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shaayecanaan

(6,068 posts)

62. Lynton Crosby pioneered the technique in Australia in the 1990s

Mon May 11, 2015, 07:58 PM

May 2015

he was the guy who just won the election for David Cameron in the UK. The Labour Party on the other hand spent $300 million engaging the services of David Axelrod, which turned out to be a waste of money and time.

John Howard was a master of wedge politics. He would use environmental issues to drive a wedge between forestry workers and green voters (normally both Labor constituencies). He managed to obtain two seats in electorates formerly regarded as unassailable, which was hugely humiliating for the Labor party.

Part of the success lies in the reaction (such as the OP). If the left spends its time endlessly parsing utterances for racism and discussing semantics then it merely succeeds in (further) alienating the working class.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog-whistle_politics

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How Republicans have made a science out of white working-class resentment [View all] sufrommich May 2015 OP

K&R..... daleanime May 2015 #1

Check out comments on any AOL or Yahoo board.... Historic NY May 2015 #2

Yep. Actually they're on any News website that allows comments. nt sufrommich May 2015 #3

Working class whites should vote for us. lumberjack_jeff May 2015 #4

Buying non union made foriegn cars had a much sufrommich May 2015 #5

I see you support UglyGreed May 2015 #6

And Bernie Sanders voted against the GM bailout. sufrommich May 2015 #11

Bernie's interview with Thom Hartman UglyGreed May 2015 #12

Michigan would have tanked DownriverDem May 2015 #23

Didn't Michigan tank anyway? GummyBearz May 2015 #37

So, your solution is for us to kick immigrants and Latinos in order to pander to them. geek tragedy May 2015 #7

In a "democracy", the government is supposed to be responsive to citizens. Hope that helps! nt Romulox May 2015 #14

Not all citizens are conservative white guys. Hope that helps! nt geek tragedy May 2015 #16

Illegal immigrants aren't, by definition, citizens. The needs and wants and citizens are supposed Romulox May 2015 #17

1. 17% of CITIZENS are Latinos. 2. not all working class white men are xenopobic a-holes nt geek tragedy May 2015 #19

Latino doesn't mean "illegal immigrant". I'm not sure what your point is. nt Romulox May 2015 #38

Have you seen polling on immigration amongst Latinos? geek tragedy May 2015 #39

There's no reason why polls of a specific subset should be controlling. Romulox May 2015 #40

A percentage of the workforce are undocumentated ismnotwasm May 2015 #59

Latino citizens are not illegal aliens. lumberjack_jeff May 2015 #43

Latino citizens overwhelmingly support a path to legalization lunamagica May 2015 #61

And now it's about guys. Focus, dude. n/t lumberjack_jeff May 2015 #47

I think that is their solution. Anything to make sure white, male protestants are at the front NoJusticeNoPeace May 2015 #27

The first rule of pandering is to pander to people who can vote. n/t lumberjack_jeff May 2015 #41

Latinos can't vote? nt geek tragedy May 2015 #42

Why are you talking about latino citizens? lumberjack_jeff May 2015 #45

Because the former have many family members in the latter category. geek tragedy May 2015 #48

So . . . Depaysement May 2015 #66

People who are conservative will vote Republican. geek tragedy May 2015 #69

The effort to attract conservative voters by going 'republican-lite' has never and will never work. pampango May 2015 #70

Its's not that simple Depaysement May 2015 #74

The only way to move conservative opinion is via emotional appeal hootinholler May 2015 #9

I know someone who went to apply for help and discovered there is no "welfare".... Spitfire of ATJ May 2015 #26

My ex Brother in law hootinholler May 2015 #31

I bet he's also convinced of his superiority. Spitfire of ATJ May 2015 #32

Dogwhistle! "the special welfare just for black people" daredtowork May 2015 #36

There are people who get mad when they see a homeless white person.... Spitfire of ATJ May 2015 #49

The homeless white person is always presumed a "vet" daredtowork May 2015 #73

What really confuses the assholes is when there's crossover. The homeless black veteran. Spitfire of ATJ May 2015 #75

That's why economic populism is important. lumberjack_jeff May 2015 #46

Yep, white guys are themselves engage in 'identity politics' as much as anyone. geek tragedy May 2015 #8

Democrats need to counter this dog-whistle politics by exposing it as the deception it is meow2u3 May 2015 #10

I get the sense that a lot of educated, middle class whites blame working class whites for bigotry YoungDemCA May 2015 #13

It's more subtle. Upper class whites want to defend their own privilege via scapegoating. nt Romulox May 2015 #18

+1 Depaysement May 2015 #68

Um, NAFTA, MFN for China, Korean Free Trade, and now, TPP. All Democratic efforts. Romulox May 2015 #15

I had to pause at this point ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2015 #20

I notice you are paying attention, wonder who else is. NoJusticeNoPeace May 2015 #28

Well, the whole concept of "pandering" is curious... malthaussen May 2015 #53

But when that regular ol politician ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2015 #55

Yeah, they get you coming and going there, notice? malthaussen May 2015 #57

But thankfully ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2015 #58

Republicans have enumerated pessimistic narcissism, sociopathy and psychopathy into an ideology AgingAmerican May 2015 #21

It is remarkable that so many psychological pathologies hifiguy May 2015 #56

Right-wing parties in Europe also play the "us vs them" resentment game aimed at minorities and pampango May 2015 #22

Conservatives have made "working-class resentment" an artform Iliyah May 2015 #24

They've redirected it Depaysement May 2015 #67

I know a lot of older white affluent Americans who are incredibly resentful, too. Arugula Latte May 2015 #25

I can assure you that if you are in a work environment or starbucks or grocery store NoJusticeNoPeace May 2015 #29

+1 Enthusiast May 2015 #35

The ones that get me are the ones who refuse to accept the idea that anyone can make it.... Spitfire of ATJ May 2015 #30

Yep. Arugula Latte May 2015 #54

I can't tell you how many yuppies I met with top of the line VCRs blinking "12:00". Spitfire of ATJ May 2015 #60

+1 Enthusiast May 2015 #34

There is no question that Republicans have made a science out of white working-class resentment. Enthusiast May 2015 #33

naw, they LOVE napalm, nukes, and a lot of chemistry MisterP May 2015 #50

The RW GOPers speak to them; Democrats don't. Many Democrats want white voters... Eleanors38 May 2015 #44

The GOP class wareful meme is simply sad Gothmog May 2015 #51

The white working and middle classes ARE getting screwed. hifiguy May 2015 #52

Wonderful graphic on "Voting Republican". Thanks for posting it. pampango May 2015 #71

Lynton Crosby pioneered the technique in Australia in the 1990s shaayecanaan May 2015 #62

Divide and conquer is an ancient strategy hifiguy May 2015 #63

MSM understands it... awoke_in_2003 May 2015 #64

That's pretty much the same thing Turbineguy May 2015 #65

And so have Democrats! Even right here on Democratic Underground! Liberal_Stalwart71 May 2015 #72