Culture, Not Money, Drove White Working Class to Trump

 

Attendees at a Trump rally recite the Pledge of Allegiance.

Donald Trump was elected President because angry, white, working-class voters wanted more jobs, bigger paychecks, and a larger slice of government cheese. At least that’s been the conventional wisdom, claimed by coastal journalists and amplified by social commentators.

But a new survey conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute and The Atlantic magazine seems to disprove that narrative. The largest motivation to pull the lever for Trump came not from pocketbook concerns, but cultural ones:

Controlling for other demographic variables, three factors stood out as strong independent predictors of how white working-class people would vote. The first was anxiety about cultural change. Sixty-eight percent of white working-class voters said the American way of life needs to be protected from foreign influence. And nearly half agreed with the statement, “things have changed so much that I often feel like a stranger in my own country.” Together, these variables were strong indictors of support for Trump: 79 percent of white working-class voters who had these anxieties chose Trump, while only 43 percent of white working-class voters who did not share one or both of these fears cast their vote the same way.

The second factor was immigration. Contrary to popular narratives, only a small portion—just 27 percent—of white working-class voters said they favor a policy of identifying and deporting immigrants who are in the country illegally. Among the people who did share this belief, Trump was wildly popular: 87 percent of them supported the president in the 2016 election.

Finally, 54 percent of white working-class Americans said investing in college education is a risky gamble, including 61 percent of white working-class men. White working-class voters who held this belief were almost twice as likely as their peers to support Trump. “The enduring narrative of the American dream is that if you study and get a college education and work hard, you can get ahead,” said Robert P. Jones, the CEO of PRRI. “The survey shows that many white working-class Americans, especially men, no longer see that path available to them. … It is this sense of economic fatalism, more than just economic hardship, that was the decisive factor in support for Trump among white working-class voters.”

The poll found another repudiation of conventional wisdom: Respondents who said their finances were “fair” or “poor” were twice as likely to vote Clinton than those in better financial shape.

In my admittedly anecdotal discussions with apolitical Trump voters (family, friends, neighbors) over the past few years, feeling like a “stranger in my own country” is a common theme. Rioters burn down cities and politicians coddle them. Illegal immigrants are deported only to be welcomed to sanctuary cities upon their return. The well-connected can mishandle classified information and the justice system proudly refuses to prosecute. Big businesses are lauded for admitting men to women’s bathrooms, while mom-and-pop stores are shut down for quietly holding more traditional views.

And if someone so much as questions any of the above, they are immediately labeled a bigot.

Do you agree with the study’s findings?

Published in Culture, Politics
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  1. C. U. Douglas Coolidge
    C. U. Douglas
    @CUDouglas

    Bishop Wash (View Comment):

    Umbra Fractus (View Comment):
    But the transgender thing is even worse. It really does feel like we’re being gaslighted. Usually with leftist ideas I can see where they’re coming from, even if I think they’re dangerously wrong. But with this one the only thing I can think is, “How can so many people not see how ridiculous this is?”

    I wonder that too, especially with the way Rachel Dolezal is treated. Why is she a laughingstock in the popular culture and Bruce Jenner is given awards? Why are they not either both respected or both laughed at? Transsexual supporters push back at people making an ‘if I thought I was a dog’ argument because transsexuals still think they’re human. So does Rachel. I would think her treatment would give some people pause, but it doesn’t seem to.

    Bizarrely, one of my Progressive friends shared a post about this. Transsexuals are real because gender is in your head and it’s all a social construct. You can’t be transracial because race is genetic and you either are black or you aren’t.

    Seriously. This was shared without a hint of irony from the original poster or my Progressive friend.

    • #31
  2. C. U. Douglas Coolidge
    C. U. Douglas
    @CUDouglas

    Allow me another example. In 2008 America elected Barack Obama as president knowing little about the man and with much hope. There was plenty of excitement that here was our first black president and the common belief was he was our post-racial president and now we’d have healing.

    Of course we had hints that would go out the window when he put Eric Holder as Attorney General — who in an interview accused Americans of being cowards with regards to conversations about race. Then there was the notorious “Beer Summit” where the president unwisely inserted his own biases into a local police matter. Soon opposition to Pres. Obama’s policies were labelled as racist. Then he upped the ante.

    I recall it starting in earnest after the death of Trayvon Martin. It was a tragic accident, but the president couldn’t help but take sides. A man was pilloried by social media, the lynch mob of the 21st century, such that George Zimmerman’s life was pretty much over.

