"The KKK: The Terrorist Wing Of The Democratic Party"

[Me.]

Today on the history channel they did most of the day on presidents. When they were talking about Johnson and reconstruction they used the phrase stated in the subject line. It hit me that I always associated that group of criminals to be republicans and maybe in my lifetime they have been, but it shocked me to hear it stated so.

[my2sense]

1. This Fact Shocked

me as well. I learned this about a month ago.

[Me.]

6. You Think You Know History

But there's always something which catches you up. Lincoln chose Johnson, a southerner who hated black people, to bring in votes from the south never dreaming he'd be assassinated and that Johnson would be the man to put reconstruction in place and in doing so left the freed slaves with no real rights at all.

[EFerrari]

7. While Washington was in Philidelphia, one of his slaves escaped

and he sent slave catchers after him. :shrug:

[Me.]

9. Those Several Hours Today

Were quite a history lesson. And yes, there is a lot we need to be shod of.

[EFerrari]

13. This year has given me a lot of hope. We have a woman and a black man

in contention.

Two very important battles. Two very important voices. At least, we've come that far.

:toast:

[Me.]

30. Yes, However It Turns Out

And what is also a plus is that a lot of people who have never been involved have jumped in with both feet

[Chovexani]

52. I just hope people will stop saying that in a self-congratulatory tone

As if it's proof all our problems are solved.

(Not accusing you of doing that by any means, but it's out there, and it pisses me off.)

[NOLALady]

55. But,

Are you proud?

Or, are you really proud? :toast: :hi:

[TheWraith]

54. That's not entirely fair to either Lincoln or Johnson.

Part of Lincoln's long-term plan for after the war was to let the south off relatively easy in order to prevent the formation of a popular resistance. The congressional Republicans, particularly one hard-core group whose name escapes me, had a much more punitive approach to reconstruction which was basically designed to humiliate and destroy the south for having rebelled in the first place.

Second, Lincoln didn't need southern votes for his reelection, since no votes from the southern states were accepted. Johnson's position on the ticket was part of a national unity bid, Lincoln's way of saying that prosecuting the war was above partisanship.

Third, on the subject of the thread's original premise, nobody's hands are clean if you go back far enough, but in balance, it should be noted that basically the entire liberal wing of the Democratic Party defected in the 1850s to join up with first the Free Soil party, then even more of them with the Republican party, which was basically formed from liberal Democrats and Whigs. As such, the "Democratic Party" that operated particularly in the South from 1856 until the early 1900s bore about as much relation to either the classic Democratic Republican Party roots or to the modern party as the Republicans of the 1860s do to Republicans today. As I usually say when somebody brings it up: that was so long ago that the Republican Party still had liberals.

[Bright Eyes]

2. Blackwater: The Terrorist Wing of The Republican Party.

[Orrex]

22. Oh, please!

The Republican Party is its own terrorist wing. It has no need of proxies, except perhaps to divert attention...

[sam sarrha]

23. you have to read "the Shock Doctrine:the rise of disaster capitalism" to really see the Terrorism

perpetrated by the Republican party.. Guatemala, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, el salvadore... and why.. they were going Democratic.

by Naomi Klein, must read, it is 558 pages of which 92 are footnotes and index, it is a serious historical research study, not a pulp political rag

[EFerrari]

3. Really? It was only the Civil Rights Act that pushed those bigots

over to the welcoming Republican Party.

This country has a long sordid history of hatred. Let's at least keep it straight so we can get shod of it.

[bbinacan]

17. If I'm not mistaken,

the only politician to move to the Repubs was Thurman. The rest stayed Dems.

[EFerrari]

19. Yes, because historically, the Democratic Party was

um, against integration.

So, Southern Democrats believed they were simply standing their ground.

You know that, right?

[Art_from_Ark]

29. Jesse Helms switched

as did Trent Lott, Ronald Reagan, and others.

[bbinacan]

40. I think you misunderstood.

I was talking about people in office at the time.

