Race, Not Economics, Drove Former Democrats to Trump

[RandySF]

Some disproven theories simply refuse to die. Among them is the notion that President Donald Trump's 2016 victory was largely due to economic anxiety on the part of blue-collar whites.

Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg has made that argument repeatedly of late, citing "the failure of this enormous American prosperity to reach so many people in so many communities," and Trump's promises of radical change, as the reasons for the president's upset win.

But a major study published a year ago found that Trump's support among non-college-educated whites—arguably the key to his Electoral College success—was driven far more by sexism and racism than by economic anxiety.

Now, a new study that focuses on one key constituency—white people in Iowa who voted for Barack Obama, and later for Trump—comes to that same conclusion.

"Economic distress is not a significant factor in explaining the shift in Iowa voters from Democrat to Republican between 2008 and 2016," write Iowa State University sociologists Ann Oberhauser, Daniel Krier, and Abdi Kusow. "The election outcomes do not signify [a revolt] among working-class voters left behind by globalization."

Rather, in 2016, "the nativist narrative about 'taking back America' and anti-immigrant sentiment became stronger forces than economic issues," Oberhauser said in announcing the findings.




https://psmag.com/news/new-study-confirms-again-that-race-not-economics-drove-former-democrats-to-trump

[world wide wally]

1. I totally agree

[lunasun]

2. So obvious-extinction anxiety not economic anxiety then add the ideal place for women held by repubs

DUers can believe what they want but it was so obvious to many during his campaign for nomination in the primary 16

[Wounded Bear]

3. The "economic anxiety" was fear that brown people and women were...

taking away their jobs, and their right to discriminate against them.

That most recent wave of racism/sexism started with our first black president. Mostly, they were showing "nice" semi-closeted racism against Pres Obama. Under Trump that paper thin veneer of civility has been ripped off.

[BruceWane]

4. Not equal

I think these people accepted and voted for Obama because they saw him as a high achiever, an outlier. They're OK with some select non-whites being in positions of power, etc. if they're highly qualified.

But the idea that an average non-white should have rights and opportunities equal to an average white, AKA themselves, is deeply, existentially, unacceptable to them. And it seemed the demand for these rights and opportunities from non-whites was becoming more and more forward.