As We Eat, So Do We Vote?
Talk about putting voters – and their food - under the microscope. According to a story in the New York Times (“What’s for Dinner? The Pollster Wants to Know,” by Kim Severson, April 16, 2008), what we eat is a clue to how we vote.
People who take polls want to know everything about us. In this presidential election year, when it appears every vote may count (at least in the primaries) pollsters want to know what we eat. It’s called microtargeting.
The researchers say that Republicans drink Dr. Pepper, while Democrats drink Pepsi, white wine and Evian water. Clinton supporters are likely to have butter and Fig Newtons in the kitchen. Obama supporters buy Bear Naked granola. And McCain fans? Pizza all the way.
What do eating patterns say about us? If we are what we eat, does that extend to how we vote?
Talk about putting voters – and their food - under the microscope. According to a story in the New York Times (“What’s for Dinner? The Pollster Wants to Know,” by Kim Severson, April 16, 2008), what we eat is a clue to how we vote.
People who take polls want to know everything about us. In this presidential election year, when it appears every vote may count (at least in the primaries) pollsters want to know what we eat. It’s called microtargeting.
The researchers say that Republicans drink Dr. Pepper, while Democrats drink Pepsi, white wine and Evian water. Clinton supporters are likely to have butter and Fig Newtons in the kitchen. Obama supporters buy Bear Naked granola. And McCain fans? Pizza all the way.
What do eating patterns say about us? If we are what we eat, does that extend to how we vote?
4 comments:
Love pizza, hate granola, will take Dr. Pepper over Pepsi any day. If their findings are true, I'm going to have to give up on my man Obama, become Republican, and switch to McCain. Bleaugh! The very idea gives me hives.
They're morons if they really think they can target their voters by collecting any such fine-grained data. In fact, pollster and Clinton adviser Mark Penn is a guru of microtargeting, but that doesn't seem to have done Hillary much good this year.
Here's a question back. The article mostly talks about brand-name products, extras like wine and booze, and restaurant-type food. What kind of politics is it to eat real food?
Apropos the link between food choices and politics, I ran across this blog post after I posted my previous comment:
http://matthewyglesias.theatlantic.com/
archives/2008/04/vegetable_card.php
It's a description of a pro-health, anti-obesity proposal being promoted by one of the candidates for mayor of Paris (yes, France). In short, the candidate proposes a food-stamp-like card to enable low-income people to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. The blogger has a link to the candidate's own web site (in French).
Wouldn't it be great to have a national discussion about a proposal like this rather than about what eating Fig Newtons says about your political orientation?
Love that idea of cards for fresh fruit and vegies.
The pigeon-holing via food choices doesn't fit my profile either.
::: laughing::: Well, I'm a Republican who likes granola AND pizza and prefer Diet Coke to either Pepsi or Dr. Pepper... and who is trying to incorporate more real food into her diet! :-)
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