Republicans and Race

[billbuckhead]

OP-ED COLUMNIST
Republicans and Race

By PAUL KRUGMAN
Published: November 19, 2007

Over the past few weeks there have been a number of commentaries about Ronald Reagan’s legacy, specifically about whether he exploited the white backlash against the civil rights movement.
The controversy unfortunately obscures the larger point, which should be undeniable: the central role of this backlash in the rise of the modern conservative movement.

The centrality of race — and, in particular, of the switch of Southern whites from overwhelming support of Democrats to overwhelming support of Republicans — is obvious from voting data.

For example, everyone knows that white men have turned away from the Democrats over God, guns, national security and so on. But what everyone knows isn’t true once you exclude the South from the picture. As the political scientist Larry Bartels points out, in the 1952 presidential election 40 percent of non-Southern white men voted Democratic; in 2004, that figure was virtually unchanged, at 39 percent.
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<http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/19/opinion/19krugman.html?em&ex=1195621200&en=0c2b983aef85e6ab&ei=5087%0A>

Krugman points out what i've been saying for years, the bogus 'gun rights" movement is just a dog whistle for racism, especially in the south.

[OHdem10]

1. I do not want to start a flame war

If we are honest and try ro remain wise and collected,
the break , rift started with Brown V Bd Of EDucation.Depending
on where you stood, this was difficult time because many
whites(men and women, particularly in south, but not only
in the South.Similar Sentiments were felt in some Northern
and Plain States.

This was not a real pretty part of our history. Nixon saw
an opening for growing the GOP -- thus the Southern Strategy
Democrats left their party and joined the Republicans (Racial
Motive). Regan wanted to put the stake in the ground growing
the Party. Ethnic Blue Collar Americans who had been lifelong
Democrats--became Regan Democrats. Racial Motives.

Regan Democrats have slowly started coming home to the Democratic
Party.

[billbuckhead]

2. The problem is that we allow the reichwing to run on racism and let them call it other things

It's like no one dare speak the truth.

[flashl]

3. The "race" issue is nationwide. n/t