Now that Republicans are extinct in Orange County is it time to rename John Wayne Airport?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

While many memes and macros of this nature often possess either incorrect or inaccurate attributions, this quote is completely real. It first appeared in an interview with Playboy magazine that was published

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/john-wayne-white-supremacy/

I can abide by naming landmarks after famous conservatives, racists not so much...

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[2naSalit]

1. Well...

on the one hand, absolutely yes because all the reasons you might offer. And on the other hand, hard to change a name of a place after all these years.

But we'll get over it, at least most of us will. Some people just can't let go of a cudgel.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. I can abide by naming landmarks after famous conservatives, racists not so much...

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/john-wayne-white-supremacy/

[2naSalit]

6. Oh, don't get me wrong

I despise the POS and have for decades and would spit on his grave if I were so unfortunate to find myself in the vicinity. And I agree that it should be changed because of who he was. It was just a thought that I have experienced, even just last week, in trying to get the new name registered in a place in my head that I can know where that place actually is.

I was just in two major SW cities and was horrified at what they've become and somewhat reassured in that my 35 year-ago predictions did come true, just like I pictured it. Many places are so different, some renamed, I got claustrophobic early on in the sea of concrete and cars/trucks.

I do agree that it should be changed to something more appropriate.

[left-of-center2012]

3. "hard to change a name of a place after all these years"

"On February 6, 1998, President Bill Clinton signed legislation changing the airport's name from Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, to honor the former president on his 87th birthday."

https://tinyurl.com/y9d4yu4u

[2naSalit]

7. Good grief...

I was describing how making an adjustment to a name change might affect the population in one small way. I never implied that it should never be done or has never been done. Ease up.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. That name change doesn't bother me. He was a president.

And he never said anything as offensive as blacks are incapable of being in positions of responsibility.

[Merlot]

32. He never said anything publicly, though his campaign for president started at

the loudest dog whistle ever.

He was really good at that kind of thing - smiling congenially and not saying much.

[left-of-center2012]

13. Thanks

Always good to have a laugh and a smile.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

27. And air traffic controllers still call it National because they hate Reagan.

[Merlot]

33. With good reason. Glad they have a long memory.

[spooky3]

42. So do most locals. Or they call it DCA.

Resist!

I do love Ron Reagan, however, and try to think of him rather than his dad, when someone calls it Reagan National.

[left-of-center2012]

45. For those who may not know ...

Reagan fired all the air traffic controllers.

On August 5, following the PATCO workers' refusal to return to work, Reagan fired the 11,345 striking air traffic controllers who had ignored the order, and banned them from federal service for life. ... PATCO was decertified by the Federal Labor Relations Authority on October 22, 1981.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professional_Air_Traffic_Controllers_Organization_(1968)

[awesomerwb1]

4. They're not "extinct".

There's plenty of them there and will vote and help a republican win if we get too cocky and take them for granted.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. They voted for Republicans and lost.

Why honor an overt racist?

[Merlot]

34. oh dear, let's not take them for granted.

Let's cower at the mere thought of doing something offensive to republicans.

[awesomerwb1]

36. Riiight. Because that's what I was saying.

[Access Geek]

9. Rename it to Barack Obama Airport

Never let the Republicans win a race EVER AGAIN in California.

[Cha]

57. lol.. oh the delicious irony.

[LBM20]

10. They are NOT "extinct" by ANY means. One election isn't an extinction. You have to KEEP it by

continuing to build the D party there and by doing what the majority of people THERE want in the ways they want it done. It is most likely more of a purple area now, and not deep blue. They want practical, honorable, and moderate policies and leadership. They don't want FAR left policies nor FAR left cultural approaches. America is BIG. California is BIG. You tailor to the area you are in. Orange County, CA is not like deep blue North Hampton, MA.

[Merlot]

37. Actually, if they knew what "far left" policies really are, they would probably

like them...as long as they weren't called "far left."

Stuff like Social security, medicare for all, environmental protections, etc.

[LBM20]

61. Let me tell you what people in purple districts want (since I live in one) and what I mean:

* Many are not ready for Medicare For All because they are concerned about costs. Expansion of the ACA (i.e. getting drug costs down, expanding Medicaid, 55 year old Medicare buy-in) is more palatable for them right now, which is an advance but more moderate.

