This Election Year, It's All Rednecks, White Socks and Blue Ribbon Beer

The Detroit News ^ | November 9, 2003 | Nolan Finley

[quidnunc]

Watching politicians court the Bubba vote will make this political season worth the price of admission.

Male rednecks are the new soccer moms, according to presidential campaign strategists.

Pundits believe this maligned and misunderstood voter subgroup — more politely dubbed NASCAR Dads — holds the key to winning vital Southern states. They may even move the needle in places like Michigan, where redneck roots run deep.

Spotters will be looking for pickup trucks instead of minivans this time around.

Witness the recent battle between Democratic presidential contestants Howard Dean and Dick Gephardt over their Bubba credentials. Dean claims he can speak to pickup drivers with Confederate flags on their windows. Gephardt, offended, counters that he'll take the trucks displaying Americanflags.

But can either one reach out to the Bubbas with decals on their windows of the devilish-looking boy whizzing on an object of derision?

Democrats may not know what they're getting themselves into in trying to win the White House with an army of good ol' boys, as evidenced by the furor Dean raised by even mentioning the Confederate flag.

Bubbas are the most politically incorrect group in America, and proud of it. A candidate who gets photographed at a NASCAR race is bound to have a rebel banner in the background — it's the most prevalent image at the tracks.

Dean, after declaring unity with rebel flag wavers, described himself as a "metrosexual."

Metrosexuals are the anti-Bubba. The word was coined to cover that breed of man who is not gay, but not completely straight, either. These dandies are a quart low on testosterone, favoring French manicures, body hair sculpting and antique shopping with their pals.

I've been in the infield during NASCAR races. Those aren't metrosexuals stomping empty beer cans into the dirt. I doubt a candidate with a touch of the Queer Eye will be heard over the roar of race car engines.

-snip-

[Yardstick]

*Bump!*

[Texas_Jarhead]

"Dean, after declaring unity with rebel flag wavers, described himself as a "metrosexual."

This is a minor point but the whole metrosexual thing happened a week or two before the flag flap if memory serves. I just don't understand why writers/reporters channge stuff around. It would have been just as easy to say "before" as "after".

[holymoly]

I just don't understand why writers/reporters channge stuff around.

Because most of them are congenital liars.

[Grampa Dave]

Howie the metro sexual says, "Hey big Bubba! Vote for me, and you can ride in my truck and hold my gun, you all!"

[martin_fierro]

LOL

Funny graphic AND tagline! Almost a Trifecta!

[Little Bill]

My son, daughter in Law and I talking about how we are going to vote in an election. Me, a FRreeper, I discuss all of the political ramifications of voting for each of the canidates, the platforms and the potential cost in taxes.

My son a NASCAR fan, big time, Paula look for the R after the name and vote for him, draw the line and report back, if you vote for a rat it is going to cost us money, here is a list of who to vote for.

Paula, OK Craig, who knows who she voted for.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Metrosexuals are the anti-Bubba. The word was coined to cover that breed of man who is not gay, but not completely straight, either. These dandies are a quart low on testosterone, favoring French manicures, body hair sculpting and antique shopping with their pals.

I like both antique shops and NASCAR and Dean ain't getting my vote either way.

BTW, if metrosexuals are "a quart low on testosterone," then it's doubtful that they have the body hair to sculpt.

[bourbon]

One of my longime political dreams has been to unite the various 'redneck' areas of this country into a powerful poltical force capable of determining national elections. I like to call this pet idea of mine, "Pan-Redneckism" (a la Gamel Adbel Nasser). What really amuses me is that this finally looks like it's happening!

[DeFault User]

Let's see, so far we have Dean defining himself as an anti-war, metrosexual, square, Bubba-huggin' Democrat's Democrat. There's nothing like a clearcut image to present to the voter.

[Dan from Michigan]

Works for me. Gun grabbers need not apply.

[x]

I thought we were all agreed that "redneck" was an ethnic slur. It looks like the country's going backwards on this. I'm surprised "trailer trash" didn't show up in the article. Someone who cares about things like this might want to write a letter to the paper.

The voters in question, Southern working-class men might well be a pivotal group, but right now it looks like the Democrats have already conceded this group. So unless Dean or whoever the candidate is apologizes and does a u-turn on abortion, gay marriage, and other issues in the coming year, I don't think the article makes much sense.

[okie01]

"I just don't understand why writers/reporters channge stuff around."

It is because:

a. They are lazy.

b. They are dumb.

c. They have an axe to grind.

d. All of the above

a., b., c. and d. are all correct answers -- depending on the reporter and the particular issue at hand.

[TLI]

Dean, after declaring unity with rebel flag wavers, described himself as a "metrosexual."

A metrosexual...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA ! ! !

"Dean bites the dust," which on is next?

TLI

[Am I Blue?]

Dean commented on flags and pickup tracks several times before mentioning metrosexuals. The time that people noticed was the more recent instance.