    The Left ran with this and declared the entire police force racist. Flint Michigan, Baltimore, and on … race riots were rampant and the Left just pointed to the police in specific and America in general and declared that this was all your fault.

    As Limbaugh predicted, Obama wouldn’t be our Post-Racial President, he proved to be our Most Racial President.

    All that goodwill and decency was squandered by a party wanting to distract us from real policy problems in the Obama Administration and a mainstream media sympathetic to the Left.

    The end result was that in 2016, Pres. Clinton ran on a platform of, “Vote for me or you’re jerks.” Well the people were tired of the bullying. Trump pushed back. Sure, sometimes he swings so wildly that he’s a danger to anyone close by, including himself, but he pushed back.

    The Democrats’ loss is not as surprising as they believe.

    • #32
  3. Taras Bulbous Inactive
    Taras Bulbous
    @TarasBulbous

    C. U. Douglas (View Comment):

    Bishop Wash (View Comment):

    Umbra Fractus (View Comment):
    But the transgender thing is even worse. It really does feel like we’re being gaslighted. Usually with leftist ideas I can see where they’re coming from, even if I think they’re dangerously wrong. But with this one the only thing I can think is, “How can so many people not see how ridiculous this is?”

    I wonder that too, especially with the way Rachel Dolezal is treated. Why is she a laughingstock in the popular culture and Bruce Jenner is given awards? Why are they not either both respected or both laughed at? Transsexual supporters push back at people making an ‘if I thought I was a dog’ argument because transsexuals still think they’re human. So does Rachel. I would think her treatment would give some people pause, but it doesn’t seem to.

    Bizarrely, one of my Progressive friends shared a post about this. Transsexuals are real because gender is in your head and it’s all a social construct. You can’t be transracial because race is genetic and you either are black or you aren’t.

    Seriously. This was shared without a hint of irony from the original poster or my Progressive friend.

    But…this is wrong, too. The current line is that race is also a social construct and that there are no “races” only people with varying shades of skin color, facial features, eye color, hair type, etc across a spectrum. Whether these are due to genetics and biology or not, I don’t know. My eyes glaze over.

    But ask a prog dolt to explain how gender being a social construct means one can transition gender, while race being a social construct precludes one from transitioning race, and watch the smoke come out xis or xer or they’s ears.

    • #33
  4. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Bishop Wash (View Comment):

    Umbra Fractus (View Comment):
    But the transgender thing is even worse. It really does feel like we’re being gaslighted. Usually with leftist ideas I can see where they’re coming from, even if I think they’re dangerously wrong. But with this one the only thing I can think is, “How can so many people not see how ridiculous this is?”

    I wonder that too, especially with the way Rachel Dolezal is treated. Why is she a laughingstock in the popular culture and Bruce Jenner is given awards? Why are they not either both respected or both laughed at? Transsexual supporters push back at people making an ‘if I thought I was a dog’ argument because transsexuals still think they’re human. So does Rachel. I would think her treatment would give some people pause, but it doesn’t seem to.

    It’s more about bullying people. If there were no ego points to be gained from bullying people, they’d give it up.   Maybe.

    • #34
  5. C. U. Douglas Coolidge
    C. U. Douglas
    @CUDouglas

    Taras Bulbous (View Comment):

    C. U. Douglas (View Comment):

    Bishop Wash (View Comment):

    Umbra Fractus (View Comment):
    But the transgender thing is even worse. It really does feel like we’re being gaslighted. Usually with leftist ideas I can see where they’re coming from, even if I think they’re dangerously wrong. But with this one the only thing I can think is, “How can so many people not see how ridiculous this is?”

    I wonder that too, especially with the way Rachel Dolezal is treated. Why is she a laughingstock in the popular culture and Bruce Jenner is given awards? Why are they not either both respected or both laughed at? Transsexual supporters push back at people making an ‘if I thought I was a dog’ argument because transsexuals still think they’re human. So does Rachel. I would think her treatment would give some people pause, but it doesn’t seem to.

    Bizarrely, one of my Progressive friends shared a post about this. Transsexuals are real because gender is in your head and it’s all a social construct. You can’t be transracial because race is genetic and you either are black or you aren’t.

    Seriously. This was shared without a hint of irony from the original poster or my Progressive friend.

    But…this is wrong, too. The current line is that race is also a social construct and that there are no “races” only people with varying shades of skin color, facial features, eye color, hair type, etc across a spectrum. Whether these are due to genetics and biology or not, I don’t know. My eyes glaze over.

