Robert Reich nailed it today.

[jumpstart33]

Heard him on the radio. He questions why so many people in the so-called "red states" rural areas vote Republican when the Rebpublicans continue to enact legislation and policies that are against their interests. Paraphrasing, in a nutshell, the reason is racism and biogotry nurtured by ignorance and fear.

[jefferson_dem]

1. Don't foget anti-intellectualism and in search of a chimp-led daddy state

[AmerDem]

2. well, he sure nailed!

I've said already that racism is the undertone that is bonding these people together. They see themselves as being squeezed out of majority America, so they use every tactic possible to hold back all minorities.

If you want to See this first hand just listen to Pat Buchanan. This is the rhetoric they subscribe to.

[Mr_Spock]

4. I've yet to meet a Republican of ANY race who wasn't a bigot of some sort

These are simple-minded angry people who want to put everybody they meet into a convenient little classification box. It's a form of fear and is why I call their leader a coward - this label then applies to all of his followers. Scaredy cats - now attack me while I'm not looking you cowards. ...or perhaps you'll shoot me in my back - cowards can't even fight without a weapon. Why do I know that you want to attack anyone who makes fun of you Mr. Freeper? Because you are a scared child who never grew up - you want your mommy huh? Yeah, I'm a bigot too - I HATE people who HATE me (or anyone) because I am open minded and want to know someone before I pass any judgement - something too inconvienient to you Mr. Freeper.

[gmoney]

3. He read "What's the Matter With Kansas" ?

Is it too late for us to let the confederacy secede?

[secular_warrior]

5. White Christian American Nationalism

The GOP like any right wing party is nationalistic and ethnocentric, believing that their race, religion and culture is superior to any other -- even if they won't come out and admit it. They believe they are the 'real' Americans and everyone else is simply a threat to their white society. They are also moderately fascistic, believing it is a corporation's right to have a say in government and a role in shaping policy.

When people start asking 'why are these people voting against their interests?' the answer is that they aren't. Economics is not everything, and even on that issue, even if poor whites hurt in the short run, in the long run they believe that it's better their corporate white brothers benefit and retain power than the 'dirty minority' who is living off of the white man's taxes. They see the corporation not as an enemy, but an ally in a larger war.

One other thing, let's remember that the old Southern Democrats were a right wing party even though populist on economics, i.e. Pat Buchanan/Lou Dobbs type of conservatives. The key distinction here is that these type of populist conservatives are basically moderate national socialists, as opposed to a populist of the left. Conservative populists oppose free trade and support unions NOT for any noble 'workers rights'/anger at corporate power lefty type reasons, but because 'the dirty foreigners' are taking their jobs. So the motive of the Republican conservatives of today is the same, it's just the economic method that is different. Motive is what really matters when judging people politically -- party affiliation and issue positions are no where as important.