AlterNet: Palin, Huckabee and the GOP's 'Hick Factor'

[marmar]

Palin, Huckabee and the GOP's 'Hick Factor'

By Sarah Posner, AlterNet. Posted September 9, 2008.

Why did the GOP choose a political neophyte to appeal to the religious right over a seasoned politico? Fried squirrels and economic populism.



In a convention hall filled with ecstatic Republicans taking in Sarah Palin's speech on Wednesday night, one observer seemed a little less than enthusiastic. Mike Huckabee, the former Republican presidential hopeful spurned by party leaders and religious right honchos, must have felt like the hockey mom from Wasilla stole the thunder of the Southern Baptist preacher from Hope.

Huckabee, it seems, represents "Real America" a little too much for the Republican Party's taste.

On the surface, Palin's and Huckabee's appeals to the religious right seem indistinguishable -- in fact, Huckabee, with a preacher's background and experience in elected office, could possibly have had an edge. Both can sling the red meat on abortion and gay marriage, and both are equally comfortable talking God and country. Two weeks ago, Huckabee was far better known to the religious right base than Palin was; he had built a dedicated grassroots following through his failed presidential campaign, and many of his followers participated in a petition effort to convince McCain to pick him as his running mate. But comparing the instant and unequivocal enthusiasm for Palin from religious right heavies with the uphill battle Huckabee faced to wring a belated endorsement from James Dobson points to something Palin has that Huckabee doesn't -- or something Huckabee has that the Republican Party just doesn't like.

At the heart of the Republican Party's marketing of Palin to the general public is that she is a Real American Mom. Even though she attends deeply conservative evangelical churches with theologies that are alien and even alarming to outsiders, she is portrayed as someone whose life is just like yours, who understands the daily turmoil faced by Real American Families, and who will therefore engage in a pitched battle to save you from unskilled community activists who operate in the nether reaches of Real America doling out government handouts to lazy welfare queens. (Yes, as conservative activist Richard Viguerie was not shy to announce, "cranky conservatives" were responsible for McCain picking "the next Ronald Reagan" as his running mate.) ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/election08/97769/palin%2C_huckabee_and_the_gop%27s_%27hick_factor%27/

[YOY]

1. There was a parody of "Hee Haw" called "Horse Apples" on MTV2 a few years ago...

One 5 second skit was a guy (David Cross?) decked up like a stereotypical redneck (mullet, gimme cap, missing teeth, wife-beater and overalls...). He had one line:

"I vote against my own interest!!! H-yuk h-yuk h-yuk!"

Eerily accurate at times and funny none-the-less.

[yellowcanine]

2. Republicans are rediscovering their "Know Nothing" Party roots.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_Nothing

[noel711]

3. This is not news... that's how *W* was elected..

"Shucks, I'm just a down-home, southern-fried,
cowboy.. ya just wanna have a beer with me.."

And everyone fell into place.

But we cannot fall for the same crap over and over again.