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Date Posted: 07:55:50 01/22/08 Tue
Author: Caren
Subject: Reagan most certainly used the Southern Strategy
In reply to: Caren 's message, "I really think you are wrong" on 07:04:20 01/21/08 Mon

And I always call him something like "precious" b/c my hubby thinks Reagan was the bomb. I agree, but then we use different definitions for "bomb".

Yesterday, my FIL was insisting that Obama doesn't have a chance in hell b/c he's black. That's from his experiences as a Mexican in this society.

I grew up in Indiana, where it was 90% white. I thought racism would definitely be over by the time my generation grew up. I didn't even know Mexicans weren't white until I moved to California. It's really easier to be race-blind when you live in a homogeneous society. When you actually live in a racially mixed situation, issues come up that would be defined by some other reasoning if everyone was white, but get called on race b/c it's an obvious "othering" mechanism.

"Southern Strategy" you can google. It started when LBJ went for civil rights. That's when Democrats lost the South. No, it didn't happen all at once and yes, the same strategy that was used to elect Reagan was still used for the '94 takeover. It's not the only reason nor the only strategy, but it most definitely exists and is used.

Kevin Phillips, one of Nixon's advisors popularized the phrase: from a 1970 NYT interview:
From now on, the Republicans are never going to get more than 10 to 20 percent of the Negro vote and they don't need any more than that... but Republicans would be shortsighted if they weakened enforcement of the Voting Rights Act. The more Negroes who register as Democrats in the South, the sooner the Negrophobe whites will quit the Democrats and become Republicans. That's where the votes are. Without that prodding from the blacks, the whites will backslide into their old comfortable arrangement with the local Democrats.

Reagan started his 1980 campaign in Philadelphia, MS talking about "state's rights"--which are definitely code words for segregation. What's in Philadelphia MS? It's where three civil rights workers were murdered in 1964.

THOSE are the facts you can google. They aren't my opinion. If you want to believe that Reagan wasn't on the ball and was manipulated into talking about 'state's rights' at a site where people died for civil rights, well, we can debate that, but there's no debating that that is where he started his campaign nor that that is part of his speech.

As for "state's rights" simply meaning the Constitution? Please. If you really believe that, then you really are naive enough to believe Tony Snow's "racism is dead" speech.

Google George Wallace, the KKK, and state's rights. That's the recent history of the phrase, and if you think that white supremacists don't know what is meant or what they mean when they say it, again, that's just naive.

"Sweet Home Alabama" has lyrics about loving the Governor--That's George Wallace. And a southern man doesn't have time for Neil Young and his song protesting Wallace's attacks on civil rights for black people. It is a racist song, but it can fly under the radar for people who don't know who George Wallace was or what "state's rights" has been used for for decades.

Same with Huckabee's "vertical thinking" on his website. That's codewords for evangelicals.

They use these phrases on purpose, Jeanine. It's not accidental nor is it ignorant, though I wish to god it were.

And I brought it up b/c you didn't think the country was still racist, and my experience is very different.

And yes, the baby is now 1 year and 1 day old! Amazing!

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[> [> [> Re: Reagan most certainly used the Southern Strategy -- Jeannine, 11:08:12 01/22/08 Tue [1]

My point about Googling is that you can google anything and come up with whatever you want. "Sweet Home Alabama" is a good example - google Sweet Home Alabama Lyrics and you will find things that support your interpretation and mine.

You and I see things differently - no surprise there - but I am no babe in the woods. Remember that I was raised in Texas. My parents were southerners, both born before 1920. I know all about George Wallace (a democrat) - my Dad voted for him. When I went into the military - which is a huge equalizer - I grew up, learned and changed.

I never said racism is gone. I just disagree that the majority of Americans are racist. I am afraid I will never agree with you so you might as well admit I am right. LOL


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