General Discussion

JHB

(37,893 posts)

32. Fella, it's the bigots who gave conservatives their victories.

Sun Dec 14, 2025, 06:01 PM

Sunday

Surely, as someone active in conservative politics, you've heard of the Southern Strategy? Namely, once the Democrats decided to get out of the business of Koddling Klansmen, the Republicans set up recruiting tables to have all those disaffected bigots (formerly known as "conservative Southern Democrats" ) cast their votes for the elephant.

I mean, Reagan kicked off his campaign in Philadelphia, Mississippi and talked about "states rights." What kind of crowd do you think he was playing to? How about when he was talking about "young bucks eating T-bone steaks"? He wasn't talking about deer or rabbits, so who do you think he was trying to get his audience all riled up about? What buttons was he pushing?

Putting bigots on your team was all part of the plan. Every Republican success for the last fifty years has depended on it.

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erronis oberle raging moderate Attilatheblond LovelyStuff byronius

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"As a conservative, I'm beginning to wonder: Are we the bad guys?" [View all] erronis Sunday OP

You better believe it. Dave Bowman Sunday #1

My eyes were opened when they fought against the ERA on the late 70's. SharonAnn Monday #88

My eyes were opened in the early 70s BaronChocula Monday #96

Yes RandySF Sunday #2

I'm 76 years old. Growing up, half my family was Republican. Joinfortmill Sunday #3

And the long answer is YES, YES, and DEFINITELY YES DeeDeeNY Monday #93

Yes. Yes you are. USS_Dauntless Sunday #4

Or, just decide that you are too embarrassed to do anything other than hide? OldBaldy1701E Sunday #24

They were willing to pretend until Obama became President JI7 Sunday #5

Definitely. And remember when a Roman Catholic was elected president? erronis Sunday #17

In Texas markodochartaigh Sunday #23

I was in the 7th grade in Monterey County, California, at a k-8 elementary school. The vice principal came in and told cksmithy Sunday #30

That's horrible EncantoCatColony Sunday #42

the nuns at my school were distraught rampartd Sunday #57

The rambling made me think the writer doesn't know what's going on. Tetrachloride Sunday #6

Indeed Scott Alan Swaggerty Sunday #49

He should ask himself if he ever believed that the end justifies the means. nt BootinUp Sunday #7

Im 84. They have always been there just not so much media. If you didn't live in it then Srkdqltr Sunday #8

The virus has spread to all of them. Swede Sunday #9

I was hoping someone would post this. Timeflyer Sunday #14

Sure Boo1 Sunday #25

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That Mitchell and Webb Look Boo1 Monday #103

I need to go find a thread where I can work in Numberwang. Xavier Breath Monday #106

Ronald Reagan, born in Illinois, rose to fame and power in California rsdsharp Sunday #10

Of course this did actually pre-date Reagan - Nixon and Goldwater and the "Southern Strategy" erronis Sunday #11

Ah, yes the Golden Years of Lee Atwater . . . . hatrack Sunday #62

I was about to post this fujiyamasan Monday #67

Ain't that the truth? stage left Sunday #47

Yup lonely bird Monday #74

+1 Scott Alan Swaggerty Sunday #50

Who gave us the Lee Atwater political cesspool Gum Logger Monday #91

If the Gucci fits, wear it. twodogsbarking Sunday #12

or the jackboot GopherGal Sunday #36

My view is the Republicans have been openly racist since the Goldwater candidance and were cemented into that corner by ShazamIam Sunday #13

I read this letter in the Post this morning. I wondered if it was real. Probably, I suppose. Martin68 Sunday #15

Hahahahahaha...like to believe conservatism wasn't always thus hibbing Sunday #16

It's who they've always been. BurnDoubt Sunday #18

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Gingrich... lonely bird Monday #75

Eisenhower's political views were obviously shaped by his promotion to Allied Supreme Commander. OAITW r.2.0 Monday #89

spawn of the devil himself UpInArms Sunday #20

Reagan was a racist cow. mercuryblues Sunday #21

Yes. They are veritable pieces of shit NewHendoLib Sunday #22

If there WERE good guys. WmChris Sunday #26

Yes, and they also need to stop calling themselves conservatives. KY_EnviroGuy Sunday #27

