A cultural disconnect in Dixie The southern states are looking for different sorts of Democrats

US News & World Report ^ | Feb 14, 2005 issue | Dan Gilgoff

[Mike Fieschko]

DURHAM, N.C.--The hundred or so Democratic activists gathered in an auditorium at North Carolina Central University on a January weeknight to meet with state party bigwigs have each been given two paper flags--one green, one red. When someone says something they agree with, attendees are supposed to wave green flags; if they disagree, they wave the red. Plenty of the proposals elicit green flags, like withdrawing from Iraq. Then a member of the state party's executive committee suggests reaching out to NASCAR dads. "We have churches and values," she says, "and we have to make that clear." A wave of red flags ripples across the room. Grumbles activist Don Esterling, 62: "We don't need to be Republican light."

Or maybe they do. In the American South, the ranks of Democratic senators have shrunk from 20 to four since 1980, and the party's presidential ticket has lost every state for the second time in a row. "This is the worst it's been for Democrats here . . . since Reconstruction," says Emory University Prof. Merle Black. And yet a handful of "red" state governors, including North Carolina's Mike Easley, Tennessee's Phil Bredesen, and Virginia's Mark Warner, have proved Democrats can win in the South, partly by irking party activists with NRA endorsements and support for capital punishment. "I'm a former prosecutor, a hunter, love to drive race cars, have very strong religious beliefs," says Easley. "That's everything you'd think of as conservative." But while it's possible for Easley to distance himself from the national party, it's a tougher gambit for presidential hopefuls.

Democrats lost their iron grip on Dixie after spearheading the civil rights bills of the 1960s. The New South's economic boom attracted fiscally conservative northerners, while the political realignment of the region's evangelical Christians hastened the GOP ascendancy. The last few years have seen, for the first time, more southern voters identifying as Republicans than as Democrats or independents. That helps explain why, last fall, five Senate seats vacated by retiring Democrats fell into GOP hands.

Values. But the South's successful Democrats have compensated for liberal stances on social issues like abortion by convincing voters of their personal values. Easley, for example, is pro-choice but talks openly about his faith. "If people see the candidate as a strong believer," says Easley adviser Mac McCorkle, "issues take care of themselves." Former four-term North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt, a Democrat, says he framed educational initiatives as what God wants : "Too many of our candidates are reluctant to mention God. [Voters] think if you don't talk about it, you must not have those feelings."

Kerry discussed his faith on the campaign trail reluctantly and was perceived in the South as culturally foreign, "a windsurfer and snowboarder," says University of North Carolina Prof. Ferrel Guillory. While Tennessee's Bredesen is, like Kerry, a northeasterner--raised in New York State--he stressed his rural upbringing and trap-shooting prowess on the stump. "They will vote for a Democrat here, but they have to feel good about the person," says Tennessee Democratic Chairman Randy Button.

Even if Democratic Senate and presidential hopefuls learn to connect personally with southern voters, it's unclear if the winning strategies of southern Democratic state officeholders can hold up in national races. Virginia's Warner, for instance, has reined in a spiraling budget deficit and instituted popular education reforms but has been able to duck divisive national issues like the Iraq war. Southern voters want button-down governors who "keep schools open and roads paved," says Guillory, "but see federal officeholders much more ideologically." Which means, in North Carolina, many voters split ballots between Easley and Bush. "[Easley has] done right by education and attracted employers," says Ann Barnhill, 50, a Greenville lawyer who voted for Easley but backed Bush to show wartime military support and because she detects a softening national morality.

Can Democrats produce a nominee in '08 who wins over southerners without bringing on "Republican light" charges from party activists? Easley says recent history isn't reassuring. "Too often, we're cheering the candidate at the convention," he says, "while looking around at one another saying, 'Hmmm . . . he's not gonna do well at home.'"

[sirchtruth]

Democrats lack two things:

1: Values
2: Judgements

With those two things they become legitimate again...however, they're about to elect a selfish, egomanic, ramitdownyourthroat, Dean as the head of their party.

Yes, they have now become THE STUPID PARTY!

[TennMountains]

While Tennessee's Bredesen is, like Kerry, a northeasterner--raised in New York State--he stressed his rural upbringing and trap-shooting prowess on the stump. Bredesen is NOTHING like Kerry! Bredesen campaigned in Republican East Tennessee and won counties that no one thought it possible for a Democrat to win. Much less a Democrat from New York, (rural NY). After meeting with him, early in his campaign, I could not figure out why someone of his caliber would want to bother with public office. But I was glad he was willing to do so. He's a very unique politician that I don't think the Democrats can take to the national level. A reasonable, ADULT Democrat that is mainly concerned about making Tennessee's state government work. (And we really needed an adult to deal with the mess.) It's hard to believe the man is a Democrat. (He even flies his own jet!) If I recall correctly he said something about some democrat program that helped his mother and family when things were bad while he was growing up. It's hard to fault a man for gratitude and loyalty. There is just know way the Democrats have the good sense to nominate this man for National office. But it would probably be a good thing for our country if they did.