[Jamastiene]

49. Yeah, the Dixiecrats might as well be Republicans.

The Democratic party would be tons better off today if they had went ahead and switched instead of staying behind to hold us back, control the outcomes of our primaries, give us a bad name, and spy for the Republicans so we cannot get shit done that we want done.

[Thothmes]

37. Until that time they had resided in the Democratic Party.

[eShirl]

4. I don't think they'd be comfortable in the Democratic Party of the last 30-40 years

the last couple generations

[EFerrari]

5. Really? What are Democrats doing about hate crimes lately,

about 65% against the Latino block they're courting?

I've seen squat.

[eShirl]

8. link?

feel free to try your luck with the Republicans for action on hate crimes

let us know your success rate

[EFerrari]

11. It was reported on CNN last night, an FBI stat

And, I don't really trust political parties to handle this. Do you?

Eta: Here's a link to democracynow on this topic:

http://www.democracynow.org/2007/12/5/fbi_statistics_show_anti_latino_hate

[eShirl]

12. so are you saying the KKK *would* feel comfortable in today's Democratic party?

as I stated above, I don't see it, sorry

[EFerrari]

14. I'd never presume to speak for the Klan.

:rofl:

[eShirl]

15. ha ha ha ha ha ha

good bye

[tjwash]

10. Southern Dems, or "Dixiecrats" as they were known.

Growing up in Tennessee I remember it well. Strom Thurmond was an extremely loud and vocal one back in the day, filibustering against the various civil rights acts as they came up. Of course with the introduction of that Civil Rights act by the Dems, the Dixiecrats abandoned the Dems (good riddance)in droves and went to the repugs and have been there ever since.

History channel blows. Let the subliminal Dem bashing begin.

[davidinalameda]

27. I don't think it's bashing at all

we need to remember what our party used to stand for and how far its come in the past 50 years

[Me.]

31. This Election Is A Milestone

and I don't see how we'll ever be able to go back after this. But you're right about it being important to know where we once stood.

[davidinalameda]

33. if Obama is the nominee and he loses

you'll have those who will say that we're not ready for a black man as our nominee and will do their best to keep the powers that be in control of the party

but we can't go back

you're exactly right

[Me.]

34. And If She Loses They'll Say The Country Is Not Ready For A Woman

They are going to try and use whatever argument they can to keep the status quo which is why, at all costs, McCain cannot be allowed to win. I believe we are at a point in our evolution where we either go forward, allow society and ourselves to be transformed or we will stay mired in the reptilian mud forever. The status quo has gone as far as it can and now it must go.

[davidinalameda]

35. I'm not sure of that

I've heard plenty of people say that they would have no problem voting for a woman for president

but not Hillary

[Me.]

36. Yes I've Heard The Wrong Woman Meme

And I hope that if she loses it won't stop other women from trying for the job.

[davidinalameda]

42. it won't

at least I hope not

[Chovexani]

53. I've heard that, and it's bullshit

The next woman that runs, they'll find another excuse.

And on, and on.

[sakabatou]

16. Democrats back then =/= Democrats now

[Kitty Herder]

18. The Republican "southern strategy"

was to take advantage of southern racism and anger over the civil rights act to turn Dixiecrats into Republicans. Disgusting.

[Canuckistanian]

20. The OLD, SOUTHERN Democratic Party

Which died a fairly complete death in the 60's. The "Dixiecrat" movement pretty much ended their influence on the national stage.

Then, all the worst of those radicals pulled stakes and left for the GOP, which was taking a massively right turn.

But, for a historical statement, it was probably true.

[EFerrari]

21. I'd like to think you're right except the Democrats today

don't think they can win "the South".

That may be due to the massive disenfranchisement of black voters which still goes on here and that no one seems to be able to own.

It ain't over, my friend.

[Canuckistanian]

24. I don't think it's so cut and dried

The South was ready for modern-day Democrats long ago.

But since the GOP commandeered the religious right and the media, the South has been bamboozled into voting against their best interests time after time.

