Americans moving right, but not into arms of GOP
The folks at Pajamas asked me to write a piece on the recent Gallup poll showing that since Obama’s election, Americans have been moving to the right. Here’s a taste of what I said.
If every American describing him- or herself as conservative identified with the Republican Party, nearly half of all Americans would support the GOP, while barely one-quarter would back the Democrats.* Yet, while our political parties increasingly divide themselves along ideological lines, those line are not always straight. Indeed, according to the latest Gallup poll, more than one in five (22%) Democrats describe themselves as conservative.
This poll which found that conservatives remain the largest ideological group is America, while welcome to those of us who believe America is a center-right nation, is sobering to those of us who identify with the GOP. According to Gallup:<
Forty percent of Americans describe their political views as conservative, 36% as moderate, and 20% as liberal. This marks a shift from 2005 through 2008, when moderates were tied with conservatives as the most prevalent group.
And this shift to the right has accelerated since the election of Barack Obama, ranked by the National Journal in 2007 as the most liberal member of the United State Senate, to the White House with increased–and more liberal–Democratic majorities in Congress. The poll shows clearly that their elections have not succeeded in moving Americans leftward.
You can find the rest on their homepage.
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You are so correct…..’Americans moving right, but not into arms of GOP’. For many of us we are tired of the high taxes/govt. in our private lives (or anyone else in our private lives).
For me, I’m hoping for a 3rd party that can bring the left-right together. Of course, speaking the truth nowadays is a revolutionary act.
I have been encouraging others to read that new, underground book just out where a small town in America stands up to federal tyranny, bad bureaucrats & crooked politicians & ends up starting the 2nd AMerican Revolution.
If you want a good read, then read this one cause it’s insightful of todays events. Great read.
http://www.booksbyoliver.com
Comment by CottonMan — October 31, 2009 @ 6:42 pm - October 31, 2009
Virginians are moving to the Republicans on tuesday away from the liberal socialist Obamaphiles. All up and down the ballot on tuesday it looks like a double diget rout of the leftist Democrats. Glory glory hallaluyahh.
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/state_regional_govtpolitics/article/POLL31_20091030-223207/302801/
Comment by Gene in Pennsylvania — October 31, 2009 @ 11:31 pm - October 31, 2009
Good analysis Dan! I agree with all of it.
I just want to point out that Gallup supports what I’ve been saying about the GOP and social issues. As you say:
But even more specifically, as Gallup puts it:
Thats a huge shift in one years time. I suspect its been an ongoing shift, and any way you look at it, its the majority of Americans caring about conservative social values.
A MAJORITY supporting the same social issues that you have repeatedly urged the GOP to “de-emphasize” at the same time public support for such issues is growing.
Reality is that the GOP has been losing not only because they have lost their way on economic issues, but also because they have already done what you prescribed and “de-emphasized” issues that are important to a majority of Americans in the past 2 election cylces.
Comment by American Elephant — November 1, 2009 @ 2:38 am - November 1, 2009
That’s ominous.
Comment by DRH — November 1, 2009 @ 10:25 am - November 1, 2009
The Government is a poor entity to put in charge of “promoting traditional values,” unless, of course, one can commit totally to the principle, “Do as I say, not as I do.”
It will be enough for me if any part of The Government can avoid attacking and/or dismantling traditional American values. (And I don’t consider “gay-bashing” to be a traditional American value but rather intolerance worthy of the Islamic world.)
Comment by polly — November 1, 2009 @ 12:45 pm - November 1, 2009
Polly, I think thats why Gallup asked if government should promote traditional values vs. whether elected leaders should. It is the difference between policy and politicians.
For example, we are now funding abortions in other countries. Obamacare will pay for abortions despite a majority of Americans agreeing that it should not. And yes, government at many levels is promoting, through activist judges and even a few legislatures, marriage policy that most Americans do not support.
There are all sorts of ways that our policy is actually promoting liberal policy that most Americans dont support. I think that is what this question addresses.
Comment by American Elephant — November 1, 2009 @ 5:27 pm - November 1, 2009
sorry, that last sentence should read: “There are all sorts of ways that our policy is actually promoting liberal values that most Americans dont support”
I dont think its that Americans are really interested in forcing values on anyone, but when government and other institutions are forcing values down their throats that they dont agree with, you can expect some push back. Thats what I think this poll is about.
Comment by American Elephant — November 2, 2009 @ 3:33 am - November 2, 2009