Do people who vote for republicans even know what they want?

[MinneapolisMatt]

I've been thinking about this a lot today.

We hear all of the talking points and lies they regurgitate, but when it comes right down to it, I don't think these people know themselves what they want.

I can't figure it out. I bet if they actually sat down and thought about it, they'd realize they have much more in common with the left than they ever imagined. It's pretty sad, actually.

Any thoughts?

[Scootaloo]

1. They want to hurt others and "piss off liberals."

They didn't vote for Walker because they like Walker. They voted for him because he hurts people with his union busting, and they voted for him because they knew Liberals wanted him out.

[Blue_Tires]

9. +1000

[okieinpain]

2. ah now we're getting somewhere. is it possible that it's the results

of hearing that american's are independents and don't need help from anyone.

[hamsterjill]

3. A Texas Take

Honestly and seriously - most of the Republicans that I know who are NOT wealthy, are so ill-informed on the issues that it is pitiful.

They parrot what their fellow Republicans say, especially their pastors and their wealthy employers, and they are afraid of being "different" in any way. If they are mirror images of their contemporaries, that reaffirms to them that they must be "right" because so many of the friends are the same.

The ones that I know who are wealthy Republicans know perfectly well what THEY want...they want all of the poor idiots to vote for Republicans so that the wealthy can keep their money for themselves.

[Avalux]

4. We do have much more in common than either side thinks....

we are all dissastisfied with our society; those in power exploit this by creating issues that divide us in our dissatisfaction.

It seems those who support Republicans (anti-social) have personalities that WANT to be told what to do so they don't have to think for themselves, whether it's good for them or not. They don't seem to be able to change what they 'believe' even if the hard ugly facts are staring them in the face.

[CTyankee]

5. I wish I had a dollar for every time I have devoted thought to this question and talked about it

with like minded progressives. I'd be pretty rich!

There are books out there written by far more informed people than me about why people vote for republicans. I've given up trying to read them. I've tried, tho.

Probably Thomas Franks book "What's the Matter with Kansas?" is the most plausible.

[HopeHoops]

6. If you go to McD's, don't expect real meat.

No, they have no clue.

[Waltons_Mtn]

7. I will tell you what I think.

I think that every person creates a list in the head of what issues are important to them. Then they select who to vote for by who supports or opposes the most important issue for them. For some people it is abortion, for some guns, for some economics and money.

Therefore they will vote for one candidate over another based on that one most important issue. Even if that person opposes other lesser important issues. This is how we get people who work in a union voting for a union crushing candidate. Because that candidate believes in outlawing abortion. To that person, that single issue outweighs all other issues.

[coalition_unwilling]

22. There is much wisdom in what you write. People will vote against

their economic self interest, often knowingly, if a 'social issue' like abortion services is more important to them.

I'm a perfect illustration of this. I preferred Obama to Hillary in 2008, even though I think Hillary was probably marginally better on the economic issues, because of Hillary's vote in favor of the Iraq War and Obama's publicly voiced opposition to it (at a time when opposing it was extremely risky for any pol).

[Waltons_Mtn]

26. This is where the media come in to play.

They get to frame the issue. They get to describe the issue. Point in reference: Death panels. It was the media that gave rise to Obama-care equals death panels. This is why citizens united is so important. Unlimited funds allowing the media to spin anything any way they want. The truth no longer matters, because the rich can buy "the truth".

[Politicalboi]

8. I don't get it either

Maybe it's a self hatred thing. They love paying for wars, but not health care for all. So we send men to die from a country that doesn't even care about it's fellow man. Why do we need war when our own government doesn't protect us from medical or financial breakdowns. What are they protecting, and why bother. Bombs or disease, death is death.

[librechik]

10. people know Repubs hate long haired hippies. Oh and their colored friends, too

Simple. That's enough for them, mostly.

[onestepforward]

11. 24 years of Limbaugh and 16 years of Faux News

plus consolidated corporate ownership of our news media have convinced, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the right must fight for the rich and powerful. In addition, they fight against anything that the left proposes, regardless of what it is, because Liberals are the #1 enemy.

Their minds are closed and locked. Offering facts and information doesn't budge them.

I have no idea how to fight this. I wish I did.

[sadbear]

12. I think we know what they don't want

[kestrel91316]

13. They want to kick dogs and crying children.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

14. They know what they want...more. It's how to get it they're confused about.

They want all that society has to offer but they're convinced that the "welfare queens", "lazy public employees", and things like affirmative action is preventing them from it rather than the capitalists and their politician lackeys that actually are.

[coalition_unwilling]

23. +1 - Well put!

[Politicalboi]

15. Maybe they need something personal

To effect them. Like what should the government do? Pay for more defense that isn't needed, or help them with their children's medical problems?

If Rmoney does steal the election and takes back the pre-existing conditions of the health care, they might see the light. Or when their 21 year old can't be on their insurance anymore. Someone needs to make a short movie of how things will be if Rmoney gets in.

[MinneapolisMatt]

16. Thanks for all of your thoughts!

Very helpful. Feeling a bit blue today.

[Politicalboi]

18. Yeah me too

We lost our pot shops here in Bakersfield Ca. And the Walker win doesn't help either.

[ctaylors6]

17. I think so ...

Pretty much everyone I know votes mostly for Rs, family and friends. They are quite different demographically, although most have college degrees or post-graduate degrees if that matters.

In answering your question, I've tried to think of what they have in common. One, I think, is their beliefs about the role and size of government. They truly believe that the federal government is too big to do anything well or efficiently. I would estimate that their collective approval rating of both the House and Senate right now is about 0 to 5%. They believe much more in local government, including state government. For example, one disapproves of the individual mandate at the federal level but thinks if a state wants to do it that's fine. Generalizing, they believe that the federal government is a racket, the tax code is overly complicated and even a farce, that there's tons of wasteful spending, and lots of other fiscal problems. One of them I know has said that if she ran the federal budget like she runs her household budget, there wouldn't be all the crap in it, especially the pork from the lawmakers and their lobbyists. I remember she liked McCain speaking out about cutting out spending like that. One SIL even said she'd be fine if the federal government overhauled the tax code, vastly reduced its budget, and sent way more money to the states than it spent itself (she's been a big Ron Paul supporter).

Many are what the media may call moderate on social issues. I really don't know many people who vote R who are extremely religious. In fact, the most devout person I know voted for Obama (she's Catholic in very pro life way: anti-war, anti-death penalty, and anti-abortion). From the few times it has come up, I'm pretty sure many don't support gay marriage but most have said they'd be fine with civil unions that confer the same/similar rights. (I can only think of one who has said something much more, ahem, extreme.)

Most of them are civic minded and support many charities both with time and money. I think they just really believe that they know better and could do better than the federal government.

[coalition_unwilling]

24. I fail to understand how someone with a college degree and a net worth less

than $100,000 can ever vote Repig. I guess college degrees don't mean that much any more.

[theaocp]

19. Whether they know what they want or not

they're going to get some bootstraps and fucking real soon. There is nothing keeping the next economic collapse from landing right on our goddamn heads, so get ready for some self-sufficiency, Republican nimrods.

[uponit7771]

20. NO! It's MOSTLY from framing...frank Luntz et all have done a job this country

[coalition_unwilling]

21. The vast majority of Repig voters are walking exemplars of

cognitive dissonance in action live in the flesh.

[gkhouston]

25. They don't "sit down and think about it".

They latch onto one "fact", which may or may not be true, and wall off any input to the contrary.