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Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)

63. Likability has a lot to do with who people vote for.

Mon Jan 28, 2019, 08:50 PM

Jan 2019

You can dislike that, or like that. But people decide for themselves what's important in who they vote for. You can look at all the Presidents in the 20th Century, and see that most of them were very likable. Likability is one of the characteristics of natural leaders. It doesn't matter if you're the smartest guy in the room, the one with all the answers...if no one wants to follow you or work with you.

Trump is extremely UNlikable....to us. But not to his base. They love him. It's warped, because he's a disagreeable, lying POS. But that's what they like.

I like broccoli okay and know that it is a superfood. It's very good for me. I LOVE ice cream, and know that it's bad for me. If I am out of both broccoli and ice cream, but I want both with dinner, I am not going to get in the car and make a special trip to get broccoli. But I might, to get ice cream. Just because I love it!

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What does "like" have to do with choosing a political candidate? [View all] guillaumeb Jan 2019 OP

It's all about likeability. You do know most people vote based on that. Harris won't have UniteFightBack Jan 2019 #1

But it is the perception of likeability. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #2

It's not just the GOP voters Glamrock Jan 2019 #29

And the lack of information common to many of them. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #40

No doubt. Glamrock Jan 2019 #49

Republicans vote blindly Perseus Jan 2019 #33

See this Samatha Bee clip if you haven't already emulatorloo Jan 2019 #3

"Smile more". guillaumeb Jan 2019 #4

i'm not sure Hermit-The-Prog Jan 2019 #11

Love her underpants Jan 2019 #18

I met Hillary. I like Hillary. I voted for Hillary. I liked her as First Lady. wasupaloopa Jan 2019 #5

And that is fine. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #6

I don't know if who is most qualified plays a big part MichMan Jan 2019 #13

McCain was the most qualified GOP candidate. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #15

Yes but very different platforms. But some truth to what you say. triron Jan 2019 #22

Carter tried really hard to be likeable.. MicaelS Jan 2019 #7

In the cases of Carter and Reagan, guillaumeb Jan 2019 #9

A sizeable number of the voting public is apolitical MichMan Jan 2019 #8

I agree with your analysis. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #10

Yeah like who would you most like to have a beer with. How ridiculous. triron Jan 2019 #23

And the silliness about Warren not being an "authentic" beer drinker. eom guillaumeb Jan 2019 #41

And the reason why Bush won was because Reagan was so popular, still is question everything Jan 2019 #31

Platform is major and so is safeinOhio Jan 2019 #12

Agreed. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #16

For me, it's platform and policy over person and personality. earthshine Jan 2019 #68

Most people vote on a personal, emotional level BigmanPigman Jan 2019 #14

My point. Or part of it. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #17

Products and marketing is what it comes down to. BigmanPigman Jan 2019 #25

Products, meaning the candidates themselves, guillaumeb Jan 2019 #39

K&R for the likability of your conviction. However, "charisma" is a delectable icing on the cake. UTUSN Jan 2019 #19

Adding: Almost all of us here have the same laundry list, just differ UTUSN Jan 2019 #24

And one key to the qualities that you correctly list is that a candidate can fake it. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #42

But *winning* is the topic with "likability" being one contributing possibility UTUSN Jan 2019 #59

So both are factors? guillaumeb Jan 2019 #64

O.K., these sound like catch-phrases: "corporate media" - "style to substance" - "media determine" - UTUSN Jan 2019 #72

There were a few post mortems done on the 2016 election that looked at likeability. CentralMass Jan 2019 #20

And these third Party voters demonstrate a preference for purity over reality based voting. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #43

Clearly, however it is likely to happen again. It always does. CentralMass Jan 2019 #61

So the co-worker cast what was, in essence, a symbolic vote. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #65

Yes. This is a factor in every single presidential election CentralMass Jan 2019 #71

Perhaps we could name it "the Sarandon syndrome". eom guillaumeb Jan 2019 #75

"any "liking" is liking an image, not the reality. " WeekiWater Jan 2019 #21

Kerry was a victim of GOP disinformation, guillaumeb Jan 2019 #44

Which generated a certain image among enough of the public. WeekiWater Jan 2019 #73

And that image becaome reality for some. eom guillaumeb Jan 2019 #76

You described why it is more logical to nominate a man Awsi Dooger Jan 2019 #26

My description was meant to show the double standard. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #45

I will never have a beer with a president or a presidential candidate. The Velveteen Ocelot Jan 2019 #27

Trump is a crook. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #46

I've attended numerous campaigning seminars LeftInTX Jan 2019 #28

Many years ago, before "social media" an acquaintance, a savvy politician question everything Jan 2019 #30

An excellent analysis. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #47

Ask Hillary Clinton. BlueTsunami2018 Jan 2019 #32

They can't explain why because it's purely sexism. EllieBC Jan 2019 #37

Well said. Nothing to add to that. eom guillaumeb Jan 2019 #48

Well, it's an important factor for many voters, frankly. MineralMan Jan 2019 #34

Understood, but this "likeability" is often a veneer. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #50

I once had a republican running for state rep. Harker Jan 2019 #35

I think charisma is a better term. Some candidates have it (The Kennedy's, Obama, B Clinton) while jalan48 Jan 2019 #36

Trump has charisma, of a type, guillaumeb Jan 2019 #51

Yes, Reagan was their big charisma guy though his mind was vacant. jalan48 Jan 2019 #53

And they loved him for his racism, and his appearance of charm. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #54

As a friend of mine once said, "He was the best "acting" President ever. jalan48 Jan 2019 #60

A lot of things matter that shouldn't. Peoples perception matters even if it shouldn't. oldsoftie Jan 2019 #38

True. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #52

You put too much blame on the media marylandblue Jan 2019 #55

"We" do not control the media. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #56

We did, we watch reality TV, which is all fake anyway. marylandblue Jan 2019 #57

True, many seem to prefer reality television to reality. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #58

It's what people prefer. marylandblue Jan 2019 #62

I agree. Like people didn't see the skank that he was and voted for him anyway. I know they UniteFightBack Jan 2019 #67

Likability has a lot to do with who people vote for. Honeycombe8 Jan 2019 #63

Have you considered broccoli flavored ice cream? guillaumeb Jan 2019 #66

Broccoli flavored ice cream! Oh YUK! Honeycombe8 Jan 2019 #69

Voting on emotions or likability is irrational. musicblind Jan 2019 #70

But are they real beer drinkers? guillaumeb Jan 2019 #77

Just seeing Obama and Kamala smile denotes real efhmc Jan 2019 #74