How do we make the South blue?

[Taverner]

And by that I don't mean sing them a sorrowful ballad :) (couldn't resist)

But seriously - how can we turn the South blue

I know there are a great deal of progressives, leftists and liberals there, but the truth is they are outnumbered by the conservatives.

More than just getting our guys to get out and vote will need to be done.

Hearts and Minds will have to be changed, attitudes will have to be re-shaped.

For example: to combat homophobia in the South, I think positive exposure will be our best weapon. How many folks here were homophobic in their youth, only to have that change when they actually met a homosexual? I'm in that camp.

[mysuzuki2]

1. If the federal government stopped sending them money

I think that would work.

[kiranon]

8. Agree. n/t

[former9thward]

22. To our military and NASA?

Most federal money in the south goes to wages, benefits and maintenance for federal facilities such as military bases and other federally owned infrastructure. Do you want our military members to have their paychecks stopped?

[Hawkowl]

52. Cut "defense" spending by two thirds

So, yes. Stop paying our military, but in a gradual and structured way. Say over a five year period.

[former9thward]

54. I certainly agree with that.

As long as it is all over and not just the south.

[Lost-in-FL]

2. My suggestion and ONLY true way to do it.

1. Print a blank map of the US.

2. Get a blue highlighter.

3. Highlight the South in blue.

[Taverner]

4. ROFL

Ahh, that made me spit coffee out my nose :)

[brooklynite]

3. Not every state is winnable...

...setting aside Nixon-McGovern and Reagan-Mondale, the country is divided into roughly 40% liberal, 40% conservative and 20% moderate. The conservatives have to live somewhere.....

[Taverner]

7. But why are they Conservative?

That is the question that has to be asked.

There are a number of reasons, but I think the biggest is that Conservatives want to prove they are not a "victim."

Problem is, when someone mugs you and takes your money, it doesn't matter whether you report it or not - you are still a victim

[brooklynite]

19. Why are you liberal? Why am I moderate?

We're all politically framed by where we grew up and how we've experienced life. While you can certainly peel people away from an ideology here and there, and can (more likely) get them to sometimes vote for your candidate, there are always going to be a large bunch of people who 1) don't want you to tell them how to live their lives (economically); DO want to tell you how to live your life (morally), and generally don't like significant and abrupt change.

[Taverner]

29. Why am I a liberal? Because the data led me to be so.

[brooklynite]

40. Are you saying that if you were born in Missisippi to conservative parents...

...you'd still have seen the light and become a liberal?

[angel823]

49. I was born in Texas

and still have conservative parents, and I made it through. Real education is the KEY! That's why public schools have become such a focused target of conservatives.

It will take some time, though.

Peace
Angel

[TroglodyteScholar]

57. I'm the progeny of VERY conservative Christian parents from coastal Mississippi and Alabama...

I certainly had no trouble deciding what I believe in.

[SkyDaddy7]

59. YES...I am an ODD BALL considering I grew up in...

the suburbs of Atlanta, well, at the very edge of the suburbs you could say. Because when I was a child 30-35 miles south of Atlanta was the rural country...Now not so much. Anyway, all my friends except one & my brother are hard core Conservative, do not have college educations, really don't have a grasp on politics other than repeating what they hear on Talk Radio or watch on FOX "News" & YES vary in degrees of racism UTTERLY RELIGIOUS! Earth is 6000yrs old religious!!

So, if the Democrats can't turn Georgia BLUE then forget any other southern state except maybe North Carolina & maybe Virginia if you consider that Southern.

[RaleighNCDUer]

24. I'm not so sure that fits.

"The South" has been playing victim for a hundred and fifty years. Even here, people constantly pull the "stop picking on the south" crap.

You don't prove you're not a victim by claiming you're being victimized.

Of course, we know the south IS being victimized - just not in the ways the 'southern patriots' claim. It is being victimized by corporate exploitation, by politicians practicing the art of rule by division, by religious hucksters, and by those who claim the south is being oppressed by liberal ideas.

[wtbymark]

5. kick em' out of the union for 10years

give them what they want, they will beg and plead to be let back in

[FSogol]

6. Massive Liberal Reproduction Project?

I'm in....

[Pab Sungenis]

9. Reintroduce slavery.

I don't think reintroducing segregation would be enough any more.

Face it: the Democratic South of the post-Reconstruction era up until 1964 was based on racism, pure and simple. We were an avowedly racist party until 1948, and the Voting Rights Act of 1964 was the final nail in the coffin.

Racists are too firmly set in their beliefs to be redeemed, and there are still too many of them in most southern states to make a dent.

[Taverner]

15. But I don't think all Southerners, or even a majority are racist

Yes, the racist ones act as if everyone agrees with them, and they are outwardly racist.

But it reminds me from a scene in "O Brother Where Art Thou" when Homer Stokes was trying to defame 'The Soggy Bottom Boys' and just assumed everyone liked that "group by a name we all know..."

