Sen. Bernie Sanders Breaks Down Why Working-Class Voters Flock to Republicans in Red States

[Donkees]

Jan 11, 2022

Sen. Bernie Sanders talks about the Democratic Party’s relationship with the American working class and connecting with striking workers in red states

[multigraincracker]

1. Blue collar voters are looking for people like

Tim Ryan, Val Demings and John Fetter.

[OneBro]

2. Darn.

Was kinda hoping Bernie would say fuck those cruel, Fox News aping, Putin-loving, hate-filled, white supremacist, Trump-style “Christians” who see zero irony in calling other people sheep while ingesting sheep dewormer. Just . . . fuck ‘em! Stop turning to those weak-minded, racist drones and turn out the Democratic base.

But something, something working class Americans blah blah blah is probably the better response.

[betsuni]

3. I don't get it. Democratic voters are working class, have lower incomes than Republican voters.

Obviously it's clear which side both parties are on. What's he talking about?

He says Republicans don't do anything for red state people, but they blame Democrats: "We don't believe you, we don't trust you, you're not fighting for us." Doesn't make any sense.

[NJCher]

6. Republicans

Are great at using emotion (hate) to cut through logic and common sense.

Certainot has explained this one for me. Local hate radio. The solution is simple; we need to do it.

[betsuni]

11. I wonder why Sanders can't see that it's emotion and hate that makes people vote for

Republicans. Can't understand why he blames Democrats, the party of the working class.

[multigraincracker]

21. A good portion of them are more worried about

guns and church to figure out why they never get ahead and the rich do.

[Norbert]

16. "Democrats/Liberals give free stuff to people that don't want to work"

The right wingers have said this so many times the working class believes it.

Right wing hate radio has been very popular in the Midwest for a couple generations now and their pablum gets repeated over and over again. It is a problem Democrats have yet to solve even though they seem to be doing everything else correctly.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

25. So you think all the red-hat wearing people at his rallies are high income?

I have news for you. Go meet some actual Trump supporters. Talk to the "Let's Go Brandon" crowd. They are blue collar.

[Hekate]

30. My neighbor up the street is an orthopedic surgeon whose latest contribution to peace & tranquillity

…is a 5 foot x 30 foot message in lights that says, “Let’s Go, Brandon.”

[betsuni]

34. Didn't say all had high income, higher incomes. 54% of Trump voters had incomes of $100,000

or more, 57% of Biden voters made less than $50,000. It's a "diploma divide." More education, more likely to vote Democratic. 65% of white non-college voters voted for Trump in 2020, 73% in 2016.

[manicdem]

52. I don't understand

I disagree. Vast majority of colleges and college students vote democrat and tend toward progressive. Been like that for a while. I don't understand why we're not winning with all of those votes.

[Mike Nelson]

4. Hmm...

... those "red state" people voting for Trump are more concerned with Muslims and Mexicans taking over their country, and they don't want Jesus to see the USA as a haven for homosexuals and baby-killers.

[Klaralven]

5. I don't think that income level is a characteristic that engenders group solidarity

There are a variety of other characteristics that are much more powerful factors in generating American group identities that have greater group solidarity.

[Hekate]

31. I think you are right

[dsc]

7. He is at best, partially correct

and he may not be correct at all. First, we lose a ton of those voters over abortion. It is a literal deal breaker for at least 50% of such voters and likely more. We lose some more of them over race and that is trending worse, not better, as time goes on. That leave a small number of those voters who are persuedable. I have no idea what that number is at this point. It only matters if it is enough for us to win.

[SharonClark]

13. This country has been more pro-choice than anti-choice for years.

The problem is that the anti-choice are fiery zealots and the pro-choice are multi-issue and not reliable voters on that issue.

[Nixie]

8. Is this a 3-part interview? Did Seth interview Bernie in separate segments that you are posting?

Or is this the whole interview posted once and then the segments re-posted? It's hard to tell with the duplications.

[kacekwl]

9. People in red states don't believe the Democratic party is helping them, they

know the Republicans don't help them but the difference is one party hates the same people they do so that's more than enough for their vote.

[TheRealNorth]

10. Divide and Conquer

They turned working class people against Unions in WI by saying, "Look at THOSE people making too much and having more benefits than you do (even if it wasn't true)."

[kacekwl]

26. Funny they would see some have less

than vote for the party that gives them more. Tax breaks, more benefits, healthcare, SS, Medicare, minimum wage, the list goes on.

[Tommymac]

49. My BIL is a high up Union rep. He says it's GUNS that is the real wedge issue among those voters.

The NRA has done it's evil work well in regards to working class Union voters.

