"Right now in most of Dixie it is culturally unacceptable to be a Democrat."

[sufrommich]

White Southern Democrats Nearly Extinct
WASHINGTON — The white Southern Democrat – endangered since the 1960s civil rights era – is sliding nearer to extinction.

After this week's elections, the Democratic Party barely holds a presence in the region outside of majority-black urban areas such as Atlanta and Memphis. The carnage for the party was particularly brutal in the Deep South, where just one white Democrat survived across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.

The Republicans' effort to win over the South, rooted decades ago in a strategy to capitalize on white voters' resentment of desegregation, is all but complete.

"Right now in most of Dixie it is culturally unacceptable to be a Democrat. It's a damn shame, but that's the way it is," said Dave "Mudcat" Saunders, a campaign strategist for conservative Democrats such as Jim Webb of Virginia, one of the few remaining Southern Democratic senators


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/05/white-southern-democrats-_n_779345.html

[klook]

1. The blue dot network will survive (n/t)

[sufrommich]

3. What is the blue dot network? I see you're from Georgia,is it

culturally unacceptable to be a democrat in the south?

[klook]

33. I made it up

All I mean is, there are a lot of us living in Democratic "blue dots" (or purple patches) inside vast areas of Republican Red.

We will keep fighting at the local level - my congress rep is John Lewis, and my county leadership is Democratic. We will keep supporting good candidates nationwide with our dollars and energy, and will keep trying to change things where we live.

We will survive.

That's what I mean.

[sufrommich]

38. "We will survive". Yep, you will and hopefully change some

minds along the way.

[Doctor_J]

113. I am not convinced

the Repukes are content now and so there haven't been any violent incidents for several days. But during the next campaign season, beginning in about 13 months, the violence will return, and, since none of it is punished, will be worse next time than this time.

[socialist_n_TN]

128. Blue Dot. I like that. I also live in a blue dot...............

or maybe it's purple, here in the Nashville area. Our rep seems to be a decent guy, but he's DEFINITELY Blue Dog. I actually think that he's more conservative than the overall area, but he's been in so long, he's hard to primary. And more positively, he's harder to defeat in the general too.

[PurgedVoter]

106. I'm a member!

The easy way to spot us is that we use large words instead of code talk.

[virginia mountainman]

2. It's damn grim....I can attest to that....nt

[trayfoot]

16. You and me BOTH!!!!!!

It surely is lonely for us southern dems!

[Lochloosa]

31. Amen Brother

[Davis_X_Machina]

4. Not him again. Mudcat Saunders has a solution, though.

Run Republicans, but on the Democratic line.

More, better blue dogs. Mountaintop removal rules! And not so much talk about justice and equity.

Create two, three, many Heath Shulers!

His 'solution' was put to the test -- more accurately put to the sword -- Tuesday.

[Kalyke]

50. Yep.

We need more Huey Longs and just the one Heath Shuler (and I say that as a graduate of the University of Tennessee where Heath was our QB for my last year in school).

[NC_Nurse]

5. So true. Every day people at work just assume I'm a Repub and talk like its

A given that I dislike Obama. It's really annoying, to say the least. I just change the subject because I am so outnumbered and need to have the job. It was better in the blue dot town I used to live in (Chapel Hill), but GA really sucks.

[cynatnite]

7. I'm in NE TN. It's no different here. n/t

[tsuki]

14. Panhandle Florida, yup. It's the same. nt

[Gaedel]

82. Eastern Ternnessee was alway GOP

They stayed loyal during the Civil War and continued to vote GOP after. FDR made a few inroads during the Depression, but it usually remained a GOP island in Dixie.

The same goes for western Virginia, western North Carolina, and eastern Kentucky.

Racial dynamics there were totally different from the other parts of Dixie (not that they were all that charitable).

[sufrommich]

10. I feel sorry for dems in the south. It must feel like you're

fighting a losing battle every day.I commend those of you who swim against the tide.

[Lochloosa]

34. We try. TY

[IDemo]

117. Not just the South

:banghead:

[GoCubsGo]

21. I know the feeling.

I live in South Carolina. I'm white. People always assume I'm republican, and are shocked when I say I wouldn't vote republican if you held a gun to my head. When they bad-mouth Obama, I just remind them of the mess Bush and his party made of this country. Not that most of them listen. They don't even know that many of the things they hate Obama for are republican ideas--like health care reform and "Cap and Trade." I really, really, really, really, really, really wish I could get the hell out of here. I'd even be willing to put up with winter snow again if it could get me into a place with sane, non-ignorant people.

[sufrommich]

24. Are you a northern transplant? I know a lot of Michiganders who

have moved to the Carolinas for work who are also democrats.I'm a little surprised that the population movements in the US haven't changed the south much.

