Bernie Sanders tells Ed Schultz: Southern Democrats are tired of being abandoned by the party

[Galraedia]

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) made the case for a broader progressive push in an interview with MSNBC host Ed Schultz on Friday, saying his recent sojourn into southern states showed him there was still a Democratic base in a region usually known for supporting Republicans.

“I’ve been meeting with unionists, independents, progressive Democrats,” Sanders explained via satellite from Columbia, South Carolina. “And they are tired of being abandoned by the national Democratic party. They want some help, and they believe that with some help they can start winning in these conservative states.”

One cause for concern, Sanders explained to Schultz, was seeing many white, working-class voters in “low-income states” like Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina voting against their own best interest.

“These are guys getting hung up on gay marriage issues,” Sanders told Schultz. “They’re getting hung up on abortion issues. And it is time we started focusing on the economic issues that bring us together: Defending Social Security, defending Medicare, making sure that Medicaid is not cut, that veterans’ programs are not cut.”

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/10/18/bernie-sanders-tells-ed-schultz-southern-democrats-are-tired-of-being-abandoned-by-the-party/

[hootinholler]

1. The last time we won both houses

Last edited Sat Oct 19, 2013, 11:09 AM - Edit history (1)

Was the result of a 50 state strategy!

Then there was no ROLE for the guy who put that together!

[jsr]

3. +1

[socialist_n_TN]

4. The "50 state strategy" is what I first thought of when I saw this too........

We can win down here with a left populist agenda. Or at the very least, we can narrow the gap. Why not try it. Being "Republican Lite" hasn't worked.

[LuvNewcastle]

9. That's absolutely right.

Poor whites down here need to see that Democrats are on their side, not as just another Wall Street party. Economic issues can bring poor whites and blacks together, which is all we need to win in the South. If we work on it hard enough, we can build a coalition between those groups. In most cases, economics trumps the race card to motivate poor whites.

[bigbrother05]

19. Economic rights and the idea that the government shouldn't intrude

There needs to be an understanding that the same fervor that asks that the government doesn't limit your right to worship should apply to staying out of your reproductive choices. If you defend the right to bear arms, why deny the right to not bear children?

Women's rights and gay rights are civil rights. If one of us can be oppressed, any one of us can be as well.

[LuvNewcastle]

42. I'm not suggesting that we abandon our positions on civil rights

or anything else. What I'm saying is that economic policies directed toward the working class in the South would even get some racist whites to vote Democratic despite our views on other issues. Their wallets are more important to most of them than any negative feelings they might harbor about any minorities. But there has to be a clear difference between our economic policies and those of the Republicans or they won't have any reason to switch sides.

[truedelphi]

53. Totally support what you are saying.

My business lost out big time when the Democrats' very first action in Congress after securing a majority in both houses (Circa 2007) was to raise postal rates for small businesses and also to allow for discounts to big businesses.

This hurt my business in two ways - number one: it costs more to do shipping.. But because it costs more to do shipping, our clients order the books we produce from Amazon. {As Amazon has that postal discount, Amazon can offer people "free shipping.&quot

So then Amazon orders our books from us to re-sell to those folks who want them. And the terms are not as friendly to us as they would be if the book was ordered through us to begin with.


So not only does the US Postal Service get more money from us, our profit margin is also hacked away at by Amazon!

All thanks due to9 my elected Democratic Congressional critters!

[nolabels]

58. This is one of the real kind of reasons the wealthy want to OWN all parties

There is a good talking game out there but it is also a long game (which is how the wealthy play). The wealthy have determined that in the end, a half loaf is better than none (especially if you can get several half-loaves)

[socialist_n_TN]

92. This is why even the petit bourgeoisie should not support capitalism.....

Capitalism is a system that squeezes not only money, but also power to the top. Small businesses wind up being hurt too by the fascism of corporate ownership of government.

[Chaco Dundee]

24. down there

If the superior democrats "up there" would realize that a solid democratic base in the south exists,and would refrain from looking down on the south,winning a few states would be in reach.

[anneboleyn]

45. Exactly! Many of my husband's high school friends are working class whites and they vote repub

over their own economic interest EVERY TIME because they get caught up in the "family values" rhetoric rather than the crucial economic argument. They all live in an economically devastated small town.

