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Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Is the GOP Now the Working Class Party?

Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon made some interesting points in an recent interview with The Guardian. “We’ve turned the Republican party into a working-class party,” he boasts.

I do believe he has a point. Increasingly, Democrats are being viewed, and with justification, as elitists who have no regard for the working class.

69 comments:

Anonymous said...

Trump can relate to the working class, having suffered so throughout his life.

Anonymous said...

Party of the working class? Um, no. The huge tax giveaway that explodes our deficits won't benefit the working class at all. The windfalls companies got, they used to buy back stock. The nonsense it will "trickle down" is exactly that. The cliff of the ACA the GOP refuses to get rid of - and for the uneducated they will blame the financial impacts on Democrats - but it is terrorism IMO against the middle class perpetrated by the GOP to sway voters their way.

Doc Rock said...

What the Democrats refuse to understand is that the 2016 presidential election was a vote against elitism more than anything else. They have written off their traditional base as deplorables not worthy of their time or consideration.

Today's Democrat party is as far from Harry Truman's Democrat party as Martha's Vineyard is from Independence, Missouri.

Anonymous said...

Finally you are seeing issues a bit clearer. This is a good start and please continue to examine your values. Both parties have changed drastically over the last couple years. Ask yourself whose values do you relate more to . Forget the personalities, look at the issues and what best corresponds to your look at issues. Bernie —- there is hope for you yet.

Anonymous said...

I like when people start their comment with, you idiot. I really take what follows seriously .

Anonymous said...

Since the 80's and the great con, the republican parts convinced people they care. They do care about their traditional base. The corporates class. They are killing the other party on social issues all the while picking the middle class pockets. They have obliterated the standard of living, killed unions, killed pensions, made healthcare a premium for fat cats. Al this and they got the working class to think them.

Yes I give them all the credit in the world. Of course we have become a nation worried more about gay marriage and bathrooms then about our diminished earning and buying power.

Bernie O'Hare said...

2:45, I deleted the idiot who started off by calling someone an idiot.

Anonymous said...

Republicans have been screwing people since eth elate 1800's. The difference is now we have people who believe the paid fools who tell them differently. This doesn't mean the Democrats are hitting any homeruns. It just means the Republican Party has never been then party of working men and the middle class.

Anonymous said...

How can anyone relate to a party who kills babies, runs cities into the ground, wants no borders, hates police, military and ice. will tax you to death and acts the way they do--look at the impeachment what a joke, on top of all that they want socialism for us but their so called leaders do not live that way.

Anonymous said...

Wholeheartedly agree with those above who make the case for the working class drinking the Republican Koolaid. Repubs say "look, look, the gay people, the babies being aborted!...meanwhile we'll take everything you used to know made your lives better like pensions, etc. We'll fight to take away supports for that baby we say you must keep but hey we'll send thoughts and prayers for the next mass shooting bc we dont want anyone to be denied the right to own a military style gun. America, aren't you better off now?

Anonymous said...

You would think “working class” people would be all for JOBS, WAGES, BENEFITS, and RESPECT for their labors and products. All of these components have increased substantially under the Trump Administration. We are enjoying the best economy of our lifetime.

Add in lower taxes on wages and pensions (including Social Security withdrawals). Next, add booming IRAs, low inflation, and lower energy prices, and the list goes on.

So, YES, the average working and productive American should be quite satisfied with our elected President.

Anonymous said...

The russian agent that is trump, was a life long "D"... The proof is in his financials that should come to light in the near future!

Is he selling tickets to Jonestown yet?

Bernie O'Hare said...

Bannon points to the recent election in Britain, where Labour was crushed. Party members are now voting for conservatives there. Bannon wants blue collar votes. He likes AOC bc she was a bartender. He said Rs need bartenders, not lawyers. His brand of right wing populism vilifies the evil illegals. Warren and Sanders, with their left wing populism, vilify evil corporations and the one per cent. These are both powerful messages, though inaccurate. I prefer leaders who try to bring people together instead of driving them apart.

Ray Nemeth Sr said...

I believe this all started with Reagan who took a step in that direction and Bill Clinton who took a step in the other direction by signing trade bills that damaged the working class. Remember the " the Great Sucking sound".