[NC_Nurse]

28. We keep hoping...

[GoCubsGo]

51. Yes, I am.

Unfortunately, there aren't enough Democratic transplants to make much of a difference. A lot of the Northerners who move down here are wealthy republicans, who come for the cheap land and low taxes, or retirees, who come for the cheap cost of living. That being said, my next door neighbors on one side. were born here. They're Democrats. The retired couple across the street are Democrats. I suspect the man next door on the other side is a Democrat, as he's African-American. He's a shift-worker and keeps to himself, so nobody really knows him. But, I suspect my little neighborhood is an exception to the rule around here.

[tnvoter]

67. In Nashville, there is effort to hide the racism

On my long training runs, I go passed the TN GOP headquarters, the Freedom Forum and a host of yard signs that remind me that my neighbors are extremely conservative. These voices drown out the moderate and progressive voices and signs, which exist too, but are not as mean-spirited.

At work, I heard a coworker reveal his bias by saying we have to "change the color of the white house."

I think such people know they can "get away" with being overtly racist here.

[CBGLuthier]

6. white voters' resentment of desegregation

Because calling racists, racists would just not be american.

Culture. Code word for we used to own them and we will treat them however the hell we feel.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. It's Been That Way For Damn Near Forty Years

~

[Kalyke]

58. No it hasn't.

I'm 40 years old and I remember slews of Democrats when I was growing up!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

70. In The Last Forty Years Florida Has Had Exactly Five Democratic Governors And Senators

Rubin Askew
Bob Graham
Lawton Chiles
Bill Nelson
And some guy whose name I don't recall.

[Kalyke]

77. OK... and?

In the last 40 years, Tennessee has had three Democratic governors and three Republican governors. When you consider governors serve between four and eight years, having five Democratic governors since 1970 is not a low number.

Forgive me if that's not what you were trying to say.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

80. Florida Has Had A Republican State Senate

A Republican State House, and a majority Republican congressional delegaqtion since around 1980.

If that doesn't convince you of their dominant position in Florida I don't think there is anything I can do to convince you.

[kick-ass-bob]

93. Florida is not Dixie.

"Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina" is the deep south.

Florida has always been something different, and to try to call it as the deep south doesn't do it justice.

North Carolina has been put in this deep south group as well, sometimes,so let me show you the last 40, 60, 100 years here:

One moderate Republican governor, Jim Martin, for 8 years. The other 32: Democratic.
Jessee Helms, yes. But outside him, every senate seat turned over to the other party every election, and I mean EVERY.

Years since 1900 that Republicans controlled both chambers of NC Legislature: 0
Years since 1900 that Republicans controlled one chamber of NC Senate: 0
Years since 1900 that Republicans controlled one chamber of NC House: <10 (cannot find exact number now)

This year is a marked difference, and I expect 2012 will see a reversal in the state legislature.

[JI7]

126. there are parts of Georgia, tennessee , etc which are liberal just as in Florida

doesn't mean they aren't conservative as a whole.

[progressoid]

129. And a couple of them are barely Democrats.

[jody]

9. Many Yellow Dog Democrats say "I didn't leave the Democratic Party. The party left me." n/t

[tsuki]

17. If they say that, they are not yellow dogs. You cannot vote R and be a yellow dog. nt

[socialist_n_TN]

131. Yep. The whole point to "yellow dog Democrat"

means that you'd vote for a yellow dog (a useless mongrel in Southern speak) before you'd vote for a Republican. So if you EVER vote for a Republican FOR ANY REASON, you lose your yellow dog status.

[Sparkly]

20. Johnson and the Civil Rights Act of 1964

And the Republicans' "Southern Strategy" in relation to that... That's how the party left the "Dixiecrats." (I don't think those are "yellow dogs," though.)

[Kalyke]

60. No. That is simply not true and I'm tired of hearing it.

The South did not begin voting for Republicans en masse until 1994. Even then, most of the South voted to re-elect Clinton in 1996.

If it takes more than 30 years to enact a strategy, can you still say that strategy won? I don't think so.

The reason why so many Southerners vote Republican is talk radio. Period.

I watched the South begin to dust off the Battle Flag of the Northern Virgina Army (what you may know as the Confederate Flag - but it's not), Southern city slickers from Atlanta pretend to be good ole country boys and women singing some stupid damn song about how great it is to be a redneck right before my very eyes - and all this occurred just a year or two after Rush Limbaugh appeared on radio stations from Biloxi to Columbia.

[Dappleganger]

92. In agreement, talk radio is a huge influence...

these people treat their talk radio shows like listening to church, and are just as passionate.

[WinkyDink]

11. Yes, let's now push this motif so that it becomes "accepted truth." Jeesh.

[sufrommich]

15. The article isn't pushing anything. It's stating the facts as they

are. Outside of areas with big african american populations in the south, the democratic party is non existent.

[nadinbrzezinski]

125. It is a fact

and the DNC needs to figure out how to change this... and it will be a GENERATIONAL fight.

