What Democrats can do to help pick up 15-25% in the South

[rudy23]

Let's use our keen awareness of language and the way meaning is perceived by other groups to start eliminating these words and phrases from our vocabulary:

Redneck
Nascar-crowd
Backwards
Fly-over states
Red States
Wal-mart shopping
Pickup truck driving
Inbred
White trash
Hick
Yokels
Rebel flag waving

Don't treat those in the South like members of a foreign country
Don't assume Southerners to be racist
Don't assume Southerners to be poor
Don't assume Southerners to be uneducated
Don't assume that Southerners live in rural areas, or don't have comparable technology to you
Don't use the exact same mechanisms that racists use to generalize the South (i.e. "They're not all bad", "Some of my best friends are from the South", "Some stereotypes are there for a reason", "Wow, you don't sound Southern, you're so well spoken")

I promise, some of that 33% of Bush's base are Southerners who will vote for policies that directly hurt them, if only because they perceive that Democrats hate them, and think they're better than them.

Most of the people on this board are cool, but I still see glaring examples of this all the time. Every Southerner can read off a long list of ignorant things said to them by people from up North (and vice versa I'm sure). I don't mean to whine, like we're some oppressed minority, but this is a fatal strategic flaw. We don't have to accept losses in the South, we can improve our performance there. Many people have been directly affected by bad Republican policies, and this is the only thing keeping many of them from voting Democrat. I don't say this to ruffle feathers, I'm trying to help.

[begley]

1. Great advice.

[mconvente]

2. While I agree...

Democrats in the south (except urban centers like atlanta and such) are not of the same type of democrats in say Massachusetts - dems up in the north east dont have to worry about their job security (for the most part), so they can be more liberal, and thus, liked more by the majority of people at DU. While all at DU want more dems in office, the types of dems that can win in the south are, for the most part, not as liberal as those desired by most at DU. Perhaps that's why you hear some of those comments. Of course, some people are just misinformed, but us sane northerners are up here trying to make a difference!

[rudy23]

5. Good points n/t

[Breeze54]

8. MA is losing tech jobs at twice the rate as the nation!

"dems up in the north east dont have to worry about their job security... ( WTF??)
so they can be more liberal, and thus, liked more by the majority of people at DU."

I'm an out of work tech and I'm still..."librul"!
What does job security and being liberal have to do with the price of fish?
I have friends in and from the south and I like them and they like me!
The OP is saying that they vote repuke and against themselves because
they feel insulted by percieved insults from Dems that they're stupid.
But isn't that stupid? :shrug:
Shooting themselves in the foot, to spite me, IS kind of...er...stupid!
Even my southern friends would agree with me on that one!
I don't think I've ever called someone that because they were southern,
unless they were a repig! :P
Then all bets are off!
:rofl:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just for your info mc:

Massachusetts slows rate of its high-tech job losses
The Lowell Sun
http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_3731155
snip-> The bad news is that Massachusetts is losing high-tech jobs at twice the rate of the nation. <-snip

http://www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060423/NEWS/604230540/1002/BUSINESS
snip-> The state’s employment mix has changed, too. Manufacturing, a major employer, has shed thousands of jobs in the last decade. The economic downturn at the beginning of the decade also brought job losses to high technology workers. Overall, Massachusetts has still failed to recover about 160,000 jobs that were lost during and after the last recession.

“That’s certainly the case in Massachusetts,” said Michael D. Goodman, director of economic and public policy at the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute. “What we’ve seen over the past five-plus years is that kind of reaction to a very slow growing economy and a very slow growing job market.
When you factor in the high-cost housing market … those factors that are pushing people to move get heightened, and the reasons to stay are reduced.” <-snip

[TayTay]

15. It's always open-season on Massachusetts

No matter what else happens you can count on other groups to bash the Bay State. However, for some reason, a lot of out-of-state Dems come here, pocket that good Massachusetts money, collect campaign workers and then bite the hand that feeds them on the way out. It's really rude.

That's just the way it is. People who ask for other regions of the country not to be bashed, should not in turn bash states they know nothing about either.

