Beware: Bush hatred is a minority taste

The Hill ^ | 12/3/03 | Mark Mellman

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Democrats hate George Bush. No, that’s not graffiti scribbled on a men’s room wall at the Democratic National Committee. That deeply felt anger is shaping the Democratic primary contest. But it is doing so in a way that threatens our party’s ability to appeal to swing voters next year.

No one factor accounts for Democrats’ intense animosity. Indeed, almost any reason will do. Some are angry that he stole the election. Others are set off by the war. Still other Democrats find his support for special interests, or his environmental policy, or his tax cuts, or his halting locutions as reasons to detest Bush.

The level of animosity Bush arouses in Democrats appears unprecedented. The data are not strictly comparable, but in 1998, 75 percent of Republicans said Bill Clinton made them angry. Bush’s father could arouse the ire of only 64 percent of Democrats.

Today, Bush enrages nearly 90 percent of Democrats.

This intense anger is reflected in the posture Democrats want to take vis-à-vis Republicans. While the vast majority of Republicans and independents want the two parties to work together to solve problems, Democrats do not. They are spoiling for a fight. Many Democrats feel betrayed by what they see as an accommodationist party. These Democrats do not want compromise, conciliation or cooperation. They want political war.

As a result, the Democratic candidates for president have spent months beating Bush about the head and shoulders. At every debate and at every candidate appearance, the president takes a harsh and often personal, though well-deserved, thrashing.

This situation presents a simple political problem, however: Democrats are alone in their views. Democrats constitute the minority of Americans who abhor the president; swing independents (and, of course, Republicans) do not. They want presidents and members of Congress who will reach across party lines. They disagree with many of Bush’s policies. They dislike his priorities. They do not approve of many of his actions. They are distraught because he favors special interests over the needs of ordinary citizens. But swing voters do not hate Bush. Many, somehow, actually like him.

In response to a Los Angeles Times poll question, 68 percent of independents said they like Bush. A Zogby poll found only 31 percent of Democrats proud to have Bush as president, compared to 51 percent of independents. The Los Angeles Times found that 43 percent of independents thought Bush understood the problems of people like them, compared to just 19 percent of Democrats.

In reality, the Democratic base is out of sync with swing voters. The Democrats’ visceral anger with Bush is but the prime example of this disconnect. The war in Iraq is another. By a 42-point margin, Democrats say removing Saddam was not worth the cost, according to a CBS poll. But independents say it was worth the cost, by a 13-point margin.

Of course, the Republican base also is out of sync with swing voters on a host of issues — from choice to education to the minimum wage. Presidents, though, can hide the disjunction between the base and the swing. Presidents help create the agenda, dominate the channels of communication and enforce discipline.

Our presidential candidates, by contrast, must compete with other Democrats for the party’s base. On policy issues, the problems largely can be evaded. Seemingly incongruous issue positions can be reconciled or emphasized differently. Witness former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean’s new emphasis on balanced budgets and his National Rifle Association support.

But emotions are communicated much more readily and much more clearly than policy positions. Emotions create images from which it is hard to escape. If Democrats offer only anger, we will excite ourselves but swing voters won’t buy in.

[LisaFab]

Great analysis from the other side.

[stands2reason]

If Democrats offer only anger, we will excite ourselves

Ewwwww, so that's what they've been doing.

[Interesting Times]

Great analysis from the other side.

Fortunately, the other guys operate from emotion instead of reason, so this sort of thoughtful -- if slanted -- analysis will be lost on most of them.

[Freedom4US]

I guess "choice" is my favorite line in the whole article. So-called liberals would have me choose only what they want. I can't even buy a toilet without the federal government peeking over my shoulder.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

While the vast majority of Republicans and independents want the two parties to work together to solve problems, Democrats do not. They are spoiling for a fight. Many Democrats feel betrayed by what they see as an accommodationist party. These Democrats do not want compromise, conciliation or cooperation. They want political war.

... and: Democrats are alone in their views. Democrats constitute the minority of Americans who abhor the president; swing independents (and, of course, Republicans) do not. [...] But swing voters do not hate Bush.

... and: The Los Angeles Times found that 43 percent of independents thought Bush understood the problems of people like them, compared to just 19 percent of Democrats.

... and: In reality, the Democratic base is out of sync with swing voters. The Democrats’ visceral anger with Bush is but the prime example of this disconnect. The war in Iraq is another. By a 42-point margin, Democrats say removing Saddam was not worth the cost, according to a CBS poll. But independents say it was worth the cost, by a 13-point margin.

