The State of Divisive Politics in RI

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

GoLocalProv News Team and Kate Nagle

 

View Larger +

John DePeto helped spearhead a rally against Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo early in May.

From presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump to Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, whose approval ratings have taken a hit as of late, divisive politics are taking center stage nationally and locally. 

SEE RHODE ISLAND'S 10 MOST DIVISIVE BELOW

“If you go back to the early days of electoral history, there certainly were campaigns as least as vicious as today. The big difference is the electorate able to participate has enlarged,” said veteran political pollster Vic Profughi. “So in the more recent modern era, certainly this [Presidential] one strikes me as more broadly divisive, but there have been other divisive campaigns with individual issues of importance to certain segments of the electorate, say when JFK ran as Catholic or Al Smith. I'm not sure as vicious as this one here, and it didn't have the media like is available today."

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

As for locally, where radio host John DePetro and Republican House Deputy Minority Leader Patricia Morgan just spearheaded a rally against Raimondo, former Taubman Center Director and now Brookings Vice President Darrell West weighed in. 

“Divisiveness has been a problem in Rhode Island because the last two governors were elected with less than 45 percent of the popular vote. When you start with more than 55 percent not wanting to support you, it is more difficult to govern,” said West. "It is not long before you end up with low approval ratings and a public that believes you can’t govern."

National Trends

Rhode Island College Professor of Communications Kay Israel offered several political shifts that he says have played a role in the country -- and state's -- growing divisiveness. 

* The changing control of the legislative branch.  "The shifting back and forth over the last 25 years has meant that each party can, by attacking the other party and it's viewpoints, have a legitimate shot at being in the majority.  Thus the concept of the loyal opposition has virtually disappeared."

* The shrinking of the world technologically in terms of the way politicians have to respond.  "With the emergence of the 24/7 coverage and the instantaneous nature of social media politicians and pundits/talking heads have to be on message throughout the year and not just in the election cycle."

* The growing emergence of single issue groups with their ability to expend funds and support on the narrowest of concerns.  "Money speaks loudly and politicians have to find positions that are not centrist, but those that parallel the extreme views of the groups financing campaigns."

* The level of intolerance for differing views, Cultural religious, societal, issues etc. are the basis of targeting voters and membership.  "It seems reminiscent of earlier periods similar to the America First movement, the red scare, and the civil rights battles of the last century. It may have been here all throughout, but now it seems to be acceptable to come out from the shadows."

Brookings' West spoke to the national and local conditions as well. 

“We live in a polarized society where people have their own facts and mistrust those with opposing views. Bargaining and compromise are seen as vices, not virtues,” said West. “Elections have become a means to attack the opposition as opposed to laying out a positive vision for the future. In this situation, it has become more difficult to build bridges and solve crucial problems.”

“This is not the first time in American history where we have seen high polarization,” added West. “The 1790s and 1890s were very divisive. Politics was very personalistic and candidates spent a lot of time engaging in character assassination with their opponents. The tabloid press was strong in each of these eras and that make it difficult to have civil political discussions.”

Local Factors

Rhode Island’s two most recent Governors have been elected with barely 40% of the vote (Raimondo) and less than 40% (Lincoln Chafee).  

Raimondo was recently the subject of a rally held at the State House by those opposed to her performance and recent decisions.

“Raimondo has made several unpopular decisions in terms of highway tolls and the abortive tourism campaign. Even though the state economy is stronger, those mistakes have stimulated lots of criticism," said West. "She has to be careful so that she is not seen as a leader who is out of touch and not caring what average people think. She has time to turn things around, but needs to pay attention to the grassroots and show that she understands their concerns."

Israel pointed to the high number of unaffiliated voters — and nature of political parties in the state — as having a role. 

“Rhode Island's large unaffiliated block is indicative of the general disdain for the parties in the state.  With the Democratic Party dominating throughout we have a state where one party represents all the different views on the spectrum.  Thus a candidate on the Democratic ticket maybe just as likely to be closer in position to that of a Republican in another state.  The mainstream Democratic position is less definable in Rhode Island than in many other state,” said Israel.  “The Governor's dropping ratings are a result of the lack of political consensus or support almost all state office holders have.  Her support, while having been higher in the preceding months, may not have been that all that deep.  It doesn't take much effort to drop in the polls.”

 

Related Slideshow: Rhode Island’s Ten Most Divisive - 2016

View Larger +
Prev Next

10)

Brandon Bell  

GOP Chairman

By the very nature of the beast, being a party Chair in any state is divisive. But when the party you head has massive schisms then it is all the worse. Sometimes even the Republicans dislike you.

Photo: Twitter
View Larger +
Prev Next

9)

Mike Stenhouse

Center for Freedom and Prosperity

The Harvard educated, former Major League Baseball player heads the most influential Conservative think tank in RI. Their rankings of legislators infuriates many a Democrat.

View Larger +
Prev Next

8)

Jorge Elorza

Mayor of Providence

Won the Mayor’s office in a split Democratic primary and then narrowly beat a two-time convicted felon in a close race. His base, the East Side of Providence, has been wildly disappointed in his handling of issues of crime, the city’s fragile budget, and a miscue with the Providence firefighters that may cost the city millions.

View Larger +
Prev Next

7)

Michael Corso

38 Studios Lobbyist/Consultant

The lawyer and close associate of now-jailed former Speaker of the House Gordon Fox is considered by many to be the principle architect of the 38 Studios debacle.

View Larger +
Prev Next

6)

Ken Block

GOP Candidate for Governor

The businessman started his own political party -- the Moderate Party and then switched to be a Republican to run for Governor. Lost in a close primary to Cranston Mayor Allan Fung. Has been the champion for eliminating the Master Lever and for ethics reform - two wins.

View Larger +
Prev Next

5)

David Cicilline

Congressman, 1st Congression Dsitrict, Democrat

The former Mayor of Providence is often blamed for his lack of attention to the city's economic collapse. Came back from a 15% approval rate in the 2012 campaign to beat former head of the State Police Brendan Doherty. But a little known and unfunded Matt Fecteau scored nearly 40% of the primary vote in 2014 uncovering Cicilline's vulverability again.

View Larger +
Prev Next

4)

Nick Mattiello

Speaker of the House

Being Speaker in Rhode Island is a lightning rod position. Mattiello has scored points with the public and the media for being responsive to questions and the press - all very un-speaker like and refreshing. Will finish his first two years with two bill ethic reforms wins -- elimination of the master lever and passage of major ethics reform.

View Larger +
Prev Next

3)

Patricia Morgan

GOP State Representative

No legislator sparks more response than the feisty legislator. From her attacks on the Convention Center to her attempt to block the RhodeWorks program, she is the thorn in the side of the leadership. The unveiling by GoLocal that she took legislative grants while criticizing them was a hit to her credibility.

View Larger +
Prev Next

1) Tie

John DePetro

WPRO, Talk Radio Host

He is the top talk show host in the Providence market. He has a standing boycott against him - now two plus years old. He is has been one of the leading voices in Rhode Island for Donald Trump. He may be the definition of divisive. Enough said.

View Larger +
Prev Next

1) Tie

Gina Raimondo

Governor of Rhode Island

Won a three-way primary with less than 50% of the vote. Won the General Election with less than 50% of the vote. Ran as a strong pro-business, job producing governor, but has failed to deliver on jobs and has tripped over execution issues like the tourism campaign. Now questions have come up about her Chief-of-Staff overseeing Sports Fantasy legislation while his wife was being hired by DraftKings as a top executive.

 

Related Articles

 

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

 
 

Sign Up for the Daily Eblast

I want to follow on Twitter

I want to Like on Facebook