The spot highlights income inequality and how the conservative/libertarian ideology works against most of those who support it: that is, most whites, who happen to be working class (see Dec. 10 blog post). A plurality of Americans have, up until recently, identified symbolically with Republicanism and conservatism. However, on average, most Americans are operationally liberal. In other words, many Americans prefer the label "conservative," even when the vast majority of those who self-describe as being conservative have liberal policy preferences like increased government spending.
However, new data by Gallup indicates a change in identification:
Forty-two percent of Americans, on average, identified as political independents in 2013, the highest Gallup has measured since it began conducting interviews by telephone 25 years ago. Meanwhile, Republican identification fell to 25%, the lowest over that time span.
Gallup's conclusion: "The rise in political independence is likely an outgrowth of Americans' record or near-record negative views of the two major U.S. parties, of Congress, and their low level of trust in government more generally."
As discussed in prior blog pieces (Mar. 12 and 13, 2012), Jon Stewart is actually speaking to a much larger audience than the one he has. This includes much of the viewership at Fox News.
Daily Show, pt. 1
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-january-9-2014/slumdogs-vs--millionaires
Daily Show, pt. 2
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-january-9-2014/slumdogs-vs--millionaires---moral-hazard
Gallup
http://www.gallup.com/poll/166763/record-high-americans-identify-independents.aspx