Hey... 'Rats: still feeling good about that whole "Angry Dr. Dean" thing, are you...? :)

[dawn53]

Isn't this a telling quote:

Many, somehow, actually like him

This author probably begrudgingly wrote to article to try to bring the whining nine dwarves back to reality.

[Ben Hecks]

"Some are angry that he stole the election."

I'm really getting tired of seeing this lie thrown out time after time! Attention all Democrats: Gore Lost!!!!!!!!!!! Bush got more votes!!!!!!
There were no uncounted votes!!!!!!! Get over it!!!!!!!!!

[cricket]

"Many, somehow, actually like him."

Amazing alright.

They will not be able to reign in the 'angry mob' now. They are off and running.

Good that some Dems are smart enough to see what is happening; but most are not.

[MEG33]

It is pure hatred.John Kerry made absurd statements about Bush today in an effort to light some fire under his campaign.Juan Williams and the Dems want the UN to take over!The fact they cut and run was because they had no authority over the military he says,after lying about our not providing security.

He ignores the fact they have never had success at nation building"But we need help" he whines..God save Iraq from the UN.Kerry is saying we are going to cut and run!I shouldn't listen.

[suzyq5558]

I loathed everything the clintoon's did. demeaning the Oval office ,lying under oath,war rooms to destroy peoples reputations,lying to the people continually,making us look like killers of old folks,truckdragging hicks,and on and on and on........ I did not hate the clintoons themselves i hated what they have done to our nation.

the democrats hate the president on a personal level the likes of which ive never seen. its deep and its personal and its going to take the democrat party to its final shipwreck and into irelevance for decades.
and on a personal level i am happily waiting for that day. so keep it up you blithering idiots. your on a ship of fools.

[small voice in the wilderness]

It's called Bashterbating. And it is indeed making them go blind. To truth. I guess they'll end up in an exhausted heap in the corner somewhere, crazed and sore.

[LisaFab]

I hated the Clintons, but not in the beginning and I never hated their policies--they never had any, really.

I hated their Macbeth-like ambitions, their contempt for average Americans and flaunting of the rule of law.

One of the most bile-inducing days of my life was when Bill, running out of Executive Privilege excuses to the SCOTUS to avoid testifying, claimed that as the CINC, he was on ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY! At that point, hate cannot describe my feelings for him.

[johnb838]

Glen Beck was talking about polling data this morning that indicated that 55% of democrats LIKE President Bush. I think that there is a strong possibility that the author of this piece is kidding himself and the other leftists he appears to be writing for.

[johnb838]

I didn't hate the Clintons at the time. I guess I saw him as the "loveable rogue" type. I didn't care that much about the sexcapades as long as the economy stayed strong. It really wasn't till he was gone and we woke up in the cold grey light of the morning after the night before that I realized what he had done to the country and decided, never again.

[an amused spectator]

By a 42-point margin, Democrats say removing Saddam was not worth the cost, according to a CBS poll.

Translation: The Donkeys don't have a clue about what the death cult of the moon god is up to.

[Republic If You Can Keep It]

or his halting locutions

"Um......uh.....seems like to me......I'll carry about 40 states next year & whoop the hell out of your sorry donkey tails...."

;-)

[nevergiveup]

But swing voters do not hate Bush. Many, somehow, actually like him.

Ya don't say! But how could that even be possible? (/sarcasm)

Despite what others have commented above, I don't believe that this is a good analysis. Rather its a glimps into the fevered mind of a dementocrat who thinks HE is the rational one; As usual with this ilk, they think they are all right and the rest of the world is all wrong.

[small voice in the wilderness]

I know, it's discouraging. And I would like to tell you to be patient, liber dude will eventually grow up and realize the err of his thinking. But then I remember morons like ed asner, rob reiner, babs, helen thomas,etc, etc, and that theory goes right out the window. Just be thankful you KNOW the truth. There are those who just do NOT want to see.

[RaginRak]

The demorats are using that old commie ploy- tell a lie often enough and it becomes accepted as the truth.

[Plutarch]

...in 1998, 75 percent of Republicans said Bill Clinton made them angry. Bush’s father.. 64 percent of Democrats....Bush enrages nearly 90 percent of Democrats.