[madprof98]

But the South's successful Democrats have compensated for liberal stances on social issues like abortion by convincing voters of their personal values.

In other words, they win with lies and hypocrisy.

[Mark in the Old South]

Re: "Too often, we're cheering the candidate at the convention," he says, "while looking around at one another saying, 'Hmmm . . . he's not gonna do well at home.'"

It is pretty condescending to talk values and faith with the kind of people who think like this. They win when they lie to people. A great strategy as long as no one notices the lying.

[zoso82t]

Democrats lost their iron grip on Dixie after spearheading the civil rights bills of the 1960s.

Ahh, revisionist history at its best. Someone buy this author a clue.

[Kuksool]

[But Easley is very quietly easing the way for liberal ways to enter the state]

Like allowing illegals to obtain driver's licenses in NC. Easley signed a bill which permitted that. I am amazed that there hasn't been greater outrage over that issue. If a Blue State like CA can repeal the terrible law, than why the Red State of NC do the same thing? The driver's license issue should have been something to attack Easely with during the 2004 election.

[angkor]

Virginia's Warner, for instance, has reined in a spiraling budget deficit

And he's proven his Rat credentials by (a) championing a tax increase last year and (b) refusing to return the $1 billion surplus resulting from the false deficit projections.

It's true that he's signed all the pro-gun legislation placed on his desk. In fact it's gone so successfully that the only significant gun proposal left to argue about is concealed carry without a permit (like Vermont).

I'd actually like to see Warner run in 2008, if only to defuse the insane whacko ideology that's now destroying the Rat party.

FWIW, I'm predicting George Allen vs. Mark Warner in 2008.

[Lady Heron]

Democrats lost their iron grip on Dixie after spearheading the civil rights bills of the 1960s.

Bull! LOL! These people will never get the one and only reason why they lost in the south, and why the farmers were willing to give up the party who subsidized them.......The democrats became the anti-God pervert party. Lets face it, democrats did everything they could do to destroy the black family structure with their "help", the problem for them is after 150 years the south was not as racist any more.

It was a decision of what do we think is more important....money or God....God won.

[GoMonster]

There is no such thing as a good Democrat!!!:)

[SampleMan]

"Democrats lost their iron grip on Dixie after spearheading the civil rights bills of the 1960s."

What a load of manure. The only reason the dims ever controlled the South was due to the evil Republicans ending slavery. After five generations passed, they got over it, and realized they'd been used as patsies by the Northeastern liberals.

If civil rights was the reason, as liberals always say, why would they move to the Republicans, who voted in higher percentages for desegregation than the dims?

[ccmay]

There is no such thing as a good Democrat!!!:)

Hey now! My grandma was an FDR Democrat, and she was a saint! Don't be like that.

Remember: Republicans think Democrats are wrong. Democrats think Republicans are evil. Let's not stoop to their level.

-ccm

[cavdad]

Here is something else to consider, Republicans have not been in many high profile offices in the south such as in North Carolina, so they haven't had many stars. They have also been shutout by redistricting. In North Carolina Republicans shot themselves in the foot by forming a coaltion with Democrats in the House and that caused an ugly split in the party and led to the redistricting plan. If the party had stayed together they could have won the House and maybe even the Senate. The candidates who ran against Easley didn't have a high profile before. Richard Vinroot was known in Charlotte but not in the east, which was Easley's native territory. Patrick Ballantine, who lost to Easley in the last election was the Republican leader in the Senate, which was dominated by Democrats and where he was marginalized to minority rants. The trend in North Carolina is toward Republican but the party has to bandage its wounds and form a solid front but it also needs some high profile, dynamic stars.

[Woodworker]

So, are you one of the Republicans for Bredesen? When Bredesen gives TN an income tax, I hope you enjoy paying it!

[Holden Magroin]

Not one word from any of those Democrats interviewed or quoted in this article makes me think that their religious rhetoric is anything other than a calculated political strategy. No true conservative would run for office as a Democrat in this day and age.

[TennMountains]

I suppose I am. But, in Tennessee it's not a Republican/Democrat type of thing. It's those in Power and those not in Power. If I recall correctly it was our last Governor, (a Republican) who pushed hard for an income tax and created a mess that Bredesen appears to be clearing up. However like all our Governors, I suppose he'll wait until his second term to starting working for an income tax.

[100%FEDUP]

"Mike Easley would be a good Democratic presidential candidate. He's pro-choice but in other respects he's Southern and pro-gun, pro-hunting, and pro-capital punishment. A no-no to the coastal liberal elites who now control the national Democratic Party."

The Weasle more than makes up for his pro-gun stance by letting EVERY special interest group have their way in NC. I'm convinced Weasley is a puppet for the Robert Woods Johnson foundation.

I am thankful we do have term limits here or Weasley would have checkpoints every 1/4 mile!