goofy
September 12, 2024, 6:34am
1628
People pointed this out on Bluesky - the NYT has quoted the same “undecided voters” in Pennsylvania, a couple named Bob & Sharon Reed, in five articles this election season. Let’s look at how they have evolved!
June 28: ‘It’s Frightening’: Democratic Voters Worried by Biden’s Struggles in Debate
In central Pennsylvania, Bob and Sharon Reed, 77, both retired schoolteachers and now farmers, watched the debate together on the sofa. They are Republicans, but they, too, are deeply disappointed about their choices in the general election this year.
Mr. Reed began the night leaning “a hair” toward supporting Mr. Trump; Ms. Reed was at a complete loss as to whom she would vote for. They ended the night feeling the same way, only more so.
So they’re Republicans, but maybe have misgivings about Trump. Hmm, okay.
August 8: Undecided Voters React to Harris’s V.P. Pick
We get a picture of them now!
This is the vessel through which the Times wants to tell us the story of the 2024 election.
Bob and Sharon Reed, who live on a farm, are still debating their choices, but in different ways.
Mr. Reed, 77, a retired teacher, is leaning slightly toward voting for Mr. Trump, “just for his policy.” If Ms. Harris had picked Josh Shapiro, the popular Pennsylvania governor, her candidacy might have “edged up a little bit, but not enough,” Mr. Reed said.
Ms. Reed, also 77 and a retired teacher, is repelled by Mr. Trump, but she cannot see herself voting for Ms. Harris either. “I don’t think she is ready,” she said, adding, “The vice-presidential pick wouldn’t have changed my vote one way or another.”
August 18: To Undecided Voters, Harris Is Famous, but Unknown. They Want to Learn More.
Only now, on their third mention, do we learn Sharon is a former Trump voter!
Bob and Sharon Reed, both 77 and retired teachers, will be watching the convention on their farm in central Pennsylvania. They know what they want to hear from Ms. Harris this week, but they are skeptical that they will hear it.
Ms. Reed, who voted for Mr. Trump in 2020 but is undecided now, said she wants to Ms. Harris to address issues like immigration and inflation in detail. “I really want her to be specific about what she’s going to do when she gets to be president.”
Mr. Reed agreed, saying that specifics are particularly important given how variable her stances have been.
“Seems like she’s flip-flopping around a little bit. So we’re not quite sure where she’s exactly at,” he said.
Part of the issue for the Reeds is that neither are quite convinced that she’s ready for the job.
“I want to see the person that can stand up to Putin, to North Korea, that can also pull our allies together,” Ms. Reed said, referring to President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.
And we get another photo! The Times fucking loves these people.
August 23: What Voters Outside the Democratic Bubble Thought of Harris’s Speech
Bob and Sharon Reed watched Ms. Harris’s speech on their farm in the hills of central Pennsylvania. Both of them voted for Mr. Trump in past elections and both of them liked some of his policies, if not his personality. They came away from Ms. Harris’s speech feeling a little conflicted.
The problem? They liked it.
“I really wasn’t happy with the Biden administration,” said Ms. Reed, who like her husband is 77 and a retired schoolteacher. “But listening to her tonight, maybe it’s not as hard to vote for her. And, you know, I’m a little scared of what Trump will do when he gets back in power.”
Ms. Reed appreciated how Ms. Harris drew several specific contrasts between what she would do as president versus what Mr. Trump would do.
Mr. Reed, who had been leaning toward Mr. Trump, found Ms. Harris’s optimism and can-do attitude appealing. “This sounded presidential,” he said.
It had all left them as undecided as ever, and hoping the debates might help them make up their minds.
“I want some concrete answers and some substance in those debates,” Ms. Reed said. “I don’t know if I’m going to get either.”
Sorry, now they were both fucking Trump voters? Are you fucking serious? And ANOTHER FUCKING PICTURE WHAT THE FUCK
September 10: Pundits Said Harris Won the Debate. Undecided Voters Weren’t So Sure.
Bob and Sharon Reed, both 77-year-old retired teachers who live on a farm in central Pennsylvania, had high hopes for the debate between Ms. Harris and former President Donald Trump. They thought that they would come away with a candidate to support in November.
But, Ms. Reed said, “It was all disappointing.”
The couple ended the night wondering how the costly programs each candidate supported — Mr. Trump’s tariffs and Ms. Harris’s aid to young families and small businesses — would help a couple like them, living on a fixed income that has not kept pace with inflation. They said they didn’t hear detailed answers on immigration or foreign policy, either.
Now that the rubber is starting to hit the road, note how any mention of the fact that they were Donald fucking Trump voters in past elections is scrubbed from the story. Nope! Just a couple salt of the earth Real Americans flummoxed by the choice presented to them!
Jesus fucking christ
3 Likes
And they’re confused on who that is? lol
goofy:
They are Republicans, but they, too, are deeply disappointed about their choices in the general election this year.
The people spouting this nonsense now are so fucking full of shit. Like, sure, that was a reasonable take when the nominee was basically falling asleep during the debate. But now it’s a generic Democrat with a pulse who speaks coherently. These people are sooooooooo disappointed in the two nominees, by golly, it’s such a shame they’re going to have to vote for Donald Trump again but the Democrats didn’t nominate Dick Cheney, so, fuck it!
1 Like
riverman
September 12, 2024, 11:28am
1631
Completely eliminating consumption of shit like that has made me noticeably happier.
ConAir
September 12, 2024, 3:29pm
1632
goofy:
The couple ended the night wondering how the costly programs each candidate supported — Mr. Trump’s tariffs and Ms. Harris’s aid to young families and small businesses — would help a couple like them, living on a fixed income that has not kept pace with inflation. They said they didn’t hear detailed answers on immigration or foreign policy, either.
I hope she can get through the programs that don’t help people like me?
No wonder our education system is in the shitter with teachers like this.
riverman
September 12, 2024, 10:33pm
1633
Education is fantastic in like the wealthy parts of the 30 largest cities. This country is basically completely segregated by class.
goofy
September 14, 2024, 7:41pm
1635
jbouie wrote a very good article like usual:
The right got really mad on Twitter!
Over on Xitter, right wing assholes, including Trump's son and one of his campaign advisors, are trying to create a swarm targeting @jamellebouie.net bc he accurately described the role of Neo-Nazis in the propaganda JD is selling.
This may shock you, but the Times caved to their anger!
The gall to call that “violence inciting” a day after Vance’s lies resulted in multiple bomb threats.
2 Likes
Imagine being JD’s wife right now.
Lay down with dogs….
She could have said no and otherwise made her opinion know. Silence is acquiescence.
She knows who he is. She clerked for the worst of the worst.
1 Like
Jman220
September 15, 2024, 10:57pm
1640
Wait, that’s a real photo?
I’m pretty sure it is fake.
MrWookie
September 15, 2024, 11:27pm
1642
Pretty sure she posted an original that’s the situation in the photo, but Liam Nissan shopped it to make Trump look way fatter.
MrWookie
September 16, 2024, 12:35am
1644
Yes, I’m pretty sure that’s true. They attributed Liam Nissan.
Jman220
September 16, 2024, 12:36am
1645
Was it a story about fake photos, or did CNN get duped?
It’s good to see they’re not only duped by Republican operatives posing as undecideds in diners, at least.
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