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Congratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
Fri Feb 28, 2020, 06:37 PM
Washington Post-Americans really dislike socialism. Can Bernie Sanders overcome that?
That polling suggests Sanders's image today is not a liability, but there is no guarantee his support would withstand sustained general election attacks calling him a socialist. (Sanders typically identifies as a democratic socialist, but in the past he has identified as simply a socialist.) While Biden, Buttigieg and other Democrats also have not faced the same level of scrutiny of their records as a presidential nominee would get, polling is crystal clear about Americans' negativity toward socialism.
A January Gallup poll found less than half of Americans, 45 percent, said they would vote for a socialist for president, even if they were well qualified and from their own political party. Being a socialist was the least acceptable of 12 traits measured in the poll — 60 percent said they would vote for an atheist, 69 percent for someone who is over age 70, and 93 percent for a woman....
This month, an NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll found 46 percent of registered voters saying they would be "very uncomfortable" with a socialist candidate for president, and another 21 percent saying they "have some reservations about" that attribute.
On a basic measure, a December Fox News poll found 31 percent of registered voters saying they have a favorable view of socialism, while 53 percent were unfavorable. Ratings of socialism were up from 25 percent in early 2019, but ratings of capitalism remained far higher, with 57 percent rating it favorably, the same as last year...…
Overall, 53 percent of Americans said Sanders's identity wouldn't make a difference in their vote, while 35 percent said they would be more likely to oppose him and 10 percent would be more likely to support him.
Most of the "more likely to oppose" group appears committed to supporting Trump. Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) supported Trump over all six Democratic candidates in head-to-head matchups, a strong signal that they had little chance of supporting Sanders anyway. Another 10 percent of the "more likely to oppose" group supported all six Democratic candidates against Trump, including Sanders, a group that is also probably committed.
But nearly 1 in 5 of the respondents who said Sanders's identity as a democratic socialist or socialist made them less likely to support him were toss-up voters — people who did not consistently support Trump or Democrats in six head-to-head matchups. This group makes up 6 percent of adults and registered voters alike, and while not massive, is large enough to swing a presidential election.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
31 replies, 808 views
Washington Post-Americans really dislike socialism. Can Bernie Sanders overcome that? (Original post)
Gothmog Feb 2020 OP
Watchfoxheadexplodes Feb 2020 #1
Yep. Like it or not this is the reality.
HarlanPepper Feb 2020 #8
Only when it is called socialism. However the Con and the Cons call everything socialism. . . . nt
Bernardo de La Paz Feb 2020 #2
trump has a ton of oppo here that will be used in negative ads
Gothmog Feb 2020 #12
Best be that BS is gets thoroughly exposed now, rather than in November
empedocles Feb 2020 #3
"will you call yourself a socialist president?"
psst! dem nominee is supposed to campaign on the party platform and dems values NOT
msongs Feb 2020 #5
Less than half of Americans (47%) say they would vote for a socialist
Gothmog Mar 2020 #24
Should probably
Kali Feb 2020 #6
That's the truth. It works in the country where I live.
LakeArenal Feb 2020 #14
it works in the US too, but people are stupid
Kali Feb 2020 #21
bdamomma Mar 2020 #26
Americans can't even define socialism...
Thomas Hurt Feb 2020 #7
The American People Really Dislike The Term "Socialist"
Progressive2020 Feb 2020 #9
elleng Feb 2020 #10
Progressive2020 Feb 2020 #15
yes/agreed
Most Americans misuse the word Socialism
BigmanPigman Feb 2020 #11
democratisphere Feb 2020 #13
The grandson of GHW Bush is running this ad in my district attacking socialism
Bernie Sanders will not be President of the United Stated
evertonfc Feb 2020 #17
Seems To Be
Gothmog, thanks for posting this.
Sloumeau Feb 2020 #22
Socialsim would kill the party
musicman65 Mar 2020 #25
++++++++++ NO!!!!!+++++++++++
uponit7771 Mar 2020 #29
TY Goth
Cha Mar 2020 #30
A Definition Of Social Democracy
Progressive2020 Mar 2020 #31
Watchfoxheadexplodes (3,204 posts)
And no antidote.
