The reason why middle America, and rural America, voted for Trump is simple.

[wcast]

So today, I was talking with a fellow teacher who is considering retiring. She has to make a choice to buy insurance at the beginning of her retirement for a year, or wait until the year or so before she hits medicare as she is entitled to some years of insurance as part of her retirement. This was a real dilemma for her as she wasn't sure if she should wait until competition brought down the prices. I asked her what she was talking about and she mentioned competition via buying insurance across state lines. I told her that they only way that brought competition down was when certain states would allow substandard insurance to be sold at a cheap price, but it would only include 2 band-aids and a cotton swab. Real insurance, the kind she would need and depend on, would be more expensive. I likened it to credit cards and how they are issued across state lines from states that have poor consumer protections. I'm sure she still didn't fully understand but she stopped talking.

This is the cold hard truth, and the reason that many of the "Why Did We Lose" posts fail to understand. They really are not educated or informed on the issues and when they get their news, likely from Fox or RW radio, they only hear short messages repeated over and over again with no substance. Here on DU, we are all informed, which is why we have difficulty understanding why anyone would vote against their best interest. These people don't realize they have done that. And sadly, they may never no matter what.

We can improve our message and actually focus on the working man, but in the end, these people will still consume news the way they do now and still won't accept the message that the politicians they vote for don't represent them.

[kiers]

1. True! a reflection of failing economics OVERALL

100% true. People on fringes of population centers (red states) really being left out of ACA. Insurers can't afford to cover them right. Tell here to move to a bluer state might be an option?

[wcast]

3. She wants to move to Florida.

Her husband voted for Trump. She insists without being asked that she didn't but I hear these types of comments from her all the time.

[Yavin4]

2. This is why Dems need to contest every election in the U.S. no matter if we win or lose.

Elections provide a great medium for talking to voters regardless of whether they want to vote for you or not. At least they will know where you stand.

[Maraya1969]

4. I never thought of this but yes! I also think if they start putting up a bunch of fake news sites

like they did the last time where they hogged Google's first 3 pages with sites saying the same fake news we need to put up just as many real news sites, even if it is saying the same thing. At least Google analytics will pick it up and the truth won't get lost

[Merlot]

8. And not to re-hash the most recent election...

That's what made me SO angry about the primary debates. The repubs and 3 times as many debates, a ton of candidates, and got all kinds of free publicity. They got their message out there. Our measly debates might as well have been held at midnight.

Dems missed a huge opportunity to make the case for their positions. Remeber in '08 how much attention our debates got? We had a handfull of great candidates, a good competition between the top two candidates. I think it's one of the reasons we did so sell in the house and senate races. Good ideas, a lot of publicity. People heard the dem message.

All races are important: Getting the dem message out.

[Yavin4]

9. Also, when Republican policies fail, and they will...

the masses will know that our position was the correct one. Sometimes you win by losing.

[Qutzupalotl]

12. and when a Republican falls due to scandal

we MUST have a name on the ballot, funded or not, to attempt the pickup. Running away from a debate is an automatic loss, and looks chicken. You're right, we must stand up for what we believe, even in red (seemingly hopeless) states.

[calimary]

40. Don't take that one for granted. The MESSAGING needs to improve on our side. HUGELY.

There's too much pushback against us. Too many tidal waves of hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of hate radio stations and programs. Remember when we had the anemic Air America against the colossus of rush limbaugh? It was like an ant sent to fight against a stampeding herd of buffalo.

When republi-CONS fail, you can take it to the bank that they will NOT accept or concede ANY blame at all. Count on it. They'll blame it on President Obama, Hillary, the Democrats, the "libtards", ANYBODY but themselves and their bad ideas and their lousy "policies." And as long as they have messaging machinery that pushes messages like that, and we don't push back with everything we've got, and find new ways to push OUR messaging out, we'll have ripe bananas to fight with while the other side has rocks and boulders. And THEIR messaging will carry the day. Again.

[Volaris]

20. Agreed and it's not like there aren't enough liberals...

We need to change the 50State strategy to Strat435, and MEAN IT.
And don't bullshit me about it can't be done. You or I could go district by district on match.com and find 300 liberals qualified to sit the Congress who could actually win those districts. And at this point, there's absolutely no reason not to try.

[Yavin4]

35. Not just the federal elections, but state and local ones as well.

Often, those state and local ones are where you can make the most impactful connections with the voters.

[nil desperandum]

41. Indeed,

this is the right process as losing house seats, senate seats, and governor/statehouse races over the last six years should have been a call to action at the grass roots level across the country.

People vote locally then nationally, if we lose these state races it's harder to win national races and even harder to lead effectively when we do win nationally if we don't control the senate and the house.

[uponit7771]

33. +1

[CousinIT]

5. Many are racist and sexist....ignorance and fear likely spread via Fox, 4Chan et al.

to a bunch of mushrooms (Takei)

[wcast]

6. I agree with that also.

Around here it seems the majority are people who are older and religious. Not that this isn't seen across the community but older and religious are the most afraid.

[Blue_true]

7. I remember one of the Town Halls during the Democratic

primary, a woman stated to Hillary that her and her family of four could not get affordable insurance, Hillary interacted with her by asking the woman several questions. The lady answered, Hillary thought for a few seconds and stated that the ACA website should have had a number of choices that met her needs at considerably less than the prices the woman quoted. Hillary called out the name of a aide and asked her to get with the woman after the townhall and work through some of the ACA choices that met the woman's needs. Unfortunately, Hillary's knowledge and levelheadedness in that key moment was lost among the Bernie or Bust nonsense that was happening at that time.

[blue neen]

10. I'm missing something here.

Your friend says she is entitled to some years of insurance as part of her retirement. If she has insurance after retiring, then why is she shopping for insurance?