[AC_Mem]

12. Memphis here

OFA, DCCC, etc. should put more effort here in the south. The message needs to be strong and clear, that the GOP will keep them poor. We know where the blue states are; it's time NOW to start the work for 2012 - we are going to have one hell of a fight in 2012 and the money machine is going to be even worse than it was on Tuesday.

GET ON MESSAGE DEMOCRATS! Show what we have accomplished and show what the GOP has voted against. Start doing what we hired you to do NOW.

[sufrommich]

13. I agree, giving up on the south is unacceptable. nt

[Still Waters]

138. I'd like to see a strong populist message here and a real appeal to the young

The Democratic Party has to start standing on its principles. I've often wondered why the Blue Dogs run as Democrats--do they just flip a coin? Everyone knows what the Repubs stand for, but the Democrats are all over the map.

Also, NO APOLOGIES!!! The Repubs never apologize for anything, and we look way too weak in comparison.

Another element in this is religion. There are many in the South who view abortion as pure evil, a real crime, and would never vote for a Democrat for this reason alone. I don't know how we can overcome this.

[AC_Mem]

141. The South and its Religion

They are hanging on but you know what? There are less and less young Evangelical Christians out there (which is why they are trying to grow from within by birthing these huge families).

We are becoming more spiritually evolved and with that comes a questioning of the black and white, never go outside of the box, only their interpretation of their bible Christianity. It's happening; our spiritual DNA is evolving and ascending. The other side has a WAYYYYY different perspective on physical existence and religion, and the veil between this side and the other side is getting thinner.

In this life, there is only love or fear and Christianity is based in fear. You can clearly see this in the right wing, they are afraid of EVERYTHING which is why they want to take us backwards - they are too afraid to move forward.

Democrats need to reinforce our positive message with the young adults in the South. They are here, I guarantee it.

Sorry if I'm rambling, it's been a long week... :)
Annette

[dsc]

18. I know virtually no straight, white male Democrats

I do know some who flip from Rep to Dem depending on election (ie independent) but I can't think of only one or two friends that are straight, white, male, southeren and a Democrat.

[klook]

37. Here's one. Born, bred, and still living in Dixie. And not a Blue Dog. (n/t)

[Fla_Democrat]

52. Maybe you don't IRL

but I am sure you have run across some posting here.......


:smoke:

[Kalyke]

62. I know tons!

But, then again, I actually live in the South and know people who do.

[dsc]

119. I may have overstated a little

and of course, I know a ton of gays since I am gay, but since moving here, I really have met damn few straight, white, democratic men who are from around here.

[Deep13]

66. Not Southern, but hetero, white, male here.

I've been a D. since the '80s when I suddenly realized, "Hey! Reagan is an asshole!"

[NCarolinawoman]

87. Actually I know of many straight white male Democrats living in the Research Triangle area.

The influence of the universities has been a real positive.

That is one reason why we have the somewhat progressive Rep. David Price and the even more progressive Rep. Brad Miller. (That and gerrymandering by our once Democratic legislature, LOL).

The obscene amount of money recently plowed in to the "lesser" political contests (Thank you, Judge Roberts) has suddenly given me a teabagger to represent me in the NC legislature, instead of the progressive Democrat who is representing me now. Quite a switch there.:(

Maybe when the new Republican legislature starts making all those cuts to colleges, the students will get off their asses and vote.

[JI7]

127. even in non southern states, straight while males seem to favor people like Sharron ANgle

[socialist_n_TN]

130. Not that I know you, but I'm white, born and bred Southern..............

(over 10 generations on both sides), straight and male, and I'll add OLD, and I've never voted Republican in my life and never will. I won't say I'm a Democrat (any more), but I'm VERY left wing. 1930s style, CLASSIC, old school, socialist left wing. Which means I've VOTED Democrat in every election since I was old enough to vote in 1972.

[Orsino]

19. Bullshit. Someone needs to get out a little more.

One can't see Dixie from inside the Beltway.

[sufrommich]

22. "one white Democrat survived across Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina."

It's hard to argue with those facts, no matter where you live.

[Orsino]

46. None of that supports the "culturally unacceptable' quote in the OP.

A swing in majorities doesn't equate to extinction, and Congress should never, ever be confused with culture.

[Blue_Roses]

68. Arkansas just re-elected a white Democratic governor...

Mike Beebe. The south is infested with bigoted repubs, but there are those of us who are white, Democratic, and proud!

[GoCubsGo]

98. That's wrong.

John Barrow won. John Barrow is white. I suspect there are other examples, as well.

[dsc]

23. It is actually even worse than the article suggests in the House

North Carolina has Schuler, Kissel, Price, Miller, and McIntyre meaning we have around a third of the 14 to 16 surviving white Democrats. We just lost control of redistricting here, meaning we could well lose 3 of those 5.

[queenjane]

27. I can't believe we still have Miller

He's my rep, but my rural county (Person), which used to vote for Dems, went overwhelmingly repug this cycle. Only when the Dem was the ONLY choice did they choose that option.

