Think again, men

[n2doc]

THIS week’s Lexington column is on the “marriage gap” in American politics. There are 53m unmarried women of voting age in America, and they are spectacularly loyal to Democrats. In the 2012 presidential election, unmarried women accounted for nearly a quarter of all votes cast. Their votes went decisively to Barack Obama, by 36 percentage points.

You might not think that a group that runs from not-yet-married college students to inner-city single mothers and divorced professionals had much in common. Yet strategists and pollsters report that—even after controlling for such variables as race, age, religiosity and income—marital status is a powerful predictor of Democratic voting (whereas married women and older widows lean slightly Republican). The key to the puzzle appears to involve attitudes to government safety nets, and a shared sense among unmarried women that they are trying to survive without any back-up in a harsh, increasingly insecure economy (unmarried women are disproportionately likely to work in jobs which do not offer health cover, for instance). Put another way, the conservative battle-cry of “Leave me the Hell alone” sounds different when you are literally on your own.

Regrettably, your columnist did not have room in the column for a brilliant polling anecdote that came up during interviews for the piece. It comes from Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster who has done a lot of work on unmarried women, and what makes them tick. Ms Lake described a survey she conducted of married couples, asking whether both spouses always voted the same way. Oh yeah, said 73% of married men (chests swelling as they answered, it seems safe to assume, shoulders back, and thumbs jammed in their belts). The wives' response? Just 49% said yes.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2013/12/marriage-gap

[truedelphi]

1. The anecdote that forms the last paragrapgh of this OP

had me laughing mao.

Yeah, guys we vote exactly as you do because...

[Liberal_in_LA]

2. i've known women who voted very republican within the safety of that 2nd income

They didn't care about repro rights, civil rights, safety nets or any liberal ideals.

[haele]

3. I've known lots of women who think they should be princesses. Usually, they vote republican.

When you have someone taking care of you all your life - even if you have a job and are contributing to that nice life with that job - and don't expect that to change, it's very easy to be afraid that someone else is going to take that away from you - and vote conservative to keep the peace and remain protected.

Comfortable people only act when their source of comfort is being threatened.

Haele

[Brigid]

5. Your last sentence . . .

Makes you our thread winner.

[Liberal_in_LA]

6. yep

[BlancheSplanchnik]

4. BAM. there it is.

The key to the puzzle appears to involve attitudes to government safety nets, and a shared sense among unmarried women that they are trying to survive without any back-up in a harsh, increasingly insecure economy (unmarried women are disproportionately likely to work in jobs which do not offer health cover, for instance). Put another way, the conservative battle-cry of “Leave me the Hell alone” sounds different when you are literally on your own. 

Those not living it and lacking in empathy are repukes.

[Major Nikon]

8. Empathy being the key word

I'm convinced that the less empathy you have, the more likely you are to be Republican, and those on the far end of that spectrum (sociopaths) are pretty much universally so. Being a civil libertarian doesn't mean liberty trumps all other considerations. Libertarianism is just the veil they use to mask their selfishness and hate. The Republican's father and son team that they regard as the biggest champions of liberty are both slavery apologists. Those two things are mutually exclusive.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

9. I am too.

The far end being sociopaths or other emotional impairment.

For some reason, "libertarianism' seems to regarded as "cool" in some way, by some people.

As our numbers increase and competition for survival hits ever more individuals, the social darwinists will fight harder to gain power and keep their own asses alive.

Unless we can create a "renaissance" or another "age of enlightenment"....

[lumberjack_jeff]

7. Having a hard time finding the point.

1) Single women vote for Democrats. Okay, I got that.
2) Married women vote for Republicans. Okay, I got that too.
3) Wives don't vote like their husbands? Uhh...

It has long seemed to me that they way to build a republican-proof future is to convince married men to vote our way. It's a two-for-one deal.

[seveneyes]

10. Then again, men are not a monolith

Nor are women.

[Warren DeMontague]

11. I can state with 100% certainty that my Wife and I vote pretty much the same way.

but if not, that's her business.

Usually I'm the only one who takes the time to read the voter guide, though, so she usually asks me who to vote for for county dogcatcher, etc.

[Major Nikon]

12. It's the same for me

We live in Tarrant county, Texas which is one of the most wingnutty areas of the state. You have a choice between wingnutty Republicans, Looneytarians, and sometimes there's a Democrat on the ballot. So outside of primary elections and referendums the choices just aren't that difficult.