Analyst: "The Democrats are just too out of touch with the South"

[Bluebear]

CNN guest said basically look at the map. We're two nations.

[still_one]

1. yeah, the Democrats believe racism is wrong

[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

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[Media_Lies_Daily]

36. Why are you being such an ass?

[nyhuskyfan]

42. If we take Ohio and/or Florida...

Then they would be saying that the Republicans are too out of touch with the Northeast and West Coast.

The South is a lost cause for the Dems, without a major seismic shift in attitude. The best we can hope for is to pluck Virginia. The bigger problem area is the Ohio-Michigan-Wisconsin-Minnesota-Iowa area. That's the area we need to shore up as part of our base.

[Piperay]

2. Maybe it is the South

that is out of touch with the rest of the country.

[RafterMan]

3. Tell them that

at Bush's inauguration.

[BJ]

4. How much farther to the right can McAuliffe push us?!

Kee-Rist. How much farther to the right can the Democratic Party go to satisfy the South!!! Fuck the South. They should have won the Civil War so they could enjoy the third-world nation status they so richly deserve!

[theHandpuppet]

14. Yes, goddamit!!

I'm tired of hearing that the Dem Party has to bend over and grab its ankles to please the "southern voter". Northerners have supported Southern tickets for Prez and Veep, but we're always told that unless there's a Southerner on the ticket we can't carry the South because Southerners won't vote a Yankee or even Midwestern ticket. Well, I guess even John Edwards isn't "Southern" enough, huh! Who would they suggest, then? Frigging Zell Miller? Even Max Cleland wasn't Southern enough for Georgia.

[MUSTANG_2004]

41. Push to the right?

While Kerry's campaign rhetoric may have slid to the right, choosing Kerry in the primaries was NOT pushing the Democratic Party to the right.

[bushwakker]

5. Early last evening when there was all this absurd giddiness here

I pointed out in a post that we are not WINNING any of these states that were too close to call VA, NC, SC and that unless we did it was gonna be a long evening. People forget that Clinton won GA, AR, TN, AL (once), LA (once) and MO (once) I believe. It' hard to get to 270 if you can't pick anything in an entire region. The fact is they have a large swath of territory that they essentially can take for granted and focus their fire on the Midwest and the battlegrounds. Dems have to run the table by a thin margin to win.

That said I a not in favor of the party joining the GOP in a moral crusade. Letb them have the south if it means bible thumpin and hating people.

[tomfodw]

6. And the Republicans are out of touch with the Northeast...

...and Pacific.

Not to mention the rest of the world.

Bush won, but it was close. It's not like he blew Kerry out of the water. 51% is what Reagan got in 1980.

[RC]

8. bu$h has not won

They are not playing by the rules. Bu$h lies, cheats, steals, anything so they can say they won. The bu$h gang are criminals, just as the Mafia are criminals. Show me Fair with anything the bu$h gang has done since he was governor of Texas?

[Birthmark]

7. I have this wacky theory

See, I think that what the Dems are *really* out of touch with is the left. I happen to believe that movement to the left will bring in a fair proportion of those nearly 50% who don't vote. The reason that they don't vote is that they don't really see a difference between the two parties. And the difference isn't nearly as great as it should be.

It's gotta work at least as well as the current shit.

[RC]

12. Hog wallow!

I'm way over there by Gaudi and I can see a world of difference. It is the lazy and ignorant that say that as an excuse not to think.

[doni_georgia]

9. Fuck CNN - I live in the South and it's the SOUTH that's out of touch!

Goddamn I hate living in Georgia! I'm a native and have lived here for 40 years, and I tell you it is more backwards than it was in the 60s! We have a defacto theocracy here in Georgia, and I HATE IT! Yes I am shouting, because I loathe every single day I have to spend here listening to the holier than thou hypocrites that surround me. My son's school bus driver gave me a 4 page print out Monday entitled "Why Christians Must Vote for Bush." He's a fucking county employee as am I and he did this shit! Yes, I am reporting it. I am so sick of people down here thinking that everyone must agree with them. Sick of it!

