“The America that I grew up with is gone. And I miss that.”
57-year-old woman, Mississippi, Traditional Conservative
Traditional Conservatives value patriotism and America’s Christian foundations. They feel that those foundations are under threat from a liberal culture that emphasizes diversity and devalues America’s achievements. They believe in values such as personal responsibility and self-reliance, and they think that too much emphasis is given to issues of gay rights, sexual harassment, and racism. They have a clear sense of identity as American, Christian, and conservative, but they are not as strident in their beliefs as Devoted Conservatives. For example, they are open to dialogue or compromise on a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought here as children, and they acknowledge that racist acts persist in the United States. They are suspicious of the traditional media, yet they are more likely than any other group to feel their voice is represented in American politics.
Foreign Tensions, Jobs, and Terrorism
Thirty-three percent less likely to say the country is rigged in favor of the rich and powerful (47 percent v. 80 percent)
Almost twice as likely to feel that people like them have a say in politics (46 percent v. 24 percent)
Eight percent more likely to say that “having two American parents” is a “very important” part of being American (23 percent v. 15 percent)
More than twice as likely to strongly approve of Donald Trump’s job performance (49 percent v. 19 percent)
Twice as likely to watch Fox News (57 percent v. 28 percent) and listen to talk radio (25 percent v. 11 percent)
Ten percent more likely to be white (79 percent v. 69 percent)
Ten percent more likely to be older than 65 (30 percent v. 20 percent)
Education similar to average American's