Hello everyone

[Boosterman]

Just wanted to say hi. I am of the opinion that one of the reasons we lost was the divide between rural and urban America. I think that the repubs have managed to exploit this in a way. But there is disinformation on both sides in a way. I hear people saying that all southerners are racist. Or most. Or anyone who voted for Bush. or prejudiced against gays. thats simply not the truth.


A little background about me. Born and raised in Tn. Urban. Spent a lot of time in Ark in a little town on my uncles farm. A real old style farm. Worked by 2-3 people tops with a tractor being the height of technology. Worked there about 3 summers. Hard ass stuff. My hats off to the rural guys. My uncle was about 40 years older than me. When I was 16 he could still toss me and my friend around when we used to play fight. My friend was an all-state wrestler and I had a red belt in martial arts at the time. He was a wise man in many ways. He certainly wasn't educated (I think he graduated from the 7th grade), he was religious (but didn't attend church. He said the Good Book told him everything he needed). He wasn't racist at all. Heck he only knew 2 black people at all. Said one was a good man. the other was kinda lazy. Those were kind words actually from my Uncle. Should have heard his opinions on my relatives. I met plenty of people like that. Good people.

No reason to heckle or condemn them. Frankly I feel like the more outspoken people of the Democratic party are responsible for a large part of this mess. Not necessarily the politicians but the people who chime in on our side. P Diddy? Paris Hilton? Michael Moore? These spokespeople are the ones that caused a significant backlash against us.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I live in rural Arkansas

in Newton County, and work in Boone County. Michael Moore's film made a big impact among the young folks here. They really associated with the mother who lost her son in Iraq. The Bush supporters around here fell into one of two camps: rich folks who saw Bush's policies as helping them and religious people who believed that Bush is the second coming.

[Boosterman]

3. I understand

Not knocking 9/11 perse. Its mainly the things he said afterwards and how the republican spinsmeisters were able to twist it. Keep in mind most wont listen to NPR.

Oh BTW spent a lot of time in Clay County. Still have 52 acres up there. May have to sell it though. I cant get up there to take care f it like I need to. Sad in a way, I wanted to retire there.

Oh and in Rector there isnt even a movie theatre. Pop 2000. Very rural. Big news was the McDonalds 20 miles away I believe. (p.s. it was 2430 last time I looked but I am fairly sure they counted the chickens to get there)

[autorank]

2. Welcome to DU. We need more on this issue.

We'll never get rid of the 'Paris Hilton's' of the world but we can outline a strong populist manifesto: NAFTA, protect small farms (which has never been done despite all the talk), education grants, drop the gun control issue. If we do these things and the rural vote is still more obsessed with Paris Hilton's support than their own well being, so be it. Oh, yeah, we could also campaign in rural states/areas. I'm so sick of the 'battle ground state' campaign. It's ridiculous and without imagination.

Just a note: this post or others like it would do better in 'General Discussion'. Deserves wider viewing/commentary.

Glad you on board. I grew up in central CA where a really big city was 100K people. Lots of small, small town holidays and visits. That area went from solid blue to solid red despite the rest of CA. My aunts and uncles would have sooner lost a limb than voted for a Republican. I'd like to see that return for rural Americans who get nothing at all from the Republicans.

[Boosterman]

4. Heh I might edit it and do a better

job of presenting my point. But it gets kinda ugly out there when you try to say things like this. I try to be calm but....

[autorank]

6. I hope you do! This needs to be raised again and again.

First of all, I think we did a lot better in the deep South than we know due to election fraud (I think 2002 Cleland was the warning of things to come, no way the vote shifted 10% in 2-3 days).

Anyway, it's worth a re-do. In that spirit, take a look at this thread. I finally got fed up with the 'class warfare' and this thread really took off. It was positive on all sides.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=2736651

Good luck. Like your screen name. You're on my 'buddy list' whatever the heck that does (if you find out let me know).

[Boosterman]

7. I am trying to be real positive.

I just read your thread. Very well done sir.Would I get in trouble for necroing it? I thought there was at least one or two spots I could add a reply.

[autorank]

8. Don't know what 'nercoing' is. Only trouble here is when your

posts get deleted. No danger there. Good luck!

[Boosterman]

10. Heh Necroing is reviving a dead post. n/t

[sweetladybug]

5. Also It's really really hard for Democrats to win elections when there is

voting fraud. As far as blacklash from Democrats who speak out I'm glad they did and thank God for Michael Moore and Farenheit 9/11, hell everyone should see that movie and maybe they will understand the multi-rich, lying, thieving con men in charge of our country! Also, I am from rural TN and there are lots and lots of racist and prejudiced against gays here where I live (and these same people want to call themselves christians) And the farther south you go in the good old USA the worse these people are (by the way, I'm not black, I'm a 50 yr old whitelady.) By the way, who did you vote for?

