Do Democrats Seek out the "80/20" Issues and seemingly deliberately get on the losing side of them?

[Seymour Flops]

"80/20" issues are issues in which the overwhelming majority of Americans take one side or the other. Not a fairly even split as we have on most controversial issues, but a very lopsided divide, so lopsided that it is political poison to take the unpopular side.

Donald Trump and Replicans are exploited these issues against the Democrats.

CNN's Scott Jennings comments on Donald Trump's ability to get Democrats to make unpopular stands against him:

SCOTT JENNINGS: This is -- he's describing what is currently the dumbest strategy in politics, which is Democrats taking the 20 percent side of every 80-20 issue in America. USAID, people want this pared down. They want to streamline. They want to know where the money is going, Democrats have a meltdown.

Today, Donald Trump signs an executive order on keeping boys out of girls' sports, and Democrats take the 20 side of that issue as well.

All these issues, this is like Trump's superpower, finding a bunch of 80-20 issues, getting on the 80, and everybody who's sort of reflexively against him gets on the 20. And now the Democratic Party has like a 31 percent approval rating. This is why.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/02/06/jennings_trumps_superpower_is_getting_democrats_to_oppose_him_on_80-20_issues.html

A few comments of my own:

First, this is not new, nor Trump-specific. Having Trump lead the Republican Party has exacerbated this phenomena, but I noticed it long before I ever heard of Donald Trump, except as a Billionaire who liked to self-promote. I observed years ago on other forums that liberals seem to be more contrarians than ideologues. They never know which side to take on an issue until they see which side the majority of typical Americans take, and then they take the opposite side.

Witness their embrace of Islam in the aftermath of 9/11, and their sore loser attitude at the end of the Cold War, and their insistence of zero restrictions on abortion, even in the 9th month, for examples.

There is a narrow demographic that is with the Democrats on these things for ideological reasons, mostly college women, not all of whom are even old enough to vote. There is a narrow democraphic that agrees with them on those issues because they are true followers of the Democratic Party. The rest of Democrat voters do not really believe in their side of those issues.

So, why do Democrats embrace those issues? I have a theory, but I'd like to hear from others before I state it.

 

[j-mac]

They’re reflexively against Trump, even if working with him would be popular…Very dumb.

 

[Thinker101]

"80/20" issues are issues in which the overwhelming majority of Americans take one side or the other. Not a fairly even split as we have on most controversial issues, but a very lopsided divide, so lopsided that it is political poison to take the unpopular side.

Donald Trump and Replicans are exploited these issues against the Democrats.

CNN's Scott Jennings comments on Donald Trump's ability to get Democrats to make unpopular stands against him:

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/02/06/jennings_trumps_superpower_is_getting_democrats_to_oppose_him_on_80-20_issues.html

A few comments of my own:

First, this is not new, nor Trump-specific. Having Trump lead the Republican Party has exacerbated this phenomena, but I noticed it long before I ever heard of Donald Trump, except as a Billionaire who liked to self-promote. I observed years ago on other forums that liberals seem to be more contrarians than ideologues. They never know which side to take on an issue until they see which side the majority of typical Americans take, and then they take the opposite side.

Witness their embrace of Islam in the aftermath of 9/11, and their sore loser attitude at the end of the Cold War, and their insistence of zero restrictions on abortion, even in the 9th month, for examples.

There is a narrow demographic that is with the Democrats on these things for ideological reasons, mostly college women, not all of whom are even old enough to vote. There is a narrow democraphic that agrees with them on those issues because they are true followers of the Democratic Party. The rest of Democrat voters do not really believe in their side of those issues.

So, why do Democrats embrace those issues? I have a theory, but I'd like to hear from others before I state it.

They have no leader telling them what side to take, so they go with whatever feelz best to them and whatever is against what they hate (Trump and America). Either that or they get out the ole dart board, and they're terrible at darts.

 

[Jim H - VA USA]

"80/20" issues are issues in which the overwhelming majority of Americans take one side or the other. Not a fairly even split as we have on most controversial issues, but a very lopsided divide, so lopsided that it is political poison to take the unpopular side.

Donald Trump and Replicans are exploited these issues against the Democrats.