In ...a Los Angeles Times poll question, 68 percent of independents said they like Bush. A Zogby poll found only 31 percent of Democrats proud to have Bush as president, compared to 51 percent of independents. The Los Angeles Times found that 43 percent of independents...

Note that he cites an unamed poll initially for negative Bush data, and specifies the poll for more favorable Bush data. Makes me think whatever polls he initially was citing are bogus.

[blam]

This election cycle could extinguish the last whimper of the Democrat party. Especially, if Dean gets the nomination and the Clintons walk away with the party funds.

[doug from upland]

Give this man a cigar. Yes, one of THOSE cigars. :)

[Southack]

"Today, Bush enrages nearly 90 percent of Democrats." - Mellman

Not true, but that quote serves as good evidence why elite, liberal, leftist snobs think that they are on the right path by bashing Bush at every turn. In their echo chamber world of Manhattan cocktail circuits, 90% of their friends very well might think like that, but that's unrepresentative of the public at large.

To wit:

New Survey Shows 55% of All Democrats Have a Favorable Opinion of President Bush

[q_an_a]

They have operated as the "source of power" and "ideas" for so long they can not get used to the fact that nobody cares. The idea that people want action not WAR is proof of one other issue they do not see their actions with republicans as the same way they see Iraq. They want world cooperation but the want no cooperation with the center or the Republicans.

[nevergiveup]

Especially, if Dean gets the nomination and the Clintons walk away with the party funds.

Are you suggesting we should all contribute to ACT so as to starve the DNC out of existance? That way they would be left with only you know who at the presidential level but no party infrastructure left for anything else.

[pushforbush]

Bashterbating.

Bashterbating.

Bashterbating.

Bashterbating.

Bashterbating.

I like it.

I think you've coined a new term that should and will sweep the internet.

Mandatory for use in all FR threads on the Democrats' debates.

[playball0]

Rats won't die off, though the herd will be culled. What will be left will be even more leftist and shrill, because of how congressional seats are districted. Clintons will divert as much as possible to Queen Thunderthighs for '08. The Clintons will create some scandal in W's 2nd administration or get their euroweenie/chicom friends to create another crisis for Bush and the Pubbies to get wrong.

[Eva]

There's something a little strange about this poll, 90% of the Democrats hate Bush, but 31% of the Democrats are proud to have him as our president?

Oh, I see said the blind man, it's a compilation of incongruent, meaningless polls, that add up to the fact that the left has nothing to offer the country, but vile hatred.

[ctonious]

This clown apparently looked around and figgered out that his fellow soldiers frothing about the mouth was not a good sign - especially as they were about to charge fortress GOP. But he couldn't help but drink a little of the Kool-Aid himself, and gave it away with that "Bush enrages nearly 90 percent of Democrats" comment. Especially on a day when polling data indicates 55% of Democrats LIKE President Bush.

Bottom line message to the author of this whine piece - "Delusional thinking has consequences, numbnuts."

[Dog Gone]

This article is accurate in its overall assessment that Democrats are not winning over Middle America with their hatred toward Bush, but it fails to address the underlying reason.

Their ideas are lousy. The truth is that they're more concerned with winning back power than in presenting ideas. They are obsessed with winning to the point where they they can win by focusing on criticism, truthful or not.

It's a recipe for failure, and even this somewhat truthful article fails to address the real issue.

[diotima]

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[dawn53]

Thanks for the info. I really like Glenn Beck's show, but I hardly get a chance to listen anymore. He used to be our local afternoon talk radio guy and I was able to listen everyday, from 3 to 6. Now he's "famous" and moved to mornings, I can't find the time to tune in.

[SICSEMPERTYRANNUS]

Welcome

[Jotmo]

Here’s the amazing thing.

Bush, much as I respect his character, is not IMO a very devout conservative. Many of his policies are plainly liberal in nature. Yet the amount of bile and venom spent by the Dems at his expense is of a level that we would expect to see if Rush himself were in the oval office making policy decisions.

I’m not capable of imagining the amount of blind hatred and spittle flinging rhetoric we would be hearing from the left if we were able to elect someone half as conservative as most of us.

[snowrip]

"In reality, the Democratic base is out of sync with swing voters."

I'd say it's out of synch with reason, logic, and reality as a whole.

[Jotmo]

I agree.

Like I said though, SOME of his policies are straight from the liberal hand book.

Campain Finance “Reform", AIDS money to Africa, Perscription Drug Entitlement...

There are others, but you get the idea.

