Why do white men as a demographic always vote Republican?

[BainsBane]

And why do white men love nothing more than to point out that, according to exit polls, a majority of white women vote Republican? Yet they NEVER cast aspersions on their own demographic.

What they should realize is all of us white people are guests in a Democratic Party for which people of color doing the heavy lifting.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

1. Because the status quo and conservatisim are a white supremacy that prizes masculinity.

Some seem to think that this would inspire more white women to vote against it. But white women tend to vote to uphold white supremacy and take their chances with the patriarchy, rather than join with BIWOC.

[hlthe2b]

10. I do believe a belief in authoritarianism--"Daddy-issues" and racism does explain

many white voters, but others are simply willfully ill-informed and susceptible to propaganda. While long-standing machismo tradition does explain quite a few Hispanic male voters doing so. But, for the life of me, I can not explain AA men voting for R's and specifically Trump. They are a minority of AA male voters, but it is still inexplicable and give "cover" to many white voters doing so.

But, as I look at the insanity that is this country facing its worse pandemic with unbelievable levels of denial, I realize I can't explain nor really predict hardly anyone's thinking. It feels like we are living in an insane asylum.

[BainsBane]

16. If the exit polls are accurate

which is highly questionable considering 1) polls this year have been shit, 2) the exit polls are particularly bad.

There definitely is truth in what you say. White people, as a whole, rather see their country in ruins than live in a society in which they no longer occupy what they see as a superior position to people of color.

What I also wonder, however, is why white men love nothing more than to blame white women, yet they never ask why white men vote Republican. We see it here and in the press after ever election, yet we never see articles or posts asking why white men vote Republican. The goal is always to scapegoat white women, and in the process give white men a pass, despite the fact they vote Republican in greater numbers.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

24. Articles asking why white women tend to vote Republican are not "scapegoating" -- they're asking

a legitimate question, especially with the cultural messages around "girl power," "the resistance," "pussy hats," "sisterhood," and the concept of feminism itself. A lot of progressive white women aren't aware of the rigorous work that needs to be done in feminism around race, class, disability and other layers of oppression.

It's obvious why white men vote Republican -- it's largely a mindset that upholds their supremacy, even across class and other oppressions. It's legit to ask why white women would vote for that.

[BainsBane]

30. I disagree

I think those articles, and the way they are weaponized by white men, is an expression of misogyny.

That said, I agree with your larger point about feminism.

It should also be obvious that the pussy hat protestors and the Trump voters are not the same people.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

33. How, exactly, are these articles "weaponized"?

[BainsBane]

46. I'll give you 2016 as an example

Exit polls were used as an excuse for arguing that the party should do away with abortion rights, despite the fact that polling data shows that the majority of voters support pro-choice legislation.

White women were blamed for Trump's victory, yet there was endless hand wringing about the poor "working class" voters who voted for Trump. Note that working class was assumed to be white, as though people of color don't vote. Women were a target of blame, yet it was the Democrats fault for not winning the votes of white men. Do you see my point now?

Oh, only it turns out that 47%, not a majority, of white women voted for Trump in 2016. The exit polls from 2020 have yet to be weighted, so it's possibly they are considerably off, but that doesn't stop white men from using them against white women.

[Withywindle]

110. Another example

Using Hillary Clinton's fairly poor showing among white male voters - which had to LOT to do with sexism, IMO- to say that we shouldn't run women candidates because they can't get male votes. That is an absolutely TEXTBOOK example of punishing women for the existence of misogyny.

[LizBeth]

112. +1

[kcr]

42. It is scapegoating, particularly when it comes from white men.

Especially on the open internet, where it comes from 99% of the time. There is legitimate discussion of intersectionality in feminism. Blaming white women on Trump ain't it.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

48. I am really unclear on what this "scapegoating" looks like and who's doing it. When you say

"open internet," do you mean yahoos on social media and message boards?

[kcr]

52. Where do you think we are right now?

While we're at it, what is your definition of scapegoating? If you aren't seeing the dozens of White women vote for Trump! threads here and elsewhere, then I don't know what to tell you.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

54. Other people here are saying there's "scapegoating" going on.

It's unclear to me why talking about the fact that white women tend to vote Republican is "scapegoating."

