Althouse: Gallup depicts the Democrats' problem in the 2014 elections.

May 20, 2014

Gallup depicts the Democrats' problem in the 2014 elections.

Details in text here.

53 comments:

drywilly said...: How does Obamacare become a positive for Dems?; 5/20/14, 8:34 AM
Oso Negro said...: Let's talk up that global warming and homosexual marriage, then, people!; 5/20/14, 8:37 AM
rehajm said...: Democrats hold an advantage in problems they've invented and hold a disadvantage in problems they've created.; 5/20/14, 8:56 AM
Birkel said...: I am going to investigate how "Obamacare" has become a positive. I'm guessing the question involved a phrasing such as "Do you support the cruel, heartless choice by Republicans to take away the God-given rights of all Americans to health care or the sensible position that Democrats have taken?"

And that led to a positive for Democrats. I hate clicking the links because I want to resist link-bait. But this time I cannot resist.; 5/20/14, 9:00 AM
gerry said...: @drywilly: How does Obamacare become a positive for Dems?

It doesn't.

An example of this administration's management of a government-run health care system can't be positive, either.; 5/20/14, 9:05 AM
TosaGuy said...: rehajm wins the internet today.; 5/20/14, 9:06 AM
Birkel said...: I call bullshit!
Gallup shows that between May of 2011 and April of 2014 voters have swung toward Democrats on Obamacare by 5 percent.

I know the MSM has been on a spin cycle that Maytag couldn't achieve but I find it impossible that more people find the implementation of Obamacare -- cost increases, decreased coverage, cancellations, etc. -- a Democrat advantage.

As an aside, the 2010 elections showed parity on "health care" for Republicans after Democrats were +29 in 2005. And that resulted in a landslide mid-term election. The economy was +12 for Republicans in 2010 and is +5 for Republicans now. The midterms are shaping up nicely for Republicans.

I wish conservatives were likely to be successful in 2014.; 5/20/14, 9:13 AM
SteveR said...: The MSM will get right on that.; 5/20/14, 9:20 AM
garage mahal said...: I'm guessing the question involved a phrasing such as "Do you support the cruel, heartless choice by Republicans to take away the God-given rights of all Americans to health care or the sensible position that Democrats have taken?"

Click on the handy link "View survey methodology, complete question responses, and trends."; 5/20/14, 9:28 AM
Unknown said...: This chart makes no sense whatsoever.; 5/20/14, 9:30 AM
Beloved Commenter AReasonableMan said...: drywilly said...
How does Obamacare become a positive for Dems?

The respondents know people who previously couldn't get insurance or couldn't afford insurance that now have insurance. It is very simple.; 5/20/14, 10:39 AM
Birkel said...: garage mahal:
When you have something useful to add to the discussion, please let me know.

Here are the results of Politico's polling:
"48% support the repeal of Obamacare, with an additional 35% supporting changes to the law"

Both of these polls cannot be accurate unless one or both of them were poorly constructed. When trends indicated by Gallup's polling are contradicted by other polls and experience, they should be questioned. Assuming consistency on the presentation of the questions, Gallup's poll is an outlier but the trends are not pro-Democrat.

I look forward to some amusing reactions in November.; 5/20/14, 10:51 AM
Seeing Red said...: I know the people at work are really happy with Obamacare. Lololol; 5/20/14, 11:09 AM
Jaq said...: I second the nomination for rehajm's comment.; 5/20/14, 11:39 AM
gerry said...: I call bullshit!

The survey was registered voters, not likely voters, which makes a big difference, and that may be the bullshit edge.

Blacks have become marginally disappointed with Obama (who's done nothing for them in 1.5 terms) and usually do not turn out in midterms anyway.

Millenials are beginning to hate Obama's guts since they can't make it out of momma's basement to earn a living...they'll pass this election.

Who's left? The people who care about making sure Obama is a very lame duck for two years.; 5/20/14, 11:45 AM
Real American said...: we should stop calling it "inequality" and start calling it "jealousy". the only policies which it seems to support are the ones that take money from those who earned it, and give it to those who didn't.; 5/20/14, 11:46 AM
Anonymous said...: I don't see Racism on that chart anywhere. Where's the Racism!!