Response to Watchfoxheadexplodes (Reply #1)
HarlanPepper (2,042 posts)
8. Yep. Like it or not this is the reality.
What's missed is the so called Nordic countries Bernie always cites have populations who have been conditioned to it for decades. If you're looking at healthcare the UK, which is a capitalist economy, has had the NHS for nearly a century.
2. Only when it is called socialism. However the Con and the Cons call everything socialism. . . . nt
Response to Bernardo de La Paz (Reply #2)
12. trump has a ton of oppo here that will be used in negative ads
In the real world negative ads work
empedocles (11,543 posts)
3. Best be that BS is gets thoroughly exposed now, rather than in November
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
4. "will you call yourself a socialist president?"
He needs to be asked that.
msongs (58,846 posts)
5. psst! dem nominee is supposed to campaign on the party platform and dems values NOT
be a spokesperson for our revolution
Response to msongs (Reply #5)
Sun Mar 1, 2020, 01:13 PM
24. Less than half of Americans (47%) say they would vote for a socialist
This polling would make it very difficult to win with a socialist candidate on the ballot https://news.gallup.com/poll/254120/less-half-vote-socialist-president.aspx
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Less than half of Americans (47%) say they would vote for a qualified presidential candidate who is a socialist -- the same percentage Gallup found in 2015. A socialist candidate is the only one among a dozen hypothetical candidates about whom a minority of Americans say they are willing to give their vote....
In spite of the expanded tolerance for diversity, candidates labeling themselves as socialists may struggle to gain traction in a presidential race, as Americans have not become more open to such a candidate. Even as political figures advocating socialist ideas have gained popularity in Democratic circles in recent years, less than half of Americans remain willing to give an avowed socialist candidate their vote. This creates a challenge for the Democratic Party, as it seeks to avoid alienating the Democratic socialists within its rank and file, while still aiming to win a national election.
Kali (50,866 posts)
6. Should probably
say most Americans don't know what socialism is. A large number of the assholes call all Democrats socialists or commies.
Response to Kali (Reply #6)
LakeArenal (16,013 posts)
14. That's the truth. It works in the country where I live.
But no one wants to hear that.
Response to LakeArenal (Reply #14)
21. it works in the US too, but people are stupid
even when they are benefiting from something. we have amazing abilities to be hypocrites.
bdamomma (59,486 posts)
26. exactly
do people even know the meaning of socialism? or would they want oligarchy and autocracy if dictator tRump steals the election again.
Socialism by definition
Socialism is a political, social and economic philosophy encompassing a range of economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production and workers' self-management of enterprises. It includes the political theories and movements associated with such systems. Social ownership can be public, collective, cooperative or of equity. While no single definition encapsulates many types of socialism, social ownership is the one common element. It aims to circumvent the inefficiencies and crises traditionally associated with capital accumulation and the profit system in capitalism.
Thomas Hurt (9,184 posts)
7. Americans can't even define socialism...
Progressive2020 (695 posts)
9. The American People Really Dislike The Term "Socialist"
The term has been demonized for years and years. People dislike the term, but when it comes to policies and programs associated with "socialism" they are usually in favor of those policies and programs. They are just not in favor of calling those programs "socialism". There is a disconnect there.
FDR's opponents tried to smear Social Security as "socialism". It is smear term for some. They tried to do the same thing with LBJ and Medicare. Any government social welfare program could be labelled "socialism". People like the programs (most love Social Security and Medicare). They just dislike the term "socialism" being associated with them.
Bernie should just call himself a "Progressive" and ditch the term "Socialist". But he won't; he is too stubborn and set in his ways to change now. Which is why some people like Sanders. He tends to stick to his guns.
Response to Progressive2020 (Reply #9)
elleng (103,534 posts)
10. YES
Response to elleng (Reply #10)
27. yes/agreed
BigmanPigman (40,412 posts)
11. Most Americans misuse the word Socialism
and wouldn't know what it is of it bit them on the ass. They have been brainwashed by the media and our history of "Socialism-bad, Communism-bad" rhetoric. Ask them about the socialism they are living with and enjoying the benefits of (Social Security, etc) and they will stare at you since they have no adequate response and can't comprehend anything beyond what has been fed to them for the past 75+ years.
Response to BigmanPigman (Reply #11)
18. Right On
You are correct, sir.