[kcr]

57. Then I'm not sure you understand what scapegoating is, so there's no point.

[BainsBane]

92. It's an observation

that wasn't accurate in 2016 and may not be accurate in 2020. But say it is true. Why the continual pointing to white women when white men are the far more reliable Republican voting demographic? In 2016, the difference was some 14 points, which is sizable. Yet women were in fact continually blamed for Trump's victory, as thought the votes of men had no impact.

[Withywindle]

113. Well, for one thing, this thread and OP were about white men

But you changed the subject to talk about white women. Why? Why can't we just have a thread to talk about white men? Changing the subject sounds like deflecting to me. It's classic "whataboutism."

[LizBeth]

47. I adamantly disagree white feminists do not recognize the work the needs to be done with other

groups. I think feminists have for a solid two decades very much been aware and have put in a lot of time listening and growing and progressing in this area. Please do not sell the efforts short. Lets celebrate the growth.

[Aristus]

2. I'm a white man.

I haven't cast a vote for a Republican in thirty years. And likely never will again.

[LuvNewcastle]

29. Same here.

Well, I've voted for a Republican here and there in state and local races, but many, many Republicans run unopposed down here. I voted in a Republican primary once to keep our conservative Senator rather than have him beaten by a MAGAt. Other than that, it's been all Dems. I think about 40% of white men vote for Democrats, and while I would like for it to be more, our votes are still essential to the success of Democratic candidates.

[kairos12]

103. I am of that demographic

In 50 years I have never for a Republican:

*not down ballot

*not over ballot

*not side ballot

*not paper ballot

*not electronic ballot

*not raise your hand ballot

I never will, under any circumstances vote for any Republican for any reason.

Never, ever.

EVER.

[Shermann]

3. Trump only got 55% of white women so it's a slim majority nt

[BainsBane]

4. If those polls are even accurate

which seems unlikely.

[spooky3]

11. Yes, we should wait for the Pew research study that will

Last edited Sun Nov 29, 2020, 07:28 PM - Edit history (1)

Use validated vote data.

For the 2016 election, their research showed that 47% of white women voted Republican—similar to previous elections—and this is a lower % than that for white men.

White women and men with degrees were much more likely to vote Dem. than were their counterparts without degrees. But interestingly, education made little difference in voting patterns for people of color.

[BainsBane]

36. Interesting

because this mantra about white women voting Republican was constant after the 2016 election.

[spooky3]

68. Yes. Slightly more of them did vote repub than Dem, but the media

Kept saying “majority” based on the flawed exit polls. Since a substantial # voted third party, it was not a majority.

https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2018/08/09/an-examination-of-the-2016-electorate-based-on-validated-voters/

[BainsBane]

78. Okay

Thank you for the clarification.

[spooky3]

87. You're welcome. Notice that 62% of white men

Voted for Trump in 2016, much higher than the 47% of white women.

It’s also interesting that, while the support of Black Americans is absolutely crucial to Dems, and Black women voted 93% for Clinton, they are still a much smaller portion of the electorate than are white women. Approximately 3.5 times as many white women voted for Clinton as Black women, simply because there are so many more of them. So it always annoys me (as a white woman) when people in the media portray the vote otherwise.

[BainsBane]

90. I didn't realize that the difference in population was so great

If that's the case, it makes me wonder if a majority of white women might have actually voted for Biden.

[spooky3]

91. I wonder too and will be interested to see the Pew results. Nt

[BainsBane]

93. What is different about Pew's methodology

and the exit polls we see?

[spooky3]

94. If you go to the link in my earlier post, then scroll down to

Look for “Methodology”, you’ll see a description.

[LizBeth]

12. I think it was a lower amount, personally. And I disagree I am a visitor to the party.

The Republican majority is in the uneducated white vote. And why men do is the inherent patriarchy enforced by religion that tells them from the day that they are born, they are the boss. But I am not simply a guest of my Democratic Party.

[luv2fly]

35. "the inherent patriarchy enforced by religion"

Religion, ugh... major eye roll

[Stargleamer]

17. It's good to doubt this

So many thought that Trump got the majority of the WF vote in 2016, when it turned out to be a plurality, not a majority, which was still lamentable.

