Why Dean remarks plays well in South

[Perky]

I think what is unspoken in this debate over what Dean said..... Is that he may well have initiated a debate among good ole boys about what the GOP has done or not done for them. I think that a bunch of white politicians running for Prez standing up and saying that Dean's comments is offensive to African American will really benefit Dean in Southern Primaries.

It shows he is not a lock-step liberal. The issue in the south is not the Dixie flag or slavery or the "War of Northern Aggression" As my Friends in Dixie call it... It’s about being told what is proper and what is not. Its not about heritage... it about being told how to think.
Contrary to the Anti-Southern bigotry expressed on this site Waaaaaaaaaaaayyyy to often, not all Southerners who have a Dixie flag on their pickups are bigots and rednecks. Perhaps they are wrong. But to them it is about being a rebel and not about the old south. Its a "Live Free or Die" view of how they want to live. The issue for most of them is, if you will, bigoted Yankee liberals having the nerve to tell them what is proper and what to think.
What Dean is saying is not endorsing of the confederate flag...it is endorsing of cultural distinctions and saying that good ole boys need and deserve a seat at the table as well.

That will actually play very well in the South and they will take an honest look at the guy

[realFedUp]

1. Well, you can't say that he isn't getting press coverage...

and that's not a bad thing.

[Perky]

3. Amen and amen

Precisely an no Good ole bys will not take immediate notice. ANd perhaps he offended african americans who are watching closely... but honestly that will not hurt him in the Primaries. But to catch the interest and eys of White SOuthern Males.... is terrific.

[mandyky]

2. I agree

This may be the thing that wakes up the working poor and middle class in the South to examine just what the GOP has and has NOT done for their benefit!

[Perky]

5. ANd....

THe fact that all the northern Candidates railing against what he said just absloutely reinforces the image that liberals do not understand Southern values (Not racist but "Live Free or Die")

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. As a Yankee living in Dixie

I can tell you there are quite a few working class Southerners who are fed up with Bush. My boss and my co-worker are two of them. They are looking for someone who can relate to them, talk straight with them, and stand up for what they believe in.

You are right that many wave the Battle Flag of Northern Virginia because it means "rebel", and not for any racist notions. I saw as many of these banners in Southern Illinois when I lived there as I do here in Arkansas.

The very fact that these people don't want anyone to come in and tell them what is proper and what to think can be used in our favor. If the people are treated with the respect they are due as the sovereigns of our nation, they will respond. They are mad right now about how Bush has treated the military. I know a Guardsman who hated Clinton but can't stand Bush because of the uncertainty in his life.

One last note: I live around a bunch of transplanted Texans (including my husband). Some are Libertarians, some Greens, and one that is a registered Republican. To a person, however, they will all tell you that Bush is NOT a Texan but a #### carpetbagger. There is hope in the South for our side.

[realFedUp]

6. I'd call Dean a straight talker

[polpilot]

7. His comments benefit the U.S. and are educational to the south.

Dean '04...

[Blue_Roses]

9. what part of Arkansas

are you in? Moved here from Texas a few months ago. Did I move from the frying pan into the fire? Geezee...I'm really not a glutton for punishement!:)

[maggrwaggr]

15. Yeah, W is "from" Texas the way Jeb is "from" Florida

They're all from Yale. From money. East Coast. They vacation in Maine for crying out loud.

[Upfront]

8. Now I get it.

This bull crap attack on Dean has woke me up, I am getting a Reb. Flag for my truck.

[moosedog]

10. I won't...

I have read a lot about how the black people feared that flag. If it reminds them of the terror that was put to them, then I would never want it around me.

[metisnation]

11. it about time to change

the symbolism of the dixie flag. The south will be represented by Dean that is the bottom line!

:dem:

[Larkspur]

29. Get a Gadsen flag instead

The "Don't Tread on Me"

That fits Dean perfectly.

[cavebat2000]

12. Dean definately has balls

That alone will get him my vote. I love how the other candidates loath him.

[pansypoo53219]

14. maybe it's all in his secret plan

to de-dixify the south. akin to black people taking the n word away from the crackers. he is gonna take the confederate flag away from the KKK!!!!
BEFUCKINUTIFUL!

[poskonig]

16. "Take the Confederate Flag Away from the KKK"

That sounds a lot better than waffling about how it is a symbol of racism. When Dean does this, it pisses off the people who *have* the Confederate flags in addition to the hordes of black people he has already miffed.

The Dean campaign has the right idea, but their implementation has been god-awful so far.

[mmonk]

13. It really doesn't matter

I'm from the south and I say lets move forward. Though I support Clark, if Dean were the nominee, I would support him so this flap doesn't matter. We have one of the most radical right wing administrations in our history, in power right now. We need to work to get people from my area as well as all areas of the country. Everyone needs to pull together whether you're Center left, way left, green or any point in between and give people reasons to vote. For me, this election is now or never.

[caledesi]

17. Very well said Perky. nt

[chaska]

18. Spin away....

My state, South Carolina, is 1/3 black (pardon my non-pc terminology). Probably not atyical of the south in general. Black people make up most of the democratic party in my state. If I had a dime for everytime I've heard the Democratic party described as the party of black people....

