That's it! You conservatives have deceived all those bitter rural, religious, gun-toting folks.
They just need to be re-educated so they can realize that I am the one I have been waiting for.
Posted on 04/16/2008 9:39:38 AM PDT by The_Republican
The more important issue than Senator Obama’s choice of words, is the world view underneath them. By using voter’s adverse economic circumstances to rationalize his cultural beliefs, Barack Obama has reintroduced what has been a defining question in American politics for more than generation: Why do so many working-class voters cast their ballots on social and values-based issues like gun ownership, abortion and same-sex marriage rather than on economic policy prescriptions?
These voters — known as “the silent majority” in the 1970s, “Reagan Democrats” in the ’80s, and as “values voters” during the last two election cycles — have long been one of the most sought-after prizes in national elections. But with the exception of the occasional Southerner on the ticket, Democratic presidential candidates and their advisers have been continually vexed by the unwillingness of blue-collar Americans to more reliably vote their economic interests.
In his book “What’s the Matter With Kansas? How Conservatives Won the Heart of America,” Thomas Frank articulates essentially the same case that Senator Obama has made in recent days. Mr. Frank complains that Republicans have deceived blue-collar Kansans — and their colleagues in other states — into voting against their own economic interests by distracting them into a conversation about traditional values and cultural concerns. Both Senator Obama and Mr. Frank seem to be saying that economic policy should be more important to voters than social and cultural questions.
For many people, that’s certainly true. But there are plenty of voters who don’t necessarily base their votes solely on jobs and taxes, and many are quite financially successful. They have determined their political affiliations largely as result of the same continuing battles over abortion, guns and same-sex marriage that have drawn so many working-class voters to Republican candidates over the years.
(Excerpt) Read more at campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com ...
In Liberal world view, everyone should be given everything. If somebody doesn't have some of the things that ELITIST Liberals consider ESSENTIAL, they have hard time figuring out that some people would rather NOT have them than extend their hand to Government.
Self Respect, Hard Work, Patience, Persistence, Honor, Pride - Values that don't exist in Liberalopedia.
This actually isn’t such a bad piece. I read the extract here and thought that the author was going to take a condescening view toward foolish voters who weren’t voting in favor of class warfare. But the author actually seems to grasp the fact that Obama is simply failing to understand Middle America.
I’ve been pointing out since day one on this gaffe that it IS the liberal talking point. The post mortem talking point after every election when they lose the religious conservative vote (regardless of religion or skin color or party affiliation).
This is why every cycle they talk up the religious left and how God wants us to have socialism to “donate” our taxes to the poor. Except there is no charity in forced taxation. Just tyranny.
I agree. He also pointed out how Wealthy Democrats (Connecticut has the HIGHEST PER CAPITA income in the Nation) also are “value voters”.
HOWEVER, he and others have still not made the connection that voting for GOP isn’t necessarily voting AGAINST your economic interest.
W’s administration make it harder to argue for Republican Economic agenda, but overall, I don’t believe that most Republican Voters simply are oblivious to Economic viewpoints of the party. Having independence from Washington DC and controlling their own paycheck is in their own best economic interest and I believe more Republican Voters are aware of that.
LOL They are TOO DUMB to realize that WE are NOT too dumb to hand over liberty and the pursuit of happiness to the government and we are also NOT too dumb to know what high taxes do to prosperity.
If you don’t vote for the welfare state and Big Government to solve your problems you are still clinging to your religion. “Where is your god now?”
Somebody needs to write a book “What’s the matter with Detroit (or Chicago or LA, name your city), How Liberals ruined America’s cities”
The big mistake liberals make is believing that everyone else is too damn dumb to think for themselves.
These eggheads just never get it do they? I am not voting against my economic interests! I can actually understand that the democrats want to take more of my money if I make $30K a year or more. I don’t have kids so the bigger deductions for kids don’t mean a thing to me, all I see is that paying an additonal $4k+ to the goverment is not in my interests.
Exactly! In their mind not wanting handouts that cost more due to Govt. wastage then they would if we keep our own money, is voting against your economic interest.
That would be projection on their part.
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