Why the Democratic Party’s Future Depends on Finding a Moral Argument

[spursncowboys]

http://www.tnr.com/article/politics/...on-second-term

On the one hand, this strategy would probably motivate the blacks, Latinos, union members, and young voters of all races who turned out in huge numbers four years ago. Frustrated by the sluggish economy and disappointed by the gap between what Obama promised and was able to deliver, they need a reason to get excited, again.

On the other hand, the 10 to 15 percent of independent voters—nearly all of whom are white and middle class—who will determine whether he stays in office may well bridle if the president comes off as harsh and divisive. As Bill Galston pointed out this week, polls show these independents care more about economic growth and equal opportunity than they do about bashing Wall Street or closing the income gap. So the surge Obama would gain from his base, he might give right back if he alienates the almighty swing voters. I will leave it to brilliant statisticians like Nate Silver to figure out which group is larger—and in which purple states more of them reside.

[boutons_deux]

"economic growth and equal opportunity than they do about bashing Wall Street or closing the income gap"

then they are too stupid to see that Wall St, and the World Champion US inequality, hurt economic growth and equal opportunity.

btw, independent voters, defined as not party-registered, nearly always vote the same party anyway. iow, their importance as swing voters is a (journalistic) myth.

[George Gervin's Afro]

so playing to the base creates a possible issue with gaining support amongst independent voters?

EARTH SHAKING!

[TeyshaBlue]

"economic growth and equal opportunity than they do about bashing Wall Street or closing the income gap"

then they are too stupid to see that Wall St, and the World Champion US inequality, hurt economic growth and equal opportunity.

btw, independent voters, defined as not party-registered, nearly always vote the same party anyway. iow, their importance as swing voters is a (journalistic) myth.

As usual, you're wrong again. Pew research has quite a bit of data on this. Go learn something for once.

"Independents’ voting preferences have changed considerably since the last two elections. Just two years ago, Obama held an eight-point lead among independents, according to exit polls by the National Election Pool. The shift since the 2006 midterm, when Democrats held an 18-point advantage among independents, according to the exit poll, has been even more dramatic.

The propensity of independents to reject both parties in a relatively short period of time may in part reflect the fact that the ranks of independents have swelled in recent years with voters who have rejected party labels themselves. Underscoring the fluidity in party identification, many of today’s independents were themselves partisans not so long ago. More than half of independents say they have been a Democrat (23%), a Republican (22%), or both (9%), in the past five years."


http://pewresearch.org/pubs/2067/201...s-white-voters

http://pewresearch.org/databank/dail...?NumberID=1433

http://www.people-press.org/2010/09/...n-power-again/