Class Warfare Not Getting Traction

Weirdly, in a desperate last stand, Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry are attempting to stir up class resentment within the Republican Party against Mitt Romney.  Good Luck.  Republicans are simply not as class envious as Democrats and their attacks are producing a major blowback.  But, class resentment will be a factor in the election.

Much of the reporting on Congress’ lack of action on the payroll tax is framed in class analysis.  It is assumed by reporters and their pundit sources that voters will frame the issue as Republicans favoring the rich and ignoring the “have nots” in the economy.

Actually, the more likely frame for voters is another bout of Congress “doing nothing” to earn their salary.  A mass of polling evidence show that the resentment of the rich theme that President Obama, the Occupy Wall Street movement and Democratic legislative leaders have offered since September is not finding a majority or even plurality of support in the electorate.

American voters continue to resist class resentment and the solution of more government.

Recent polls report:

·         Fewer Americans see country divided into “haves” and “have nots”:  58% say they don’t see U.S. divided by class.  The number of Americans holding the class division view has dropped since the beginning of President Obama’s term and is now down to 41%.  (December 15, Gallup)

-        Importantly, few independents (37%) and moderates (38%) agree America is divided by classes

·         Americans prioritize economy over reducing wealth gap as the most important action to take.

-        82% believe important to grow economy; only 46% believe important to reduce income and wealth gap  (December 16, Gallup)

·         Americans blame government more than Wall Street for economy.

-        Americans are more than twice as likely to blame federal government (64% to 30%) for economic problems as blame Wall Street

·         Most Americans say “big government” (64%) is a bigger threat to country than “big business” (26%) or “big labor” (8%).

In each case, Democrats are dramatically to the left of independent and Republican voters on class analysis.

Also see:

Gallup:  Americans blame gov’t more than Wall Street for economy

Washington Post:  The Fix – Is Occupy Wall Street late to the game?