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radical noodle

(9,703 posts)

55. You're right about part of that

Sat Jul 16, 2016, 12:17 AM

Jul 2016

There are many people who are average, working class Americans. They vote Republican because their mom & dad did. They don't pay much attention to what anyone says, what the parties stand for, or anything else.

Case in point is a woman I know who is middle class. They have enough money that they have a nice home and traveled to Europe for a three week vacation last year, but she cleans houses for her income even though she did spend some time in college. She votes Republican and she told me flat out that she votes that way because her parents were Republicans. She was surprised to hear (this year) that Bill Clinton had been impeached, but didn't really know what that meant. She intends to vote for Trump and is glad he won the primaries. She never watches his speeches, so she had no idea that he makes fun of people or how mean spirited he is. Her daughter also votes Republican but never discusses politics (it's depressing) and never watches news (too much bad stuff). So there are people who work at staying uninformed. If they knew what was going on, they might have to change their opinions.

I know a lot of people just like that. If they do pay attention to the news, it's on Fox. It wouldn't matter what Democrats said, they would never hear it.

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Why do nearly half of Americans vote Republican? [View all] Cyrano Jul 2016 OP

I think most people vote based on their perception of which candidate or party shares their values. Skinner Jul 2016 #1

Yep. "Tribe" is the perfect word and the one I forgot. Cyrano Jul 2016 #16

They hate "libruls" lapfog_1 Jul 2016 #2

They have been brain washed for so many years they have lost the ability to think for themselves kimbutgar Jul 2016 #3

This!!!! hamsterjill Jul 2016 #17

Through talk radio. 1989. rusty quoin Jul 2016 #53

because republican leaders and the m$m are masters of manipulation and emotional appeal unblock Jul 2016 #4

Perfectly said, unblock PJMcK Jul 2016 #5

here you go 0rganism Jul 2016 #6

neurolinguistic PR, straight from Freud's nephew Gabi Hayes Jul 2016 #36

I have many Republican friends and family members FLPanhandle Jul 2016 #7

Absolutely agree... StraightRazor Jul 2016 #15

Excuse me. You are the one calling them the "unwashed masses? Cyrano Jul 2016 #20

Come on, every one of the reasons in your OP was an example in condescending attitude. FLPanhandle Jul 2016 #22

Okay, you've told me what they aren't. Tell me what they are. Cyrano Jul 2016 #27

Just people trying to make a living, support their families, and want to be safe FLPanhandle Jul 2016 #39

You're right about part of that radical noodle Jul 2016 #55

Good post. I have Republican family 840high Jul 2016 #56

White people don't like being looked down on? treestar Jul 2016 #71

Fear - nt Ohio Joe Jul 2016 #8

Low information voters sorefeet Jul 2016 #9

The Republicans I know don't 840high Jul 2016 #58

Nearly half of the eligible voters who vote, not half of Americans. Iggo Jul 2016 #10

+1 leftstreet Jul 2016 #24

Yeah, I was going to point that out gratuitous Jul 2016 #26

Still, I think it works out to about 27 or 28 percent... Iggo Jul 2016 #47

They whole heartedly buy into the "American dream" loyalsister Jul 2016 #11

Dropped on heads as infants? FSogol Jul 2016 #12

Because propaganda works on a lot of people. nt tblue37 Jul 2016 #13

"Mentally challenged"? Brickbat Jul 2016 #14

They don't Johnny2X2X Jul 2016 #18

They are angry and scared and OldHippieChick Jul 2016 #19

^^^ THIS ^^^^ VOX Jul 2016 #25

Just because someone doesn't agree with you doesn't make them mentally challenged taught_me_patience Jul 2016 #21

.+1 840high Jul 2016 #59

You mean "Why do half of voting Americans vote Republican?" haele Jul 2016 #23

They don't. Nearly half of people who vote vote Republican. Capt. Obvious Jul 2016 #28

Perhaps because only 40 to 60% of those who can vote, do still_one Jul 2016 #29

Because we lost them. HassleCat Jul 2016 #30

You miss hostility to government, which is one of the biggest ones. Donald Ian Rankin Jul 2016 #31

because we live in an Gabi Hayes Jul 2016 #32

Some of it is fashion, everybody around them does, and some of it is authoritarian world views Warpy Jul 2016 #33

Since I live in the South, we have lots of Dixiecrats who migrated to the Republican party Thinkingabout Jul 2016 #34

The idea that people only vote Republican TeddyR Jul 2016 #35

This 100% UnFettered Jul 2016 #38

+1 FLPanhandle Jul 2016 #40

+1. When canvassing Rs state immigration reform primarily Arazi Jul 2016 #54

.that^ 840high Jul 2016 #60

Simply put, most are dumber than a well rope or a mud flap. tonyt53 Jul 2016 #37

It's much more simple than what you're making it out to be. Glassunion Jul 2016 #41

^^^^It's the only answer^^^^ oswaldactedalone Jul 2016 #44

I don't think it's really close to half. ananda Jul 2016 #42

Because Democrats want to waste money on the lazy and stupid Matrosov Jul 2016 #43

Just because they think differently does not make them all terrible people. Bernielover357743 Jul 2016 #63

Do you know if they read DU as well? eom fleabiscuit Jul 2016 #67

Someone elses kids will pay taxes for your mother's old age services ... if they are educated. Bernardo de La Paz Jul 2016 #68

Perhaps the most frustrating thing is Matrosov Jul 2016 #69

"la la la don't wanna hear it" response means something deeper going on with them. Need to find it. Bernardo de La Paz Jul 2016 #70

Covered this last year . . . . HughBeaumont Jul 2016 #45

I think there is still some anti-yankee and anti-urbanite biases as well Fresh_Start Jul 2016 #46

They may be right wing, but they're the left half of the bell curve. sofa king Jul 2016 #48

Half doesn't vote R: it's more like a quarter struggle4progress Jul 2016 #49

Taking away the humanity of those who disagree with is the first step towards fascism Corporate666 Jul 2016 #50

If nothing else it makes us look elitist and stupid. 840high Jul 2016 #61

Thank you! Bernielover357743 Jul 2016 #64

Because half of this country are utter morons IgelJames4 Jul 2016 #51

the rich hate taxes and the poor ones hate everyone who's not like them. craigmatic Jul 2016 #52

Wow... TipTok Jul 2016 #57

I think number one, below, is the main reason - everything else being rationalized to conform. trackfan Jul 2016 #62

To the people on this thread . . . HughBeaumont Jul 2016 #65

This message was self-deleted by its author Chan790 Jul 2016 #66