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ProSense

(116,464 posts)
Fri Nov 9, 2012, 07:07 PM Nov 2012

Did they really think only old white men would hear the dogwhistles?

Did they really think only old white men would hear the dogwhistles?

by thereisnospoon

The political world is still reeling from the stunning revelation that Mitt Romney and his advisers had no idea they were going to lose until the returns came in. It turns out that Romney's push into Pennsylvania was neither desperate nor a bluff. They literally did believe they were expanding the map.

There's much that can be said about this. The first point, of course, is that Romney and Ryan were supposed to be hard-nosed numbers guys if nothing else. That was their entire claim to fame. And they couldn't apparently see the numbers that anyone taking a random look at the poll trackers could tell at a glance. That is very scary, and says a great deal about the conservative bubble of epistemic closure. No longer are the pied pipers leading the deluded flock. The inmates are now running the entire GOP asylum.

But equally important to note is one reason why they disbelieved the polling that clearly showed they would lose: they thought that youth and minorities would turn out at lower rates than in 2008, despite the growth of both demographic segments in the intervening time. They believed that the 2008 election was a black sheep that could not and would not be replicated:

They misread turnout. They expected it to be between 2004 and 2008 levels, with a plus-2 or plus-3 Democratic electorate, instead of plus-7 as it was in 2008. Their assumptions were wrong on both sides: The president's base turned out and Romney's did not. More African-Americans voted in Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina and Florida than in 2008. And fewer Republicans did: Romney got just over 2 million fewer votes than John McCain.

The question is, why did they believe this?

Despite the craziness of Sarah Palin, it's important to remember that John McCain and most of the GOP establishment didn't go hard after the Nixonland race card in 2008. Sure, there was some of that. But they knew that if they pushed it too hard, it would backfire on them.

In the intervening four years, the Republican message against Obama has been nothing but one long racist tirade.

Muslim. Kenyan. Foreign. Hussein. Doesn't share our values. Not Christian. Wants to cut the work requirement in welfare. Obamaphones. "Holder's People." Black Panthers. "Moochelle Chewbacca Obama." "The White Hut." "Entitlement society." "Makers versus takers." Recovery, not dependency. Parasites.

This:



- more -

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/11/09/1159752/-Did-they-really-think-only-old-white-men-would-hear-the-dogwhistles

47%- ain't irony a b!tch?!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021765370

Weird Willard and "You People" Ann ride off into the sunset on their $77,000 tax-break horse.

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Did they really think only old white men would hear the dogwhistles? (Original Post) ProSense Nov 2012 OP
Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah malaise Nov 2012 #1
Sweet, isn't it? ProSense Nov 2012 #2
You want to see sweet malaise Nov 2012 #5
I've said the same thing in other threads.... Blue_Tires Nov 2012 #3
The arrogance was disgusting ProSense Nov 2012 #4
I'm still amazed at how clueless and stupid they are. nt Raine Nov 2012 #6
Fuck them and the horse they rode out on Major Nikon Nov 2012 #7

malaise

(269,157 posts)
1. Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah
Fri Nov 9, 2012, 07:11 PM
Nov 2012

Stupid ignorant ReTHUGs

Fugg 'em!!! Let them stay in their bubble - they will be replaced - progress marches forward.

ProSense

(116,464 posts)
4. The arrogance was disgusting
Fri Nov 9, 2012, 07:29 PM
Nov 2012

An entire campaign built on belittling people and insulting every group outside their delusional bubble.

Sad Romney lost? FU!

Major Nikon

(36,827 posts)
7. Fuck them and the horse they rode out on
Fri Nov 9, 2012, 07:41 PM
Nov 2012

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

It's good to know that not only do they seek idiots for allies, but they seek idiots for campaign managers.

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