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Fact #1: Orange County, the second largest county in Calif after LA, had the second highest voting percentage for Bush (60%). Fact #2: the epicenter of OC, in terms of wealth and Republican values, is Newport Beach. Fact #3: the TV show "The OC" that depicts wealthy fabulous lifestyles led by beautiful people is really about Newport Beach. (And even though it is highly fictionalized, it does portray the scene pretty accurately.)
So, how does this play with the conventional wisdom? The fact is, the Repubs are still the party of wealthy and middle-class families that value individuality and freedom as their central tenents.