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In a new WaPo poll, only 21% self identify as Republicans.
Now, this isn't as big of a political deal as it sounds in that those who have shifted away may now self identify as independent, but probably still support Republican policies or candidates.
I guess the question would be whether this change represents genuine feelings towards the GOP or whether it's a perceived social pressure not to associate themselves with a group considered unpopular.
In either case, it would seem the GOP hasn't found bottom yet.
Now, this isn't as big of a political deal as it sounds in that those who have shifted away may now self identify as independent, but probably still support Republican policies or candidates.
I guess the question would be whether this change represents genuine feelings towards the GOP or whether it's a perceived social pressure not to associate themselves with a group considered unpopular.
In either case, it would seem the GOP hasn't found bottom yet.
posted by mikevotes at
8:50 AM
5 Comments:
"I guess the question would be whether this change represents genuine feelings towards the GOP or whether it's a perceived social pressure not to associate themselves with a group considered unpopular."Probably a little of both. Kind of how people don't (didn't) self identify as liberal... even though their social/political views were sympathetic to liberal ideas. The current face of the GOP is just so ugly -- nasty, brutal, and a little frightening in some ways. So while only 21% are self identifying with the GOP, I'll bet there are many more who long for a socially libertarian but otherwise intellectually honest conservative party.
By
-epm, at 10:16 AM
That's kinda what I'm thinking.
And there are shades of a libertarian wing in the party, but there definitely a minority in raw numbers.
By
mikevotes, at 10:28 AM
Arlen Specter doesn't consider himself a Republican anymore.
By
Anonymous, at 11:51 AM
I just saw. Reading on it now.
By
mikevotes, at 1:28 PM
This issue cuts both ways, really.
There are probably are a lot of self-identifying Independents that still support Democratic policies or candidates.
By
Todd Dugdale , at 5:04 PM
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