I don't think things are going to improve for the Democratic party around here. I hope I'm wrong.

[dsc]

45. Miller has a lot of Raleigh in his district

which I am sure saved him. He has my state rep and state sen in his district both Dems (black) and won in walks. I figure that they will strengthen Elmers district, go after Kissel, Shuler, and McIntyre and actually make Price and Miller more Democratic. If they draw well they could get us down to two white Dems. The could make Price and Miller's district into a black Dem district and a white Dem district but I don't think they can make either one GOP without making it harder on Elmer.

[last_texas_dem]

25. Anyone who claims that *this* shift at *this* time is fundamentally about issues

and not race is deluding themselves. All it took was a black president for the true colors of white folks in certain parts of the south to come out. It's disgusting.

[boot@9]

112. another Texas D

you are right on. Racism is everywhere but it is especially virulent in the old Confederate states. I beleve we are at least a generation away nullifying 50% of it. And another thing, I watch a lot of sports. Invaribly the crowds are at least 90% white and the players are at least 80% minority(mostly black) and the fans are rooting like crazy for their black heroes. Go figure.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[StandingInLeftField]

29. South Carolina is sooooooooo red

I have one male friend who is a Democrat and he lives in Atlanta. I'm in the construction industry and I listen to crap all day long. The other guys know I'm a Dem, but that doesn't mean a thing to them. It's n****r Obama this, and muslin Obama that. You could get in a fist fight every day with them and it wouldn't change a thing.

BTW, I was born and raised in Atlanta.

[33Greeper]

30. I'm a bright blue dot in Alabama

and I refuse to stop fighting for progressive values. There are too many fucking poor people down here that really need our help.

[sufrommich]

32. Good for you 33Greeper! I don't think a lot of

northerners(myself included) realize how hard it is for southern democrats.

[Lochloosa]

36. Jacksonville, FL here. 62% for a fucking crook for Gov.

[GoCubsGo]

56. Sounds like my hometown here in SC

About that many voted for Sarah, Jr. for Governor here. Let's hope she follows suit and quits in two years--not that I think the repug Lt. Gov. would be any better.

[kwolf68]

35. It is BRUTAL to be a Dem in the South

I live in Fauquier, basically Northern Virgnia, but a bit West.

It is a GIVEN you are Republican. I have people just offer far-right opinions to me at little league baseball games, in the grocery store, in my own home.

And catch this. One couple quit associating with my wife and I because she found out I was a Democrat. That coversation came up when she gushed on about Palin and I had to actually stand my ground. But I didn't come at it that "she's a bad Conservative", I simply suggested she was vitriolic and ignorant.

Mark off that couple. Truthfully, I didn't like them anyway.

Now we've befriended another couple, revolving around our kids (both our sons play on the little league team and are friends and we have daughters who are the same age and like each other). It's a GREAT situation. But what did I see when I went to pickup my daughter from their house a few weeks ago? A McCain/Palin sticker on their car. They are not the only ones.

We have lots of friends in this area, but politics isn't something we talk about with ANY OF THEM. My wife and I would like to have progressive friends around here, but we just can't find any.

[sufrommich]

40. I'm a bit surprised that northern Virginia is that red. nt

[kwolf68]

42. Well it really isn't

I'm a bit further out in NOVA. Our district is mainly Republican but has voted Democratic in the past.

I think my main point about my particular county is Republicans are far more vocal. I am VERY SURE I've run across Democrats in my daily lives, but I never find out they are that because they don't pontificate like the Republicans do.

that is the result of two things:

1-Republicans are big mouthed arrogant know-it-alls
2-Dems are wary about saying too much lest their position in the community become imperiled.

[AspenRose]

81. Democrats usually care about offending other people as well

Democrats are usually thoughtful and go out of their way to be considerate and purposefully not offend people in regular conversation. Whereas Republicans don't give a shit. Everyone's going to hear their opinion whether it's appropriate or not. They've been emboldened by right-wing media to do that. It's encouraged to show your ass on a regular basis, because you're being patriotic, so it's for a good cause.

And if someone calls them out on their ignorance, they roll around and play victim, as if someone is trying to censor them and take away their "free speech." There should be no consequences for their "free speech" because (in their mind) clearly they love America more than we do and it's for the good of the country.

(Exhibit A: Dr. Laura. Exhibit B: Michael Savage.)

[socialist_n_TN]

132. I know the scene, but we CANNOT shut up.................

They HAVE to be called on their ignorance. Because it became "unpopular" to be a "liberal" during the Reagan years and because we shut up and let them talk unchallenged, the Reagan meme became engrained in the public psyche.

It's no accident that when the left started speaking up after Shrub was elected that we eventually had our mid decade successes. We CANNOT crawl into a hole and let them speak unchallenged or we'll set the movement back another decade. NOW IS THE TIME TO BE EVEN LOUDER!!!!!