They are very frustrating (also sad) because they fall hook, line, and sinker for it in each election when they KNOW that the republicans will slash federal aid they receive, and that the local republicans will slash state budgets, which most of them depend on for their jobs. They have been voting like this since the early nineties (when they became old enough to vote). All of that "values" rhetoric in the 80s won them over.

The party should emphasize its commitment to labor and to the working class! I think that is one of the most crucial issues, and I honestly think the party would win landslide victories each time if we beat the economic drum over and over. They must feel that we understand --and are the only ones who can help -- their financial situations.

[Volaris]

70. The Democratic Party became a Wall-Street Party for one reason:

Fundraising Parity (from business interests) with the GOP. It's one of the reasons Bill Clinton got elected. In order for that to change, and for the Dem's to still keep up financially, we will have to DEMAND a system of Publicly-funded Federal Elections be inserted as a party plank, and then work our ASSES off to see that become a reality.

Yes, Democrats can win in the south with a Populist Left message, but not without an economically level field. You think Wall Street wont shovel BILLIONS to the GOP in order to defeat our message if there's a way for them to get away with it?

Yeah, me either. The future of everything we want rests with Public Funding of elections. It's the Key to the Kingdom, as it were.

[Bluenorthwest]

85. You assume that shoveling money creates victory for the shoveler but facts do

not really support that theory. Meg Whitman shoveled 10X the money Jerry Brown spent, 10X and who is Governor of CA? Not Megabucks Whitman. Carly Fiorino in the same election outspent and was soundly defeated by Barbara Boxer.
In my district, truckloads of out of State money get shipped to Republican nutters who are defeated by Democrats easily and roundly and with bipartisan votes for progressive candidates.
But you were saying, shovel, then win, always, no matter what. Can you support that thinking with real world examples?
Public funding is a great goal, but we can win virtually anywhere under current circumstances.

[Trekologer]

90. It depends on the local electorate

For Whitman and Fiorino in California, along with Linda McMahon in Connecticut, it didn't work. But there are other areas, the so-called "toss-up" states and districts where dumping a boatload of money into the election can sway it.

Part of the genius of the 50 state strategy was that it forced the GOP to spend money in previously "safe" districts, watering down the ability of them to compete financially in competitive ones.

[tomp]

75. but they are just another wall street party. nt

[prairierose]

32. Yes, and we also might win some...

races in the west too if the DNC & DLC would pay attention to the whole country instead of just the NE or Wall st or whatever it is they have been thinking of since 1992. The DLC abandoned most of the country and then were surprised when the repugnant party beat them up in elections (and still feels the need to cheat).

I'm not saying we have to be the monolithic party the repugnants are but we have to be more unified and care about the whole country more than we have as a party for 20 years.

[Bluenorthwest]

86. Might win some in the West? The entire West Coast is Blue, all Senators, Governors

electoral votes, all Democratic. Huge turnouts, big wins. No DLC crap around here, thank you very much we are already winning without any more Third Way crap.

[prairierose]

95. Yes, the west coast is blue, but...

SD, for example. used to have a viable Dem party until it was dumped by the DLC. Other western states, such as ND & Montana , used to be the same but the state parties were neglected and sometimes punched in the face by the DLC and we need to rebuild those parties and challenge the repugnant party and the tea party and the stranglehold they have in many of the western states.

Western states means more than just the west coast.

[DallasNE]

41. We All Thought The Same Thing

The twist I would put on it is to try and recruit top quality women candidates like Wendy Davis in Texas then give them the support they need. Too many Confederate flag decals in the windows of pick-up's to expect to turn around that many southern men but a blend of women and minorities could make the Democrats competitive even in the South.

[LuvNewcastle]

43. I agree.

[tsuki]

5. +One Million

[MsLeopard]

6. What you said

It's infuriating.....

[Le Taz Hot]

8. Absolutely!

We won the House AND the Senate with that 50-state strategy. Then the "experts" took over and we're back to the same stupid 6-state strategy.

[eridani]

61. I started donating to DNC when Dean became chair.

I quit after he left. I'll resume donation when they adopt a 50 state strategy again. Until then, my limited dollars go mostly to local candidates, with occasional exceptions like Wendy Davis.

