Why do nearly half of Americans vote Republican?

[Cyrano]

Okay, here are a few answers I can figure out:

• They come from wealth, their family has always voted Republican, and it’s a tradition/habit.

•They are fundamentalist Christians who believe the world was made for white Christian men.

•They are “patriots” who believe America is for … Damn, it's so obvious. They hate every version of the “THEMS.” And those “THEMS” can be black, brown, yellow, Muslim, Jews, Hindus, Shinto, or anything other than a conservative, white Christian man. (And, oh yeah, they especially hate white, Liberal American men.)

•They think women are property and should not have a vote.

•Far too many of them are mentally challenged.

Those are about the only reasons I can think of that would make almost half of the people in this country vote for a Republican.

Have any more? Let’s hear them.

[Skinner]

1. I think most people vote based on their perception of which candidate or party shares their values.

It isn't really a rational decision based on policy positions or economic self-interest. It's just a gut feeling that they belong to a particular tribe.

(This is a gross generalization of course. Many people do make a rational choice. But I think a lot of people -- especially those who are not interested by politics -- don't give the choice very much thought.)

[Cyrano]

16. Yep. "Tribe" is the perfect word and the one I forgot.

Last edited Sat Jul 16, 2016, 01:24 PM - Edit history (1)

And you're right. Most people will vote with whatever they consider to be their "tribe." Even if it is against their own personal interests, or the interests of the human species as a whole.

Somewhere, someplace, somehow along the line, we humans took a wrong turn on the fork in the road. And just as a guess, it was two-way sign that presented a choice between qualities like sanity and ignorance.

[lapfog_1]

2. They hate "libruls"

They believe that liberals lie, that they are weak, and that they "libruls" hate America.

Mostly its that they resent that we liberals typically make more money and are better educated and that we dismiss their opinions (usually for good reasons like their opinions are not fact based).

[kimbutgar]

3. They have been brain washed for so many years they have lost the ability to think for themselves

Last edited Fri Jul 15, 2016, 03:29 PM - Edit history (2)

To them:

Obama=Kenyan Muslim
Hillary=liar, benghazi.
Democrats=giveaways to black/brown people, traitors to our freedumbs
Socialism=Communism
Muslims=Terrorists
BLM==Terrorists (This is their new imprinting though)
Abortion=baby killing
republicans=freedom and liberty (code for white people)


All these have been imprinted on their brains neuro-linguistically for the last 20 years by the right wing media machine starting with Fox. If you ask these people a question beyond the talking points they freeze up like a deer in the headlights and get angry because they can't give a cogent answer beyond the programmed talking points.



It's almost a knew jerk reaction with them.

[hamsterjill]

17. This!!!!

This is, at least, what I experience in South Texas.

They'll say Obama is a Muslim. You ask, "How do you know he's a Muslim?"

Their answer, "Aw hell, everbody knows he's a Muslim."

No cognitive reasoning happening at ALL.

[rusty quoin]

53. Through talk radio. 1989.

There has been nothing like the Rush Limbaugh phenomenon. I was there at the beginning with fellow workers liking him. He was mostly dismissed at the beginning as an entertainer. Even the people who liked him thought he was outrageous. It was the beginning of the brainwashing.

[unblock]

4. because republican leaders and the m$m are masters of manipulation and emotional appeal

they figured out decades ago that their ideas (first and foremost, the upward transfer of wealth) are intellectually and empirically indefensible, so they became experts at lying, avoiding question, changing the topic, character assassination, endlessly repeating emotionally laden catchphrases, appealing to fear and hate, nationalism, etc.

it's too simplistic to blame so many people for falling for it because the right-wing powers that be are constantly adapting their tactics and word choices and so on. when some catchphrase no longer produces the desired results, they trot out a new one. and they think about this stuff every single day and they are relentless.

[PJMcK]

5. Perfectly said, unblock

In the end, it's all about greed.

[0rganism]

6. here you go

https://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/

Prof/Dr. Bob Altmeyer studied the coupling of politics and basic behaviors
this is the information you are looking for
it's also surprisingly easy to read and understand
fear is a huge motivator - fear of the unknown, the different, change in general, etc.
the "mentally challenged" are more susceptible to such fears
they vote accordingly

it's important to distinguish between Authoritarian followers vs. Authoritarian leaders, Altemeyer does an excellent job of exploring both

[Gabi Hayes]

36. neurolinguistic PR, straight from Freud's nephew

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2005/02/stephen-bender/karl-rove-the-spectre-of-freudsnephew/

this is where it all started, at least in terms of the 20th century, basically applying, systematizing techniques used as long their was any sort of communication by language

"The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country… We are governed, our minds molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized… "

So opens Propaganda (1928), one of several strikingly frank analyses of western social psychology written by Edward Bernays. This nephew of Sigmund Freud founded the public relations industry in the United States.

