General Discussion

csziggy

(34,189 posts)

15. There were plenty of Southern Democrats who supported Civil Rights and were liberal

Sun Dec 21, 2014, 09:28 PM

Dec 2014

There were even Democrats who were not terribly liberal who supported Civil Rights and led on Democratic causes - Lawton Chiles and Bob Graham come to mind.

I have lived in Florida all my life and have been a Democrat since I was old enough to register. I detested Nixon - voted against in in 1972 - and have supported liberal causes all my life. My older sister is even more liberal and activist than I am and has been all her life.

I never liked the Dixiecrats and voted against a good number of them in primaries. Even in Florida it used to be possible to have a choice between a conservative Democrat and a liberal Democrat. Now we're lucky to have a conservative Democrat to vote for - something I blame on the Florida Democratic Party.

Elizabeth Warren is three years older than I am and a year younger than my sister. She had plenty of chances to become a Democrat before 1995 and the excuses I have read don't really explain why she voted Republican so long and why she's changed to the Democratic Party.

While I admire a lot of what she has said, I'm not convinced she is the liberal savior some seem to think she could be. It reminds me a lot of the people who admired Charlie Crist and thought he would "save" Florida in this past election.

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Would You Trust a Democrat Who Voted Republican During the Civil Rights and Nixon Era? [View all] McCamy Taylor Dec 2014 OP

If the only viable alternative is someone who has "merely" behaved like a Republican True Blue Door Dec 2014 #1

Most likely. People change. Thoughts change. Attitudes change. I've even grown softer... BlueJazz Dec 2014 #2

It's a sign of intelligence to change one's mind in the face of evidence tk2kewl Dec 2014 #93

If I could roll the odometer back, I'd vote for a Pete McClosky in a New York minute Brother Buzz Dec 2014 #3

It took him that long even after Reagan? Jim Beard Dec 2014 #25

One would have to be there at the time seveneyes Dec 2014 #4

Do you not think people can grow up and wake up? Warpy Dec 2014 #5

Hillary was a self described "Goldwater Girl." DonCoquixote Dec 2014 #6

When Hillary registered to vote for the first time she DURHAM D Dec 2014 #13

And yet she still described herself DirkGently Dec 2014 #63

Goldwater ran in 1964, Hillary registered to vote in 1968, she voted for Hubert Humphrey in 1968. Thinkingabout Dec 2014 #18

Hillary worked for the Rockefeller campaign at the Repulican National Convention in 1968. ieoeja Dec 2014 #64

When did she change, check it out. Thinkingabout Dec 2014 #72

She still leans to the right. Jim Beard Dec 2014 #26

Hillary goes as far back as the Nixon impeachment. William769 Dec 2014 #39

Does she come across as authentic now? randome Dec 2014 #7

A thousand times YES! She's the real deal to me. BlueCaliDem Dec 2014 #35

You don't know the history... 4139 Dec 2014 #8

There were plenty of Southern Democrats who supported Civil Rights and were liberal csziggy Dec 2014 #15

It was a Southern President that got it done Jim Beard Dec 2014 #27

Yes it was -- but when he signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law . . . markpkessinger Dec 2014 #65

That would be somebody Turbineguy Dec 2014 #9

I might treestar Dec 2014 #10

There was a time when there were liberal republicans... gort Dec 2014 #11

Absolutely correct . . . markpkessinger Dec 2014 #68

You know what they say about opinions. Boreal Dec 2014 #12

Sad to say you are right Jim Beard Dec 2014 #28

DU rec... SidDithers Dec 2014 #14

You can't continue voting Republican Jim Beard Dec 2014 #29

... MannyGoldstein Dec 2014 #45

It's kind of troubling. moondust Dec 2014 #16

I also voted for McGovern Jim Beard Dec 2014 #31

Hell yes I do if that Dem is Elizabeth Warren. AtomicKitten Dec 2014 #17

If Bill is bad for signing bills which was veto proof then Warren does not get a pass on being Thinkingabout Dec 2014 #20

If they were 'veto proof', then why the Hell did he need to sign them? Erich Bloodaxe BSN Dec 2014 #44

Maybe he did not have to sign the bills, now back to Warren still supporting the Thinkingabout Dec 2014 #51

Do not presume to speak for me. AtomicKitten Dec 2014 #52

Hum, did you speak for Bill and Hillary? Thinkingabout Dec 2014 #53

I don't know enough about warren gwheezie Dec 2014 #19

"g" like you Jim Beard Dec 2014 #32

Would you trust a Democrat who voted for a Republican ignited war? Tierra_y_Libertad Dec 2014 #21

Bingo! n/t markpkessinger Dec 2014 #71

Its a bit hard to understand. DCBob Dec 2014 #22

And some people hate HRC for supporting Barry Goldwater when she was young. Rex Dec 2014 #23