[CrispyQ]

11. This. ^^^

Writing off entire sections of the country is bad policy. The dems focus too much on national elections & not enough on local.

[Jackpine Radical]

15. Not exactly true--

"Then there was no roll for the guy who put that together!"

They rolled Howard, alright.

[hootinholler]

21. OMFG!

Good Grief! I've regressed to freeper spelling!

You win the subthread



Now I'm off to correct it!

[Doremus]

27. Exactly right. nt

[leftstreet]

38. +1

[uponit7771]

62. +1

[vi5]

77. This still sticks in my craw

Honestly, the fact that Obama had no place anywhere in his administration for Dean was the first major indication to me where his head and heart were at. Then factor in who he DID find places for (Rahm, Duncan, Holder, etc.) And that gut instinct has mostly been proven right.

[justabob]

2. yup

When the 50 state strategy was in effect we actually HAD dems to vote for in the down ticket races. In the last election there were several uncontested races on my ballot. I imagine that is even more true out in the rural counties.

[Le Taz Hot]

7. The Democrats need to have a presence in EVERY state

and in every Congressional District. Every one. There should be NO uncontested seats. Half the time I have to write in a candidate because there's only ONE candidate on the ballot and he's ALWAYS a Republican. There's no excuse for that! And on the rare occasion the Democrats actually put up a candidate it's a sacrifice candidate who no one has ever heard of, doesn't campaign and has absolutely NO presence. And then they wonder why this area always elects Republicans. IT'S BECUASE THEY'RE THE ONLY ONES ON THE FUCKING BALLOT! You can't win elections if you're not going to put up candidates FOR election.

[LuvNewcastle]

10. That's right, you have to enter the race in order to win it.

[ChangeUp106]

12. I like how an Independent is the one trying to save the Democratic Party

Really says something about the party.

Bring back Dean. Fight in every state.

As Warren said, "Our agenda is America's agenda!"

[Rebellious Republican]

13. Hell yeah, Senator Sanders!

We have a real chance to take back the Governors mansion in 2014. pRick Scott is hated by both parties down here.

[Jackpine Radical]

16. And you have a pretty good champion to rally around.

[Rebellious Republican]

44. Thanks JP!

[Thinkingabout]

14. K & R

We do need to focus on winning in 50 states in order to return some sanity back to America. The dirty rotten GOP knows they are not able to expand their base much more than is available now so the voter suppression of voters. If this is the only to win it will not last. The RW treats us like dirt but I will not give up being and living the Democrat like. The RW has their lying stories about Obamacare and until it becomes fully effective and the lies are proven the RW will continue to lie to their supporters. Many of their supporters are one issue voters and do vote against their own best interest.

[Fla Dem]

17. Not just Congressional seats, there is a need to focus on State Houses and state legislatures.

A Democratic federal government can legislate all they want, but if the Repugs hold governor seats and state legislatures, they pass their own laws. Look at the outlawing of "Legal Abortion", restrictive voting laws and purging of voter lists, rejection of federal subsidies for the ACA, removing any restrictions on gun ownership. These are issues that cannot be governed from Washington, but at the local level.

The DNC needs to work with all state wide democratic committees in the red states to organize them, get strong aggressive leadership, and identify viable candidates for state positions. We may win the wars (Presidential, Congress) but we are losing the battles at the state levels.

[hootinholler]

22. NO shit! The ALEC brigade can subvert many federal programs

Since they can't truly convert the Fed into fascism, States are easier and they only need to capture a third or so to do serious damage to the country.

[secondvariety]

74. I agree

but even with Amendments 5 and 6 passing with a huge majority, Florida is still gerrymandered to hell. Our state legislature is one of the most despicable corporate influenced governing bodies on Earth, but at least they don't try to hide it anymore.

[cali]

18. Bernie really, really gets this demographic and dynamic. here's why

Lots of folks think of Vermont as some quaint, groomed liberal, pastoral well to do place. Yes, there is that. And then there's The Kingdom- The Northeast Kingdom. It's rural and ragged and poor. It's inhabitants scrape by on logging, dairy farming and working at the Ethan Allen Mill for shit wages. (there's also a lot of recent innovation which is exciting). The denizens of the Kingdom are less educated than most Vermonters. They're more conservative (even though, yes, they voted in every town for Obama in 2008 and 2012- but Bernie can take a fair amount of credit for that too). The Kingdom was the epicenter of the "Take Back Vermont" movement that sprung up during our battles over civil unions over a decade ago.