It'll only take someone to point out to them that hey, this here GOP party didn't really help us at all, did they?

But you're right, that day may not come for a while.

[EFerrari]

28. Americans, like the Puritans, have this habit of demonzing their opponents.

In a very real way, that has never stopped.

The upside, imho, is that we're out-reproducing that ethic.

:evilgrin:

[Me.]

32. Who Will The Messenger Be?

Will the economy help them figure it out?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

41. Yet the obvious is not being pointed out.

It's not even really debatable what conservative/neo-liberal policies have done over the last 30 years.

[mnmoderatedem]

39. yes, it's ancient history

heck a lot of Southern Baptist churches, while not necessarily condoning their actions, were fully supportive of the Klan once upon a time.

A lot of things change over time...

[Jamastiene]

50. There are still plenty of Dixiecrats around.

You are basically right about them being radicals, but they are not completely gone even now. They might be well hidden in the national party, but in local politics all over this country, they are alive and well unfortunately.

[Dark]

25. It was true until the Dixiecrats split with the dems during the civil rights era.

Not our most shining moment.

[AlinPA]

26. Now, the republican party would be the host of the KKK. Intolerance is their

lifeblood.

[tom_paine]

38. The History Channel has lost of Bushie Talking Points embedded

and obvious, lots of Lying Bushies masquerading as historians employed there.

I won't list them all again, so here's a link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1660648

[El Pinko]

43. I F-ING HATE THIS THREAD.

I keep seeing it bounce up and get kicked. I don't have a problem with the OP, but I have a REAL problem with the thread title which is MASSIVELY misleading id not downright slanderous.

I'm not even a democrat technically, but I think it's offensive for a thread with a title like this to keep bouncing up when it is the republican party that is the terrorist wing of the KKK.


If people want to talk about the ancient history of racism in the Democratic party and the PRESENT FACT of racism dominating the GOP, feel free to discuss it in this thread that has a more accurate title!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2888350

[EFerrari]

44. What is "ancient" in your opinion?

It's not ancient if people are still living it, up to and including our Democratic frontrunner.

[El Pinko]

45. How is Obama "living" in a KKK-dominated democratic party? WTF?

:wtf: :wtf: :wtf:

[EFerrari]

46. Maybe you need to reread the OP.

Racism in this party or in this culture is not ancient history, wtf smilies notwithstanding.

And we don't get through it by pitching fits, denying, exaggerating or minimizing.

Our last two federal elections were stolen mostly on the backs of black voters. This is an issue we need to continue to work through. And I have every confidence that we will.

[El Pinko]

47. The 2000 election was stolen from black voters by the *GOP*

Is there some racism in the democratic party? Undoubtedly there is. Hell, there are some black civil rights leaders who have said some pretty racist things. People are not perfect.

But if you are going to characterize an American political party as the focus of racism, race-baiting, hate, discrimination, etc., it is HANDS-DOWN the GOP and has been for at least 40 years.

I read the OP and understand it, but giving the thread a bullshit title like this is just not cool, and I will not contribute to kicking this bullshit anymore by discussing this here.

Make a new thread with a decent title and we can talk about it there, or respond to the one I posted. I'm having nothing to do with this anymore and in fact will be alerting on this thread because

1. the thread title is misleading and
2. the title on it's own is a slam against the democratic party.

I hope the mods see it the way I do.

[EFerrari]

48. Blaming the other guy will not end racism. And, your position has been noted. n/t

[Jamastiene]

51. With help from Florida Democrats who overplayed the

counting of votes by acting like they were having a hard time seeing the hanging chads. Let's not forget the infamous butterfly ballot either. It was designed by a Democrat just for that year after they'd been using other types before that. Coincidence? Has it ever been discussed at length?

Racism is alive and well in our party too. It doesn't hurt us to acknowledge it and discuss ways to combat it. This thread is an excellent place to do just that too. People will be more likely to click it because of the thread title.