Current Events > The AP: it's Democrats' fault that rural Republicans hate them

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-elections-pennsylvania-lifestyle-election-2020-fc79679ef54d850c0245f96dac37456c

The two main points here, pithily summarized

1. "Rural Democrats are afraid to share their beliefs for fear of ostracism, vandalism, and other reprisal; this must mean something is wrong with Democrats."
2. "If they simply changed their messaging, Democrats can reach the people riled up about fictional police defundings in cities they'd never visit anyways."

Barack Obama won 875 counties nationwide in his overwhelming 2008 victory. Twelve years later, Biden won only 527. The vast majority of those losses 260 of the 348 counties took place in rural counties, according to data compiled by The Associated Press.

If things are getting worse for Biden doesnt this mean Dems are about to lose the Senate or House? Maybe even both in November.

Intro2Logic posted...

Rural Democrats are afraid to share their beliefs for fear of ostracism, vandalism, and other reprisal; this must mean something is wrong with Democrats

This is literally not claimed in the article. The interviewed Dem insiders are of course making suggestions for what they see as course correction because the alternative of "just ignore the shrinking vote percentage from every demographic since 2008" is a pretty limp 'strategy'.

yeah it has nothing to do with republicans being fucking brainwashed

DarthAragorn posted...

yeah it has nothing to do with republicans being fucking brainwashed

But I heard a lot of Dems watch Tucker Carlson though.

https://www.deseret.com/2022/2/15/22935035/perspective-whats-with-all-the-democrats-watching-fox-news-tucker-carlson-rachel-maddow

There's no messaging that will actually be left-wing that would appease those voters.

The truth is we just need to squash the right-wing propoganda machine.

I just don't give a fuck anymore. I say ban the Republican Party.

as someone who lives in rural pennsylvania... republicans here are the some of the nicest people you'll ever meet... until you tell them you're one of their stereotypical boogeymen. then things can get really scary, really quickly.

Rural GOP Voters: "Sure, we keep getting screwed by right-wing policies, but we're going to keep voting for them because racism and religion."

Are they sure it isn't rural Republicans fault that Democrats hate them?

GOP: Socialism is bad! Redistribution is bad! Here's a farm bill that does that anyway.

Medussa posted...

as someone who lives in rural pennsylvania... republicans here are the some of the nicest people you'll ever meet... until you tell them you're one of their stereotypical boogeymen. then things can get really scary, really quickly.

Ah yes, this is what's known as "Midwestern Nice"

People will love you as long as they think you're just like them, but as soon as you let slip that you're gay or pro-choice then the claws come out...
>__>

The proles are scared of the elites? Sounds about right. Especially when the elites are pushing oddities incompatible with their culture and normalizing punishment for their prole behavior.

All the democrats need to do, is start saying "here money".
Rural voters see tax money going into light rail that doesn't go to the boonies, TIF shenanigans that never go the boonies, housing projects that never go to the boonies, redevelopment projects that never go to the boonies, road construction that never goes to the boonies, etc. etc.

The republicans, at least, fart out ag subsidies every now and then. Why haven't the democrats stolen that yet, like Nixon stole the entire south?

So Democrats need to be more like Republicans and never be left wing in any way. I've heard that before.

Democrats need to get off their asses and need to start fighting the Republican propaganda machine and need to start fighting against Manchin and Sinema types. They also need to get better at messaging. All that requires effort and a spine so it won't happen. Plus actually being progressive and helping poor people is a no no to Democrats' establishment class and their donors.

Sounds like a bunch of brainwashed narcissists making a take

Kegran posted...

The proles are scared of the elites? Sounds about right. Especially when the elites are pushing oddities incompatible with their culture and normalizing punishment for their prole behavior.

Shut the fuck up.

Kegran posted...

The proles are scared of the elites? Sounds about right. Especially when the elites are pushing oddities incompatible with their culture and normalizing punishment for their prole behavior.

I'd love to hear this said without all the cowardly innuendo.

DrizztLink posted...

I'd love to hear this said without all the cowardly innuendo.

What that the "intellectual elite's" disdain for the "proles" is endless?

I make damn sure never to talk about politics, since I know I do not want to learn the political views of most people around me

Kegran posted...

What that the "intellectual elite's" disdain for the "proles" is endless?

And now deflection.

Come on little guy, speak up and say what you wanna say.

DrizztLink posted...

Come on little guy, speak up and say what you wanna say.

I said it actually. What crazy words are you trying to put in my mouth?

ChopinList posted...

If things are getting worse for Biden doesnt this mean Dems are about to lose the Senate or House? Maybe even both in November.

They will almost certainly lose both, despite having a pretty large lead in individual votes cast.

COVxy posted...

There's no messaging that will actually be left-wing that would appease those voters.

The truth is we just need to squash the right-wing propoganda machine.

For real. Theres already an attack ad out against Dr. Oz, who is running as a moderate Republican for PAs Senate seat, basically painting him as commie who loves Black Lives Matter and hates unborn fetuses. If youre to the left of Trump youre already out of the running in rural areas.

UnholyMudcrab posted...

I make damn sure never to talk about politics, since I know I do not want to learn the political views of most people around me

The key to living happily and making friends is to NEVER EVER talk about politics.

Ever.

Always see it framed this way. Happens all the time. Its just a form of look what you made me do.

Or, I want to hold reactionary backwards views but I want to be able to blame someone else for it.

The actual story is these people terrorising their neighbours, but thats just kind of glossed over for a bunch of both-sides-brain takes.

They're both insufferable and annoying

"The AP: it's Democrats' fault that rural Republicans hate them"

Is that supposed to be a play for sympathy?

Well, let's see what that socialist Lt. Governor's got. A listening tour worthy of Hillary Clinton is not a bad place to start at all.

"At the same time, she said Democrats are hurting themselves by not speaking out more forcefully against far-left positions that alienate rural voters, such as the push to defund the police."

I realize that Jeff Sessions's many copies are highly offended by that and actually vote, but it's hard for me to believe that's the problem.