Real World Event Discussions

The white working class and Obama

POSTED BY: kpo
UPDATED: Friday, September 28, 2012 04:47
VIEWED: 5068
PAGE 1 of 5

KPO

Monday, September 24, 2012 5:29 PM

We're always hearing about how Obama struggles with this particular demographic, but see the graph in this article, it turns out that the white working class in most of the country likes Obama just fine:

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/09/most-country-white-worki
ng-class-likes-president-obama-just-fine

NIKI2

Monday, September 24, 2012 5:45 PM

Quote:
The massive shift of the Southern vote from Democratic to Republican is, by far, the biggest electoral change in the past few decades, and it often overwhelms national survey results. It's something you should always at least think about when you read an article about big changes in the electorate: is this really a national change, or is it mostly driven by changes in the South?

Bingo.

Kinda surprised me Obama's more popular in the Midwest, as I always got the impression they were more Republican leaning. Of course, the "West" includes Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, etc., so that probably skews the WEST's numbers... While I understand the biggest problem is the South, I think it also varies quite a bit from state to state. Nonetheless, yes, the South skews us--in more ways than just elections!

GEEZER

Monday, September 24, 2012 5:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by kpo:
We're always hearing about how Obama struggles with this particular demographic, but see the graph in this article, it turns out that the white working class in most of the country likes Obama just fine:

But in three of the four geographic segments listed, they like Romney more.

Looks like Mother Jones is spinning this article for the folks who only read the headline.

STORYMARK

Monday, September 24, 2012 6:03 PM

And if the whole country was white, Romney would be doing fine.

But it's not.

Note to anyone - Please pity the poor, poor wittle Rappyboy. He's feeling put upon lately, what with all those facts disagreeing with what he believes.

"We will never have the elite, smart people on our side." -- Rick "Frothy" Santorum

"Goram it kid, let's frak this thing and go home! Engage!"

KPO

Monday, September 24, 2012 7:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Geezer:
Quote:
Originally posted by kpo:
We're always hearing about how Obama struggles with this particular demographic, but see the graph in this article, it turns out that the white working class in most of the country likes Obama just fine:

But in three of the four geographic segments listed, they like Romney more.

Looks like Mother Jones is spinning this article for the folks who only read the headline.

You're funny Geezer - you're saying that from looking at the first 3 graphs the white working class doesn't 'like Obama just fine'? Even though he's liked roughly as well as Romney, if you add up the %s?

It's not personal. It's just war.

KPO

Monday, September 24, 2012 7:47 PM

Quote:
And if the whole country was white, Romney would be doing fine.

If the whole country was white, there'd be much less voting based on race. I don't know that that would benefit Romney and the GOP.

It's not personal. It's just war.

KWICKO

Monday, September 24, 2012 8:18 PM

And if you look at the national polls, Romney's either up by 1 point or down by 1.

Kind of a shame we don't elect our leaders by popular vote, huh?

Because when you look at the swing states, Obama is up by 5 to 9 points in every one of them save one (New Hampshire, where he's down by 2 last I heard).

"I supported Bush in 2000 and 2004 and intellegence [sic] had very little to do with that decision." - Hero

Mitt Romney, introducing his running mate: "Join me in welcoming the next President of the United States, Paul Ryan!"

Rappy's response? "You're lying, gullible ( believing in some BS you heard on msnbc ) or hard of hearing."

GEEZER

Tuesday, September 25, 2012 12:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by kpo:
You're funny Geezer - you're saying that from looking at the first 3 graphs the white working class doesn't 'like Obama just fine'? Even though he's liked roughly as well as Romney, if you add up the %s?

No. I'm saying that in three of the four regions shown, more of the white working class likes Romney. That's because in three of the four regions shown, more people said they liked Romney than said they liked Obama.

The article also notes that nationwide, more white working class people like Romney, by 48% to 35%, so if you add up the %, Obama is 13% behind in this demographic.

KPO

Tuesday, September 25, 2012 1:07 PM

I think you've completely missed the point of the article. Or you're just playing dumb. The title of the article, which you call 'spun' begins: 'In Most of the Country...'

What do you think the article means by that?

It's not personal. It's just war.

GEEZER

Tuesday, September 25, 2012 1:25 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by kpo:
I think you've completely missed the point of the article. Or you're just playing dumb. The title of the article, which you call 'spun' begins: 'In Most of the Country...'

What do you think the article means by that?

I believe I get the point of the article, that there are a fair number of white working class people in the country who like Obama. I am not disputing this. I'm just noting that, per the data with the article, more white working class people in the country like Romney. In three of the four regions shown, they like Romney more, and overall they like him more by 13%.

I call this article "spun" because the writer seems to be trying to make the case that being behind in this demographic by 13% nationwide is a good thing.