Southern and Red State Democrats

[dryan]

One of the things that is really sticking in my crawl - is the constant barrage on this site against Democrats who live either in the South or live in states that went for Bush. I feel like I am being held personally responsible for Senator Kerry's defeat in Florida. Are thre any other Southern or Red State Democrats that feel this way too?

[fertilizeonarbusto]

1. From a blue state here

and it bothers me when you guys are beaten up like that too. Know that most of us don't hold you responsible and feel for you for being stuck with all those Rethugs there. :hug:

[noiretextatique]

2. it's stupid to blame people who voted for kerry

regardless of where they live. it's the bushbots who piss me off, especially those in my burgundy state: california.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

3. and I'm sick and tired of the constant barrage of of the "Librul Media"...

who constantly bash we Northeasterners for being "out of touch elitists"! The Northeast Liberal Establishment fought to ban slavery!!! What is the heritage of Southern Red States again?

[dryan]

7. I don't know anything about that....

during the Civil War my family was in Romania trying to fight off being killed by the Russians!

[dryan]

8. I don't know anything about that....

during the Civil War my family was in Romania trying to fight off being killed by the Russians!

[Radical Activist]

14. Actually dealing with race issues

while the northeast self righteously proclaimed it had no problem and has thus taken much longer to confront racism and segregation in a direct way like the south has.

[bowens43]

4. Not me.

I haven't seen anyone here on DU say anything derogatory about southern Democrats.

[RubyDuby in GA]

6. Did you just crawl out from under a rock?

We've faced constant criticism from some on this board. We tried as hard as we could to turn our states blue.

There's only so many people you can save from the clutches of complete and utter ignorance during one campaign season. Getting this dumbass idiots here to see that they are constantly voting against their own best interests is, in the words of their retarded leader, "hard work"!

[bowens43]

20. Nope. I haven't been under any rocks.

I have seen criticism of southern states but not southern democrats (except for Zell of course). Maybe I just didn't see it.

Your right , it is very hard work.

[RubyDuby in GA]

27. I'd like to once again

apologize for Zell. He just won't go away no matter how many times he's told to.

The State of Georgia officially apologizes for foisting this complete and utter fool on you all.

Our bad....
Sorry!

[xultar]

5. Well I hold all the Dems in the south who didn't vote for Kerry and

the one's who Didn't Vote @ ALL responsible.

I hate people in Red States PERIOD that voted for *.

And yes, I live in a RED STATE.

RED STATE = BLOOD of Soldiers in a senseless war

[jobycom]

9. Yeah, it bothers a lot of us. But not as much as having Bush as president

or invading nations at peace, or slaughtering hundreds of thousands of individuals with my tax dollars and in my country's names...

I choose my senses of outrage carefully.

I do get bothered by the automatic equation of southern pride with racism, though.

[histohoney]

10. Hands up

here.
Try being a Texan!
I've read some of the most hateful things written here.That ALL red state residents are.."Stupid hicks, dumb Mother*******, have no Higher education, no morals, mean, race haters, gay haters, all inbred, all related to inbred low stupid European ancestors, ect.. ", just to many to describe.

What do they think they're doing. Do they really think this is the way to help grow a cause. I am just so put off. Then, I read a letter from a kinder more thoughtful soul and I have hope.
Hate breeds hate. I worry if the split is just getting wider. Being violent and hateful leads down a dark trail.:hi:

[MuseRider]

11. The Red State bashing

got to me for a while. The thing that really made me angry was when I read several DUers state that they blamed each of us Democrats in the Red states even more than the Republicans because it meant that we did not work hard enough. I only saw that a few times but it was enough for me to leave the site for a while. Truly pissed me off. As if. I did look back and saw that most of those making these comments were very new here. One is still here so I avoid her, she is being ignored.

[Ms_Mary]

12. Yes, I do. I don't want to secede and it's not amusing or witty to hear

generalized diatribes against the south. I tried, darn it! By the same token, I'm really sick of hearing how liberal the mainstream media is. Liberal? Ha ha ha.

[Detergent Insurgent]

13. Southern and Red State Democrats

Dryan:

For about a nanosecond I have a twinge of responsibility and then the great light of revelation explodes in my feeble little Liberal brain. What about Ohio? Did the Democrats throw everything in there short of tanks and stormtroopers to ensure the integrity of the vote and bring about a clear win? What about California, what's with them, a whole lot of Democrats elected Arnold as Governor? What's with that? Yeah, he appears to be a liberal Republican but he still fawns over the Bush family and slurps at their trough of power like he's eating ice cream.

I live in Texas, the adopted country of the Bush family and the spawning grounds of Karl Rove. What did the Democratic Party do here? A couple of brief forays to grab as much of our money as they could. Lots of e-mails asking me for money. But they did not try to even have a toe-hold of a presence here. In short the Democratic Party has written off Texas. True we are the power base of some of the most radical right wingers on the political scene, but to write us off as a lost cause?

What about the skewed primary system the Democratic Party fostered on us. By the time the primary came to Texas it was a done deal for Kerry. Kerry was not my choice to be the candidate, but I supported him. I was disappointed in him. He is a good person, but he was not a great candidate. Ironically, the powers that be in the Democratic Party recognized that the election was about fear - the fear of terrorism in chief. That was one of the reasons they gave for running Kerry. But when it came time to fight Bush they forgot to send their champion, a genuine war hero, to war with Bush and Rove. I know from experience in Texas that you fight Bush/Rove and Company only one way - to win! That means cut-throat, hardball, down in the mud, knife in the gut, retail politics. That is why Kerry lost, he did not play the game the way Bush/Rove play the game. You cannot win by taking the "high road" when you are being buried in mud. Like it or not, until the Democratic Party finds our you-know-whats we will continue to loose. There was a test run this time around by a group fielding candidates in state legislative races that actually won races by playing the game the way it has to be played. The national party had better take note for 2006 and 2008.

So don't feel bad. It's not our fault as Democratic voters in red states that we lost. The party is responsible for the loss. That is why I am joining forces with others here in red state Texas to start to change the party from the bottom up. I hope that others will start to do the same where they are.

The Detergency Insurgency, scrubbing for a better way!:hippie: :dem:

[PDX Bara]

15. Great first post...

and I love your screen name.

[DeminGa]

17. red-stater here

I am a Connecticut Liberal living in Red Georgia. Have been for 6 years now. I must admit it is difficult for me at times.

I am new to the site and havent seen much bashing of the red state dems. I have seen threads about people feeling uncomfortable though, so I know things must have been said at some point

Think of it this way though....didnt some red states voted within a 10% margin?? Even though a loss for the dems, there are still a good number of democratic voters in the south. