Matthew Dowd Answers Viewer Questions

Yeah. Hi -- but even though. This Week with George Stephanopoulos and I'm here today with Matthew -- ABC news political analyst. And because we will. -- -- -- -- -- This Week with George... See More

Yeah. Hi -- but even though. This Week with George Stephanopoulos and I'm here today with Matthew -- ABC news political analyst. And because we will. -- -- -- -- -- This Week with George Stephanopoulos I'm here today with Matthew -- ABC news political analyst. And because we believe all Paul -- All politics -- -- here this week we -- going to ask -- if the 2012 election takeaways that you submitted on our FaceBook page. Are back perfect -- factor fiction here ago first one from Aaron Austin on FaceBook. And he writes by selecting the acceptable centrist. The candidate most likely to beat Obama the last two cycles conservatives have actually tempered enthusiasm undermined the general election. Conservative or liberal debate in -- and the result they were looking to avoid that true. Well I think that's a little bit of a mix because I think in some ways Mitt Romney was previous performance before -- start his first run for president 2007. Would have been considered a centrist and as he started to run for president. He became more and more in his words in his actions and -- -- much more conservative candidate so I think in the end the voters saw him as much more conservative candidate. Not as a centrist candidate but the problem I think for Mitt Romney really had nothing to do with ideology. And had a lot to do with his inability connect with middle class voters in this country. Natalie because this biography but because of things that -- did so in the and I don't think it made it if this election didn't make a decision. I'm equilibrium between conservative and liberal actually was much more about his biography inability -- connect so in the and I think that's a little bit of -- fiction. Of course because I mean because he at the end of the day he said he was severe and -- he described himself that way and -- and offers five or six years he ran as a conservative he ran away from his record in Massachusetts and his previous record that was much more centrist and so he became a conservative. But in -- -- it wasn't a vote against the conservative as a vote against them it could -- -- middle class. So the next take away comes from Kirk McLean -- And this is his take away here at the corporations have too much influence and the laws that are -- how elections are run. Who is chosen as the candidate and how the media reports news. -- again this is one of those things -- people's opinion was they could have too much influence but their effect I don't think they did not affect this election like anybody everybody thought they would. Most of the corporations and most of the big money was on behalf of Mitt Romney lost most of it was on behalf of the Republicans. And many of these targets -- and they lost Democrats won many of those having been outspent. By a lot of that money came in through super pacs and all of that and so the while people think that there's too much influence in there may be too much influence -- corporations. I don't think they actually -- effectiveness election. So Meehan the end result of that is fiction it's a fact that they may have too much influence but they didn't have an effect in this election great. The next takeaways from James urgent and he writes. That the mainstream media will ignore viable third party candidates is that fact or fiction obviously there were a number of third party candidates -- -- Very very pure fact that I think it's hard for the mainstream me it's -- for any media. To -- -- look at this race is a race between Democrats or Republicans would 9798%. Of all votes right now will be cast between those two. It's where all the conversation is it's unfortunate that we don't have a viable third party and it's a little bit of a catch when he too. The third parties -- they don't get media coverage therefore they can't get enough votes. And therefore because they can't get enough votes they don't get enough media coverage. But definitely the mainstream media and the media as a whole ignores third party candidate. The fact. And toxic waste from -- FitzGerald and she writes politicians think lying about the other candidate and themselves is acceptable. Well I don't factor and obviously I mean some people eat. You know sort of said Paul Ryan you know -- -- time and so forth like anybody said about the close the plant closing opium be criticized him for that notes during his convention speech I don't think -- politicians most politicians that I know and almost everyone that -- beltway doesn't believe that lying is something they want to do worth something I think -- -- help them in this election I think many times what happens if speeches could put together. And they stretch the truth I don't think they actually think I'm intentionally -- because I think it's going to be helpful in my elections and so I don't think they. Sort of really want to do that are really want to like this -- in the course of the elections are such marathons. 124 hours a day and a tendency to sort of put the words together -- -- that comes across this is shaking so I would say not lying but appreciate the true. The next equities from Wayne Phillips and he says. That there was a sincere attempt to suppress votes in swing states that fortunately fail now. It seems like he's into the voter ID laws. Were passed in some states and subsequent court rulings. Of I think that's fiction I mean I think that. That though there's maybe people out there that sort of wanted to lower turnout I think when you look at the history of elections in this country and you look at where there's been problems -- where there's not and really has nothing to do with how where turnout is the voter turnout has totally to do it. Whether they can't engage people. Whether Barack Obama meant I'm engaged people -- whether other candidates in previous elections engage Cuba whether people feel there's enthusiasm energy. If there is it doesn't seem to matter what's in the way of people voting people lined up in this election cycle. Lined up -- the doors for hours and hours and hours to vote in it's really much more whether or not -- engagement I don't think all of those sorts of laws and all sorts of things. Have really anything to do with -- you just take a look back. And at the history of the country and it doesn't really affect -- those things don't seem -- -- -- so I think. Make so -- may be accused of voter suppression but none of those things affect -- And the last one comes from Jose -- are and he says demographics matter if you can harness the collections. -- demographics. I think this is a bit of fiction in that. It's not like whether or not Cameron's coalition we have seen elections in this election was a great example of what you were demographics really were destiny in this election. Because the number of Latinos is rising and that is very supportive of Democrats because single women -- -- group that's rising because people and affiliated with religions are rising. All of those demographics. Really are determining what the end result of the election if you can sort of know -- the demographics -- election could pretty much know. What the election -- is going to be it's not about building coalitions it's really about where the country -- headed. And it's much different country that was 25 years ago. When there was a much larger share white males and other voters it's much different now. And campaigns have to figure out how to deal with -- it's not about billing collections it's about understanding that demographic environment they face. Thank you -- for spending some time and us. And you can follow us on Twitter at this week -- DC and on FaceBook at FaceBook dot com slash this week ABC.