Why Independents voted for Obama in 08 and for Brown in 10

[ItNerd4life]

All the independents I know have 1 primary item they look for in a candidate.
They want the candidate to understand that the role of government is to create a framework that allows a free people to succeed.

They don't want a government healthcare plan. They want a plan that works like the food programs. Capitalism creates the food, government monitors the safety of the food and provides food stamps to help the less fortunate. It is a fiscally responsible plan, a compassionate plan, and a plan that doesn't have the government taking over the food industry.

By pushing this huge government controlled healthcare program that is fiscally irresponsible, Democrats are alienating the independents.

It's interesting how people on DU chastised the CEO of Whole Foods for his 'proposal' for healthcare. However, his plan is the plan that independents would agree with.

So why did independents vote for Obama? Because they were tired of Bush being fiscally irresponsible and giving tax breaks to the wealthy and pushing through the prescription drug program (which was fiscally irresponsible).

Republicans will back their candidate even if he is a fraud (like Bush was). It's the independents Democrats need to appease. Independents understand government can act as a counter balance to big business, however when government becomes just like big business and tries to run roughshod over people, that's worse than big business.

I had one friend state it this way: "Big government is just as bad for the country as big business. Create the framework where government protects us from big business and protects us from big government. It's actually easy, the country does it with food production. Capitalism is not evil, it's wonderful if properly governed.". I happen to agree with this assessment.

[Bill McBlueState]

1. Hi, I'm BillMcBlueState and I'm an independent

One thing I look for in a candidate is support for single-payer health care.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. I think most "I"s would agree with you.

[Bill McBlueState]

3. yeah, we need to put to rest this idea

that "independents" are uniformly more conservative than Democrats.

I think DU is full of people who think of themselves as independents because the Democratic party is, on average, too conservative.

[dtotire]

15. Most People Support single-payer

Even the President supports single payer. But that can't get through Congress, so we have to accept something that is not perfect. If we could modify the filibuster rule, it could pass Congress. That is what we should do.

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. For-profit healthcare is fundamentally different than for-profit food production

From both economic & ethical standpoints.

[Unvanguard]

5. You are clearly clueless about the content of the health care program in question.

And you are projecting your personal policy preferences on every other independent.

Neither ignorance nor narrow-mindedness is a good analytical tool.

[Bitwit1234]

6. Answer this somebody

MA happens to be one state with a lot of independents. BUT most of the state are either Democratic or Republican and very few independents. So now Democrats has to give in to the republicans and the independents and if either of those two party's allow us to, we can vote for what we as democrats want. gee I didn't know that.

[Cali_Democrat]

7. You and your friend sound like repugs using Faux News talking points. n/t

[high density]

8. No, they don't want safe food

They want cheap food.

[Bluerthanblue]

9. I don't agree- and I know many Independent voters.

They don't follow any particular dogma- some don't like the notion of HCR, (as it stands right now- others want MORE 'social services)' more "big government" (who is the government if not citizens?). Some want little or no government (though they tend to be more aligned with the "libertarian party".

I believe Brown was elected because he fed people's anger and frustration. He also knows how to sell himself to the public- had he been female, many would have called him on this- but angry, photogenic white men seem to often get a 'pass'. At least for now.


:shrug:

[Milo_Bloom]

10. This is fundamentally flawed...

Since it starts from the incorrect position that "independents" are somehow in between democrats and republicans... the myth of the centrist.

Independents don't want a government run health care plan... well, that is simply wrong as a majority of people DO want a public option (and that includes a vast majority of independents).

Here is the thing about "independents"... they don't tow any party line. You have independents all over the political spectrum and usually have strong feelings about various issues that criss-cross the political spectrum and don't adhere to one party ideology.

Some indepdents don't like "big government"... some want bigger government.

