Study: "Center-Right Nation" Narrative Spiked Immediately After Election Day

OurFuture.org:

When I wrote my first column about the "center-right nation" and subsequently launched the "Center-Right Nation Watch" series on this blog I predicted that the news media would actually increase its usage of this term after Obama won. I did a Lexis-Nexis search of the term, and was the first to note the trend and make the prediction that "if Obama wins, expect more frantic talk from the fringe about how electing a black man billed as an Islamic Karl Marx obviously means our country is more conservative than ever."

Feeling like I was out on a limb (and remember, this was almost 2 weeks before a group of major progressive pundits belatedly started writing about the trend), I asked a friend out here in Denver who works with a company called Trendrr to officially track whether my prediction was right - and you can see from the results above, it was - more so than I ever expected.

Read the whole story: OurFuture.org

Comments

[robeson]

Yes the right wing media thugs are out goose stepping, 'center right nation'. Another word of the day, is socialism. By saying socialism a million times they hope to stop paying taxes. When the word of the day is sent out the media respond in numbers and immediately. When Joe Lieberman ran as an independent for Senate every major media outlet had to attach "centrist" to his name or face the guillotine.

[iPolitics]

It's a Center-LEFT country.

More than anything it's pragmatic not ideological.

[NWBrunette]

Well we better get ideological if we intend to keep the repubs at bay. Cause if all we are is pragmatic they'll be back with a vengence.

[livesimply]

We are ideologically pragmatic :)

[Shadow08]

I think the "center right" narrative of the republicans is the most pathtic poltical BS I've ever heard.
I think they're actually trying to convince themselves. It seem like some kind of balm they need to soothe their badly bruised egos. They just can't admit how soundly they have been thrashed in the past 2 elections.

[kcgeezer]

The media as well as the conservatives are in denial. They have been hitting the koolaid for so long that it is going to take awhile for them to dry out and realize that "center-right" is not what America is anymore. We tried it and look what it got us. Maybe they should call it what it really is. Right wing fatigue.

[ScarletKnight1307]

This is a Center Right nation that is true

it is also true that is trending to the left

Al Gore's Green agenda in 2000 doesn't seem so extremist now

and after 8 years of Bush

the Oil markets destroying are economy and realizing that we could be cut off of resouces

people are moving left on that

the arguments against have hit the rock shores of Reality

[ethaninseattle]

ScarletKnight1307,

How is this a center-right nation??
In the last two elections, Democrats have won dozens of Congressional seats and the White House. They now control all three branches of government.
And yet, you and others insist we live in a center-right nation?
Up is down, blue is green. It just makes no sense and makes you look foolish.

[newpotusplease]

that guy on CNN who used to be a sec of education

the one who has a gambling problem
and has a brother who represents all the crooks in washington dc
the one who writes about virtues and constantly calls himself a dr of philosophy
and a philosopher

that guy said "we are a center right nation" about 10,000 on CNN on election night and no one challenged it-- it was the talking point that all the right wingers were using the next day

I can't remember his name cause he never did a meaningful thing in education.­...

[unite4change]

We are not a center to right nation but we are, however, becoming a more intelligent nation. I know it scares the hell out of republicans and Rush Limbaugh.

[canucklivinginUSA]

LOVE IT. I am all for the nerds taking over and showing the bullies how things are done

[ApolloniaCreed]

It was just so obvious. You would have thought they would have been more subtle, but Morning Joe and Uncle Pat said it to qualify every other statement.­.. I said this many weeks ago. You can check my comments.

[CaliforniaJake]

The GOP wants desperately to believe they are still relevant. Fortunately, the voters thought otherwise.

[thegreatgiginthesky]

Center right my a$$. Did you notice how they were already prepping this line of argument in the weeks leading up to the elections. People like Rush, Sean etc want to stay relevant. The Bush administration will always be the natural outcome of conservative ideology.

[BobsNotWorking]

I'm astonished that none (or almost none) of the comments here address the fact that the media uses the term "center-right" because they are attempting to drive the narrative, and they do so at the instruction of their corporate handlers. They're scared to death of America actually recognizing itself as a progressive nation. They drive the conservative narrative because they know the many will self-identify as conservatives if they think that puts them in concert with the majority. Their great fear is that if the majority starts to self-identify as progressive they will start to demand the same kind of services the most citizens of industrialized nations receive. Those folks get taxed, but they're not all that unhappy about it because they get something for their money. Here, we get taxed, but we get little in return by comparison. That missing money goes straight to the corporate bottom line as profit.

[dartagnan]

Excellent post Bob.

[Indedave]

Not to mention to the so-called "talent" charged with delivering the message.

[Jamesdean]

Newsweek's Editor Jon Meacham came on BBC World News America couple of days ago and again repeated the mantra that America is a center--right nation. When I heard him say that, I understood why Newsweek is struggling to find readers.

[MarciaJ720]

We are a Center-Left Nation or social issue after social issue.

Abortion - runs roughly 54% for Pro-Choice and up to 80% when you allow abortion in cases of rape, incest or the life of the mother.

Guns - Most people did not want the ban on Assault Rifles to expire and to this day would prefer they stay out of citizen's hands. Most people don't like the idea of "Crazy Joe the Neighbor" owning an arsenal of assault rifles.

Marijuana - 75% to 80% believe it should at a minimum be allowed by people who are sick or in pain to use if for the relief. Those who have both experienced drinking or being high can tell you that there is no limit to the intoxication from alcohol. Marijuana on the other hand, one cannot even OD on it. In fact there have been zero deaths as a result of an overdose from marijuana while 7,000 people die each year from Aspirin poisoning alone.

Social Security and Medicare - most people agree with these programs - especially for their parents and the disabled.

http://www.pollingreport.com/ is a great place to go to look at national polls on a host of subjects.

[Artos]

I'm not sure what all of this is proving. Are you just proud that you were responsible for having started the trend or what? I just don't get it, maybe that makes me stupid or something, but I just don't get the point. If the Republicans are using it as some form of spin Propaganda then wouldn't worry about it because we already know that they are self deluded. If the media wants to keep finding ways to spin propaganda for their right wing buddies than how is that any different from what they've been doing. It all sounds like non news to me.

[Girl28]

So we are so center-right as a nation that we elected a radical terrorist sympathizer who is so far to the left that he may even be a socialist/­communist. That's a center-right nation? This is the problem with the Republican party. They are so caught up in labels and playing politics that they forgot to try to hide the fact that they don't give a damn about the American people.