CNN's Scott Jennings comments on Donald Trump's ability to get Democrats to make unpopular stands against him:

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/02/06/jennings_trumps_superpower_is_getting_democrats_to_oppose_him_on_80-20_issues.html

A few comments of my own:

First, this is not new, nor Trump-specific. Having Trump lead the Republican Party has exacerbated this phenomena, but I noticed it long before I ever heard of Donald Trump, except as a Billionaire who liked to self-promote. I observed years ago on other forums that liberals seem to be more contrarians than ideologues. They never know which side to take on an issue until they see which side the majority of typical Americans take, and then they take the opposite side.

Witness their embrace of Islam in the aftermath of 9/11, and their sore loser attitude at the end of the Cold War, and their insistence of zero restrictions on abortion, even in the 9th month, for examples.

There is a narrow demographic that is with the Democrats on these things for ideological reasons, mostly college women, not all of whom are even old enough to vote. There is a narrow democraphic that agrees with them on those issues because they are true followers of the Democratic Party. The rest of Democrat voters do not really believe in their side of those issues.

So, why do Democrats embrace those issues? I have a theory, but I'd like to hear from others before I state it.

• Vaccine and mask mandates, lockdowns, and forced business closures
• Defund the police
• Open the borders
• Free stuff for illegals
• Men in women's sports
• DEI racism, sexism, and discrimination
• EV mandates
• Stop cutting wasteful spending
• Grumpy faces for little Black boys with cancer who want to be cops

 

[Concerned American]

They’re reflexively against Trump, even if working with him would be popular…Very dumb.

If Trump said the sun is hot and water is wet, the democrats would disagree.

 

[alang1216]

"80/20" issues are issues in which the overwhelming majority of Americans take one side or the other. Not a fairly even split as we have on most controversial issues, but a very lopsided divide, so lopsided that it is political poison to take the unpopular side.

Donald Trump and Replicans are exploited these issues against the Democrats.

CNN's Scott Jennings comments on Donald Trump's ability to get Democrats to make unpopular stands against him:

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/02/06/jennings_trumps_superpower_is_getting_democrats_to_oppose_him_on_80-20_issues.html

A few comments of my own:

First, this is not new, nor Trump-specific. Having Trump lead the Republican Party has exacerbated this phenomena, but I noticed it long before I ever heard of Donald Trump, except as a Billionaire who liked to self-promote. I observed years ago on other forums that liberals seem to be more contrarians than ideologues. They never know which side to take on an issue until they see which side the majority of typical Americans take, and then they take the opposite side.

Witness their embrace of Islam in the aftermath of 9/11, and their sore loser attitude at the end of the Cold War, and their insistence of zero restrictions on abortion, even in the 9th month, for examples.

There is a narrow demographic that is with the Democrats on these things for ideological reasons, mostly college women, not all of whom are even old enough to vote. There is a narrow democraphic that agrees with them on those issues because they are true followers of the Democratic Party. The rest of Democrat voters do not really believe in their side of those issues.

So, why do Democrats embrace those issues? I have a theory, but I'd like to hear from others before I state it.

I call BS on USAID numbers. Where did the 80-20 numbers come from? As my kids used to say, 90% of statistics are made up.

Half of the public says the U.S. should take a leading or major role in improving health for people in developing countries, while about one-third (36%) say the U.S. should take a “minor role.” Just over half the public says that before Trump took office this year, the U.S. was spending too little (19%) or about the right amount (37%) on these efforts.

 

[Thinker101]

I call BS on USAID numbers. Where did the 80-20 numbers come from? As my kids used to say, 90% of statistics are made up.

Half of the public says the U.S. should take a leading or major role in improving health for people in developing countries, while about one-third (36%) say the U.S. should take a “minor role.” Just over half the public says that before Trump took office this year, the U.S. was spending too little (19%) or about the right amount (37%) on these efforts.

Yep, don't believe your lying eyes.

 

[Seymour Flops]

I call BS on USAID numbers. Where did the 80-20 numbers come from? As my kids used to say, 90% of statistics are made up.

Half of the public says the U.S. should take a leading or major role in improving health for people in developing countries, while about one-third (36%) say the U.S. should take a “minor role.” Just over half the public says that before Trump took office this year, the U.S. was spending too little (19%) or about the right amount (37%) on these efforts.

