Tuesday, November 11, 2008

For South, a Waning Hold on National Politics



VERNON, Ala. — Fear of the politician with the unusual name and look did not end with last Tuesday’s vote in this rural red swatch where buck heads and rifles hang on the wall. This corner of the Deep South still resonates with negative feelings about the race of President-elect Barack Obama.

What may have ended on Election Day, though, is the centrality of the South to national politics. By voting so emphatically for Senator John McCain over Mr. Obama — supporting him in some areas in even greater numbers than they did President Bush — voters from Texas to South Carolina and Kentucky may have marginalized their region for some time to come, political experts say.

The region’s absence from Mr. Obama’s winning formula means it “is becoming distinctly less important,” said Wayne Parent, a political scientist at Louisiana State University. “The South has moved from being the center of the political universe to being an outside player in presidential politics.” read more here

7 comments:

Unknown said...

we are almost 10 years into the 21st century and many people still act like we are in the 1950s. I can only hope people will get over this ignorance soon.

clintpatty said...

Does that accurately represent the South overall? They could have gotten a much different article from interviewing you and your friends. They could have also interviewed the McCain voters in Huntsville, Hampton Cove, and Hazel Green, most of which probably voted for McCain due to job security and other defense related issues. I think that was the deciding factor much more often for a McCain vote near Huntsville than race. I don't know what it's like in other areas, though.

Bello Velo said...

The facts are kind of hard to dispute. The Republicans have aligned themselves with the religious right and this is the bible belt. I am sure race played a bit but more so I think is the Christian Coalition and pandering to these religious groups. The only place the republican party has a hold is in the south and north dakota. I understand your denial as far as being from here but the facts remain.......

Take a look at the map here.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/11/05/us/politics/20081104_ELECTION_RECAP.html

Bello Velo said...

One other note you said to interview "me and my friends" I would say we are the exception here and not the norm. The voting results would also support this too.

I think it is a good sign though the Republican party really has no platform and will probably die off. Maybe out of this some new parties will emerge.

Most of America is progressive so it is a good sign in my opinion.

clintpatty said...

Yeah I agree about religion being more important than race. The voting results support the stuff about the Republican party, but I'm not sure if they support the reasons given in that article. We are the exception here, but significant racism in voting for McCain may also be the exception. I don't want to deny the facts if they are there, though. The Republican Party and most Americans rejected the only platform they could have had this year with Ron Paul. He actually does what they talk about. People on Fox News were upset about young and even young white voters preferring Obama and how to deal with that. They suggest the Republican Party pushing their ideals and such with small government and fiscal reponsibility. But for most of them that's all talk and not what they do. I won't be joining them due to their empty talk even though I like how they talk.

Anonymous said...

You are right, Clint. The GOP would have had a fighting chance this time with Ron Paul. Although I no longer fully support his economic views, at least he had something substantive to stand on.

I sincerely hope this neocon revolution dies out, quickly and forever. IMHO, it is beginning to resemble the groups fundamentalist warriors with which they currently fight in the middle east. Religion is dangerous enough on its own, but mixed with politics and government it presents an awful monster.

Bello Velo said...

I think the point of the article is that the GOP has no ideas except for war and god. The Democrats have co opted fiscal conservatism since clinton.

Sorry the Libertarians are just Republicans. Ron Paul is not the answer, he is more of a cult leader than the Obama Kool Aid. Look at the demographic of Ron Paul supporters they may look like you but not the rest of America. That is what the article is saying too, join the rest of us and move forward or get left behind. I think the detestable thing that the GOP and Libertarians have done is to keep reenforcing to certain people to not trust your government. That is not the answer you voted them in, now get off your ass and hold them to it. ACT!!!

Believe me the 70's were much more secular in the US than they are now this resembles the American version of the Taliban. This is what happens when ideas and beliefs are on there way out they get held onto by the extremist and the uneducated that much stronger.

I think for things to change people must choose a side not the fence that is too easy and denial is a republican trait:)