Also, one would think that a teacher would be able to educate him or herself about a subject as important their healthcare.

[wcast]

11. She doesn't get enough to get her to medicare, only a few years.

And you would think so, but the problem isn't educating herself about the subject of healthcare, but that many people, no matter the education, believe the message they hear repeatedly without question.

[blue neen]

14. Most of the teachers I know have a good understanding of their benefits.

If they don't understand something, they can ask their union representative.

They also, for the most part, don't watch Fox News....but that could just be the teachers of my acquaintance.

[Freelancer]

13. Don't overthink it. It's pure ANTI-INTELLECTUALISM

Reporters are intellectuals. Climate scientists are intellectuals. Teachers and professors and judges are intellectuals. Democrats, to a larger degree, project intellect. Everyone that DT hates is an intellectual.

The battle lines in America come down to gut-over-brain people vs. brain-over-gut people.

[Duppers]

42. Yes! Thank you.

[NightWatcher]

15. Ooo ooo I know why

[KingCharlemagne]

17. Sigh . . . they ARE stupid, racist credulous morons. I grew up

amongst them in rural southwest Missouri and they fucking deserve every insult hurled their way and a bunch more. Fuck those redneck pieces of shit.

[Leith]

19. Are You Sure That You Heard Democrats Say Those Things?

Or did you hear Republicans claim that Democrats say and think those things?

Edited to add: Okay, anyone besides the previous poster. How many Democrats running for office told people they were stupid for being religious? How many swore that they would take everyone's guns? And so on for the rest of your claims.

[progree]

26. Here's a whole thread with 154 recs

Last edited Tue Feb 21, 2017, 11:45 AM - Edit history (1)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028685603

[JustAnotherGen]

39. I didn't run for office

But I rec'd that thread.

I do think they are stupid - and morally inferior to me.

I'm not going to lie as a citizen and a tax payer to make people feel better about themselves. I'm not obligated to do that.

If they want a self-esteem boost they can call their mom. Or - they could woman/man up and brush it off.

I'm sick of THEIR politicians claiming I'm on 'welfare' because of my gender and the color of my skin when actually I'm paying the way for a lot of white folks who vote Republican. They started it in 1976. They have to live with the consequences.

[Firebrand Gary]

25. Russia is grateful to you for your vote for Jill Stein.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

18. You make good points, but nothing this momentous or of this magnitude is simple. . . . nt

[milestogo]

21. But they don't learn from their mistakes.

When we have Republican presidents they start wars and trash the economy. When we have Democratic presidents the economy and employment improve, and they try to rely on diplomacy.

How can anyone forget how shitty the economy was in 2008? But they do forget and keep voting Republican. These people are not very bright.

[uponit7771]

37. Amen... 2 KGOP presidents in my life time and two horrible economy for the middle class

[lancelyons]

22. It seems to have a lot to do with knowledge.

GOP seems to take many of these rural older Americans and show them flags, pledge of allegiance, soldiers, nra and a promise to keep their guns and they vote GOP.

[certainot]

23. dems can destroy the modern gop by ending the biggest mistake in political history

and finally stop ignoring rw talk radio

like by boycotting all advertisers on those 1200 radio stations, by protesting those stations, and by protesting the 88 universities that support 257 limbaugh stations

until then all talk of 'messaging' by dems is ridiculous.

[uponit7771]

38. +1, we need big money to back those channels

[JI7]

24. They voted for him because he supports a Muslim ban and deportation of certain people

and they are happy with him for doing what he said he was going to do.

[Abq_Sarah]

27. If she's nearing retirement age

She probably remembers when "real" insurance didn't equal or exceed the average mortgage payment. Restricting insurance within state lines makes the pools of insured smaller which raises the cost for everyone buying that insurance.

[no_hypocrisy]

28. I am of another mind.

HRC could have simplified her message, made it accurate and easy-to-understand, and it still would have been rejected without consideration. Why: because Trump convinced enough voters that HRC either was lying, didn't know what she was talking about, or to trust him. I am convinced the cult of personality won the last election more than the message.

[wcast]

32. +1000

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

36. Trump's personality sucks too.

That's what makes it even harder to understand.

[nikibatts]

29. But really, there are more of us than them. We need to ALL vote for Dem candidates no matter what

and need to VOTE in every level of government, Federal, state, and local. l We can afford to lose a few blood red states but not lose the purple or traditionally blue state...which we could have easily won but for those who refused to vote for HRC knowing she was the better candidate or those who voted third party. it is just that simple. There is nothing that Hillary would have done or would have been allowed to do that compares to the what 45 has done to date, including the evil cabinet he appointed.

I just read NanceGreggs latest post. A number of Democratic voters are included in that group she slays.

[Vinca]

30. The selling across state lines is a pile of BS for lots of reasons, but many lie with the

insurance companies themselves. They don't really want to do it. They have their provider networks in place and it's not the easiest thing in the world to expand them and negotiate with each and every provider. Republicans make up scenarios in their heads they think sound conservative but are based on no common sense. Your teacher friend better get her coverage in place before the rug is pulled out from everyone.

[TNLib]

31. I have a different theory

Smart, educated talented people are moving to the East or West Coast because that is where the good jobs are as well as other benefits of living in healthy, prosperous communities.
What's left in the middle and south east are old people and fuck ups as well as a few who have managed to do well for themselves. But the majority are not the best and the brightest.

That is why we lost but won the popular vote.

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

34. The other problem is that they are not informed, but they think they are

Many of them take offense to anyone trying to educate them because they think they already are educated.

A lot of them are making voting decisions based on misinterpretations of religion.

[Duppers]

43. +100