Democrats Stumping in S.C. Shift Rhetoric

[Nambe]

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (AP)

Democrats in South Carolina don't sound a whole lot like Democrats in many other parts of the country, and it's not just because of that venerable Southern accent.

In this part of the country, party faithful often prefer talk of individualism, religion and the American flag over discussions about labor, gay marriage and abortion.

The language here, in fact, bears a closer resemblance to the talk of Republicans. This is a stark political reality that the Democratic presidential hopefuls face as they compete for support in South Carolina's crucial Feb. 3 primary. ---

The state has grown increasingly Republican. George W. Bush won the state 57-41 percent over Al Gore in 2000; Bob Dole prevailed over then-President Clinton 50-44 percent in 1996. When six-term Democratic Sen. Ernest Hollings announced he would not run again, he provided an assessment of South Carolina politics: "It wouldn't be easy for anybody who's a Democrat in this state to get elected." ---

[SayitAintSo]

1. Link doesn't work ... help ...

[Karmadillo]

2. Here's a link

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20030901_775.html

[DBoon]

3. Isn't there some sort of progressive message

that would resonate with Southern voters? Some type of populist "little guy versus big money" platform?

I mean why?

[Demobrat]

4. Dean talks about how

people with NRA stickers on their pickup trucks need health care and good schools for their kids too. It's so true, and so sad that they continue to vote for people who couldn't care less about them.

[meow2u3]

6. What Dean is telling poor Southerners, in effect:

Don't let the Repukes con you into voting against your own economic interests by scaring you into thinking American morality is going down the toilet.

[DemPopulist]

5. Listen to Edwards sometimes

That's pretty much what he's saying.

[schultzee]

7. Huey Long was a populist......the right message can carry the South

but they need to know how to deliver it.

[David__77]

10. Long is a good model potentially.

Of course, he had to deal with another social issue: Black people. Like all southern politicians, he pandered to white supremacy. I don't know that there was another way. But while he spoke in the language of the white good ol' boy, he raised all people's living standards, transforming Louisiana into a progressive bastion--in southern terms.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. Exactly!

In the South, the Democratic candidates shouldn't mention the fundie hot button issues unless directly asked, and if asked, they should state their position briefly, and then tell the questioner, "But that's not the most important issue in our country today. The most important issue is that our country is in the worst economic shape it's been in since the Great Depression, and the Republicans are acting as if the purpose of being in government is to give their rich friends multi-billion dollar tax cuts and multi-billion dollar contracts, and it's all coming out of your pocket."

Or something on that order.

[w4rma]

8. Southern Dems should sound like Southern Dems, but this statement is dumb

"My advice to all of the presidential candidates has been to talk about issues that working people care about," said state Democratic Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter. "I don't want Democrats to get sidelined by discussions of … labor unions …"

Working people don't care about labor unions? This is DLC (pre-1960s north-eastern Republican) rhetoric and is why we're losing the south, IMHO. Southerners want to hear about how their small-buisnesses will be protected, also. Big (formerly north-eastern) buisnesses aren't as plentyful in rural areas, except for big agriculture, but small buisness owners want to be able to compete against them and stay in buisness, IMHO.

This South Carolinian barber has it right on, though:

As Charlton Hannah waited for customers at the People's Barber Shop in Orangeburg, he said he was still deciding which candidate to support.

"I think Democrats all want the same thing: equal rights, better paying jobs, which means a better living, and a better education system," said Hannah, wiping his brow and ignoring the bits of dark hair on his white coat.

He said he wasn't interested in hearing about the candidates' other views. "As long as it doesn't affect my family or me negatively, it doesn't matter," Hannah said.