No such thing as Reagan Democrats

[charlie]

This is something that's stuck in my craw for a while...

The Democrats who stayed with the GOP through Reagan's tenure were largely the same clowns who voted for George Wallace over Humphrey. And voted for Nixon when Wallace was taken out.

They've long been allowed to skate as a bunch of happy fools dazzled with Ronnie's optimism and pragmatic "centrism." Pfft. Denied the choice of a hardbitten segregationist, they merely opted for the next best thing. And were rewarded with a cutesy name -- Reagan Democrats.

As long as we're burying Reagan, I'd like to see the amiable monicker for wayward conserva-Dems dumped too. Call 'em what they are:

Wallace Democrats.

[ibegurpard]

1. Wrong

Call them what they are: Republicans.

[charlie]

3. What?

And dash the hopes of Third Way hand-wringers of ever wooing them back? One step at a time, my friend.

[salin]

9. For those too young to remember Wallace... tag them the Zell wing

of the democratic party. Doesn't capture the racist aspect to the group - but does capture that it really isn't about moderation as much as loyalty to conservative ideals.

[ButterflyBlood]

2. People should also admit they no longer exist

After the racist southern wing of the Democratic party died off, they all joined the Republicans, and made it official after Reagan left office. Most of them didn't even vote for Clinton. The "Reagan Democrats" are now the unChristian Right, and have nothing to do with today's modern Democratic party.

[DBoon]

4. They never did exist as Democrats. Ever.

They were Democrats only out of anger and spite towards Abraham Lincoln and Reconstruction.

After 100 years or so, this motivation faded.

While technically Democrats, they were a millstone around Roosevelt and Truman's necks.

[wyldwolf]

5. uh, no

Many dems who voted Reagan crossed back over and voted Clinton, for example.

You're attempting to retro-actively re-define something long studied and accepted in political science and adding a dash of a ficticious DLC connection where none exists.

Doesn't surprise me, though.

Defintitions of what a "democrat" is and was are a dime a dozen on DU. Yours is just one in a series of such.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. Not true, my friend..Reagan took California twice

as did Clinton and Gore took it once..these people don't fit your assessment..granted anyone who IS a Bush Democrat (i.e. the 10% of Dmes that voted for him) does.

[Skittles]

7. a lot of Democrats were fooled by that phony

some were even fooled by Dubya

[Union Thug]

8. you're right...

There is no such thing as a Reagan democrat... only stupid assholes who never should have called themselves democrat in the first place.

Listen, if you vote Republican, you're either rich or stupid. eom.