Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

WillyT

(72,631 posts)
Tue Nov 10, 2015, 08:45 PM Nov 2015

In Honor Of Our Nov. 2015 Dem Implosion...

This is a big group of voters—at least 20 percent of Americans—who could be swayed by Democratic policies. Yet both parties leave their votes on the table.


If true... any thoughts on why this would be ???

*****************************************************************

How the Democrats Could Win Every Election
The Democrats are getting populist, which is nice. But will it be enough to lure the millions who don’t vote to the polls?

Monica Potts - DailyBeast
1/15/15

The Pew survey asked people questions about their overall financial security, including whether they’d ever received food stamps or Medicaid and whether they had retirement savings, and then about political preferences.

The most financially secure participants were strongly Republican, which is no surprise. The least financially secure were much more likely to prefer Democratic policies. That included the mythical “white working class,” a group liberals have worried about the Democrats losing because of social-justice issues like race and gender relations. Even though white voters overall were more likely to tilt Republican, support for the GOP declines as we move down the income scale, and the poorest whites were more likely to say they liked Democrats better. Will this finally end the myth that the nation is full of poor whites voting against their economic interests?

The least financially secure group was more likely to say that the government should do more to help the needy, which might indicate support for a proposal like Van Hollen’s. But the bigger problem is that people who were the least financially secure were also the least likely to vote. On top of that, few of them ever wrote to their Congressperson or knew much about the current Congress or the current political field.

This is a big group of voters—at least 20 percent of Americans—who could be swayed by Democratic policies. Yet both parties leave their votes on the table.


Why might lower-income and lower-wealth Americans be so disengaged? The Pew survey didn’t make any claims, but noted that the least financially secure surveyed were less ideologically consistent than the better-off participants, so maybe they don’t strongly identify with a party and that keeps them from feeling moved to vote. Indeed, the least well off were more likely to say they had no preference between the Democratic and Republican candidates in the 2014 elections.

It could also be that, until now, the Democratic Party seemed as friendly to the big banks at times as the Republicans. See above: Warren challenging Obama’s Treasury nominee for being a Wall Streeter.

I think this group doesn’t see Democrats doing much to enhance their economic security. Even these voters know the game is rigged against them and don’t seen many politicians of either party rising to be their champion.
Democrats seem ready to cede lots of ground on policies that will hit Americans with the lowest incomes the hardest, like raising the Social Security retirement age and cutting benefits.

The lives of low-income, financially insecure Americans are busy, insecure ones. They are less likely to be well educated and more likely to have a disability that keeps them from working full time. They are more likely to be women who have never been married, which means many are overwhelmed single mothers. The least well-off financially likely includes men who have spent some time in the criminal justice system, which means they are literally disenfranchised or believe they cannot vote even if they live in a state where they could.


More: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/01/15/how-the-democrats-could-win-every-election.html#




43 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
In Honor Of Our Nov. 2015 Dem Implosion... (Original Post) WillyT Nov 2015 OP
They came out to vote in '08, but haven't since. without them , we lose leveymg Nov 2015 #1
Yep... And It's 4 To 8 Years Of Nothing But Executive Orders... WillyT Nov 2015 #2
Unless SCOTUS holds that EOs are essentially unconstitutional by upholding leveymg Nov 2015 #3
And We Will Become Underground Yet Again... WillyT Nov 2015 #5
this article is spot-on ibegurpard Nov 2015 #4
Thank You... It's Been Mainly Ignored Here... WillyT Nov 2015 #6
I'm one of those people, so yes Hydra Nov 2015 #7
Our Party Flips A Lot Of People The Bird, And Then Expects Their Votes... Not Working Anymore... WillyT Nov 2015 #8
Keep up the good work Willy :) Hydra Nov 2015 #11
Thanks Hydra... WillyT Nov 2015 #19
This has been posted in different ways a dozen times. cosmicone Nov 2015 #9
But Has It Been Refuted ?? WillyT Nov 2015 #12
Some click-baits are never worth refuting cosmicone Nov 2015 #13
It's like raiiii-iiii-aaaaain on your wedding daaaaay... Scootaloo Nov 2015 #16
Would you be willing to cross post this to the Populist Reform Group? demwing Nov 2015 #10
I Am Open Forum... You Can Re-Post Anything Of Mine... At Anytime... WillyT Nov 2015 #15
Done !!! WillyT Nov 2015 #18
awesome! demwing Nov 2015 #33
K&R liberal_at_heart Nov 2015 #14
VERY true. eom Betty Karlson Nov 2015 #17
Mos of these people don't sadoldgirl Nov 2015 #20
It's much easier to win by insuring your regular voters get to the polls. MohRokTah Nov 2015 #21
No Wonder We Keep Losing... WillyT Nov 2015 #22
Team Hillary would rather not have those votes Hydra Nov 2015 #23
Exhibit A: Debbie Wasserman Schultz WillyT Nov 2015 #26
Dems only show up every four years. MohRokTah Nov 2015 #28
And Moh... The Republicans Keep Their Voters In A Constant State Of Agitation... WillyT Nov 2015 #24
Republicans show up in off year elections while Dems don't MohRokTah Nov 2015 #29
Agreed... So How Do We Fix That ??? WillyT Nov 2015 #30
Get those on the far left to start showing up in off year elections... MohRokTah Nov 2015 #31
I think you mean Sanders campaign implosion. Metric System Nov 2015 #25
We'll See... Won't We... WillyT Nov 2015 #27
This is not 2007 and Sanders is not Obama. eom MohRokTah Nov 2015 #32
We Will See, No ??? WillyT Nov 2015 #34
It's all over very except for the crying. MohRokTah Nov 2015 #35
List of Democratic Party Superdelegates, 2008... Things Can Change... WillyT Nov 2015 #36
Correct, the super delegates did not really start aligning until after Super Tuesday in 2008 MohRokTah Nov 2015 #37
So... We're Left With A Status Quo vs. A "Radical"... WillyT Nov 2015 #38
Hate to be the one to break it to you... MohRokTah Nov 2015 #39
And You Are Most Likely Correct... My Party Decides What It Want's Up Front... WillyT Nov 2015 #40
The party is made up of people... MohRokTah Nov 2015 #41
Hillary... Is Not The Interloper ??? WillyT Nov 2015 #42
Sanders is the interloper. MohRokTah Nov 2015 #43