[Greyhound]

28. You're probably losing the tech jobs faster because that's

the only place left to lose them from. Clinton and the re:puke:s laid waste to the entire profession and there just aren't any significant numbers left to off-shore. So, in a way it is good news. :shrug:

[DrGonzoLives]

47. Ummm

I believe the person you were responding to was talking about elected officials in office, not office jobs.

[leftstreet]

3. They'd pick up more than that with a national health care plan

There are probably plenty of "Wal-mart shopping, pickup truck driving, rebel flag waving" folks in "Red States" who'd jump at the chance for a single payer national health plan.

[blindpig]

13. Bingo.

And if the Democratic Party does not pick up UHC and run with it what does that say about them?

Fatally compromised is an option.

[Erika]

4. I saw a post today saying Idahoans were dumb

and white supremacists. Maybe we need a national agenda and message.

[smoochpooch]

6. Isn't the real problem that conservatives have succeeded in

making comedians and late night hosts the supposed face of our party? I don't know anyone who tells Southerners that they are white trash or live in fly over states (I live in Missouri). The only people who say things like that seem to be people on t.v. who have no influence on the policy of the Democratic party and who are only looking for a laugh. Then they are labeled "Hollywood Liberals" and Rethugs say they represent our party. I don't remember Jay Leno being elected to any position in the Democratic party, nor do I believe we can,(or should), censor the jokes he tells. All we can do is remind people that Barbara Streisand does not speak for the Democratic Party.

[rudy23]

7. Oh I wish that were true

Unfortunately that's just not the case. Maybe your friends and colleagues are cool, but we hear it all the time. You're right that a lot of it comes from TV, where nearly every group is fair game to be made fun of.

A lot of the time, it comes in more subtle forms. The "Wow, you don't sound like those other Southerners with the thick accent, you actually sound intelligent" variety.

[BlueCaliDem]

9. Well, this California "librul" LOVES the Southerner's "twang"!

Ever since a boy from Georgia in my 5th grade class came to our school, and spoke that beautiful "Georgian twang", I've loved the way people talk in the South (just swooned on hearing him read a paragraph out loud, or talk to his friends!). I like the Texan twang as well.

I just believe, that a great deal of whites in the South are very anti-immigrant, i.e., anti-blacks, Latinos, Asians, even some Europeans, and that's why they'd rather vote for the Republicans than any Democratic candidate, since it's common knowledge that blacks and the majority of Latinos (Cubans notwithstanding) vote predominantly Democratic.

I believe this contention is supported with the Southerner's reluctance, if not outright staunch refusal to vote for any Presidential candidate that isn't from the South---also, common knowledge, though I'm not saying this is a stone-engraved truth.

[Bridget Burke]

16. Quite a few of us Texans have been around non-whites for a long time.

Many of the most fervent "immigrant haters" live in areas to the North--where the very presence of "the other" upsets them--no matter their "legality." In fact, I've even seen Liberal DU'ers upset because the newcomers won't "assimilate."

Lots of Southerners live in or near big cities. And you'd be surprised at how multicultural our cities can be. (I can't speak for the Deep South--being a Texan.)

[rudy23]

17. You'll never see a headline that reads "Black and white coworkers go out

...to lunch together, great time had by all" When you live in a place that's more integrated, as many places in the South are, with heavy black and latino populations, you have more chance for conflict. That's what gets picked up by the media--not all the many examples of people of different colors working side by side, getting along, and learning about each other.

That what was great about New Orleans. So many cultures, so many integrated neighborhoods. Way, way more good than bad.

[BlueCaliDem]

24. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do"

In fact, I've even seen Liberal DU'ers upset because the newcomers won't "assimilate."

I'm assuming you mean the undocumented Latino immigrants? Well, I can understand why some liberal DU'ers can get upset when predominantly Latino immigrants refuse to "assimilate" into the American culture.

I consider myself a liberal, but I, too, have issues with that refusal to "assimilate" (thereby inadvertently discriminating against those who are outside the Latino group), although I'd be happy just to notice the most minimal of "assimilation"---like speaking the American-English when out in public in order to improve one's skills at it, since the excuse I always hear is, that they find it a hard language to learn.