[StarfishSaver]

101. Only?

[Stargleamer]

5. LBJ may have been the last Democrat to capture the the majority

Of the white male vote, and even then I am not fully sure. Perhaps you have to go back to FDR

They have much resentment and are easily persuaded by propaganda

[Arkansas Granny]

6. I heard my boss say one time that he always voted Republican because of his Christian values.

We don't talk politics, so I don't ask how he squares his Christian values with a vote for Trump. Maybe he left that space blank this year.

[lisa58]

7. My late husband was a white man...

Never voted republican - his children never voted republican. His ex-wife- not absolutely sure

[NRaleighLiberal]

8. why speak in such extremes? "always" "Never" pretty offensive post

since it disregards the actual statistics

[hlthe2b]

14. +1

[Alex4Martinez]

19. +2

[BainsBane]

25. Because we have seen countless posts

blaming white women for voting for Trump. Yet somehow those aren't offensive.

The title of the most recent one: "White women vote Republican. Get used to it Democrats." I don't see you being offended over that.

[kcr]

28. I can't help but notice the different reaction between those threads and yours

Even though way more men vote for Trump. But, I'm not surprised.

[BainsBane]

37. Thank you

That was my point. I did edit my OP title to make it more accurate, however.

[LanternWaste]

100. The difference between the two does tend to pull a curtain or two aside.

And like you, quite unsurprised by the discrepancies illustrated.

[hlthe2b]

38. Actually that article was debunked very publicly. Truthfully, we don't yet know exactly how many

white women voted for Trump. The post-election analyses have not been done and that article commented on in-person voters polled, rather than mail or early voters--which so dramatically skews so as to be shockingly unreliable.

[NRaleighLiberal]

56. Do you know what I do during the day? How much time I spend here - or don't?

You are justifying your hyperbole by essentially just saying "because this, than that"?

Who are you to tell me what to read, what to react to and when?

Sheesh....someone make you the DU spy and police person?

I know what sort of point you are trying to make, but the way you posted it is bullshit. It is actually a group attack on many here at DU.

[BainsBane]

65. My point is a valid one

and the double-standard is expressed in the OP. And your reaction validates my point. That said, I edited my post to include demographic in order to clear up any confusion on what I considered an obviously point.

That post is not the only one that's been written in the wake of this election pointing the finger at white women. There have been others, and in 2016 they were ubiquitous. The concept is not an alien one, and I would be greatly surprised if you hadn't encountered it before.

[NRaleighLiberal]

70. Then make it in a valid way. Black/white, all of nothing statements and thinking

do not belong here. Things are not all or nothing. It is the details and the nuances that are important.

As a 64 year old white male who has voted Democratic in every election and been involved when I can with campaigns, and as a husband of 40 years and a father of two daughters, I do take offense to assumptions being made about me.

[BainsBane]

77. You are an individual

not a demographic. You are also a member of a Democratic site. Obviously you vote Democrat.

I'm a white women who votes for Democrats, yet I am expected to see accept countless posts blaming white women for Trump's victory in 2016 and his vote total in 2020. Most of these posts come from white men, who never consider that their own demographic is key to Republican electoral success. Yet anyone dares to mention the voting behavior of white men, and outrage ensues. The double-standard couldn't be clearer.

[NRaleighLiberal]

81. It is not the point you were trying to make, it was the way you were making it.

I will be the first to agree with your main points. I have few men friends because I don't fit the stereotype. It would take me pages to share my views on what's wrong with many white men these days. But your clumsy first edition of the OP title was an attack on individual DUers - don't you get that? I would be just as pissed off if you started "all white women did (such and such". Words matter - choose them wisely. All or nothing statements or thinking are the types of things conservatives/right wingers say. We are better than that.

[BainsBane]

85. Do you not think the other post I referenced

used similar all or nothing wording? It was taken from the title of an article, "White women vote Republican. Get used to it Democrats."

[NRaleighLiberal]

95. Haven't read it - but if it was an article - that's awful word choices. Just because

Op ed or newspaper writers use a form of hyperbole, it isn't an excuse for people here to do the same.

I will check it out later.

[BainsBane]

97. fair point

I'll try to be more careful in the future.

[NRaleighLiberal]

99. thank you. have a nice rest of your Sunday!

