# World Net Daily poll show 20% of Republicans leaning toward Obama. **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 10, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366 "2012-02-10T02:19:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366/41 "2012-02-16T00:15:18Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > This is the critical issue, IMO. Obama will probably win a second term, but without a majority in the House, or more of one in the Senate, it’ll just be four more years of obstruction, in which case, what’s the point? There won’t be any obstruction if we simply surrender. Their agenda will roll along briskly. ---
**Author:** ![unsub](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9f8e36/32.png) [@unsub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unsub)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366/42 "2012-02-17T08:01:45Z")
As a free market capitalist Republican I have earned over $800k+ in the stock market under the Obama administration since his election in 2008. If you democrats can guarantee to continue to make me another $800k for the next 4 years, maybe a 25 percent capital gains tax and 40 percent dividend tax won’t be so bad and I will vote for Obama instead of Romney. Romney’s best offer is making my capital gains tax and dividend tax and interest tax to zero. What is Obama’s best offer for me? ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366/43 "2012-02-17T08:19:26Z")
> [@unsub](#): > > As a free market capitalist Republican I have earned over $800k+ in the stock market under the Obama administration since his election in 2008. > > If you democrats can guarantee to continue to make me another $800k for the next 4 years, maybe a 25 percent capital gains tax and 40 percent dividend tax won’t be so bad and I will vote for Obama instead of Romney. > > Romney’s best offer is making my capital gains tax and dividend tax and interest tax to zero. > > What is Obama’s best offer for me? Well, Obama may not end up accomplishing most of what he says he’ll do, but at least you’ll know where he stands. Romney’s offers mean nothing. Do you actually believe anything he says? If so, you’re one of the few. Romney’s a chameleon. It’s anyone’s guess which Romney we’ll see and hear on any given day. The guy has no core, and acts as though recording equipment doesn’t exist. It’s pretty amazing to watch, actually. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366/44 "2012-02-17T08:57:28Z")
How about we all agree that if you make substantial capital gains income, you should vote Republican, and if you don’t, you should vote Democrat. The Republicans should totally run on that idea. It’d be so much more honest. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366/45 "2012-02-17T13:46:52Z")
> [@unsub](#): > > As a free market capitalist Republican I have earned over $800k+ in the stock market under the Obama administration since his election in 2008. > > If you democrats can guarantee to continue to make me another $800k for the next 4 years, maybe a 25 percent capital gains tax and 40 percent dividend tax won’t be so bad and I will vote for Obama instead of Romney. > > Romney’s best offer is making my capital gains tax and dividend tax and interest tax to zero. > > What is Obama’s best offer for me? I just looked up my returns. During George Bush’s second term, my rate of return was -0.09%. That’s right, pro business republican president lost me money. Since the day Barack Obama took office my rate of return is 21.46%. Looking at it pragmatically, I’d rather pay 35% of 21% than 0% of -0.1%. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366/46 "2012-02-17T14:33:36Z")
> [@davidm](#): > > [20% of Republicans leaning to Obama! \* WorldNetDaily \* by WND Staff](http://www.wnd.com/2012/02/20-of-republicans-leaning-to-obama) > I’m not sure what to think of this. World Net Daily is right leaning so it doesn’t seem like the poll would be biased in Obama’s favor, and it seems doubtful that the article would slant the results in that direction, but these results seem unlikely to me. WND is ultra right, and pretty much anything they publish needs to be taken with a largish grain of salt. “For thorough cleansing use Ultra-Right(R) with the new advanced whitening formula!” ---
**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:** [February 17, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366/47 "2012-02-17T14:38:04Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > How about we all agree that if you make substantial capital gains income, you should vote Republican, and if you don’t, you should vote Democrat. The Republicans should totally run on that idea. It’d be so much more honest. It would be a horrible platform. 1% of the income earned by household earning less than 100K/year is from capital gains or qualified dividends. Even at the $500K level, only 10% is earned on capital gains and qualified dividends. You have to get to the $5MM+ level before the majority of your income is capital gains or qualified dividends. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366/48 "2012-02-17T14:49:35Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > There won’t be any obstruction if we simply surrender. Why not? Shucks, our prison camps all have nice new lice-free matresses for the bunk beds, you’ll get a tasty diet of beans, cornbread and molasses, you’ll be helping to keep our highways and other infrastructure in good order, and you’ll get free clothing and medical care. It’s what you’ve always wanted. Everybody’s cared for, and everybody works for the common good. You just got to get your mind right, is all. And don’t back sass the man. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366/49 "2012-02-17T16:14:47Z")
Government by the people and for the people is not tyranny unless we fuck it up. Therein lies the awesome responsibility of the citizen in a democratic society. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366/50 "2012-02-17T19:23:46Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > laying the groundwork to reject the presumed nomination of whomsoever wins the most delegates. For Christ’s sake, it’s “whosoever”. “wins” needs a subject, which is the whole purpose of the word in that clause. Save “whomsoever” and “whomever” for when that second verb already has a subject, e.g. “…reject the presumed nomination of whomsoever the delegates elect.” Now [give me three laps around the gym. Go.