I live in a predominantly Mexican (although there are El Salvadorians, Cubans, Peruvians, and a few Puerto Ricans) town. I look Latino (some say Filipino as well), and I have to plead guilty to feeling upset when my white-ish daughter is forced to go to an all-white school out of town just because the Latinos in our own don't accept her, and have bullied her because of her 'white-ish' color.

I get upset when the predominantly Latino (mostly Mexican) school district, teachers, and counselors discriminate against my daughter because she bears an Anglo first and last name (Megan Hendriksen), and this has cost her points in her grades.

I have had a great deal of problems with Latino teachers who carry more weight than their (scarce) white colleagues when they under-grade my son, and daughter's school work even when presented evidence that he/she has exceeded the project and even when I produce a Latino boy's school work (who was graded a B+ while my daughter got a paltry D) the teacher continues to insist the work was graded fairly when even her (white) colleague--who was present as 'witness' for the Puerto Rican teacher--agreed that my daughter should've gotten at least a B.

What was the woman's final word? SHE grades as she sees fit followed by two more triads of D grades no matter my daughter's hard work including extra credit work, just because I had the unmitigated gall to point out the teacher's mistake??

And if you think I'm just one of those "overly concerned" parents, the fact that when this Puerto Rican teacher had left with pregnancy leave, and another, unsuspecting teacher, a Mexican woman, took her place, my daughter's grades jumped from the D- to C-, then B- in just five weeks! I then never made a single comment to any teacher; never stood up for my daughter at school again, even when I felt I should've, just so that I won't anger them again and have them penalize my daughter out of proud spite again. They don't like anyone telling them anything.

I've heard other non-Latino mothers complain about this too, and their complaints fall on deaf ears too. We've just given up trying to reason with them.

Now my daughter goes to a white-ish high school, she's been enrolled in college prep classes; has been voted by her teachers to become a coveted "Renaissance Student", and will be enrolled into advanced classes next school year. Is that just coincidence?

Do I "hate" all Latinos because of years of, as I believe it to be, discriminatory shenanigans against my son (named Patrick) and my daughter?

No. But apparently, Latinos have something against my children, and they're not shy about telling them either.

When we first bought our home, the Mexican children in our neighborhood told my children to get out because this is Mexican country! They bombarded our house with lemons from our own lemon tree, and rotten eggs; throw their trash from their parties into our yard, and used sidewalk chalk to write Spanish words over our newly painted block walls.

Were it not for our neighbor, an African-American, and Metropolitan Police Officer (now personal bodyguard to Mayor Villaraigosa) who saw them do this, and went after them, I'm sure it would've continued.

FWIW, my husband is a legal immigrant from the Netherlands. Born and raised there, we spent thousands of dollars, and he went through two years of psychological and physical tests just to get his permanent resident alien status although I'm a born and raised first generation American citizen! And I because we went through all of that, and paid so much for his perm. res. alien status, we cherish, and respect it.

Dutch-born hubby now works as manager of an upscale furniture showroom; got his American degree in Interior Decorating from PCDI; works 6-7 days a week, and no one knows he's from Holland. Most people think he's from Boston, on account of his "accent".

If my son, who didn't speak a smidgen of English when we came here, could speak fluent English within 6 months; and my husband who no one knows is from Holland, took on the American language and ways as if his own, why is it so bad for Latinos to make an attempt at it?

I mean, my husband, a legal immigrant, can "assimilate" into the American culture without losing his "dutch-ness". In the home, we celebrate being Dutch. Outside it, we celebrate being fortunate enough to live in the United States.

Being in "Rome" and doing as the "Spaniards" do, won't win a person any good points--or at the very least, make it harder for others to be accepting of their plight.

Yet, despite my experiences, I'll never vote Republican; I don't "hate" any immigrants, and I still consider myself a Liberal Dem.

I'm still doing my best to understand other cultures, and traditions, and to be more accepting, and understanding, even when my own family isn't given the same courtesy.

[Clark2008]

18. No - that's not it.

In fact, the South is more integrated than the North, outside of the very, very large cities.

The reason Southerners have started voting for Republicans (and this has been only since 1994) is BECAUSE Republicans have been defending our way of life and NOT looking down on us. Seriously.

