Tennessee politics

[Tennessee Gal]

As a native Tennessean, I remember good Democrats representing our state and I have been curious about why Tennessee is now so right leaning. I looked back in history to see if there was a definite time when Tennessee shifted to the far right. I don't see any conclusive evidence that there was a certain point in time when a shift occurred that could be attributed to something specific or historically significant. Perhaps other Tennesseans here on DU might have some input.

Presidential Elections
1952 Eisenhower - R
1956 Eisenhower - R
1960 Nixon - R
1964 Johnson - D
1968 - Nixon - R
1972 - Nixon - R
1976 - Carter - D
1980 - Reagan - R
1984 - Reagan - R
1988 - Bush - R
1992 - Clinton - D
1996 - Clinton - D
2000 - Bush - R - If Gore had won his home state, he would have been President.
2004 - Bush - R
2008 - McCain - R


Regarding the Senate, it is interesting that Democrats were elected to the Senate from Tennessee for a period running from 1875 until 1971 (This included Albert Gore, Sr.) for one seat. The only Democrat to hold this seat since 1971 was Jim Sasser from 1977 to 1995. Since then the seat has been held by Bill Frist and Bob Corker. For the other seat Democrats held it from 1871 to 1912 and again from 1913 to 1967, when Howard Baker was elected. Then Al Gore held this seat beginning in 1985 until he was elected Vice President. Harlan Matthews completed Gore's term in the Senate. Since then this seat has been held by Fred Thompson and Lamar Alexander.

Democrats held the office of the Governor from 1875 to 1975 except for 16 years. Since 1975, Republicans and Democrats have alternated.

[ananda]

1. One word answer: racism.

Same as Texas.

[Tennessee Gal]

2. You may be right, but I don't see a lot of racism exhibited in my little corner of Tennesee.

I do know of a local minister who thinks that Obama is Muslim. Disgusting.

[Hippo_Tron]

13. What part of TN are you from?

Racism is, without a doubt, a part of this equation but it isn't that simple. Harold Ford Jr.'s senate candidacy won a lot of white people who voted against white Democrats in 2010. And Harold Ford Jr. is about as big of a horse's ass as one could find.

[Tennessee Gal]

16. Middle Tennessee

I wanted Ford to win that race, but now I agree that he is a horse's ass.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

3. Looks like

Nixon's "southern strategy" at work. You might get a fuller picture from researching the percentage of people from your state who attend church regularly, who identify as "Christian" and Pro-life. What too many non-religious people tend to overlook is that there are many 'Christians" who place their religious beliefs above economic issues....thus abortion is the one issue that will keep them voting Republican no matter what else that vote entails.

The failure of Democrats to counter that argument effectively has kept this issue alive since Roe v Wade was decided in 1973. One argument the PARTY has never developed is the responsibility to KEEP these children alive...so the same party that wants to ban abortion also wants to curtail programs that feed, educate and provide health care for these children. It could have been an effective argument and could have forced the Republicans off of that 'pro-life' bullshit. I say the Party has failed because while you hear DUers saying pretty much just that, "republicans are pro-life from conception to birth, after birth not so much" you never hear the candidates say that. Think about it.

[Tennessee Gal]

7. You are right, or course.

You bring up the same things I talk about when the chance comes along.

Around here I occasionally see vehicles, usually old and in terrible condition, that have anti-Obama or pro Bush or Romney stickers on them. I know they either have no clue about economic issues OR they are voting only on abortion or guns. Of course, it could also be racism.

Recently I had a conversation with a right winger who said she votes Republican because she wants to be able to face God in heaven and state that she voted the "right way" on abortion. I politely told her that I am against abortion also, but want the government to stay out of it. I told her that I am pro-life in that I support policies that sustain and educate children. I said that I am a Christian and Liberal and that I am totally confident that I can face God in heaven with just as much peace as she can.

