Reagan's connection to Mississippi Burning!

[veracity]

On the 23rd of this month, many people will take a moment to remember Philadelphia, Mississippi, where three civil rights workers -- Michael Schwerner, James Chaney and Andrew Goodman -- were murdered in 1964.

What too few people will remember is that Philadelphia, Mississippi is where, in 1980, Republican presidential candidate Ronald Reagan chose to launch his election campaign, with a ringing endorsement of "states' rights."

That was a calculated move by Reagan (at the invitation of Trent Lott) to get the white racist souther vote, and remains part of the legacy that was so distorted at the week-long, overdone adoration vigil at his death. I just want more people to remember the real Reagan....

Article was in the WP...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39345-2004Jun13.html

[Southsideirish]

1. Integral part of Atwater's "Southern Strategy" . n/t

[denverbill]

2. Yep. 16 years is a very short time.

The exact same racists who committed the crime in 1964 were surely still alive and kicking in 1980.

[cosmicdot]

3. 1976: Jimmy Carter launched his campaign from Warm Springs, GA

home of FDR's Little White House ...

quit a contrast

I wish Mr. Raspberry wouldn't have opened his commentary sounding apologetic.

[DeepModem Mom]

4. I love that movie, by the way --

I know things didn't go down exactly as portrayed, but it tells a great story, very skillfully. Frances McDormand is wonderful, and I think it's my favorite Gene Hackman performance (at least until "Tenenbaums").

[Career Prole]

5. "Mississippi Burning" is on AMC right now! n/t