[LizBeth]

64. I am understanding where you are coming from. Yes, it is always on the woman to be above it all,

the fixer, nurturer ect... Interesting point. Thanks for the clarification what you are saying.

[luv2fly]

9. Please

Plenty of white people, and indeed white MEN, voting for Democrats. How ridiculous.

[LizBeth]

21. I read white men educated vote increased for Democrats this election.

[BainsBane]

50. Please feel free to express how ridiculous

this post is. https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=14630162

[luv2fly]

59. I do feel free thanks

But it seems it pissed you off so much you had to make a new post about how white men ALWAYS vote Republican... ridiculous.

[BainsBane]

71. Do you dispute the fact

that the majority of white men have always voted Republican in elections for the past half century? And if so, based on what?

You are free to trash any threads you don't like. Your response, however, validates the double-standard that I sought to address.

[luv2fly]

117. I dispute your use of the word "always"

As did others. Done.

[Iggo]

13. What are conservatives trying to conserve?

[BainsBane]

86. I think at this point

It's largely restorationist. They are not simply trying to preserve white supremacy, but instead go back to its halcyon days before they had to compete with the majority of the population for jobs.

[edbermac]

15. This old white man doesn't.

[Ace Rothstein]

18. White men made up Biden's second largest voting block after white women.

[MineralMan]

20. As an old white man who has never voted for a Republican

in my life, I get your sharply pointed point very clearly.

I think we need to stop with the general statements, especially when they are patently untrue.

[LizBeth]

22. Well, then the statement white people are guests in the party when they bring the majority of the

vote would be in question, too.

[MineralMan]

31. Question everything. That's my motto.

The reality is that a sizable percentage of white men and white women vote for Democrats. My wife, for an example, is a white woman who, like me, has never voted for any Republican.

The majority of Biden voters are white. Their votes are needed, along with others, to give him the majority overall.

Skin color is not a predictor of political philosophy, anymore than it is of anything else.

Democratic voters are people who care. That is all.

ETA: Oops...I changed it. We both have always voted for Democrats.

[LizBeth]

39. I can agree with all this. And I do question, hence my previous post.

like me, has never voted for any Democrat

But, surely you meant has never voted Republican. I hate when I do not get a not in there when I absolutely mean not.

[MineralMan]

49. Yes, exactly. I edited the post.

I had a brain fart and didn't proofread the post.

[LizBeth]

66. Totally hear you. It drives me mad when I do it.

[luv2fly]

43. Ummm

I think you meant you had both never voted for any R's right?

[MineralMan]

44. Oops. I corrected the post.

Brain fart. Thanks!

[Laelth]

51. I think you want to edit this. n/t

-Laelth

[MineralMan]

53. Already done.

Thanks. I broke my "always proofread" rule.

[BainsBane]

96. I disagree about skin color not being a predictor

Certainly it's not an absolute predictor, but one can assess probability based on demography. If I want to register Democratic voters, as I have in the past, I go to African American neighborhoods because they are far more likely to vote Democrat.

If I want to register Democratic white voters, I stay in the city. If I wanted to register Republicans, I'd go to the exurbs and rural areas. We do know enough about voting behavior to assess probability.

[LizBeth]

111. +1

[LAS14]

76. Check post #75. nt

[MineralMan]

82. Shrug

[cwydro]

105. This. nt

[RainCaster]

23. I'm white and I haven't voted (R) in 40+ years

Let me further blow up the stereotypes :
Hetero
Christian
Rural
Non college graduate

[Laelth]

55. Union? n/t

-Laelth

[RainCaster]

61. Never - not needed in my field

[Laelth]

63. Wow. You do, indeed, blow up all the stereotypes.

Honored to have you on our side.



-Laelth

[RainCaster]

67. Many of us do, if you scratch the surface a bit

The world is a truly diverse and beautiful place once you get beneath the veneers.

[LizBeth]

69. Yea you and yes we get to rejoice your Dem vote, lol.

[zanana1]

27. I have a theory, but it might be a bit like a conspiracy idea.

..I think alot of white men are worried that they will be in the minority someday. The racism is real. Their hatred of immigrants is a tip off and the extremist groups, like the Proud Boys, are literally up in arms. So that is my theory. I'd like to know if other people also think this is a possible reason.

