How is Sarah going to play with Southern Whites?

[XemaSab]

Southern white men?

Southern white women?

What will be her strengths and weaknesses in the South?

Thanks.

[BeyondGeography]

1. Tears of ecstatic rapture

I think the issue is suburban women in the battlegrounds. I don't see her faring well there at all.

[Lex]

4. Umm, no offense, but have you talked to any southern white women

about it? The perceived meanness and stridency of Palin is not playing well.

[DevonRex]

33. Did you say RAPTURE? LOL. We can only hope she gets

raptured sometime soon along with all the other nuts.

[Lex]

2. The southern white women I know said Palin was "mean" & "too sarcastic"

so I'm not sure she's playing well at all.

[XemaSab]

7. I was wondering if she'd be received that way

I was wondering if her values would trump that though. :shrug:

[demo dutch]

10. I think she's much more conservative than the average Southern woman, she's on the fringe

is what I'm hearing

[Lex]

12. right, not all southern women are looney fundies

by any means

[Zookeeper]

8. That's what I would expect. And her accent has to be grating...

to southern ears. (It's a bit much for me and I live in the upper midwest!)

[renie408]

9. That's what I'm hearing. And also the 'mother of five' thing. And southern men like a spicey woman

but they only like them spicey in specific areas of the home. I am not sure she is playing as well down here as they might have hoped.

[GoesTo11]

36. Southern women do know polite.

They also probably know someone just like Palin.

[XemaSab]

39. "Polite" seems right up there with Jesus, barbecue and college football in the South...

:P

[GoesTo11]

40. I'm all for polite, wherever you live.

Makes the world a better place, or at least doesn't go out of its way to make it a worse place.

[XemaSab]

41. Well said.

:thumbsup:

[demo dutch]

3. Some of the older traditional ones will wonder whether the job is too demanding for a mother of 5 &

she comes across as too brash

[rubberducky]

5. She will suddenly have a southern accent.

[Mimosa]

48. Hillary used to do it

But Hillary lived around southerners, so it came naturally.

Sarah has a very bad speaking style.

[HereSince1628]

6. Not quite south, but so Illinois sans Carbondale loves her

She loves GUNS GUNS GUNS!!!! And so do the open-pit miners and apple-knockers.

[geek tragedy]

11. They'll love her to pieces.

She put that you-know-what back in his place.

[McCamy Taylor]

13. Roberta McCain looked like she had been sucking on a pickle

as she watched Palin speak.

In the South, people in a position of power always try to pretend that they are sweet, nice, kind, just plain folks. Always in control of their emotions. They are like the perfect parents everyone wishes they had. That is why the country likes to elect southern presidents and why southern bosses get away with so much crap. Seeing a VP candidate who is just one 72 year old man away from the WH come out and act all cocky like that is considered really bad form in the southern states. It would be considered inappropriate from a man or a woman. But southern women will be especially turned off by another woman doing it. They like Laura Bush. A real woman knows how to smile through the pain and tears. That is the southern way.

However, McCain has the south wrapped up because they are more upset by the thought of a Black president.

[Mimosa]

46. South not wrapped up, McCamy

Obama's campaign certainly doesn't think the South is wrapped up. I can understand why you'd think so. But it is quite true that us Southern gals are turned off by Palin for many reasons. She's crude, strident, and seems to have a lot of bluster and little substance.

The economy is sucking bad. People can't afford health care. I didn't hear McCain or Palin actually address those issues. Biden and Obama have to always stress those kitchen table issues, then the war, then illegal immigration. That'll give them victories in the South. Please try to recall in the South blacks and whites tend to live closer together and we actually get to know each other.

When I've been up north in NYC and NJ, I observed more real 'distance' between the races. No daily interchanges just to talk with people.

Obama's going to turn the conventional wisdom upside down. I just made another contribution. Every time I get pissed off and seething at some dufus (this time it's Palin) I give money to help Obama.

[redqueen]

14. I haven't heard any talk about her at all.

I think they're embarrassed, really.

[sampsonblk]

15. My guess is that she will be more palatable than McCain

My guess (and its only that) is that southern men will love her, for her politics and her appearance. Southern women will probably love her politics, but as someone else said, they may question her fitness for the job, and whether or not she can handle her home and her duties if she's VP.

She is, as many have said, the RW near-perfect candidate. Part Annie Oakley, part Gary Bauer. With her strident stances, she hastens the collapse of what used to be a strong national party. Their policy poitions have repeatedly turned out to be bullshit. Now they have a ditto-head running on their ticket. And all she appears to know, is the same discredited stuff they've been running on for ages.

They have cast their lot, and I am convinced the thinking public will reject it once and for all.

[Cleita]

16. She does have that steel magnolia quality about her. I just hope they

see through it to the real moose burger behind the beauty queen poise.

[Mimosa]

53. Only a Southern gal -of any ethnicity- can be a steel magnolia

Anywhere a strong lady can be charming. The iron hand in the velvet glove, for instance.