    But ask a prog dolt to explain how gender being a social construct means one can transition gender, while race being a social construct precludes one from transitioning race, and watch the smoke come out xis or xer or they’s ears.

    Oh yes. It’s entirely a mess. The important thing to remember is this:

    • If genetics, race, gender, or sexual preferences further their goals, they are of tantamount importance.
    • If genetics, race, gender, or sexual preferences do not further their goals or even hinder them, they are to be dismissed.

    For the small number of the anointed few, that’s all that matters.

    • #35
  6. Umbra Fractus Inactive
    Umbra Fractus
    @UmbraFractus

    Taras Bulbous (View Comment):
    But…this is wrong, too. The current line is that race is also a social construct and that there are no “races” only people with varying shades of skin color, facial features, eye color, hair type, etc across a spectrum. Whether these are due to genetics and biology or not, I don’t know. My eyes glaze over.

     

    There’s far more anthropological support for the idea that race is a sociopolitical construct than gender. The Romans would have considered the Celts and Germans just as foreign as any African. The use of skin color as a stand in for culture is a very recent development.

    • #36
  7. outlaws6688 Member
    outlaws6688
    @

    An interesting question would be: of the 27% that said immigration is a huge factor for them, how many would of supported another candidate other than Trump? My feeling is that other than Cruz, no one would have gotten anywhere close to getting all 27%.

    • #37
  8. Umbra Fractus Inactive
    Umbra Fractus
    @UmbraFractus

    outlaws6688 (View Comment):
    An interesting question would be: of the 27% that said immigration is a huge factor for them, how many would of supported another candidate other than Trump? My feeling is that other than Cruz, no one would have gotten anywhere close to getting all 27%.

    Considering the constant drumbeat of, “Binary! Binary! Binary!” we got during the campaign, that number better be really high.

    • #38
  9. JimGoneWild Coolidge
    JimGoneWild
    @JimGoneWild

    Of course I agree. It’s just common sense .. in the old school way.

    • #39
  10. JLock Inactive
    JLock
    @CrazyHorse

    Democrats inability to formulate a viable economic, nay, entire campaign plan outside of “we’re not Trump” was their demise. I stopped believing poll numbers two years ago — and as President Trump’s victory should verify — I ain’t about to start now.

    I lived in Central PA during the Obama V McCain election. Man, what an election that was — torn between two candidates I liked. Anyways, I made a commitment that for once in my life I would  really jump in the process once I decided who to vote for. After McCain chose Palin — I decided I’d work for the Obama campaign. I volunteered whenever I wasn’t in class, racking up to 20 hours a week, and traveled all around Centre and nearby counties talking to Republican and Democrat voters. While they loved to talk about the hitting points, in the end, they weighed their decision on two things, as American voters have always done:

    Economy and Military.

    2008 had record volunteer numbers. Centre county turned blue by 8500 votes. Who knows, it could have been me who delivered PA. You’re welcome, Ricochet. Point is, Hillary completely screwed the pooch on the Rust Belt. Not only that, she kept saying over and over again this was her firewall (and it really once was, the only time I was attacked polling was by two pro-Hillary coal miners) but she only visited Michigan once. And it was Flint, she completely neglected the rural. Combine that with an anemic VP pick whose name I can’t even remember, making my point, I’m surprised it was as close as it was.

    And it was close. In those states that tipped the EC to President Trump, we’re talking thousands of votes. The Rust Belt and Heartland can’t be won by a friggin’ Joss Whedon video — it takes a lot of work and a lot of appearances. Something Obama and Trump both did and did well.

    As to why Hillary didn’t do the work, there are many guesses from health to God knows what — but I have my theory:

    Hubris is a hell of a weakness.

    (fyi I voted for Romney in 2012)

    • #40
  11. Paula Lynn Johnson Inactive
    Paula Lynn Johnson
    @PaulaLynnJohnson

    I’m reminded of the joke Colin Jost made on Weekend Update right after the election: “The dating app Tinder announced a new feature this week that gives users 37 different gender identity options. It’s called, ‘Why democrats lost the election.”

    It was funny because it was so spot-on . . . and then he was called out and forced to apologize and explain himself on Twitter a billion times.  Why the Democratic Party is choosing to double-down on crazy identity politics when it so obviously hurt them is beyond me.

