Eric Boehlert: Why are we still seeing Trump Voter stories?

[babylonsister]

https://pressrun.media/p/why-are-we-still-seeing-trump-voter

Why are we still seeing Trump Voter stories?
Move on
Eric Boehlert
1 hr ago

snip//

Why newsrooms ever thought that ‘Trump Voters Support Trump’ articles made for compelling reading, we'll never know. But they did. And now to be fair they ought to be churning out ‘Biden Voters Support Biden’ dispatches. Biden today is more popular with Democrats than Trump ever was with Republicans, even though the press portrayed Trump as having a magical, unbreakable bond with the GOP "base."

Instead of Biden Voter stories, we get entirely misguided Republican updates like the recent one from the Post.

Let's look at three wrong-headed assertions from the Post piece, crammed into a single paragraph. [Emphasis added]:

But any window for cooperation appears to have already closed for Republicans in Congress — and it may be closing for GOP voters, as well. Interviews with dozens of voters in three swing congressional districts across the country revealed evidence that attacks on the spending push are beginning to take hold, and congressional Republicans said they are well positioned to capitalize on voter doubts and win their way back to power in 2022.

1. Forget about the GOP "window for cooperation" now supposedly closing for the infrastructure plan. The idea it ever existed is pure fantasy. The Post makes it seem like the Republican Party today is stocked with fair-minded men and women who of course, want to give Biden a chance and approach each new initiative with an open mind and the country's best interest at heart. In reality, the Republican Party has embraced a radical strategy where complete obstruction serves as the norm, even on issues where Republican voters support Democrats.

We just saw that with the Covid relief bill, where a clear majority of Republicans nationwide backed the emergency bill — and not one elected Republican in the House or the Senate voted 'Yes.’ Yet just weeks later the Post pretends Republicans are all ears when it comes to listening to Biden infrastructure proposal?

2. The Post didn't interview dozens of "voters" in three swing congressional districts to get the nation's temperature on the proposed infrastructure bill, the Post interviewed Republicans. Of the six voters quoted in the article, not one is identified as a Biden supporter. The Post also quoted four Republican Congressmen — and zero Democratic members of Congress.

3. The Post amplifies the absurd Republican spin that the one-week-old infrastructure proposal is going to cost Democrats control of the House in two years — it's absurd because nobody has any idea what the defining issues of the 2022 midterm election cycle is going to be. Pretending that an infrastructure proposal, which is popular in the polls, is going to be a loser for Democrats is just regurgitating Republican talking points.

Our political landscape has shifted under the weight of a popular Democratic president. The press needs to drop those old, useless Trump habits, fast.

[Ninga]

1. So much to keep eyes on. Mind boggling.

[dawg day]

2. Very true. They know better

Than to talk to Trumpers about doing what is best for t he country. Trumpers don't care about that.

[samnsara]

3. i turn the channel whenever theres a story about loser former guy..

..the only story i wanna read about him is if hes gone to 'heaven' or jail.....

[KS Toronado]

16. Former guy will never see "The Pearly Gates"

Little more uncomfortable where he's going.

[Ferrets are Cool]

4. I've been mind-boggled at this very subject

They wont let go of their old habit.

[Tommymac]

5. If they don't they are going to lose readers and become irrelevant.

I have no statistics, but my anecdotal experience listening to coworkers, friends and family tells me this is so.

Only 25% of voters now identify as Republican voters, compared to 49% who identify as Democratic voters.

Take them apples and chew on them, MSM ratings wonks.

[agingdem]

6. the damage Trump did to us

(aided and abetted by a rancid rubber stamp GOP senate) is unfathomable yet hardly surprising...but unlike Boehlert, I want the vileness that is Trump exposed...I want accountability, be it hearings and/or NYT/WP headlines..Trump may escape the hell he deserves but with each "oh shit, get this" outrage he becomes less relevant and more of a really bad joke as does screeching Mitch and his despicable ilk...

