# Republicans--even Trump--beat Dems in polling on the economy. SMH **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 10, 2016, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-even-trump-beat-dems-in-polling-on-the-economy-smh/754465 "2016-05-10T05:24:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-even-trump-beat-dems-in-polling-on-the-economy-smh/754465/1 "2016-05-10T05:24:00Z")
Bill Maher is right: Americans are dumbasses. And I reject the framing of this as “Hillary’s got to do a better job communicating a simple economic message”. That people would think at this point that Republicans are better than Democrats on the economy, that Drumpf(!) specifically is better than Hillary on the economy, is going “full retard”. It’s just ridiculous and shameful for anyone, much less a majority, to think this is true. > **[Unlike Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton Lacks A Simple, Clear Economic Message](https://www.npr.org/transcripts/477034130)** > > "I don't think Hillary Clinton wants to do anything in one sentence," says former Obama strategist David Axelrod. "That's the problem, right?" > [@](#): > > Coming up with a clear economic message of her own isn’t just a problem for Hillary Clinton. It’s a problem for Democrats in general, who, in Celinda Lake’s polls, are consistently behind Republicans on the issue of the economy. In recent general election polls where Clinton beats Trump handily in the horse race, the economy is the only issue where he beats her, and that is the No. 1 issue for voters. Lake says Democrats have never won when they’re losing on the economy. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-even-trump-beat-dems-in-polling-on-the-economy-smh/754465/2 "2016-05-10T06:22:37Z")
So much liberal virtue-signalling in one post. That said, TRUMP is the most trustworthy living Republican (with the exception of Ron Unz) on economics. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-even-trump-beat-dems-in-polling-on-the-economy-smh/754465/3 "2016-05-10T06:31:46Z")
Nyuk nyuk nyuk. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-even-trump-beat-dems-in-polling-on-the-economy-smh/754465/4 "2016-05-10T06:47:44Z")
Also if I was in the same position as Lavrenti Beria, the first man I would deport to a corrective labour camp would be Bill Maher. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-even-trump-beat-dems-in-polling-on-the-economy-smh/754465/5 "2016-05-10T08:00:48Z")
Voters tend to see the economy in terms of their personal interests. Republicans are the pro-taxpayer party, so unless they are actively screwing up the economy themselves, they tend to have an advantage on the issue. Democrats also kicked themselves in the face with ACA. ACA has been a great boon to the poor, but at best a hassle for the middle class and at worst it’s forced them into plans they hate compared to what they used to have. Or into plans they don’t want in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-even-trump-beat-dems-in-polling-on-the-economy-smh/754465/6 "2016-05-10T09:40:41Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Also if I was in the same position as Lavrenti Beria, the first man I would deport to a corrective labour camp would be Bill Maher. Then I’m very glad you’re not. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-even-trump-beat-dems-in-polling-on-the-economy-smh/754465/7 "2016-05-10T10:51:02Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > So much liberal virtue-signalling in one post. That said, TRUMP is the most trustworthy living Republican (with the exception of Ron Unz) on economics. That’ll be the same Trump who thinks it’s okay for the government to default on its debt obligations and can just “print more money” whenever it needs it - is that the Trump you mean? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-even-trump-beat-dems-in-polling-on-the-economy-smh/754465/8 "2016-05-10T13:02:30Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > So much liberal virtue-signalling in one post. That said, TRUMP is the most trustworthy living Republican (with the exception of Ron Unz) on economics. Nonsense. Trump is calling for another round of borrow-and-spend. It didn’t work for Reagan and it didn’t work for either Bush. I don’t like taxes any more than the next guy. But the idea that the government can spend money without collecting taxes is stupid. And that’s what conservatives keep trying to do. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-even-trump-beat-dems-in-polling-on-the-economy-smh/754465/9 "2016-05-10T13:22:01Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > ACA has been a great boon to the poor, but at best a hassle for the middle class and at worst it’s forced them into plans they hate compared to what they used to have. Or into plans they don’t want in the first place. \*Unless you’re one of the millions of people in the middle class who it’s helped and continues to help. Like small business owners, independent contractors, employees of small non-profits, etc. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-even-trump-beat-dems-in-polling-on-the-economy-smh/754465/10 "2016-05-10T13:39:49Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Democrats also kicked themselves in the face with ACA. ACA has been a great boon to the poor, but at best a hassle for the middle class and at worst it’s forced them into plans they hate compared to what they used to have. Or into plans they don’t want in the first place. Boy, you must really want to believe this. Now that you’ve said it a hundred times, is it getting easier? (We’re firmly middle class, and if it weren’t for ACA we’d be paying through the nose for insurance) ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-even-trump-beat-dems-in-polling-on-the-economy-smh/754465/11 "2016-05-10T14:04:07Z")
It is very strange to me to continually see this type of polling. We’ve seen it for a couple decades now - If there is a Republican President invariably during their term the economy goes to Hell and wrecks job growth and retirement savings for millions of middle class people. When there is a Democratic President invariably the economy does well, there is job growth, etc. Yet repeatedly the Republican’s are more trusted on issues of the economy. I just don’t get it. What message is resonating so deeply with people that they completely ignore reality? And this is not to say that I think the Democratic Party, Democratic Presidents, or Democratic Nominees are somehow economic geniuses either. I think if Bernie Sander’s policy proposals ever occurred it would absolutely destroy our economy. Then again, he isn’t a Democratic Party member either. Haha. Generally speaking, regardless of party affiliation in the White House sometimes the turns in the economy are not necessarily the direct result of action by a President. Other times they absolutely can be laid at the feet of the President. But if we’re going to buy into overly simplistic “my team vs. their team” judgement and trust one party over an other on issues of the economy it would seem the Republican’s would be losing this one. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-even-trump-beat-dems-in-polling-on-the-economy-smh/754465/12 "2016-05-10T14:12:04Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > That said, TRUMP is the most trustworthy living Republican (with the exception of Ron Unz) on economics. :dubious: That’s like saying that Jethro Bodine is the intellectual of the Clampett clan. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-even-trump-beat-dems-in-polling-on-the-economy-smh/754465/13 "2016-05-10T14:32:41Z")
SMH? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-even-trump-beat-dems-in-polling-on-the-economy-smh/754465/14 "2016-05-10T14:35:00Z")
[Shaking My Head](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=smh) ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-even-trump-beat-dems-in-polling-on-the-economy-smh/754465/15 "2016-05-10T14:37:54Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Voters tend to see the economy in terms of their personal interests. Republicans are the pro-taxpayer party, so unless they are actively screwing up the economy themselves, they tend to have an advantage on the issue. Democrats also kicked themselves in the face with ACA. ACA has been a great boon to the poor, but at best a hassle for the middle class and at worst it’s forced them into plans they hate compared to what they used to have. Or into plans they don’t want in the first place. Unless you’re in the top 1%, if you vote Republican you’re voting against your own self-interest. “Pro-taxpayer party”? Hardly. Unless the only taxpayers you represent live in gated communities. As mentioned by others, your claims about the ACA don’t become true by virtue of repetition. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-even-trump-beat-dems-in-polling-on-the-economy-smh/754465/16 "2016-05-10T16:29:56Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Voters tend to see the economy in terms of their personal interests. Republicans are the pro-taxpayer party, so unless they are actively screwing up the economy themselves, they tend to have an advantage on the issue. Democrats also kicked themselves in the face with ACA. ACA has been a great boon to the poor, but at best a hassle for the middle class and at worst it’s forced them into plans they hate compared to what they used to have. Or into plans they don’t want in the first place. That’s complete urban myth. Most of the middle class already had health insurance and weren’t required to change it with the coming of the ACA. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2016, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republicans-even-trump-beat-dems-in-polling-on-the-economy-smh/754465/17 "2016-05-10T18:05:41Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > :dubious: > > That’s like saying that Jethro Bodine is the intellectual of the Clampett clan. That’s my point-this is more a condemnation of the Republican Party then praise of TRUMP.