Clinton also cosied up to China and accepted Chinese money into his campaign. He also hooked up with silicone valley, remember Y2K, a hoax. The new strategy by establishment Republicans and Clinton Democrats was allow Corporate America to buy manufactured products from cheap Chinese labor and make huge profits selling in America.The Democrats embraced this idea as it provided dependent out of work Americans to promise things to and also reaped Billions in economic support.

Americans finally wised up and began to reject anything Bush, Clinton etc. the same players with different names. Much like the free elections in Hong Kong, when all the candidates are picked by the party.

MCCain Fiengold law was an attempt to cement this, party picks the candidate idea, that would have kept the parties in control of who the candidates were.

Hillary Clinton was rejected by Democrats in favor Barack Obama who was viewed as an outsider and not an establishment candidate.

Donald Trump was the ultimate outsider, all Republican establishment candidates never had a chance. Americans have gotten more sophisticated and now see the bull shit a lot better. Trump won over Hillary because she was the corrupt establishment candidate.

Neither her or a Bush would have renegotiated Trade, tried to control the border, or cut regulations. Nor would they have ever questioned our foreign policy, which is determined by others, demanded Nato live up to its treaty obligations.

Whether you want to admit it or not, Trump has focused on bringing jobs to america, He has lived up to his promise of America first and it has been working.

This next election, if Biden is the candidate, will be a repeat of the last. Establishment Biden for the status quo establishment or Trump the true maverick. Who do you think those that make things will vote for.

The Democrats are now the party of Government workers, academics, the corporate elite, hollywood, all dependent class people, fringe groups and those who consider themselves the elite in general.

The Republican party under Trump is a working class party, after Trump who knows.

You can bet that the democrat establishment do not want a Sanders as a candidate, while I personally don't like his policies, he is an honest man who the establishment would hate as much as Trump. He would be hard to control.

Anonymous said...

Any Dem wants to relocate to San Fran, feel free. Take a dump in the street or even a super market. Super market even has toilet paper to open in their aisles. West coast small businesses going under because of minimum wage raises. Waiters, waitresses complaining they can't find work. They lived off tips that are drying up because of the increase in minimum wage. Dems sure like the F word. Sure are a proud bunch. Free food, free housing, free HIGH SPEED internet because its a "right", free medical, housing, college, cell phones, empty prisons, open borders, everyone gets a drivers license (But can't get a voter ID Card! Hmm. SMH), ICE, Police, Military are bad, rappers spewing words to murder are OK. Safe spaces, physically assault conservative college students and take their signage. Black masks, gloves, hats, pants, shoes,... and burn, assault, harass those with a different view,..........
Bernie. What's a "roach" that Joe Biden was talking about? Can't figure it out.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Stop the generalizations, please. Most rank-and-file Dems I know do not support the right to take dumps in the street or a supermarket, or free-everything. Ther is a ot of hatred and vitriol in what you write.

I prefer people like the Heritage Foundation Exec Director, who said that most of us want to help our fellow man, but liberals and cnservatives have different ways of doing it.

Anonymous said...

The wheel has turned. Will Rogers said he didn't belong to an organized party, he was a Democrat. Now, the unwieldy big tent belongs to the GOP, from Log Cabins to evangelicals; from neo-con hawks to isolationist libertarians. Witness the uproar Trump caused among establishment lords who became never Trumpers. Democrats have purified the party on every single major issue. And they've done so while tacking hard left in response to the age of Trump. They've spent three years insulting those (nazi, racist, homophobe, retards) they should be trying to bring back from their 2016 votes. They continue to fail to understand a large portion of Trump voters don't like him, but simply can't stomach the radical alternatives being offered by increasingly strident and radical Democrats. Meanwhile, the majority of the country hates impeachment, just like Rs learned with Clinton. Polls get better for Trump each day it drags on. Ds are about to be forced to repeat a classic American history lesson.

Anonymous said...

Today’s Impeachment vote has energized Trump supporters even more. As ridiculous as it is, placing this label on Trump will not help the image of the current Democrat Party. It will drive even more Americans to despise everyone in Congress who votes in favor. This Impeachment will become a constant reminder of how broken and corrupt our Congress is. Both parties!