[gratuitous]

7. And one of the subtexts is . . .

One of the subtexts is that Democrats need to tailor their proposals to suit Republicans and Trump voters to win their favor, even though Democrats already enjoy majority support. During the entire administration of the former guy, there was never any talk about how he needed to court Democrats or curry Democratic voters' favor. No, it was the former guy's world and we just lived in it. Adapt to his hare-brained schemes or die.

There was never a consideration given that the former guy had to improve his standing with non-Republican voters, even though he'd lost the popular vote in 2016. When Republicans got thumped in 2018, the narrative didn't change at all; the only legitimate governance was whatever the Republicans wanted. Then the former guy got clobbered in 2020, losing the popular vote by more than 7 million and on the short end of the electoral college. And not three months into the Biden administration, the Post is back on their hobbyhorse that Republican wishes are the only ones that count as governance, even when they're in the clear minority and even when Democratic proposals are popular by large majorities.

[StClone]

8. Yesterday I counted FOUR Trump 2020 yard signs!

Two of them were six-by-three foot signs. Fading, wind-raked, and anachronous, they are left in neat yards. I suspect they will come down once mowing season is going strong. I believe there are more, as I saw two more just a few weeks ago in my neighborhood where I haven't been recently. Same mentality drives "Trump voter stories."

[lonely bird]

17. Yup.

They are still up around where I live as well. One is the classic “ Trump 2020 No More Bullshit”. I guess that one is for the irony challenged.

[MyOwnPeace]

21. I just drove by a place

flying a "Trump" flag - and 2 signs with hearts in the yard saying "I 'heart' my Church!

Devil worship, maybe?

[smb]

25. I Would Be Sorely Tempted To Find Matching-Color Paint To Blot Out The "No" nt

[GopherGal]

9. because the reporters just have two punches to go on their "free dessert" punchcards?

After all the hanging out interviewing "typical disaffected voters" who frequent homey independently-owned cafes during the middle of workdays, the reporters must be "this close" to earning a free piece of pie via their frequent-diners' club cards.

[modrepub]

10. Retribution Will Be Swift

We're a democracy so at some point Republicans will gain control (if they ever have given it up on the local and state level where you live) of the Federal apparatus.

We need legislative back stops to prevent Republican areas from directing tax receipts from where they are collected (suburban and urban) to rural areas where they are largely not. The orange menace and his Republican allies made it abundantly clear that they would punish Democratic leaning areas by withholding government funding anytime they wished (even though those areas probably contribute more taxes than they already receive). This is a similar to spousal abuse. Best to put up barriers between us as best we can.

[Lulu KC]

14. Good point n/t

[bullimiami]

11. Somewhere in time the "liberal" media decided that Republican views were more important.

Why? wtfk.

[wnylib]

15. That's the question I have, too. Why?

Why are the media still giving so much attention to Republican voters and views? Are they just hooked on a pattern from the days of the former guy? Or do they have right leaning corporate owners who want to see a R comeback?

There has to be a reason why they are doing this.

[PatSeg]

18. Trump stories are more sensational and outrageous

Over four years of reporting on the most bizarre and ridiculous candidate and president, I think it is hard to break the habit. Maybe sane and competent governing just isn't quite sexy enough or they've forgotten how to report on such stories. It is lazy and unprofessional journalism.

[LiberalLovinLug]

27. Bingo!

They haven't learned anything

At first, in 2015 or when he announced his candidacy, they took him as a joke. He would never win anyways so why not give him hours and hours of free publicity? If it also gets eyeballs on the screen? Like watching a car crash over and over. "You won't want to miss this folks.....the same car that crashed yesterday in that spectacular accident, actually crashed again today!!! Stay tuned!"

But a funny thing happened

He actually connected with the many racists in the R base, and resurrected others who's own racism was in dormancy because of social pressure. Now they didn't need to pretend they weren't racists anymore! And it soon became the most energetic engine fuelling their base. AND IT STILL IS!

So by keeping them relevant and important to the discussion, they are continuing to normalize the white nationalist extremists as being representative of half the population. We all are concerned but probably half joking when we say that this is the new Republican party. The QAnon Party. Because deep down we know there are still those that insist on remaining Republican that are good people...Ana Navarro and others.

