Pew poll: People prefer republicans on handling the economy and budget deficit. WTF!

[pampango]

That is a triumph of perception (and the endless repetition of conservative talking points) over reality.

As Midterms Near, GOP Leads on Key Issues, Democrats Have a More Positive Image



With less than two weeks before the midterm elections, the Republican Party holds significant leads on several major issues. Voters say the GOP could do a better job than the Democrats on the economy, and the Republicans hold double-digit advantages on both terrorism and the budget deficit.

However, the Democrats have advantages on a number of qualities and traits – from honesty to empathy and a willingness to compromise. And on some dimensions, the Republican Party is viewed less positively by voters than it was just prior to the 2010 election, when it captured the House.

... neither party is especially popular with voters as they head into the midterms. The GOP’s favorable ratings are underwater: 39% of registered voters view the party favorably, while 55% have an unfavorable impression. Favorable ratings for the Democratic Party, while better than the GOP’s, are hardly robust: As many voters view the party unfavorably (48%) as favorably (47%).

As has been the case all year, Republican voters are substantially more engaged in the election than are Democratic voters. And on several measures, the GOP’s advantage is about as great as it was four years ago: Currently, 68% of those who support the Republican candidate in their district have given a lot of thought to the election, compared with 54% who support the Democratic candidate.

... ...

http://www.people-press.org/2014/10/23/as-midterms-near-gop-leads-on-key-issues-democrats-have-a-more-positive-image/

[BeyondGeography]

1. White guys

Self-injurious fools. They skew the numbers and I don't even have to look.

[earthside]

2. A believable poll.

I'm not surprised.

The DNC and the White House have done a flat-out plain crappy job of touting the successes and accomplishments of the Obama administration.

Did you know that the national unemployment rate has fallen below six percent?
Well, DUers may know that, but hardly anybody else does.

And ... speaking as a Colorado voter, our risk averse U.S. Senator, Mark Udall, has been running his whole reelection campaign on a defensive strategy, no offense to speak of at all. If Udall won't talk about accomplishments that have happened over the last six years, well, the Republicans are going to fill that vacuum with their own version.

I think Democrats will keep the Senate with one vote and some important governorships will flip to Democratic -- GOTV could save the day. But I believe the finds of this poll, because it is just the truth about the national Democratic Party and Pres. Obama's lack of ability or enthusiasm to brag on themselves ... why Democrats get like this is a mystery to me, but is seems to happen.

[blkmusclmachine]

16. "The DNC & the White House have done a shitty job of touting the successes of the Administration."

WHY is that?!?!


Shhh! We've got an election to lose!!!


And then our DEM "leadership" will be right where they love to be -- powerless, and pointing their compromised little fingers right at us.

[1StrongBlackMan]

19. I disagree ...

The DNC and the White House have done a flat-out plain crappy job of touting the successes and accomplishments of the Obama administration.

The DNC and this Administration has been full-throated in touting accomplishments; however, the media-enabled commentariat on the right and left, has denigrated any and all accomplishments.

[Z_California]

3. Also...

....most people are really really dumb.

[hollysmom]

4. well republicans know a lot ab out debt, they keep raising it

[KansDem]

28. And they know a lot about terrorism...

They keep enabling it.

[GeorgeGist]

5. The Dems have a problem staying on message ...

other than 'we're not them'.

[belzabubba333]

6. and talking up their accomplishments -

[TomCADem]

9. So Fox News Bias Is Due To Poor Messaging?

Likewise, the rest of the corporate sponsored media would get on board of Dems got their talking point right?

[1StrongBlackMan]

20. Exactly ...

the media-enabled commentariat on both the right and the left denigrate/undercut the DNC and this administration's talking points.

[Ykcutnek]

7. I hate people. nt

[Savannahmann]

10. If only we didn't need them to vote for us.

Last edited Sat Feb 13, 2021, 07:51 PM - Edit history (1)

Then that feeling would be practical.

[spanone]

8. yet the biggest act of terrorism happened under republican admin. folks are fuckin' nuts

and the economy TANKED under bu$h

[hifiguy]

11. Textbook cognitive dissonance

Last edited Sat Feb 13, 2021, 08:02 PM - Edit history (1)

[hfojvt]

12. which is why I keep trying

to get the word out about the last recession

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025697641

But, alas, I got fewer recs and views than a post bashing DUers who had opinions different than the OP on some issue.

That's right, we'd rather attack each other than try to inform the public.

[1StrongBlackMan]

21. Unfortunately, that academic study has already been done ...

and ... well ...

In a series of studies in 2005 and 2006, researchers at the University of Michigan found that when misinformed people, particularly political partisans, were exposed to corrected facts in news stories, they rarely changed their minds. In fact, they often became even more strongly set in their beliefs. - See more at: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2010/07/11/how_facts_backfire/#sthash.ZR5nFpLS.dpuf

As someone has already stated, "People are just really, really, dumb."

[hfojvt]

22. so there's no point in trying to teach or inform people?

Let's shut the schools down and just fling excrement at each other then.

"People are just really, really dumb"

The word "people" includes me, and also you, and the person behind the tree.

What the person really stated was "people (in the other tribe) are just really, really dumb".

Of course, people in the other tribe tend to hear that opinion directed at them, and for some reason, it does not endear them to either our opinions or candidates.

[1StrongBlackMan]

23. Relax! That's not what I was saying ...

You try and educate those willing to listen.

The word "people" includes me, and also you, and the person behind the tree.

What the person really stated was "people (in the other tribe) are just really, really dumb".

