Why Some of the Smartest Progressives I Know Will Vote for Trump over Hillary
Last edited Tue Jun 7, 2016, 10:15 PM - Edit history (1)
From Politico, By Yves Smith.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/06/wall-street-2016-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-213931#ixzz4AwTT7myk
This is not in support of Trump. The article, written by a highly regarded financial writer, is an analysis of why some highly educated and financially savvy progressives may vote for Trump. Rather than advocating for Trump, the article explains why many progressives are dissatisfied with Clinton.
And they dont come by these views casually. Their conclusions are the result of careful study of her record and her policy proposals. They believe the country can no longer endure the status quo that Clinton representsone of crushing inequality, and an economy that is literally killing off the less fortunateand any change will be better. One reader writes:
If Clinton is the nominee 9 out of 10 friends I polled will [do one of three things]:
A. Not vote for president in November.
B. Vote for Trump.
C. Write in Bernie as a protest vote.
"We are all fifty-somethings with money and college educations. Oh, and we are all registered Democrats.
Or as another reader puts it:
I dont want to vote for Trump. I want to vote for Bernie. But I have reached the point where I feel like voting for Trump against Clinton would be doing my patriotic duty. If the only way to escape a trap is to gnaw off my leg, Id like to think Id have the guts to do it.
To be sure, not all of my Sanders-supporting readers would vote for Trump. But only a minority would ever vote for Clinton, and I'd guess that a lot of them would just stay home if she were the nominee. Many of my readers tend to be very progressive, and they have been driven even further in that direction by their sophisticated understanding of the inequities of Wall Street, especially in the run-up to and the aftermath of the financial crisis, when no senior executives went to jail, the biggest banks got bigger, and Hillary paid homage to Goldman Sachs. True progressives, as opposed to the Vichy Left, recognize that the Clintons only helped these inequities along. They recognize that, both in the 1990s and now, the Clintons do not and have never represented them. They believe the most powerful move they can take to foster change is to withhold their support.
Some of them also have very reasoned arguments for Trump. Hillary is a known evil. Trump is unknown. They'd rather bet on the unknown, since it will also send a big message to Team Dem that they can no longer abuse progressives. I personally know women in the demographic that is viewed as being solidly behind Hillaryolder, professional women who live in major citieswho regard Trump as an acceptable cost of getting rid of the Clintons.
Who does Naked Capitalism represent? The site, which I describe as fearless commentary on finance, economics, politics and power, receives 1.3 million to 1.5 million page views a month and has amassed approximately 80 million readers since its launch in 2006. Its readership is disproportionately graduate school-educated, older, male and high income. Despite the overall predominance of male readers, many of the fiercest critics of Clinton in the commentariat are women, with handles like HotFlash, Katniss Everdeen, Martha r, Portia, Bev and Pat.
What they also object to is that the larger bloc of Sanders voters has been treated with abuse and contempt by the Clinton camp, despite the fact that their positionssuch as strengthening Social Security and Medicare, stronger educational funding and higher minimum wageshave for decades polled by solid majorities or, at worst, ample pluralities in the electorate at large.
By contrast, the Democratic Party in the Clinton and Obama administrations has consistently embraced and implemented policies that strip workers of economic and legal rights to benefit investors and the elite professionals that serve them. Over time, the neoliberal economic orderwhich sees only good, never bad, in the relentless untrammeling of capital and the deregulation of marketshas created an unacceptable level of economic insecurity and distress for those outside the 1 percent and the elite professionals who serve them.....
Skittles
(153,111 posts)Stuckinthebush
(10,836 posts)Any "progressive" who votes for Trump isn't really a progressive. Just a dumb ass
Mojorabbit
(16,020 posts)and the only message that will send to the party is to tack right.
TeacherB87
(249 posts)none of us will be worried about the Democratic Party, we'll be worried about the country. A serial narcissist who knows nothing about picky is NOT a good alternative to the status quo. Maybe you should consider extending our civic duty beyond following a politician and actually push Democrats to embrace progressive policy.