I'm sure it's because Gallup just doesn't get it. They don't know what it's like to be Native American in 2014. They'll never get it.; 5/20/14, 11:49 AM
Jay Vogt said...: The Dems will do fine, because they always do, however it's really stunning that the only issues that the appear to have a two standard deviations advantage on are global warming and same sex marriage. Odd that you could maintain a political party on that.

Also, people in general must really dislike the GOP on a personal basis. You think they'd do something about that.; 5/20/14, 12:00 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Unknown,

"This chart makes no sense whatsoever."

I think it's fascinating, that some in this crowd will never accept it's not the world that's incomprehensible, but they who are confused - and they need to do something, beyond blaming liberals or blacks, for their denial.

Since ObamaCare was enacted, I've been to Utah, Indiana, Washington, Oregon, and California. Only in one - Utah - have I personally heard anyone saying something negative about ObamaCare, and that complaint was abstract and political. To my surprise, everyone else seems a little mystified about how it works, but eager to sign up, and even a little grateful for it. Conservatives and liberals alike.

Talking to people I don't know always teaches me something,...; 5/20/14, 12:00 PM
Renee said...: No matter how the issues stack up,people will find a reason to vote for a democrat. It just comes down that republicans are icky. It is all about branding and loyal customers.; 5/20/14, 12:36 PM
JRoberts said...: "No matter how the issues stack up, people will find a reason to vote for a democrat. It just comes down that republicans are icky. It is all about branding and loyal customers."

It also explains why Americans kept buying U.S. made autos in 1980's - even when they fell apart before they could drive them home from the dealership.; 5/20/14, 1:17 PM
garage mahal said...: When you have something useful to add to the discussion, please let me know.

I told you where to find the polling questions. You're welcome.; 5/20/14, 1:17 PM
Original Mike said...: "The respondents know people who previously couldn't get insurance or couldn't afford insurance that now have insurance. It is very simple."

Unlikely, given that few of the country's uninsured signed up for ObamaCare, and most of the enrollees already had insurance.; 5/20/14, 1:25 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Renee,

"No matter how the issues stack up,people will find a reason to vote for a democrat. It just comes down that republicans are icky. It is all about branding and loyal customers."

There's a lot of truth to that now. They've defined themselves as racists:

Not a good position to be in if you want to be heard,...; 5/20/14, 1:32 PM
furious_a said...: The respondents know people who had policies they liked cancelled who then had to spend hours and days on line signing up for replacement policies that forced them out of their networks, hiked their deductibles, and mandated coverage they would never conceivably need.. It is very simple.

There, fixed it for you.; 5/20/14, 1:35 PM
Seeing Red said...: There's your answer mystified about how it works. Wait until the stuff really starts kicking in after the election. Or they can just follow the Vet scandal.....; 5/20/14, 1:46 PM
Seeing Red said...: What else is really interesting is that the insurance companies will be getting an extra $100 billion and an extra $100 billion is being sucked out of the middle class.; 5/20/14, 1:47 PM
Scott M said...: Not a good position to be in if you want to be heard,...

"Remember the other day when you were asking me what the definition of irony is?"; 5/20/14, 1:57 PM
garage mahal said...: Unlikely, given that few of the country's uninsured signed up for ObamaCare, and most of the enrollees already had insurance.

"Here's how the percentage was determined: Of the 5.45 million people who signed up through the federal exchange, 5.18 million (or 95%) applied for financial assistance in their insurance plans. In doing so, they were required to answer a question about whether they already had health insurance. Only about 695,000 people (13%) indicated they did have coverage.

HHS said data from state-based exchanges would be available at a later date.

In total, the White House said more than 8 million people had selected insurance plans through exchanges established by the health-care law. Almost half of those — 47% — came in the last month of enrollment and during a special two-week enrollment period in April. " Link; 5/20/14, 2:12 PM
james conrad said...: The recent VA scandal is a dagger aimed at the heart of Obamacare. If the govt can't manage health care for veterans, a revered group EVERYONE agrees should have quality care, what chance do the rest of us have?; 5/20/14, 2:31 PM
gadfly said...: How about scandals - Benghazi, IRS, VA, Obamacare and lies?; 5/20/14, 2:35 PM
mccullough said...: Gay marriage is legal in almost all the blue states. It's being imposed in the red states by judges. Seems like more of a winning issue for Republicans in the red states and a non issue in the blue states.; 5/20/14, 2:36 PM
tim maguire said...: This survey is a muddle. "Advantage Democrats" doesn't mean people favour the Democratic solution, this survey does not show Obamacare is an advantage to the Democrats.

