed economic policy, federal workforce issues and health care as their top three issues, while Republicans listed national security, economic policy and immigration.
Among feds from both parties who listed federal workforce issues as very important or essential, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., earned the highest net favorability marks. Ohio Gov. John Kasich was the only Republican candidate to receive above water favorability scores among the same group, though a large portion had not heard enough about the governor to form an opinion.
Republican frontrunner Donald Trump was viewed very unfavorably by the group overall, but 24 percent of Republicans who prioritize federal workforce issues said they would vote for him if the primary were held today. His lead among that group was even larger than among Republican feds.
The poll had 973 federal workers participating, with a 3 percent margin of error. It was conducted from Aug. 7 through Aug. 12.
What would have been interesting is if they'd have broken it down by Department. I would imagine that outside DoD, the numbers would skew completely differently. Of course, the datasets are not available for review, so it's impossible to have other analysis.
Here’s another analysis.
They are all leftists.
The remaining respondents were undecided or did not identify with either party, though a plurality of them said they were “conservatives.”
***
I’m convinced most “independents” are conservatives and libertarians who can’t stomach the GOPe.
Federal workers who are Republicans are usually RINOs.
At first blush, you think “Who would vote (R) if their livelihood depends on status quo or expansion of goobermint?”, but then you stop and think, “Oh yeah, R’s never do anything that would shrink government, even if they do get elected, so it’s still safe to vote for them!”
As I said, I'd love to see an analysis EXCLUDING DoD. I would bet that it would be at least 75% Dhim / 24% RINO / 1% other.
“Federal workers who are Republicans are usually RINOs.”
More importantly, there is not much they would NOT do to the rest of us that pay for it all - to keep their paychecks and benefits rolling along.
Working for the federal government? Not likely.
In the rest of the country? That remains to be seen.
I suspect most "independents" dislike both Liberal Democrats and the "rich guys" in the GOP. That doesn't mean they're conservatives or libertarians though.
A lot of them dislike the corporate "big boys" so much they vote Democratic, and (depending on where they live) a lot of them really don't like Evangelicals either.
I guess a lot depends on where you live. In some states "independents" may be old Dixiecrats, conservative Democrats with no place left to go, but that's by no means true in other parts of the country (including crucial swing states).
+1
Democans, Republicrats, what’s the difference?
The federal givernment has been a scam for more than a century.. A SCAM... boondoggle.. honey pot..
By both parties.. it’s a scam...
Government trying to protect you from the problems they themselves create..
It’s like the Mafia.. seems “the Mafia” noticed they were just chumps mimicking the federal givernment..
SO THEY went into the “givernment” business..
Check yer memory’s you DON’T hear of the damned Mafia anymore do you?..
They went Federal, State and Local givernment..
That’s where the REAL “ money at “... pretty smart actually..
Get into the federal givernment and you’re “MADE”..
Just like a mafioso...
This is NOT a metaphor.. it’s quite true..
Giverment officials are “made” people..
Some(most) are above suspicion.. with license to steal..
Steal from whom?.. Well the same people the Mafia always stole from..
There still a few Mafia pretenders out there.. Chimps..
Federal Givernment is the REAL SCAM.. Isreali mafia, russian mafia, mexican mafia.. Chinese mafia.. Chumps all..
The FEDS are the real problem.. the major threat..
AND their allied with other World mafias as well..
you know............. GIVERNMENTS..
*** FLUSH THE FED.... Federal reserve is not federal at all.. it’s MAFIA.. World Mafia..
Of course, make sense, I'm in Atlanta. However, still, we speak in hushed tones, behind closed office doors.
They need someone who can read and write, especially when it’s cursive.
Are they hiding in a cave, under a rock, until those mean old liberals go away?
“EXCLUDING DoD”
Why exclude DoD? DoD is no slouch compared to any other federal agency in extracting free Americans property and spending it for self-serving bennies. They will in large numbers wrap themselves in the flag and claim THEIR spending is sacred - just like any other government check receiver.
The struggle is between those that GET checks from the government Vs. those that WRITE checks from the government.
Poll DOD workforce The civil servants are nuckle dragged for the most part. It will split down the color line IMHO
You are correct. Government IS the Mob.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.