But a 'steel magnolia' can only be from the Southern culture. he can be black, creole, native-american, white, hispanic, but it's the South and our traditions which make the uniqueness of steel magnolias who are invariably GRACIOUS, delicate and tough enough to survive hard times. Good manners are ALWAYS part of being a steel magnolia.

NEVER LET THIS STEEL MAGNOLIA HEAR THAT TERM APPLIED TO THAT ALASKAN WHITE TRASH!!!! ~LOL~

[tannybogus]

17. An older Republican woman told me that

Palin was a "common trashy hussy." That is just about the worst epithet you can sling at someone.

She would probably have me over for dinner before she would Palin. I might be a librul Dem, but

that would be considered an eccentricity and it's not a disqualifier.

[mitchum]

18. That screeching yankee nasality is going to be a problem, but I think her use of fundy...

code words will help counteract that

[kestrel91316]

19. By attacking urban blacks via her denigration of community

organizers, she presented her credentials as a racist to the southern whites. She also mentioned "pitbull", which my assistant, who used to hang with skinhead types, immediately recognized as a likely signal to them.

Not to worry, the assistant is securely a liberal Dem now!

[yardwork]

24. Palin definitely appeals to the racist skinhead group. Question is - do they vote?

I know a few skinheads (never mind how), and they all have felony records that keep them from voting. Besides, they'd never consider registering to vote anyway. Might get called for jury duty (not that any sane judge would ever seat them).

[XemaSab]

29. And would they have voted for Obama anyway?

:crazy:

[yardwork]

34. Well, no. The white supremacist vote is probably out of Obama's reach. Good point.

[Mimosa]

54. I caught that too

I want Obama/Biden to have all the money they need to fight the good fight. Now more than ever it's going to take putting our money where are mouths are. Obama and team need to do some sharp advertising and outreach.

[chapel hill dem]

20. In Raleigh ( a very red area), she is seen as the reincarnation of Ronald Reagan.

Seriously, people are saying that she is the best thing to happen to John McCain's candidacy. One 60 year old man I talked to said he was in love..."Maggie Thatcher" one said.

You would flat out not believe the adulation.

And, in almost every conversation I have had with white conservatives, the fact that she is a good shot and can skin a moose is offered as proof she is "damn near perfect".

I have even heard women in Chapel Hill say they would vote for her if she was not pro-life.

She scored big here last night. The election is now all about turn out and GOTV.

We need to work very hard...

[yardwork]

35. Would any of those folks have voted for Obama in any case?

It sounds like you were talking with conservatives who had already planned to vote for McCain. In order to help the ticket, Palin must influence fence-sitters to vote McCain. Looks like she's doing the opposite.

[chapel hill dem]

38. I doubt if any would even consider Obama, but they would consider not voting. n/t

[Bluerthanblue]

21. did you hear Dick Armey's comments about the "Bubbas"?

I was really blown away by the outright admission of racism.

"ST. PAUL — The "Bubba vote" and underlying racism will hurt Democrat Barack Obama in key battleground states such as Ohio and Pennsylvania, former House majority leader Dick Armey said Wednesday.
"The Bubba vote is there, and it's very real, and it is everywhere," Armey told USA TODAY and Gannett News Service. "There's an awful lot of people in America, bless their heart, who simply are not emotionally prepared to vote for a black man.

"It's deplorable, but it is real," said Armey, adding that he believes "Republicans would not encourage" such prejudices. He said the "Bubba vote" is "invisible" in pre-election opinion polls, because voters do not admit they would oppose a candidate because of race.

The "Bubba vote" is shorthand in politics for white, working-class voters who often live in rural areas — a group Obama did not dominate in state primaries.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-09-03-armey_N.htm


This is the republican equivilent of the "Bitter clinging to guns and religion" statement.- They should get nailed for it.

IMO

[yardwork]

22. I think that a lot of older southern women will think that Palin is crude and uncouth.

They won't say this out loud, but they're probably thinking it.

Older generations of southern women were raised to be ladylike. It's ok - even expected - to be a "steel magnolia" who gets things done. But you're supposed to do it graciously, with a quiet voice, using polite words.

Sarah Palin has...I can't think of a nice way to say this. Her manners are not refined. She smacks her mouth while talking. Her tone of voice is loud, grating, and sarcastic. She sounds like.....hm, I can't say it.

McCain needs those older conservative white southern women. I don't think they're going to like Sarah.

[SayitAintSo]

23. As welcome as a turd in a punch bowl...

[SayitAintSo]

25. The bastard at the family picnic....

[SayitAintSo]

27. The mosquito at the drive in movie....

[SayitAintSo]

28. The pink fingernails scratching on the blackboard of our hearts ...

[booksenkatz]

26. The men I've known in north Texas and north Florida, Repubs & Dems...

...there is no way in hell they will vote for a woman on a ticket, any woman, ever, period. The religious males might fall for her schtick, but there are plenty of rugged Texas farmers I know who are not religious and who absolutely do not believe a woman should be in power. Ever.