I link this thing about once a month.

Bernays was seminal in developing the language control techniques which hold sway as we sit here in wonderment what they've wrought: Mussolini, Hitler, Huey Long, Reagan, Gingrich, (who clearly studied them, and published his own version for GOPAC), Bush II, now Trump

Jacques Ellul is also a good source for understanding the use of PR techniques to keep the hoipolloi as a massive herd, doing the bidding of those who control the flow of information

[FLPanhandle]

7. I have many Republican friends and family members

None of your reasons would apply to them. None of them are rich, patriots, Christian fundamentalists, etc. They do have concerns about losing their jobs overseas, they do have concerns about losing their jobs to illegal immigration, they do have concerns that the Democrats are more focused on Muslim refugees than their own communities.

It's your simplistic, "look down your nose at the unwashed masses" attitude that some liberals have that is a problem with growing our party base.

I would say most people vote for the party they feel is out to help them.

The better question is why do so many people feel the Democratic Party isn't about helping them?

A smart approach would be to address the concerns of the working class white republican voters and not dismiss legitimate concerns.

Democrats need to stop insulting voters and look in the mirror as to why they are not attractive to more voters.

[StraightRazor]

15. Absolutely agree...

I know several quite well educated Republicans who are thoughtful, intelligent people who simply prefer Republican ideology to Democratic ideology. Very few agree with the extremes in their party (just as some of us don't always agree with the extremes in ours), and simply feel that true, conservative Republican leadership is better for this country.

They are all dismayed right now over how ridiculous things have gotten and are embarrassed by Trump and may not vote for him in the General, but they'll stay Republican down-ticket and locally.

And not for nothing, but the usual insults cast the way of people who don't believe as you (the general you) do is indeed off-putting and certainly not going to convert many of them to become Democrats any time soon.

[Cyrano]

20. Excuse me. You are the one calling them the "unwashed masses?

"HELPING tHEM"?

Talking to someone named Cyrano it's ingenious to use the term "looking down their nose."

But let me get to the core of your remarks. I never used the phrase "unwashed masses." If anyone owns that phrase it's the Republican Party.

The Democratic Party, at one time, really did give a shit about the average person and cared what happened to him/her.

They've moved to the right and are no longer the party of FDR. But understand this. The Democratic Party is not the Party of Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, the Bush Family, or any other group of Republican thugs.

There is no doubt that our political system is screwed up, almost beyond repair. But one thing is clear to any sane person on this planet. The Democratic Party is still the party of the working man/woman/child and does what is possible to help. The Republican Party will do everything they can to everybody who is not one of the "chosen" ones. Republicans will fuck everyone and everybody for any reason.

And here's the reason. Republicans want more. Democrats want a better world. Yes, this is a vast generalization. But, at its core, true.

[FLPanhandle]

22. Come on, every one of the reasons in your OP was an example in condescending attitude.

Mentally challenged isn't looking down your nose?

Women as property?

Please spare me any lame defense of your attitude.

Many republicans are hard working, intelligent, caring people. So, why do they vote Republican? The reasons are far more complex than your simplistic "greedy, hyper-patriot, evangelical Christians, and mentally challenged".

I live in a deep red area, I'm friends with many hard core republicans. Most aren't the insulting stereotype you originally posted.

The fault is as much the RW media, Republican framing of issues, and the failings of the Democratic Party to address their concerns.

However, live in your binary world if you can't think beyond it.

[Cyrano]

27. Okay, you've told me what they aren't. Tell me what they are.

[FLPanhandle]

39. Just people trying to make a living, support their families, and want to be safe

Same as you and I.

You can demonize Republican voters if that makes thinking easy for you, but it's not reality.

Many republicans would be Democrats if the Democrats were better at addressing working class concerns. Trade agreements with Mexico or Asia aren't helping people feel secure with their jobs or future. Mass and uncontrolled immigration is a valid concern and drives down wages. Terrorist attacks mean people are worried about the safety of their families and rightly so.