* The majority in these districts believe in the individual's right to own guns for hunting, sport shooting, and self protection. They are mostly ok with increased background checks (with exemptions for current gun owners, gun exchanges between family members, etc.) and more attention on mental health. But they don't want gun bans. And some on the far left do.

* They don't want extreme regulation on business.

* They want middle class tax cuts, not tax increases. They especially want property tax cuts. (Some on the far left want to increase taxes on everyone for more social programs.)

* They want fair comprehensive immigration reform and support DACA, but they also want the border secured (which is part of comprehensive immigration reform), period.

* They want people to be responsible and work hard, and policies which reflect this. ("Welfare is a hand up, not a hand out." ) And they don't want people on welfare programs using the money to buy junk food or liquor.

* They do support investments in their schools, roads, bridges, and broadband.

* They want good-paying jobs, not just social programs or things like a "higher minimum wage." They want good jobs and careers that pay more than ANY minimum wage.

* They support public safety, law and order, veterans, and national security.

* They want respect. Many attend church and have traditional family and cultural values. They don't want to be ridiculed for it.

This is why many moderate, and not far-left, Dems flipped districts from red to blue in November. They were moderate candidates, like Jared Golden in my congressional district (Connor Lamb in PA, and many others) who COULD win in a purple district that often elects Republicans or have had Republican representation for many years. Candidates seen as "too liberal" usually can not win in these districts.

[Merlot]

63. Well, you certainly speak for a lot of people.

[EricMaundry]

11. How about Gwen Stefani?

She's from the OC.

[Dave Starsky]

14. Or Michelle Pfeiffer.

She was even Miss Orange County back in the day.

I'd prefer either of them over the fraud that was John Wayne (AKA Marion Morrison).

[EricMaundry]

18. Robert Mueller International Airport

[shanti]

25. What about Diane Keaton?

She attended the same HS that I did, Santa Ana HS, albeit 10 years earlier.

[Journeyman]

12. It was named after Wayne over the objections of his family . . .

Wayne himself probably would have been appalled at the "honor." The flight path of the airport went directly over his Newport Harbor home and the noise was a constant source of irritation. Even today, planes must throttle back when taking off in order to cut their noise.

There was a considerable debate when the name change was first floated. Many sided with the family, that naming the airport for him was inappropriate, while a large contingent argued points similar to yours, that he was not a man worthy of such recognition. County supervisors, however, were not deterred -- they chose their perception of political expediency over the more informed voices of the day.

Not defending the jackass. Just stating the prevalent attitudes towards the original name change to JWA.

And pleasant as it is to contemplate, reports of the "death" of OC Republicans are, to paraphrase Twain, an exaggeration. They will continue to vex us all for the balance of our lives. They still control many of the OC cities and county offices. Keeping them throttled in every way will require continuing efforts.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

24. If he never made those racist comments I would have deemed him worthy of the honor.

He did represent an archetype, albeit an archetype that is inherently flawed.

[ProfessorGAC]

64. I Flew In and Out OF There A Lot

As i recall it's a quite steep path in and out, and there were quite strict hours for takeoff and landing times.

IIRC, there are no flights leaving before 6am. Pretty sure that return flight i used to take was 6:45, and when i got there at 5:30, the airport was far from jammed.

[eppur_se_muova]

15. They're not extinct, just encysted. nt

[TheBlackAdder]

16. Really piss them off. Call it the Saul Alinsky or Gore Vidal Airport.

[pecosbob]

26. Republikans kant rede so gud...think more along the lines of comic books.

If you really want to toast their almonds, name it Cesar Chavez Airport.

[lunasun]

52. ++ !! Rename the airport and dedicate on Cesar Chavez Day

[Vinca]

17. Wow! I was totally unaware of that. Yes . . . rename it!

[Garrett78]

19. The airport should be renamed, but I don't think Republicans are extinct in OC.

After Trump is gone, Republicans will make a comeback.

[Merlot]

38. True that.

republicans will come scuttling out of hiding when trumpft is gone. They won't be embarrassed either, they'll just want "bygons to be bygons" cuz the past is so yesterday. However, they will still hammer and yammer on about the Clintons, because that stuff really was important.

[displacedtexan]

20. That's the Disneyland airport.

I think it should be changed back to Santa Ana.

[Just a Weirdo]

48. I have a friend who's a cabbie in that area

Was just telling me about a lazy bastard that hired her to move him exactly 1.5 blocks from the John Wayne airport. She took care of that, but placed the bastard on her blacklist.

