There's a pretty stunning new NPR poll out (PDF) (conducted by one Republican and one Democrat) showing that Pubs actually prefer Democratic policies by wide margins.
This is Very Good News.
But what's amazing is how brainwashed Pubs are by party affiliation, compared to Dems. If their beliefs aren't validated by Herr Comrade Party Leader, they change their beliefs.
The pollsters asked the same questions (do you prefer this position or that one), but in half the cases they identified the positions as being Democratic or Republican.
Here's the difference in support for each party's position when the respondents were told that it was their party's position. (Sorry for the table formatting...it's lined up in the editor...)
Pubs Dems
Economy +20% -9%
Iraq +11 -4
Foreign Trade +20 -18
Taxes +28 -9
Example: Only 38% of Republicans support Republican tax policies.
Tell them it's the "Republican" policy position? All of a sudden 66% support it. Whodathunkit.
The Republicans don't have a branding problem (at least not within their own party). (Though it sure looks like the Dems do.) Quite the contrary. Their problem is that even Republicans don't like Republican policies. They prefer Democrats' policies—except when they're told that the policies they approve of are Democratic policies.
This is Very Good News.
But what's amazing is how brainwashed Pubs are by party affiliation, compared to Dems. If their beliefs aren't validated by Herr Comrade Party Leader, they change their beliefs.
The pollsters asked the same questions (do you prefer this position or that one), but in half the cases they identified the positions as being Democratic or Republican.
Here's the difference in support for each party's position when the respondents were told that it was their party's position. (Sorry for the table formatting...it's lined up in the editor...)
Pubs Dems
Economy +20% -9%
Iraq +11 -4
Foreign Trade +20 -18
Taxes +28 -9
Example: Only 38% of Republicans support Republican tax policies.
Tell them it's the "Republican" policy position? All of a sudden 66% support it. Whodathunkit.
The Republicans don't have a branding problem (at least not within their own party). (Though it sure looks like the Dems do.) Quite the contrary. Their problem is that even Republicans don't like Republican policies. They prefer Democrats' policies—except when they're told that the policies they approve of are Democratic policies.