[Faraday]

Come the general election campaign, the President will have to remain "Presidential," "uniter, not a divider," etc. This will reassure that large majority that likes W. However, we need some people out there saying that Dean (or whoever) is a pod person that will emerge after the election to destroy America (i.e. the unvarnished truth). With luck this will cause the aliens to explode from the Dems heads.

[bdeaner]

"Today, Bush enrages nearly 90 percent of Democrats." - Mellman.

90% of statistics are made up on the spot. Heh.

[Billthedrill]

While the vast majority of Republicans and independents want the two parties to work together to solve problems, Democrats do not. They are spoiling for a fight. Many Democrats feel betrayed by what they see as an accommodationist party. These Democrats do not want compromise, conciliation or cooperation. They want political war.

I think this is quite correct, and it is not a tendency restricted to the Democrats. One is daily reminded of this here on FR when one encounters the "Bush is no conservative" argument - to a great degree this is true, at least if you're a political purist. So the question becomes one of compromise, which is a word particularly distasteful to an idealist or a theorist. How much deviation will you accept in order to get part of what you want? That is the very essence of politics, and a lot of very well-meaning idealists forget it.

Nor is it an imaginary issue. The questions are quite real. How much big government will you accept in order to keep Bush in the White House and not, say, Dean or McKinney or Kucinich? How much increased spending? How much erosion of civil liberties? What social issues? Medicare? Gay marriage? Gun control? Is there a point at which you simply don't get enough of what is dear to you to justify voting for Bush over the aforementioned? Of course there is, and so where is it? A lot of us are asking ourselves these questions, and we should be. Because the truth in politics is that no one who is not willing to settle for less than he or she wants is going to get much of it at all.

But I don't get the sense that much of this soul-searching is going on over on the left. It seems to me to be more a question of how radical is radical enough, and that inherently leads to marginalization and political minority. For example, note the horror with which the Dems cite Dean's former association with the NRA. It isn't a question of what they can offer the NRA demographic in order to accommodate them enough to earn their votes, it's war to the knife, them or us, victory or oblivion. It is, in short, self-destructive stupidity. When you try to polarize the world and the world doesn't go along, you end up looking in from the outside.

[CIB-173RDABN]

President Bush is doing one thing right, and that thing got him bashed on this forum for months after he entered office.

There were many on this forum that wanted President Bush to go after the Clintons. They wanted them arrested and jailed. If not that, they wanted investigations, and committee hearings, but President Bush gave the Clintons a pass.

This policy is paying dividends now. If President Bush went after the Clintons, the media would have turned it against him. But, President Bush has not given the media elite anything to use against him. For the most part they have to make up or misrepresent something negative, and the American people are not buying.

The American people have seen President Bush reach out to the Democrats only to get slapped in the face for his trouble. He simply turns the other cheek and continues to try and work with them. This policy seems to upset many on this forum, those that want "war", but in this case, President Bush has built up trust with the American people, and when it comes to whos word are you going to believe, the media or the President, well we know who to believe.

This is all new territory for the Democrats, they do not know how to operate when they are out of power, and their frustration is showing up in some very new and entertaining ways.

My take on this article is that the author knows that the current "hate bush" 24/7 campaign is hurting the Democratic party, but it feels too good to stop, yet he must warn others they must turn from the dark side before it is too late. Well bucko, it is already too late.

[suzyq5558]

I felt like one of those phrophets from the old testament in regards to clinton back in 1992,i was telling everyone i knew about this corrupt man. no one would listen to me at all,i was the crazy one. well we all know how that story turned out. and some of these very same people with a straight face now say they never voted for him!?

[suzyq5558]

Oh yes i remember that. it was nauseating.
the loathing for me was just as you state, thier complete contempt for americans. the racial divisions they wrought made me sick also. and no that administration never really passed any policy that i can remember. a do nothing worthless bunch is all they were and still are.

[RandallFlagg]

I think of it like this:

The librats are just mad because we have all the good looking ladies over here on the Conservative side...

Right, fellas??

[nepdap]

why do you HATE him - you don;t even know him

While I appreciate your point, I don't know Bill Clinton, but that doesn't stop me from "strongly disliking" him.

[nepdap]

The data are not strictly comparable, but . . . Bush’s father could arouse the ire of only 64 percent of Democrats. Today, Bush enrages nearly 90 percent of Democrats.

The math teacher in me is compelled to point out that the simplest explanation for the difference is a shrinking Democrat base, with only the most shrill and opinionated remaining.