The claim came from a CNN Anchor. Are you calling CNN liars?

Foreign Aid: A Rare Topic of Agreement
Americans overwhelmingly support spending cuts to foreign aid. The poll found that 71 percent of Americans think the U.S. government spends too much on assistance to other countries. Among Republicans, this sentiment is even stronger, with 91 percent believing the U.S. is overspending on foreign aid. Even 55 percent of Democrats agree.

Americans want cuts, but not to Social Security, education, Medicare: Poll

For years, lawmakers have struggled to balance reducing government spending while maintaining funding for essential services.

www.newsweek.com

You could nitpick about 71% vs 80%, a difference I acknowledge.

Or you could explain why the Democrats would take a side of that issue that even the majority of self-identified Democrats oppose them on.

 

[j-mac]

If Trump said the sun is hot and water is wet, the democrats would disagree.

Yep, that’s what I’m saying…Kamala thought we could land on the sun as long as it was at night…

 

[Independent thinker]

They’re reflexively against Trump, even if working with him would be popular…Very dumb.

Yup. If Trump cast himself and had policies exactly the way democrats wanted, they would oppose him.

 

[Crepitus]

"80/20" issues are issues in which the overwhelming majority of Americans take one side or the other. Not a fairly even split as we have on most controversial issues, but a very lopsided divide, so lopsided that it is political poison to take the unpopular side.

Donald Trump and Replicans are exploited these issues against the Democrats.

CNN's Scott Jennings comments on Donald Trump's ability to get Democrats to make unpopular stands against him:

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/02/06/jennings_trumps_superpower_is_getting_democrats_to_oppose_him_on_80-20_issues.html

A few comments of my own:

First, this is not new, nor Trump-specific. Having Trump lead the Republican Party has exacerbated this phenomena, but I noticed it long before I ever heard of Donald Trump, except as a Billionaire who liked to self-promote. I observed years ago on other forums that liberals seem to be more contrarians than ideologues. They never know which side to take on an issue until they see which side the majority of typical Americans take, and then they take the opposite side.

Witness their embrace of Islam in the aftermath of 9/11, and their sore loser attitude at the end of the Cold War, and their insistence of zero restrictions on abortion, even in the 9th month, for examples.

There is a narrow demographic that is with the Democrats on these things for ideological reasons, mostly college women, not all of whom are even old enough to vote. There is a narrow democraphic that agrees with them on those issues because they are true followers of the Democratic Party. The rest of Democrat voters do not really believe in their side of those issues.

So, why do Democrats embrace those issues? I have a theory, but I'd like to hear from others before I state it.

Those are only "80-20" issues in tRumplandia.

 

[j-mac]

Those are only "80-20" issues in tRumplandia.

Oh man…talk about cognitive dissonance…

 

[Independent thinker]

• Vaccine and mask mandates, lockdowns, and forced business closures
• Defund the police
• Open the borders
• Free stuff for illegals
• Men in women's sports
• DEI racism, sexism, and discrimination
• EV mandates
• Stop cutting wasteful spending
• Grumpy faces for little Black boys with cancer who want to be cops

Great list. It's nice to see that after their huge election losses, their intense reflection on it all has convinced them to stand their ground and not change anything, Kamala Harris said it best when Biden had very low approval numbers and 70% of Americans said the country was going in the wrong direction, when asked if she would do anything differently than Biden/Harris, she responded that she couldn't think of anything she would have done differently.

 

[Mac-7]

"80/20" issues are issues in which the overwhelming majority of Americans take one side or the other. Not a fairly even split as we have on most controversial issues, but a very lopsided divide, so lopsided that it is political poison to take the unpopular side.

Donald Trump and Replicans are exploited these issues against the Democrats.

CNN's Scott Jennings comments on Donald Trump's ability to get Democrats to make unpopular stands against him:

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2025/02/06/jennings_trumps_superpower_is_getting_democrats_to_oppose_him_on_80-20_issues.html

A few comments of my own:

First, this is not new, nor Trump-specific. Having Trump lead the Republican Party has exacerbated this phenomena, but I noticed it long before I ever heard of Donald Trump, except as a Billionaire who liked to self-promote. I observed years ago on other forums that liberals seem to be more contrarians than ideologues. They never know which side to take on an issue until they see which side the majority of typical Americans take, and then they take the opposite side.