Mojorabbit
(16,020 posts)My comment was that counter to what the op says, if Trump gets elected it will not make the party tack left. They will as usual miss the point and tack right to copy his success. It has been their MO. I think even one day of a Trump presidency will damage the nation beyond repair.
ismnotwasm
(41,965 posts)How is that "highly intelligent"?
stone space
(6,498 posts)Tal Vez
(660 posts)in October.
stone space
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Why Some of the Smartest Progressives I Know Will Vote for Trump over Hillary
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jg10003
(974 posts)The article, written by a highly regarded financial writer, is an analysis of why some highly educated and financially savvy progressives may decide to vote for Trump. Rather than advocating for Trump, the article explains why many progressives are dissatisfied with Clinton.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)that would vote for Trump.
They don't exist.
There are overprivileged, mentally unstable cranks who pretend to be progressives who may vote for him, but they're not savvy progressives, just overprivileged mentally unstable cranks.
No one who is genuinely dissatisfied with Clinton from the left would even consider voting for a racist, fascist plutocrat.
SunSeeker
(51,511 posts)Shameful OP.
Chan790
(20,176 posts)Yesterday, there were so many of us and today, we're scarcer than unicorns.
There are no progressives of any stripe that would support Clinton either. There are overprivileged, mentally unstable cranks who pretend to be progressives who may vote for her, but they're not savvy progressives, just overprivileged mentally unstable cranks...or neo-liberal anti-progressives.
ismnotwasm
(41,965 posts)So, you are calling me an over-privileged mentally unstable crank? YOU?
That is..ironic-.. I guess is the best word.
Chan790
(20,176 posts)That's where all the Clintonite "true believers" are. You are definitely a "true believer."
The over-privileged mentally-unstable cranks are the people supporting Clinton because they don't give a shit about poor people, think we need entitlement reform, and complain constantly that their taxes are too high. They also tend to only support Democrats as far as social issues are concerned, are convinced that every legitimate criticism of Clinton is because she's a woman, are prone to histrionic overstatements like "If you're not gung-ho for Clinton, then you're supporting Trump", and deny Clinton's record and positions, even when confronted with clips and quotes of Hillary saying exactly what they're saying she isn't supporting or didn't do.
They really are mentally-unstable cranks. You, I just disagree with...well, until you implied I was an over-privileged mentally-unstable crank. Now, you can go jump in a lake.
lapfog_1
(29,191 posts)I'm reaching an age where that is a real concern.
If I vote for Hillary in November... it will be a vote against Trump. And that pretty much commits me to vote "for" Hillary again in 4 years (assuming she wins and runs again). I will never vote for a Republican nominee. Ever.
But I want to vote FOR someone...
If Trump wins... even with my vote for Hillary... I will probably have that chance in 4 years, or at least a hope of it.
My largest concern is Global Warming... and I don't think humanity has that many more chances to elect a leader that will do something about it (other than to approve pipelines to carry tar sands oil to refineries and frack the hell out the planet).
My worry is that Trump would do much worse in 4 years than Hillary will do in 8... and not just on Global Warming.
Flatpicker
(894 posts)"My worry is that Trump would do much worse in 4 years than Hillary will do in 8..."
That's the ONLY reason Hillary will get my vote.
I can't do the baby/bathwater thing knowing that the next generation will have to pay for my temper tantrum.
OwlinAZ
(410 posts)have been a Democrat since the 60s, worked for the Party in a leadership position for years.
I will not vote for Trump and cannot in good conscience vote for Hillary.
There may be a third party challenger who is worthy of the highest office. I hope it is Sanders.
I will always regret being unable to vote for Bobby Kennedy.
This poor country is in decline. Let us do what we can to help. At the very least we can avoid supporting the
ambitious politicians who care only for themselves and their own influence.
ZombieHorde
(29,047 posts)There's no way I could vote for him.
milestogo
(16,829 posts)Judi Lynn
(160,450 posts)stopwastingmymoney
(2,041 posts)We have the opportunity to turn the Supreme Court our way substantially.
We must take it
Nitram
(22,765 posts)Anecdotal "evidence" about alleged "progressives." Pure fiction.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)and the senate has to confirm them anyway. so that argument is specious
SunSeeker
(51,511 posts)Sometimes I can't believe the garbage I read on DU. June 16th can't come soon enough.
stopwastingmymoney
(2,041 posts)And, we don't yet know what that Senate is going to look like.
How about Bernie or Elizabeth for Majority Leader?
I'd say your argument is specious, not to mention defeatist.