Some of them might be moved to Obama, because at least he's a man. But most of them will stay home.

I am very familiar with the mindset, having spent the first 27 years of my life in Texas, followed by another 7 in Florida, prior to my moving to a purplish-blue state. (Life is soooooo different up here, I love it! I love not having to watch what I say, and not being judged by what I do with my Sundays.)

[cwydro]

30. As a woman who grew up in the south (in NC)

I'm gonna say she is gonna play real well, except in the big cities: Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, maybe even Raleigh.

But I am worried about the small towns; they may fall for this crap.

[Jane Eyre]

57. Agreed

With her billing as VP rather than at the top of the ticket, Southern males won't feel threatened by her. Not just that, but they get to pretend that they are somehow "enlightened" enough to vote for a woman. It gives cover to the rednecks who would never vote for a black guy or a woman at the top of the ticket (i.e. Hillary).

[mmonk]

31. She doesn't play with this one. (Southern White male)

[DevonRex]

32. They will HATE her accent. But they'll love her level of incompetence

and religiosity. As long as nobody mentions the speaking in tongues thing. Can't see a bunch of Baptists and Presbyterians loving the holy rollin'.

[Mimosa]

50. I'm telling EVERYBODY I know about 'speaking in tongues': it's weird!

I had actually visited a couple of Assembly of God churches, and had attended at least 5 services, at the behest of neighbours and friends. These services have a 'climax' towards the end where the babbling starts. A little bit of jerking around accompanies the blabble. LOL It's freaky-deaky!!!!

Of course when we bring up the weirdness of Palin's religious practices, the Rethugs will answer back with 'what about Jeremiah Wright and God damn America?' Maybe there's not a lot of payoff in bring up palin's nutty religion. But she would try to make sure no woman has a choice whether to abort a Down's syndrome fetus. Or Spina Bifida. She would force women to have to carry seriously defective babies to term. I think most women would be scared at that prospect.

[DCBob]

37. Rednecks love her.

But the tabloid sex and lies scandals could bring her down with this group.

[Mimosa]

47. Could be they're pretending to love her...

...because Rush Limbaugh told them to. *gag*

[nadinbrzezinski]

42. Very well, as well as in fly over country

[JCMach1]

43. They won't get past the Canadian accent...

It sounds harsh, alien and exotic!

[pnwmom]

44. It doesn't sound Canadian to me, and I've visited there often,

as well as having Canadian friends here.

[JCMach1]

45. Even differences among Canadians... I would call it a central to western

Canadian... She sounds like an odd cross between the Western Canadians I know here in the UAE and a Northern MN/Dakota accent... Either way, it sounds harsh to a Southerner... Like ice grating against your pig trough!

[XemaSab]

49. Sounds harsh to this Californian too

It's like "Rosanne" meets "Fargo." :scared:

[Raine]

51. This Californian thinks so too

plus that way of life is totally "exotic" to me, I can't identify at all. x(

[pnwmom]

56. I know what you mean about the Northern MN tones to her voice.

But the western Canadians I know have a tiny bit of a British accent (and clipped, not nasal) and I don't hear that in Palin's voice at all.

[Chloroplast]

52. Her bragging is a turn off.

I'm a Southern female and have seen working mothers do everything Palin's done (and more!) while wearing their stilettos and not breaking a sweat; she may be a huge deal in Alaska but in the South, she might as well take a number and wait her turn. Sarah's smug attitude is beyond crass; she could learn a thing or two about delivering an insult so slick, you nearly miss it due to the sweet tone.

[eridani]

55. Graciousness is much more of a southern thing than an Alaska thing, no? n/t

[bunkerbuster1]

58. Beyond the ones who were going to vote McCain against the n*gger, anyway?

As a Georgian, I'd say not so well.

However, her placement on the ticket means that McCain's supporters will be a little more obnoxious than they would've been otherwise.

[cobalt1999]

59. Well, going by the informal poll my wife took of her Junior League friends

Most liked her politics, but none seemed to like her.

[Medusa]

60. Are you kidding me?

They'll eat it up like it was candy. She's a redneck's wet dream.

[Samantha]

61. When the Southern Baptists see a copy of that video

Palin's church made, they will stay home. I have many Southern Baptist relatives living in the South. I know how they feel about hot-button issues such as people in church speaking in tongues (I use those words in an attempt to be polite). It will scare the beJesus of them and they will not vote for a ticket that includes Palin.

I am a very strong believer in separation of church and state. However, due to the maneuvers the opposition has used in its campaign, I have arrived at a point where I think nothing liberals do to win in November will bother me.

I hope that tape gets a wide distribution in the South, and part of that distribution is distinct from the Internet. Many people in the South, especially older people, do not get political information from the Internet.

Show that video throughout the South, I say.

Sam