[Pab Sungenis]

17. No, not all are. Not even a majority.

But a significant block. And most of the racists are in the lower and middle classes, from which the Democratic base draws its strength. It keeps them from voting their economic interests.

[damntexdem]

31. And don't forget how many of those who the South is racist against are southern.

For example, Texas is actually a minority majority state and becoming more so. There IS a reason that Repukes try to suppress the votes of minorities and the poor, and those reasons are strongest in the South, though certainly not limited to the South.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

10. A lot of it comes down to Abortion and the myth that it is RAMPANT.

I think a little education would do a TON of good. But that won't happen.

[sudopod]

11. "...they are outnumbered by conservatives."

No, they aren't. They have just given up on the system. In states where upward of 30% of the people are African Americans, there is no reason the obviously bigoted Republicans should ever win...if the system was just.

The problem is that so many natural Democrats of all stripes have given up on the system that the Republicans win by default. The ones who try are frequently discouraged due to the efforts to keep them from the polls. I have experienced it first hand. If we can change that, we can change everything.

PS: I can appreciate quality snark, but some of these replies are in really poor taste. :/

[Taverner]

16. Hmmm, then if this is true a massive GOTV might take back the South

Of course, that old Stalin adage pops up - the one about it's the one who counts the votes

Perhaps if a large chunk of the DNC budget was used to rent hundreds and hundreds of school busses, going from democratic home to democratic home

[jwirr]

20. How do we change that problem? I also think it is not just the actual

situation that effects this. rw christian churches encourage a distrust of government and even call it evil and this ideology has a strong hold on the south. That may explain why people vote against their own interests. We see more and more of this in the north as the rw churches move here.

[sudopod]

23. "How do we change that problem?"

No one said it was easy, but history provides some guidance.

[valerief]

12. When the fascists have them *all* working the plantations (I mean, in prison

doing slave labor for corporations), they'll turn blue. Of course, it'll be too late.

[rufus dog]

13. Kick it in the nuts?

[sudopod]

18. hurrrrrrrrrrr nt

[ileus]

14. Gun rights, lower taxes, more shows like Glee.

[backscatter712]

21. Mandatory abortion of inbred fetuses? n/t

[former9thward]

25. The bigoted responses of a majority of posters on this thread is the biggest reason

it will be difficult to turn the south blue.

[cordelia]

27. Yep

[Tuesday Afternoon]

48. +1

although the south has a sense of humor about itself, this is no way to win friends and influence people.

[Speck Tater]

26. Easy

[Uben]

28. My portion of Texas is deep blue!

Unfortunately, I only have about 1 1/3 acre, so it's not very big. But what I got is blue forever!

[Taverner]

30. I'm assuming you live in Austin or the Hill Country, no?

[Uben]

50. No, I live in deep red territory

The deep blue I referred to is confined to my 1 1/3 acre homestead that is located in republican hell.

[PeaceNikki]

32. Break up with it after we've met its parents and right before its birthday

[Tesha]

63. I've been advising that for years.

Without the South, this country would be a damned
sight better in many ways.

Failing that, I'd be happy if New England went its
own way instead.

Tesha

[madinmaryland]

33. We are at least another generation away from seeing the South turn even purple.

Change like that just doesn't happen overnight.

[Romulox]

34. By pandering to them: Union-busting, pro-corporate/anti-worker policies, coupled with a regressive

social policy.

[lumberjack_jeff]

35. making them understand that they unwittingly serve the moneychangers. n/t

[jtown1123]

36. By running more Tom Harkin type Democrats, Sherrod Brown,etc.

I think a lot of working class folks in the South think rich college boys and girls think they're better than them and haven't worked a day in their lives. We need more candidates like AFL-CIO's Rich Trumka. He is a fighter, explains things in a way that gets people fired up. Too bad he's not running for office, I just think he's a good example of the types of personalities we need in candidates.

[Keith Bee]

37. Ya gotta start with Crystal Gayle's brown eyes.

(The younger folk here won't appreciate that. Ah, well...)

[Stevenmarc]

38. Block Fox News

[Taverner]

39. Aren't they just one big infomercial trying to sell fear?

[Stevenmarc]

42. More like Missinfomercial

[sudopod]

41. This thread makes my soul hurt.

We are the people who are supposed have some understanding of history. I'd go to FR if I wanted to laugh it up with a lot of closed-minded yahoos who make jokes about slavery and punching people in the nuts.

Anyone here ever heard of the Civil Rights movement? Do you all know where that happened?

Ugh. May as well start printing up the Camacho 2012 stickers.

[dawg]

43. Here's how:

1.Talk their talk (even if we don't walk their walk) on values issues.