It shows merely that a greater percentage of Democrats rate it high on their priority list. It only becomes a Democratic advantage if they support the Democratic solution and they outnumber the voters who rate it highly and oppose the Democratic solution.

Neither of which numbers can be discovered by looking into the details of this survey.; 5/20/14, 3:21 PM
Jaq said...: I agree that the Democrats should run in full-throated support of Obamacare. The president himself should go on the road meeting with each Senate Candidate and giving speeches about how this time he is not lying.; 5/20/14, 3:46 PM
Anonymous said...: "In total, the White House said more than 8 million people had selected insurance plans through exchanges established by the health-care law. "

Two problems with this.

1) Who trust anything that comes out of this White House?

2) Selected? Who talks like that? Why the weasel language?; 5/20/14, 3:52 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Scott M,

"Remember the other day when you were asking me what the definition of irony is?"

No, I don't - I remember you assuming the role of "Massa" and, as though I asked, informing me of your take on it.

Signed,

The guy who has since gone on to co-host a weekly radio show.

You know - getting heard,...; 5/20/14, 4:40 PM
Renee said...: @mccullough

I'm pro marriage as it gets, but it is about rebuilding an idea that has been pissed on for decades. Most people think marriage is obsolete. Many have no example of a happy marriage in their family growing up.

In the 1990s and 2000s, we tried seriously but the government can't give out dating/relationship tips. Even though they seem to advise on everything else.

I'm a strong believer in kinship and parental obligation and love is maximized when parents get along under one roof.

I never hated anyone or thought I was better then anyone. Sadly, I have lost connections with friends and family, but I wont deny what marriage once did. Im not angry at them, but the media.

The decline of marriage is real, these judgments are a result of that decline.; 5/20/14, 4:42 PM
jr565 said...: Crack Emcee wrote:
To my surprise, everyone else seems a little mystified about how it works, but eager to sign up, and even a little grateful for it.

The fact that they are mystified about how it works is telling. And are you talking about the people who are siging up or the people who wrote the damn thing. If you are mystified as to how something works, how are you able to discern the problems with said law?
On the republican side it's all about how the thing doesn't work. And on the liberal side it's all about the feelings.; 5/20/14, 5:16 PM
Drago said...: Crack: "No, I don't - I remember you assuming the role of "Massa" and, as though I asked, informing me of your take on it."

LOL

If there's one thing Crack won't stand for, it's anyone assuming a 'superior' role and lecturing others who haven't asked for it.

Consistency.

That's what crack is all about baby!; 5/20/14, 5:40 PM
Biff said...: It's almost as though the things that voters think are unimportant are the things that politicians and the media think are the most important.

Once, I would have thought that could call the legitimacy of the government/media into question. Maybe someday.; 5/20/14, 5:49 PM
Oso Negro said...: Crack - I am eager to learn from the truth of a bona fide Negro. Can you please direct me to the Republican Party documents in which they define themselves as racist?; 5/20/14, 6:09 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Oso Negro,

"Crack - I am eager to learn from the truth of a bona fide Negro."

At your service, Sir - bona fide Negro #1.

"Can you please direct me to the Republican Party documents in which they define themselves as racist?"

I take it Google is a black thang now?

They rarely just say it - that would be bad form.

But - especially after losing an election - the word gets out.

Why don't you just read this:

[Strom] Thurmond fled the Democrats when President Harry Truman urged legislators to implement the sweeping document issued by his Committee on Civil Rights.

In response, Thurmond created the States’ Rights Democrats, more commonly known as the Dixiecrats Party. “[T]here’s not enough troops in the Army to force the Southern people to break down segregation and admit the nigger race into our theatres, into our swimming pools, into our homes, and into our churches,” he said as in his first speech as the party’s presumptive president. It was the first toss in a game that would see virtually the entire South migrated to the GOP.

It was not until the mid-1960s that the South turned from blue to red,...Republicans won South Carolina and four other Southern states, the best showing in the South for the party since reconstruction.