Anyway, even conservatives here (we don't register by party in Vermont) vote for Bernie. Why? For one thing, Bernie has tirelessly held town meeting for years and years. The kind where he really communicates and listens and then everyone eats potluck. He focuses on economic, not social issues. He has long shied away from gun control issues and that's hugely important. sorry, but it is. People here really do cling to their guns.

Howard Dean gets this too. The Kingdom has been a valuable learning experience for Vermont politicians and what they learned is translatable to the rural south.

[geek tragedy]

23. He doesn't get white Southerners. Different culture than Vermont Yankees. nt

[cali]

37. he gets the commonalities of rural, white folks.

guns, that closed off culture. Of course there are differences, but I'll tell you this: Rural people have more in common other rural people than they do wit people from the suburbs or cities.

[otohara]

20. Attn Southern Dems: Elections Are Every Two Years

remember that and vote.

Special elections too - NC Dems abandoned LGBT in 2012 special election

[ananda]

25. Well it wasn't our fault that the DLC got Obama elected..

.. and then threw out Howard Dean and the 50 state policy.

We need that back stat!

[George II]

31. Last time I looked, a 55M cross section of Americans got Obama elected!

[YoungDemCA]

60. +100000

nt

[geek tragedy]

26. What Sanders doesn't get is that government isn't an economic issue

for white Southerners, it's a cultural one. To them, government exists to help immigrants, black people, feminists, homosexuals etc and it exists to implement affirmative action, gun control, and teach children to not rely on the Bible for science lessons.

They're not going to support Democrats on health care because they think such programs will be used to benefit 'undeserving minorities.'

[coldmountain]

28. Exactly

A 50 state strategy is a waste of money. Pick targets where demographics are on our side like tx, fla, az,nc, ignore the deep south, in fact make them the enemy of civilization, divide and conquer, the best political strategy of all time.

[cali]

39. you're wrong. that's exactly what he does get.

[geek tragedy]

46. Can you name a prominent liberal white Southerner

in the Senate or serving as a governor?

Vermont ain't Alabama--your most conservative Senator over the past 30 years was Jim Jeffords.

[IronLionZion]

49. The Dems in the south tend to be economic liberals

and more moderate or conservative on social issues. Education and jobs plans seem to be winning issues for many. They also tend to spend a lot of time campaigning in small towns across their states and hold listening sessions and let their constituents know that they give a shit about local issues.

Tim Kaine and Mark Warner exist. Steve Beshear expanded Medicaid and established a state health insurance marketplace in Kentucky.


It's doable.

[geek tragedy]

50. Virginia barely qualifies as a southern state these days.

Culturally, it's become much more mid-Atlantic with the tilt towards Northern Virginia.

Beshear is good people, but KY isn't a Southern state--more Appalachian ala West Virginia and parts of Ohio and PA. Democrats have had success in appealing to the Scots-Irish in the past. They're different than those raised on the confederate culture of Alabama, Mississippi etc.

[Tanuki]

78. Classic "no true Scotsman" response. n/t

[leftstreet]

66. You just made Sanders point n/t

[westerebus]

67. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner

Both served as Governor's and are Senators of Virginia.

How about them?

[geek tragedy]

81. Warner is not a liberal.

Kaine is moreso, but his base is NoVa, which is about as Southern as Philadelphia.

[westerebus]

93. Kaine is DLC as is Warner.

Warner is just as liberal on social issues as Kaine is.

Both are fiscal conservatives which is why they were elected to the Governorship to begin with.

Philly was not the Capitol of the Confederacy.

[Volaris]

73. sorry but I don't buy that...

there are enough people who STILL get their power via the Tennessee Valley Authority who know damn well what it would cost if it were completely privately-held, instead of built and run by Uncle Sam.

The problem (as I see it) is that the last time Uncle Sam went down there and did anything as demonstrably useful for them (as they see it) as the Tennessee Valley Authority, WAS the Tennessee Valley Authority.