Now, I know that Republicans actually probably care less about us than their Democratic counterparts, but the popular thought throughout the South is that Northerners think of us as stupid, backward and slow - AND that Northerners are primarily Democratic (this, of course, is an over-generalization, but there are slight truths in stereotypes); therefore, "we" shouldn't vote the same way those "uppity and elite Yankees" do.

It really isn't about race. I'm sure for SOME it is - but racism is not confined to a geographical region. It's really mostly that so many Southerners THINK the Republican Party respects them (which is a big bunch of hooey, but there you go).

[rudy23]

22. That's what I was trying to say. I couldn't agree more n/t

[BlueCaliDem]

29. Then the South's been getting a really bad rap.

Although I have to confess that after blogging with some "Southerners" on other sites--no matter how kind they initially are---when they discover I'm from California, they immediately go over into I'm "anti-gun, anti-religion, anti-everything they believe in, including anti-ethics and values".

And they don't believe it when I tell them I'm NOT anti-gun-ownership. I AM a Christian (although I don't believe in going to church because of my childhood experiences of getting the feeling I'm being brainwashed), and pro-anything that allows every individual all rights and freedoms in their pursuit of happiness---as long as they don't hurt other people.

That, I believe, is what makes me a "liberal".

I guess when it comes to preconceived notions, the knife cuts both ways.

[Clark2008]

40. Chalk those misconceptions up to Limpballs and Insannity

and the like.

They constantly try to pigeon-hold liberals into neat little boxes their listeners can hate.

And, considering that there is no AAR or any other form of liberal media in most of the South, well, that side is all most Southerners hear.

[karynnj]

36. This is convoluted

You ASSUME that Northerners think Southerns are stupid, backward, and slow - then use your ASSUMPTION to justify your predudice against the North. Consider that I never heard anyone in the NYC are say that wouldn't vote for Clinton or Carter because they were from the South. Yet, on these boards I saw many people say that Southern Democrats wouldn't vote for a Democrat not from the South, especially if he's from Massachusetts.

You can us uppity and elite.

[Clark2008]

39. I don't assume anything. I'm explaining how many

Southerners think because that's how the Reich-wing media has taught them to think.

And, for the record, I'm from Tennessee and my husband is from.... ta-da.... Massachusetts.

[karynnj]

50. See Tennessee and Massachusetts can get along

The problem I have is that this is projection on the part of southerns to some degree. So, we need to give up any of the candidates from the North, because the South THINKS we don't respect Southerns? We're penalized because we have no problem with southerners?

[ProudDad]

30. Especially since Leno is probably a repuke himself

Maybe that's it...agent provocateur

[RebelOne]

10. And for those of us in the South who live in mobile home parks,

please eliminate the term "trailer park trash."

[CTyankee]

11. I would NEVER use that term!

Especially now, when we have learned that trailers are used for hurricane victims.

I have known people who live in trailer parks. They are real people to me, not some caricature.

[tenshi816]

12. My dad lives in a mobile home in NE Georgia.

It's massive for a mobile home - bigger than a house I used to live in - and has had a huge front and back porch added over the years. Basically, it doesn't look like a mobile home at all but it is and my dad's very sensitive about the term "trailer trash". He's worked hard all his life. The Dumbass-in-Chief is trash; my father isn't.

So, yeah, I definitely agree with you.

[AX10]

34. I agree that the term "trailer trash" is improper.

Many people live in trailer homes because they are not economically well off. The term is illogical and should no be used.

[meow2u3]

44. "Trailer trash" is a classist slur

Anyone who throws that slur around is showing bigotry against the poor, especially low-income Caucasians.

AFAIC, bigotry is bigotry, be it from the right or the left.