[StarryNite]

21. Time to change the name of the county to...

anything but Orange.

[Socal31]

22. I can hit it with a rock from where I sit.

There has to be more pressing priorities, no?

[Brother Buzz]

23. I was always amused to look at the larger than life bronze statue of him out front

It's an eight foot statue of the 6'4" Duke wearing 8 1/2 cowboy boots, and you know what they say about a man with big shoes.

[brokephibroke]

31. Well pilgrim

I’m 6’4” and wear size 14 boots. The Duke has tiny shoes.

[Brother Buzz]

41. Hell, Vivian Vance's feet are bigger

[brokephibroke]

28. Name it Jerry Brown Intl.

Maybe Newsome can just do it.

[wasupaloopa]

29. I think it was originally Douglas Aircraft Co

If so call it Douglas Airport

[pecosbob]

35. I was unaware of that...very cool.

The people that brought us the Gooney Bird. One of the things Eisenhower claimed won the war, along with the Jeep and the bazooka.

[Ohiogal]

30. I have despised him

ever since I saw him turn Maureen O'Hara over his knee and spank her.

[gopiscrap]

54. yeah but that was called for in the script

him being a racist wasn't that's what would disqualify him for me.

[RandySF]

39. The OC County Board is still red

[whistler162]

40. Smope it

"Wayne: With a lot of blacks, there’s quite a bit of resentment along with their dissent, and possibly rightfully so. But we can’t all of a sudden get down on our knees and turn everything over to the leadership of the blacks. I believe in white supremacy until the blacks are educated to a point of responsibility. I don’t believe in giving authority and positions of leadership and judgment to irresponsible people."

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/john-wayne-white-supremacy/

[BannonsLiver]

43. I like the sound of "Dalton Trumbo Field"

[Kaleva]

44. Doesn't matter to me either way.

[ProudLib72]

46. Elvis was a hero to most, but he never meant shit to me

Straight up racist the sucka was simple and plain
Motherfuck him and John Wayne.

Lyrics courtesy of Chuck D.

It's interesting to note that the sentiment has been around for decades, but until now everyone has basically ignored it. The recent uptick in racism and xenophobia have shined a light on the dark underbelly of American culture and its not so savory icons.

[keithbvadu2]

50. Elvis served in our country's military... JW, no.

Elvis served in our country's military... JW, no.

https://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1055/was-john-wayne-a-draft-dodger/

John Wayne no military service

[ProudLib72]

56. Those were not my lyrics. I was quoting Chuck D. for the JW part

[uponit7771]

59. Same with RayGun, the right can lionize him all they want but he was nearly as racially shitty as DT

[DemocratSinceBirth]

62. Elvis never trafficked in racial tropes.

[Xolodno]

47. Well...No.

John Wayne had the decency, despite his popularity, not to run for public office.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

49. Even in 1971 it would have been difficult for an avowed white supremacist to win elective office.

[Bleacher Creature]

51. How about a two for one deal with DCA??

[lunasun]

53. Did anyone ever hear this urban legend about JW? Quote in OP does prove he was full of shit I guess

Answered In Intestines
Did John Wayne die with 30lbs of feces in intestines?
No. This is an "urban legand" (various reports state 30lbs, 40lbs, etc) and has been debunked by the good folks at snopes.com. (see link below)
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/meat-your-maker-2/

No matter what the medical possibilities might be, the prototypical John Wayne example is still a demonstrable lie: No autopsy was performed on John Wayne when he succumbed to cancer in 1979. The medical examiner’s office had no reason to hold an autopsy since Wayne had obviously died from natural causes, and hospital pathologists had little to learn by requesting the autopsy of a cancer patient who had already undergone several major surgeries (and Wayne’s family would have denied such a request in any case). In fact, Wayne’s relatives were so intent on fending off a crush of media and fan attention after his death that they hired a security guard to block access to his hospital room, had his body quickly and secretly transferred to a mortuary, held a funeral service attended only by family and a few friends at 5:45 in the morning, and had him interred in a plot without a headstone.

[GulfCoast66]

55. How about Marion Morrison?

At least we can be accurate

[Bucky]

58. How about John McClane Airport, so travelers can feel safe

or at least know that if they're killed by terrorist masterminds they'll die listening to someone's clever quips?

[Demovictory9]

60. there is a big ole statue of John Wayne in it.