leveymg

(36,418 posts)
1. They came out to vote in '08, but haven't since. without them , we lose
Tue Nov 10, 2015, 09:12 PM
Nov 2015

No matter how many millions Wall St. antes up for Hillary. If she's the candidate, we lose. The Repubs have been itching to vote against her.

 

WillyT

(72,631 posts)
2. Yep... And It's 4 To 8 Years Of Nothing But Executive Orders...
Tue Nov 10, 2015, 09:17 PM
Nov 2015

i.e. Not much gets done.


leveymg

(36,418 posts)
3. Unless SCOTUS holds that EOs are essentially unconstitutional by upholding
Tue Nov 10, 2015, 09:25 PM
Nov 2015

the 5th Circuit immigration decision today. Can you imagine what it will be like living in a country that tries to round up and deport 5 million people? I can't.

 

WillyT

(72,631 posts)
5. And We Will Become Underground Yet Again...
Tue Nov 10, 2015, 09:34 PM
Nov 2015

We will protect ourselves, and others... and find ways to foil the "system".


ibegurpard

(17,081 posts)
4. this article is spot-on
Tue Nov 10, 2015, 09:31 PM
Nov 2015

And the Democratic Party is abandoning these people for the mythical suburban "swing voters".

Hydra

(14,459 posts)
7. I'm one of those people, so yes
Tue Nov 10, 2015, 09:47 PM
Nov 2015

Our party quite often flips us the bird, then demands our votes. I wouldn't bother voting except that it helps my advocacy- I get to point out that our votes aren't doing any good, and that more will be needed.

I wouldn't be as active or politically informed if our party was doing their job.

 

WillyT

(72,631 posts)
8. Our Party Flips A Lot Of People The Bird, And Then Expects Their Votes... Not Working Anymore...
Tue Nov 10, 2015, 09:56 PM
Nov 2015





 

cosmicone

(11,014 posts)
13. Some click-baits are never worth refuting
Wed Nov 11, 2015, 01:48 AM
Nov 2015

I mean ... I understand the frustration that Bernie is losing badly and all the socialist dreams are a bust but why reveal the desperation by posting inane things over and over and over?

::::::::::::: yawn :::::::::::::::::::

 

demwing

(16,916 posts)
10. Would you be willing to cross post this to the Populist Reform Group?
Tue Nov 10, 2015, 10:57 PM
Nov 2015

I'd love to see it there, complete with all your added emphasis!

 

WillyT

(72,631 posts)
15. I Am Open Forum... You Can Re-Post Anything Of Mine... At Anytime...
Wed Nov 11, 2015, 02:14 AM
Nov 2015

You have total permission from me.


sadoldgirl

(3,431 posts)
20. Mos of these people don't
Wed Nov 11, 2015, 08:28 PM
Nov 2015

believe that their vote counts. They also think that
the cards are stacked against them.

I have thought for a long time that everyone
renewing their driver's license should be registered
to vote as a duty. However, there should be then
a line on the ballot stating "None of the above".

 

MohRokTah

(15,429 posts)
21. It's much easier to win by insuring your regular voters get to the polls.
Wed Nov 11, 2015, 08:36 PM
Nov 2015

Going after the non-voters has always been a fool's (and loser's) errand.

Hydra

(14,459 posts)
23. Team Hillary would rather not have those votes
Wed Nov 11, 2015, 08:54 PM
Nov 2015

Since more than likely, they wouldn't be for their candidate. Funny how that works, isn't it? Democracy is great thing as long as it's controllable?