[Bluebear]

10. Oh doni, long time no see.....

We are always on the same page. Let me know how your complaint turns out!

[doni_georgia]

16. I will! I have some more complaints to file as well - Did you know

that here in GA on the ballot concerning Initiative 1 (gay marriage ban) that they only put the first sentence of the initiative on the ballot? It read something like "To create a constitutional amendment to declare marriage is between one man and one woman." What they left off the ballot was the part about no legal rights for same sex partners (including hospital visitation etc.). At my polling precinct there was not ONE copy of the initiative in full posted ANYWHERE for anyone to read. Ballot initiatives have always been posted, but not this time. This gay marriage issue being on so many ballots really hurt us. People are so biggoted against gays in this country - it makes me sick, and I am heterosexual!

I have endured constant intimidation by my coworkers for days. The school secretary yesterday told the janitor - "Just stay home, we don't want you to vote." The janitor said, "How do you know how I am going to vote." The secretary replied, "Well you're black." Can you believe that shit? One of my coworkers sent me an email voting reminder which said, "Remember Republicans vote Novemeber 2 and Democrats vote Wednesday Novemeber 3." She sent this to all Dems in the building. I know she was joking, but it ain't funny!

[Bluebear]

19. Come to New England

Beef up our electoral clout. Exodus from the red states for progressives.

[Sandpiper]

11. The south has been out of touch

With the rest of the country since this country was founded.

They wear their ignorance, backwardness and bigotry like some sort of badge of honor.

After 11 years there, I was happy to get out.

[Omnibus]

26. Don't highlight their differences...

Many Southern workers are non-union. They're poor. Many are minorities. Many of them give lip-service to fundamentalism in polls, but don't let it affect their lives. Family means more in the South than it does in most places. Hunting and fishing are a way of life.

So we push higher wages and health care to them. No Southerner wants Grandma to die, and they'd love to get caught up on their bills, pay off their car/house loan, buy a bass boat, etc. They'd like a cut in payroll taxes, please, and need an 'plain-speak' explanation that tax cuts for the rich actually screw them. Maybe we should even use words stronger than screw.

They think treehuggers are wimps, but if you describe environmentalist goals in wildlife management terms, their eyes light up and they will probably start feeding talking points to you. Make sure they KNOW you won't take away their guns--most of them have owned guns from a single-digit age and consider firearm responsibility second nature. They would no more shoot someone than you'd kill someone with your bare hands, and see guns as a means of recreation, relaxation, and varmint control. Talk about clean water in terms of fishing yields, and in terms of edible-vs inedible fish. Mention kids and grandkids. They'll understand.

Many of them have been forcefed "big-city liberals are bad" propeganda. So we counter that with "Rich Republicans want to tell you what to do." Most Southerners have an innate suspicion of rich people (as I said, they are by no means stupid) and will side against them if presented with a "rich-middle class" or "rich-poor" dichotomy.

If they realize the truth of the matter, that Democrats represent the little guy, want to protect our natural resources, and want to make sure everyone gets fair pay for a day's work, then Southerners would overwhelmingly vote Democratic. All we have to do is cut through Republican lies and bullshit.

The truth can win the South for the Democratic party.

[Bridget Burke]

38. You're absolutely right.

Just speaking plainly about real Democratic values would reach the South. But most of the Democrats think it's forever lost, so they don't even try.

And the South is not monolithic. My Congresswoman (Sheila Jackson Lee) ran unopposed. As did my State Senator, Mario Gallegos, & State Rep, Jessica Farrar. But the "let them secede--Lincoln was wrong" crowd would not care for my reps; they aren't white enough. Racism is not limited to the South.

[Hog lover]

44. I disagree -

I am a Southerner, and I think racism, religious fundamentalism and ignorance trump any valid argument we can make.

Maybe if Bush ends up having a second term (which looks like he has stolen - courtesy of idiots and Diebold), his policies will start having such a dire effect on the self-interests of Southerners that they will see the light. I think even this is a long-shot, due to the fact that Southerners will believe any bullshit put out by "he's a good Christian man" Bush.