Goldwater lost badly, but Richard Nixon pioneered the ‘Southern strategy,’ ...Republican strategist Lee Atwater, who ensured George H.W. Bush’s 1988 presidential race’s success considerably by appealing to racism, explained that overtly appealing to racism backfired by the mid-1960s, “[s]o you say stuff like forced busing, states’ rights, and all that stuff. You’re getting so abstract now [that] you’re talking about cutting taxes, and all these things you’re talking about are totally economic things and a byproduct of them is [that] blacks get hurt worse than whites.” The strategy worked brilliantly. Today Democrats cannot hope to compete in the South, which is now as solidly Republican as it was once Democratic.

And - no matter what they say - THAT's how the Republicans became the racists,…; 5/20/14, 9:18 PM
jr565 said...: The southern strategy is a myth:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/10/magazine/10Section2b.t-4.html

And anyway, you see me a Strom Thurmond and I'lll raise youa Robert Byrd.
Could we maybe get out of the 60’s though?
It is a new century you know. Did they even have electricity back in the 60's? Just kidding on that last bit. But seriously, that's ancient history. Let's try to keep up with modern events.; 5/20/14, 10:31 PM
jr565 said...: In regards to Goldwater the argument is he voted against the civil rights act of 1964. However this is based on a liberal misrepresentation of Goldwater. He helped integrate the Arizona national guard before Truman integrated the army. And he voted for all civil rights bills prior to 1964's. His opposition to it was not an opposition to civil rights but that businesses should be governed by market forces not government mandate or force.
That was the first lie that the dems made about the repubs and their racism.; 5/20/14, 10:39 PM
jr565 said...: Lie number 2, whatever his faults Nixon wasn't openly a racist either, and pushed for civil rights himself. In fact as reported in 1968 presidential race shows that he was in favor of civil rights and would not compromise on this issue. Ie. in the Washington post published on September 15, 1968 there was the headline “Nixon Sped Integration Wallace said.” In fact, it was Nixon’s principled stance on civil rights that prompted George Wallace, a well known racist, to enter the race on a third party ticket. Nixon, in his memoirs, said that “The deep south had to be virtually conceded to George Wallace. I could not match him there without compromising on civil rights, which I would not do.”
And the whole argument that the southern strategy was based on racial code words is a tautology. If they are code words are hidden inside of another viewpoint, then that viewpoint would have to be valid in its own right. And thus you could make the argument that people voted for Nixon because of that viewpoint and not because of the hidden racist code words.

And finally, the Dixiecrats were democrats. And most of them retired as democrats not as republicans.
Thurmond switched to republican in 1964, But most of the aother former Dixiecrats remained in the Democrat Party until they either retired or died. Fulbright, Wallace, Gore and Byrd all democrats.; 5/20/14, 10:49 PM
jr565 said...: For example it was Nixon who tried to spear head eisenhowers 1957 civil rights act through congress:

http://potus-geeks.livejournal.com/170952.html

Pushing for civil rights before 1960 even. And look up his role in integrating schools.; 5/20/14, 10:56 PM
averagejoe said...: Republicans are self-admitted racists! It says so in liberal magazine articles written about how racist Republicans are racist! See, Strom Thurmond, a Democrat turned Dixiecrat=Republicans are racist! There was the Southern Strategy=Republicans are racist! You can't hide from your self-admitted racism you racist racists!!!11!; 5/21/14, 1:13 AM
Achilles said...: drywilly said...

How does Obamacare become a positive for Dems?

5/20/14, 8:34 AM

Several ways. Most obviously when you redistribute wealth the people who get free stuff off of other peoples effort they tend to like it. My brothers premiums doubled and his deductibles tripled. He doesn't like it. But he is paying for someone's health care and they do like it.

Obamacare is also getting a free pass in the media on the fact that it is a slush fund for union jobs where people are getting paid to do nothing. People are sitting in administrative centers doing the paperwork to sign people up at the rate of 1 to 2 applications per employee per month. People who get paid to do nothing generally support it.

There is also the added benefit of forcing the male population in general to pay for contraception and abortions for women. This makes women reliable supporters of Obamacare.

And though the largest government run health system in the country, the VA, is currently demonstrating how effective government run health care generally is, most of the population is too stupid to connect the dots. People are signing up for plans with no hospitals or doctors attached to them, but that is ok because now they have health care. When you have crony insurance companies working with the Obama administration health care = insurance. The insurance companies just don't care about the actual care part. And when it comes to veterans neither apparently does Obama.; 5/21/14, 3:28 AM
Scott M said...: No, I don't - I remember you assuming the role of "Massa" and, as though I asked, informing me of your take on it.