The Republicans have a shit set of solutions for their concerns, but, they, at least, are showing that they listen. Too many times Democrats ignore or belittle the concerns of a large percentage of Americans and then wonder why they don't get the votes.

I blame the parties. Republicans for pretending to care and the Democrats for not providing solutions. What I don't do is blame the voters.

[radical noodle]

55. You're right about part of that

There are many people who are average, working class Americans. They vote Republican because their mom & dad did. They don't pay much attention to what anyone says, what the parties stand for, or anything else.

Case in point is a woman I know who is middle class. They have enough money that they have a nice home and traveled to Europe for a three week vacation last year, but she cleans houses for her income even though she did spend some time in college. She votes Republican and she told me flat out that she votes that way because her parents were Republicans. She was surprised to hear (this year) that Bill Clinton had been impeached, but didn't really know what that meant. She intends to vote for Trump and is glad he won the primaries. She never watches his speeches, so she had no idea that he makes fun of people or how mean spirited he is. Her daughter also votes Republican but never discusses politics (it's depressing) and never watches news (too much bad stuff). So there are people who work at staying uninformed. If they knew what was going on, they might have to change their opinions.

I know a lot of people just like that. If they do pay attention to the news, it's on Fox. It wouldn't matter what Democrats said, they would never hear it.

[840high]

56. Good post. I have Republican family

and friends. Your post is honest and spot on. My sweetie is a life-long Dem who has quit voting. He feels the wat the party is now is not for the benefit of the middle class people.

[treestar]

71. White people don't like being looked down on?

Address the concerns of white people? LOL. We are more focused on Muslim refugees than on them? Poor them! They don't come from a war torn country and it's more important to "help" those that are so fortunate as them?

Why are people so mad that others are more informed and talented and they don't want those others to know it? We are to respect the ignorant dammit! Not act all superior because we know more and aren't bigoted. We should respect their fear of foreigners and address it.

So concerned about losing their jobs to illegal immigration! So they are dishwashers and gardeners and maids and nonprofessional health care workers. How interesting.

[Ohio Joe]

8. Fear - nt

[sorefeet]

9. Low information voters

an ignorant group of people with no desire to learn, especially the truth.

[840high]

58. The Republicans I know don't

fit your post.

[Iggo]

10. Nearly half of the eligible voters who vote, not half of Americans.

[leftstreet]

24. +1

[gratuitous]

26. Yeah, I was going to point that out

And the main preoccupation of Republican governance during the last five years or so has been to discourage voter turnout.

[Iggo]

47. Still, I think it works out to about 27 or 28 percent...

...which is well above the 23% that are just crazy.

[loyalsister]

11. They whole heartedly buy into the "American dream"

where people believe thay have full opportunity to succeed because it is possible for "anyone" to be anything if they trywork hard enough. Of course, "anyone" more specifically references white men.

Republican rhetoric reinforces that belief and they get away with transforming that and coddling millionaires into "patriotism."

[FSogol]

12. Dropped on heads as infants?

Kidding aside, selfish people become Republicans.

Go in a preschool and find the kid that won't share with others. That kid will grow up to be Mike Pence.

[tblue37]

13. Because propaganda works on a lot of people. nt

[Brickbat]

14. "Mentally challenged"?

Jesus Christ.

[Johnny2X2X]

18. They don't

About 1/6th of Americans vote Republican. A little more than that vote Dem, and the rest are not eligible to vote (either justly or unjustly).

If 100% of adults in this country were required to vote the GOP would never hold office again.

[OldHippieChick]

19. They are angry and scared and

do not understand why they are that way because they believe the lies told to them by MSM and the right. They also watch t.v. and see people on welfare/unemployment/disability and believe they are freeloaders, because they only see the fringe behavior on t.v., whether on the news or other shows - like eg. Judge Judy.

They are scared of ISIS/Muslims/Mexicans because they have had fear instilled into them by various organizations, including the media. So long as corporate America controls the message, they will control a fraction of the populace.

[VOX]

25. ^^^ THIS ^^^^

Precisely correct. They are addicted to fear and anger, to the extent that scapegoating provides a kind of "life preserver," and the MSM is all too happy to oblige them.

[taught_me_patience]

21. Just because someone doesn't agree with you doesn't make them mentally challenged

Most republicans I know just want competitive balance. When one party is in power too long, it gets really fucked up. I lived in Hawaii, where democrats had a monopoly on politics for a long time. It sucked. Government was corrupt and nearly incompetent. Because of it, I have a disdain for government that lingers to this day.

