Blair Center-Clinton School: African American Public Opinion: A Liberal Agenda in an Era of Shifting

[sinkingfeeling]

Last edited Thu Jun 13, 2013, 10:00 AM - Edit history (1)

http://blaircenterclintonschoolpoll.uark.edu/7084.php

Commentary concerning African American voting patterns at times has been dismissive and implied that the group naturally votes for African American candidates. This false assumption diminishes the nuanced means in which black lack voters decide on candidates and policy preferences. Historically, African Americans have shown themselves to vote Democratic more than along racial lines. As African Americans continue to increase their political engagement and demographic growth, they have the potential to influence the policy focus of the Democratic Party and the nation.

African Americans have strongly supported a liberal political agenda. According to data from the 2012 BCCS Poll, African Americans still express strong liberal opinions on political issues and increased liberal support for social issues. A majority of African Americans (57%) say abortion is a personal choice. In the case of gay marriage, 26 % of African Americans are in favor of gay marriage. This is a slight increase from the 22% of African American respondents who were in support in the 2010 Blair-Rockefeller Poll. While 33% are in opposition, the group’s opposition to gay marriage is consistent with 36% of whites who opposed and 32% of Latinos.

Conclusion

In light of the racialized experiences reported in the 2012 BCCS Poll it is likely that African American opinion and policy preferences will continue to move to the left. This is potentially significant for American political behavior. African Americans have consistently increased their level of political engagement at the national level when mobilized to do so. If the model of mobilization that occurred in 2008 and 2012 continues and expands to local, state and midterm elections there could possibly be a shift in political power within the South and in other areas where there are large concentrations of African Americans. Unfortunately, the group is still addressing disparities in income, education and health. It will be critical for African Americans to utilize their increasing political leverage to develop coalition partners and seek new forms of activism to alleviate the existing problems throughout African American communities.
**********************************************************************
This explains why the GOP is racing to re-district and pass as many 'voter id' laws as they can. They must disenfranchise as many as possible.

[Igel]

1. Yeah, the chart is interesting.

It would be reliable, one would think, if it reflected the numbers in the text.

Sometimes they swap Latino and white. When you correct them, the chart goes from "interesting" to "ah, yes, the same patterns we've seen elsewhere." Perhaps still interesting. Perhaps not.

Not an encouraging sign, the numbers in the graph don't match the numbers in the previous paragraph. (Why, if I were more extremist, I'd probably say that this means the conclusions of all the researchers' work are utterly flawed. Instead, I'll merely say that they were in a hurry or somebody they asked to make up the chart for them botched it. These things happen, but it is shoddy work to put the cock-up on the Web for all to see.)

[sinkingfeeling]

2. I have no idea what you're talking about. Here's the paragraphs that

go with the chart, so what doesn't match?

"The group’s interest has long sought to address racial, social and economic inequalities. Although African Americans have made wide gains educationally and economically as evident in Figure 1, the group continues to face economic adversity. The BCCS Poll reveals the persistent disparities in income and educational attainment for the group. Of the sample, African Americans were the least employed with 18.5% stating they were temporarily laid off or looking for work while only 9% of whites and 16.6% of Latinos reported the same. Those who were employed reported low levels of income, with 55% earning less than $35,000 in comparison to 27.5% of whites; 44% of Latinos. Only 13% earned bachelor degrees in comparison to 21% of whites and 7% of Latinos.

African Americans were also the least likely to own a home. Black respondents indicated that 49% rent while 46% own, compared to 76% of whites and 52% of Latinos reporting home ownership.

The issue of access to quality healthcare and the persistence of health disparities continue to be problematic for the group with 74% reporting that they have health insurance while 12.8% identified Medicaid as their primary source of health insurance in comparison to 3.9% of whites and 9.7% of Latinos."

[karynnj]

4. Look at the chart - they flipped Latino and White

They need to correct the color designation.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. OK, I see that you're correct in the color coding, so I removed the chart.

[karynnj]

3. Their chart looks completely screwed up

I did not read their analysis because their chart is at complete variance with every similar chart I have seen. This means either their data is weird or they were completely incompetent.

How many estimates of laid off/looking for work have you seen by race? Do you believe that it is significantly lower for latinos? I have never heard of the center at the University of Arkansas.

Edited to say that they mislabeled their chart.

[Doctor_J]

6. Part of a trend IMO

Americans' opinions in general are moving in support of gay rights, health care, reproductive rights, and so on. But that won't be reflected in DC until we start dealing out some retribution to the purveyors of lies, propaganda, and hate on Hate Radio, cable "news", and the mainstream print media. 80% of Americans think HC should be a right. About 0.01% of Hate Radio hosts agree.