It is so important to point out to them that the Democratic Party supports policies that help the needy, the infirm, and the children.

I once had a friend who crafted a song called "Love All The Babies 'Til They're Born" which he applied to Republican policies and beliefs.

Thank you for suggesting I look into the percentages in Tennessee on abortion and religious beliefs. I will do that when time permits.

[lynintenn]

4. The R's perfected their formula Guns, Gays and abortion

As long as these issues are on the table, we will always be a redstate especially the gun issue. We voted to let people carry guns to church. The state has more and more right wing since George Bush. I think we have more low information voters thanks to Fox.

[Tennessee Gal]

8. "Low information voters" is something I call willfully ignorant.

Fox is a huge, huge factor in this.

[asjr]

12. TG I think you are right about the

low information voters. Tradition goes a long way also. My aunt who died in May at the age of 100 a few years ago was astonished that I voted Democratic. Her reply was "But the family has always voted Republican." In her eyes I was the black sheep.

[Tennessee Gal]

17. Yes, tradition is critical.

Thankfully, as far as I know, every single member of my family votes Democratic except for one.

That one lives in Knoxville, is a business professional, and was converted to Republican by Ronald Reagan. His conversion never made sense to me because he was attending college partially through social security benefits from his deceased father. Before he finished college, the Reagan administration ended those benefits. He once said that Reagan was a "great Republican President" and I told him that was an oxymoron.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

18. I say Bibles, Babies and Bullets...;-)

[Tennessee Gal]

19. That is even better! nt

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. We Are Reaching An Inflection Point In American Politics

Republicans will not be able to compete effectively in a nation that is becoming increasingly non-white when they are losing eighty percent of that vote. Recent census figures indicate the nation is 32% non white and that number is growing exponentially.

[JackN415]

6. I was mystified and disappointed Gore didn't carry his state

[Tennessee Gal]

9. It was guns and abortion.

And throw in the jokes based on lies that the media spread.

Gore said he "invented the internet" was one that they found extremely entertaining around here.

[JackN415]

10. Clinton will probably be the last Southern Dem president...

The shift to red was too much and too late for Gore to overcome, in spite of the Gore namesake

[Hippo_Tron]

11. Tennessee is a weird place, because East TN was loyal to the Union during the Civil War

This means they've been Republican since the days when the Republicans weren't batshit crazy, but unfortunately, stayed Republican when the Republicans became batshit crazy. It explains why they voted for Republican Presidents sometimes, even during the solid south era.

Middle and West TN were the "solid south" but civil rights and now the religious right have, gradually, shifted them over to the Republicans. Ned McWherter was a larger than life figure that helped keep the Democrats competitive in the state government even when the state was sending Frist and Alexander to the Senate and voting Republican for President.

2010 was really the culmination of all of this. Look at the Democrats who were in congress before 2010: Bart Gordon, John Tanner, Lincoln Davis. Blue dogs to boot, but very influential members of Congress. Tennessee let them go for a crop of batshit crazy: Dianne Black, Stephen Fincher, and Scott DesJarlais. It just came out, by the way, that Scott DesJarlais (pro-life, of course) pressured a patient he had an affair with to get an abortion. The man is not in any way qualified to be a congressman and yet the 4th district sent Lincoln Davis packing for this guy for no other reason than they hate Obama.

[Tennessee Gal]

15. You are certainly right about Congress.

You left out the worst lunatic, Marsha Blackburn. I mute the tv machine whenever she is on.

Tennessee is certainly weird in the political sense. The Democratic Party is in disarray in the Senate race against Bob Corker. Mark Clayton is the nominee and he won the primary as a Tea Party idiot radical with only 30% of the vote in a race of 7 candidates. The next day Tennessee's Democratic Party disavowed the candidate over his active role in the Public Advocate of the United States, which they described as a "known hate group". They blamed his victory among a slate of little-known candidates on the fact that his name appeared first on the ballot, and said they would do nothing to help his campaign, urging Democrats to vote for "the write-in candidate of their choice" in November.