Signed

Very funny, Cripus. Unfortunately the whole world doesn't revolve around you. It was a quote (hence, the quotation marks) from a show, but it was produced by privileged white guys so I doubt you'd know about it.

The guy who has since gone on to co-host a weekly radio show.

You know - getting heard,...

You can broadcast into the ether all you want. Doesn't mean much. I was a professional broadcaster for seven years, doing a show five days a week. On my lowest-rated slot, I had more listeners than you'll ever get with your little internet show. You know, getting heard.

If that goes in the shitter, Cripus, you can count on AA to give you a forum here. The comedic value alone guarantees it.; 5/21/14, 7:18 AM
Unknown said...: Crack:

this is what doesn't' make sense - winners for dems:

1. affordable health care act

About 1/2 of the U.S. thinks it needs to be fixed. While I think I understand that you haven't met anyone who doesn't like it (?) I personally know a couple of flaming libs (voted for Obama twice, have a hard time having sensible discussions with them with facts included) who had their kids sign up and are now flaming angry over 6K deductible -- it's INSURANCE, not magic beans, it has to balance and if you bump the costs to individuals up, they will pay more. And subsidies don't cover deductibles, only premiums. Finally, this is taking more money out of the economy to cover services that were already existing. It isn't going to magically make more Dr's (actually is encouraging them to step out of the pool) and hospitals, just more middle-men.

2. income and wealth distribution

Not sure I understand why anyone who makes a living thinks this is a good idea; I imagine the respondents presuppose they get the cash, not get it taken away from them. This can't be a winner for anyone who gives the least thought to it.

And frankly, how can this possibly be a winner if taxes is a loser?

3. immigration

I'm not sure what the Dem position actually is, and maybe that's the winner position. I'm not sure how encouraging people to shove their kids on a long journey to the U.S. (in the hands of criminals) alone is good for anyone, I'm not sure how letting violent criminals out of jail because they are not U.S. citizens is a good idea. I'm not how importing low-skilled workers into a country where the unemployment rate for low-skilled workers is approaching 20% is a winning position.

4. global warming

Speaking from technical data, there has been no global warming for about 15 years. About 1/2 of the population is skeptical that people are mainly responsible for climate change. The so called 97% consensus of scientists turns out to be 97% think climate is not static and people contribute to changes in climate, about 0.3% think CO2 is causing climate change; also BTW that the natural cycles totally dominate changes. Turns out about 3000 papers were winnowed to 75 to get the 97% consensus and the measure of "consensus" turns out to be subjective).

5. same sex marriage

I'll give you that one, although the courts are making it moot.

and BTW - Republican losers:

Whether you buy the "southern strategy" or not, there were some fairly important GOP movers and shakers who proposed and encouraged the idea, and there were results that seemed to be in line with it. However, the TEA party generation was not part of that GOP, in fact can't get anything but antipathy from that generation of GOP. As the generation of non-whites who personally remember loses it's memory or is just plain gone, it will just be a footnote in the history books and won't have the emotional impact. Like the FACT that the Democratic party has historically be racist, while the GOP fought against it.; 5/21/14, 8:57 AM
The Crack Emcee said...: Achilles,

"Most obviously when you redistribute wealth the people who get free stuff off of other peoples effort they tend to like it."

Man, the whole concept - of being a country - escapes you guys, doesn't it? It's just selfishness from top-to-bottom. You can't see others as anything other than "takers" - when it was whites who took everything from everyone - and yourselves as the most wonderful people with everything.

What a pack of liars.

Thank God, it's coming to an end.

I'm getting sick of listening to it,...; 5/21/14, 9:02 AM
Unknown said...: Crack, suppose for a microsecond that I agree with you, whites lied, cheated, and stole everything from blacks and are basically evil unregenerate sinners; your proposition that blacks should rise up and lie, cheat, and steal everything back using the government as a proxy is bizarre.

It seems like you just want to be white. If you're going to try to condemn from the high ground, don't abandon it.; 5/21/14, 1:11 PM
RecChief said...: no one has done more to repeal, replace, and delay Obamacare than Obama. He's a Tea Partier in disguise!!!; 5/21/14, 2:10 PM