I think the "leaning" numbers tell the most interesting story.

[count_01]

The new Pew Poll talks a fair bit about public anti-intellectualism in not so many words, but reveals something of a chicken-and-egg question: the question not asked is, do those "leaning" Democrats really feel particularly attracted to big-D Democracy, or are they moderate conservatives who don't want to be apologists for a party which is often

Comments

[erunamiryene]

are they moderate conservatives who don't want to be apologists for a party which is often militantly anti-intellectual

Well, I know for a fact that that's me; I refuse to be associated with what passes for the "conservative" party in this country in any way, shape, or form, even though I'm much more conservative than liberal when it comes to most things.

[hermine_93]

Well, the trend revealed by the poll is nothing new. Educated people have been more likely to be Democrats since probably about the time of the infamous "Southern Strategy." Since the correlation predates the second Bush administration, embarrassment at calling oneself a Republican is not the only reason for this. Besides, scientists tend to be less likely than most to be concerned about what people will think of them