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The One Weird Trait That Predicts Whether You’re a Trump Supporter
Politico ^ | 1/18/16 | Matthew McWilliams

Posted on 01/18/2016 8:47:32 PM PST by Another Post-American

f I asked you what most defines Donald Trump supporters, what would you say? They’re white? They’re poor? They’re uneducated?

You’d be wrong.

In fact, I’ve found a single statistically significant variable predicts whether a voter supports Trump—and it’s not race, income or education levels: It’s authoritarianism.

That’s right, Trump’s electoral strength—and his staying power—have been buoyed, above all, by Americans with authoritarian inclinations. And because of the prevalence of authoritarians in the American electorate, among Democrats as well as Republicans, it’s very possible that Trump’s fan base will continue to grow.

My finding is the result of a national poll I conducted in the last five days of December under the auspices of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, sampling 1,800 registered voters across the country and the political spectrum. Running a standard statistical analysis, I found that education, income, gender, age, ideology and religiosity had no significant bearing on a Republican voter’s preferred candidate. Only two of the variables I looked at were statistically significant: authoritarianism, followed by fear of terrorism, though the former was far more significant than the latter.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/01/donald-trump-2016-authoritarian-213533#ixzz3xf7hJoqW


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: Massachusetts; US: New York
KEYWORDS: 1stcanadiansenator; 2016election; alreadyposted; amherst; assclownposting; authoritarian; bushbotposting; clintonclowns; clownpost; cluelessmorons; demagogicparty; election2016; erickerickson; igornacedisplayed; itstdstimekids; liberty; massachusetts; matthewmcwilliams; megynkelly; memebuilding; moronsforsanders; newb; newyork; partisanmediashill; partisanmediashills; pinkstain; pinkstate; politcoagain; politico; redstate; redstategathering; rogerailes; tds; thetdsisstrong; thetdsistrong; tostupidofrwords; totalitarians; trump
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To: P-Marlowe

That scripture is exactly what is happening.


61 posted on 01/18/2016 9:25:03 PM PST by Marcella (CRUZ (Prepping can save your life today))
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To: Marcella

On a secular level that is exactly what is happening. Trump tells people not what he believes, but what he believes they want to hear.

Frankly I don’t know what Trump believes.

He has no core values. He will be an utter disaster if he is elected.


62 posted on 01/18/2016 9:28:13 PM PST by P-Marlowe (GO TRUMP GO........ AWAY)
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To: catbertz
Well it is BS,

I have tested over 1,000 folks on their management style. It is clear that Trump gets his ego satisfaction our of getting things done. He is a good delegater, measures people on results not method. He speaks about what he really thinks.

Politicians, Lawyers and Journalists on the other hand, get their ego satisfaction from controlling people, poor delegaters, and are horrible micro managers. Terrible bosses.

Trump would be a great negotiator, and would not put up with most of the political BS

63 posted on 01/18/2016 9:28:27 PM PST by stubernx98 (cranky, but reasonable)
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To: P-Marlowe
Trump has been on both sides of every issue. He is a con man. A lot of people are being conned.

There are YouTube interviews thirty years old that show his consistency. He's a deal maker, he's always looking to get things done. That doesn't mean he's waffling on essentials or being inconsistent. He also admits he learns - which might of course be crap, but at least it's part of the conversation. He's not afraid to take flack for correcting himself.

Trump isn't as much of a caracature as he first appears to be.

64 posted on 01/18/2016 9:29:03 PM PST by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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To: bigbob
But somehow, the man who can’t get anything accomplished in the Senate and is despised by BOTH parties will be wonderfully effective as President?

Interesting. You would prefer someone well liked, Like Boehner, for instance?

I have been in the unfortunate position of being right when others around me were wrong. It isn't comfortable, you don't make friends, and in the end there is a mad scramble by the very people you fought tooth and nail to take the credit for what you said or did.

I know how difficult it is to endure such, to stick to your guns, and persevere.

Cruz has done that.

It hasn't made him friends in the 'go along to get along set' we so heartily despise in Congress and elsewhere. Up until a couple of weeks ago, that was seen as a virtue.

That he can't get anything done is more a comment on the Congress, including many of the Republicans, and the POTUS himself, but that doesn't mean Cruz isn't right.

If getting a bill through Congress is the metric, well, Trump hasn't done that either.

65 posted on 01/18/2016 9:29:05 PM PST by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
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To: Another Post-American

In a 2012 article, he said Facebook engagement was the common factor for winners in Senate races.
If social media engagement is a predictor of elections, it’s Trump in a landslide.

http://www.politico.com/story/2012/11/the-facebook-bump-083572


66 posted on 01/18/2016 9:29:31 PM PST by sockmonkey (Of course I didn't read the article. After all, this is Free Republic.)
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To: Another Post-American

Conservatives are not Authoritarians, are they...


