Fred Thompson and Anti-Southern Bigotry

Race 4 2008 ^ | June 2, 2007 | Mike DeVine

[2ndDivisionVet]

Hugh Hewitt wondered aloud on his radio show this week if Fred Thompson might not be a good GOP nominee for President because the country “might not want another slow talking Southerner after Bush.” He’s not the only GOP commentator I have heard express this sentiment.

Every time I hear someone say this, I have to wonder if the person saying it is projecting their own anti-southern bigotry onto the American public or if their really is a large bloc of voters that would base their vote on where someone is from and/or how fast they talk.

It was especially interesting for Ohiophile Hewitt to say this given that he accuses anyone of bigotry that thinks Romney’s religion is relevant to their decision whether to support him for President.

Since I started blogging at Redstate three years ago and since my conservative epiphany in 2000 I can say that the biggest disappointment I have had with some conservatives in the blogosphere is the amount of anti-southern bigotry I have seen. I have even come to have a superiority complex on all things regional given that I have never known a Southerner that would not vote for someone because they were not from the South. I guess we developed this superiority during the formative Civil Rights years!

Or maybe we base our votes on relevant information? Like their policies, duh? Character?

Folks, voters vote on issues, character and leadership. Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush are all from the South. Bush kills terrorists. The other guys that talk slow appeased them. Bush cut taxes. The others from Dixie raised them. Bush picks good judges. Clinton put a feminist on the court. Carter lusted in his heart. Clinton lusted all over the carpet and Bush is faithful to his wife.

Southern Diversity. (Except on immigration, all three would sell out the country)

Voters will not be “reminded” of Bush if Thompson advocates border security first, cuts in government spending and delivers lines like a fine actor from Law and Order.

Where a candidate is from is irrelevant at the top of the ticket. If it is relevant to you, look in the mirror.

[The Blitherer]

lol. Where’s the gnat zapper?

[chesley]

Is Bush a Southerner?

Doesn’t he come from an old Yankee family?

And, while Texas was on the right side in the late unpleasantness to be considered ‘Southern’, they really are somewhat different from the rest of them. IMO

[JamesP81]

Or maybe he is just one of those people who knows what he wants to say but just can't say it. That doesn't make him a dope.

My karate instructor is kind of like that. Very wise man, highly intelligent. He's also fairly technically oriented. He's good with electronics and computers, but to hear him talk about that stuff you'd think he knew nothing. He has trouble describing what he's doing on his computer, but has no problem sitting down and doing it.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Frank Capra would have loved this : )

[stand watie]

maybe you REALLY liked wee willie klintoon just because he was a "master communicator"????

or could it be that your head is EMPTY???? or that you're just another DUMB-bunny DIMocRAT "bush-basher", who "knows not & knows not that he knows not"???

the FACT is that W is extremely intelligent/well-educated (his grades in college were FAR above those of "hanoi john kerry" and the "hillery beast"- BOTH of whom are thought "bright & well-spoken" by the leftist mainSLIME media types), who cares nothing for "glibness" and/or "cleverness".

in a word he is TEXAN. (fyi,we Texicans have no particular use for glibness, "putting on airs" & "bravo sierra".)

free dixie,sw

[raybbr]

in a word he is TEXAN. (fyi,we Texicans have no particular use for glibness, "putting on airs" & "bravo sierra".)

In other words; "Dumb but smart enough not to show it"?

[Harrius Magnus]

“The only Southerners to hold the office of the presidency over the last 40 years have been.

Lyndon Johnson
Jimmy Carter
Bill Clinton
George W. Bush”

40-5-4-8-8= 13; 13-RR(R)-RMN(R)-GF(R)= ZERO!

I don’t get your point?

[trumandogz]

I have lived in Texas as well as the deep south. While they are different. that difference is based largely on Texas’ determination not to be considered a S. state. However, culturally and politically, Texas in part of the South.

[trumandogz]

I am not sure that the American people want another President from the South.

LBJ=Vietnam
Carter=Iran, Inflation, Idiocy..
Clinton=Monica & Coruption
Bush=Amnesty

[Texas Mulerider]

I hereby posit the proposition that we Southerners talk at a normal pace, and that it is, in fact, Northerners talking too fast that causes the confusion.

Please add me to your ping list!

[TheZMan]

“Wickeder’n a barrel a snakes.”

“We’s gonna make it, we gots to.”

“What’n’a’hell?”

“Yall.”

I’s born in east Texas, traveled the states and world while I was growing up, and moved back to east Texas as an adult. Aint no place like it :)

Now, twang aside.

Southern prejudice most definitely exists, and some of it is certainly warranted. We have a lot of really idiotic people down here.

The difference is, I’d hand my car keys to a backwoods Texas-talking trailer living country boy 100x1 over a yankee, and as a previous poster pointed out, we may sound dumb but most of the time we’re a hell of a lot smarter and/or wiser than the person pointing it out.

[ToddBush]

Fred is a conservative, and that scares blue-blood “moderate” Republicans like hewitt. Point. Blank.

[Politicalmom]

And we have a NEW recipient of this prestigious award!!

[The Pack Knight]

Hugh Hewitt wondered aloud on his radio show this week if Fred Thompson might not be a good GOP nominee for President because the country “might not want another slow talking Southerner after Bush.”

My fellow Ohioan needs to go buy a clue. As someone who grew up in Ohio and now lives in the South, I don't think many from either region would really prefer a smooth talking Northeasterner to a "slow talking Southerner".

I know, Mitt's from Michigan (which makes me wonder if Hugh's really an "Ohiophile"), but his public persona is pure Yankee. He doesn't exactly remind one of a working-class Midwesterner.

Despite his protests to the contrary, Hugh Hewitt will say anything, no matter how ridiculous, to keep Mitt Romney in the race.

[SWEETSUNNYSOUTH]

Thanks for the ping!

[LeoWindhorse]

I find it real difficult in voting for a Yankee myself.
I guess I would ,if there were NO other choice .

(ie: Guliani vs Hillary)

It is my American duty to vote , but if there is a southern gentleman that I approve of I vote happily !....

Duncan Hunter 08

[BnBlFlag]

“Texas’ determination not to be considered s S. State”.
Hey, I’m a native Texan (albeit East Texas) and I have never met anyone who was “determined” to see that Texas was not considered to be a Southern State.

[stand watie]

in other words, you "know not & know not that you know not". your lack of understanding of what i said is astonishing.

i suspect,but do not know based on the meaningless drivel & foolishness in your posts, that there's a word for you = TROLL! imVho, you could also be a DUMB-bunny.

free dixie,sw

[stand watie]

as a nativeborn "EasTexican" i can tell you that we are all "100% REBEL & PROUD", as well as TEXICAN forever!

fyi, my 1st cousin owns a considerable plot of land on I-30,about 100 miles E of Big D.

we are planning to erect a lighted flagpole within 6 months to fly a 30x50 foot Third National 24/365, which will be visible for MILES to passersby (on a hilltop about 50 yards off the interstate).

free dixie,sw

[raybbr]

i suspect,but do not know based on the meaningless drivel & foolishness in your posts, that there's a word for you = TROLL! imVho, you could also be a DUMB-bunny.

At least I am not an arrogant Texan who can't speak proper English and sounds like a third-grader.