Witness their embrace of Islam in the aftermath of 9/11, and their sore loser attitude at the end of the Cold War, and their insistence of zero restrictions on abortion, even in the 9th month, for examples.

There is a narrow demographic that is with the Democrats on these things for ideological reasons, mostly college women, not all of whom are even old enough to vote. There is a narrow democraphic that agrees with them on those issues because they are true followers of the Democratic Party. The rest of Democrat voters do not really believe in their side of those issues.

So, why do Democrats embrace those issues? I have a theory, but I'd like to hear from others before I state it.

So, why do Democrats embrace those issues?

Lib logic tells the lefty thundering herd that adopting five 20% issues adds up to 100%

 

[The Sage of Main Street]

• Vaccine and mask mandates, lockdowns, and forced business closures
• Defund the police
• Open the borders
• Free stuff for illegals
• Men in women's sports
• DEI racism, sexism, and discrimination
• EV mandates
• Stop cutting wasteful spending
• Grumpy faces for little Black boys with cancer who want to be cops

High-and-Mighty Lowlife

Their escapist education tells them that they are far more intelligent than 80% of Americans. Their professors pump them up so much that gradchewits can smugly dismiss non-academic opinion as being so ignorant it's not even worth answering.

 

[The Sage of Main Street]

Yep, don't believe your lying eyes.

"What You See Is What We Don't Get"

 

[The Sage of Main Street]

Lib logic tells the lefty thundering herd that adopting five 20% issues adds up to 100%

Any Other Kind of Math Is RACIST!!!

 

[alang1216]

The claim came from a CNN Anchor. Are you calling CNN liars?

Well they seem to have hired one.

Foreign Aid: A Rare Topic of Agreement
Americans overwhelmingly support spending cuts to foreign aid. The poll found that 71 percent of Americans think the U.S. government spends too much on assistance to other countries. Among Republicans, this sentiment is even stronger, with 91 percent believing the U.S. is overspending on foreign aid. Even 55 percent of Democrats agree.

The OP specifically mentioned USAID, that is only a tiny fraction of foreign aid. Foreign aid also includes the billions in military aid we send every year to Israel and Egypt.

Or you could explain why the Democrats would take a side of that issue that even the majority of self-identified Democrats oppose them on.

I'm a Dem and I'd like to see less military aid sent to Israel for example.

 

[Seymour Flops]

So, why do Democrats embrace those issues?

Lib logic tells the lefty thundering herd that adopting five 20% issues adds up to 100%

Yes!

Exactly what I was thinking, but much better put. Well done!

20% is a pretty high estimate for the people who support a man or teen boy being allowed to claim that he "thinks I'm a girl," and compete on girls teams and strip down in front of actual females who are themselves stripping down.

But those 20% are very reliable Democrat voters. Then the 20% who are in favor of abortion through the 9th month and even after birth in some cases, but those people will absolutely vote Democrat.

The strategy is to cobble together a coalition of these wrong side of issues voters.

 

[Seymour Flops]

Well they seem to have hired one.


The OP specifically mentioned USAID, that is only a tiny fraction of foreign aid. Foreign aid also includes the billions in military aid we send every year to Israel and Egypt.

Trump at this moment is specifically cutting USAID funding. Trying to stop it altogether, until we get a handle on exactly where this money goes. The people responding to the polls would have believed that is what the polls are about, I'm sure.

If your point is that the Americans polled were not thinking about military aid to Israel in that foreign aid they oppose, you may have a point.

Most Americans do not lump them together. So, as a Democrat, you do.

I'm a Dem and I'd like to see less military aid sent to Israel for example.

Of course you would. In the aftermath of the cowardly attack, it is one type foreign aid that the majority of Americans support.

Americans See United States Playing Positive Role in Middle East

Pluralities also say the United States has given Israel either the right amount or not enough military assistance and support.

globalaffairs.org

So, of course, you take the opposite side. Why Democrats keep doing that to themselves is the topic of this thread.