I remember those days. That's true but here's the "rhetoric"
Being for the Tenth Amendment -- even if you were vehemently against the Jim Crow laws in some states -- you were denounced as a racist Republican.
If you were disturbed by the violent rioting and backed the local police in support of law and order you were denounced as a racist Republican.
It matter not one whit that Republicans out-voted Democrats in support of civil rights issues IIRC.
The Rockefeller Republicans like Nelson Rockefeller, Scranton, George Romney, et al. denounced fellow Republicans and anyone who supported Goldwater as "purveyors of hate" and virtual KKK members -- even if you were vehemently against the the Jim Crow laws in some states.
BTW, Reagan never, never, never promised presidential amnesty for Democratic Party members who needed it and voted for him.. so in no way are ILLEGAL aliens comparable to Reagan Democrats.
Good post. Very accurate summation.