# Why are white people the only large demo group that supports republicans? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 6, 2016, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211 "2016-09-06T18:46:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2016, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211/61 "2016-09-07T23:15:38Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > And this has been repeated with many Asian communities as well, which strictly ideologically-speaking should be conservatives. Muslim Americans being one obvious example, but I’ve noticed the Indian community shift pretty remarkable to the Democrats over the last 15 years or so. I’m pretty sure I’ve read that Bill Clinton only got like 30-40% of the Asian-American vote while Obama got something like 70%. Have Republicans done things causing this? I’ve seen the numbers you mention, but I haven’t seen any good explanations for them. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2016, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211/62 "2016-09-07T23:26:34Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Within the context of the action alone, the affirmative action is unequal treatment. > If I am an airline CEO, and I say, “To remedy centuries of institutionalized discrimination, I hereby announce that Native American passengers will be given discounts on first-class seating,” then that action, in and of itself, is unequal treatment. It may remedy past discrimination, but in and of itself, it is unequal. Affirmative action in education is designed to help reduce the impact of discrimination in earlier education. Affirmative action in hiring is designed to deal with the impact of discrimination in hiring. Your analogy has nothing to do with what affirmative action is. There have been studies in which identical resumes are submitted to potential employers, some with traditional black names and some with traditional white names. The white ones got more interviews. And I’m sure you are aware of Trump’s discrimination in renting being found by sending white people to apartments where back people were turned down because there were no vacancies - and being offered an apartment. We white people often think we don’t discriminate. We are often wrong. BTW I’m for adding the poor to those who qualify for affirmative action, since a white person in Appalachia might need more help than a black person who raises kids in a tony neighborhood. But let’s not think discrimination still does not happen. ---
**Author:** ![inscrutable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a88e4f/32.png) [@inscrutable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inscrutable)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211/63 "2016-09-08T02:12:45Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Its a result of Two things IMHO. All the non-white people have left the party as the party has forsaken most of the reasons for minorities to support the party and the erosion of white privilege has driven many whites to the party in an effort to preserve or reinstate their prior privilege. > > The first element can be most clearly seen in the voting patterns of Asian Americans. Asian Americans voted largely for Reagan and H. W. Bush (Asians were MORE Republican than whites). Asians broke 75% for Obama over Romney in the last election and Romney is generally what you would consider an acceptable Republican candidate for Asians. > > The second is a natural reaction to loss of privilege. What is this “privilege” that I’m apparently losing? My parents grew up poor in the Depression, yet had the sense of responsibility to work their asses off to buy a house in a good school district because they gave a damn about their children. That privilege? Or is it my privilege to scrimp and save for retirement because I have the sense of responsibility to give a damn about my future? Seems to me that this “white privilege” amounts to nothing more than having a sense of responsibility to give a damn about life… ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211/64 "2016-09-08T02:53:08Z")
If anything, Trump is doing best with the whites who don’t feel all that privileged. The privileged whites seem to like Clinton. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211/65 "2016-09-08T02:54:09Z")
> [@dracoi](#): > > . . . but no one argues that he should be \*given \*90%. Well…they do argue against inheritance tax, so they argue that he should be allowed to inherit 90%. Conservatives are dead against anyone being given anything they didn’t earn…but inheritance is just peachy. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211/66 "2016-09-08T02:59:08Z")
> [@inscrutable](#): > > What is this “privilege” that I’m apparently losing? > > My parents grew up poor in the Depression, yet had the sense of responsibility to work their asses off to buy a house in a good school district because they gave a damn about their children. That privilege? Uh, yes, that privilege. Their black peers who also wanted to buy a house in a good school district: [what happened to them](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redlining)? When your parents made that move, [was this the housewarming gift the neighbors brought over](http://photo.sf.co.ua/g/126/34.jpg)? When your parents sent you to those good schools, [did your neighbors do this?](https://southernspaces.org/sites/default/files/images/2009/egerton-010-communists.jpg) You benefited from your parents’ white privilege: banks loaned them money, neighbors didn’t leave burning crosses in their yard. > [@](#): > > Seems to me that this “white privilege” amounts to nothing more than having a sense of responsibility to give a damn about life… Right–in your parent’s time, it involved giving a damn about the lives of black neighbors, to the extent of inserting a healthy dose of terrorism into their lives. History matters. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211/67 "2016-09-08T03:44:14Z")