THe problem the democrats are facing right now is that they are trying to appeal to a person who simply doesn't exist. That mythical centrist who wants everything half-assed. A credit card reform bill that isn't hard on credit card companies... a stimulus bill that does more to help bankers and wall street than really get jobs rolling... a health care bill with a mandate to buy a product from a private company with 0 checks and balances.

These are all half-assed pieces of legislation that don't wind up pleasing ANYONE on any side.

[Bluerthanblue]

13. you said it

far better than I could.

:hi:

[quantass]

11. God help USA if they think Single Payer Healthcare is somehow a bad idea...nt

[depakid]

23. Even moreso than Republicans- libertarians will speed America toward third world status

while continuing to promote the Republican anti-government meme.

Personally, I think they they of all people deserve that sort of Gilded Age "rugged individualism" the most of all- as (and unlike Republicans) they want that to be the ideal state of affairs for everyone. Republicans only want it for those they dislike.

[JHB]

12. The point to get across to independents is...

...That's exactly what plenty of us so-called "far out leftists" are trying to do.

One of the big obstacles is the fact that in politics tight now the very framework they're asking for is labeled "Big Government", "scocialism", or even "communism" by the Republicans.

[vincna]

18. How can you push single-payer or even a public option

and say you're not expanding government? What government involvement in GM, Chrysler and the banks? Only an idiot would believe these things don't represent expansions of government.

I believe the OP is correct: Independents are very concerned about the size and proper role of government. Ignoring that is courting another disaster in November.

[JHB]

25. Why don't you ask all the people who don't think of Medicare or SS as "the Government"

Because those are bits of "Big Government" that are accepted so well that a lot of people don't even think of them as "the Government".

[inthebrain]

14. The bottom line is

Obama and the Democrats promised people change and ran on a leftist message. It got the party where they are today and they have absolutely failed on every level to deliver. The voters aren't stupid and they've picked up on it.

No excuses.

ENOUGH!!!!

[thereismore]

16. So the independents are libertarian? Bullshit. nt

[dgibby]

17. I'm an Independent,

and I can only speak for myself, but I want single payer for all, I want Govt oversight to insure our food and drugs, domestic and imported products are safe, Govt regulation on our financial institutions and Wall Street. I want us out of Iraq and Afghanistan (and wherever else we're waging war). I want better public schools. I want our crumbling infrastructure repaired. I want jobs, homes for the homeless, food for the hungry. I want the poor taken care of, tax reform to take the burden off the middle class. I want trickle up economics.


I'm an Independent because I value principle over party loyality. I vote for the candidates that best represent my values and issues.

If you want my financial support and vote, don't lie to me, cheat on me, ignore me, or abuse me. Don't dangle a carrot in front of my nose, then beat me with a stick, and still expect me to carry your water. Ain't gonna happen. Not now, not ever.

[jsmithsen]

19. Independents and Big Gov't

If Independents want to make gov't more efficient they should
"begin at home".  The tiny suburbs which most of
them live in should be consolidated into effective
organizational units, including, where appropriate regional
integration with the associated city.  No point in having
sanitation departments for towns of 10000 people.

[mstinamotorcity]

20. Personally,

I think that being an Independent lets them sway without having a commitment.I really don't care about what somebody call themselves as long as the job gets done. Unfortunately, independents consider themselves members of the Democratic Party when it is to their advantage they can kiss my a--.They think that they speak from equality,diversity,and the too tired of republicanism after Dubya/Shooter.To me it seems as if they want to change the Democratic party to the Independent Party.If they are so called Independents than they should work independently and they should not sway themselves to the dems to enjoy the ride without the work.Get mad if you want but it may make your independence show.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

21. Single Payer is a winner wherever it is tried

FACT

[depakid]

22. Yep- libertarian claptrap and junk insurance is what people respond to!

:rofl:

BTW: your food system in the states poisons people- repeatedly. Tick tock til the next recall.

[amborin]

24. nope; indies want a PO; they know it holds down costs; they also hate the backroom deals with BP