Everything is now about to be revealed. Good, productive citizens will mobilize and put a stop to the craziness brought to us by present day Democrats. Numerous Republican secrets to be exposed, too.

Bring it on !

Anonymous said...

@ - 6:35: When you find the remote so you can change the TV channel from Fox Noise and watch (and listen) to real news, reply back with real facts. Oh, and how many tickets to Jonestown have you purchased? Just one or for your entire family?

Anonymous said...

Your point about being elitist is right on. Hillary actually thought she was appealing to her voters when she called Trump voters deplorables, it just showed how out of touch she is. There really is still a sizable number of Americans who want opportunity and the pride of self sufficiency rather than dependency and benefits.

Anonymous said...

5:48 . Really?? He hates unions, just ask any contractor that he stiffed. He is solidly against a minimum wage and he is incredibly short-sighted regarding REAL job creation...that is, good paying jobs. The Europeans and Chinese are already eating our lunch with the creation of renewable energy tech, etc. Meanwhile he's selling our basic right to clean water, air, oceans, etc. down the drain and telling you there is no climate emergency. He has also run up a deficit that will ultimately be an economy killer...but he will be gone before the real damage comes done on all of our heads. But he won't feel it of course, because he's enriched himself (his brand, his moneymaker) so much while in office that he will be insulated like all of the other obscenely wealthy in this country. Folks like you and me will be left with the leavings of his "party" at our expense.

Anonymous said...

7.12 is a perfect example of that elitism.

Anonymous said...

5.48 a real job is not working for the government.

Anonymous said...

7:36 - Yes, really. R-E-A-L-L-Y.

Guess we’ll just have to see how VOTERS feel about all this in 2020. As it should be!

Anonymous said...

One thing we can't take away from Donald Trump. He has divided a nation like no other president in History. He has alienated our Allies like no other president in History, and he has a following of individuals who approve of his conduct as President Of the United States. This man makes fun out of handicapped people, promotes bigotry, bullies anyone who disagrees with him and yet people approve of his conduct. I am ashamed to have this man as president and only wish that the Republicans come up with a candidate to beat him in the primaries. Please come to your senses quickly. 2020 is fast approaching.

Anonymous said...

7:57 We will and President Trump will win by a landslide because he is a great president--by the way Bernie the democrats are the ones who ruined our cities - they are responsible for people taking dumps in the street and stores.Their policies have ruined our cities now they want to ruin the whole country.

Anonymous said...

If (somehow) a Democrat is elected President in 2020, it won’t be long before his/her impeachment hearings begin. I ask, why not? Turn-about is fair play.

Anonymous said...

I grew up in a staunch GOP household. Life experiences and work has educated more than any propaganda from EITHER party ever could. If you want to ask yourself if the GOP is a working class party, also ask yourself:

Why are we the only industrialized nation in the world without paid maternity leave? (at least now if you work for the feds you can get it, good luck letting that "trickle down" to everyone else).

Why does the party continue to support efforts to overturn healthcare legislation that would remove protections for pre-existing health conditions which could bankrupt countless families??

Why has the middle class, specifically those who live here and the rest of the East Coast seen their taxes GO UP under the new tax law while the wealthiest of the wealthy are making out? Or those seemingly within the target audience and voting profile for the president?

Why are we loosening regulations that ensure safety in our food, environment and medicines? Those wealthy enough to pick and choose will be fine, everyone else could be exposed to something unsafe because we eased regs on FOOD, the air we breath, the water we drink and the drugs we take. In America, things are sold for consumption that are ILLEGAL in Canada, Europe, Australia and Latin America!!

The GOP is the party of certain working class values. It's the part of the working class on the right side of the spectrum that is religiously and socially conservative. And as someone with 2 gay family members and 3 daughters, I'm not interested in turning into the Handmaids Tale. So even though in many ways I meet the target demographic of the GOP and spend 2/3s of my life as a member, in my older years- the jig is up. I've seen through the sham.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Very well said. The one point that I think both sides overlook is that we all really do want the same things. We just have different ways of getting there. I believe government plays a big role and exists to help people. Rs believe government should be limited and screws people. We are both right and both wrong.