[Hortensis]

12. On November 8 we will learn if the Republicans took control of the senate.

And Sanders will learn if he's still a committee chairman or an observer as the Republicans continue destroying the senate's representative democratic function.

Sanders would no doubt write another book about it, or two with all his free time.

And those who didn't vote Democratic, as always, can sooth themselves that they did everything they could to save our nation.

[NurseJackie]

14. I wonder if it has anything to do with a constant stream of smears aimed at Democrats...

I wonder if it has anything to do with a constant stream of smears aimed at Democrats...

It really drives voters away from the Democratic party when some people falsely call Democrats things like "COASTAL ELITES". Other lies that I've often heard from disloyal politicians

It certainly doesn't help to motivate Democrats to come out and vote when they hear nothing but negativity and smears coming from certain individuals and "activists".

I think if we can get our "allies" to stop comparing Biden to a BOWL OF SHIT;

-- and to stop saying that Democrats are "the party of the one-percent";
-- and to stop saying that Democrats are "corrupt";
-- and to stop saying that Democrats are "ideologically bankrupt";
-- and to stop saying that Democrats are "no different than Republicans";
-- and to stop saying that Democrats are "feeble";
-- and to stop saying that Democrats are "war-hawks";
-- and to stop saying that Democrats "don't care about the middle class";
-- and to stop saying that Democrats "don't care about climate change";
-- and to stop creating and supporting "third parties" that siphon-off votes and sabotage elections;
-- and to stop encouraging voters to abandon Democrats by voting third-party;
-- and to stop making excuses for those voters who DO vote third-party; etc-etc-etc...

well... that would be a good start in getting MORE voters to support Democrats instead of "flocking to the GOP".

All I'm trying to say is that type of BS smears and attacks and other denigrating nonsense needs to stop, and when people call-out those lies and refute that type of negativity they shouldn't be harassed for doing so either.

One thing is clear: The lies and smears and attacks only serve to create an atmosphere of negativity: Negativity generates apathy. Apathy discourages voter turnout for Democrats. Low voter turnout gives Republicans a chance to steal the elections.

[JustAnotherGen]

23. On point

[Cha]

27. Exactly.. Excellent Post.. TY!

[llashram]

28. yep to all

posted here

[Hekate]

32. Right on, Nurse Jackie

By the way, what have you done with your old avatar of the nurse with the big needle?

[MrsCoffee]

35. Zing!

Spot on.

[sheshe2]

45. Bazinga!

[WhiskeyGrinder]

15. Bernie, that's the *white* working class you're talking about.

[uponit7771]

17. Right !!!!

[The Magistrate]

18. As Usual, The 'White' Is Silent...

You would think the man would have learned to pronounce the thing properly by now.

[NurseJackie]

20. Thank you.

[George II]

19. Why is he criticizing Democrats and the Democratic Party again?

[Hekate]

22. Bernie, the Dem establishment embraced you like a brother, & gave you a leadership role...

What is wrong with you?

[JustAnotherGen]

24. It's getting old

White working class voters in Red States always choose replacement theory over their own personal economic interests.

They've made an active choice.

I make an active choice to disregard those who choose prejudice over EVERYONE having access to the American Dream.

If Social Programs and Pay Hikes and Medicare for all was set aside ONLY for these white working class voters in Red States?

They would be ALL over it.

[llashram]

29. all this to set-up

running again in 24'. And siphon off votes now needed to keep the House and Senate out of fascist hands. They want to lead us to a hellish future.

[MrsCoffee]

36. Oh hell no. We don't need to go through his fucking drama again.

I am still wicked pissed at his antics in the last two times around.

Just NO.

[Drunken Irishman]

33. Bernie is naive.

They flock to the Republicans because they're socially conservative and often racist. They don't support BLM, certainly don't support the idea of socialized medicine and they're absolutely anti-choice. That doesn't even get into the 2nd Amendment or immigration. These voters hate liberalism and feel the Democrats are too extreme on social issues.

There's no changing their minds without adopting the conservative ideology.

It's that simple and if Bernie doesn't see it, he's woefully naive and maybe needs to retire.

[Donkees]

37. Top Republicans Work To Rebrand GOP As Party Of Working Class ...

April 13, 2021

Excerpt:

Russo said about one-third of working-class voters are considered persuadable in elections, and it's never reliable whether cultural or economic forces will drive their vote. "The working class, like all of us, carry multiple identities, race, class, gender, religious, geographic, and people may vote different parts of their identity as situations and moments change in their lives."

Democrats are not ceding this vote without a fight, led by a new president with a blue-collar upbringing who wants to enact the most radical economic investment in working people since the New Deal, with a message to sell it targeted almost squarely at the working-class vote.