AllTooEasy
(1,260 posts)Just "handles" that could be fictitious or Repukes. I could write an article that says "Some of the smartest conservatives I know(oxymoron) are voting for Hillary", ramble about liberal taking points about Trump, and provide absolutely to my claims.
marble falls
(57,010 posts)as POTUS to Hillary Clinton. Especially to a so-called progressive.
If Bernie doesn't get it, this progressive will support Hillary Clinton and be very active in helping to change Congress.
Nitram
(22,765 posts)No progressive would ever vote for Trump. You're talking about Republicans in progressive clothing. This is crazy talk.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Anyone who would consider voting for Trump is some combination of being an idiot, a racist, a nutjob, or a rightwing asshole.
And it's not surprising to see the names of people who post and recommend sewage like this.
8 more days of humoring the trolls.
Chan790
(20,176 posts)ismnotwasm
(41,965 posts)Chan790
(20,176 posts)It seems to bother geek that I hold him in such contempt and consider him to be emblematic of the kind of thinking that is destroying the Democratic party presently.
I'm not sure why though...he's always very defensive about it. It's interesting because conversely I don't really give a fuck what he thinks about me. He, like you, and like Hillary is a dinosaur. Your kind of Democrat is coming to an end. Younger Democrats have no use for you or him or Hillary or how/what any of you thinks.
Enjoy your last hurrah with the Clinton nomination...you'll never be politically relevant again. Nobody will ever care what you think again.
Aristus
(66,286 posts)"Oh! The pain! The sheer horror of a good progressive like me voting for Trump! But I'll have no choice. No CHOICE, do you hear? Hillary Clinton has forced my hand! Forced it! It's my patriotic duty to vote for Trump." (That alone should offer you a pretty stomach-roiling sniff of that bullshit...)
"The economic inequality! That's the problem! It can only be solved by voting for Trump! I just know it!"
Jesus, what a stinking bag of Rush Limbaugh's diseased, parasite-ridden diarrhea...
Judi Lynn
(160,450 posts)Earth_First
(14,910 posts)...by prefacing it with, "I'm not a racist, but..."
Or the same type of 'Progressive' that is "finance literate" by purchasing a cheaper, out of country product rather than support a US union-made product?
How about they type of 'Progressive' that is regularly engaging in social media "activism" by a click of a button?
These are not Progressives.
Hell no.
What these folks are, are individuals intelligent enough to understand politics; yet not well-heeled enough (yet) to really belong in the 'club'
These folks are dangerous to both Progressives AND Democrats in that they would sell out both in an effort of self-preservation.
They may kindly, go fu*k themselves!
Chan790
(20,176 posts)Racist jokes, wealthy-but-cheap, doesn't buy American, armchair activism, and false claims of progressivism...Clintonites to a tee.
You've also left out anti-intersectional, classist, pro-business, anti-environmental protection, terrible fashion sense, self-righteous, full of
shit, and convinced of their own brilliance but yet can't explain very basic concepts of economics or political theory...but still convinced they're the only ones with a viable "Democratic" agenda. (...but by their positions and actions they belie that they're not Democrats.)
I'll let that stand on its own merits.
WhiteTara
(29,692 posts)HassleCat
(6,409 posts)That is the question. Many Democrats have been threatening to vote for the Republican if our party did not pay more attention to progressive ideals. There is still plenty of time to decide. November is three months away, and we haven't even seen how badly our party will pander to the right during the convention, so we should suspend judgment on this for a while.
MichiganVote
(21,086 posts)Sure. Makes perfect sense. In an Alzheimer's ward.
GoneFishin
(5,217 posts)Bingo.
Maybe some of you find it oddly comforting to be stuck in the trap. Or, maybe you just aren't hungry enough yet. Maybe you need another 4 or 8 years.
quickesst
(6,280 posts)... they are dumber than trump supporters, and they are not Progressive Democrats in any way, shape, or form. The very fact that they are even entertaining voting for trump proves it.
DinahMoeHum
(21,774 posts)syndrome at work here.
What a bunch of selfish assholes. If, heaven forbid, Trumpty Dumpty makes it to the Whiote House, it won't effect them. But it will effect the rest of us.
stopbush
(24,392 posts)Assholes who have the resources to ride out the Trump storm while those less fortunate face the full brunt of what a Trump presidency would mean.
Assholes.
Chan790
(20,176 posts)you could have avoided all this by spiking Clinton's candidacy months ago.