As an example, if we start building top-quality, regional High Speed Rail down there, those rural areas won't be so rural anymore, and THAT helps us, too.

Feel free to tell me I don't know what the hell I'm talking about, as opinions are always welcome, and make my arguments better next time.

Peace,

[geek tragedy]

80. Well, Uncle Sam did go down there and end legal apartheid, post TVA.

But, the fact that they don't see that as useful pretty much sums up why things are as they are down there.

Also, there's that whole Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security thing.

So the "Southern whites' resentment of the federal government is justified and not based in white supremacism" is in fact nonsense.

[Bluenorthwest]

88. I think your description is of racists and homphobes and to extend that to all

white Southerners is crass and inaccurate. Does that describe Jimmy Carter or Michael Stipe or John Grisham? How about Harry Conick is he all about hating immigants? Ellen Degeneres is from Louisiana, she's white. Honey Boo Boo's Mom voted for Obama.
Your view seems limited sort of assumptive along extremely generalized lines. Maybe Bernie is saying that the racist and ignorant will remain Republicans but that not every white person is a racist there. Do you really think they are all racists? Ann Rice is a racist? Linda Bloodworth-Thomason?

[geek tragedy]

91. There are of course exceptions to every rule.

I grew up in a deep red, racist, homophobic state myself. I moved away 23 years ago, and it's even more rightwing these days.

Lee Atwater described it best:

You start out in 1954 by saying, “Nigger, nigger, nigger.” By 1968 you can't say “nigger” — that hurts you. Backfires. So you say stuff like forced busing, states' rights and all that stuff. You're getting so abstract now [that] you're talking about cutting taxes, and all these things you're talking about are totally economic things and a byproduct of them is [that] blacks get hurt worse than whites. And subconsciously maybe that is part of it. I'm not saying that. But I'm saying that if it is getting that abstract, and that coded, that we are doing away with the racial problem one way or the other. You follow me — because obviously sitting around saying, “We want to cut this,” is much more abstract than even the busing thing, and a hell of a lot more abstract than “Nigger, nigger.”

Why is Obamacare so unpopular with working class whites? Because they assume it was set up to help 'those people.'

“With regards to the young people, for instance, a forgiveness of college loan interest was a big gift,” Mr. Romney said. “Free contraceptives were very big with young, college-aged women. And then, finally, Obamacare also made a difference for them, because as you know, anybody now 26 years of age and younger was now going to be part of their parents’ plan, and that was a big gift to young people. They turned out in large numbers, a larger share in this election even than in 2008.”

The president’s health care plan, he said, was also a useful tool in mobilizing black and Hispanic voters. Though Mr. Romney won the white vote with 59 percent, according to exit polls, minorities coalesced around the president in overwhelming numbers: 93 percent of blacks and 71 percent of Hispanics.

“You can imagine for somebody making $25,000 or $30,000 or $35,000 a year, being told you’re now going to get free health care, particularly if you don’t have it, getting free health care worth, what, $10,000 per family, in perpetuity — I mean, this is huge,” Mr. Romney said. “Likewise with Hispanic voters, free health care was a big plus. But in addition with regards to Hispanic voters, the amnesty for children of illegals, the so-called Dream Act kids, was a huge plus for that voting group.”

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/romney-blames-loss-on-obamas-gifts-to-minorities-and-young-voters/?_r=0

Do you think when Paul Ryan talks about 'dependency' he isn't using code for black people?

[George II]

29. I love Bernie Sanders, think he's a great Senator, but.........

.....if he wants to help transform the Democratic Party and it's election strategies, perhaps he can start by JOINING the Democratic Party?

[7962]

33. You know, thats a GREAT point!

[tomp]

76. not a great point.

fundamentally he's a socialist. the democratic party needs to shift dramatically toward the left before he would be comfortable with a D after his name. that's what he's getting at. Personally i would prefer a third party of real progressives. Now THAT is a great idea.

[dotymed]

30. I just hope that since

Bernie is investigating southern strategies, HE may be considering a WH run. I live in the South and I promise to do whatever possible to elect Bernie Sanders.

IMO, he is the FDR of our generation. If anyone can unite people nation-wide it is Bernie. He is an intelligent, people-first
politician, with a lot of experience and a Progressive vision for America.

