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This week, the Pew Research Center released a new, comprehensive look at the American electorate. What has been great about reading over the results so far is how Pew broke down the demographics groups in this country.
Instead of Red v. Blue, or Liberal v. Conservative, Pew created 9 different groups (3 for the right, 3 for the middle, and 3 for the left) to help better understand to current political climate here in the US.
The break-down and definition of the groups is found here, but here is the summary:
I haven't gone through all the pages and data yet (will by the weekend), but I just thought I'd share with you all some of their key findings, and how we can use them in our local at state races to help re-build the Democratic foundation and tradition that guided this country for 60+ years.
::: flip :::
The hope in reading all this data for me is to find the issues we can push to the forefront to splinter the GOP, and bring back the days of Democratic majority. I will be emphasizing here some of the points from Pew's "key findings".
Key Finding 2
Environmental protection now stands out as a major divide within the GOP's coalition. While a narrow majority of Enterprisers believe the country has gone too far in its efforts to protect the environment, most others on the GOP side disagree.
Here are those numbers:
Stricter Environmental Regulations...
Are Worth the costs?
Enterprisers 16%
Social Cons 67%
Pro-gov Cons 61%
Costs too many jobs?
Enterprisers 74%
Social Cons 25%
Pro-gov Cons 32%
Neither/Both/Don't Know
Enterprisers 10%
Social Cons 8%
Pro-gov Cons 7%
As you can see, a strong majority of these "theo-cons" seem reachable on green issues. The question becomes, how do we make the environment their deciding issue while Bill "Dobson" Frist is screaming "gay marriage" all the time? Perhaps this explains why the GOoP does it so much. If they didn't, almost 2/3 of their coalition could be swayed to the Democrats on environmental issues alone.
Wedging the environment seems perfect for state, and even better local issues, where broad social policy are not within the jurisdiction of the elected official.
Key Finding 7
Stem cell research deeply divides the GOPMajorities in all three Democratic groups, and the three independent groups, favor such research. Republican groups, to varying degrees, are divided.
Here are the results that go alone with this:
Priority in Stem Cell Research ...
Care more about not destroying embryos
Enterprisers 49%
Social Cons 45%
Pro-gov Cons 46%
Care more about getting research done
Enterprisers 38%
Social Cons 40%
Pro-gov Cons 47%
As you can see here, there the GOP is basically split right down the seam on this issue. Perhaps the way we can wedge this better is take a page from the California play book (and the GOP):
Ballot initiatives for Stem-Cells in all swing states in 2006. This will help put the issue front-and-center in the race, and make the theo-con thumping GOP nominee take a stance on an issue that clearly divides his/her base.
Key Finding 13
Enterprisers stand alone on key economic issues. Majorities in every other group except Enterprisers support a government guarantee of universal health insurance. Enterprisers also are the only group in which less than a majority supports increasing the minimum wage.
I will focus on the numbers which show the starkest contrast and ability to wedge the GOP:
On Corporate Power
Too much power is concentrated in the hands of corporations
Enterprisers 26%
Social Cons 88%
Pro-gov Cons 83%
The largest companies do NOT have too much power
Enterprisers 58%
Social Cons 5%
Pro-gov Cons 11%
On Government Regulation
Is Necessary to protect the public interest
Enterprisers 16%
Social Cons 58%
Pro-gov Cons 66%
Usually does more harm than good
Enterprisers 78%
Social Cons 32%
Pro-gov Cons 27%
Can you believe it? Around 60% of the entire GOP coalition thinks too much power is concentrated in the hands of corporations, and another 50% of the GOP thinks government regulation is necessary to protect the public interest. Nationally, this can be our narrative. The GOP agenda is set by the largest corporations, who already have too much power. Only the Democrats are willing to use the government to exert the people's will on these power coalitions to protect the public interest.
I know, I know, corporations have all this control over Democrats too (just look at the Bankruptcy Bill). However, I think we can run on this idea from sea to shining sea, and it will resonate: Corporations have too much power.
Conclusion
Partisan Democrats like you and me have been wondering how the GOP has been able to hold their coalition together: How are these Christians reconciling the Corporate Welfare ways of the GOP with the message of Jesus?
Because the Democrats have not aptly identified and exploited key issues that strike a wedge in the heart of GOP coalition. We are letting the GOP control the debate, by focusing on issues that divide our coalition. This must change, and these new Pew poll numbers give us a map on exactly how we can do it.
- Environment
- Stem Cells
- Corporate Power
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