Nobody made you support the RW poser pretending to be a Democrat.
stopbush
(24,392 posts)and statements like that tell me you're no Democrat.
Chan790
(20,176 posts)I wasn't even born in 1972. But you were and that means:
a.) You're old.
b.) You're the kind of anti-progressive that allowed us to lose the nation to Reagan and Bushes by doing nothing as they led the nation astray, then stood by as center-rightists like Al From and Bill Clinton took over the Democratic party. Good fucking job!! Christ, you all act like being idiot sellouts is some sort of badge of honor.
You're clearly no Democrat either...though you certainly think you are.
Paladin
(28,243 posts)And I know damn well I'm a Democrat; you've clearly got some essential learning ahead of you. Have fun.
Chan790
(20,176 posts)but making citations to what you've been doing since 1972 doesn't mean fuck-all except that you've been alive for a long time.
It certainly isn't a basis for any argument of intelligence or useful experience...if it was, older-than-dinosaur-shit Senate Republicans wouldn't be so wrong-headed and stupid...and Hillary would be a much better candidate than she is.
I'm done with political schooling, thanks. After I got my MA, I decided I have no desire to teach and thus don't need a Ph.D.
Paladin
(28,243 posts)Wise statement; you may feel free to ignore it, since a really old fucker, George Santayana, came up with it.
raging moderate
(4,292 posts)I love Bernie Sanders. I have contributed to his campaign, and I have voted for him in my state's primary. If Trump gets more votes, he and all of the right-wing nut-jobs will assume that he is God's Anointed and that they should immediately lose all restraint in implementing their selfish, stupid ideas. If Clinton gets more votes, then at least we will have a chance to avoid a catastrophe, and people in the White House who will at least listen to us. Also, in Congress, probably we will have Democrats gaining power, and they are intelligent enough to at least try to do what is needed to keep the nation and the world functioning. If Bernie Sanders and we, his followers, can be seen to have helped in this struggle, that will increase his influence in Washington and elsewhere. It may seem as though that has not happened much this last time, but we need to remember just how far down the country was falling (stock market crash, all-out war in Iraq to increase oil profits, New Orleans flooding with no effective government rescue efforts, Fox News takeover of airwaves, etc.). We need to help our country; this is an emergency.
RandySF
(58,477 posts)Of course not.
quickesst
(6,280 posts).... will be voting for this guy. Case closed. Smart my ass.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027891556
struggle4progress
(118,224 posts)No, "the smartest progressives" won't vote for Trump
A person would have to be a complete nitwit not to notice Trump's constant pandering to bigots and his continuing suggestions of political violence
I don't know whether nonsense like this is a deliberate Trojan horse strategy from the rightwing, hoping to split the Ds this fall -- or whether there really are self-righteous idiots among progressives, who think that electing a blowhard demagogue offers us better longterm prospects than electing someone with significant experience and the useful ability to compromise
If it's a deliberate Trojan horse strategy, it's best ignored
If there really are many self-righteous idiots among progressives, who would support Trump over Clinton so they can take some smug moronic pride in not supporting Clinton, we had better educate our side about the fatal split in the left that doomed the Weimar Republic
Tarc
(10,472 posts)If I walk into a store and go "hmm, they don't have my favorite brand of beer", I don't conclude "well that sucks, guess I'll have to drink bleach."
tonyt53
(5,737 posts)Sounds like somebody thinks they are smarter than everybody else.
Bookmarked
chillfactor
(7,572 posts)These people are NOT "smart progressives"..they are blooming idiots!
MattP
(3,304 posts)Im sure the hard working people in her circle could fly overseas once abortion is outlawed
Frances
(8,542 posts)This kind of thinking was very helpful Ito hitler in his early career
The movie judgment at Nuremberg has a judge saying that his highly intelligent friends thought they could control hitler when hitler gained power
I don't think anyone would be able to control trump including trump himself
The_Casual_Observer
(27,742 posts)Beowulf
(761 posts)Back in the mid-80's/early 90's the last thing the DLCers wanted to be called was progressive and liberal. Now that same crowd wants everyone to know they're progressive and liberal.
Since this thread like so many is overly reductionist, I'll offer this reductionist view of the electorate.
Only the irrationally angry and insane would vote for Trump.
Only the cynical and defeatist would vote for Clinton.
I'll save you some typing - you can't wait for the 16th.
Night Watchman
(743 posts)You mean Republitico!