Rs detest over-regulation, and I agree they can slow down business. On the other hand, I would strongly defend what I call protections that save lives.

Anonymous said...

One can debate here whether the Republican Party is now the party of the working class all they want.They can do so with insults and disdain if they are Democrats, but keep in mind, that's one of many reasons, working class Americans have left the Democratic Party. They were repeatedly called deplorables, uneducated,racists, xenophobes...and to top this treatment off the Democrats proudly proclaimed they were writing off the white working class as unnecessary to electoral success. They made priorities out of assigning guilt and victim hood, telling "white people" they were "privileged", opening up the borders to a multitude of unskilled workers who would drive up social spending and reduce low income wages,suing Christian bakeries, mocking Christians, praising those who ruined sports by politicizing disrespecting the flag, demanding the pronouns "he" and "she" be replaced with non gender pronouns, supporting violent mob actions, failing to criticize left wing chants such as "pigs in a blanket, fry em like bacon, supporting late term, and post birth abortion, sex selection abortion, opening up public restrooms and high school showers to any male that felt he was a female, demanding the same be allowed to participate in female sports...

Look at former Democratic strongholds like Pittsburgh, Republicans last fall captured control of that city's collar municipalities. The elites who work for the medical conglomerates and universities in the downtown are now surrounded. yes, all the mill towns, and working class neighborhoods elected Republicans for the first time in many, many years.

Is it any surprise the working class feels the Democratic Party has left them, that in fact they are unwanted and disrespected? So Democrats continue to throw insults and deny the obvious. It's working! Just not how you think it is.

Anonymous said...

The GOP may now be the party for some working class people and retirees representing specific demographics but I'm not so sure it is the party of all or most working class people or seniors. The current Democratic party clearly does not really represent all working class people either. The country has changed greatly and the two parties have tended to move toward more far left and right positions because that is what tends to help candidates win in primary elections in a nation where only a minority of citizens actually vote. Currently there is no party that clearly represents what were once moderate Republicans or centrist Democrats. Voters looking to elect reasonable and intelligent candidates who evaluate their decisions based on policies that lead to honest and effective government rather than far left or right ideological consistency often have few good choices in a general election. In general elections many people now seem to vote against candidates perceived as the greater of evil rather than enthusiastically support a candidate of either party for positive reasons. I cannot totally predict the future and do not know where this is all headed. I do know however that our present political system is badly broken and that it has been a long while since either of our major parties positively attracts or represents me and others who don't buy into the rigid ideological nonsense of the day.

Anonymous said...

Don’t forget, 8:41, EVERY Federal Tax Bracket was lowered. Federal taxes on earnings HAVE to be lower for everyone. Even retirees benefit from lower Federal Tax on their Social Security, Pensions, IRAs, 401(k), and local bank account withdrawals. What states do to one’s income is an entirely different matter. Call your Governor.

LVCI said...

December 18, 2019 at 9:17 AM Anonymous said...Even retirees benefit from lower Federal Tax..
Fact is whenever federal government decreases taxes two things happen. (1) The national debt goes up. (2) Federal outlays to states and cities goes down. As a result state and local taxes are forced to increase. Those are the ones retirees are most impacted by.

Anonymous said...

LVCI

Yeah, State and Local Taxes always drop when the Fed taxes go up.

Do I need a /sarc?

Anonymous said...

No government is forced to increase taxes. Except, maybe to pay for a massive war. States CHOOSE to react as they do. It’s why so many people are moving out of California, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Illinois. Their state politicians have made decisions residents don’t like. Thankfully, we have other states to run to.

Anonymous said...

I believe both parties have moved to the left, the dems just fell off the map.

Anonymous said...

There was a day when the two parties wanted to go to the same place, but by another route. Not anymore. Two diametrically opposite views of the future. Sadly it will most likely not be settled with an election as we are viewing today. This may be the beginning of a much more chaotic future. Elections are only good until the next impeachment.

Anonymous said...

Consider this. Today’s outrageous move by Democrats to impeach Trump is brought to us, not by voters but by big money corporate donors, money laundering in Ukraine by CORRUPT politicians and their attempts to hide their own misdeeds.

Donald Trump got himself in the way, disrupted the game.