My mother was a non-racist Republican. But she finally voted for all Democrats. raging moderate Sunday #37

Thank you for your story. I think it mirrors what a lot of people/families have gone through. erronis Sunday #56

This is exactly how I grew up radical noodle Monday #85

Mine as well. OAITW r.2.0 Monday #90

I call them lonely bird Monday #76

As my Friend and DU Member says.... Turbineguy Sunday #28

Sometimes you have to be told! state of stupid Monday #94

Here's the URL link ffr Sunday #29

Thanks. And here's an archived link. It looks like the same content. erronis Sunday #31

Fella, it's the bigots who gave conservatives their victories. JHB Sunday #32

ah for the days when they at least had enough shame to use code words. GopherGal Sunday #39

I'm a 79 year old Liberal Democrat. Believe me, it was always there. patphil Sunday #33

yup Skittles Sunday #52

To be succinct: YES. ColoringFool Sunday #34

Short answer yes.. reagan launched at KKK site for a reason JT45242 Sunday #38

We're not wondering. We've always known. NNadir Sunday #40

Yep Jean Genie Sunday #41

Bwahahah-- yes, you are, motherfuckers LymphocyteLover Sunday #43

This label-hijacking has been going on since the 1960s DFW Sunday #44

Republicans should not be referred to as conservatives. overleft Sunday #46

After 20 years DFW Monday #66

lolololol Oh, sorry. Duh! Y'all have ALWAYS been this way. ALWAYS!!!! Solly Mack Sunday #45

Yes. Yes, you are the bad guys. Scott Alan Swaggerty Sunday #48

Do not have to read his response in detail rustbeltvoice Sunday #51

Most of the good pukes went dem after Bush when it was clear the pukes were going full Nazi, total info awareness Blues Heron Sunday #53

Kick. N/T Upthevibe Sunday #54

Great OP malaise Sunday #55

- In ten words or less- Conjuay Sunday #58

As a 42 year old US born Indian guy whose parents are Jspur Sunday #59

The racism/sexism/bullying especially in the school years is still intense. erronis Sunday #60

I agree I hear it all the time from parents of kids Jspur Sunday #61

Profound malaise Monday #78

Hah - DUH UTUSN Sunday #63

Yes Robert the virus fully took root as far back as the racist Nixon southern strategy administration. flashman13 Monday #64

Um... you really have to ask? calimary Monday #65

It has taken until now for you (whoever you are) soldierant Monday #68

The party's have switched roles Deminpenn Monday #69

After signing the Civil Rights Act in '64 SomedayKindaLove Monday #99

It's only been 7 years since Trump started tearing families apart and... LudwigPastorius Monday #70

Concentration camp vibes right there wolfie001 Monday #72

Yes. Yes you are rpannier Monday #71

It goes back further than you might think. Morbius Monday #73

This is why it's infuriating to hear that the Democrats' problem is "messaging" Walleye Monday #77

I keep returning to the death scene of Tom Jordache in no_hypocrisy Monday #79

Oh it goes further back than Reagan or even Nixon for that matter. Crowman2009 Monday #80

Yes, Mr. Conservative, they are your descendants! Vogon_Glory Monday #81

There is one difference between conservatives and liberals that has always been true. mwb970 Monday #82

Just now wondering? GreenWave Monday #83

Here is the actual WP link LiberalArkie Monday #84

And the non-paywalled archive link: erronis Monday #86

Trajectories PATRICK Monday #87

Yeah, you are the bad guys. hadEnuf Monday #92

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The conservative mindset is afraid of change crimycarny Monday #97

He's "beginning" to wonder? louis-t Monday #98

They live in a world with no mirrors. mdbl Monday #100

You've always been the real bad guys. Initech Monday #101

You figure it out. Marcuse Monday #104

Yes. Next question. niyad Monday #105