Question:

Why do you work so very hard to make yourself the victim?

Fact is ... when someone refuses to accept empirical and/or academically derived and tested information, that they cannot challenge other than to say, "Yeah, well ... I disagree" ... that pretty much makes that person really, really dumb.

[hfojvt]

29. Why work so hard to make myself the victim?

Maybe because "If there is a lower class, I am in it ..."

Maybe if we try to go around educating people to make the world a better place, that we shouldn't pull back and declare people we have failed to teach are just a bunch of morons (or maybe just racists).

"emprical and/or academically derived and tested information". Yeah, I was in academia long enough to learn that what they put out sometimes is not worth the paper it's written on, at least in economics and sociology.

I think it is very important for people to have "good hearts" as much as it is for them to have good heads. A person with a good heart should not be so quick to denigrate large swaths of people are "really, really dumb".

[1StrongBlackMan]

32. You and I disagree, frequently, and particularly on the topic of white privilege ...

and race, in general.

What could I possibly say to you that would have you accept that white privilege is real, it has nothing to do with white guilt, nor is it an assault on the soul of individual white people, or that it is wholly unrelated to any discussion of the misfortune of individual white people?

A good heart, lacking a good head, can be as misguidedly destructive as a good head without a good heart.

[hifiguy]

26. It is a worthy endeavor to be sure.

But as far as the low-info/religulously insane/teatalitarian segments of the population - which I'd guess at somewhere around 35-40% of the population in total, you may as well try to teach calculus to your dog or cat. It ain't gonna take. A frightening number of people are utterly impervious to facts, figures and science, no matter how many times they have been established.

[rtracey]

13. Well

Well, if the elections do not go the way us Democrats want, just try to take some good out of it. 1.... looks like more Democrat governors will be elected. 2... I don't believe the country will sit still very long while the right fiddles away in the Senate. 3. Remember 2016 will be more open republican seats up for reelection then democrat in the Senate. 4. 2016 is just 2 years away, 5. there is not a 2/3 majority to counteract any veto, (required 2/3rd majority or 67 votes) for impeachment, other things..... one problem will be republican controlled committees, and knowing the right, Benghazi, fast and furious, IRS, Ebola, etc will be top of the list.....but again, if anyone thinks the country will sit still for the congress to start taking away the improvements this country has made in that past 6 years.....think again, remember this new generation of voters are the cellphone, ipad, generation....me, me, me....and they will not like cuts...

[redruddyred]

14. there's a definite misimpression that neoliberal policies are best for the "economy"

whatever that means. whereas I think there's plenty of evidence to suggest that more keynesian measures, such as raising the wage, would actually be more beneficial.

[bigdarryl]

15. The deficit is down and the economy is

Going in the right direction who did they poll martians

[nc4bo]

17. I guess the media has done a fine job getting the word out, huh?

Even if Democrats stood on top of the highest mountain and screamed at the top of their lungs how much better off Wallstr..err the middle class and the Too Big To Fa... and Big Health Insure..... or Big Pharma...err - well how we now have solid laws and regulations in place to ease the pressure off the middle cl...oh just nevermind.

Still, media has played its part in not getting the D message out.

[1StrongBlackMan]

18. I haven't really looked at this poll in any great depth; but ...

assuming that PEW did its usual good job in the polling design ... this shows the stupidity (or maybe something else) of the American People.

Terrorist Threat Question:

In the tenure of this Presidency, there has been one (maybe) act of terror on U.S. soil (Boston) and far fewer acts of terror (directed at U.S. interests) abroad than any time in recent history; yet, Americans "trust" republicans on terrorism.

Budget Deficit:

The Budget deficit has fallen faster under this administration faster than any other administration in recent memory (while engaged in 2 military actions, left over from the previous Budget busting administration; yet, Americans "trust" republicans on the budget deficit.

The Economy:

The Jobs Numbers ... the Unemployment Numbers ... DOW ... (granted, far to many have not been lifted nearly enough); yet, Americans "trust" republicans on the economy.

Immigration:

During this administration, Democrats have been driving comprehensive immigration reform, after having floated 4 separate immigration bills, all of which republicans have rebuffed ... even after being listed as a sponsor on 3 of the bills; yet, Americans "trust" republicans on immigration.

But more troubling (telling) is this:

Those same surveyed Americans, after "Agree(ing)" that Democrats are more about governing, and governing honestly, and more closely tied to their interests; yet, Americans "Agree" that republicans are better suited to manage the Federal government.

{Note: as a Poli-Sci (under-grad) and MPA holder, I am aware that there is a difference between governing and managing the government; but, I seriously doubt (the vast majority of) those polled know, or could explain, the distinction.}

No ... either Americans are stupid ... or something else is creating the conflicting results.

[WI_DEM]

24. Obama does a terrible job of promoting his accomplishments.

[mmonk]

25. Propaganda works. I put the average American today on the same level as North Koreans.

[hifiguy]

27. Not quite yet, but a few more years

of corporate media, especially but far from limited to FauSnooze, Kochtopus/1% bullshit and dumbing down the education system should get most of the sheeple to that point. The corporatists' dream populace.

[onecaliberal]

30. Republicans literally do not have the brains God gave a rock....

[Rex]

31. People believe whatever the M$M tells them.

There perceptions are based on the GOP paymasters making sure they get biased news against the Democratic party.

[JI7]

33. no surprise, people are VERY Stupid, look at the reaction to Ebola

[jwirr]

34. I'm sorry. I do not believe them.

[samsingh]

35. whoever believes that is truly ignorant and stupid

there is no excuse for this type of ignorance.