With just 12 weeks to go before the election, the percentage of undecided voters in the presidential race is "only a sliver of the electorate." While there are usually more voters who haven't made up their minds at this phase of the race, in 2012, "undecideds" are far and few between.
And what, pray tell, are these folks waiting for? I don't know any undecided voters personally, so I was fascinated to see this interview John Harwood did with a woman -- a former Democrat, a former Republican, and current independent -- just south of Cleveland.
She said she "mostly" turns off coverage of the election, mutes the television ads, hangs up on everyone who calls, and won't watch the conventions. She's unfamiliar with the candidates in her House district, and she also doesn't "know anything" about her senator, Rob Portman. It led to this exchange:
Q. Do you see big philosophical differences between Obama and Romney, and what difference might it make in your life?
A. They're on their own agendas. Romney's going to push through for big business. I'm not sure what Obama's doing. I don't see either party giving me any benefits whatsoever in my life, because there's such a deadlock. They're equally to blame. You've got Congress and the Senate and the Republicans and the Democrats -- they're not going to meet in the middle. They don't care about the middle-class person. They've got all the lobbyists in their back pocket. We elect them, but they don't listen to us.
Here's the thing I don't quite understand about this perspective: how does this voter know? How does she know "all" the politicians ignore regular folks' needs if she's completely disengaged from current events?
Obviously, it's unfair to extrapolate any major lessons from one interview with one person, but the interview is a reminder of a common problem: undecided voters tend to be deeply uninformed voters. That creates a related challenge for both sides of the political divide: how do you connect with millions of Americans who deliberately don't pay attention?
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TO POLITICS NATION, CHRIS MATTHEWS, LAWRENCE O’DONNELL, RACHAEL MADDOW THE CYCLE – COMMENTS ON MORNING JOE,
It appears that what slick, cynical Joe Scarborough has missed in the "look" that was really conveyed by David Axelrod was that he was so "genuinely outraged" by the ridiculous statements -- abject lies -- of the "Mitt" and the Romney campaign; he was beside himself.
That was not FEAR for the position of the campaign; that was ANGER; and well it should have been. Joe, as usual would prefer being "right" than to be CORRECT out of critical thought.
Additionally, Mitt needs to be "called out" on his, truly dog whistle statement that Obama should "stop hating and go back to Chicago." This translates to "Obama is an "angry @!$%#" and needs to go back to Africa." The use of the characteristic statement by Romney and Ryan, both, that Obama "stole" money from the medicare program is to cast him as a "black thief." While the Obama campaign cannot say these things, you can be certain that kind of translation is going on in the "ethnic" communities, because we understand how it goes. They're only considerate of "elevated debate and conversation," like Scarborough plays it, when they can approach with a cynicism on a broadly televised show and claim "elevated debate" without the direct effect of rebuttal in having someone of substance challenge them immediately -- I can't wait for the debates.
That" look" was also there this morning with Johnathan Capehart when Joe tried to stop him from finishing his clearly, thought out, critically reasoned reply to Scarborough.
You'll notice that Joe becomes much more respectful as a host when he's confronted with "guests" like Lawrence O'Donnell, Chris Matthews, and Howard Dean. Joe's "bully quotient," as with all bullies, falls steeply when he knows he can't win with the self aggrandizing, interrupting, arrogant "pronouncements" to people of strong critically thought out opinions.
That I witnessed this week when one of my comments which was truthful but strong was removed from the comment thread because I dared to mention the earlier observations that many of the opinions of some of the "weak-kneed" white men who cannot stand the idea that this African American has achieved what they could not, even with all of the entitlements, advantages, etc. which they enjoy in the US; and that it is simple jealousy that drives them to denigrate, at every turn, what Obama has achieved. That kind of behavior is not the behavior, nor jealousies of strong, men of good will like O'Donnell, Mathews, or Dean, and as we learned this week, even the soft spoken Gene Robinson and finally today, Johnathan Capehart.
Thanks for honesty, carlopro, well said. There's no place left for these hosts to go than to be real and have more salient conversation in greater context or let continue the illusion further.
With her attitude , why would she even bother to vote? Not voting is a legitimate option imo , she knows nothing about her own senator , but she knows obama and him have their own personal agenda , and neither of them she agrees with her , it makes no sense
some one told her that she has to vote no matter ? you can nit pick all day and find no one agrees with you , some people can not grasp the big pic or the democratic process , I can relate to that , you can choose to not vote , and still be active in the process tho , but if you are part of the working class and can not figure out who might be on your side at this point , the best of luck to you
There was a time I stopped voting because the dems did not represent me the way I liked , but I new the gop where even more screwed up , it is fine to just let it go , and let your mind regroup , instead of just going and voting mindlessly
Electing a President 101
What are the Best Qualities Needed to be a Great President? And more importantly who has them, Mitt Romney or Barack Obama.
Electing a President 101What are the rules to picking a president?
What can the candidate do for me? or What the candidate can do for the country?
Electing a President 101Is "I like him" a Qualification for the Presidency.
Electing a President 101
Choosing the Next President of the United States the leader of the free world this November will be the most important decision in our life times. What are the Qualities needed to be President?
I think the biggest problem facing voters like me is this: Who is telling the whole truth and not mixing in falsehoods. How do you know who to trust? How can you tell?
I will look at the persons overall character and life experience. And it's always wise to elect the person with the best qualities and qualifications to be the President.