Remember we're not doing it to change THEIR minds, we're doing it for the people who only pay attention to politics every 4 years. We MUST show them an alternative to ignorant RW spew.

[AspenRose]

140. Totally agree

:thumbsup: I don't know what we're afraid of. They back off when we fight back.

[Poboy]

41. You speak to what is going on all over in the 'south'. Same here.

[Buns_of_Fire]

72. I lost my mother a friend like that, too.

Her friend and her husband were over during Christmas, spreading whatever they spread around here during the holidays (southwest Virginia). They were chatting away, merrily badmouthing all their mutual friends, I was sitting on the periphery, working out some PHP code, just as merrily ignoring them all.

Then out of the clear blue the husband piped up, loudly exclaiming how president Shit-Fer-Brains had saved us from the tourists, was the best thing for the country since grits, was the best prezdint we ever had, and on and on.

Finally he finished with his bushgasm. I looked up from the papers I was working on, said only "Bush is an idiot," and went back to work.

The place went deathly silent.

They left almost immediately. Haven't seen them since. That was four Christmases ago.

Now, I go upstairs whenever her buddies come over. It's just safer that way. Mom needs all the (living) friends she can get.

[krabigirl]

107. I feel for you, but that also happens where I live still (Orange County, CA).

It is getting bluer, but yeah, I have had friends drop me when they converted not only to a southern Baptist church, but right-wing politics. Many people here just assume you are Republican, and because they are so upset that they don't live in a red state, they take it out on you if you aren't one of them. Idiots are everywhere!!

[Poboy]

39. Its a solitary, isolated existence, with ugliness all around.

We are scorned, insulted, and abused. There is no counter to the pollution of the radio waves by wing nut talkers. It keeps them rabid, and we have no answer.

[sufrommich]

43. "and we have no answer" yep, I think that's the gist of it. nt

[tanyev]

44. They're not big on Union blue in Dixie.

[Doctor_J]

47. This is why I don't completely write off Civil War/secession

Yugoslavia had to break up to rectify life for its residents. As it is now, the political discussion is controlled by a small minority of ass-backward, racist hate radio addicts. Letting them have their own region, without our taxes and our "big government" programs like roads, water treatment plants, and public parks, might be better than just living under their rule. Jeff Sessions, Jim DeMint, and David Vitter don't represent real America, so why do we have to put up with their hatred, lies, and authoritarianism? I am not advocating splitting the union, but I believe the current situation is untenable, and am running out of ideas for making it livable.

[kwolf68]

49. No arguments at all

Good post and as our nation becomes more diverse and more fractured...it will only get worse.

[get the red out]

59. Interesting thought

But I wonder where the line should be drawn? The same as during the civil war? (Being a Kentuckian, I have a personal stake, maybe not to be burned at the stake if I find myself in the new confederacy.)

I would imagine this new Southern Confederacy, if it ever came about, would make Fidel Castro's Human Rights record seem attractive. Can you just imagine what kind of nasty country that would become?

[sufrommich]

61. I also don't like the idea of giving up on our democratic

friends down there. Obviously they are there and feeling alone and dispirited enough.

[Kievan Rus]

88. If there ever is a New Confederacy, I pray they don't have nukes...

because the odds are pretty good if they had them, they'd probably use them.

[socialist_n_TN]

133. I'm in Tennessee and I've never lived outside

of the South for longer than 6 months. If this happened though, I'd have to emigrate. Nashville might be OK for a while, but in a "new" Confederacy, it wouldn't be OK for very long.

[Tesha]

134. The 100% honest truth is I don't give one good damn what sort of a country it would become.

We can take in the few remaining Democratic refugees from
the new country and then the whole thing can go to Hell.

Tesha

[BootinUp]

48. hellooooooo out there....

I can tell you that it was easier to be a white Democrat here during Bush's Iraq disaster than now. I don't talk politics too much now, if I do it is more like pleading for sanity, and warning people about brain damage from watching too much Glenn Beckkk. Of course I am a transplant so they probably block out everything I say without any trouble.

[LynneSin]

53. I am so grateful to be born in the North and to now live in Delaware

amen!

I feel bad for you liberals in the south and we will keep fighting hard to keep our democrats elected.

[Kalyke]

73. I feel bad that you live in such a cold state and think

your "sympathy" didn't come across as smug.

[cordelia]

78. I am so grateful

that I am not smug an condescending toward people just because of where they were born or choose to live.

[dawg]

95. I thought what you said was sweet.

And not smug at all. :hug:

[Jamastiene]

121. Except, of course, NC, when there is a hurricane coming toward the east cost, huh?

:eyes:

[Shining Jack]

139. Remember this?

Thank Goodness for North Carolina's ass sticking out into the Atlantic
Hopefully that ass will knock some of the power off Earl before it heads up the Chesapeake and DelMarVa

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=9481749

I have many friends in N.C.Your selfishness is sickening. :puke:

[kwolf68]

54. Another issue

I went to a Rural Southern High School and have a fair number of friends on facebook who went to that same school.