There is no way this controversy doesn't hurt him with black voters. And of course the other word that Souterners associate with Dean is 'gay'. The man doesn't even have any staff or HQ in SC. White Southerners will not vote for Dean. This flag flap in no way helps him.

Confederate flag wavers will vote for Bush. They aren't even paying attention to politics. Why should they? "Carolina is Bush country" ... where people vote Republican because people vote Republican.

[moosedog]

25. We are in SC too..

Not the Bushco SC, though. We are old and wise white people, though.

[w4rma]

31. On the Ground in South Carolina

The February 3 South Carolina primary is just 90 days away. This weekend supporters from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama will be canvassing across the state, spreading the message of this people-powered campaign. If you're in South Carolina or anywhere in the Southeast, come out and Canvass for Carolina.

In other SC news, Dean For America has hired a deputy state director and is in the process of hiring a director. Shortly we will open offices in Columbia and Charleston.

South Carolinians can also pledge to vote for Howard Dean in the primary, sign up for local events at the Dean Directory, and go to tonight's Meetup in Anderson, Charleston, Columbia, Florence, Greenville, Greenwood, Myrtle Beach, or Sumter.

Posted by Mark Sundeen at 06:27 PM
http://blog.deanforamerica.com/archives/002140.html

[Rowdyboy]

19. "50 year old Mississippian who doesn't own a rebel flag..."

Dean is my 2nd choice but, I'm sorry, this issue is much ado about nothing. Dean did himself minimal harm in the south with this position, and, also, minimal good.

Odds are excellent he'll wind up on the ticket.

[liberalcapitalist]

20. not all skinheads with swastikas on their trucks are racists either

Oh yeah they are...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

21. I Have Lived In The South Since 1970....

I hate NASCAR and most not all country music..... My favorite contemporary artists are Eminem, Missy Elliot, and Fifty Cents..... My heroes are Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy... And I resent being thrown in with a bunch of yahoos who fly the Confederate flag....

[Perky]

22. Ahh give me a break!!!!

I am quite sure they resent being thrown in with people who like Hip-hop and welfare checks and crack cocaine and probably making it more difficult or the NRA.

NONETHELESS the folks have the right to be a REBELllou as anyone else. Do I wish they had a different flag? Sure...But Sterotyping and demonizinf those who are other wise moderat voters does not win elections and vertainly doe nothing to stimulate disbussion and resolve these issues.

The Party needs Nascar Dads and Soccer Moms as much as they need to get Young Afican-American men to get to the polls in paces like Ohio and Mississipppi.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

27. ReRead My Post

How is liking hip hop artists and Bobby and Malcom tantamount to collecting welfare checks and smoking crack?


That's really scary....

[Hep]

24. Fifty Cents?

Boy you really convinced me! IF he's a favorite artist why did you butcher his name like that? 50 Cent

I have lived in the south for 19 years. I like all music and have a fond appreciation for nascar, although I don't watch races, follow drivers, and I haven't been to a race since Greg Sax was driving the kellogg's car.

I don't mind being lumped in with a bunch of yahoos flying the confederate flag, because I refuse to be that prejudiced. I know some C flag flying "heritage not hate" folks, and while I find them to be horribly misguided, they;re good people who aren't racist.

I'm a little sick of the stereotypes thrown around here. We're supposed to be the open minded ones.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

26. Where Did I Stereotype

I said folks who fly the Confederate flags are yahoos....

If I said folks who fly the swastika or have it tatooed on their chest like Edward Norton's character in American History are racist would I get busted on for that...

As for Fifty Cent(s)... I will pay my fine to the spelling police...

Since you doubt my veracity give me a call and I'll let you hear some cuts from the Eminem Show or The Marshall Mathers LP.... And if you want some older stuff I 'll let you hear some cuts from P.E.'s Fear Of A Black Plannet or Digital Underground's Sex Packets...

Peace 03

Brian

[Hep]

28. Forgive me

I didn't mean you. I actually meant to be agreeing with you. But I should also note that not all C Flag wavers are racist. It's in another thread, we can have THAT debate there.

Since you doubt my veracity give me a call and I'll let you hear some cuts from the Eminem Show or The Marshall Mathers LP.... And if you want some older stuff I 'll let you hear some cuts from P.E.'s Fear Of A Black Plannet or Digital Underground's Sex Packets...

Older stuff like Fear of a black planet? When I think older stuff, I think Yo! Bum Rush the Show. And you would love The Arsonists: As the World Burns. It's more underground, but unbelievable.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

30. Never Heard The Arsonists

I was a huge P.E. , Beastie Boys, and Digital Underground fan in the late 80's, early 90's ....

I especially liked P.E. cuz their music was so political....

I saw them at JJ Whispers in Orlando, Florida for my 33rd birthday in 1991... I must have been one of the oldest guys there....

I wasn't really into gangsta rap but I do like Snoop Dog...

[Hep]

23. We packed our meetup venue

to the gills. nowhere left to stand.