Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDubya repeats myth that Perot caused Poppy Bush to lose to Clinton
Former President George W Bush told Face the Nations Bob Schieffer Sunday morning that his father almost didnt run for reelection in 1992 due to son Neil Bushs role in the Savings & Loan scandal, but that he likely would have won were it not for third party candidate Ross Perot.
I cant prove it. Its all conjecture, of course, 41 said. But it would ultimately have been a clear choice between a guy who had a very good first term and an untested governor.
Bush added that his fathers 92 defeat toughened him up for his own terms.
Ironically enough it did make it easier for me, Bush said. When people criticize my dad, somebody who I admire greatly, I didnt react well at times. It really, really affected me. When they criticized me, the sting wasnt nearly as difficult. Being his son during his presidency created a layer of asbestos.
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/george-w-bush-my-dad-would-have-won-in-92-if-not-for-ross-perot/
It's a tired old lie, pushed by the right to delegitimize Clinton's win. But a check of polls will chow that Bush was behind Clinton from June forward, and even the GOP convention didn't help him in the polls. When Perot re-entered the race in September, it actually tightened the polls and cut into Clinton's lead.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
14 replies, 1074 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (1)
ReplyReply to this post
14 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Dubya repeats myth that Perot caused Poppy Bush to lose to Clinton (Original Post)
Adenoid_Hynkel
Nov 2014
OP
Exit polls at the time also showed Perot voters would split pretty evenly between Clinton and Bush
tritsofme
Nov 2014
#2
And it was only on Election Day that he even took equally from the two. Prior to that the polls
StevieM
Nov 2014
#13
! The Ross Perot Ralph Nader Conspiracy Theory of the 90's. Someone should write a book.
adirondacker
Nov 2014
#10
I lived in Austin, TX then and voted for Perot. No way did Bush "lose" my vote, you f/cking liar GWB
blkmusclmachine
Nov 2014
#7
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,711 posts)1. Maybe somebody could find the polls from that year.
When Perot dropped out of the race before re-entering it Clinton opened up a twenty point lead. Also, you need to factor in that 63% of Americans voted against the incumbent in that race. It's fanciful to believe Clinton couldn't get 80% of it.
Adenoid_Hynkel
(14,093 posts)3. Poppy's approval was in the low 30s in 1992
as per Gallup. Something the revisionists conveniently forget.
tritsofme
(17,396 posts)2. Exit polls at the time also showed Perot voters would split pretty evenly between Clinton and Bush
Bush's approval ratings were consistent with a president not headed for reelection, he wouldn't have been more successful had Perot not been in the race.
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,711 posts)4. i should have pointed to those./NT
StevieM
(10,500 posts)13. And it was only on Election Day that he even took equally from the two. Prior to that the polls
clearly showed him taking more votes from Clinton than from Bush. It was the same way with Dole in 1996.
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)5. Sure it wasn't Nader? n/t
adirondacker
(2,921 posts)10. ! The Ross Perot Ralph Nader Conspiracy Theory of the 90's. Someone should write a book.
tontonmacoute
(10 posts)6. Complete right wing fantasy...
Exit Poll Data and the Perot Voteb
Now, lets briefly consider the 1992 exit poll data and the actual composition of the Perot vote. According to the exit poll data, 38% of the Perot voters said they would have voted for Clinton in a two way race, 38% would have voted for Bush, 24% would not have voted.
-snip-
It is just possible that Perot cost Bush a state here or there where Clinton squeezed out a very narrow plurality (Colorado, Montana, Ohio and Georgia come to mind as possibilities), but there is no empirical evidence that documents this that I am aware of. Even if true for all four states (a very unlikely probability), it merely reduces Clintons electoral vote majority from a near landslide to very comfortable.
http://www.pollingreport.com/hibbitts1202.htm
Now, lets briefly consider the 1992 exit poll data and the actual composition of the Perot vote. According to the exit poll data, 38% of the Perot voters said they would have voted for Clinton in a two way race, 38% would have voted for Bush, 24% would not have voted.
-snip-
It is just possible that Perot cost Bush a state here or there where Clinton squeezed out a very narrow plurality (Colorado, Montana, Ohio and Georgia come to mind as possibilities), but there is no empirical evidence that documents this that I am aware of. Even if true for all four states (a very unlikely probability), it merely reduces Clintons electoral vote majority from a near landslide to very comfortable.
http://www.pollingreport.com/hibbitts1202.htm
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)7. I lived in Austin, TX then and voted for Perot. No way did Bush "lose" my vote, you f/cking liar GWB
TexasProgresive
(12,157 posts)8. One thing that turned a lot of people from bush
was being clueless about upc codes and scanners in a grocery store.
rock
(13,218 posts)9. Created a layer of ass- what?
Johnyawl
(3,205 posts)11. GWB's on crack...
"...would ultimately have been a clear choice between a guy who had a very good first term and an untested governor.
A very good first term?? bwahahaha What was that sign that Snakehead posted at Clinton Hdqtrs? "It's the economy, stupid!" We were in the middle of a recession and GHWB didn't have a clue as to what to do about it, and was rightfully perceived by the country as doing nothing.
ryan_cats
(2,061 posts)12. I find it hard to believe that the word, conjecture, is in his Lexicon
I find it hard to believe that the word, conjecture, is in his Lexicon, it has too many syllable thingies.
jmowreader
(50,562 posts)14. Speaking of guys who had good previous terms and untested governors, let's look at the 2000 election