The thing I find most interesting is

EVERY SINGLE ONE who is white and who still lives in that same area are Republican/Conservative.

The VERY FEW who I know are Democrats are the black folks (and me).

I usually don't post "Democratic" comments on my Facebook, but often post ideas that are definately Democratic ideas but come at it from a non-partisan perspective.

The fact I moved to Northern Virgia and started to meet, work with, and befriend blacks, gays, Indians, Africans, and yes...Muslims allowed me to actually have some personal growth.

I am THANKFUL I have great friends from Somalia, Kenya, Iran, India...

[GoCubsGo]

75. That's what did it for a friend of mine

She's a native of my hometown, and was raised in a republican family. Then, she fell in love with guy from Belgium. The longer she hung out with him, the more her mind opened up. A visit to Europe moved her completely away from the Dark Side. She was able to bring her mom with her, to a large extent, although I George Bush had a hand in that, too.

I think some of these people CAN be reached by getting them out of here, and making them spend time around other people who are different. A large part of the problem is that so many of them are xenophobic. They've never been out of the country. Hell, some have never been out of the South, or even their own state. No wonder they're afraid of everyone else. A freaking Zumba class at the gym is far too exotic for a lot of these people.

[AspenRose]

90. Same here!

Went to high school in Texas. The white students who stayed behind in Texas are 95% conservative, and the 5% who aren't either 1) live in urban areas: Austin, Houston, Dallas or the Rio Grande Valley. (San Antonio is a toss-up, only because I went to school on the north side where it was predominately white and republican.) or 2) are in college/university working on advanced degrees. :-)

Also, the white students I attended school with who got OUT of Texas and moved elsewhere trend liberal as well. And ALL of my minority friends are liberal.

I do think there's an issue with urban vs. rural and for that reason, we shouldn't give up on the South. Urban southern cities have Dem strongholds. Pro-50 state strategy here.

I wish I could suggest that it'd be easier to be a democrat in a southern college or university town, but Bryan/College Station sort of ruins that theory.

[socialshockwave]

55. What would you rather have?

DINO's who are pretty much Republicrats, or Teabaggers who are REALLY Republicrats?

Honestly, it's good to see the conservative wing of the Democratic party being taken out, even if it means a loss of house seats. If I were an American, I'd want my progressive party to be either big and full of progressives, or smaller and full of progressives, not big and full of DINO's and "centrists".

[deminks]

57. There are some circles where being an angry white male racist misogynist pig

is culturally unacceptable. Even in the South. Just sayin'.

[aikoaiko]

63. I say BS. The deep south is at least 35- 45 Democrat or left learning

We're not a majority which is why we so often lose except where are our proportions are better on the local level (i.e., cities).

[Jamastiene]

123. +1000000

[Odin2005]

64. On another forum I frequent a Texan poster says her kids are routinely bullied for being liberals.

And the teachers often join right in with the verbal harassment.

[sufrommich]

69. Those teachers should be in a world of trouble then. I'm here

in Michigan, my 10 year old nephew wore an Obama pin to school during the elections and had a kid on the playground tell him that if Obama wins "he's going to cut babies out of moms", the kid scared the shit out of the other kids on the playground. His teacher handled it well when they got back to class by explaining that nobody running for president is in favor of cutting babies out of moms.

[Dappleganger]

94. Our teens

aren't bullied physically, but in 2008 definitely experienced a lot of verbal stuff. They handled it quite well and with those who chose to debate they held their own. With the teachers it was a bit more difficult but they stood strong and I know they understand their liberal values a lot better than most of those kids who just parrot the hatred from their parents.

[leeroysphitz]

65. I left the south, after spending 12 LONG years there, in 2000.

I never saw a group of people who were PROUDER of their ignorance.

[cordelia]

79. Oh, goody, more South bashing.

I'm gay, too. Want to have a go at that, as well?

[leeroysphitz]

104. You first.

[Dappleganger]

96. So which enlightened place did you flee to?

Just an FYI, dumbshits are EVERYWHERE unless you choose to live in a bubble.

[leeroysphitz]

103. You are correct. I didn't say I fled to some enlightened intellectual utopia.

There are plenty of ignorant people around here but at least they have the decency to be ASHAMED of their ignorance instead of proudly displaying it as some sort of regional badge of honor.

That's all I was trying to say.

[tom_paine]

71. Of course it is. The Old Confederacy is the seat and center of RW Authoritarian power

Always has been and apparently always will. And yes, the South has risen again, and the horrors of both the antebellum South and the KKK-ruled South from 1877-1970 are reviving under a fresh, hip, new marketing brand.