     

    • #41
  12. OccupantCDN Coolidge
    OccupantCDN
    @OccupantCDN

    Paula Lynn Johnson (View Comment):
    I’m reminded of the joke Colin Jost made on Weekend Update right after the election: “The dating app Tinder announced a new feature this week that gives users 37 different gender identity options. It’s called, ‘Why democrats lost the election.”

    It was funny because it was so spot-on . . . and then he was called out and forced to apologize and explain himself on Twitter a billion times. Why the Democratic Party is choosing to double-down on crazy identity politics when it so obviously hurt them is beyond me.

    Because its all they have. Its who they are. They have no economic policies – they’re not interested in economics – because “Greed” is beneath them. They have no foreign policy because they’re no foreigners – only Americans who havent walked across an imaginary line yet.

    • #42
  13. RJ Clark Inactive
    RJ Clark
    @RJClark

    A recent Vox article takes a complete different position on the same data from Pew and finds a way to make it about race.

    https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/5/9/15592634/trump-clinton-racism-economy-prri-survey

    Unfortunately, our country often confuses race with culture. The cultural drift described in Jon Gabriel’s comments are what many see: “Rioters burn down cities and politicians coddle them. Illegal immigrants are deported only to be welcomed to sanctuary cities upon their return. The well-connected can mishandle classified information and the justice system proudly refuses to prosecute. Big businesses are lauded for admitting men to women’s bathrooms, while mom-and-pop stores are shut down for quietly holding more traditional views.” Nothing in there about race but Vox seems to think that is the core issue.

    There are plenty of things about other cultures that many Americans don’t like. Upper income liberal culture often minimizes the importance of faith. I don’t like that but I don’t make the leap that upper income=white. Middle Eastern attitudes toward women are most often incompatible with American values but I don’t make the leap that Arab men=misogynists. Having a disagreement about one culture’s values does not equate to being racist. In fact, accusing someone of being racist because of their differing views on a cultural issue is racism in itself. Rather, it’s a red herring and another example of the cultural drift that is frustrating so many Americans today.

    • #43
  14. Guruforhire Inactive
    Guruforhire
    @Guruforhire

    The demonitization thing is even worse.

    The Rubin Report, Tim Pool, pretty much everybody not an established brand, or having any conversation about the issues of the day are being demonetized.

    Its just hitting the right harder than the left, but lefties are getting hit too.

    The Wall Street Journal is the babbie in this story.

    • #44
  15. Songwriter Inactive
    Songwriter
    @user_19450

    My one and only reason for voting for Trump: Hillary Clinton.

    • #45
  16. C. U. Douglas Coolidge
    C. U. Douglas
    @CUDouglas

    Songwriter (View Comment):
    My one and only reason for voting for Trump: Hillary Clinton.

    If it was Clinton vs. A Deranged Howler Monkey, she still wouldn’t get my vote.

    • #46
  17. SEnkey Inactive
    SEnkey
    @SEnkey

    I think the missing datum is what percent where registered republicans who voted for republican presidential candidates previously. In other words, how many of the white working class that voted for Trump would have voted for him based on the fact that he represents their party. The three areas in the study describe me well: I am worried about culture, immigration, and the state of education and education policy. But those are the very reasons I was and remain skeptical of Trump. I don’t think he can help in those areas (I am probably wrong and hope that turns out to be the case).

    In other words, the survey describes me well, but it was more why I couldn’t vote for Hillary than why I would support President Trump.

    • #47
  18. Arizona Patriot Member
    Arizona Patriot
    @ArizonaPatriot

    Taras Bulbous (View Comment):
    But ask a prog dolt to explain how gender being a social construct means one can transition gender, while race being a social construct precludes one from transitioning race, and watch the smoke come out xis or xer or they’s ears.

    I just want to chime in to express my appreciation for your subtle Star Trek reference.  :)

    • #48
  19. JLock Inactive
    JLock
    @CrazyHorse

    Taras Bulbous (View Comment):

    C. U. Douglas (View Comment):

    Bishop Wash (View Comment):

    Umbra Fractus (View Comment):
    But the transgender thing is even worse. It really does feel like we’re being gaslighted. Usually with leftist ideas I can see where they’re coming from, even if I think they’re dangerously wrong. But with this one the only thing I can think is, “How can so many people not see how ridiculous this is?”

    I wonder that too, especially with the way Rachel Dolezal is treated. Why is she a laughingstock in the popular culture and Bruce Jenner is given awards? Why are they not either both respected or both laughed at? Transsexual supporters push back at people making an ‘if I thought I was a dog’ argument because transsexuals still think they’re human. So does Rachel. I would think her treatment would give some people pause, but it doesn’t seem to.