The battle for the working class is even more urgent for the two parties because it's a growing bloc of voters. Since the 2008 financial crisis, Russo said, more middle-class people have slid economically backward and are experiencing what he calls "the fragility of working-class life."

https://www.npr.org/2021/04/13/986549868/top-republicans-work-to-rebrand-gop-as-party-of-working-class

[Drunken Irishman]

39. Not sure what your post has to do with mine.

Working class whites have not voted Democratic since at least the 90s and won't. Anyone who thinks they will are just as naive as Sanders.

[Donkees]

41. 'How Biden Won Back (Enough of) the White Working Class'

Excerpt:

The percentage of white working class men voting Democratic increased from 23% in 2016 to 28% in 2020, while among white working class women, support for Democrats increased from 34% to 36%. These voters played a key role in delivering victories for Biden in the Rust Belt states

https://hbr.org/2020/11/how-biden-won-back-enough-of-the-white-working-class

[Donkees]

43. Putting the 'Blue' Back in Blue Collar

May 7, 2021

A Monmouth University poll late last month, for example, found that 57% of whites without a college education back Biden's infrastructure plan compared to 39% who oppose it, while 53% back the American Families Plan and 44% oppose it.

Among income groups, people earning less than $50,000 a year were most supportive of both the infrastructure plan and the families plan, in the Monmouth poll: 76% support the infrastructure plan and 21% oppose it. On the families package, 74% of people earning less than $50,000 are in favor and 25% are against it.

"There's some ground softening with that group," says Patrick Murray, director of the poll. While those voters might be more conservative on issues like immigration and social issues, they care about kitchen-table economics, and "that's exactly what the Biden administration understands," Murray adds.

https://www.usnews.com/news/the-report/articles/2021-05-07/joe-biden-is-bringing-white-working-class-americans-back-to-democrats

[Drunken Irishman]

47. And this is why it's naive to think these voters can be reasoned with.

Stack up their top issues and I guarantee you hardly any of these same voters put infrastructure at the top of their list. So, it's irrelevant how many actually support it when it's not a top priority for them. Why? Because regardless if they support it, they're not voting based on it - they're voting based on social issues. There is zero way to appeal to these folks without compromising positions on gay rights, abortion rights and taking a strong pro second amendment view with gun control.

It's not worth. Bernie is a fool if he believes it is.

[Drunken Irishman]

46. You're making my point for me.

Democrats aren't winning the white working class vote. Your own statistics just proved my point. Thank you. Bernie is naive if he thinks we can win back this group. Biden won Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan largely due to the urban and suburban vote. That is where the Democrats need to focus - not on the racist reactionist conservative working class white voters.

[sheshe2]

51. Amen

[Hekate]

55. Never saw the movie -- but I know that song

I think it’s on one of my Belafonte LPs…

Thank you.

[sheshe2]

57. Watching it now.

[ecstatic]

42. yep. nt

[NurseJackie]

44. Amen. Thank you.

I agree.

[betsuni]

53. He's still convinced that if he just explains why they vote against their own economic interest

they'll nod their heads and say, "Yeah, you're right Bernie" and join the class revolution against the 1%. They are democratic socialists, they just don't know it yet.

[Drunken Irishman]

54. Exactly.

I think Democrats and liberals need to understand polling.

They'll point to polls that show a huge amount of conservatives or white, working class voters support, say, Biden's Build Back Better. That's all well and good except that I bet if you ask them what their top issue is, it's not going to be infrastructure spending. It's likely to be immigration or guns or abortion or a whole host of other issues that they do not agree with Democrats on and haven't since Jimmy Carter was president.

Beyond that, a lot of their economic populism is rooted directly in racism and bigotry. It's been like that since Reagan. It goes beyond just blaming Democrats. These people are 100% invested in the right's economic agenda because they are convinced their economic lot in life is due to Blacks and illegal immigrants.

No matter what Democrats say, no matter what they propose, it's not going to change their perspective. They have bought into the idea 100% that the economic conditions of their community are a direct result of minorities taking their jobs.

[RB TexLa]

38. He would know. It's the same way he gets supporters

Telling people whatever is happening to them or whatever they think will happen to them is the fault of some other group of people or entities.

[betsuni]

40. Populism needs lots of enemies.

[NurseJackie]

48. True. Concise. Direct.

Thank you!

[Tommymac]

50. Let's demonize Bernie and let the ones who won't vote for BBB and Voting rights slide. Smart.

And I am talking about those in ALL Political parties.

[Hekate]

56. How about if BERNIE learns to not demonize DEMOCRATS?

[ismnotwasm]

58. It's racism

And I’m tired of these games.