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In reply to the discussion: The problem with 'Socialist' [View all]pnwmom
(108,977 posts)41. Cuban refugees were much likely to vote for Trump than other Latinos.
http://harvardpolitics.com/united-states/the-cuban-paradox/
Exit polls for the greater Cuban-American population in Florida, for example, indicate that a disproportionate amount of Cuban-Americans supported Trump compared to other Latino groups. While 54 percent of Cuban-Americans supported Trump, only 35 percent of Latinos nationwide did. Similarly, in the 2018 Florida gubernatorial election, Republican Ron DeSantis won twice as many Cuban-American votes as his Democratic opponent Andrew Gillum. A nearly identical percentage of Cuban-Americans also chose current Republican Gov. Rick Scott over Democrat Bill Nelson in the Florida senate race. The Cuban vote was solidly red in 2016 and 2018 despite the trend of Latino voters being reliably blue.
Even more surprising is that, until 2016, Cuban-Americans had been voting increasingly more Democratic. Why did the Cuban-American vote break away from a solid trend and veer back into the territory of the solid GOP? The unique history of Cuban-Americans, particularly their overall negative experience with socialism, provides the answer.
The flow of Cuban immigrants began in 1959 at the conclusion of the Cuban Revolution. When dissidents and political opponents fled the Castro regime, the United States used boat lifts and airlifts to assist those it had labeled as refugees of a socialist regime. Prior to this, the treatment in Cuba, as described by many of the refugees who escaped the island, included suppression of free expression, freedom of association, and free speech. The regime was confirmed to have executed at least 9,240 individuals including citizens associated with the previous Bautista government and has continued to suppress any sort of criticism of the regime.
SNIP
One of the most obvious reasons that pundits have pointed out for Cuban-American support for the GOP in both 2016 and 2018 is the GOPs characterization of Democratic candidates as far-left, extreme socialists. In the 2018 election, Gillums campaign was attacked by DeSantis for proposing allegedly socialist policies such as higher taxes. These strategies are particularly effective at gaining support from older Cuban-Americans who have an aversion to any socialist or communist candidate due to their firsthand experiences with the worst of Castros regime.
Exit polls for the greater Cuban-American population in Florida, for example, indicate that a disproportionate amount of Cuban-Americans supported Trump compared to other Latino groups. While 54 percent of Cuban-Americans supported Trump, only 35 percent of Latinos nationwide did. Similarly, in the 2018 Florida gubernatorial election, Republican Ron DeSantis won twice as many Cuban-American votes as his Democratic opponent Andrew Gillum. A nearly identical percentage of Cuban-Americans also chose current Republican Gov. Rick Scott over Democrat Bill Nelson in the Florida senate race. The Cuban vote was solidly red in 2016 and 2018 despite the trend of Latino voters being reliably blue.
Even more surprising is that, until 2016, Cuban-Americans had been voting increasingly more Democratic. Why did the Cuban-American vote break away from a solid trend and veer back into the territory of the solid GOP? The unique history of Cuban-Americans, particularly their overall negative experience with socialism, provides the answer.
The flow of Cuban immigrants began in 1959 at the conclusion of the Cuban Revolution. When dissidents and political opponents fled the Castro regime, the United States used boat lifts and airlifts to assist those it had labeled as refugees of a socialist regime. Prior to this, the treatment in Cuba, as described by many of the refugees who escaped the island, included suppression of free expression, freedom of association, and free speech. The regime was confirmed to have executed at least 9,240 individuals including citizens associated with the previous Bautista government and has continued to suppress any sort of criticism of the regime.
SNIP
One of the most obvious reasons that pundits have pointed out for Cuban-American support for the GOP in both 2016 and 2018 is the GOPs characterization of Democratic candidates as far-left, extreme socialists. In the 2018 election, Gillums campaign was attacked by DeSantis for proposing allegedly socialist policies such as higher taxes. These strategies are particularly effective at gaining support from older Cuban-Americans who have an aversion to any socialist or communist candidate due to their firsthand experiences with the worst of Castros regime.
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primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
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The 81% who do not have a positive opinion of 'Socialist' problem. NBC poll 2018
empedocles
Feb 2019
#1
By that logic public fire departments (which displaced private one) and puplic schools (ditto)..
CrossingTheRubicon
Feb 2019
#8
And there is a current example of a socialist dictatorship that is in a crisis: Venezuela.
pnwmom
Feb 2019
#5
Especially since both Maduro and Chavez explicitly embarce(d) the Democratic Socialist ideology.
CrossingTheRubicon
Feb 2019
#9
Here is DSA's statement on Venezuela (it's long), looks like they're firmly supporting Maduro:
George II
Feb 2019
#16
Any liberal Democrat who is on the fence about "Democratic Socialism"...
CrossingTheRubicon
Feb 2019
#25
I understand with Bernie, but why some other Dems are so eager to adopt that brand is beyond me.
pnwmom
Feb 2019
#18
If anyone were to look into the lifestyle of some of these so-called "democratic socialists"....
George II
Feb 2019
#29
Yeah, words matter. And branding matters. And it's DUMB to adopt any brand with the word socialist
pnwmom
Feb 2019
#19
It's a branding issue for sure. And one just looks foolish when pointing to the Nordic Model...
Garrett78
Feb 2019
#22
The Latinos we want in our coalition probably wouldn't be afraid of the term FDR Democrat,
pnwmom
Feb 2019
#31
Probably not. So they wouldn't be afraid of him. That's the point. It would mean something
pnwmom
Feb 2019
#36
The article is saying is that older Cubans, who had more memories of the regime,
pnwmom
Feb 2019
#45
Times have changed since the Cuban issue you referred to. Venezuela might be different.
WordsMatter
Feb 2019
#47
Words do matter. The definition you offered of Democrat Socialism is absurd.
CrossingTheRubicon
Feb 2019
#26
I want a candidate who will say, "Cut the bullshit, I am not a socialist."
marylandblue
Feb 2019
#24
They should ask that question by ethnic group. Do we want to lose the Latino vote
pnwmom
Feb 2019
#33
As I mentioned before the dictator in Venezuela calls himself a Democratic Socialist.
CrossingTheRubicon
Feb 2019
#42