[Doctor_J]

14. Take over the media?

Let's at least be sane about this. The biggest factor in the GOP's takeover of the less enlightened states is that the people who live there are bombarded with GOP lies 24/7. If, say, for three weeks after Katrina, the mass media, especially hate radio, had been flooded with side-by-side images (or their aural counterparts) of dead bodies and floating homes on one side and Smirk eating birthday cake and playing the guitar on the other, overall public reaction would have been much different. If for two months after that we'd been treated to images of KindaSleeza shopping for shoes and saying "no one could have predicted", contrposed with the direct warnings the WH was given for two weeks prior to the storm, public reaction would be different. We now know that Smirk was given a three day briefing about exactly what was going to ensue, and basically slept through the entire thing. That should have been on the air for a month straight. His speech pattern, lack of knowledge on every issue, and constant, expensive campaigning should be mocked on every news outlet every hour of every day until the citizens storm DC and demand he resign.

Alas, The GOP own the media, and won't be letting go any time soon. Until we fix that, any gains will be marginal.

[Clark2008]

19. Less enlightened states?

I'd say we could do away with that terminology, too.

I agree with you regarding the media, but whole states of people aren't "less enlightened," they just don't have very good media choices.

[Jose Diablo]

20. Us stump-jumping rednecks know what we are

we've been called trailer trash all our lives and don't give one twit what people say or think about us. What we are concerned about is the wealthy phonies, on both sides of the aisle, screwing us out of our hard earned money and telling us they are somehow on our side.

To take the south, you have to be willing to work for our benefit, the peoples benefit, not the corporate peckerheads.

We may be most of what the 'elites' say we are, but we are not stupid or ignorant. Whn the party figures out what we want and need, then that party will win.

[Mountainman]

21. Let's raise the rebel flag over all Dem offices. NOT!

[bamacrat]

23. Born and reared in Alabama but.....

I am not a very "Southern" person, and I feel that Democrats think that the south is an automatic loss, so they dont even really try. I live in the south and still to this day cannot figure out why so many poor people vote republican, with so many poor people the south should be an automatic Democrat victory. There are more poor people in the south.

[Radical Activist]

26. We forgot the poor and rural areas

when the DNC decided the key swing voters are suburban soccer Moms. oops.

[DrGonzoLives]

48. There you go making sense

Stop that. Why should we be appealing to the poor working class that so many liberals claim to fight for?

[Radical Activist]

25. Every liberal who insults the South is helping the GOP.

It reinforces the image that Democrats are Northeastern Elitists who look down on the South, and plays into the Republican playbook of making elections about culture. Sadly, many Kerry supporters never fully appreciated how much he played into the Republican game as well.

[JohnKleeb]

27. If you ask me I think why we've had trouble in the south

and parts of the midwest in recent years is becasue elections have become about social issues. Yes, I am pro choice, support gun control, and definely qualify as a social liberal however if the party focused more on economics I think we would be doing better as a party. There are a lot of good well meaning people out there who are little bit on the socially conservative side of things who are often poor. Just my two cents as a southerner.

[Odin2005]

33. Bingo, we play into the GOP's hands by obsessing over social issues.

There was a thread a while back where DUers posted the things they would not compromise on, and I was dismayed that they were msotly social issues, many posts were ALL social issues. This is what kills us because voters are much less likely to comprimise on social issues then economic issues because for most people compromising on social issues would mean compromising on thier moral beliefs. The net effect is that socially conservative left wingers are driven into the hands of the GOP. My proposition is that the US leans slightly to the left on economic issues and slightly to the right on social issues, which is why we MUST concentrate on economic issues, not social issiues, no matter how temting it is to lash out at opponents of abortion and gay marrige.

[karynnj]

38. The Republicans forced the debate on gay marriage and abortion

Kerry's position on gay marriage was the same as Bush's - but people knew Kerry meant it when he said civil unions with full rights. Kerry's position on abortion is most Democrats' position. His answer to the woman in the debate was respectful, he did speak of pushing alternatives (and Teresa has worked on this)to help women who choose to have the baby.

Is there any Democrat who will go to the right of that. I think some potential candidates are for gay marriage. Kerry NEVER voluntarily brought up either civil unions or abortion unless he was asked. (The president of NOW actually faulted him on this). Even at a big woman's rally where every one else reaffirmed their support of keeping sbortion legal - Kerry spoke of having set up one of the first rape counseling units in a Da's office and other things he did that were pro-woman instead.

