Posted on 04/01/2020 8:32:40 AM PDT by Kaslin
On Monday, The Atlantic published an article declaring that The Social-Distancing Culture War Has Begun, accusing Republicans of not taking seriously precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the Wuhan virus. As Atlantic writer Mckay Coppins wrote:
The polarization around public health seems to be accelerating: In recent days, Republican governors in Alabama and Mississippi have resisted calls to enact more forceful mitigation policies. Polling data suggest that Republicans throughout the U.S. are much less concerned about the coronavirus than Democrats are. According to a recent analysis by the New York Times, Trump won 23 of 25 states where people have reduced personal travel the least.
A wider review of the data however, reveals that public behavior no longer supports Coppins primary conclusion. The data cited by Coppins that include three surveys still reveal broad concern about the virus and a commitment to social distancing across the political spectrum even as partisan gaps existed at the earlier onset of the pandemic.
According to mid-March surveys from Gallup and NPR with PBS NewsHour and Marist, Democrats were indeed shown to be practicing the social distancing measures much more strictly than Republicans. Between March 13-15, for example, Gallup found that 12 percent of Republicans said they were avoiding small gatherings with friends and family compared to 32 percent of Democrats who said the same. When Gallup ran the survey again March 20-22, a 20 percent gap still persisted despite a sharp rise in those avoiding public spaces in both parties.
A more recent poll conducted a week after the surveys noted by Coppins, however, show no such gap. According to a survey by CBS News that took place March 21-23, strong majorities of both Republicans and Democrats were shown to be taking social distancing measures seriously, with only 10 percent and 6 percent, respectively, of those surveyed still living their lives as normal.
Sixty-one percent of Democrats and 56 percent of Republicans reported only going out when they absolutely have to. While Democrats and liberals were shown to be more cautious about leaving the home in the CBS survey, the large gap illustrated in previous data was practically non-existent.
I don't want to downplay the extremely real partisan divides on broader attitudes over coronavirus/government response.
But there's far less of a partisan gap in actual *behavior* than these kinds of stories imply. pic.twitter.com/IW64OuRRHN
— Ariel Edwards-Levy (@aedwardslevy) March 30, 2020
Social distancing and media skepticism are not mutually exclusive, and adhering to U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommendations and government directives are not partisan activities, despite media attempts to paint them as such.
so we're just going to be in quarantine forever huh pic.twitter.com/loykFYkNRD
— internet baby (@kirkpate) March 30, 2020
Morons trying to blame Trump supporters and Trump for everything, fake news at 11
Everybody wherever I have gone this past week is doing it.........
I recall barely a month ago the only congress people practicing self quarantine were some Republicans. And Leftists were making fun of them for it.
They just want to keep us alive because we make all the money that supports them.
More not fit to print trash from the media par.
Ah, yes. The Atlantic.
The rabies-infested spittle is worse after page 1.
“Don’t Kill Conservatives, We Liberals need their money.”
"I tore up a manifesto of mistruths," Pelosi said at her weekly Capitol Hill news conference Thursday. "It was necessary to get the attention of the American people to say, 'This is not true. And this is how it affects you.' And I don't need any lessons from anyone, especially the President of the United States, about dignity." Pelosi also said Trump's address reflected a "state of mind that had no contact with reality whatsoever."
Sixty-one percent of Democrats and 56 percent of Republicans reported only going out when they absolutely have to.”
Densely populated cities, which are where the problem is most serious, swing heavily Democrat. So if anything, this suggests that Republicans are actually more likely to practice social distancing, all things being equal.
Divide, divide, divide. I hope when the SHTF the media is the first to pay for their deeds.
It’s insane at Costco ,stand there don’t stand there and the cashier never comes near you , wanted to tell her if someone had it the air would have it and so would she
Yes we tried there yesterday they were sending groups of people in at 15 minute intervals, we didn’t want to wait.
Did get gas for $1.44 though.
In a new Poll, 99% of Republicans responded that they know how to wash their hands while 99% of Democrats think that Republicans use too much Soap and Water, Film at 11...
Some of our more dumber members want to. That is true.
Should we be surprised, it is Fake News after all!
Because Right-Leaning Americans are:
- Less selfish
- Community minded
- Willing to make sacrifices
- Willing to endure personal discomforts
- Are likely to have faith in God
- Are largely Christians and the Bible says we are to respect civil authorities.
- EMBRACE HUMAN LIFE (see: 5+ decades of Pro Life activism)
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.