Why are Democrats having a hard time getting blue collar white Dem voters?

[Tish-the-Scorpion]

i was watching Hardball and they was talking about how Obama have to depend on the minority vote cause he's having a hard time getting blue collar white dems to vote for him. why is that? is that just a dem problem in general or is it because of Obama specifically?

[Iangould]

Well first, check it isn't a Hardball problem.

We don't get the program here but most of what I hear about it isn't very complimentary.

[Paradox]

As Ian says, Hardball doesn't have that good a rep, but even if true, it's probably got a lot to do with the "Real 'Murican" con the Right has been playing for a decade. Or an attempt by Hardball to con people into believing it's true so others might get off their butts and vote.

[thwhtGuardian]

I really think that if there's any truth in that statement at all that it's due to voter apathy within that demographic rather than anything specifically related to Obama.

I just don't see how any voter that identifies them selves as a democrat would turn coat and vote Romney, he's just far too conservative to be able to have that pull.

[7thangel]

hardball is hardly the first

google 'blue collar whites and democrats'

[finfangfool]

Wedge issues like gun rights, illegal immigration, a perceived bias against the christian faith many of them have, etc. If the economy were doing much better though he'd get more of their votes. I think many who don't take time to research the issues that seem to motivate them will just end up voting for the other guy if times are bad regardless of party, if they vote at all.

[mikekerrIII]

i was watching Hardball and they was talking about how Obama have to depend on the minority vote cause he's having a hard time getting blue collar white dems to vote for him. why is that? is that just a dem problem in general or is it because of Obama specifically?

Gun Control, Affirmative action and immigration work well for a start those weigh against any Democrat with blue collar folks

Wedge issues like gun rights, illegal immigration, a perceived bias against the christian faith many of them have, etc. If the economy were doing much better though he'd get more of their votes. I think many who don't take time to research the issues that seem to motivate them will just end up voting for the other guy if times are bad regardless of party, if they vote at all.

that is pretty much it

[Comic_Mobsta]

From what i remember Obama had this problem as far back as his initial run for office. Instead they flocked to either Clinton, or would later support McCain.

[Comic_Mobsta]

hardball is hardly the first

google 'blue collar whites and democrats'

Will do...

[Comic_Mobsta]

"The biggest change comes among white Democrats with no college education, a group typically considered the core of the party's blue-collar constituency," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Half of all white Democrats with no college education say they don't want President Obama heading their party's ticket next year."

Then-Sen. Obama's appeal to blue collar whites was limited in the 2008 cycle. In the Democratic primaries they tended to back his main rival, then-Sen. Hillary Clinton. And in the general election they went for the Sen. John McCain, the GOP presidential nominee, by 18 points, according to CNN exit polls.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com...r-obama-drops/

[Vibranium]

not at all surprising

[o1pickleboy]

From what i remember Obama had this problem as far back as his initial run for office. Instead they flocked to either Clinton, or would later support McCain.

Which is surprising since Clinton signed NAFTA which had the most negative effect on the UAW, Which is the backbone of the blue collar voting block.

As a blue collar worker in a shop of 400 plus I can say the answers given so far are pretty dead on. Most blue collars are either from rural areas or have that mindset. The rural areas have a love for the 2nd amendment, lean a pro life and love of personal freedom that makes them have issues with smoking bans, speed limits, and many other traffic laws. Those social conservative leaning make them at odds with there economic interests lead many of them to stay home and not vote, because to them there is no good choice on the ballot.

[mikekerrIII]

As a blue collar worker in a shop of 400 plus I can say the answers given so far are pretty dead on. Most blue collars are either from rural areas or have that mindset. The rural areas have a love for the 2nd amendment, lean a pro life and love of personal freedom that makes them have issues with smoking bans, speed limits, and many other traffic laws. Those social conservative leaning make them at odds with there economic interests lead many of them to stay home and not vote, because to them there is no good choice on the ballot.

They have a choice between voting against their economic interest by voting Republican or their political interests by voting Democrat, The goal of both parties is to get them to decide one way or the other, The Republicans at least don't insult or dismiss them like the progressives do on the Democratic side.

Added: for them it is always a choice of the lesser of two evils

[Nick Soapdish]

They have a choice between voting against their economic interest by voting Republican or their political interests by voting Democrat, The goal of both parties is to get them to decide one way or the other, The Republicans at least don't insult or dismiss them like the progressives do on the Democratic side.

Added: for them it is always a choice of the lesser of two evils

I'll admit to a bit of bias being one of the few progressives on the Democratic side, but there has been plenty of insulting from the Republican side as well. And outside of the cities, a lot of Democrats seem to be pretty pro-gun rights like the Blue Dogs. However, their numbers just dropped dramatically in 2010.

[mikekerrIII]

I'll admit to a bit of bias being one of the few progressives on the Democratic side, but there has been plenty of insulting from the Republican side as well. And outside of the cities, a lot of Democrats seem to be pretty pro-gun rights like the Blue Dogs. However, their numbers just dropped dramatically in 2010.

I may have missed that? Where were the Republicans as casualty dismmisive of rural whites as Obama was with his guns and Bibles line. The Blue-dog Democrats are about as well recived in the Democratic party as Rhino's are in the Republican party.

For example watch what happens here if some makes a anti-gun control statement, or states that regulators often go to far.