Some people are down on HRC for hearting Kissinger with BFF status *NOW*. delrem Dec 2014 #62

She voted for Reagan/Bush the second time with 5,000 Americans dead from AIDS and not a word Bluenorthwest Dec 2014 #24

Interesting that you never mention Hillary or Kerry who voted MannyGoldstein Dec 2014 #41

You continue to smear Warren without facts to back it up Jim Lane Dec 2014 #85

Show me her record of oppposing the policies of her Party, Nixon through Bush. Bluenorthwest Dec 2014 #90

In other words, you got nothin' Jim Lane Dec 2014 #91

The parties were not as polarized during the Civil Rights and Nixon eras. Agnosticsherbet Dec 2014 #30

Yes. In my lifetime, I've never seen anyone be more of a Democrat than this~ RiverLover Dec 2014 #33

Nice try.... 99Forever Dec 2014 #34

How old was Reagan when he stopped voting for Democrats? Crunchy Frog Dec 2014 #36

41-ish, 5 years younger than Warren mathematic Dec 2014 #60

In 1948 he campaigned for Harry Truman, and also for Hubert Humphrey in his first senate race. StevieM Dec 2014 #78

Reagan was a registered Democrat until past his 50th birthday. Jim Lane Dec 2014 #86

I like Warren. I also like Hillary. And I like Obama. I think the party has some great leaders. StevieM Dec 2014 #80

None of this swiftboating of Warren Union Scribe Dec 2014 #37

disruptive tactics are the only kind that matter reddread Dec 2014 #58

+1 BrotherIvan Dec 2014 #75

No more than I'd trust my dad. w8liftinglady Dec 2014 #38

Did she help to suppress unions when she worked at Walmart? krawhitham Dec 2014 #40

I'd like the OP to answer that question, as well. closeupready Dec 2014 #98

I don't 'trust' any politician. Erich Bloodaxe BSN Dec 2014 #42

Think about the standard you're setting here, Obama has said nicer things about Republicans CreekDog Dec 2014 #43

his voting record, however, is clear. ecstatic Dec 2014 #47

that's a pretty foolish way to choose a nominee CreekDog Dec 2014 #48

that's not what I was suggesting and ecstatic Dec 2014 #57

Compliments and voting are two very very different things. DCBob Dec 2014 #49

interesting points that must be addressed ecstatic Dec 2014 #46

Yup. Iggo Dec 2014 #50

I like how you cast preferring someone over clinton is "hating" clinton Scootaloo Dec 2014 #54

Far less vexing than a candidate that supports corporate dominance, "free trade", and TheKentuckian Dec 2014 #55

Ofcourse back then you had Republicans like.. KinMd Dec 2014 #56

What matters is current beliefs. JEFF9K Dec 2014 #59

As opposed to someone who's a hawkish corporatist now? marmar Dec 2014 #61

If that person is Senator Warren I will madokie Dec 2014 #66

But Hillary talks and acts like a republican NOW. Do you see the difference? Doctor_J Dec 2014 #67

Please see my post at #68 markpkessinger Dec 2014 #69

Do I trust a Democrat who voted for the Iraq War Resolution, Maedhros Dec 2014 #70

that very thing has been demanded already SwampG8r Dec 2014 #73

I think Sen. Warren needs to prove herself ucrdem Dec 2014 #74

Would you trust a 50 year old who had never changed her/his mind? elleng Dec 2014 #76

Good question. Rigidity in thinking is just as dangerous riversedge Dec 2014 #82

I was a republican before I was in independent before I was a Democrat oldandhappy Dec 2014 #77

And if I ask you about how and why you changed, do you get insulted and defensive? Bluenorthwest Dec 2014 #92

Yes, because just a few short years ago I was a libertarian Ykcutnek Dec 2014 #79

The GOP was a lot more liberal back in the 60s and 70s Wella Dec 2014 #81

love love LOVE your assessment of a "economic conservative" Skittles Dec 2014 #83

If Hillary is the presidential candidate I will vote for Julian Castro then. Katashi_itto Dec 2014 #84

We trusted a former Klansman One_Life_To_Give Dec 2014 #87

What former president are you talking about? I can't think of one who was in the Klan, unless you StevieM Dec 2014 #94

I believe the reference is to Sen. Robert Byrd (KKK-WV). KamaAina Dec 2014 #97

Yes, I would. Now I have a question for you... Jim Lane Dec 2014 #88

It is a question she will have to answer more fully, imo. yellowcanine Dec 2014 #89

A whole lot of other folks here are hyping a current Democrat who is on the record as KamaAina Dec 2014 #95

And remember, as hard as it seems to believe today, KamaAina Dec 2014 #96