The Confederate Vote

GOPUSA.com ^ | November 17, 2003 | James A. Bowden

[stainlessbanner]

Who are these Confederate voters that Vermonter Howard Dean wants to represent? Is Jefferson Davis on the ballot again? I thought he was dead - along with the Confederate States of America. Hey, I'm a Southerner, why didn't I get the memo? Duh, Dean was just being 'hisself', a Yankee Liberal, and describing voters as he sees people - divided by race, class and gender(s). What a hoot. Liberals imagine identity politics fit real people. Dean should listen to Yellow Dawg Democrat Zell Miller.

Confederate Voter is the wrong name. The Democrats covet the White Southern Voter. True, the White Southerner majority's ancestors were Confederates, but that provides the wrong connotation - slavery, segregation and racism - that doesn't fit the present and the future. The South is different from the rest of the country in significant measures, but the distinction isn't 'Confederate', it's simply 'The South'. Yankees and Liberals just don't get it. Although, Dean stumbled over truth when he talked down to Southerners to get over "race, guns, God and gays." Behind 'race, guns, God and gays' are issues based on values.

The South is about deep-fried shared values, history, and identity. Better universities have courses on Southern culture. Psychologists can test for regional attitude and behavior differences. The differences matter when Southerners vote. If only the Liberals could understand that complex thoughts - not easy divisions of race, class and gender(s) - reside, simultaneously, in the heads of most Southerners. Liberals shouldn't forget that Southern culture encourages a fierce passion for ideas held as right. Over 300,000 dead Yankees learned that lesson.

Here are some ideas held in common:

• Slavery, segregation and racism are wrong. They are sins against God. There are white, black and other racists. None are respected.
  
  
• The Confederate Battle Flag is a racist symbol only for racists, demagogues (Liberals, thus Democrats), and dummies. Confederate symbols stand for an incredible heritage of courage, sacrifice, and fidelity. The people who want to oppress the Cross of St. Andrew want to suppress the Cross of Jesus.
  
  
• The American Flag is the highest national symbol and beloved above all else.
  
  
• There are absolute truths, unchanging and yet always relevant, in the Holy Bible, The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.
  
  
• The Bible Belt is buckled by people who actually read the Bible, believe it and evangelize it more than any other region. From a Biblical world view come the values that count.
  
  
• Ten Commandments. Our culture and laws are based on our Judeo-Christian values. Historical fact is not hate, nor is it 'imposing' beliefs, and it isn't a separation of church and state issue. It's a free speech and freedom of religion issue. This issue draws from the same power as Martin Luther and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Watch out.
  
  
• Family First. Your name is all you have really in life. You can not shame your last name - your People. Honor is personal, familial and real.
  
  
• Love the Land. Hunting, fishing, and animals are all part of good stewardship, using and preserving our natural blessings.
  
  
• Men and Women are different for good purposes. Men should be gentlemen. Women should be ladies. Marriage is between one man and one woman only.
  
  
• Sexual sins are wrong. Adultery, homosexuality, incest and bestiality are all wrong. Tolerate homosexuals (they're your kin), but don't honor them.
  
  
• Fight when right. Serving in the military is an honor. Fighting for freedom is worth the cost - no matter what.
  
  
• Defend yourself. We have a right and duty to defend our persons, our family and home and neighbors with whatever it takes, including personal firearms.
  
  
• Leave us alone. Tax less, govern less, nanny less, lecture less, because we want the individual freedom for our family, our property, our opportunity, our liberty to prosper.
  
  
• Crime leads to poverty. Poverty doesn't cause crime. Our ancestors built something from nothing and re-built it again after destruction. Better to earn your way in life than take a handout. Better to be poor and free than rich and slave.
  
  
• We are Americans first. We are Federalists who believe in the Constitution as it was intended, not as it has become with the Judicial Oligarchy and Federal Behemoth. We don't want to be ruled by the U.N. or anybody else. We don't give a damn what foreigners think of us. And, frankly, my dear, we don't give a damn what Yankees think of us (and that really bothers them).
  
  
• We are Conservatives based on convictions. We are not loyal to any Party, as much as to our Principles.

The Democrats can con Southern voters like Bill Clinton did. But, the Democrats are on the wrong side of ACW II (the Great U.S. Culture War, 1962-TBD) for the South. A few factors can change that:

• If Southern Culture, fueled by Christian Evangelism, is ascending, then the immigrant invasion (foreign and Northern) will add to the Southern census - and Conservative votes - after each generation of assimilation.
  
