People hate the Republican Party. But they really don’t. (comical piece)

washingtonpost.com ^ | 9/10/14 | Aaron Blake

[cotton1706]

The reclamation project that is the Republican Party has long been stunted by one pesky fact: People freaking hate the Republican Party.

Well, kind of.

Poll after poll shows President Obama is unpopular (54 percent disapproval in new WaPo-ABC poll) and the Democratic Party is a little more unpopular (61 percent). Neither, though, can touch the GOP, whose congressional contingent has a whopping 72 percent disapproval rating. Nearly half of Americans -- 47 percent -- say they "strongly" disapprove of the GOP.

And despite it all, the GOP appears primed to win six seats and take back the Senate -- if not more. The reason: Party approval ratings are ... well ... overrated.

Yes, the GOP's brand definitely hurts it. But when voters head to the polls, are they really thinking about the practical impact of sending another Republican to empower the other Republicans who are already in Washington?

As it turns out, not really. The same WaPo-ABC poll shows strikingly few people are scared off by the idea of a GOP-controlled Senate. While 72 percent of Americans disapprove of the GOP, just 25 percent say it would be a "bad thing" if the GOP controlled the Senate. Significantly more (32 percent) say it would be a "good thing," while half (51 percent) say it would make no difference.

[cotton1706]

Hahaha. The people at the Washington Post think EVERYBODY thinks like they do. They DESPISE the Republican Party so everybody does, right??

All the work they've done to denigrate and excoriate and marginalize the Republican Party has worked to a point but the people don't buy that crap forever.

[bioqubit]

Thanks to the RINOs, we have become the Hold-your-nose-vote

[Russ]

I don’t care very much for the Republican Party right now either but I’ll reserve my “hate” for the Democrats.

[skeeter]

I guess it never occurred to the writer that people freaking hate the democrat party, as well.

Pathetic.

[Gay State Conservative]

And yet we’ll easily hold the House *and* take the Senate in a few weeks.

[Raycpa]

I have a negative view of the GOP. But they are the lesser of evil.

[muir_redwoods]

What WaPo will never understand is that the majority of Americans think of politicians of any party as undesirable and the parties they belong to as virtually little better than criminal organizations. A kind of Bradley effect may boost the response to the democrats but in general we all (almost) hate all politicians and both major parties.

[tallyhoe]

I don’t hate the Republican Party or even dislike the Republican Party but I do strongly dislike quite a few Republican members!!!

[CivilWarBrewing]

Have another drink, Speaker Boehner. BUURAAAAAAAAP!!!

[03A3]

I don’t care very much for the Republican Party right now either but I’ll reserve my “hate” for the Democrats.

I think hate works since I despise the Dems, although at least they are open about their subterfuge.

[ConservingFreedom]

The most interesting fact in the article: "While 63 percent of Democrats approve of their party's congressional members, just 34 percent of Republicans say the same." Is that conservatives disapproving of RINOs - or vice versa - or both?

[Starboard]

Its hard to hate something when you don’t know what it stands for. Does anyone have any idea what the GOP’s core convictions are? Do they have any?

[Starboard]

At least we know which direction Dems are going in. I have no idea where the Republicans are headed. They seem to completely lack an ideological compass.

[conejo99]

My Mom always said hate is when you wish someone harm even when they are not around and when you have nothing to do with them anymore.
It’s hard to get past a feeling of indifference toward any political party.

[Waryone]

The democrats are marxist wannabes. I hate them. I hate the republican party too, but I hate them because they are democrat wannabes.

[Vaduz]

Agree eyes have been opened to the fact of what side is Mafia law and the other is the law for the people.

[Billthedrill]

While 63 percent of Democrats approve of their party's congressional members, just 34 percent of Republicans say the same. Among independents and members of the opposite party, it's almost exactly even. And those other Republicans, we'll bet you, will still vote GOP

Many a truth is said in jest. This is exactly the problem - the eGOP can count on conservative votes without being conservative because they don't have to be conservative in order to get their votes. So long as this is true, nothing will change. And what I find frustrating about this is that even the disastrous election of the most radical progressive we've had in the White House hasn't put a dent in this smug, blithe attitude.

That is also why the Tea Party appears such a mortal threat to these trough-feeders. But for now they're still Establishment, and Establishment is forever. Ask the Whigs.

[Bullish]

Yeah, I’d like them to try and explain why anyone should ever vote for another democrat after the shambles they’ve made of everything.

[Arrowhead1952]

If there was a fair and balanced media, instead of the current state run media, the dims would be hated more than the Republicans. bammy would still be in the US senate, instead of the white hut.

[gnarledmaw]

Not much of an article when one stops to think about it.

Liberals love Democrats but hate Republicans.
Conservatives hate Democrats AND hate Republicans.

It has something to do with and understanding of liberty (see tag).