07-19-2016, 04:11 PM
Actually, you have a point there, Martin.
There are fairly unpopular positions in the traditional Republican platform, such as the scaling down of the welfare state (Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare).
The soul searching after the 2012 loss pointing towards a more inclusive party (because of changing values and demographics), which resulted in the attempts to reform immigration have quickly been forgotten. In fact, Trump can be seen as a reaction to this.
On the other hand, Trump isn't much of a culture warrior, nor a religious fundamentalist.
So basically Trump has forged a new electorate which is rejection part of the 'broader appeal' post 2012 diagnosis (the part against Muslims and immigration), but passively embracing others. He departs from traditional Republican positions on trade and the welfare state, which were never very popular with the constituencies in the first place.
There are fairly unpopular positions in the traditional Republican platform, such as the scaling down of the welfare state (Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare).
The soul searching after the 2012 loss pointing towards a more inclusive party (because of changing values and demographics), which resulted in the attempts to reform immigration have quickly been forgotten. In fact, Trump can be seen as a reaction to this.
On the other hand, Trump isn't much of a culture warrior, nor a religious fundamentalist.
So basically Trump has forged a new electorate which is rejection part of the 'broader appeal' post 2012 diagnosis (the part against Muslims and immigration), but passively embracing others. He departs from traditional Republican positions on trade and the welfare state, which were never very popular with the constituencies in the first place.