WHO ARE THESE STAUNCH SUPPORTERS OF DONALD TRUMP?

…A true Trump supporter!

 

Here’s a profile of those classic Trump supporters.

 

With all that’s been going on with those asking the “why” question about all the support for Donald Trump, isn’t it time to look at those that are such strong supporters of “The Donald” and to ask “why them”?

 

If you look at the core of those that would follow Trump wherever he would lead them, you will find a lot of similarities within the group

 

In all of the legitimate polls, they say that the most ardent Trump supporters are those of working age that do not have a college degree.  Many are American blue-collar workers. The majority of these individuals at best only have a high school diploma or less.

 

To understand the concerns of this slice of Americana, the respected research group Pew Research study recently confirmed the data that the share of adults in the American middle-class has fallen from 61% in 1970 to 51% in 2013.  Yes, the American middle-class continues to shrink.

 

Some ask about these Trump supporters, “Why did they pick a narcissistic billionaire as their leader when he has nothing that they can identify with compared to themselves?”  But the reality is that this group looks at these self-made millionaires for the same reason that they also play the lottery.  Trump is a perfect example of where they want to be.  Yes, Trump did inherit the foundation of his wealth, but he took it and made it even bigger.  This group wants the opportunity to do exactly what Trump did.

 

For the first time in America since WWII, the economists are consistent in saying that the latest American generation will not be expected to do better than their parents.  So, let’s look at these individuals that today cause many of us to scratch our heads and ask, “How can you support a yahoo like Donald Trump?”

 

A Profile of Trump Supporters:    Data from Pew Research and SurveyMonkey

 

·       Trump supporters tend to be individuals between the ages of 18 – 45 and they are split almost 50-50 between men and women.

 

·       Roughly half of Trump’s supporters are more attracted by his style than his policy positions.

 

·       Surprisingly, the supporters do not claim to be “very conservative”.  The poll has said less than 20% called themselves very conservative.

 

·       However, Trump Republicans are more conservative than moderate Republicans on almost every issue.

 

·       Also a surprise, only 36% referred to themselves as being “Evangelical” and that regularly attend church services.

 

·       The majority of them are white (over 85%).

 

·       Only 25% could be called “pro-immigration”. Over 50% feel that immigrants take their jobs, housing, and health care.

 

·       In a previous Pew Research project, a similar group was referred to as American “disaffecteds”.

 

·       They disapprove of the American “welfare state”, but they endorse programs like Social Security and Medicare.

 

·       They are much more likely to support labor unions, as well as taxes as part of a budget solution.

 

·       They are split on abortion, with a slight majority favoring legal abortion in most cases.

 

·       They feel government is responsible for today’s “income inequality”.  They think the minimum wage should be increased.

 

·       They feel that major corporations and lobbyists own the US Congress.

 

·       They are against the programs that prevent Americans from voting (Voter ID requirements).

 

·       They are less critical of Obamacare than other segments of the GOP coalition, but they are among the most critical of Wall Street.

 

·       Unfortunately, they watch Fox News as much as other Republicans, but few of them listen to Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck.

 

·       The supporters that consider themselves conservative do not consider themselves “conservative Republicans”.

 

·       Half are gun owners and they feel the government should promote traditional values in our society.

 

·       Over 50% think climate change is a natural change, not caused by humans.

 

·       Most display the American flag, but feel that government regulation of businesses usually cause more harm than good.

 

·       They believe that blacks who can’t get ahead in this country are mostly responsible for their own conditions.

 

After reading all this, these Americans are in fact, the epitome of the 1970’s NETWORK movie character, Howard Beale, that was, “Mad as hell and wasn’t going to take it anymore!”

 

It’s too bad that they have decided to follow a blow-hard like Trump instead of a more thoughtful, truthful and consistent politician for the promotion of their values.

 

Copyright G.Ater 2015