Op-Ed: Gallup — Millions of Americans renounced GOP in 2012

A recent poll has found that 47 percent of Americans identify themselves as either Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents.

For those of you keeping score at home, this Gallup poll marks the first time since President Obama took office in 2009 that there has been a significant difference in support between in the two main parties. Does this signal a political shift in the U.S.? Perhaps. Does it echo a ringing endorsement of President Obama? Maybe. More likely, the increase in Democratic support is due to the GOP constantly shooting itself in the foot. The politics of division has worked fairly well for the GOP during the Bush years. They stood for something. They were passionate about it. They dumbed the message down so that the masses could understand and support it. They created an “us against them” scenario wherein they were the only ones who were tough on crime, tough on terrorism and willing to make the tough decisions necessary to defend America’s freedom. However, times have changed. The GOP has drifted further and further to the right and while that may appease their more radical base and their hard-line Tea Partiers, it seems to be alienating a fair number of the population at large. During the 2012 campaign, Mitt Romney infamously stated that 47% of Americans were victims who wanted their government to look after them. Mississippi Republican Andy Gibson posted a message on Facebook page stating that gays and lesbians should be put to death. Of course, who can forget Todd Akin’s remark that women can’t get pregnant as a result of rape. In three fell swoops, the Republican Party angered: • The gay and lesbian community • Women • The poor Unfortunately for the GOP, all of these groups vote. Perhaps, they will learn something from these numbers and try to get people to work together instead of against each other. After all, they do share the same country. Next up, tackling the debt ceiling. Let’s see if they can ditch the partisan rhetoric and work together in the best interest of the people who elected them.