[840high]

59. .+1

I get so tired of the insults thrown at our fellow Americans - all because they don't follow us.

[haele]

23. You mean "Why do half of voting Americans vote Republican?"

There's several reasons -
1. A large number of voters who might vote Democratic - or Green, or Libertarian, or any party other than Republican for that matter - are currently disenfranchised by disingenuous "voter verification requirements" passed by partisan legislatures wishing to consolidate power.

2. Gerrymandering ( i.e., depending on the last re-districting based on Census 2010, where pretty much a majority of Republicans came out to vote), which currently benefits more Republican districts than Democratic. Voters in gerrymandered districts are either wildly over-represented - and their votes don't count for any candidate outside of their district or are totally overwhelmed - so their votes also don't count within the district.

3. Group-think prodding using fears or resentment to motivate like-minded participants to get out and vote. Churches, community "clubs" and like social organizations will often create a competitive "us against them" philosophical reality to goad their membership into action to ensure their organizational goals become the primary goals of the community at large, no matter what would actually serve the population of that community best. So long as they have their army of fellow travelers and willing servants/warriors, they think they can continue to increase the amount of respect and power they gain over everyone else. It's a typical conservative/authoritarian world-view - so long as everyone keeps to their "place", and any opposition is ruthlessly crushed before it can grow, everything will be just hunky-dory.

4. The comfort of Status Quo. It's easier to motivate action against a clear "threat" than motivate action to "do something positive", even if it is obvious that without doing something, society at large is in the process of hurtling towards a metaphorical cliff unless steering, breaks and windshield wipers are added to the vehicle.

As to what makes a voter decide to vote Republican now-a-days?
Family Tradition. Organizational Belonging. Fear of Social Change or loss of "prestige" (position in the social hierarchy). Single Issue voting.
Any of these can be behind why people vote Republican.

Haele

[Capt. Obvious]

28. They don't. Nearly half of people who vote vote Republican.

[still_one]

29. Perhaps because only 40 to 60% of those who can vote, do

[HassleCat]

30. Because we lost them.

IN 1980, we got slammed by Reagan. We figured it must be because the voters were fed up with candidates like Jimmy Carter, candidates and elected officials who thought about things, cared about people, and didn't believe greed was good. So we decided to be more like Reagan, more tough talking, less tolerant of welfare bums, friendlier to large businesses who didn't like paying taxes or obeying environmental regulations, less sympathetic to workers injured on the job, and so on. But why would the voters be interested in imitation Republicans when they could elect the real thing? So that's what they did, and that's why we're now the minority party.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

31. You miss hostility to government, which is one of the biggest ones.

The believe that government is inherently harmful, and that taxation and spending are forms of repression, is very widespread in the USA.

[Gabi Hayes]

32. because we live in an

Idiocracy

[Warpy]

33. Some of it is fashion, everybody around them does, and some of it is authoritarian world views

which means follow the leader, top down economics, and every other wrong thinking thing you can imagine.

They used to be decent bur wrong. Now they're just wrong.

[Thinkingabout]

34. Since I live in the South, we have lots of Dixiecrats who migrated to the Republican party

After the Civil Rights Act, not all followed, I knew I would be voting against my best interest to vote Republican and the Democratic Party platform is closer to my personal beliefs. Why do we only have about 36% voting, it has to be lack of concern of where we are politically, some have claimed rebellion, its crazy, must mean many are happier not voting and acceptable of the crumbs provided by the Republicans. It is easy to vote, I vote on regular basis, may not always get my candidate elected but I vote.

[TeddyR]

35. The idea that people only vote Republican

Because they are "mentally challenged," "fundamentalist," rich, misogynists, or "patriots" is a very elitist, condescending attitude. I've known people who voted Republican for any number of legitimate reasons, and to think that Republicans only attract someone who is mentally challenged or holds some hateful attitude says a lot about why we can't get anything accomplished in this country.

[UnFettered]

38. This 100%

[FLPanhandle]

40. +1

[Arazi]

54. +1. When canvassing Rs state immigration reform primarily

They don't think Dems are serious about reform and they hate any path to citizenship.

Abortion is still huge - they honestly see it as murder.

They firmly believe in American exceptionalism. Make America Great Again resonates. NAFTA, our crumbling infrastructure, "illegals" taking American jobs is a big issue etc

The ones I've personally spoken to are also firm 2A supporters. They're unreachable imo.