[non sociopath skin]

13. Lincoln was out of touch with the South too.

... thank God.

The Skin

[theHandpuppet]

17. Touche'!

So was Lyndon Johnson, and he was a Southerner himself.

Do you get the feeling if George Wallace were running right now, he would have carried the south in a landslide?

[Crunchy Frog]

20. At this point I'm inclined to think

that Lincoln made a big mistake in not just letting the South secede.

After 140 years, the South has finally achieved victory in the Civil War. We should never have allowed a nest of traitors to remain a part of our nation.

[Zero Division]

15. We're out of touch with right wing religious zealots and dick-swinging

morons, many of whom happen to unfortuntaley reside in the South, parts of the Midwest, and the West.

[mzmolly]

18. So was Abe Lincoln.

F CNN.

[bkcc]

21. It's the South's revenge for the Civil War.

Let's build a time machine and go back to tell Abe Lincoln to just let 'em go. Fuck the Union.

[rwdm]

22. the south

What a load of shit. We are not out of touch. We were in touch. We were just beaten by fraud. By those Diebold machines and voter intimidation. Goddam collaborators in the media publishing this bullshit.

[davepc]

23. Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter in 1976 werent out of touch

[Omnibus]

24. How to win the South...

All our candidates should start their stump speeches thus:

"They say politicians try to shovel shit at you, and I reckon that's true. The difference is, some are trying to fertlize your fields, and some just want to bury you"

The rest just writes itself, for those of us who have lived in the South.

Truth is, Democrats have more in common with most Southerners than the Republicans do. We just have to show them that.

[Libby2]

25. The south is out of touch with the world

stupid ass people.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

27. Remember not everyone who lives in the south, including me, voted for

jackass.

[RPM]

28. We're too out of touch...

MY ASS - those people need to get in touch with the times:

Black People are people too!!!
Gay people are people too!!!
God doenst exist - and if God did, he wouldnt like racist homophobes like you!!!

They need to understand these simple facts - the dark ages are over (or perhaps just beginning)

[VLC98]

29. How did it happen?

Why are people in the south so different? Where did they originate?
My husband retires from the AF in 8 months and we'll probably be headed south (from DE) due to jobs and house prices, but I don't think I can deal with the bigots. I feel so depressed I just want to go home, (England).

[southlandshari]

30. An honest question....

What did "the South" do yesterday that was so drastically different than any other election over the past two or three decades?

All of the Deep South always goes red. This is why those of us who truly want and work for change in our communities here suffer the indignity of being ignored by Democratic candidates for national office. But we keep fighting the good fight.

And #$%dammit, there were a lot of counties across several southern states where the gap between the Repub and Dem presidential candidate was narrowed due to our efforts. Voter registration AND turnout was up significantly for Democrats across the South. It was also up (obviously) on the Republican side, but that shouldn't rob county chapters of the Dem party in states like Alabama of any and all credit for the incredible effort put forth by their members.

I am as angry at the holier-than-thou, blinded-by-distorted-religion, scared-by-empty-fearmongering crowd as the rest of you. But am I dreaming? Weren't these folks found in all 50 states yesterday? Maybe I'm missing something here. Please enlighten me if I am.

[davepc]

31. check your 1976 map. and your 1992.

[southlandshari]

35. Amazing.

Some Southerners actually voted for Democratic candidates who looked at them as more than third-class, cousin-humpin', moonshine-brewin', Deliverance-watchin', white-hood-wearin', education-hatin', bible-thumpin' rednecks. Go figure.

I don't see this as evidence that refutes the point I was trying to make. Clinton and Carter earned the votes they got across the Bible Belt because they spent time in the South and listened to people here. There ARE rational people here, believe it or not. Those votes weren't cast just because these guys were born south of the Mason-Dixon line. Having Edwards on the ticket proved that Southerners don't just support Southern candidates because of geographic origins. We are not as collectively STUPID down here as so many like to believe.