[Boosterman]

9. I voted for nader

I wasnt happy with the decisions of the Democratic party. I had the luxury of casting a protest vote since MS was going Bush. Kerry still got 40 % though.


I can only speak from experience. I was a bartender for a long time at a very popular bar here in MS where lots of good ole boys hung out. I heard racial jokes. I heard gay jokes. Also heard jokes making fun of farmers, city people, hunters, and wannabe hunters. There were some racist/homophobic white people just like there were some racist/homophobic black people. I truly got to see the innermost thoughts of a lot of people (alcohol does that). There are problems dont get me wrong. But this simply isnt a black/white (not referring to race) issue. There are people who need to be educated. Just not in a condescending way.


IMO it isnt that the Democratic party needs to drop issues (except gun control) so much as it need to redefine its message. Priorities are somewhat askew atm. Again JMO.

[murielm99]

12. I am in rural northern Illinois.

The largest town in my county has eight thousand people.

And while we are not really that far from Chicago or Rockford, we are definitely rural.

People here are mostly repuke, but we have a thriving Democratic party, and two Democrats on our county board. The city council in the community I live near (pop.2500) has Democrats, too.

Our area went overwhelmingly for Obama. Obama would have beaten Ryan, too, even if the scandal had not happened.

Don't think we lack prejudiced people or religious nuts just because we are in the north! After all, about thirty percent of the people in Illinois voted for Keyes.

On the whole, though, I think the key to Illinois politics is moderation. We won't vote for anyone on either side who seems too extreme.

I would say that the rest of the country's Democrats should be watching Obama closely. He is the key to what we should look for in a new generation of Democratic leaders. He won an overwhelming victory in rural as well as urban counties. He seems to know and understand rural issues. We will need leaders who model themselves after, or behave like Obama, if we are going to win anything in the future.

[EC]

11. I've lived in both

Wisconsin urban and West Virginia rural. I've thought about it alot and came to the realization that the rural dosen't see the neccessity of some of the social programs that the urban needs to keep down poverty, which in turn keeps down crime and slums. I also was scared shitless when I went to my Mom's church in West Virginia, nothing like the Catholic Church I was used to, and they say the Catholic church rules with fear. Wow, so much hate, I was called a heathen because I was Catholic. So the religious angle I haven't figured out how to deal with. But with urban vs/ rural, maybe getting them to see our need for some of the policies they see as hand-outs?

[cattleman22]

13. Urban rural divide

I believe this divide was self created by the Dems. There are two big aspects to it.

1. The urban elitism. This is evident even Dem politicians who grew up in rural areas. Clinton made a statement about the Vietnam war that America did not send its best and brightest, but rather people from rural areas.


2. Gun control. As long as prominent congressional democrats claim they want to ban private ownership of guns, people from rural areas will have a hard time voting Democratic.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

14. Urban elitism is a Right-wing meme

and you've bought it hook, line and sinker. If anything it's us Northeast 'libruls' who are looked down upong because so many of your red state brethren have drunk the Rush Kool-Aid.

And you even managed to sneak in some Clinton bashing. Boy, are you subtle! :eyes:

[cattleman22]

15. Perception based on attitudes

In other posts I have detailed why I felt that this perception existed.

It is also interesting that you criticize me for Clinton bashing and then completely ignore what I said. That quote by Clinton is a good example of a liberal looking down on people who live in rural areas.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

16. There are many other shining examples you could have given

it's just kind of funny that you chose to give Clinton's quote, considering he's from small-town Arkansas.

[cattleman22]

17. That is what makes it all the more potent of an example.

Because Clinton was from a relatively rural area and yet still looked down on rural areas makes it the best example I could think of to demonstrate the liberal elitism.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

18. The fact that you believe that liberal elitism exists

is pretty funny. The Republicans invented this meme, and their ilk has way more money than us 'urban elitists'. Speaking of urban elitists, did you vote for Kerry for President?

[Kathy in Cambridge]

19. *crickets*

so sis you vote for Kerry?

[sandnsea]

20. Rural Dem here

I grew up in the suburbs of Fresno, with fig orchards in my back yard. Camping, fishing, that sort of thing. Lived in rural America most of my adult life, between Montana and Oregon. There is a disconnect between city and rural. But mostly, the Democratic Party just doesn't reach out to rural voters. I couldn't get the state people to really connect to the rural people. Then, when it came time for the final push in my little town, they sent a paid staffer, smug little twit from the city. I could never get the small business people to make a real effort to understand the rural mom/pop business either. So maybe it is mostly a bad strategy by Democrats, they put all their money and efforts into city populations and it just isn't working anymore.