As I have detailed at Framing Science many times, over the past five years, as Democrats and Independents have shifted their views in support of embryonic stem cell research and policy action on climate change, little or no movement in opinion has occurred among self-identifying Republicans. In part, this is because partisanship acts as a very strong perceptual screen on news messages. However, there is also something else very interesting going on. Republicans appear so resistant to changing their views on controversial areas of science because, as measured in surveys, this group is becoming "more pure" in their partisan sentiment. Released this week is a major Pew report on the changing nature of American social values. Of note is the first graph depicted in this post. With the failures in Iraq and a litany of political wrong-doing, since 2003, many Americans have jumped off the GOP bandwagon (or left in disgust), choosing instead to identify themselves in polls as Independent or even Democrat. The respondents in polls who are left behind as identifying "Republican" are the true-believers, respondents who are likely to be strongly conservative in their views. This roughly 35% of the public are almost immune to shifting their opinion on issues like climate change or stem cell research as long as their conservative Republican leaders continue to remain vocal in their opposition.
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Matthew C. Nisbet, Ph.D, is Associate Professor in the School of Communication at American University where his research focuses on the intersections among science, media, and society. E-MAIL: nisbetmc@gmail.com
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Left Behind: As Fewer Americans Identify with GOP, "Republicans" as Measured in Polls Appear More Resistant to Changing Their Views on Science
Posted on: March 23, 2007 10:22 AM, by Matthew C. Nisbet
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Comments
Hmm, I suspect this roughly 35% corresponds strongly to the roughly 35% of Americans who continue to approve of Bush's job performance (cf http://www.pollingreport.com/BushJob.htm). When you say that these guys don't change their minds, you ain't kiddin'!
Posted by: Karen | March 23, 2007 6:51 PM
I feel like I'm one of the data points here. I was a lifelong Republican, mainly because it seemed to me that Republicans were what I would call "tough-minded realists". People like Alan Simpson, Bob Dole, and Colin Powell were my Republican role models.
But these days, with the Republican party dominated by the likes of Trent Lott and Karl Rove, well, you know . . .
Posted by: John K | March 25, 2007 1:20 PM
I feel like I'm one of the data points here. I was a lifelong Republican, mainly because it seemed to me that Republicans were what I would call "tough-minded realists". People like Alan Simpson, Bob Dole, and Colin Powell were my Republican role models.
But these days, with the Republican party dominated by the likes of Trent Lott and Karl Rove, well, you know . . .
Posted by: John K | March 25, 2007 2:48 PM
Hi Matt,
I'm just reading Bob Altemeyer's "The Authoritarians" at the moment, and it goes some way to explaining the attitudes of that recalcitrant 35%.
I highly recommend it!
Posted by: Mark J | March 25, 2007 7:14 PM