Thus, I imagine it is as socially unacceptable as being a Yankee Abolitionist in Dixie in 1858 or being a Jew in Nazi Germany in 1932. Luckily for those few remaining Southern Democrats, current marketing strategy does not yet allow for hosswhippin', lynchin', or judicial murder of said undesirables and Enemies of the BushoCorpoNeoConfederate State.

However, as America completes it's transformation to whatever RW authoritarian totalitarian form we are becoming, that may not always be the case. Keep a sharp eye out for the change in the wind Southern DUers, because their ain't no Federal Government FBI to stop the Rebs from stringing you up this time. Like the corrupt small-town KKK Sheriff in the 60's, be it the 1860s or 1960s, the Confederate Federals will make sure to legitimize the fraud, the frameup. Just like they did to ACORN and countless others in a more nonviolent way.

Yes I know the Klan was invented after the 1860s, but it was the Spirit of the South long before the loss of the Civil War forced it to take shape.

Bottom line, such a development would be expected in any unfree authoritarian nation founded on slavery. It's always bad social form to stand with the weak and powerless against the Plantation Owners. Not good for one's career. Not good for one's family. Sometimes not good for one's life.

NOTE: This is not to specifically bash the South. There are many good people in the South as there are everywhere. There are many bad people in the North, as there are everywhere. But reality is what it is. I didn't make the Old Confederacy the undeniable seat of RW authoritarian power and evil in America, so don't blame the messenger. Besides, the Old Confederacy rules all of the USA now, with only some slight resistance in Yankee Liberal Abolitionist states. Plenty of Busho-Confederates up North now, too. There is plenty of blame to go around, North, South, East and West. But reality is reality. And the center of RW Authoritarian Power is the center of RW Authoritarian Power.

[w8liftinglady]

74. It has ALWAYS been in my area

Tough tootles.I will never quit standing up for Democratic causes.

[sufrommich]

76. "Tough tootles" lol. It's important to remember that Texas

gave us Ann Richards, it's that kind of attitude that we need.

[Dappleganger]

99. That's how I feel.

The few democratic friends that I have are also an amazing support system.

[wyldwolf]

83. which makes it all the more fun.

[starroute]

84. A lot of it is just choosing up sides

You can't talk about the South becoming more Republican without talking about the Northeast becoming more Democratic. The two are mirror images of one another.

As long as the Yankees are Democrats, the South is going to be Republican. That's just a fact of life. You don't see the same sort of split further west, but this particular divide is very deep and very old and goes back to well before the Civil War.

[sufrommich]

85. It hasn't always been like that, the south was democratic

up until the mid 1960s.

[starroute]

115. And at the time New England still trended Republican

It wasn't until the 1960's and 70's that much of the northeast and New England gave up being old-fashioned rock-ribbed Republicans and started trending towards the Democrats.

Up to that point, the Democratic Party tended to be associated with big city machine bosses and recent immigrants in the North and segregation in the South. Both those things began to change as the result of a wave of reform that started in the 1950's, and the rest of the realignment followed.

[RT Atlanta]

86. Loud & Proud in Atlanta

It all goes back to education and controlling the message. Our populace, especially, in GA, is so easily swayed by 2 word slogans that it will take some time to get back in a position of state wide leadership.

[Erose999]

105. God, guns, and gays. Thats really all that matters to most people here in the South. And it doesn't

help that we have WSB750 on AM and even FM now spewing the likes of Rushbo and Glenn Beck and Micheal Savage at 100,000 watts. Pretty much anyone who works a blue collar job is forced to listen to that crap at work and eventually they get indoctrinated to it.

[JVS]

89. Southern Democrats need to make more noise and shatter this delusion that it's OK to be a republican

[Dappleganger]

91. That's why the Democratic party needs to the Jobs Party.

The worker's party--that's the only way this is going to get done. You make it so that these folks will get good-paying JOBS and stand up for their worker's rights and you will have them for a generation.

[Are_grits_groceries]

97. I have exactly 2 words for any Rethugs down here in SC.

Bite me! AND if they want to throw down over it, I promise I will finish whatever they start.

My policy is "slap them to begin with." This is metaphorical as in any meetings or whatever. I give them a Come to Jesus moment so they know I'm not going away or going to bow down. They are bullies and cowards to boot unless hiding somehow.

I so wish I had just 15 minutes on all channels of the teevee machine. I would give a sermon that would take out after ALL of them. They think shock and awe is something. My fire and brimstone over their hate makes that pale in comparison.

In addition, for those of you going after the South in some way, please look in your own backyards. There are ignorant bigots popping up everywhere, and if you don't learn to deal with them, they will take over. Don't just mock them because they may be stupid because they vote. AND congressional seats are shifting to the South and West. SC is gaining one or two.

I can make the snake on the Gadsden flag seem like a harmless reptile.