These aren't idiots. They're not neanderthals. They just deeply, firmly believe differently

[840high]

60. .that^

[tonyt53]

37. Simply put, most are dumber than a well rope or a mud flap.

[Glassunion]

41. It's much more simple than what you're making it out to be.

If you think about how stupid the average person is, you have to conclude that half of them are even stupider than that.
- Paraphrasing Carlin

[oswaldactedalone]

44. ^^^^It's the only answer^^^^

[ananda]

42. I don't think it's really close to half.

But gerrymandering, voter suppression, and ballot and
machine fixing make it look like the Reeps actually
have numbers.

They don't.

[Matrosov]

43. Because Democrats want to waste money on the lazy and stupid

I know countless Republicans. They don't vote Republican because they think the GOP has their best interests at heart, they vote Republican because they think Democrats want to waste money on the lazy and stupid. Their words.

Sadly, even my own parents are among them. My mother doesn't even understand why she should pay taxes to support the local school district when none of her children are in school anymore. 'Why should I care about someone else's kids?!'

My father thinks that anybody who is struggling to make ends meet is deserving of their struggles, because they either lack the intelligence or the willpower. When I try to point out that even something like a major illness can put a whole family under major financial stress, he'll counter with 'Oh, what, you're a damn commie now?'

I love them dearly, but trying to talk with them about politics is actually less productive than just talking to a wall.

[Bernielover357743]

63. Just because they think differently does not make them all terrible people.

I finally made an account on here because it kind of hurts to see people like my parents bashed.

The vote conservative and are Christians.

They are not bad people. The generalizing of entire groups of people is something I thought we as a party were against??

I see it all the time, the references to Christians as "Neocons" or "Right wing radicals"

But seriously guys, I am saddened and disheartened that a lot in our own party have become so hateful in their own way towards groups who have differences.

My parents are white and so am I. I live in a black community and they have never had a problem talking with my neighbors or lending them a hand. When my neighbor who is black, was down on his luck and asked me for food, and I gave all that I had, I asked them if they could spare any. The went to the store and bought him food and gave him things they grew in their garden. They gave them to me to give to him and were happy to do it. They wanted no praise or reward or pat on the back from their fellow man, just to help out someone in need.

Most of the Christians I grew up were like this. There were even a few homosexual men who came to our church when I was a kid. They were always welcomed with open arms by everyone (That I remember anyways).

I think the conservatives, simply have a different set of principles than we do. They (my parents) pride themselves on getting by on there own and not taking anything from the government. I have had long talks with my dad, and the thing they seem to want most is the freedom to have a choice in the matters.

And I have to say, It seems like more and more we as liberals have been proving their points and polarizing them.

When you talk about banning guns, people who legally own them, and are responsible feel that they are being singled out for the actions of others. The same goes across the board.

The fact is, that we as party do not allow intolerance, but can sometimes be pretty downright intolerable towards them.

It's like lumping all Muslims in a group because of the bad actions of a few.

Next time you find yourself about to type " they are so intolerant" think, am I? I have been guilty of doing the same and like to think I am on a better path, and can sit down with anyone and find something in common.

[fleabiscuit]

67. Do you know if they read DU as well? eom

[Bernardo de La Paz]

68. Someone elses kids will pay taxes for your mother's old age services ... if they are educated.

Hospitals are subsidized, often, for example.

Those kids need an education to get jobs to pay taxes to help support the rest of society.

On the flip side, uneducated kids are more likely to not have jobs and more likely to commit crime and more likely to not have a moral education (commit white collar crime) -- can't depend on churches (most people in jail are christian at a higher percentage than the general population).

I could go on with many examples, but don't have time right now.

[Matrosov]

69. Perhaps the most frustrating thing is

offering them examples like that results in a 'La, la, la, la, I don't want to hear it!' response.

My folks are usually extremely smart and extremely caring. If a good friend of theirs runs into problems, they don't go, 'Get a job you f**king slob!', they're always eager to help. But when it comes to politics, they are the complete opposite. I wish I knew why.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

70. "la la la don't wanna hear it" response means something deeper going on with them. Need to find it.

[HughBeaumont]

45. Covered this last year . . . .

. . . now more than ever.