Weird in certain aspects, but Tennessee is extremely beautiful and I love it.

[Hippo_Tron]

28. Marsha Blackburn is a lunatic, but not a surprising one

Her district was a gerrymander by Democrats when they ran things, to concentrate as many Republicans into one district as possible. Put a bunch of wealthy people in Brentwood and a bunch of fundies in West TN into one district and naturally Marsha Blackburn is the result.

And yea, I know all about Mark Clayton.

Tennessee is truly beautiful. I hope I end up back there some day. I've got a lot of friends down there fighting the good fight. I tell them that after decades of Democratic dominance (at least on the state level), it's a reality of life that the other side will win at some point and get their shot at running things. Once voters see how much the Republicans are fucking things up, they will vote them out. I just hope it's sooner rather than later.

[Lars39]

14. Re: Gore winning home state...

That was the election I first voted using the new touch screen machines, the county i was in went red. TN had a lot of election shenanigans going on, so much, that I will never believe Gore lost his own state.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

20. I share your pain...

I live in Palm Beach County, Florida...the ballots were unusually thick and I remember thinking, as I forced the push point through, "Wow, how are our elderly and disabled handling this?" Elderly African Americans vote Democratic....And that was just of the shenanigans that went on here in FL.

[HopeHoops]

21. Is it still illegal to throw tomatoes at politicians on Tuesdays there?

I remember reading that long ago as one of the "silly laws that's still on the books". Apparently, Tuesday was a typical soap box day.

[Tennessee Gal]

22. Never heard of that one! I am going to check it out! LOL!

[HopeHoops]

24. I'm pretty sure it is in Tennessee. Could be wrong. It's in one of those redneck states.

Sorry, couldn't resist the jab. I've only been in TN passing through via Nashville Airport en route to Owensboro, KY (a place I seriously love), although they do roll up the sidewalks at 10 p.m. - no shit. EVERYTHING except the Subway and 24-hour pool hall closes by ten.

[Tennessee Gal]

26. Hey! I will ignore the jab this time, but don't do it again!

I once went to Owensboro to hear Al Gore speak. He was amazing.

[HopeHoops]

30. I really love that town. I used do overnight shifts at the Messenger-Inquirer and then...

... walk a block or two to that pool hall to get a beer and shoot for a while. If I remember correctly, they only stopped serving beer between 2 and 5 a.m. (might have been 6). At any rate, by the time they needed the computers back in the morning, the beer was already flowing. I often walked from the hotel (whatever the only six-story one is, forget the chain). That hotel was the ONLY place around you could get beer at on Sunday, and only if you ordered a meal in the restaurant area. Even Applebee's closed the bar on Sunday, but I guess the hotel got some kind of exemption.

I learned a neat trick from the guys in the press room. The trip from Nashvilled to Owensboro was by puddle jumper and DAMN are those things loud. They gave me a handful of rubber foam earplugs and I was amazed at how much more pleasant the trip was. I kept them in computer bag at all times.

[Tennessee Gal]

23. Can't find it! But that is funny. nt

[Godless in Seattle]

25. Tennessee Gals are Hot!

[NashvilleLefty]

27. It's even worse now.

When we had a Democratic majority in the State Legislature, we managed to pass a new law that would outlaw DRE's because of their unreliability. The Republicans argued that because counties just spent so much money on the DRE's that we should wait "just one more election" to give counties time to trash them.

Well, guess what? The Republicans won the next election in a landslide. Guess what else? They decided that replacing the DRE's was too expensive and repealed the paper ballot law. PLUS they passed new Voter ID laws which we all no serve no purpose but to disenfranchise minorities. And, of course, they're redistricting and Gerrymandering the new districts.

so those are 3 different ways that Republicans are ensuring they stay in power in TN - despite the will and desires of the voters.

[spanone]

29. k&r...