> [@inscrutable](#): > > What is this “privilege” that I’m apparently losing? > > My parents grew up poor in the Depression, yet had the sense of responsibility to work their asses off to buy a house in a good school district because they gave a damn about their children. That privilege? > > Or is it my privilege to scrimp and save for retirement because I have the sense of responsibility to give a damn about my future? > > Seems to me that this “white privilege” amounts to nothing more than having a sense of responsibility to give a damn about life… Now repeat that same story but now you’re black. What kind of school could you go to? What kind of job could you get? How much could you save even if you scrimped. That gap is closing and you can no longer make a decent living with a high school degree and a fair complexion. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211/68 "2016-09-08T03:48:07Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > If anything, Trump is doing best with the whites who don’t feel all that privileged. The privileged whites seem to like Clinton. Yes, thats what I said. Whites are losing that feeling of privilege and they are pissed about it and voting Republican because they were making veiled suggestions that they would get them back if they voted Republican. Trump does really bother with the veil as much. ---
**Author:** ![inscrutable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a88e4f/32.png) [@inscrutable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inscrutable)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211/69 "2016-09-08T11:32:04Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Uh, yes, that privilege. Their black peers who also wanted to buy a house in a good school district: [what happened to them](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redlining)? When your parents made that move, [was this the housewarming gift the neighbors brought over](http://photo.sf.co.ua/g/126/34.jpg)? When your parents sent you to those good schools, [did your neighbors do this?](https://southernspaces.org/sites/default/files/images/2009/egerton-010-communists.jpg) > > You benefited from your parents’ white privilege: banks loaned them money, neighbors didn’t leave burning crosses in their yard. > Right–in your parent’s time, it involved giving a damn about the lives of black neighbors, to the extent of inserting a healthy dose of terrorism into their lives. > > History matters. Wow, in reading this board, you would think this entire Country today is pre-1964 deep south. Have there been any successful, if not wealthy, black people during the past fifty years??? There must be a better way for liberals to wage class warfare other than to keep trying to re-define it as race warfare… ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211/70 "2016-09-08T11:51:47Z")
> [@inscrutable](#): > > Wow, in reading this board, you would think this entire Country today is pre-1964 deep south. > > Have there been any successful, if not wealthy, black people during the past fifty years??? Yes, but they generally had to overcome a lot more obstacles and work harder than successful and wealthy white people. In almost every path to success, being black makes things harder and being white makes things easier. Being white doesn’t make it easy, just less difficult – and being black doesn’t make it impossible, just more difficult. These differences have improved over the years, but they haven’t disappeared. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211/71 "2016-09-08T11:56:20Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > And this has been repeated with many Asian communities as well, which strictly ideologically-speaking should be conservatives. This article, which appears to be backed up by derailed stats analysis, suggests the contrary: that Asian Americans support a combination of free enterprise _and_ a larger role for government in social supports. That puts them more firmly in the Democratic camp. _How Asian Americans Became Democrats_ > **[How Asian Americans Became Democrats](https://prospect.org/civil-rights/asian-americans-became-democrats/)** > > The last two decades have seen a major shift in the party preferences of Asian Americans, but they're still not deeply engaged in civic life. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211/72 "2016-09-08T11:59:14Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Have Republicans done things causing this? I’ve seen the numbers you mention, but I haven’t seen any good explanations for them. That same article suggests that yes, Republican policies have pushed Asian-Americans away from the Republican party. The author, Karthick Ramakrishnan, points to three factors: 1. Anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies from GOP politicians; 2. Heavy support for the GOP from the Christian evangelicals (and courting of that group by the GOP); 3. GOP policies for small government and fewer government services, factors which go contrary to the policy preferences of Asian-Americans, who appear to value higher levels of government involvement than the population generally. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211/73 "2016-09-08T12:08:28Z")
That point # 3 is interesting. I’ve noticed before that some ardent free-enterprisers assume that support for free enterprise includes opposition to government social supports. That view is not universally shared by all small business types in my personal experience. You can be a small business type and favour less government regulations of business, while still supporting social supports and government spending on things like education and health-care. It’s a mistake, it seems to me, to assume automatically that a group which strongly favours free-enterprise/small business entrepreneurship is “conservative” in the sense of small government. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211/74 "2016-09-08T12:33:12Z")
When talking about small government and support for small government it’s important to distinguish between what small government means to voters and what it means to economists and policymakers. To voters, government is small when they don’t have to pay a lot of taxes. To economists and policymakers the true level of taxation however is the amount of spending, since all spending must be paid for. In states, where taxation and spending are closely related due to balanced budget amendments and regressive taxes, everyone has a pretty good idea what they can expect for what they are willing to spend. At the federal level this relationship has broken down. But again, at the state level a lot of states have what we’d call pretty limited government with not a lot of services and it’s not as if people are clamoring to pay more taxes to get more services in most of these states. This is probably why the GOP is doing so much better in the states as well, even winning significant minority support in many state elections. That and certain state GOP organizations show proper respect, such as in Texas, where Republicans do more than well enough with latinos to dominate the state government. ---