I really believe that if Southerners get acquainted with his views, he can win the WH, "hands down."

Most Southerners (low information is the majority here) have no idea (which to me is tragic) what Bernie Sanders stands for or the "get 'er done", straight to the people, style that he uses (effectively).

IMO, being an independent would work for him and I can think of no one better suited to represent all Americans, unless you consider corporations as people.

[MissDeeds]

36. +1000

Now, if we can only get him to run. I think the country is so ready for Bernie's kind of leadership.

[n2doc]

34. +1 million

I am so sick and tired of the national Democratic groups focussing in on a few states/races and just trying to 'hold on'. I remember 2004 when they wrote off massive sections of the US to focus on Ohio and Florida. We have races down here, where essentially no one contests the R.

I remember when Cruz was elected. The Texas and National Democratic parties wrote off that Senate seat before the primary even happened. They didn't push Cruz, and it is my belief that had they done so, he would have had an "Akin" moment and shot his mouth off in the same way. But Cruz was allowed to just slide into that Senate seat and we now have to suffer for it.

[Uncle Joe]

54. Precisely it's like fighting with one arm tied behind your back or negotiating from a position

of weakness.

I am so sick and tired of the national Democratic groups focussing in on a few states/races and just trying to 'hold on'. I remember 2004 when they wrote off massive sections of the US to focus on Ohio and Florida. We have races down here, where essentially no one contests the R.

[Arugula Latte]

35. Bring back Howard Dean

[bvar22]

40. We made progress under Howard Dean's 50 state strategy.

During the recent DU round of Hating-on-the-South,
I pointed that out regularly,
and said the DNC needs to spend some money in The South.
I glad the see that Senator Sanders and I are on the same page.

I'm surprised the Democratic Party has done as well as it has in The South considering the neglect from the Party.
The current "Southern Strategy" of the Democratic Party (and too many DUers) is NOT working.


A charismatic Populist Democrat (like Huey Long) who sticks to Economic Issues,
publicly spurns support from The RICH & Wall Street,
points them out as the PROBLEM (Elizabeth Warren),
can win in The South, and anywhere else.

[ProSense]

48. Here's what we got

Six Republican incumbents were defeated by Democratic candidates:
Jim Talent (Missouri) lost to Claire McCaskill.
Conrad Burns (Montana) lost to Jon Tester.
Mike DeWine (Ohio) lost to Sherrod Brown.
Rick Santorum (Pennsylvania) lost to Bob Casey Jr..
Lincoln Chafee (Rhode Island) lost to Sheldon Whitehouse.
George Allen (Virginia) lost to Jim Webb.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_elections,_2006

Plus 31 Hous seats, including some blue dogs like Jason Altmire.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2006

At the state level:

Of the 50 United States governors, 36 were up for election. Twenty two of those contested seats were held by Republicans, and the remaining 14 were held by Democrats. Of the 36 state governorships up for election, ten were open due to retirement, term limits, or primary loss. Although most governors serve four-year terms, the two exceptions, Vermont and New Hampshire, elect governors to two-year terms. As a result of the 2006 gubernatorial elections, there are now 28 Democratic governors and 22 Republican governors, a reversal of the numbers held by the respective parties prior to the elections.

<...>

Nearly all state legislatures were up for election. Prior to the general elections, with the exception of the nonpartisan Nebraska Legislature, 21 legislatures were controlled by Republicans, 19 by Democrats, and nine were split legislatures (where each house is controlled by a different party). As a result of the 2006 elections, 23 legislatures were carried by Democrats, 17 by Republicans, and 9 legislatures were split. In all, Republicans lost, and Democrats gained, more than 300 state legislative seats.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_elections,_2006#Governors

[ProSense]

47. Start with Kentucky

McConnell drops behind Grimes (D)// McConnell says he will prevent next shutdown
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023873012

Democratic Opponent Lundergan Grimes Out-Fundraises McConnell
Kentucky Democratic candidate Alison Lundergan Grimes reported on Tuesday that she had raised more money in the third quarter than her opponent, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

Lundergan Grimes reported raising a total of $2.5 million from July to the end of September while McConnell raised $2.3 million. McConnell's campaign manager, Jesse Benton, said that fundraising quarter was his best so far, according to the Associated Press. Grimes's campaign said 13,328 unique contributors donated to her campaign.