• If the Liberal Cultural Cleansing, most ruthless in government schools, is gaining and Southerners are weak enough to surrender, then Liberals can win elections.
  
• If Blacks ever get off the Democrat plantation, then the South will explode as a Conservative haven, hope and success. Progress is so slow in this emancipation. Yet, the irony is how Southern values - White and Black are so close - united more by culture than divided by race.

As a Republican, I'm glad that Dean and the Democrats think talking slowly means you're stupid. As a man actually named 'Bubba' all my life, I'm proud to be disdained by any non-Southerner - and non-Conservative, non-Family, anti-Evangelical Christian - 'youse guys'.

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James Atticus Bowden has specialized in inter-disciplinary long range 'futures' studies for over a decade. He is employed by a Defense Department contractor for the Future Combat Systems. He is a retired United States Army Infantry Officer. He is a 1972 graduate of the United States Military Academy and earned graduate degrees from Harvard University and Columbia University. He holds two elected Republican Party offices in Virginia.

[stainlessbanner]

"Confederate flag wavers are 'not a group that votes very much of the time. Or if they did, they wouldn't think that a New England Democrat would represent them,' said Earl Black, a professor of political science at Rice University."
("Democrats Rethink Southern Strategy", LA Times, 16 Nov, 2003, John Johnson)

[stainlessbanner]

>>incoming<<

[Tax-chick]

The people who want to suppress the Cross of St. Andrew want to suppress the Cross of Jesus.

BTTT - got it in one!

[Vigilantcitizen]

Good article.

[PistolPaknMama]

Yet, the irony is how Southern values - White and Black are so close - united more by culture than divided by race.

Finally, somebody gets it!

[Moose4]

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful stuff. It's so clear, so obvious to anybody who's really taken the time to examine the South, or lived here for an extended period. And the Dim Dummies STILL won't get it.

}:-)4

[4CJ]

We are Americans first. We are Federalists who believe in the Constitution as it was intended, not as it has become with the Judicial Oligarchy and Federal Behemoth. We don't want to be ruled by the U.N. or anybody else. We don't give a damn what foreigners think of us. And, frankly, my dear, we don't give a damn what Yankees think of us (and that really bothers them).

He must be a Freeper.

[RebelBanker]

Thanks, amigo, good article!

Your Humble Servant...

[Blood of Tyrants]

If only the Liberals could understand that complex thoughts - not easy divisions of race, class and gender(s) - reside, simultaneously, in the heads of most Southerners.

The problem with liberals is that they think that talking slowly equates thinking slowly when sometimes means that we are just thinking about what we are going to say.

[ladtx]

The best and most succinct analysis of our South I've read lately.

[HELLRAISER II]

"We are Conservatives based on Convictions. We are not loyal to any party, as much as to our principles." Amen Brother!

[lovecraft]

"The problem with liberals is that they think that talking slowly equates thinking slowly..."

Being "country" don't mean "dumb"....

One of my favorite Southern-isms.

[rightofthefairway]

I'll tell you something funny I noticed. I've been in the south now for 4 years (almost have my redneck badge). I'm a pretty devoted republican and proud USN. (stars and bars on my cars though) my neighbor has rebel flags everywhere and and his truck horn honks dixxie NOT KIDDING. the funny hting is my neighbor votes Dem down the line and so do most of his coworkers and friends.

[stainlessbanner]

Dixie horns make people smile! I recommend everyone equip their truck with a those.

[4CJ]

Dixie horns make people smile! I recommend everyone equip their truck with a those.

I hope Santa remembers that my horn is on the fritz.

[Jacvin]

Conservative Catholic Yankee living in the Confederate State of Florida Bump!

[Grampa Dave]

It has been awhile since I heard them.

A black conservative I knew, had one on his SUV. It drove everybody nuts when he blasted out Dixie while driving in certain sections with a NRA sticker and a Bush/Cheney sticker on his car.

[azhenfud]

Good read, Stainless.
Here's one who articulates well what Southern heritage and tradition mean.
Apparently, Bowden knows, 'cause he lives it.

[hannityforpres08]

I am a Tennessean, and you are right on brother. It does seem as though it is a democrat vs. south kinda thing not a north south thing at all, par for course.....

[azhenfud]

Didn't want you to miss this article. A nice piece of work on Southern values.

Regards,
Az