# 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:** 2
**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:** [September 1, 2012, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/21 "2012-09-01T04:56:06Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > A cup of chamomile tea. P.G. Wodehouse, a comfy chair. A loving and wholesome family busily being elsewhere. I am taking this advice right away! The family IS elsewhere, and I’ve got chamomile tea. I’m going to slam this laptop closed and pull out my hardcover copy of “_What Ho, Jeeves_”. But then i won’t be an angry white guy anymore… ---
**Author:** ![Implicit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Implicit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Implicit)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/22 "2012-09-01T04:57:47Z")
It is really hard to believe that Republicans want to reach out beyond angry white guys when I keep reading that many think Obama gets the African-American vote because he is one. Democrats have had a lock on that demographic for decades, so writing off African-Americans because of Obama just looks like an excuse to run away from African-Americans as well as being presumptuous and insulting to that demographic. ---
**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, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/23 "2012-09-01T05:03:56Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > …I’m reading the Aubrey/Maturin series for the 19th time… “Jack leaned towards the crispen lanyard and made ready to haul up the mizzen stolt…” OK, Google, what the bleeding fuck is he talking about? “The nautical wainscoting that extends from the upper crimshaws to the bludder amidships, the Royal Navy’s traditional location when keelhauling the bos’n mate portside _See also_ 6-pound starboard grommets…” ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/24 "2012-09-01T06:27:42Z")
The party does need more inclusiveness, but winning the votes of the majority demographic is still the way to win elections. If whites ever voted monolithically, whichever party they supported would win every time. If the GOP strategy is to dominate the white vote, that is a plausible path to victory for the next 50-100 years. ---
**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, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/25 "2012-09-01T06:41:37Z")
I have to admire your frank and Candide approach, ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/26 "2012-09-01T06:57:15Z")
It’s not a tough enough thing to say, to require candidness. Winning the white vote is not a stigma. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/27 "2012-09-01T07:00:25Z")
What a load of horseshit, do they really think white people are the only race that has conservatives? The republicans have engineered their own downfall by embracing the dwindling Archie Bunker demo, are they shocked that people caught on to their paper thin denials? If they had a fucking clue they would have EMBRACED the socially moderate libertarian platform, like ending drug prohibition and gay marriage rights. Instead they tried to co-op the name and apply it to the same old oppressive bullshit like trying to turn the USA into a theocracy. They lost a lot of young potential voters that way. You made your bed reps, now sleep in it. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/28 "2012-09-01T07:06:52Z")
Well, if anything, becoming more socially liberal would chase away minorities, not attract them. The democrats win the minority vote in spite of their views on social issues, not because of them. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/29 "2012-09-01T08:49:22Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Well, if anything, becoming more socially liberal would chase away minorities, not attract them. If black voters can be sold on gay marriage because of Democrat’s fiscal stance, why couldn’t they be sold on gay marriage because of a libertarian approach to drug policy? Not that I can think of any libertarian candidate that’s avowed support for gay marriage on a federal level (Roemer comes closest). ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/30 "2012-09-01T09:28:15Z")
Black voters weren’t swayed by the Democrats, they were swayed, to the extent they were swayed, by Barack Obama. Republicans would have zero chance of appealing to black voters by becoming more socially liberal. More likely they’d chase off the 10% of African-Americans who do support the GOP. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/31 "2012-09-01T09:47:36Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Black voters weren’t swayed by the Democrats, they were swayed, to the extent they were swayed, by Barack Obama. Republicans would have zero chance of appealing to black voters by becoming more socially liberal. More likely they’d chase off the 10% of African-Americans who do support the GOP. I meant becoming more socially liberal would allow them to stay relevant and grow their base, not appeal to black voters per se. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/32 "2012-09-01T10:06:54Z")
It would possibly help grow the base, but it would probably if anything make them an even more white-centered party. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/33 "2012-09-01T11:00:16Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > BlacMore likely they’d chase off the 10% of African-Americans who do support the GOP. If 10% of black voters support the GOP, how come [none of them are voting for Romney](http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/80015.html)? > [@](#): > > President Barack Obama continues to beat Mitt Romney among African American voters with a staggering 94 percent to 0 percent lead, according to a poll released Tuesday. > > The NBC/Wall Street Journal poll — which gives Obama and Vice President Joe Biden a small lead over Romney and his running mate Paul Ryan — shows Obama has a massive lead over his Republican rival in the key political base of African-American voters, [NBCNews.com reported](http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/21/13399788-nbcwsj-poll-heading-into-conventions-obama-has-four-point-lead?lite). ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/34 "2012-09-01T11:35:11Z")
The GOP will probably win 5% of the black vote this year. Normally they get around 10%. [http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.0.html](http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/states/US/P/00/epolls.0.html) [http://www.ropercenter.uconn.edu/elections/how\_groups\_voted/voted\_00.html#.UEHyrsX4JM0](http://www.ropercenter.uconn.edu/elections/how_groups_voted/voted_00.html#.UEHyrsX4JM0) [http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/elections/natl.exit.poll/index1.html](http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/elections/natl.exit.poll/index1.html) In 1996, 2000, and 2004, the GOP candidate won 12%, 10%, and 11%. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/35 "2012-09-01T12:53:23Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > It’s not a tough enough thing to say, to require candidness. Winning the white vote is not a stigma. I think luci may have been referring to your unwarranted “[optimism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candide),” but I’m not sure. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/36 "2012-09-01T14:11:48Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Black voters weren’t swayed by the Democrats, they were swayed, to the extent they were swayed, by Barack Obama. This is ridiculous. Black voters have been reliable and loyal Democratic voters for years. This has nothing to do with Obama and everything to do with which party they feel has their best interest in mind. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/37 "2012-09-01T14:40:47Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > Black voters weren’t swayed by the Democrats, they were swayed, to the extent they were swayed, by Barack Obama. Were they equally swayed by Kerry Gore and Clinton? because they got only slightly less of the black vote than Obama did. Black voters have been overwhelmingly democrat long before Obama came into the picture. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/38 "2012-09-01T14:43:18Z")
I was responding to the increased support for gay marriage among black voters. Obama moved those numbers pretty much singlehandedly. ---
**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, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/39 "2012-09-01T14:47:47Z")
Obama wasn’t a supporter of gay marriage until quite recently. When the people lead, the leaders will follow. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2012, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277/40 "2012-09-01T14:50:22Z")
True enough. Obama did it when it wouldn’t hurt him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sen-lindsey-o-graham-s-c-we-re-not-generating-enough-angry-white-guys/633277.md?page=3)