1. "My Sky Daddy Will Beat YOUR Sky Daddies Up."
2. "I'M Going to be RICH Someday, I Just KNOW it!"
3. "I'm Still Fighting The Cold War and Will Always Fight The Cold War."
4. "White Makes Right."
5. "It's ME Who's teh Oppressed, Not (insert actual oppressed ethnic group/gender/racial slur here)s!!!"
6. "Men Kissing EWWWWWWW!"

Is this a gross over-generalization? A broad brush? Divisive?

Look who their voters keep sending to the House and Senate. Look at their presidential candidates. These people, astoundingly, make The Failure Fuhrer and his puppetmaster Cheney look like benevolent PhDs.

When I encounter these people online, I'm looking at a bunch of scared, bitter, paranoid mice people who seem to have the deep understanding that, yes, it's really hard to defend their party's policies without some sense of shame or embarrassment. So their defense is to attack Democrats as being just as bad/worse or call them Communists. Yet that kind of skips the point, doesn't it?

Their economic policies rely on faith based/just-world hypothesis vaporware. Their foreign policy is "Turn The World into Glass Parking Lots pew pew pew 'murica!". Their domestic policy relies on bake sales to pay $200,000 cancer bills. They hate governmental shenanigans but have no problem whatsoever when a corporation does the same thing.

And yet, it all comes down to the Six Reasons. Maybe that's "What's Wrong with Kansas" . . . or Ohio or Michigan or New Hampshire or Iowa.

It's sad, really.

[Fresh_Start]

46. I think there is still some anti-yankee and anti-urbanite biases as well

so even being a yankee makes someone suspect to republicans...or being inner-city.

[sofa king]

48. They may be right wing, but they're the left half of the bell curve.

[struggle4progress]

49. Half doesn't vote R: it's more like a quarter

Many just don't vote

Voting eligible population in US 2012 was around 222 million; only about 129 million actually voted for a President; and only about 61 million voted Romney

[Corporate666]

50. Taking away the humanity of those who disagree with is the first step towards fascism

which begs the question, why would you start to go down that path?

How about "because they see things differently than I do". That's not a reasonable option? There's no room for different opinions? Everyone else has to be retarded, selfish, religious kooks or racists?

[840high]

61. If nothing else it makes us look elitist and stupid.

[Bernielover357743]

64. Thank you!

This was exactly what I was trying to say.

[IgelJames4]

51. Because half of this country are utter morons

This is why GWB won TWICE in 2000 and 2004. I still find it astounding how Americans could have elected that doofus.

[craigmatic]

52. the rich hate taxes and the poor ones hate everyone who's not like them.

[TipTok]

57. Wow...

That's a lot of liberal stereotypes in one post...

[trackfan]

62. I think number one, below, is the main reason - everything else being rationalized to conform.

1. That's your team (your parents were Republican).
2. You're rich enough that Republican economics is a net positive for you.
3. You are so anti abortion that it trumps everything else.
4. You don't like black people, gays, other minorities.
5. You are really pro military.

[HughBeaumont]

65. To the people on this thread . . .

. . . that feel the need to reduce racism, sexism and anti-LGBTQI to a "difference of opinion" . . .

These are real problems that are hurting and killing real people. You don't get to belittle or reduce this shit to a "difference of opinion".

However, if you keep saying that all women on birth control are sluts, that all poor people are lazy con-artists who are on drugs, that people who work 40 hours a week do not deserve to have enough money to live on, that gay people don’t deserve the same rights as straight people, or that if you give them rights then everyone is going to go marry dogs or embrace pedophilia, that women don’t deserve the same pay as men, that transgender people don’t have a right to public bathrooms, that you should be allowed to force your religious beliefs and practices on people who do not practice your religion–and expect them to fund it with their tax dollars, that women are making up sexism and the “war on women” to annoy you, that all black people are just making racism up to annoy you, but that it’s totally kosher for you to try to prevent them from voting, that all the scientists are making up global warming just because they want you to have less money…

Guess what? People are going to think you are jerks.

They are not going to see you as “regular folks interested in making the world a better place.” Because you are not interested in making the world a better place for anyone but you. Because you are actively invested in making the world worse for other people.

Sure, as this video suggests, you probably do have feelings. Whoop-di-doo. So does everyone else. The problem is not that we think you don’t have feelings, but that you do not appear to have empathy.

Not only do you not have empathy, you openly mock those that do. Republicans are furious about things like saying “Happy Holidays”–which people do for the express purpose of making sure people feel included. They sneer over things like “tolerance” and “political correctness”–because apparently it is deeply offensive to them that anyone would care about not hurting people’s feelings.