But McConnell still has far more cash on hand. The top Senate Republican has $10 million cash on hand while Grimes has roughly $2 million.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/lundergan-grimes-outraises-mcconnell-in-third-fundraising-quarter

Kentucky has a Democratic governor who accepted the Medicaid expansion, which is really pissing off the teabaggers.

<...>

Here's another comment from the same poster that also helps further explain their thinking:

wexwuther

Kentucky can go to hell in a handbasket. The people there are flocking to the ACA. We should bring to this fight the discipline of the union workers who hold firm on their strikes and suffer on principle. There can be no worse patriotic move right now than to sign up for Obamacare just to save a few hundred bucks a month. It will end up costing America much more than that.

Takes a minute to truly unpack that one. Everyone who might save money using Obamacare is unpatriotic, destroying America and deserves to rot in Hell for all eternity. Almost wish this was some kind of a liberal plant but the problem is I've met people who think just like this. From the polling it appears the country is finally waking up to the ugly truth of it.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/16/1247830/-Best-Redstate-comment-for-today

Kentucky GOP Senators Were Wrong That State Didn’t Want Obamacare
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023864125

Kentucky's success makes a mockery of GOP Obamacare foes
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023779107

[last1standing]

51. Obama made an irrevocable mistake when he abandoned Dean's 50 state strategy.

And instead listened to Emmanuel's "triangulation" deception.

Imagine what could be today if the Democratic party had continued to focus on all 50 states. We would likely still hold the house, the government wouldn't have been shut down at a cost of $24 billion, and the bush tax cuts could have been completely eradicated.

On the other hand, we might not have TPP and other "free" trade agreements in the works, the Keystone XL pipeline might not even be an issue, and we might have already amended ACA to include a public option and prescription caps.

Makes one think...

[nashville_brook]

52. k and r

[MNBrewer]

55. If they're "hung up on gay marriage issues", fuck'em

[LostOne4Ever]

65. Im a southern democrat and I agree with you 100, no 1000, no 1000000%!

We DON'T NEED BIGOTS to win!!!
[p class=post-sig style=margin-top:0px;text-align:center;]

[div style='color: #B20000;font-size: 2.000em'] [center] Not all those who wander are LOST!!! [/center]

[Silent3]

57. Can we get those guys to vote Democratic without abandoning what they're "hung up on"?

Is merely switching emphasis where needed, highlighting economic issues for a southern target audience, but not actually giving any ground on the social issues, enough?

[YoungDemCA]

59. I think we need more Southern Democrats at the grassroots level...

Local politics is really important, particularly in rural areas.

[Hekate]

63. Exactly as our Southern DUers keep trying to tell us here. They exist.

Bring back Howard Dean, f'pete'sake.

[LostOne4Ever]

64. As a southern democrat I just want to say:

If we have to abandon standing up for equality for homosexuals, women, and minorities in order to get the south, THEN FUCK THE SOUTH.

We don't need the help of bigots to win, and any victory with their help is a pyrric victory.

Focusing on our demographics and letting the republican's demographics will give us victory without selling our soul to the devil. We can stand on principle AND gain for the poor at the same time. By doing this we will naturally gain southern states. The hispanic vote in Texas is threatening to turn the state blue soon and once that happens its game over for the GOP.

I am here to fight for equality, both social and economic. I won't throw innocents under the bus to achieve one and forsake the other. I will fight for both!

That said, southern democrats are NOT a bunch of bigots!!!! There are tons of us out here fighting for rights of women, gays, and minorities of all stripes. You don't need to appeal to social conservatives to get us. Stand up for liberal values and grow true progressive who value economic fairness AND SOCIAL JUSTICE!!!

It can be done!

You dont need the bigots!

