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The GOP like any right wing party is nationalistic and ethnocentric, believing that their race, religion and culture is superior to any other -- even if they won't come out and admit it. They believe they are the 'real' Americans and everyone else is simply a threat to their white society. They are also moderately fascistic, believing it is a corporation's right to have a say in government and a role in shaping policy.
When people start asking 'why are these people voting against their interests?' the answer is that they aren't. Economics is not everything, and even on that issue, even if poor whites hurt in the short run, in the long run they believe that it's better their corporate white brothers benefit and retain power than the 'dirty minority' who is living off of the white man's taxes. They see the corporation not as an enemy, but an ally in a larger war.
One other thing, let's remember that the old Southern Democrats were a right wing party even though populist on economics, i.e. Pat Buchanan/Lou Dobbs type of conservatives. The key distinction here is that these type of populist conservatives are basically moderate national socialists, as opposed to a populist of the left. Conservative populists oppose free trade and support unions NOT for any noble 'workers rights'/anger at corporate power lefty type reasons, but because 'the dirty foreigners' are taking their jobs. So the motive of the Republican conservatives of today is the same, it's just the economic method that is different. Motive is what really matters when judging people politically -- party affiliation and issue positions are no where as important.
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