 

MohRokTah

(15,429 posts)
28. Dems only show up every four years.
Wed Nov 11, 2015, 09:03 PM
Nov 2015

Going after people who never vote is a loser's errand.

 

WillyT

(72,631 posts)
24. And Moh... The Republicans Keep Their Voters In A Constant State Of Agitation...
Wed Nov 11, 2015, 08:57 PM
Nov 2015

Fear, Loathing, etc...

They come out in droves in even the most minor of elections.

We, to our pride (and to our shame), aren't so easily manipulated as they are.

Yet... if we cannot GOTV, except for the Presidency, we're screwn.


 

MohRokTah

(15,429 posts)
29. Republicans show up in off year elections while Dems don't
Wed Nov 11, 2015, 09:04 PM
Nov 2015

Those who never vote never vote, even in presidential elections.

 

MohRokTah

(15,429 posts)
31. Get those on the far left to start showing up in off year elections...
Wed Nov 11, 2015, 09:14 PM
Nov 2015

instead of sitting them out because they're pissed at the president.

 

MohRokTah

(15,429 posts)
35. It's all over very except for the crying.
Wed Nov 11, 2015, 09:48 PM
Nov 2015

You wouldn't have so many super delegates going one way so early otherwise. Obama kept up with Hillary on those and most held off, unlike this year.

 

WillyT

(72,631 posts)
36. List of Democratic Party Superdelegates, 2008... Things Can Change...
Wed Nov 11, 2015, 09:56 PM
Nov 2015
This is a list of Democratic party unpledged delegates, also known as superdelegates or automatic delegates,[1] who voted in the 2008 Democratic National Convention, the culmination of the Party's presidential nominating process that began with the 2008 Democratic Party presidential primaries and caucuses.

At the time of Hillary Clinton's campaign suspension on June 7, 2008, the count was 246½ for her and 478 for Barack Obama,[2] with 99 still 'Uncommitted'[3] of the 823½ total then existing, although this number represents the realignment of around 50 superdelegates who switched their support from Clinton to Obama when he had gained the majority of delegates. Clinton released her delegates during the convention.

The breakdown by position for Clinton was 144 DNC, 52½ Representatives, 14 Senators, 17 Add-ons, 10½ Governors, and 7½ DPLs; the breakdown by position for Obama was 229 DNC, 157 Representatives, 34 Senators, 29 Add-ons, 20 Governors, and 9 DPLs; and the breakdown for "Uncommitted" was: 39 DNC, 22 Representatives, 1.5 Senators, 32.5 Add-ons, 1 Governor, and 3 DPLs.


Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Democratic_Party_superdelegates,_2008


 

MohRokTah

(15,429 posts)
37. Correct, the super delegates did not really start aligning until after Super Tuesday in 2008
Wed Nov 11, 2015, 10:00 PM
Nov 2015

Hardly any had endorsed by this time in 2007, compared to over 400 declared for Hillary now.

They are making what they see as a safe bet this go around.

 

WillyT

(72,631 posts)
38. So... We're Left With A Status Quo vs. A "Radical"...
Wed Nov 11, 2015, 10:30 PM
Nov 2015

I'm rooting for the radical.

We need a serious shake up.




 

MohRokTah

(15,429 posts)
39. Hate to be the one to break it to you...
Wed Nov 11, 2015, 10:34 PM
Nov 2015

there is absolutely no way the Democratic part will nominate an outsider who spent years putting the party down.

Ain't gonna happen.

 

WillyT

(72,631 posts)
40. And You Are Most Likely Correct... My Party Decides What It Want's Up Front...
Wed Nov 11, 2015, 10:38 PM
Nov 2015

And then spends the rest of it's money conning the rest of us.


 

MohRokTah

(15,429 posts)
41. The party is made up of people...
Wed Nov 11, 2015, 10:43 PM
Nov 2015

and the people overwhelmingly support Hillary over an interloper.

 

WillyT

(72,631 posts)
42. Hillary... Is Not The Interloper ???
Wed Nov 11, 2015, 10:49 PM
Nov 2015

Wow !!!

Bernie has had our backs for 40 + years.


 

MohRokTah

(15,429 posts)
43. Sanders is the interloper.
Wed Nov 11, 2015, 11:18 PM
Nov 2015

He has never been a Democrat until scant weeks ago, and he constantly denigrated the party for decades. That's the very definition of interloper.

Kick in to the DU tip jar?

This week we're running a special pop-up mini fund drive. From Monday through Friday we're going ad-free for all registered members, and we're asking you to kick in to the DU tip jar to support the site and keep us financially healthy.

As a bonus, making a contribution will allow you to leave kudos for another DU member, and at the end of the week we'll recognize the DUers who you think make this community great.

Tell me more...

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»2016 Postmortem»In Honor Of Our Nov. 2015...