If folks want to blame the South for what happened yesterday, fine. It obviously doesn't give them a moment's pause to realize that, in doing so, they are overlooking MILLIONS of others across this country who also did the unthinkable and idiotic in voting for this abysmal administration.

[davepc]

40. not blaming the south, blaming the parties abandonment of it!

Back off the 2nd amendment stuff, turn environmentalism into conservationism, and appeal to their working class values and don't ridicule their religious beliefs.

Viola.

Oh yeah, find a guy who's not from Massachusetts or New York of Michigan to do it.

[MUSTANG_2004]

43. Thanks for the common sense comments

The Democrats can beat the Republicans in the South, but running an anti-gun liberal from Massachusetts is not the way.

[Ganja Ninja]

32. Of course that's the answer!

Let's all put on our white sheets and go to a lynch'n. It isn't just the south it's the farm belt as well.

[Cheswick2.0]

33. If we are out of touch with the south then I am proud to be so.......

Apparently we are out of touch with Ohio too. People are ignorant and uninformed. The media is partially responsible and so is the democratic party.
I am proud of Kerry for not conceeding and I am proud of him for not pandering on the abortion question.
Other than that we need to educate people not try to appeal to their ignorance. Clearly people like facism.

[LTR]

37. The South is just too out of touch with us

If they really want Dumbya for another four years, I guess they're stupid enough to deserve it.

[liberalmike27]

39. I live in the South

I have to say a lot of you are right, as I live here in Mobile, Alabama. I can't help but think it is as simple as you say, many here see the Republican Party as the racist party, and they vote for them. We are among the most uneducated of states, along with the rest of the South, yet we continue to vote for the party that is against public education. We are the lowest paid region of the country, and idiots happily vote for those who are continuing to lower our pay. We have the worst health care in the country too. All of the classic issues that benefit the population of the South, tend to be voted against. I hate to admit it, but you are right.

Keep in mind though, that there are those of us who suffer along with you, who agree with your opinions fully.

Now that being ceded to the argument, as I've always said, Democrats in general have failed miserably in the last couple or three decades in being real democrats. They've given huge ground on many of the issues above that matter to the South. When many here see all of the bad things about Democrats, their higher tendency to tax, the liberal policies that many here don't agree with (hell, I don't give a crap who marries who, who gets an abortion, and I don't own a gun and believe a few sensible laws about who gets guns and how they are handled is a good idea)they vote for Republicans. But when you remove the populism from the party, when you lose the passion for helping the poor (how many times did I hear "middle class" from Kerry and Edwards. Would it be so hard to say "the poor and middle class?")when you sell out alongside of Republicans to corporate power, when you give the huge tax-breaks to the rich without a fight, when you lose your passion for what you believe in, people sense that. You'll notice it isn't just here, how about the mid-west. I see a lot of red there too.

I'm with you, a big Michael Moore fan, as liberal as you can get (well, I'm not much for immigration, but that springs from populism and the fact they drive down the cost of labor) in most ways, but as long as the Democratic politicians stand alongside Republicans passing laws that transfer the tax burdon onto the poor and middle class through FICA, sales tax, gas taxes, while letting corporations get away with anything, they will continue to lose everywhere.

A lot of what Nader says is right, you should read his books. Take heart, there wasn't much difference between the Fascist and Kerry anyway. They are both filthy rich corporatists, who were Skull and Crossbones Yalees, and I doubt things will change much. I do hope they get the corruption out of the vote though. I honestly believe from what I've read, that they stole the vote in Ohio, and perhaps several other states.

Now we'll have another four years where we can all vote with our pocketbooks, ignoring Walmart, and places that practice onerous policies, as much as we can anyway, and choosing corporate entities that try to have people friendly policies. But corporate corruption is more entrenced than ever, hell it owns the media. Don't get me started on their role in all of this. If they had been doing their job the whole time, we might not be in Iraq, and we might have had paper-printouts. But, you see, they too are owned by huge corporations, and all the while they practice conservatism, while pretending to be liberal. Hard to fight such massive brainwashing power. I can't help but think back to the effect of the media playing the Dean-scream a few thousand times on news, and comedy shows. What effect did that have?