# Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.). "We’re not generating enough angry white guys" **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 31, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277 "2012-08-31T17:26:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/1 "2012-08-31T17:26:22Z")
Lately, finding Republicans to pit is like shooting fish in a barrel. > [@](#): > > “The demographics race we’re losing badly,” said Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.). “We’re not generating enough angry white guys to stay in business for the long term.” I suppose you have to admire his candor. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/as-republican-convention-emphasizes-diversity-racial-incidents-intrude/2012/08/29/b9023a52-f1ec-11e1-892d-bc92fee603a7\_story.html](http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/as-republican-convention-emphasizes-diversity-racial-incidents-intrude/2012/08/29/b9023a52-f1ec-11e1-892d-bc92fee603a7_story.html) ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/2 "2012-08-31T17:32:12Z")
He’s correct, and a lot of people have made this observation. He’s not saying angry white guys are a good thing and he’s saying the party needs to broaden it’s appeal, so I’m not sure why you are Pitting him. Would you rather this go in Elections? ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/3 "2012-08-31T17:34:34Z")
I’m not sure what the big reveal here is. Has anyone been suggesting that the core support of the Republican party is \*not \*composed mainly disaffected white males? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/4 "2012-08-31T17:35:43Z")
Whatever you think’s best. And I actually do see your point. It struck me as racist but he could be saying that trying to generate angry white men is a losing strategy. In fact, that probably is the most likely interpretation. Maybe you should just delete this. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/5 "2012-08-31T17:36:40Z")
That is exactly what he was saying. I think there’s the basis for a good discussion here, so I’ll move it to Elections rather than close it. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/6 "2012-08-31T17:46:08Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > He’s correct, and a lot of people have made this observation. He’s not saying angry white guys are a good thing . . . He’s saying they’re a good thing (or at least an indispensible thing) for the GOP. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/7 "2012-08-31T17:47:23Z")
How do you generate angry white guys? Raise them in cages? ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/8 "2012-08-31T17:49:03Z")
[QUOTE=Washington Post] Not all of the race talk has been of the party’s own making. Many Republicans argue that Democrats’ obsession with the issue has forced it to the forefront. They say Democrats have used overtly racial appeals to fire up their base, citing Vice President Biden’s recent charge at a Virginia campaign event attended by hundreds of black voters that the GOP’s approach to financial regulation would“put y’all back in chains.” [/QUOTE] Hahahaha. Yeah, that’s the ticket. It’s the Democrats’ fault for shoving integration down White America’s throat for the last half-century. Who are these “many” Republicans? Do they have names? And how long are we going to have to fight against these loons? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/9 "2012-08-31T17:50:16Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > He’s saying they’re a good thing (or at least an indispensible thing) for the GOP. He’s saying the party needs to broaden its appeal because it can’t continue to win elections as the party of angry old white men. You don’t have to be a fan of the Republicans to agree with that because it’s obviously true. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/10 "2012-08-31T17:50:22Z")
I’m an angry white guy, and they generated me, but I’m angry _at_ the GOP. Sucks to be them, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/11 "2012-08-31T17:59:00Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > He’s saying the party needs to broaden its appeal because it can’t continue to win elections as the party of angry old white men. You don’t have to be a fan of the Republicans to agree with that because it’s obviously true. They’d better rethink their strategy of undoing the money that Obama shifted around to close the prescription doughnut hole… they might need those old ones to hand on for another four years. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/12 "2012-08-31T19:08:08Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > How do you generate angry white guys? Raise them in cages? And poke them with a stick every now and then. And keep promising them beer, but when you finally give it to them, it’s O’Doul’s ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/13 "2012-08-31T20:45:20Z")
So, supposing he really was suggesting that they need to broaden their base beyond “angry white guys”. Can they do so while still remaining “Republican” in anything but name? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/14 "2012-08-31T21:00:57Z")
Certainly. Just dump the Tea Party and the religious troglodytes, and present a rational, sane and conservative agenda. Nothing to it. Accept the status of loyal opposition with grace, and spiral down into political irrelevance as an ethical and temperate conscience and counterpoint to a dominant progressive governance. They would be worthy of my respect and attention, and I would not hesitate to offer either. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/15 "2012-08-31T21:05:47Z")
I’m not sure that spiraling down into political irrelevance is consistent with “broadening the base”. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/16 "2012-09-01T03:48:26Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Certainly. Just dump the Tea Party and the religious troglodytes, and present a rational, sane and conservative agenda. Nothing to it. Accept the status of loyal opposition with grace, and spiral down into political irrelevance as an ethical and temperate conscience and counterpoint to a dominant progressive governance. If Romney came out now and said, “the government needs to be cut, taxes raised on the rich, Medicare protected incl. closing the doughnut hole, but screw gay marriage and we might outlaw abortion except for rape & incest.” He’d probably be ahead in the polls and win come election day. Americans in general are progressive when it’s convenient. When things are bad, they just want to make sure someone else is getting screwed worse than they are. Why yes, I did have a bad day and am feeling particularly cynical and depressed. Why do you ask? ---
**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:** [September 1, 2012, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/17 "2012-09-01T03:53:26Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > He’s saying the party needs to broaden its appeal because it can’t continue to win elections as the party of angry old white men. You don’t have to be a fan of the Republicans to agree with that because it’s obviously true. This argument rests upon the faulty assumption that it would not be a positive GOOD for the Republican Party to STOP surviving. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/18 "2012-09-01T04:02:02Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > …Why yes, I did have a bad day and am feeling particularly cynical and depressed. Why do you ask? A cup of chamomile tea. P.G. Wodehouse, a comfy chair. A loving and wholesome family busily being elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/19 "2012-09-01T04:13:23Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > How do you generate angry white guys? Raise them in cages? Trick mellow white guys into watching too much Fox News? ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/20 "2012-09-01T04:42:30Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > A cup of chamomile tea. P.G. Wodehouse, a comfy chair. A loving and wholesome family busily being elsewhere. Heh. Hate tea (but do have beer), Wodehouse is not my cup of tea (get it? hahaha I crack myself up). I do have the comfy chair and wholesome family, I’m reading the Aubrey/Maturin series for the 19th time, I had my little girl snuggled up next to me sleepily watching iCarly earlier tonight - after dinner with my best friend and his family (son is 2 weeks younger than my daughter and they’ve grown up together - watching them gives me hope for the future), the Noles play tomorrow, and I’ve got (free) tickets. Life is good overall. I just sometimes wish I could be one of the uninformed masses, you know? But hey seriously, thanks for the virtual hug, man. It does actually mean something. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277.md?page=2)