[LizBeth]

72. I know this to be true, we hear it from them.

[BainsBane]

84. I don't think that's a conspiracy theory at all

Seems quite reasonable to me.

[Me.]

32. Becayse They Like To Control What Other People Do & How Much THey Have

especially women and minorities

[TheFarseer]

34. Why can't we just all be people?

Dems make it a self fulfilling prophecy when they point out Democratic is the party of POC and white people are doing (fill in the blank) wrong. We need to make our message class based or most white people are going to be alienated.

[Codeine]

115. But the fact that failing to acknowledge

systemic racism and the role politics plays in that might alienate POC isn’t a problem?

[TheFarseer]

118. Can we do it in a way that

is inclusive instead of blaming and divisive? It would be more effective to get white people on your side than to just yell at them that they’re racist. Especially when a lot of the folks we are talking to never see black people except on vacation and TV.

[Jeebo]

40. White men DON'T always vote Republicon.

I am a 70-year-old (71 in about three weeks) Southern white man. I NEVER vote for Republicons and never have. Any poor or middle class voter is cutting his or her own throat voting for Republicons. As that progressive talker who used to have a radio talk show out of a station on Florida's Gulf coast (can't remember his name) used to say, A poor or middle class person voting for a Republicon is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders.

-- Ron

[BainsBane]

58. the statement is about the demographic

not every single voter. That much should be obvious.

My point, however, was pointing out that the constant posts and articles about white women as a demographic supposedly voting for Republicans is never accompanied by articles asking why white men vote Republican. And the responses to this thread vs the one on white women illustrate that double-standard perfectly. In fact, your response and those of many others here validate my point.

[Jeebo]

74. I don't disagree with the point of your original post.

I just didn't address that point. That I didn't address it says nothing about whether I agreed or disagreed with it, just that I chose not to address it. What I was responding to is your having lumped me in with individuals with whom I have PROFOUND disagreements, like Boog-A-Loi Boys and Incels.

If you were talking about white men as a group and not any individual white men, you could have worded your original post in such a way as to make that more clear.

-- Ron

[BainsBane]

80. fair point

and I've since edited it to include the word demographic in order to clear up that confusion, which I did not intend to create.

[MyNameGoesHere]

41. Because they honestly believe

They will one day be a member of the billionaires club, no they think they are entitled to be a billionaire. Reprehensible greedy fucks is what it's all about.

[BainsBane]

83. upward mobility

is the great fallacy of capitalism. Americans buy into it more than most.

[tulipsandroses]

45. People vote for the party that aligns with " their values"

As far as white women: Trump is a misogynist sexist pig. Not long after he took office, there was the Me Too Movement, we saw some powerful men fall. After his inauguration, women came out in droves to protest. We saw record numbers of women running for office. I think there has been this building expectation over the last four years, that there would be this resounding repudiation by women when the time came when trump would be up for re-election. It seems that what happened, did not live up to expectations.
It is with this in mind, that I think attention is being paid to white women voters. Is it sexist? YES!! It shouldn't just be up to women to reject sexism and misogyny. It was up to white men to reject it as well as reject racism

But as I said in the title. People vote for the party that aligns with their values.
Therefore, if your values include "pro life", being against LGBTQ, if you are concerned that those "others" will diminish your opportunities, or your children's opportunities, you are going to vote for the party that best aligns with those values.

Likewise if you believe that Govt should do something about climate change, racial justice, making sure higher education is affordable, you will vote for the party that aligns with those values.

[Progressive Jones]

60. I am a white, 61 year old, male, life-long blue collar worker. I voted GOP one time in my life.

That was in a Governor race. That guy earned my vote.

By most demographic metrics, I fit the GOP/Trumper profile.

What I'm not is a racist, an evangelical, a gun addict, or a misogynist.

To me, these are the differences between me and the Trumpflakes.

That being said, I have no idea WTF is wrong with men who vote GOP.

[Ligyron]

62. They imagine themselves macho and Dems weak.

They don’t wish to be thought of as “weak” or worse, gasp... feminine.

I really think with 90% of them this is it in a nutcase, err I mean nutshell.

[BainsBane]

88. that's a good point

I have noticed that.

[redstatebluegirl]

73. They want the 1950s back.

A time when their power was not questioned by Black people and women.

