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Dem Congressman: Trump Supporters Are Poorer, Less Educated, Die Early

Trump and his supporters 'want to return America back to a time where white men and white privilege were unchallenged'

January 2, 2019

Rep. Hank Johnson (D., Ga.) said during a speech on Tuesday that supporters of President Donald Trump are older, less educated, poorer, and die early compared to other voters.

"Donald Trump supporters are older, less educated, less prosperous, and dying early," Johnson said at Friendship Baptist Church in Atlanta.

Johnson didn't cite what data he used to come to his conclusion, but an analysis by the Washington Post found that while a significant portion of Trump supporters may not have a college degree, they are generally prosperous.

"Their life spans are decreasing. And many are dying from alcoholism, drug overdoses, liver disease or simply a broken heart caused by an economic despair," Johnson added.

Again, Johnson didn't cite the evidence he based his claim off of, but a study released in September from Columbia University found counties with higher death rates did tend to vote Republican in 2016.

"Although life expectancy is increasing in many parts of the country, especially in urban areas, we’re not seeing nearly the same gains in rural and middle America. We shouldn’t underestimate the degree to which some portions of the country have been left behind in terms of their health. And it’s not surprising that health disparities correspond with voting behavior," said study leader Lee Goldman, MD, MPH, the Harold and Margaret Hatch Professor, Dean of the Faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine, and chief executive, Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

Johnson also blasted Americans who voted for Trump and said they want to bring America back to when "minorities and women were in their place."

"Americans elected an authoritarian anti-immigrant racist strongman to the nation's highest office. Donald Trump and his Make America Great Again followers want to return America back to a time where white men and white privilege were unchallenged. And where minorities and women were in their place. These folks now control the highest office in the land," he said.

Johnson has a past of making controversial statements. In 2016, he compared Jewish Israeli settlers to termites. He also expressed concern during a congressional hearing that the island of Guam could tip over because of the presence of U.S. troops.

The congressman said right-wing ideologues are dividing people because of their thirst for profits.

"Right-wing ideologues gain power by playing on peoples' economic despair. Pitting working people against each other.  Enflaming racial tensions by blaming economic hardships on people of color," Johnson said. "The reality is that these right-wing authoritarians are laissez-faire free, market capitalist with insatiable thirst for more and more profits."

During his Tuesday speech, Johnson also compared Trump and the Republican Party to Adolf Hitler and the Nazis, amidst other eyebrow-raising remarks.