67 posted on 01/18/2016 9:30:23 PM PST by Cold Heat
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To: 5thGenTexan
“Another dictator who dictates more to ones personal liking is not the answer.”

Thanks for your post. You understand a dictator by another name is still a dictator.

68 posted on 01/18/2016 9:31:15 PM PST by Marcella (CRUZ (Prepping can save your life today))
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To: one Lord one faith one baptism

America needs a hero . One who wears a uniform and carries a gun . At least until this little matter with Islam & muslims is resolved . Pinhead civilians have let us to the brink of national extinction, as a people and a culture. if we do not find in advance a warrior hero, and soon, it’s all over.I know the thought of this makes all the political weenies squirm , and some will gasp “ what about the Constitution!?”. it’s time to try something entirely different for a while. Not saying that Trump is that ideal leader. we will probably only see that leader arrive after mushroom clouds are coming up over multiple American cities. Get ready, that day is coming, as sure as the Sun rises. Be ready


69 posted on 01/18/2016 9:32:49 PM PST by LeoWindhorse
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To: Another Post-American

Now I would like to know their definition of authoritarianism. Mainly because the word bothers me. It certainly has its negative imagery.

I think it has more to do with order and balance. The world doesn t make sense when out of order and balance.

The world doesn t make sense right now. I support Trump so the world can be brought to order and balance.


70 posted on 01/18/2016 9:33:23 PM PST by Fhios (Just say no to the apostrophe on FR.)
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To: bigbob

Trump’s track record is to sales pitch other people out of their money and attempt to build a highly leveraged high risk real estate empire. When the financial house of cards falls, declare bankruptcy and stiff the investors. Keep repeating the cycle until you finally dodge the risks long enough to stabilize.

Trump filed bankruptcy four times, screwing over for sets of people. I could see one bankruptcy being due to extraordinary circumstances. Four demonstrates a pattern of behavior. Chuck Schumer’s recent glowing support of Trump speaks volumes on who he gets along with, wouldn’t you say?

As a lawyer, Cruz argued at the Supreme Court. As a jurist, that is way up the career chain. Pissing off the Uniparty Senate is a conservative resume enhancer. When it’s one against the Uniparty, sometimes the victory is to get the message out even in defeat, if for no other reason to expose the problem.


71 posted on 01/18/2016 9:34:50 PM PST by 5thGenTexan
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To: SteveSCH

If I had my way, I’d have all of you shot!


72 posted on 01/18/2016 9:35:50 PM PST by BuckeyeTexan (There are those that break and bend. I'm the other kind. ~Steve Earle)
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To: 5thGenTexan
I do find it curious how many Trump supporters are saying things supporting Obama’s level overreach, just in a “better” direction, as of late.

Right foot, left foot. The march toward totalitarianism continues, one side doing what the other could not because they are on "our" side, unlike the people we would fight in the streets to prevent their doing the same thing.

73 posted on 01/18/2016 9:36:15 PM PST by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
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To: Another Post-American

Why would someone who wanted an authoritarian support Trump over Hillary or Bernie?


74 posted on 01/18/2016 9:36:19 PM PST by Vince Ferrer
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To: P-Marlowe

“I would say that the principle trait of Trump supporters is:

GULLIBILITY”

BINGO!!!! We have a winner.
They ignore Trumps support and praise for liberals, his calls for gun control, his abortion support, his support of universal healthcare, his acceptance of homosexual marriage, and his back-stabbing of conservatives.


75 posted on 01/18/2016 9:36:41 PM PST by Proud2BeRight
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To: Proud2BeRight
They ignore Trumps support and praise for liberals, his calls for gun control, his abortion support, his support of universal healthcare, his acceptance of homosexual marriage, and his back-stabbing of conservatives.

That's the short list.

76 posted on 01/18/2016 9:37:40 PM PST by P-Marlowe (GO TRUMP GO........ AWAY)
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To: broken_clock

Yep


77 posted on 01/18/2016 9:38:47 PM PST by CelesteChristi
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To: P-Marlowe

“GULLIBILITY”,,,, Gosh that’s a really big word. Wats it mean? lol


78 posted on 01/18/2016 9:40:49 PM PST by DesertRhino ("I want those feeble minded asses overthrown,,,")
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To: P-Marlowe

I second that.


79 posted on 01/18/2016 9:42:22 PM PST by DB
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To: heights

Wow, bigot much?


80 posted on 01/18/2016 9:43:23 PM PST by RedWhiteBlue (Mama tried)
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