If they are going to highlight Republicans, how about a few Republicans that have seen the light? How about making those Republicans + Democratic voters the ones to highlight? Reflecting the population?

Why? Because its about making money. Eyeballs. And I don't really have an answer. Does anyone actually think a broadcast like Walter Cronkite was revered for, simply reading the news tape, unbiased, in monotone will make any money?

I wish I knew. People, including me, brought up in an instant gratification era, are now conditioned to need to be stimulated and entertained, every minute......or the other station will provide it for me with the simple click on the remote.

[PatSeg]

28. You summed that up very well

I do like some commentary and personality in my news, but I don't need it to sound like a late night talk show with a lot of over-the-top hype.

I'll always feel that the media bears a lot of responsibility for what we've endured the past four years and sadly, I'm afraid they will do it again if another outrageous candidate takes the stage. Of course you're right, people with their need to be entertained all the time have pretty much gotten what they asked for. A whole lot of blame to go around.

[AllaN01Bear]

12. saw a trump bumper sticker. bleh

they always yell " libural press &quot yes i know its misspelt, but for a reason). , but the press always seems to interview the conservative rather than the lib.

[lookyhereyou]

20. because

the media is not Liberal

this is a line of jive to hide behind

and push NPR to more both sides do it

if not worse or we will stop funding you .

both sides of the dialog are kept to the right .

MSM is not owned by lefties !

[Lulu KC]

13. i so agree

And it's not good for him to get any more attention. Don't feed the trolls--especially the archetype of trolldom.

[sop]

19. If any of the "Republicans are well positioned to...win their way back into power in 2022" crappola

were true, GOP-run legislatures throughout the country wouldn't be so intent on passing dozens of voter suppression laws. Republicans will have to cheat to regain power.

[lonely bird]

22. Yes, they do and, yes, they are

[andym]

23. The GOP knows better how to get their slanted stories into the mainstream news

It helps that they push a series of unified messages through Fox and the right wing new-propaganda world.

[Rocknation]

24. First WaPo wonders where Trump's "extra" voters came from, but not Biden's

(nor did they wonder WHY there were MORE Biden votes):
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=14809701

Then Salon reviews (but admits to not having read) a book titled Lucky: How Joe Biden Barely Won the Presidency:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=15224407

And now this?


Rocknation

[Captain Zero]

26. The Republican Party has become Fascist PR

At this point.

[Takket]

29. i couldn't agree more on this........

it goes all the way back to 2016. It was like the hillary voter never existed. the media is obsessed with the idea that the only voter and real American is the white guy in a ragged flannel shirt crammed up against the wall in a diner's booth, nursing the same cup of coffee he's been working on for the last 45 years in that booth, while scratching his nuts every time the waitress asks if he wants a refill.

for four years i've been complaining on here that i never saw a SINGLE article asking democrats how they felt about drumpf (voters i mean, not elected officials)

we turned out in droves for the biggest electoral rebuke this country has EVER dished out in 2020. From all walks of life, against voter suppression and a COUP ATTEMPT

AND WE STILL DON'T EXIST

it is infuriating.

The "liberal" media.

[empedocles]

30. We keep on seeing trump voter stories, because they are a valid threat if

Biden gets in significant trouble - which is possible.

Until Dems win big in 2022 and 2024 they need to be watched, - methinks.

[Rocknation]

33. Nonetheless, Trump voters were OUT-voted TWICE, and by TWICE as large a margin the second time.

Last edited Sat Apr 24, 2021, 11:58 PM - Edit history (7)

The active avoidance of that fact in Trump voter media coverage is what makes it incompetent at best and propaganda at worst. It's post-Trump epoch neo-fake news: call them on it each and every time.


rocktivity

[reACTIONary]

31. This was an absurd article....

... polling shows strong republican voter support for the infrastructure bill. This article interview about a dozen who kind of don't support it, and treated that as a trend. Basically click bait.

[sarcasmo]

32. Because Trump thinks he is still President.

[Rocknation]

34. It's enough to make you suspect the possibility of an ulterior motive

rocktivity