    Bizarrely, one of my Progressive friends shared a post about this. Transsexuals are real because gender is in your head and it’s all a social construct. You can’t be transracial because race is genetic and you either are black or you aren’t.

    Seriously. This was shared without a hint of irony from the original poster or my Progressive friend.

    But…this is wrong, too. The current line is that race is also a social construct and that there are no “races” only people with varying shades of skin color, facial features, eye color, hair type, etc across a spectrum. Whether these are due to genetics and biology or not, I don’t know. My eyes glaze over.

    But ask a prog dolt to explain how gender being a social construct means one can transition gender, while race being a social construct precludes one from transitioning race, and watch the smoke come out xis or xer or they’s ears.

    Not to distract from your point for it’s a good one and I’ve had White Liberals correct me on what to call myself so they can suck it.

    But if you’re ever in LA with me — I’ll take you to varying neighborhoods and speak Spanish, Tagalog, Korean, and Hawaiian and pass for all of em.

    • #49
  20. Joe P Member
    Joe P
    @JoeP

    Arizona Patriot (View Comment):

    Taras Bulbous (View Comment):
    But ask a prog dolt to explain how gender being a social construct means one can transition gender, while race being a social construct precludes one from transitioning race, and watch the smoke come out xis or xer or they’s ears.

    I just want to chime in to express my appreciation for your subtle Star Trek reference. ?

    I missed that one. But I am not programmed to respond in that area.

    • #50
  21. OccupantCDN Coolidge
    OccupantCDN
    @OccupantCDN

    Joe P (View Comment):

    Arizona Patriot (View Comment):

    Taras Bulbous (View Comment):
    But ask a prog dolt to explain how gender being a social construct means one can transition gender, while race being a social construct precludes one from transitioning race, and watch the smoke come out xis or xer or they’s ears.

    I just want to chime in to express my appreciation for your subtle Star Trek reference. ?

    I missed that one. But I am not programmed to respond in that area.

    I still dont see it.

    I tend to see this through the eyes of Eeyore – If one was to drop their pants and take the “social construct” in hand (or both if so inclined) and give it a good sharp squeeze. They’d quickly realize that they may not like the “social construct”, but they’re firmly attached to it.

    • #51
  22. Joe P Member
    Joe P
    @JoeP

    OccupantCDN (View Comment):

    I just want to chime in to express my appreciation for your subtle Star Trek reference. ?

    I missed that one. But I am not programmed to respond in that area.

    I still dont see it.

    Everything Harry Mudd says is a lie.

    (I didn’t actually watch that link but it looks like the right one.)

    • #52
  23. Taras Bulbous Inactive
    Taras Bulbous
    @TarasBulbous

    JLock (View Comment):

    Taras Bulbous (View Comment):

    C. U. Douglas (View Comment):

    Bishop Wash (View Comment):

    Umbra Fractus (View Comment):
    But the transgender thing is even worse. It really does feel like we’re being gaslighted. Usually with leftist ideas I can see where they’re coming from, even if I think they’re dangerously wrong. But with this one the only thing I can think is, “How can so many people not see how ridiculous this is?”

    I wonder that too, especially with the way Rachel Dolezal is treated. Why is she a laughingstock in the popular culture and Bruce Jenner is given awards? Why are they not either both respected or both laughed at? Transsexual supporters push back at people making an ‘if I thought I was a dog’ argument because transsexuals still think they’re human. So does Rachel. I would think her treatment would give some people pause, but it doesn’t seem to.

    Bizarrely, one of my Progressive friends shared a post about this. Transsexuals are real because gender is in your head and it’s all a social construct. You can’t be transracial because race is genetic and you either are black or you aren’t.

    Seriously. This was shared without a hint of irony from the original poster or my Progressive friend.

    But…this is wrong, too. The current line is that race is also a social construct and that there are no “races” only people with varying shades of skin color, facial features, eye color, hair type, etc across a spectrum. Whether these are due to genetics and biology or not, I don’t know. My eyes glaze over.

    But ask a prog dolt to explain how gender being a social construct means one can transition gender, while race being a social construct precludes one from transitioning race, and watch the smoke come out xis or xer or they’s ears.

    Not to distract from your point for it’s a good one and I’ve had White Liberals correct me on what to call myself so they can suck it.

    But if you’re ever in LA with me — I’ll take you to varying neighborhoods and speak Spanish, Tagalog, Korean, and Hawaiian and pass for all of em.