28. you are
so right BigmanPigman
democratisphere This message was self-deleted by its author.
16. The grandson of GHW Bush is running this ad in my district attacking socialism
TX CD 22 is an open seat with Pete Olson retiring. The DCCC has targeted this seat for flipping. There are 15 candidates in GOP primary including the grandson of GHW Bush. Another candidate, Kathleen Wall, is running in the GOP primary and she spent $6 million in 2018 running in GOP primary for TX CD 2 and did not make GOP primary runoff. I have had Wall block walkers come to my house twice (I live in a very GOP neighborhood) and I have found Wall doorhanger on my door twice now.
Pierce Bush is running against socialism
Sri Preston Kulkarni is the leading Democrat for this seat (Sri has a GOP type and another person running against him in the Texas Democratic Primary) I texted this ad to Sri and he knew about it already. Sri Preston Kulkarni is a great guy and we need to flip this seat
If sanders is the nominee, we can forget about this seat and we will have Kevin McCarthy as speaker
evertonfc (1,713 posts)
17. Bernie Sanders will not be President of the United Stated
I'll vote for him but he will lose quite handily
Response to evertonfc (Reply #17)
19. Seems To Be
Similar to the people who thought Trump could not be elected and Hillary would sail to victory. It is impossible until it happens.
Sloumeau (2,635 posts)
22. Gothmog, thanks for posting this.
I. If America wants Socialism so bad, how come there are so few Socialists in Congress?
There is 1 Democratic Socialist Senator out of 100 slots. (Senator Bernie Sanders)
There are 3 Democratic Socialist members of the U.S. House of Representatives out of 345 slots.
[link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Democratic_Socialists_of_America_members_who_have_held_office_in_the_United_States|]
So, if America really is clamoring for what Bernie Sanders is offering, why are there so few Democratic Socialists in Congress?
II. Moderates did Better than Progressives in the 2018 Midterms:
Moderate Democrats Fared Best in 2018
[link:https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/10/upshot/2020-North-Carolina-moderate-democrats.html|]
Progressive Democrats running in competitive House districts had a bad night on Tuesday
[link:https://www.vox.com/2018/11/7/18071700/progressive-democrats-house-midterm-elections-2018|]
The story of the midterms is the triumph of the moderates – on both sides
[link:https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2018/11/09/the-story-of-the-midterms-is-the-triumph-of-the-moderates-on-both-sides/|]
Moderation still won in the midterms – even if moderate Republicans didn't
[link:https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/20/moderate-republican-midterm-losses-house|]
The House Will Have Just As Many Moderate Democrats As Progressives Next Year
[link:https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-house-will-have-just-as-many-moderate-democrats-as-progressives-next-year/|]
Don't let progressives fool you. Moderate Democrats can win.
[link:https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dont-let-progressives-fool-you-moderate-democrats-can-win/2018/11/07/37648218-e2b1-11e8-ab2c-b31dcd53ca6b_story.html|]
The Democratic Party Is the Party of Moderates
[link:https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2019/03/25/the_democratic_party_is_the_party_of_moderates_139846.html|]
Party Leaders Are Not Strategic Geniuses, They Just Really Like Moderates, New Research Finds
[link:https://theintercept.com/2018/05/23/democratic-party-leadership-moderates-dccc/|]
23. Socialsim would kill the party
musicman65 This message was self-deleted by its author.
uponit7771 (73,626 posts)
29. ++++++++++ NO!!!!!+++++++++++
30. TY Goth
31. A Definition Of Social Democracy
I thought that I would post a section of the Wikipedia article on Social Democracy here and see if anyone has a response to it-
"Social democracy is a political, social and economic philosophy that supports economic and social interventions to promote social justice within the framework of a liberal democratic polity and a capitalist-oriented economy. The protocols and norms used to accomplish this involve a commitment to representative and participatory democracy, measures for income redistribution, regulation of the economy in the general interest and social welfare provisions.[1][2][3] Due to longstanding governance by social democratic parties during the post-war consensus and their influence on socioeconomic policy in the Nordic countries, social democracy became associated with the Nordic model and Keynesianism within political circles in the late 20th century.[4][5] It has also been seen by some political commentators as a synonym for modern socialism[6][7][8] and as overlapping with democratic socialism.[9][10]"
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