Dean's appeal to South cuts across race

[Rose Siding]

NO ONE ACCUSED Howard Dean of whistling Dixie in February when he tried to appeal to Southern white men or to Southern black people about Southern white men.

"You know all those white guys riding around with Confederate flags in the back of their pickup trucks? Well, their kids don't have health insurance either."

Dean said this before a group of African-Americans at a hamburger joint in Spartanburg, S.C. A Newsday story said, "This blunt appeal to a commonality of racial interests won the moment and a burst of applause."

snip>

Dean should not drop the cause. The real apology should come from the other Democratic candidates for not joining it. Dean was the first to get off the floor to say the Democrats cannot win unless they tell white men how code politics is killing them in the pocketbook. Back in February, Maynard Jackson said Dean's bluntness "stole the show." The other candidates are merely jealous that Dean stole the issue of white men while they are still talking their way out of the fetal position.

Boston Globe

[tsipple]

1. I Love This Line

The other candidates are merely jealous that Dean stole the issue of white men while they are still talking their way out of the fetal position.

Wow.

[mdguss]

2. Go Campaign in Alabama--You'll Lose BIG:

The south isn't needed. I think that to win, a Democrat will need to win some of these states: Indiana (Dems won control of the Indianapolis Metro council for the first time in 25 years: http://www.indystar.com/articles/5/090503-5975-092.html), Nevada (probably not going for Bush because of the Yucca Mountain issue), Colorado (this *could* be a Democratic State), Florida (Obvious), Virginia (Democrats gained seats in the House of Delegates for the first time in 25 years: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A841-2003Nov4.html ), Louisiana (a state that Gore shouldn't have written off).

Pennsylvania is not in play next year, as Democrats swept the statewide judicial elections (for the first time in 15 years), and won big in the Philly Mayor and Pittsburgh County Executive races. In Pittsburgh, the Democratic Challenger beat the incumbent Republican by 16%. (http://www.postgazette.com/election/20031106dems1106p3.asp ). Jim Roddey was a big Bush fundraiser in Pennsylvania. He will be less effective because he is now out of power.

About the only thing that the Republicans won on Tuesday was the Kentucky and Mississippi Governorships. Those states are not likely to elect a Democrat anywayreal winners on Tuesday were the Democrats. Success in states like Indiana and Virginia shows a chink in Bush's armor.. The

Some southern states are important. I think Louisana might go Democrat, same for Arkansas. Given some strange circumstances, I could see North Carolina or Virginia voting Democratic. But if the Democratic nominee spends his or her time trying to win Mississippi and Alabama, that nominee will lose in a landslide.

[maha]

6. Think Big Thoughts

Notice that Dean didn't say "South."

White guys who have Confederate flag decals on their pickup trucks (and the class of working people they represent) are not confined to the South. They're all over the lower Midwest and parts of the West, as well. Think "red states." (Indiana is a perfect example; in the 1930s there were more Klansmen in Indiana than in any other state.)

Sooner or later we're going to have to reach out to these voters and convince them that the Republicans are NOT looking after their best interests. It's going to be VERY hard, I know, but it must be done, or else we'll be locked in partisan warfare for decades to come.

On the other hand, if the GOP loses a chunk of the white working-class vote in the South and Midwest, they're kneecapped. The whole party will have to slink off and redefine itself. A bad thing?

[newyawker99]

8. Hi mdguss!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[LuminousX]

3. That is powerful

Because I think it is accurate. Dean charges ahead, using his instinct, Trippi's instincts, well-researched polls, whatever but he keeps moving two-three steps ahead of his opponents.

[StClone]

4. Dean should get serious about the South

He should target the South and take his appeal to the people there. Dems are Devils Southerns believe. I think a direct appeal to the South may change a few minds towards who really is the Devil.

[Eloriel]

7. He's already been here

Not a LOT yet, mind you. But he's been in AL, GA, SC... any others? TX, OK (some might call those "Western" states).


He's definitely got every state on his list.

[bemildred]

5. Dean is right.

But this sounds like "Class Warfare" and he better make
sure he has competent "security" arrangements.