Democrats hope Obama 2008 model will help stem midterm losses

Washington Post ^ | 5 July 2010 | Chris Cillizza

[edpc]

To become the nation's first black president, Barack Obama not only won heavy percentages of the black and Hispanic vote but also managed to trim the Democratic Party's traditional deficit among white voters.

Four years after Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) lost the white vote by 17 percentage points, Obama lost it by 12, according to exit polls. While the 2008 gains were generally attributed to Obama's strength with young voters -- he won by 10 points among whites 18 to 29 years old -- he managed to improve on Kerry's showing with white voters across every age demographic.

[edpc]

One senior strategist, speaking candidly about his concerns on the condition of anonymity, noted that white voters made up 79 percent of the 2006 midterm electorate, while they made up 74 percent of the 2008 vote. If the white percentage returns to its 2006 level, that means there will be 3 million more white voters than if it stayed at its 2008 levels. That scenario, said the source, "would generate massive losses" for House and Senate Democrats in November because of Obama's standing with that demographic.

"That demographic" meaning racists, of course.......

[BenLurkin]

The jerks who voted for Hussein because he is black are racists — but they are too obtuse to admit it.

[kcvl]

“That demographic” was stupid to vote for him in the first place.

[FlingWingFlyer]

"The thrill is gone,

The thrill is gone away..."

[writer33]

“That demographic” was stupid...

There...fixed. LOL!

[cranked]

Does anyone have legit month-by-month readership numbers for WaPo cause I would be greatly interested in speculating 1) why their doors are still open and 2) when their doors will shut. =.=

[Psalm 144]

I have to confess . . .

In the primary, I voted for the Black Guy.

This is true. I am absolutely serious.

My guy was Alan Keyes.

I did not vote for BHO however, ergo I am a racist.

[BunnySlippers]

True.

[Snickering Hound]

[nhwingut]

Barack Obama not only won heavy percentages 99% of the black...

[Psalm 144]

“The DNC’s plan is ambitious, to say the least: In the space of a few months, the strategists hope to change the composition of a midterm electorate that, if history is any guide, tends to be older and whiter than in a presidential-election year. Put that way, it sounds crazy — and it has drawn considerable skepticism from independent observers.

But given the reality that white voters — again — almost certainly hold the key to Obama’s and the Democrats’ chances in the fall, they would be even crazier not to try.”

I think this is code for: ‘We will stop at no election fraud we can get away with to try to survive’.

[American Quilter]

White people who voted for him because it made them feel good about themselves are having second thoughts as they see their taxes about to go up, their health care about to deteriorate, and the Gulf of Mexico being polluted as their feel-good candidate watches ineffectively. The charm of being able to say they voted for him is evaporating in the face of reality.

[nhwingut]

The latest NBC-Wall Street Journal poll reveals that Obama's standing among white voters is remarkably similar to that of President George W. Bush at this same time two years ago.

In the June 2008 NBC-WSJ survey, 37 percent of white men and 26 percent of white women approved of the job Bush was doing. In the June 2010 poll, an identical 37 percent of white men approved of Obama's handling of his job, as did 35 percent of white women.

As we all predicted... If it weren't for 99% black support he'd be in the toilet!

[Joe 6-pack]

VOTER INTIMIDATION...

...when outright fraud might not be enough.

[tanknetter]

“That demographic” was stupid to vote for him in the first place.

You have it somewhat backwards there. It should be "that demographic voted for him because they are stupid".

I have significant doubts that this country would be in better shape today if McCain would have been elected. Or really any of the other credible GOP 2008 candidates (Romney and possibly Huckabee). The economic ills of this country - which put us exactly where we are today - are systemic in nature and the result of DECADES of belief that the government can actively "fix" problems like the ones we're experiencing.

"Fixing" the problems will require draconian measures along the lines of what got the US out of the 1920-1921 Depression (discussions of which have occurred here on FR over the last few days. Basically massive cuts in both government spending (including entitlements, in order to bring down the deficit and debt) and corresponding cuts in taxes for all taxpayer groups (to spur consumer spending and economic growth). THAT'S going to require a truly transformative leader - even beyond another Ronald Reagan - that will lead the public away from its dependence upon government solutions.

McCain, Romney, Huckabee, etc, would not have been that transformative leader. And I doubt that a "free lunch" mentality public that clamors for a leader who will "fix the problem" through active government means is smart enough to realize what they *really* need.

[sergeantdave]

Idiot whites voting for the black racist so they wouldn’t be called racist because they didn’t vote for the black racist.

My head is spinning...

[Psalm 144]

I have significant doubts that this country would be in better shape today if McCain would have been elected. Or really any of the other credible GOP 2008 candidates (Romney and possibly Huckabee). The economic ills of this country - which put us exactly where we are today - are systemic in nature and the result of DECADES of belief that the government can actively “fix” problems like the ones we’re experiencing.

********************************

There is much truth in what you say. We became intellectually corrupted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with “progressives”, unions and “Ivy League” educational domination, and we became administratively corrupted under FDR, with subsequent surges after WWII and with LBJ.

The cancer has metastasized all over. BHO is just the highest profile malignant tumor at the moment.

[max americana]

You can add that those white liberals voted for the Kenyan Klown out of liberal....WHITE....guilt. The same libtards I know of here in L.A. who have not one single non-white friend in their circle.

[screaminsunshine]

You are right. McCain would be awful too. Just not quite as awful. It is like the choice of lethal injection or the firing squad. Wonder if the Huckster and Jeb Bush will pull off another loss in 12.

[GrannyAnn]

on the condition of anonymity,

Why would he need anonymity?

Let me see if I have this right. Whites in 2008 were not racists and got Obama elected but they will become racists in 2012? Gosh, what changed?