[Dappleganger]

101. Well said!

"Come to Jesus" moments are awesome!! :applause: :rofl:

[Octafish]

100. Thanks to Corporate McPravda, many white Americans equate Democrats with 'minorities.'

Although they don't talk about it, that is another shame for our "free Press" and its owners and operators to bear.

[Uncle Joe]

111. I agree Octafish and I believe Corporate McPravda does that to keep many white Americans from

equating Democrats with the average American vs mega-corporation.

If the corporate media can fracture and weaken the people dividing them by race, region, religion, gender, sexual orientation, "big government" vs small government etc. etc. the Republicans win.

But if the people come to realize the true divide as that of the average American vs mega-corporation domination over the peoples' best interests, the Democrats become the victors; so long as the Democratic Party remains true to it's natural calling; being The Party of the people.

I believe over the long term, the Internet can and will aid the Democratic Party by either removing the corporate media propaganda carnival mirror or at least providing a normal mirror along side it for the people see a realistic reflection.

I also believe that's the primary reason for both the Republican Party wanting Net Neutrality to die and the Supreme Court decision of Citizens United vs FEC.

[dawg]

102. This is very, very , very true.

Everyone just assumes that a white man is a Republican here. I feel like an alien in the town I grew up in. I really only feel sane when I can make it over to Athens for a few hours.

[oswaldactedalone]

124. I'm a white male mid-50's

in the blue dot of Guilford County NC. I'll walk into black-owned hair salons, mention voting and most will think I want them to vote Republican. It takes a moment for them to let it sink in that I'm a white male trying to get out the Democratic vote.

My plan is to start a committee called the "Guilford County Committee to Elect Democrats." I've been analyzing voting here by precinct, and I'm telling you, if we can mobilize our minority voters, the Thuglicans wouldn't know what hit them. Multiply that by every city of 50,000 or more across the country, and the Thugs would be wasting a lot of corporate largesse on losing elections.

[bvar22]

108. I disagree.

The South is beautiful,
and belongs to us ALL.
Damn shame to just let the rednecks have it.

bvar22 & Starkraven,
turning The South Blue

[Celeborn Skywalker]

110. And even some rednecks

are liberal. My redneck uncle lives in Tennessee, drives a big pickup truck with guns, NRA stickers, etc. But he always votes liberal because "the Republicans don't give a damn about any working man, just big banks and big business". He's not perfect, he still hasn't come around to the idea of gay marriage and refuses to believe in evolution but at least he doesn't vote against his best interests.

[socialist_n_TN]

135. And THAT'S the way to changing a white redneck's

politics. Make them realize that the Republicans do NOT give a shit about ANY working man (or woman). If you ain't rich, you don't exist except to support the rich.

God knows, I've been trying to do that for a LONG time.

[distantearlywarning]

109. Parity:

In my urban northeast center, it is culturally unacceptable to be a Republican. I know literally thousands of people through my hobbies and work, and I can count the number of Republicans I know on one hand. I know lots of people who don't self-identify as Democrats, but if someone walked into any of the parties or events I attend and claimed to be a Republican, the room would probably stop in dead silence and everyone would turn around and stare. Most people would probably make some pretty unfavorable assumptions about that person's character. It's incredibly unfashionable in my circles.

[otohara]

114. My Old Hippie Girlfriend - Now is Repulbican

we no longer talk - since Bush stole the election. She moved to GA from CO, married a puke and although it took him several years of propaganda, she finally flipped.

[emdee]

116. It's getting harder by the moment.

Watching people vote against their own best interests while screaming at me to be Christian (I am). Our roads are crumbling and extra help for those in need is almost non-existent but I'm the crazy one for wanting those things. I've noticed that they don't even discuss the roads or the Medicaid that has almost disappeared but stick to the name-calling and finger-pointing at us "heathens." The mission has been accomplished too well to return to sanity, I'm afraid.

[Yo_Mama]

118. That doesn't square with my experience

I'm from GA, and I haven't seen or heard anything of that attitude.

A lot of worry about just about everything, but not that.

In GA, the problem for liberals is that even many GA liberals feel ignored and disenfranchised in DC.

In any case, in much of the south and in many rural states, we can have a major flood or natural disaster and you will hardly see anything on the news about it. I don't think many Georgians are too comfortable with a lot of federal control, because we kind of suspect that our interests will not really ever be represented.

There is also a strong belief that DC is corrupt and that many, perhaps most, national politicians are corrupt, and that goes for both parties. The TEA party has been a pretty big hit in GA, but it is not so much a conservative movement as a distrust-of-DC movement.

[Jamastiene]

120. I take it they've never been to Richmond County, NC, a VERY rural area

in the south. We always go blue and we are die hard Democrats here.

[HughMoran]

122. Heck, that applies here in redneck NH

:eyes:

[TroglodyteScholar]

136. Precisely why I moved away despite having been raised in Alabama...

And now, of course, Wisconsin goes red too. :wtf:

[Scuba]

137. Keep speaking out. Don't let them intimidate you.