For some seniors, virus is shifting their views of Trump

[catbyte]

Why We Wrote This

President Trump’s approval rating has fallen among older Americans, many of whom feel especially isolated and at risk. Even a small shift among this bloc of voters could pose a serious threat to the president’s reelection.


By Story Hinckley Staff writer

Tommye and Rody Johnson have been registered Republicans for almost seven decades. So while the couple from Vero Beach, Florida, had some reservations about then-candidate Donald Trump in 2016, they just couldn’t imagine voting for Hillary Clinton.

Now, after nearly four years of President Trump’s tweets, the impeachment scandal, and especially, what they see as his disastrous handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, they can’t imagine voting for him again.

They’re not the only ones. According to a recent Morning Consult poll, Mr. Trump’s approval rating among voters over the age of 65 dropped 20 points between March and the end of April, making seniors more critical of the president’s performance than any other age group aside from 18- to 29-year-olds. Much of that decline seems directly related to the virus, which so far has posed a far more serious health threat to older people.

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And voters like the Johnsons say Mr. Trump’s lack of leadership during COVID-19 has made them more politically motivated than ever. They say when and if circumstances permit, they’re planning to canvass for Mr. Biden – the first time they’ve done anything besides simply vote for a candidate since Barry Goldwater.

https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2020/0512/For-some-seniors-virus-is-shifting-their-views-of-Trump

[warrior1]

1. These same people

were okay with his pussy grabbing remarks, Mexicans are rapist and children in cages.

[SoonerPride]

7. They only cared when he was ok with killing the old off.

Then they were like "hey he's talking about ME?"

Republicans lack the empathy gene.

[Claustrum]

2. Well, hearing your "news" talking heads and political leaders say you are disposable

Well, hearing your "news" talking heads and political leaders say you are disposable does make one to rethink their views on them. I hope enough of them rethink their political stance, at least regarding Trump. No one should "sacrifice" themselves for the economy.

[beachbumbob]

3. need to focus on trump/gop desire to trash Social Security and Medicare, then it will be more

then just "some"

[Mariana]

4. If you don't have undeniable evidence to show them

like a bill, they will never believe you. Old Republican voters fully expect that any cuts will be made to the future benefits of younger people, and old Republican voters think that's just fucking dandy. They'd also be very happy to see recipients of SSDI and SSI thrown out into the cold. You'd have to prove to them that their own retirement benefits are going to be chopped. Good luck with that.

[beachbumbob]

5. lots of verifiable comments made by GOP leadership in past several years

I would simple point out the veracity of lying by these same people, especially with current pandemic going on. If fools don;t want to believe, well, it sucks to be a fool doesn;t it?

[Mariana]

6. That won't convince them.

You'll have to prove they plan to cut the retirement benefits of current recipients. If you want old Republican voters to vote for Democrats, that's what you'll have to convince them will happen. They don't care if younger people get zero SS and can't ever retire. They don't care if disabled people starve. They don't give a fuck about anyone else except themselves.

And you know what? They're right that it won't happen to them. Republican lawmakers know perfectly well who their most reliable voters are, and they aren't about to alienate them that way.

[dewsgirl]

8. I would hope so and anyone that has an older person in their lives.

But I know better.

[Bayard]

9. I hope we have enough Seniors left to vote in November.....

[11 Bravo]

11. It's not shifting mine.

I'm a senior who has thought from the very beginning that Trump is a racist, lying, grifting piece of shit.

[Wounded Bear]

12. Yeah, what he said...