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
General Discussion
Showing Original Post only (View all)It's not the economy, stupid. "Drain the Swamp" has different meanings for liberals/conservatives: [View all]
http://www.salon.com/2016/12/21/drain-the-swamp-of-all-those-p-c-liberals-turns-out-trumpers-dont-care-about-lobbyists-or-plutocrats/During the campaign, Donald Trump frequently promised that once in Washington he would drain the swamp. That phrase was generously interpreted by huge swaths of the news media to mean that Trump intended, in populist style, to reduce the influence of elite bankers and corporate lobbyists in politics. That, in turn, means that the president-elect has been accused of hypocrisy when he immediately turned around and started hiring a bunch of bankers and billionaires and other such swamp critters.
But theres little evidence that Trumps supporters ever thought he was talking about the influence of financial elites or big corporations when he swore to drain that swamp. On the contrary, they seem to be have understood it as reading it as an attack on liberalism and its defenders.
A new poll, conducted by the Glover Park Group and Morning Consult, was released on Tuesday that asked a series of far-ranging and in-depth questions of Trump supporters. What one finds, digging into the results, is that Trumps base has no coherent ideology around economic issues like trade policy or financial regulation.
...
Thats why its important, especially for journalists, not to assume that the phrase drain the swamp is meant by Trump, or heard by his supporters, as describing the influence of special interests or lobbyists on Beltway politics. Yes, thats what most politicians mean when they use that phrase, but theres reason to believe that for Trump, its a vague phrase that allows his followers to define the swamp however they want. And what they really want to do is hate on liberals.
Trump himself admitted that the phrase is empty rhetoric he spews because its a good applause line. In a post-election rally in Iowa, Trump let this bit of truth slip out during one of his tedious ramblings:
"Its funny how that term caught on. I told everyone I hated it. Somebody said, Drain the swamp. I said, Oh thats so hokey, that is so terrible. I said, All right, Ill try it. So like a month ago I said, Drain the swamp. Place went crazy. Then I said it again. Then I started saying it like I meant it. And then I started loving it. And the place loved it. Lets drain the swamp."
...
Most Trump supporters dont go that far, but the conversation on Twitter shows that, by and large, drain the swamp is understood as a culture-war term referring to liberals, and not corrupt politicians.
----------------
Can we pleeeeeeeeeeeeease stop with the bullshit now that the Trump-voters are economically hurting?
There is no way the Democrats can win these voters back with any promise, be it economy or otherwise, because these people don't care about anything Democrats have to say.
They hate your guts for no reason.
They just do.
Stop trying to please them, quit this abusive relationship and move on.
70 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
It's not the economy, stupid. "Drain the Swamp" has different meanings for liberals/conservatives: [View all]
DetlefK
Dec 2016
OP
Stop trying to please them, quit this abusive relationship and move on.
Comatose Sphagetti
Dec 2016
#1
but the phrase has a historical meaning that is about corruption and Washington deals
Fast Walker 52
Dec 2016
#7
what I would love is to have is Trump really be forced to listen to and answer
Fast Walker 52
Dec 2016
#48
I figured that was their fallback meaning BUT he also explicitly ran a campaign against
Fast Walker 52
Dec 2016
#5
He hammered Clinton on Goldman Sacks. Sorry, but trying redefine what Trump said is bull.
KittyWampus
Dec 2016
#49
Thank you. This is redefining the term to benefit Trump. It's to benefit Trump. Don't buy it.
KittyWampus
Dec 2016
#51
So they are against polluting, just don't link it to climate change or they lose their shit.
Ace Rothstein
Dec 2016
#15
You are wrong. That is not what he said. The OP is wrong. He cast himself as an outsider
KittyWampus
Dec 2016
#52
No ........... I would be surprized if they know that it was built on a swamp
Angry Dragon
Dec 2016
#66
This article is propaganda for Trump. His followers knew what drain the swamp meant
UCmeNdc
Dec 2016
#41
Thank you. To you and every one else who refuses to make excuses for Trump and the attempts to
KittyWampus
Dec 2016
#53
Not really, i've heard several talking about the "swamp" including several republicans
7962
Dec 2016
#43
This is a lot of bull. Trump was referring to Hillary/Goldman Sacks and everyone spoke
KittyWampus
Dec 2016
#50
Looks like the population sample of this research is his most ardent followers, not the voters we
JudyM
Dec 2016
#67