**Author:** ![inscrutable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a88e4f/32.png) [@inscrutable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inscrutable)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211/75 "2016-09-08T13:12:35Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Yes, but they generally had to overcome a lot more obstacles and work harder than successful and wealthy white people. In almost every path to success, being black makes things harder and being white makes things easier. Being white doesn’t make it easy, just less difficult – and being black doesn’t make it impossible, just more difficult. These differences have improved over the years, but they haven’t disappeared. That line of reasoning is just as broad-brush assumptive and unrealistic as the “white republicans are racists” attitude. Come on, Andy, just consider the sheer population numbers – there are probably more poor trailer-trash whites than poor blacks. Can you honestly state that they face fewer obsacles to a cubicle at Lochheed, Northrup, or other engineering firms than blacks? That path is paved with assimilation and hard work, regardless of one’s background. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211/76 "2016-09-08T13:26:23Z")
I think Andy has it mostly right, but there are exceptions. For example, while an African or Caribbean immigrant is going to face certain problems a poor white person won’t due to their skin color(like being pulled over by the police), their economic opportunities are probably much greater than say, a white dude from the Appalachia region. Despite the fact that AA programs are supposedly to help African-Americans overcome centuries of slavery and discrimination, these programs also benefit African and Caribbean immigrants who have not had the same legacy and may even be already middle class, giving them a huge advantage over poor whites and blacks alike in things like college admissions and jobs and promotion opportunities. There’s a lot of outright racism among this demographic(whites without college degrees) but also a genuine amount of legitimate grievance. Not to mention the government seems to be targeting their jobs for destruction(mining, oil drilling). ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211/77 "2016-09-08T13:46:09Z")
> [@inscrutable](#): > > That line of reasoning is just as broad-brush assumptive and unrealistic as the “white republicans are racists” attitude. Come on, Andy, just consider the sheer population numbers – there are probably more poor trailer-trash whites than poor blacks. Can you honestly state that they face fewer obsacles to a cubicle at Lochheed, Northrup, or other engineering firms than blacks? Absolutely, in general. Poor trailer-trash black people will have an even tougher time than poor trailer-trash white people – their teachers will have lower expectations and spend less time with them as kids; their resumes and housing applications will be more likely to rejected even with the same qualifications; their role models in the media will be less likely to be educated professionals; they will be more likely to grow up seeing law enforcement as a dangerous enemy due to encounters they see and hear about with fathers/uncles/brothers; and much more. > [@](#): > > That path is paved with assimilation and hard work, regardless of one’s background. What is “assimilation”? Does that mean a black person named Lashaun needs to change his name, since his resume is more likely to be chucked just because of his name? Does that mean that a black woman can’t wear her hair naturally, even though white women can? Does that mean that, when not at work, a black person can’t wear the fashionable clothes of their neighborhood? ---
**Author:** ![inscrutable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a88e4f/32.png) [@inscrutable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inscrutable)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211/78 "2016-09-08T14:31:15Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Absolutely, in general. Poor trailer-trash black people will have an even tougher time than poor trailer-trash white people – their teachers will have lower expectations and spend less time with them as kids; their resumes and housing applications will be more likely to rejected even with the same qualifications; their role models in the media will be less likely to be educated professionals; they will be more likely to grow up seeing law enforcement as a dangerous enemy due to encounters they see and hear about with fathers/uncles/brothers; and much more. > > What is “assimilation”? Does that mean a black person named Lashaun needs to change his name, since his resume is more likely to be chucked just because of his name? Does that mean that a black woman can’t wear her hair naturally, even though white women can? Does that mean that, when not at work, a black person can’t wear the fashionable clothes of their neighborhood? Wow… ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211/79 "2016-09-08T15:13:35Z")
> [@inscrutable](#): > > Wow… Wow what? None of these obstacles are insurmountable. With hard work and decent luck, most people from any background can succeed. I’m just saying that there are more obstacles, in general, for black people, than white people, and I described some of them as I understand them. And I think that it’s the duty of society as a whole to eliminate the additional obstacles that exist that are tied to race. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2016, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211/80 "2016-09-08T15:36:43Z")
> [@inscrutable](#): > > Wow, in reading this board, you would think this entire Country today is pre-1964 deep south. No, dude. I think that in reading YOUR POST about your parents and the Great Depression, you were talking about pre-1964 United States. If you thought that redlining was only a problem in pre-1964 Deep South, you would do well to read up a bit on the subject. If you think that black Americans in northern states didn’t face violence when integrating neighborhoods, you need to study some. Lemme know, and I can recommend some reading for you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-white-people-the-only-large-demo-group-that-supports-republicans/765211.md?page=5)