A poll done by The Guardian concludes that Donald Trump is fueling an especially deep split among married couples. In particular, men are pressuring their wives to vote for Trump, but in many cases the wives are not obeying. At least three door-to-door political canvassers have reported similar stories: after the canvasser leaves a house where the husband said he was planning on voting for Trump, the wife chases the canvasser down the street to say that under no circumstances would she do the same.
Estimates say that twice as many couples are voting for different candidates than did in 2012. Other polls point to a reason — among Republican women (married or not) Trump is running nearly 20 points behind Romney (in 2012), McCain (in 2008), and Dubya (in 2004).
In addition to the sexism and misogyny exhibited by Trump, women object to him on other grounds. One poll respondent said “I don’t even want my child to listen to his speeches, and yet he’s supposed to be my president?”
In some cases, men weren’t even aware of the split. A few years ago a poll showed that 72% of men said with confidence that their partner would vote the same way as they did, but only 49% of women said the same thing. And that math just doesn’t add up. They call this the “sure, honey” factor. Men assume who their wives will vote for, but women just respond “sure, honey” to avoid conflict.
But with this election, the split is more out in the open. Some women are threatening “Vote Trump, get dumped” to their husbands. Others are withholding sex until their spouse changes their vote.
The one thing that everybody can agree on is that Trump’s campaign is bad for marriage.
8 Comments
Women have developed ways to help themselves survive. Women are often thought of as not being trustworthy. Men and their need to control, force that response at times. I can totally understand these various responses. And there’s no telling how many women will vote Clinton but are afraid to even tell a pollster. And probably more than a few that have made up their minds one way or another and get in the polling booth and change their minds at the last second. I’m guilty of the last, at least once. Not because I’m afraid to tell everyone who will listen who I’m voting for, but because I just could not bring myself to vote for the person I went in intending to vote for. One my few third party votes.
This has nothing to do with the topic. This has to do with Trump’s ignorance. Trump wants to make child care deductible. Currently Child Care is not deductible, it is a credit. An credit to a low earning family is much better than deductible. If you have no taxable income after the standard deduction and the person deduction, you’d get nothing back for child care. A credit gives you real money in your pocket. Trump doesn’t know the difference, plus deductible child care is much better for the rich.
EB then maybe he does know the difference. Most of his policies, which change on any given day, tend to screw the poor and help the rich.
My only comment is that Trump’s views don’t just screw the poor, they also screw the middle class (or anyone who isn’t rich like Trump).
I’m just alerting everyone when Trump makes his speech tomorrow. There will be people there who wonder “But I already get the child care credit.” Trump’s way would make a nanny tax deductible so no one needs to raise their own children.
It’s still a secret ballot, isn’t it?
Or, “Of COURSE I voted for Trump, honey. Such a thing to ask.”
My right wing brother wouldn’t vote for Hillary if you hung him up by his heels wrapped in bacon over an alligator pit, and likewise my sister-in-law with Trump. Like the Wuerker piece above, I suspect this cartoon also reflects the mood of many voting couples this time around. https://www.creators.com/read/steve-kelley/09/16/186090
On the plus side, more women than men tend to actually turn out to vote. On the plus more side, Trump has managed to alienate every minority group on the map, and his recent shameless pandering has only accentuated his hypocrisy.
On the negative side, enthusiasm and favorability ratings for either candidate is at historic lows. Therein lies the wild card.
Oh yeah, almost forgot…those third and fourth party candidates may factor in as additional wild cards as well. Though Johnson’s modest stock may have taken a dive after his recent Aleppo gaffe. The guy (and/or his advisers) are clearly not ready for prime time.