# American police departments and the Democratic Party **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 2, 2020, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354 "2020-02-02T01:31:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankees_1996_Champs)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2020, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354/21 "2020-02-04T23:22:43Z")
> [@Chingon](#): > > Sounds to me like you have an idea. What part of your previous post is unclear to you? Yes, I believe that the far-far left of the Democratic Party does demonize cops way too much. Yes, they are bad cops in a complex system, but it does not mean that every cop is evil or should be “Kill the pig, etc”. That undermines the reform that is desperately needed. The Republican Party exploits it and that is why so many white male cops have this GOP vibe…even in urban cities you can sense vibes some of the cops are GOP-friendly. > **[The GOP and Police Unions: A Love Story](https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-gop-and-police-unions-a-love-story)** > > Republicans loathe public sector unions—unless they represent cops or firefighters. But with GOP governors slashing budgets across the country, can this odd alliance last? ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2020, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354/22 "2020-02-04T23:26:48Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > Yes, I believe that the far-far left of the Democratic Party does demonize cops way too much. I’m not sure it’s fair to judge the Democratic Party by the “far-far left.” ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2020, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354/23 "2020-02-04T23:30:04Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Look at California and especially [Proposition 47 which was passed by democrats](https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/petty-theft-shoplifting-burglary-hayes-valley-13544921.php)which reclassified any theft of anything less than $950 down from being a felony to… well basically nothing. This has lead to massive problems with shoplifting and the police cannot do anything about it. > > Also in San Francisco democrats tell illegals how to avoid ICE and tell their police to not cooperate with ICE. > > Also lets say their is a riot in a place like Ferguson Missouri. Democrat politicians always take the side of the rioters against police. I don’t know much about California politics these days. Was that law passed to make phone thefts a misdemeanor? Again, not knowing California, I have no idea how much it would prosecute a felony case against a teen who gets caught snatching someone’s phone out of their hands. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2020, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354/24 "2020-02-04T23:33:07Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Look at California and especially [Proposition 47 which was passed by democrats](https://www.sfgate.com/business/article/petty-theft-shoplifting-burglary-hayes-valley-13544921.php)which reclassified any theft of anything less than $950 down from being a felony to… well basically nothing. This has lead to massive problems with shoplifting and the police cannot do anything about it. > > Also in San Francisco democrats tell illegals how to avoid ICE and tell their police to not cooperate with ICE. > > Also lets say their is a riot in a place like Ferguson Missouri. Democrat politicians always take the side of the rioters against police. From your own link: > [@](#): > > An “A” priority call implies there is imminent danger to life, major property damage, and/or the suspect is still in the area and may be “reasonably” apprehended. “B” priority calls signify there is the potential for damage to property, the suspect may still be in the area, and the crime just occurred. A call is designated as “C” priority when there is no present danger to life or property, the suspect is not in the area, or the crime scene is protected. It appears most of the shoplifting incidents in Hayes Valley fall in the “C” category. Where do you think shoplifting should fall? Edit: Also, what does that really have to do with supporting police? Do cops get paid more for a felony arrest? ---
**Author:** ![Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankees_1996_Champs)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2020, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354/25 "2020-02-04T23:45:00Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Cite for the claim about Democratic politicians and hypothetical riots in suspiciously random cities, please. A cite should be easy, you used plural politicians and said always. > (Hint, don’t google “Daley”, “riot”, “support” etc.) > **[Baltimore riots: Looting, fires engulf city after Freddie Gray’s funeral | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2015/04/27/us/baltimore-unrest/index.html)** > > Streets in Baltimore looked like a war zone early Tuesday after a night of riots, fires and heartbreak. Mayor of Baltimore in 2015: \*\*Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Democrat \*\* > **[Tensions high after Milwaukee police shooting | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2016/08/14/us/milwaukee-violence-police-shooting/index.html)** > > After a night of violent protests, tensions remained high in Milwaukee as residents gathered Sunday to mourn an armed man shot to death by police. Mayor of Milwaukee in 2016: **Tom Barrett, Democrat** They let the riots get out of hand, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2020, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354/26 "2020-02-04T23:57:34Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > Yes, I believe that the far-far left of the Democratic Party does demonize cops way too much. > > Yes, they are bad cops in a complex system, but it does not mean that every cop is evil or should be “Kill the pig, etc”. > > That undermines the reform that is desperately needed. > > The Republican Party exploits it and that is why so many white male cops have this GOP vibe…even in urban cities you can sense vibes some of the cops are GOP-friendly. > > [The GOP and Police Unions: A Love Story](https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-gop-and-police-unions-a-love-story) Well it’s always nice when you can answer your own question. ---
**Author:** ![Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankees_1996_Champs)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2020, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354/27 "2020-02-05T00:01:22Z")
> [@Chingon](#): > > Well it’s always nice when you can answer your own question. I want to have a discussion on this; part of the reason why Trump got elected was because of police support Blue collar police officers should be part of the Democratic Party’s base…I wonder if black cops vote Republican > **[The hidden Trump voter — the police - The Boston Globe](https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2016/11/09/the-hidden-trump-voter-police/71MUxHoqBzNCKZZcpH42nO/story.html)** > > The vote that didn’t show up in the polls was not about race or gender or ethnicity. It was about blue. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2020, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354/28 "2020-02-05T00:08:53Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > [https://www.cnn.com/2015/04/27/us/baltimore-unrest/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2015/04/27/us/baltimore-unrest/index.html) > > Mayor of Baltimore in 2015: \*\*Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Democrat \*\* I asked someone else the question, but hey let’s roll with it. “Too many people have spent generations building up this city for it to be destroyed by thugs who – in a very senseless way – are trying to tear down what so many have fought for,” Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said. Is that where the Democrats always side with rioters and oppose the police? Since it’s you here defending what the other posted, I’ll remind you that the other used the word “always”. Please hang up and try your call again later > [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > [https://www.cnn.com/2016/08/14/us/milwaukee-violence-police-shooting/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2016/08/14/us/milwaukee-violence-police-shooting/index.html) > > Mayor of Milwaukee in 2016: **Tom Barrett, Democrat** OK, let’s click the second link. Is this the place where the Democratic politician sides with thr rioters over the police? “If you love your son, if you love your daughter, text them, call them, pull them by the ears and get them home. Get them home right now before more damage is done,” Barrett said. “I know this neighborhood very, very well. And there are a lot of really really good people who live in this area – in the Sherman Park area, who can’t stand this violence.” > [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > They let the riots get out of hand, in my opinion. Cool opinion that has nothing to do with the post you quoted. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2020, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354/29 "2020-02-05T00:33:30Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > From your own link: > Where do you think shoplifting should fall? > > Edit: Also, what does that really have to do with supporting police? Do cops get paid more for a felony arrest? So your saying some private business owner should just stand there and let people come in and rob? Oh real nice. Did you even read the article? It said shopkeepers in SF are getting robbed blind, that calling the police is worthless because they have dumbed down the law against shoplifting, and its the fault of democrats. I dont know where you live but around here shoplifters are arrested and charged. Ok, so maybe I exaggerated a bit. Shoplifting under prop 47 was dropped from being a felony to a misdemeanor. So what does that mean? A ticket? Obviously getting a misdemeanor doesnt scare thugs. And hell yes its about police. Its about the politicians supporting police (or not) so they can do their job which is to serve and protect. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2020, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354/30 "2020-02-05T00:39:09Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > OK, let’s click the second link. Is this the place where the Democratic politician sides with thr rioters over the police? > > “If you love your son, if you love your daughter, text them, call them, pull them by the ears and get them home. Get them home right now before more damage is done,” Barrett said. > “I know this neighborhood very, very well. And there are a lot of really really good people who live in this area – in the Sherman Park area, who can’t stand this violence.” > > Cool opinion that has nothing to do with the post you quoted. Oh wow, Goody goody. Telling people to call people on the phone and tell them to go home. Oh boy, THAT will do it. How about a mayor saying rioting will NOT be tolerated and ORDERING people to go the hell home or face arrest? ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2020, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354/31 "2020-02-05T00:42:27Z")
That’s taking the rioters side? I don’t buy it, but I suppose I see the point you’re making. Or the other guy’s making. I certainly don’t agree with it. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2020, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354/32 "2020-02-05T00:44:36Z")
The FOP is only one organization. It’s also not a union although on a local level it can act as one. President is not the only political race that receives endorsements. Various police unions often endorse candidates from the Democratic Party. Like all unions police unions endorse the candidate they believe will do the best for them. That’s often different on a national level than on a local level. And sure they sometimes get it wrong and endorse someone that does not act in the best interest of their members. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2020, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354/33 "2020-02-05T05:57:13Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Like all unions police unions endorse the candidate they believe will do the best for them. That’s often different on a national level than on a local level. And sure they sometimes get it wrong and endorse someone that does not act in the best interest of their members. I don’t give a rats ass who my union prefers. And I make that abundantly clear to them when they call and inquire if I am going to vote according to their endorsements. I vote on my own personal politics and positions on issues. Most of the time their picks are close to matching mine. But when they are not I do not change my vote because of who they like. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2020, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354/34 "2020-02-05T06:32:03Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I don’t give a rats ass who my union prefers. And I make that abundantly clear to them when they call and inquire if I am going to vote according to their endorsements. I vote on my own personal politics and positions on issues. > Most of the time their picks are close to matching mine. But when they are not I do not change my vote because of who they like. That’s true of everyone in every union. They aren’t going into the polls with you. It’s a game that every union does to try and get what’s best for their members. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2020, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354/35 "2020-02-05T06:44:26Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > That’s true of everyone in every union. They aren’t going into the polls with you. It’s a game that every union does to try and get what’s best for their members. Except it works on some people. I know people in the trades who will only vote for who their union endorses. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2020, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354/36 "2020-02-06T16:49:00Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > Democrats like the power of authority and big government to push government programs and control, What are you talking about? Republicans like that too. “Big government and pushing government programs” has enthusiastic bipartisan support. The parties merely disagree on the details of how that power and authority should be wielded and against whom. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2020, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354/37 "2020-02-06T17:02:25Z")
My personal opinion based on years of observation and with no official cite or statistics is that, traditionally, the liberal dominated Democratic Party is markedly more concerned with individual rights, especially the rights of minorities, than the conservative dominated Republican Party. Since there is now ample video evidence of police abuse to back up claims that used to be unsupported before the era of cell phones, the police are pictured as being “under attack” by the conservatives because there is a lot of pressure for transparency and reform. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2020, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354/38 "2020-02-06T17:08:43Z")
> [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](#): > > Yes, I believe that the far-far left of the Democratic Party does demonize cops way too much. > > Yes, they are bad cops in a complex system, but it does not mean that every cop is evil or should be “Kill the pig, etc”. > > That undermines the reform that is desperately needed. > > The Republican Party exploits it and that is why so many white male cops have this GOP vibe…even in urban cities you can sense vibes some of the cops are GOP-friendly. When was the last time anybody has said “kill the pig, etc?” 1968? ---
**Author:** ![Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Yankees\_1996\_Champs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yankees_1996_Champs)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2020, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354/39 "2020-02-06T17:11:00Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > My personal opinion based on years of observation and with no official cite or statistics is that, **traditionally, the liberal dominated Democratic Party is markedly more concerned with individual rights, especially the rights of minorities, than the conservative dominated Republican Party.** Since there is now ample video evidence of police abuse to back up claims that used to be unsupported before the era of cell phones, the police are pictured as being “under attack” by the conservatives because there is a lot of pressure for transparency and reform. Yes, the Democratic Party is seen as the party of minorities. That is why whenever there is a black Republican, there is outrage. White men and police don’t see the Democrats offering them reasons why they should cast a ballot for them. Other than that, there should be transparency and police accountability, but the reformers’ message gets undercut by stupid people screaming “dead cops”. That plays into the Blue Lives Matter message. > **[The Monsters Who Screamed for Dead Cops](https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-monsters-who-screamed-for-dead-cops)** > > Evidence from photos, video, social-media posts and interviews suggests it was a single group, desperate to ‘turn up the anger’ at otherwise-peaceful protests. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2020, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354/40 "2020-02-06T17:32:33Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > That’s an effective argument that the American right has long used but, when brought to the light of day, we can all see right through it. Dems like a federal government of whatever size that uses its power to enhance and improve the rights of the least powerful among us. A strong government that does that does indeed seem overreaching to those who have carved out their kingdoms at the micro-level. The oligarchs who answer to no one and their peace-keeping forces are much more of a threat to the average Joe than a strong liberal government looking out for those most at risk of exploitation. > > Like many conservatives, you appear to have sniffed the suits for so long that you’ve forgotten what the smell is like and what it represents. Absent the nonsense about oligarchs and the rich, etc… I think you’re on to something. At its core, being a cop is about enforcing the laws that _are_. That doesn’t mean making things better for anyone, or applying too much interpretation about why a suspect might be breaking the law, or how the law should be difference. Your job as a cop is to haul them in if they’re suspected of breaking the law and let the legal system determine guilt or innocence. So that right there is a fundamentally conservative activity- someone concerned with improving the lot of others, or righting wrongs, or what-not is, IMO, extremely unlikely to get involved with the part of the legal process whereby the state’s force is actually applied to someone who is breaking the law. They’re far more likely to end up as a defense attorney, or as some kind of advocate. Meanwhile, for more conservative, law & order types, that IS the sort of career they find attractive in a philosophical sense. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-police-departments-and-the-democratic-party/847354.md?page=3)