[LAS14]

75. To the OPer, I imagine you're frustrated that so many disregarded your...

... "as a demographic." You raise a valid question. My theory is that, on a spectrum, women are more likely to be swayed by the care-for-others motive. But that just begs the question. Why that difference in the sexes?

[MustLoveBeagles]

89. I'm glad you clarified your post

It cleared up some confusion that I'm sure you didn't intend. That out of the way I agree with your post. The double standard is glaring.

[BainsBane]

98. Thank you. nt

[Hortensis]

102. Simple-minded. They don't. Maybe align with reality?

If you're not secretly voting Republican, regardless of your racial orientation, you should be able to see that headline for the divisive whopper it is.

Sure, more stupid and bigoted white men vote Republican than intelligent and decent white men vote Democrat, but that doesn't make intelligent and decent white men Republican.

And the same thing applies to non-white men. That most men tend to be more conservative than women is a male thing, not a race thing.

Most black conservatives who do vote tend to vote Democrat for self protection, not because they espouse liberal values as much as liberals. Btw, black male representation this election was not as high as it has been -- unbelievably given what white nationalist authoritarian government would do to them!, and from any moral stand absolutely should have been.

Btw, don't those feel any concern for black women? Authoritarian regimes ALWAYS oppress and degrade, and by a lot of "woke" definitions enslave, women for the benefit of men.

On the plus side, this moral failing that crosses all races once again demonstrates that all men are created equal. As if we needed this kind of proof.

[BainsBane]

104. The question wasn't about smart or stupid

It referenced a double standard. That said, are you actually claiming that a majority of white men don't vote Republican? Are those the facts that you say aren't aligned with reality?

https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2018/08/09/an-examination-of-the-2016-electorate-based-on-validated-voters/

[Hortensis]

106. Nope. I'm calling out this blatant propaganda headline for what it is.

There's no rule on the GD that says people have to copy those in to poison viewpoints here.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

107. Pseudo Masculinity or toxic masculinity or whatever it's called

They want to be tough guys. They don’t want to be “libs” (I mean besides the racism and misogyny of a good percentage).

I’ve known several guys like that. Their wives would just roll their eyes at them.

My neighbor was one of them in 2004 - until I sat him down and made him watch the first Bush/Kerry debate with me. That was the debate Bush flopped majorly- flop sweat and all.

The reaction was “dude, Bush is an idiot”

[JI7]

108. White Men really do need to look to themselves and stop seeing their group as victims

I do notice white women are usually disgusted when they hear about how many voted Trump and other Republicans.

But when it comes to white men there are always excuses and the need to view them as victims.

If white men voted in same rate as white women even if it is majority Republicans wouldn't have as much power. But it's the very high levels they vote Republican which makes things difficult .

[fearnobush]

109. White guy here.

Haven’t voted repuke since GHWB. And then I was too young to understand the issues as I was fed the pro life low tax tough military mantra from my parents who use to vote the dem ticket prior to Rowe v Wade.

So to me having been once a Republican (albeit at a very young age) This question is complex and has no silver bullet answer. I believe it’s a combination of personal fiscal wealth in lower taxes, Personal property and security which ties into paternalism/authoritarianism which includes being anti abortion, a belief in protecting something helpless and Militarism, a belief protecting something on a macro scale, life, their authoritarian view of values and country.

[Codeine]

114. I am not a guest in the Democratic Party.

That aside, racism is the simple answer to your question. White people are (perhaps unavoidably given the societal structures within which they have been raised) racist, and that racism informs the voting habits of too many of them. The rest of us recognize our racism and (at least attempt) to work against it.

[betsuni]

120. +1

[Proud Liberal Dem]

116. Generalizations aside

a lot of white men hold themselves in a privileged position in our country (still) and Republicans typically validate and help to reinforce that status.

[standingtall]

119. Both white men and white women vote republican too much

However claiming their just guest in the Democratic party is not a winning strategy by any stretch of the imagination. Both of those Demographics still make up the bulk of raw votes totals for Democrats on election day despite the fact most white people vote republican. Lose the white voters Democrats have now and we will never win another election at least not for another 100,200 or 300s years. The demographic shifts in America are not happen as fast as some seem to think they are.