[karynnj]

37. How did Kerry do this?

I can not think of a single incident where Kerry insulted anyone. (If you mean he didn't target any southern states - tell me one that was viable) He did campaign a little in Virgina and missouri - that was a stragegic decision.

This is your projection. He even picked a southern for VP - I guess he didn't think poorly of him.

[Radical Activist]

45. By being Kerry.

If you don't get it then my explaining it to you probably won't help. I think its pretty obvious why Kerry played into the GOP "northeastern liberal elite" theme.
Maybe more Southern states weren't viable because of the candidate we chose. Clinton won several both times. Its a shame Edwards was stifled and underutilized in the campaign. Edwards would have won a Southern state or two had he been at the top of the ticket. North Carolina, Arkansas, Missouri, Florida, and Louisiana all could have been in play had a serious effort been made.

[karynnj]

51. Because Southerners are prejudiced against

people with Massachusetts accents? Because they bought the RW garbage. Edwards was out there every day. I seriously doubt that Edwards would have done better. Some polls showed him losing NC as a Senator.

[DinahMoeHum]

31. Better yet, please read "Foxes in the Henhouse"

by Steve Jarding and Dave "Mudcat" Saunders, the architects of Mark Warner's successful campaign for VA governor:

www.foxesinthehenhouse.com

(snip)
Like a newly discovered treasure map offering a path to buried riches, Foxes in the Henhouse is a hard-hitting political blueprint for how the Democrats can win again in the South and rural America. The authors document the Republicans' rise in the South and Midwest, expose the hypocrisy that marked their ascent, and offer a take-no-prisoners plan to kick them out.
In addition to exposing the lies behind the gradual Republican invasion of the hinterland that began in the 1960s, they offer some surprisingly simple strategies for Democrats to capture each of these issues. Among other things, Jarding and Saunders urge Democrats to

Quit turning their noses up at the culture of rural America and talk to people where they live
Learn how to count when going after votes
Show some passion and retaliate when Republicans assassinate their characters
(snip)

:kick:

[wallybarron]

49. Second that. Great book. n/t

[garybeck]

32. what really needs to be done to pick up votes is

throw away the electronic voting machines.

then you'll get your votes.

Max Cleland ring a bell? he won.

the south will turn purple and then blue when you throw away the electronic voting machines. there just aren't enough "rednecks" to elect republicans.

[karynnj]

35. Great advice - as long as mutual respect is shown

I see far more people posting that New Englanders need not apply. I have lived in the Chicago and NYC areas and I have NEVER EVER assumed or said ANY of those listed things.

Many Southerns here have made very obnoxious comments about non-Southerns.

[rudy23]

41. That's very true that the respect is often not returned, BUT

what do we gain by waiting for that to happen before we treat the South with respect? You'll find plenty of prejudice towards New Englanders, Californians, other various yankees and even other states in the South.

I'm saying, let's not validate the stereotype of the elitist liberal looking down on the "masses". You can find validation for that all over this board, and it's causing us to kind of blow it where voters are eager for change.

[Clark2008]

42. No offense, but what's a "Southern?"

Is that like the "Democrat" Party?

Seriously, I'm not trying to pick on you, but that terminology made me wince. I hope you didn't mean to call me a "Southern." My first name isn't Ann.

[Dr Fate]

43. Start acting like Clint Eastwood instead of Mr. Rogers.

Fence sitting Southerners wont go against the Town Boss (GOP) until Clint Eastwood (imaginary Democrat who is not too frightened to be blunt, truthful and agressive towards the town Boss) rides into town.


Clint Eastwood: "These guys are a bunch of lying crooks. I cant trust a single thing they do. Go ahead you bastards-MAKE MY DAY."

Mr. Rogers: "Oh my- they must have mis-spoke. I am trying so hard to work with them but they wont be nice to me. Wont you be my neighbor?"

We will take back the South win we act like somthing they can respect.

[sendero]

46. I second that emotion...

... with extreme prejudice.

Dems have precious little time to stop with the mealy-mouthed bullshit (a few already have, we need more).

[Jack Rabbit]

52. . . . and trailer trash

They are the working poor and Democrats should be ready to claim them as part of their constituency.