Reply #13: Nonsense [View All]

[atre]

Bill Maher is hardly a voice of reason or of liberalism. He has an amazing ability to embarass himself with utter nonsense. The quote above, while it appears to satisfy many DUers in that it conforms to their stereotypes about Southerners, is hardly an accurate interpretation of the quote. And the substance of his response is likewise nonsense.

People in the South routinely vote for people from outside the region. FDR (NY), Truman (Missouri), LBJ (Texas is not "South," it's Southwest), Richard Nixon (California), Ronald Reagan (California), Bob Dole (Kansas), George H.W. Bush (Texas), and George W. Bush (Texas/Connecticut/Maine) come to mind. None of them are Southerners.

The reason why I don't think Kerry will win the region in the G.E. is because he doesn't care to. If his rhetoric is any indication, he will leave Southern Democrats (very few of which are anything like Zell Miller) out to dry. Southern State Democratic Parties may atrophy at a time when they are ripe for the taking. The influx of Latinos, the impact of the Bush economy on the region, and the high percentage of minorities all present a tremendous opportunity in the coming years. Ever read The Emerging Democratic Majority? Kerry appears willing to ignore that opportunity, perhaps because he shares the same prejudices as many of the anti-South people on this forum.

If you say you don't care, consider this: Who suffers if the State Democratic Parties do indeed wither? African Americans, for one. The South houses about 60% of the nation's black population and is the home to most of the nation's elected black officials. If you have genuine concern for black Americans, you might want to think twice about a Kerry nomination.

That's why I don't think Kerry stands a chance in the South- he doesn't care- NOT because he is from Massachusetts. Dean, who is from Vermont, WOULD mount that kind of challenge. Lieberman, from Connecticut, would have, also.

The only way Kerry gets my vote is if he commits to mounting that kind of aggressive campaign in the South. Until he demonstrates that commitment, I am firmly ABKGB (Anybody but Kerry and George Bush).