[p class=post-sig style=margin-top:0px;text-align:center;]

[div style='color: #B20000;font-size: 2.000em'] [center] Not all those who wander are LOST!!! [/center]

[Bluenorthwest]

89. As a gay person I did not think Bernie meant any such thing.

He said they are 'hung up on' some issues, he did not say 'they have concerns about their deep family values being challenged by homosexuals'. He said they are hung up. What we need to do is unhang them. Give them another focus and an experience based education. The actual bigots will remain Republicans. Those who are just fixated on memes they were fed might evolve.
5 years ago Obama went to SC with a busload of anti gay and ex gay preachers and he defended that shit by claiming that SC was so deeply religious that we could not ask them to stop being bigots, he told us we had to get used to their hate and welcome them or we could fuck off. A DU Obama supporter told me this 'we don't need the gays anymore, Obama is bringing in the faith community to fill that gap, so your poutrage is of no concern'. This was OUR Party. Just a few short years ago. Obama was not alone, John Edwards, while having an affair, preached about being Southern and religious and so traditional about the Sanctity of marriage that he simply could not 'cross that bridge' and support equality 'I'm the son of a Deacon, one man, one woman, it is just a part of me I can not change'. Hillary was 'civil unions only'. Biden nearly broke his dental plate shouting out his agreement with Sarah Palin that marriage was only for 'one man, one woman' in their TV debate.
There is hardly a Democrat in office that I have not heard fully insult my family and shout about how God says they are superior to us. Paul Wellstone, who is seen on DU as a saint, gleefully voted for DOMA to make sure my civil rights would always be denied. This was his objective, and people here refuse to criticize that shit.
So yeah, people get hung up and they need to be unstuck by smarter people.

[westerebus]

97. Well said, Bluenorthwest, well said.

I do not think the conversion to a liberal mind set is possible with some folks here in the south, but, I do think that many are embarrassed by the likes of George Allen or a Ken Cuccinelli and may stay home on election day. Those are the folks that given the incentive to vote for a democrat would, if the Party spent some money and effort in the south.

[NuttyFluffers]

68. 50 State Strategy! Howard Dean was right!

accept no substitutes or excuses!

[Festivito]

69. Rs have enough money to buy top Ds to stop a 50-state strategy.

The fact that our media is skewed to favor themselves as corporations says that WE MUST HAVE A 50-STATE STRATEGY OF RELAYING OUR OWN INFORMATION.

It should be a simple -- no brainer -- decision.

[madokie]

71. One of the few in congress who really gets it

we need about 434 more just like him.
I really really really like this guy

[Warren DeMontague]

72. If it's MORE important to someone to keep their gay neighbor from getting married

or to prevent a woman they've never met, from getting an abortion or using birth control, than it is for them to have a job with decent benefits, affordable health care, decent roads to drive on and quality schools for their kids to go to...


sorry, they're beyond help.

[get the red out]

79. Social Issues

That is why the Republican Party took over the churches.

[YoungDemCA]

82. Like it or not, the South is the hub of evangelical Christianity in America...

...which, for the record, wasn't always as uniformly right-wing as it is today.

Example: The Southern Baptist Convention had a lot more moderate and even liberal congregations, pastors, and members pre-1980. But in the late 70s and 80s, the right-wingers and neo-fundies took over basically the whole SBC, and purged less conservative members.

[get the red out]

84. Very true

I just wish they would realize that being liberal minded is compassionate and not evil, but they are absolutely used by the Republican Party.

[hobbit709]

83. The national Party comes to TX and sucks up millions in donations.

And hardly any of it comes back. That's one of the reasons they don't get my money.
In the last 20 years there have been plenty of state level and Congressional races that could have been competitive if some money had showed up. It didn't.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

87. The top members of the Democratic Party cannot keep abandoning those who voted for them.

South, North, East, or West.

Where's my Democratic Party?



Why not focus on the economic issues?

Why are jobs being shipped to foreign countries? Why has there been a proposal to cut Social Security?

[global1]

94. Somebody Please Get This Link To Senator Bernie Sanders.........

Lift the Cap

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023871310

[ecstatic]

96. uggh. It's not that simple, Bernie

So many teabaggers have no idea that the Medicaid & Medicare benefits they and/or their families rely on are from the government. Furthermore, they think it's ok to use it themselves, but everyone else who relies on it is a lazy "taker." It's impossible to reason with people who are racist, ignorant, and most importantly selfish.

This idea that all democrats have to do is toss a significant portion of our base under the bus to pick up ignorant folks who still won't get it is preposterous! I used to think that way to back when Howard Dean was running.