By this, I mean bending over backwards to acknowledge traditional values every chance we get. Voters should be made to understand that we think a high abortion rate is a bad thing, too - we just have different policies for dealing with it. Policies that work and are not harsh and punitive to young women and doctors. I don't, however, think there is any wiggle room on gay rights. Usually, I just say that God commands us to treat others as we would want to be treated ourselves, therefore, equal rights is the only ethical option.


2.Talk the talk, and walk the walk, on worker issues.

U.S. trade policy is of millionaires, by millionaires, and for millionaires. We should change this. NAFTA is *hated* down here, and Democrats have allowed themselves to share blame for what is primarily a Republican policy. Same for the bailouts. And there are lots of little goodies for the rich that folks down here would be mad about, if only someone they trusted would inform them.


3.Talk tough. Act tough when necessary.

White southern men are mostly followers. A generalization, I know, but I've seen enough to realize there is truth in that. Leaders like Dukakis and Carter were perceived as weak, and perception is reality to many voters. (Obama has done well with this. Only racism and hardened attitudes will prevent him from making some inroads with white southern male voters.)


4.Gun control means "I hit what I aim at".

This is not an issue we should even be discussing, except, perhaps locally, in large cities up North.


5.Be tall, white, male, good-looking, and call yourself a Christian.

Apparently, we can still be liberal, we just can't say so. I don't know how many people I talked with in 2008 said they hated most of the Democrats but might be willing to vote for John Edwards if he won the nomination. Why would they say that? On the issues, he was the most liberal of the three major candidates.

Oh well. Hope none of this offended.

[Freddie Stubbs]

44. By migrating there

States like VA and NC, which were once red are now swing states thanks to the migration of people from the Northeast.

[JoePhilly]

46. YUP ... I grew up in PA, not live in NC.

I'm helping to turn this state blue one neighbor at a time.

[retread]

45. Won't happen in our lifetime.

Upon signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Lyndon Johnson is said to have told aide Bill Moyers, "I think we have just delivered the South to the Republican Party for a long time to come."

[center rising]

47. How can you turn the south blue???

That's easy, get rid of all the bigots and racists down there.

[cherish44]

51. Education and going after youthful and minority voters

That's the key. The more educated a person is, the more likely they'll be progressive in their views. I think getting the message to youth and minority groups to get out and VOTE and get involved are key too. The Good Ole White Boy generation that is beyond help is dying out. There will come a time in the next 20 or so years when very few will have memories of a segregated South.

[kentuck]

53. This is just my opinion but...

I believe Southerners are more emotional about "politics" than other parts of the country. They are drawn toward emotional speeches and demogoguery. But they like their politicians with a fire in their belly. They like someone who will fight for what they believe in. I think they are more tolerant than some people give them credit for. They are more outward and open with their racism, when it is there. But I personally do not believe that they are that more "racist" than most other parts of the country.

However, I do not believe you have to appeal to their most base instincts and attitudes in order to win them over. I think populism and fairness appeals to them. They will support a fair tax system. They support working people, if not unions per se. Most of them, in my opinion, are supportive of government, unlike their Congressmen and Senators that they vote for.

They are a complex and outspoken bunch of people. But I would not give up on them. They appreciate honesty. When you see racism, call them on it. You will be appreciated for your courage. Just my opinion.

[Fire1]

55. Hypnosis. n/t

[and-justice-for-all]

56. With alot of paint..nt

[TK421]

64. beat me to it n/t

[Odin2005]

58. Cut off all federal funding to them and wait for them to crawl back and beg for mercy.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

60. Boat loads of paint and dye?

[TK421]

62. beat me to it n/t

[TK421]

61. lots and lots of paint nt

[pitohui]

65. it's about racism, not homophobia

everyone has a gay family member somewhere, i suppose, or they're close to another family that does -- at some point you would have to either realize gay people are people or else hate on your own family/friends

racists are unlikely to have family members of a different race -- there are not the same opportunities to grow and learn

positive experience doesn't happen, racists pull their kids out of public schools to be sure their kids never meet black kids who are trying to learn

i think probably we should not allow private schools below age 18, so that everyone does have to meet everyone else at least once in their lives, but it's still going to take a long time (and my plan will not be adopted, society is going the other way, into even more segregation, back to same sex schools, back to same "class" schools where only the poor go to this school and only the rich go to that one...most rich people do NOT think poor people are human, until you understand that, you understand nothing)

people followed david duke and ronald reagan into the GOP in 1980 because they are bigots, at the time, they would openly admit to it, nowadays they speak in code, but they're still making all their decisions based on skin color with a few recognizing the denial value of useful idiots like bobby jindal

[ohheckyeah]

66. Take away our biscuits.

Barring that, I have no idea.

Okay, seriously. One person at a time. I've turned my parents back to their Democratic roots just by having the facts on many different issues.

My brother is getting there. The rest might take some time.

[jberryhill]

67. Decrease their oxygen /nt