    Right, I don’t disagree with race being a social construct, I don’t subscribe to some 19th century view of race, just pointing out the hypocrisy of many liberals who want to have gender spectrum cake and eat race spectrum cake, too.

    • #53
  24. BD1 Member
    BD1
    @

    “McCain, Graham, Collins vote with Dems to block overturning of Obama-era drilling rule, 51-49.”

    Thank you, thank you NeverTrump!  Look what you’ve accomplished by constantly attacking Trump while protecting these worthless non-conservatives.

    • #54
  25. Judge Mental Member
    Judge Mental
    @JudgeMental

    BD1 (View Comment):
    “McCain, Graham, Collins vote with Dems to block overturning of Obamacare-era drilling rule, 51-49.”

    Thank you, thank you NeverTrump! Look what you’ve accomplished by constantly attacking Trump while protecting these worthless non-conservatives.

    Is this the one Obama did on the way out the door?

    • #55
  26. BD1 Member
    BD1
    @

    Judge Mental (View Comment):

    BD1 (View Comment):
    “McCain, Graham, Collins vote with Dems to block overturning of Obamacare-era drilling rule, 51-49.”

    Thank you, thank you NeverTrump! Look what you’ve accomplished by constantly attacking Trump while protecting these worthless non-conservatives.

    Is this the one Obama did on the way out the door?


    Judge Mental (View Comment)
    :

    BD1 (View Comment):
    “McCain, Graham, Collins vote with Dems to block overturning of Obamacare-era drilling rule, 51-49.”

    Thank you, thank you NeverTrump! Look what you’ve accomplished by constantly attacking Trump while protecting these worthless non-conservatives.

    Is this the one Obama did on the way out the door?

    Yes.

    • #56
  27. C. U. Douglas Coolidge
    C. U. Douglas
    @CUDouglas

    BD1 (View Comment):
    “McCain, Graham, Collins vote with Dems to block overturning of Obama-era drilling rule, 51-49.”

    Thank you, thank you NeverTrump! Look what you’ve accomplished by constantly attacking Trump while protecting these worthless non-conservatives.

    Eh. These are the Usual Suspects. McCain built up a lot of press goodwill in the Bush Administration by being a “Maverick” and going against Bush constantly. This never translated to presidential candidate popularity because the press hates anyone who runs against a Democrat. Graham and Collins are both so moderate they play hopscotch on the left. Maine has produced several Republican Senators who frequently jump ship to the Left. We’re at a 50-50 split here, so antics like this will happen like they always do with these Senators. This isn’t NeverTrumper’s fault. It’s just the same-old-same-old …

    • #57
  28. BD1 Member
    BD1
    @

    C. U. Douglas (View Comment):

    BD1 (View Comment):
    “McCain, Graham, Collins vote with Dems to block overturning of Obama-era drilling rule, 51-49.”

    Thank you, thank you NeverTrump! Look what you’ve accomplished by constantly attacking Trump while protecting these worthless non-conservatives.

    Eh. These are the Usual Suspects. McCain built up a lot of press goodwill in the Bush Administration by being a “Maverick” and going against Bush constantly. This never translated to presidential candidate popularity because the press hates anyone who runs against a Democrat. Graham and Collins are both so moderate they play hopscotch on the left. Maine has produced several Republican Senators who frequently jump ship to the Left. We’re at a 50-50 split here, so antics like this will happen like they always do with these Senators. This isn’t NeverTrumper’s fault. It’s just the same-old-same-old …

    National Review endorsed John McCain for reelection in his 2010 primary and gave no indication last year that they thought he should be replaced.  William Kristol begged McCain to get into the presidential race as an independent candidate.

    They do this and then say they can’t support Trump bc he’s not conservative enough?

    There is no reason that more conservative Republicans can’t win in South Carolina and Arizona.  If these publications actually cared.

    • #58
  29. C. U. Douglas Coolidge
    C. U. Douglas
    @CUDouglas

    Again. It’s just history. McCain frequently behaves as a thorn in the side of a Republican president or Republican leadership in the Senate, and not always to the benefit of the conservative American. A look at his actions the past several decades would demonstrate that. He’s not a left-wing Democrat for sure, and proves mostly hawkish (although occasionally undermines his own efforts there).

    Graham, Collins, and McCain are all acting true to form. This is not any NeverTrumpers fault, this is just business as usual in the GOP senate.

    • #59
  30. BD1 Member
    BD1
    @

     

    • #60
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