Bernie O'Hare said...

The pro-Russian corrupt pols in Ukraine are the ones with whom Giuliani got played. Trump very clearly abused his office and sought foreign interference in the election. I disagree that his conduct is obstruction, but there is no doubt in my mind he should be impeached and removed.

Anonymous said...

It is interesting how the Democrats just love to cover up the blatant corruption of Hunter and Joe Biden. Hey, if Biden should win we can always impeach him, we already have an issue.

Anonymous said...

Hey great, Impeach Biden now, why wait until he is president, It is only slightly sooner than the democrats started.

Anonymous said...

This Democrat impeachment scheme began before Trump was even in office. A demonstrated fact.

Anonymous said...

The GOP, and all the Trump Cult members posting here, are members of the GOP all right -- the Gang Of Putin.

Anonymous said...

12:41 - How cute! Now, can you name an actual High Crime & Misdemeanor that has been proven?

LVCI said...

Hey, if Biden should win we can always impeach him
Keep in mind impeachments can only begin in the house. If Democrats retake the house there will be no impeachment.

Anonymous said...

You make it sound like so long as Democrats control the House, any crime by a Democrat will be overlooked. Nice!

LVCI said...

Impeachment is not a big a deal everyone's making it out to be. To date, no president has been removed from office by impeachment and conviction. Nor likely this one. Trump will be free to carry forth in 2020. Even if he were to be removed he could still run again. The only way he couldn't is if the Senate held a 2nd vote forbidding him. Like I said many times before... everyone needs to CHILL!!!

Anonymous said...

TAXEs--local taxes ARE GOING UP VERY FAST IN WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP LEHIGH COUNTY---the school taxes went up the highest percentage in the state now the township taxes are going up at a high rate--both the schools and township are building --the politicians in charge do not care they just spend and spend it's not their money--and we will not forget the liberal leaders in county they also are raising taxes--the politicians in charge will not cut back give big raises they do not know how to manage money of the people in a good way.3 for 3 good job Whitehall and lehigh county politicians

Anonymous said...

This impeachment IS a big deal. The whole thing is absurd, as NO laws were broken by Trump. He committed no crime that anyone can identify by statute, nor prove beyond a reasonable doubt. It’s just Democrat theater. A sick attack on our nation’s voters. Time wasted all paid by taxpayers.

We have politicians who have never been able to accept the result of the last Presidential election, so they try to burn down everything around them to make a point. The point, they just don’t like the guy, they have no one in line who can be elected over him without cheating. So, they try to take him down by any means, even outside of our system of citizen voting.

It won’ t work. It CAN’T work, or America’s future is bleak.

Anonymous said...

2:31 this relate well to the topic most of the people in charge in Whitehall and lehigh county are liberal democrats the dems know how to spend and tax so the people who voted in these dems are getting what they should have expected. And it will continue as long as you vote in dems, they are not for the working people or the young people or the senior citizens--the dems on all levels of government are not concerned about the welfare of the people

Anonymous said...

Hey 3:27pm - hate to burst your bubble, but Republicans on the Lehigh County commission voted to raise the taxes - More Rs than Ds voted yes

LVCI said...

December 18, 2019 at 3:24 PM Anonymous said...This impeachment IS a big deal.
It's only big a deal as you want it to be. Clinton was impeached in 1998 and finished out his term 2 years later. Impeachment (in of itself) carries no penalties.
politicians who have never been able to accept the result of the last Presidential election
Trump being the biggest one. The way he's carrying on playing the victim you'd think he was the one who lost. Former house speaker Boehner once said there were two very shocked people that night.. Hillary cause she lost and Trump who still cannot believe he won. What president does 30 political rallies and still counting while in office

Anonymous said...

Trump is still winning!

Anonymous said...

Comrade trump has a great opportunity.
He can show up at his trial and under oath explain his "perfect" actions.
He can release all the info requested to show how he is pure as the driven snow.
He could lock up his next term in one day.
He most likely wimp out.Hillary managed to testify under oath and answered all questions asked of her.
Perhaps she needs to lend donnie a pair

Anonymous said...

