I just posted these stats in another thread.

 

Black votes

 

1984 Walter Mondale 90% Ronald Reagan 9%

1988 Michael Dukakis 90% George H.W. Bush 10%

1992 Bill Clinton 83% George H.W. Bush 10%

1996 Bill Clinton 84% Bob Dole 12%

2000 Al Gore 90% George W. Bush 9%

 

rmrd0000's Blog | Talking Points Memo | Bill Clinton Got Historically Low Black Vote Percentages

 

I also am surprised at the Clinton numbers. I was going to ask if any D running for President in the last 50 years had received less than 90% of the Black vote, and obviously Clinton did. That really surprises me. If anything that probably helps document what I have always said about Clinton - despite the R's labeling him "liberal", Clinton was definitely a moderate in most of his policies. So maybe that is why he got less than 90%. Perhaps he was seen as too moderate?

 

In general, African American voters are going to be around 90% Democrat regardless of the candidate. That probably isn't much different than what you see on the other side in the percentage of fundamental Christians who vote Republican.

 

I'm much more interested in the # of black voters rather than the % of the black vote.

 

I believe you are on target with this as an effect of Obama on the black vote. It isn't necessarily that there was a a huge difference in the percent that voted Democrat, although the numbers were surely higher than the typical 90%. The big thing is that the turnout of African Americans was significantly higher.

I also am surprised at the Clinton numbers. I was going to ask if any D running for President in the last 50 years had received less than 90% of the Black vote, and obviously Clinton did. That really surprises me. If anything that probably helps document what I have always said about Clinton - despite the R's labeling him "liberal", Clinton was definitely a moderate in most of his policies. So maybe that is why he got less than 90%. Perhaps he was seen as too moderate?

 

In general, African American voters are going to be around 90% Democrat regardless of the candidate. That probably isn't much different than what you see on the other side in the percentage of fundamental Christians who vote Republican.

 

I'm thinking Perot had something to do with it. The other races didn't involve a major third party candidate & the numbers add up to 99%-100%. In the Clinton races, they add up to 93% & 96%. I think Perot's presence had some to do with that. But I confess that I'm at a loss on how Bob Dole garnered 12% in 1996.

I'm thinking Perot had something to do with it. The other races didn't involve a major third party candidate & the numbers add up to 99%-100%. In the Clinton races, they add up to 93% & 96%. I think Perot's presence had some to do with that. But I confess that I'm at a loss on how Bob Dole garnered 12% in 1996.

 

 

I don't see Perot having any impact. I can't think of any reason why he would win black votes. As I think about those numbers a little more, I wonder if Clinton's moral issues had an impact. That is the only thing I can think of and it would explain why Clinton did even worse in 1996 than he did in 1992.

I don't see Perot having any impact. I can't think of any reason why he would win black votes. As I think about those numbers a little more, I wonder if Clinton's moral issues had an impact. That is the only thing I can think of and it would explain why Clinton did even worse in 1996 than he did in 1992.

 

Perhaps. And I think you may be on to something about the reduction the second time around for Clinton. But I'm still looking at those total numbers...1984, 1988, & 2000 add up to a total of 99% or 100%. 1992 & 1996, when Perot ran, they only add up to 93% & 96%.

What about the voter who exercises their right to vote for the first time solely because there is a black candidate?

 

In the big picture I see no difference in this and other other single-issue/straight ticket voter.

Perhaps. And I think you may be on to something about the reduction the second time around for Clinton. But I'm still looking at those total numbers...1984, 1988, & 2000 add up to a total of 99% or 100%. 1992 & 1996, when Perot ran, they only add up to 93% & 96%.

 

But that shouldn't change the percent of African Americans who vote Democrat. I would still expect that 90% of the voters who voted for just Clinton/Bush and Clinton/Dole would vote for Clinton.

But that shouldn't change the percent of African Americans who vote Democrat. I would still expect that 90% of the voters who voted for just Clinton/Bush and Clinton/Dole would vote for Clinton.

 

So what happened to the 6-7% in 1992 & the 3-4% in 1996? That's all I'm wondering.

So what happened to the 6-7% in 1992 & the 3-4% in 1996? That's all I'm wondering.

 

They all went to Perot.

 

United States presidential election, 1992 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the big picture I see no difference in this and other other single-issue/straight ticket voter.

 

So you're okay with someone saying they aren't voting for the President because he's black?

 

I'm just trying to get a clear logical understanding of what you're saying.

 

I assume you, while not agreeing, don't have an issue with a voter who refuses to vote for a candidate who is pro-choice. So if this is no different, you see no issue with a voter not voting for President Obama simply because he's black, correct?

They all went to Perot.

 

United States presidential election, 1992 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

The African-American vote, you mean?

They all went to Perot.

 

United States presidential election, 1992 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

The African-American vote, you mean?

 

Yes, I had a chance to dig a little and TBAG's numbers do reflect the percents of the black vote and those missing percents did go to Perot.

 

So here are the black vote percents in the two Clinton elections:

 

1992 Clinton 83% Bush 10% Perot 7%

1996 Clinton 84% Dole 12% Perot 4%

 

Again, those numbers really surprise me. One, because Clinton seems to revered by African Americans. Two, because I would have never expected Perot to have that much support from African Americans. I would have expected to see Clinton with 90% and Bush/Dole and Perot splitting the remaining 10%.

Yes, I had a chance to dig a little and TBAG's numbers do reflect the percents of the black vote and those missing percents did go to Perot.

 

So here are the black vote percents in the two Clinton elections:

 

1992 Clinton 83% Bush 10% Perot 7%

1996 Clinton 84% Dole 12% Perot 4%

 

Again, those numbers really surprise me. One, because Clinton seems to revered by African Americans. Two, because I would have never expected Perot to have that much support from African Americans. I would have expected to see Clinton with 90% and Bush/Dole and Perot splitting the remaining 10%.

 

Thanks for the research! :thumb:

 

And I wholeheartedly agree with everything you said. But I think what you mentioned earlier about morality may have had something to do with it.

On the thread title - are straight ticket voters idiots - IMO ... yes. I think they should ban the straight ticket option on the ballot.

Sorry mom and dad but yes they are and the straight ticket option in voting machines should be removed.

On the thread title - are straight ticket voters idiots - IMO ... yes. I think they should ban the straight ticket option on the ballot.

 

Although I know that's not exactly what Clyde was referring to in his original post...I couldn't agree with this more. To me, if you're "responsible" enough to vote in the first place, I don't think there should be any "shortcut". Read each race, push a button for each. It can't take THAT much more time.