Posted on 10/06/2002 11:52:53 PM PDT by HAL9000
Picture a typical Republican. Perhaps you see images of George Bush, John Ashcroft, Ronald Reagan, or maybe even Alex P. Keaton. Basically, many people think Republicans are a bunch of stodgy white guys with money.Times are changing. The Republican A-list now includes Colin Powell, Christie Whitman, J.C. Watts, and Condoleeza Rice. Women and minorities have been making great strides in the party, but they generally dress, talk, and act like their predecessors. You are more likely to find them at a formal reception than a rock concert.
If Republicans are so different from mainstream America, then who voted for them? The nation has more Republican congressmen and state governors than any other political party, plus control of the White House. There are not enough Alex P. Keatons to account for these election results. Our nation is among the most diverse on earth. Half of the voters are women, a quarter are minorities. There are millions of union workers, retirees, immigrants, government workers, customer service employees, and individuals in low paying jobs, unemployed or on some form of public assistance. All of these groups are expected to lean left. Surely, the stodgy, affluent, religious white guys are outnumbered in the electorate by a huge margin. Yet Republicans candidates still do well. How is that possible?
The answer could very well be the "Southpark Republicans." The name stems from the primetime cartoon "Southpark" that clearly demonstrates the contrast within the party. The show is widely condemned by some moralists, including members of the Christian right. Yet in spite of its coarse language and base humor, the show persuasively communicates the Republican position on many issues, including hate crime legislation ("a savage hypocrisy"), radical environmentalism, and rampant litigation by ambitious trial lawyers. In one episode, industrious gnomes pick apart myopic anti-corporate rhetoric and teach the main characters about the benefits of capitalism.
Southpark Republicans are true Republicans, though they do not look or act like Pat Robertson. They believe in liberty, not conformity. They can enjoy watching The Sopranos even if they are New Jersey Italians. They can appreciate the tight abs of Britney Spears or Brad Pitt without worrying about the nation's decaying moral fiber. They strongly believe in liberty, personal responsibility, limited government, and free markets. However, they do not live by the edicts of political correctness.
The Southpark Republicans are an incredibly diverse group encompassing a variety of nontraditional conservatives, such as the Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Bruce Willis supported Republicans because of their commitment to lower taxes and fiscal discipline. Rap artist and movie actor LL Cool J recently endorsed NY governor George Pataki.
The most important Southpark Republicans are not famous. They are the millions of people of every age, race, sex, and religion that generally agree that government spending is usually not the best way to deal with the nation's problems. Many of these individuals can tell you why Ayn Rand should displace some other authors in high school literature classes. They know firsthand from endless hours at the DMV, at the post office, and preparing income tax forms that government wastes time and money. They know a nation cannot tax its way to greatness.
If he were alive today, John F. Kennedy could very well be a Southpark Republican. He rightly proclaimed, "An economy hampered by restrictive tax rates will never produce enough revenues to balance our budget—just as it will never produce enough jobs or profits." You read that right. JFK was a supply-side tax cutter. His alleged private exploits would place him squarely within the Southpark wing of the Republican Party.
Sound farfetched? There have been many Democrats that changed parties. Ronald Reagan, Senator Phil Gramm, and Mayor Mike Bloomberg were all once Democrats that became Republicans. The Democratic Party moved left, and the people that stood in the same place increasingly found their views shared by the elephants of the GOP. But not all elephants belong in the same herd. Pat Buchanan pushes a Christian/protectionist agenda that has absolutely nothing in common with the Libertarian folks who support free trade and complete separation of church and state. Depending on whom you ask, "Conservative" can mean smaller government of lower hemlines. (Hint: Southpark Republicans are more likely to get Cosmo than the Weekly Standard.)
The Southpark Republicans are not new, though they may now be more vocal. The party finally seems willing to embrace members that listen to the hard rock and rap music long denounced by the old guard. Heck, even vegetarians are welcome.
The media generally misrepresents Republicans as religious rich white males. This is patently false. Half of the voting public is Republican. They watch R rated movies, enjoy a few drinks at happy hour, and even go to the occasional Wrestlemania. Hopefully, the Southpark Republicans will shatter the unfair stereotype and set the record straight. As Cartman would say, "That would be pretty sweet."
Since you familiar with Sowell's work you know he writes extensively of destructive social patterns of the racial group of which he is a member. There is not a whole lot of irony there. Certainly no more than if I referenced Stephanie Guttman and Kate O'Bierne in outlining a case opposing women in combat.
(It does kind of make it hard to decide who to root for when the Army/Navy football game comes around though.)
Methinks Norwell is the only person in the country who has never heard of "Reagan Democrats".
Simpson's Did It!
I did not write any group was too small or that the Republicans should forfeit the Roukma-Republican vote. I think the author is writing from anecdotal experience and Bill Schneider is writing with the demographic knowledge of a polster. Schneider views the election in terms of ethnicity and religion, primarily. With some exceptions, white areas are strongly republican. Almost without exception, nonwhite areas (to include Indian reservations) vote democrat.
I could be the poster child!
And let us not forget that we are also Simpson's fans.
The article wasn't saying that all "southpark republicans" watch southpark.
From the article:
...Yet in spite of its coarse language and base humor, the show persuasively communicates the Republican position on many issues, including hate crime legislation ("a savage hypocrisy"), radical environmentalism, and rampant litigation by ambitious trial lawyers. In one episode, industrious gnomes pick apart myopic anti-corporate rhetoric and teach the main characters about the benefits of capitalism....They strongly believe in liberty, personal responsibility, limited government, and free markets. However, they do not live by the edicts of political correctness. ...
The RINOs mentioned in the article don't even favor the above.
...and a happy almost-USMC birthday - Semper Fi!
I've only seen about five minues of South Park - it was the episode that was a parody of Janet Reno's grabbing of Elian Gonzalez.
But if South Park viewers vote against Democrats, more power to them.
By the way, the web site that published this article - Tech Central Station - coined the phrase 'homicide bombers' that was subsequently adopted by the White House.
An explanation stolen from John J. Pitney Jr., Associate professor of government at Claremont McKenna College & author of The Art of Political Warfare. This is the Reagan Republican definition I am accustomed to seeing.
Now as for Reagan implementing a social agenda, perhaps I misunderstood, but I thought he:
Attempted to appoint judges who'd overturn Roe V.Wade, such as James Buckley and Robert Bork
Endorsed Constitutional Ammendments to protect the flag and allow prayer in school
Instituted a We Ask-Don't Belong-Don't Join policy regarding homosexuals in the military by executive order shortly after taking the presidency
Fired homosexual aides while Governor in California
Ended sex-integrated basic training (at least in the Army) begun under the Carter Administration
Vetoed bills publicly funding abortion
Ended all abortions at US Military Facilities
Campaigned vigorously on behalf of candidates like Paul Laxalt, Jesse Helms and Malcolm Wallop. I'd say this is at least a fairly decent effort at implementing social conservatism and the fact he had varying degrees of success does not mitigate the fact he made an honest attempt to do it.
Now, if you want somebody who speaks out of both sides of his mouth, look at GWB as regards enforcing immigration laws.
The same phenomena applies to Army folks in the Southeast.
Bottom line is most of them end up there after their hitch. If you are from New England it is tough to get home.
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