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The middle-class white men problem
The Orange County Register ^ | February 7, 2016 | James Poulos

Posted on 02/07/2016 6:59:35 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

The most interesting question this year for political junkies is who - if anyone - can rebuild Ronald Reagan's electoral coalition. Plenty of candidates would like to do it, and plenty of them want to convince America right now that they're already doing it. But the key group of voters who could make that happen are up for grabs - and they're skeptical.

The big cultural story of the year, it's now clear, is how elites and intellectuals now abruptly admit that downwardly mobile middle-class whites, especially men, have become an important constituency and a political problem. "As we know," wrote R.R. Reno in a New York Times op-ed, "the rich are now quite a bit richer. In itself, this need not disrupt the old political consensus. More decisive is the fact that the white middle class is in decline, both economically and culturally."

Reno is convinced, with reason, that politics cannot adequately bear the burden of restoring the white middle class to a place of well-being. But on the campaign trail, the political upshot is inescapable: Rebuilding the Reagan coalition depends on capturing these voters decisively. And Republicans - whatever their deep disagreements - are united in their conviction that without inheriting Reagan's key constituency, their path to the White House is a rocky one....

(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2016election; cruz; elections; rubio; tedcruz; trump; whitemales; whites
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1 posted on 02/07/2016 6:59:35 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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2 posted on 02/07/2016 7:06:19 PM PST by DoughtyOne (the Free Republic Caucus: what FReepers are thinking, 100s or 1000s of them. It's up to you.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

It is the broader Western culture which is in decline.


3 posted on 02/07/2016 7:07:38 PM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Trump’s rhetoric is aimed squarely at this constituency.


4 posted on 02/07/2016 7:08:18 PM PST by who_would_fardels_bear
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
That’s why Marco Rubio has pivoted away from his dovelike position on immigration reform...

The fact that Mario is so adept at pivoting is exactly why he is DOA among the target demographic.

5 posted on 02/07/2016 7:10:38 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum ("The goal of socialism is communism... Hatred is the basis of communism" --Vladimir Lenin)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I personally don’t give a gilded crap for the sympathy, empathy, understanding or anything else from the modern American zeitgist. I’ll live the way I want, and to hell them all.


6 posted on 02/07/2016 7:15:17 PM PST by VR-21
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To: VR-21

...with...


7 posted on 02/07/2016 7:16:04 PM PST by VR-21
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

[[The fact that Mario is so adept at pivoting is exactly why he is DOA among the target demographic. ]]

BINGO
He is just more of the same .
He fits right in with the GOPe that tried to attack Ronald Reagan too.


8 posted on 02/07/2016 7:20:42 PM PST by Lera (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
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To: who_would_fardels_bear

Exactly and it’s resonating .. Trump’s message is so compelling that it’s pulling in Conservative blue collar Democrats and rank & file union types .. the Dim party is very worried about a Trump nomination


9 posted on 02/07/2016 7:26:46 PM PST by Neu Pragmatist (Trump is the only one who will secure our borders . Vote Trump)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

R.R. Reno in a New York Times op-ed

Is that the Dike who used to be US Attorney General during Elian and Waco?


10 posted on 02/07/2016 7:30:18 PM PST by MarvinStinson
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To: MarvinStinson

I doubt it. That was Janet Reno.


11 posted on 02/07/2016 7:31:43 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet (TED CRUZ 2016)
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To: Neu Pragmatist
"Trump’s message is so compelling that it’s pulling in Conservative blue collar Democrats and rank & file union types .. the Dim party is very worried about a Trump nomination"

Yup.

I just can't believe some of the people who say they will vote for Trump. There's one long-haired guy from San Jose, Cal who I play poker with that says he's never voted before but, he will vote for Trump. BTW, he's in his late 50's. (Yup, long grey hair in a pony tail)

12 posted on 02/07/2016 7:32:28 PM PST by blam (Jeff Sessions For President)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

These men are Obama’s creation.


13 posted on 02/07/2016 7:34:20 PM PST by Mike Darancette (Obama Rules of Engagement: Hands up Don't Shoot)
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To: blam

I hear you ... I had two Hipsters pointing at my stickers .. thought they were laughing at them but they came up and told me how much they liked them .. I could tell that they were genuine and I gave them several , as they had friends that wanted them too ..I was stunned to say the least


14 posted on 02/07/2016 7:38:30 PM PST by Neu Pragmatist (Trump is the only one who will secure our borders . Vote Trump)
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To: MarvinStinson

You are thinking of Janet Reno.


15 posted on 02/07/2016 7:43:25 PM PST by PAR35
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

As a middle class white ass American, I think I can say, with pride, KMWA.


16 posted on 02/07/2016 7:45:40 PM PST by glock rocks (TTTT !)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

As a middle class white ass American, I think I can say, with pride, KMWA.


17 posted on 02/07/2016 7:45:42 PM PST by glock rocks (TTTT !)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Trump is unequivocally the only candidate that can bring the new Reagan Democrats back into our column .. Trump is the only one who can be victorious in the must-win rust-belt states .. no one even comes close and the Dims are panicked over it


18 posted on 02/07/2016 7:46:27 PM PST by Neu Pragmatist (Trump is the only one who will secure our borders . Vote Trump)
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To: Mike Darancette
You've got that right. A critical mass of them are alienated and feel this government no longer represents them because MCWM have been marginalized, spat upon and told their interests take a back seat to every other group even if they are considered at all.

Some of the best have taken early retirement and told their organizations to get along the best they can without them.

Others have withdrawn completely and moved into the underground economy. I know a former co-worker who is making moonshine, good quality stuff which earns hard currency. Law enforcement leaves him alone because there are so many more dangerous criminals dealing drugs.

Still others (like me) can't afford to do that just yet and are hanging on not only to earn every dollar we can but because we know it would take at least two, maybe three millennial brats to replace us and we don't want to give them the opportunity just yet.

19 posted on 02/07/2016 7:47:35 PM PST by Vigilanteman (ObaMao: Fake America, Fake Messiah, Fake Black man. How many fakes can you fit into one Zer0?)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Author is a bigot


20 posted on 02/07/2016 7:49:22 PM PST by big'ol_freeper (Nobody can make a racehorse out of a donkey)
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