Robert Reich, "white southern Democratic politicians were never much better than Republicans"

[progressoid]

Mary Landrieu’s loss in yesterday’s senate run-off election in Louisiana gives the deep South entirely to Republicans for the first time in history. From Texas through the Carolinas, the GOP now controls every senate seat, every governorship, and every state legislature. The Republican party began its life before the Civil War as the party that took on slavery, leaving the deep South to what became the Democratic party. Now, the role-reversal is complete.

But whether called Democrats or, increasingly since the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Republicans, the sad fact is southern white politics has been dominated by hidebound racists seeking to suppress the votes of African-Americans. FDR’s New Deal coalition of southern Democrats and northern blue-collar and ethnic voters excluded southern blacks. In recent decades, . So, good riddance. Regardless of party label, the goal must be to fight voter suppression, strengthen the voices of minorities, and encourage white southern progressives to continue their fight. What do you think?

Via Facebook

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. Unfortunately, saying things like this is why Reich

won't be able to run for national office, not that I've heard him express any interest in same.

You can't tell the truth about things like that and still get elected.

[riversedge]

4. Mary L always voted for women's health and gay rights and vets etc...

She was NOT a Republican like voter. I agree her Oil votes were. I am sad another Republican is gone from the Senate.


Correct me if I am wrong--but I read just the other day she voted with Obama 95% of the time.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

8. You're not wrong, you read it.

It wasn't true, but you read it.

According to opencongress.org, she voted with Dems 87.4% of the time, but with the caveat that the 'vast majority' of votes were routine things that were essentially meaningless. The 'average' Democrat voted with Obama 95% of the time. Since I don't imagine she bothered to vote against him on things like naming post offices, that means that on the few votes that actually were important, her percentages would be far lower than other Dems.

[Bluenorthwest]

12. Not really. Mary got a 43% rating from NARAL, a mixed record on choice. She hit 89% from HRC

but that's sure as hell not 'always voted for gay rights' is it 89%. That 11% can be vexing. 86% NAACP. Again good with wiggle room. 50% on public health from APHA...etc.

Folks who are half way there or even mostly there are simply not 'always there'. Honesty is the only path forward.

[riversedge]

14. lets just

say I am not a purist but I do thank you for the corrections.

[LondonReign2]

2. Remember, we're not suppossed to say anything bad about the South

"gives the deep South entirely to Republicans for the first time in history. From Texas through the Carolinas, the GOP now controls every senate seat, every governorship, and every state legislature."

[Bandit]

16. Of almost every extreme poor state in the nation.

If Republican policies were only half as good as they claim them to be they should be rolling in the dough and every single person covered by health care and employed. Funny thing about the truth though. Almost the exact opposite is true. They do look down on their black folk like proper whities though..

[Bonhomme Richard]

3. With the Pro South Congress coupled with,..and I am going to bring back......

an old term...,Copperheads in the North, I see dark days ahead.
Maybe the final battle (albeit political) of the Civil War.

[riversedge]

15. It will be a painful two years--or maybe

a decade if Dems don't vote and get to the polls--no matter how one slices it.

[WhiteTara]

5. Boy, ain't that the truth.

The whole pack I've met are slimy hypocritical bigots and racists. Top to bottom.

[Cha]

6. So Florida doesn't count? and what's this?.. "FDR’s New Deal coalition of southern Democrats and

northern blue-collar and ethnic voters excluded southern blacks."

[Thinkingabout]

7. I have great respect for Robert Reich but he has grouped a lot of fine folks into one pot

which does not deserve to be there. I am from the south, life long Democrat, I am moderate, and I continue to fight for the Democratic party. There was lots of Dixiecrats in the old southern Democratic Party which have run for the hills but please do not discount the rest who have stayed strong. A lot are angry old white men and a lot are women who refuse to vote for someone who wants to give women choices. It under minds reasons of the DNC which helps the poorer section more than the richer, they vote against themselves.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

9. #NotAllSoutherners. nt

[Fumesucker]

10. Robert Reich meet Max Cleland

[KamaAina]

17. And the Big Dog, LBJ, Bob Graham,

hell, even Huey Long. Whatever else he may have been, he certainly was not a Republican.

[librechik]

11. Now's our chance! They're all in one place! Let's secede them! n/t

[Mass]

13. Sorry to disagree. I'd like to have 4 of these Southern Democrats to have Reid majority leader

This way, a lot of very destructive bills would never make it to the Senate floor. And I am no fan of Reid, but if people do not understand how the Senate/House works and how a bill comes to the floor.

Of course, the alternative is to get some progressive elected in the Deep South, but I would not hold my breath that anybody will run.

Reich is welcome to relocate in LA and run against Vitter's successor when the time comes, though.

[MisterP]

18. and the old excuse that "only cons can win the South" is EXACTLY what keeps

the region's political culture with such a strong far right: one of the CPUSA's strongest states 20s-40s was Alabama, and the 1948 Wallace campaign was the only ones registering Black voters (causing massive terror and sparking the Red Scare) until Truman kiboshed the registration drives; after all the Bilbo Dems left there's plenty of CBC Dems, but also plenty of Shulers and Harolds Ford

I'd say that Colorado's the closest analogue: there's a populous Front Range full of hippies, crunchies, hipsters, students, etc., while to the east are ranchers and to the west the ones who stockpile ammo for the day when the UN's dark-skinned troops come over the ridge; but gun control and lefty Dems do often win statewide--and without hedging like Montana's Governor Kill-All-Wolves

likewise keeping green arguments out of the areas soaked in oil and coal tailings just lets both parties keep saying that "dirty energy is good for you economically" and having to appeal to the corporations