3:39-- Armstrong is a liberal dem and those yes votes are not real republicans they are politicians who claim to be republicans politicians are the scum of our society --they are people who talks out of both sides of their mouth look at the people who voted yes -they are people who are real political class types. Keep voting them in and your taxes will continue to go up--they are not their for the people they are their to satisfy their egoes, our system breeds this type of person.

Anonymous said...

The reality is politicians are not good at managing as a result the waste in government is very bad. The type of person who runs for office on any level is 98% not ready to run a multi million dollar organization as result taxes are very high and spending is wasteful in many cases.That is why most of the politicians and deep state people hate TRUMP. he is a success and most of them are corrupt and in it for themselves.

Peterjcochran said...

I have not credit with being a commentator on this blog. But,I say the problems we have are the result of no term limit. And I will add there is no reason for lifetime pensions for Congress or Senate. I say the reasons we have issues are because we allow politicians in the same spot too long. There is no reason for it except self interest.and getting wealthy on the tax payers. they impeachment of this president is moot. The prosecution line up is going to pay politically in next election . I sign my name.

Anonymous said...

The system is broke and it will only get worse

Anonymous said...

Anon 327 The Whitehall school district is building a new elementary school because of full day kindergaten. One of the last Districts to implement full day kindergarten. They also uncovered hundreds of out of area students that falsified addresses.

Whitehall is building a new police station. South Whitehall is next. Especially with all the development. Meanwhile, Lower Macungie Township rides the backs of the Pennsylvaina taxpayers and rely on State Police for free police protection. If the state cannot fix this, maybe it is time for County wide Police force. PennDOT is also quick to fix LMTs traffic problems resulting from reckless development.

Anonymous said...

Trump is paying it backwards and is is divesting our nations wealth with unfunded tax cuts to the wealthy and artifical stimulus. Adding 1 TRILLION DOLLARS in debt each year during an growing economy should trouble every Conservative. It is not sustainable and the Great Orange Show Pony will blame everyone else. He just hopes it limps along past Nov 2020.

Anonymous said...

Lehigh valley residents in Battle Creek Michigan at the sold out arena watching our POTUS tell tails of the dems circus diversionary tactiks. There was only a bus load of us that could afford a charted bus ride with supplied drinks and food.

Maybe allenclowns elite could take advice at packing a arena and not with hokey shirts pulled over the stadium seats to look like spectators.

Anonymous said...

And so it goes . . . .

Democrats just indicted a highly successful and popular President of the United States on two crimes that don’t even exist !

Anonymous said...

NO!

Anonymous said...

What's a "ROACH", by Biden's definition????

Anonymous said...

They were all duped so easily.

Anonymous said...

What a clown show!
Outside of the Democrat's core constituency of Islamic terrorists, Mexican drug cartels, illegal aliens, Indian H1B Visa fraudsters, Hipsters, Millennials, pornstars, the alphabet people, Kaepernick, that soccer dude with the pink hair, and lawyers, the Democrats have no support on this with average Americans.

Anonymous said...

Having been in the working world for over 40 years and a follower of politics since Reagan started screwing the unions, and hence the middle class which still hasn't recovered, I have yet to see a policy put forward by the Republicans that have helped workers in the least. And that includes the Republican NAFTA deal which Clinton signed. Despite the occasional spurring of jobs every time they try trickling down on us the credit card comes due with 401K crashes and loss of those jobs. They then tell the Deems to clean up their mess while the true elites walk off laughing with their cash already offshore. While Cooperate Dems have become disconnected with the working class and the likes of Bernie, Warren and AOC will hopefully replace them, anyone who believes that the Republicans are out to help the working class is either already very wealthy or woefully ignorant.

Anonymous said...

Steve "biosphere" Bannon with the help of the Guardian and their re-tweeters are trolling for bartenders to live in his bubble.

Here Bannon sets the parameters of debate, which party is for the workers? And this begins a back and forth all the while The Worker's Party was outlawed in 1954.

Anonymous said...

This Democrat impeachment scheme began before Trump was even in office. A demonstrated fact.

Because he was asking the Russians - the Russians - to help hack the emails. And he was involved in other questionable acts. But that doesn't matter to Trumpists - they'll do anything, ANYTHING, to own the libs. Even sell out to Russians. Pathetic.