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=549670) ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366/51 "2012-02-17T20:50:05Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Government by the people and for the people is not tyranny unless we . . . . . . let that minority of the people who inevitably will have to actually run any government “by” the people get away with making it a tyranny. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366/52 "2012-02-17T21:10:06Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **unsub** : > As a free market capitalist Republican I have earned over $800k+ in the stock market under the Obama administration since his election in 2008. > > If you democrats can guarantee to continue to make me another $800k for the next 4 years, maybe a 25 percent capital gains tax and 40 percent dividend tax won’t be so bad and I will vote for Obama instead of Romney. > > Romney’s best offer is making my capital gains tax and dividend tax and interest tax to zero. > > What is Obama’s best offer for me? Y’know, I honestly have no problem with people who benefit from Republican policies voting Republican. Yeah, enlightened self-interest might be ugly, but by and large, it _works_. If all the people who benefit from Republican policies vote Republican, and all the people who benefit from Democratic policies vote Democratic, then we’ll end up with government that benefits the largest number of people. The problem isn’t with people who are voting their genuine self-interest, it’s with the people who are being deluded as to what their self-interest is. People who do things like complain about their taxes being raised, when they’re actually being lowered. Or people who demand that the government get its hands off their government aide programs. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366/53 "2012-02-18T02:55:48Z")
Well [a less wingnut poll](http://www.people-press.org/files/legacy-detailed_tables/2-13-12%20Horserace%20tables.pdf): Pew. Of those who identify as Democrat or lean that way about 5% would vote for Romney or Santorum; twice as many, 10%, of those who identify as Republican or lean that way would vote for Obama. Not the 20% of the wingnut poll but still a number that surprises. ---
**Author:** ![Ubiquity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a5b964/32.png) [@Ubiquity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ubiquity)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366/54 "2012-02-18T03:17:31Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Government by the people and for the people is not tyranny unless we fuck it up. Therein lies the awesome responsibility of the citizen in a democratic society. We’re not a democracy,we’re a republic. Don’t be confused. Nobody else gets it either. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366/55 "2012-02-18T03:24:26Z")
A republic can be a democratic society. “Democracy” does not require that every person vote directly on every item. Representational democracies are still democracies too. Some apparently don’t get that. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2012, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366/56 "2012-02-18T03:25:46Z")
A republic is a perfectly acceptable incarnation of the democratic principle. Tomato, spaghetti sauce. ---
**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:** [February 20, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366/57 "2012-02-20T00:59:16Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Well [a less wingnut poll](http://www.people-press.org/files/legacy-detailed_tables/2-13-12%20Horserace%20tables.pdf): Pew. > > Of those who identify as Democrat or lean that way about 5% would vote for Romney or Santorum; twice as many, 10%, of those who identify as Republican or lean that way would vote for Obama. Not the 20% of the wingnut poll but still a number that surprises. Interesting. It looks like the Republican party is relying on southern white males to carry them into the white house. I also note that baby boomers seem to like Obama better than the 30-50 crowd. The real big number seems to be women. They prefer Obama by 20 points while men seem to favor the Republican candidate by about 5 points. I’m pretty sure that those two categories represent almost all the voters and in relatively even proportion (probably more women and if you keep beating on the contraception drum I gonna go out on a limb and suggest that turnout might be better than expected). ---
**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:** [February 20, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366/58 "2012-02-20T02:19:23Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Interesting. > > It looks like the Republican party is relying on southern white males to carry them into the white house. > > I also note that baby boomers seem to like Obama better than the 30-50 crowd. Hmm some more proof actually for the Strauss-Howe theory of generation which argue Reactive generations (such as Gen X) tend to be conservative (for example the Lost Generation’s representative politicians were Robert Taft and Dwight Eisenhower and they went for Goldwater and Reagan to the end). ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2012, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366/59 "2012-02-20T03:42:46Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > Hmm some more proof actually for the Strauss-Howe theory of generation which argue Reactive generations (such as Gen X) tend to be conservative (for example the Lost Generation’s representative politicians were Robert Taft and Dwight Eisenhower and they went for Goldwater and Reagan to the end). OTOH, there do seem to be some signs of a lefty [Youth Uprising.](http://www.thenation.com/article/166299/americas-youth-uprising) ---
**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:** [February 20, 2012, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366/60 "2012-02-20T03:45:04Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > OTOH, there do seem to be some signs of a lefty [Youth Uprising.](http://www.thenation.com/article/166299/americas-youth-uprising) Well I wouldn’t say people in their thirties and forties are youths. Althought I’ll probably be thinking differently when I’m eighty. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/world-net-daily-poll-show-20-of-republicans-leaning-toward-obama/612366.md?page=4)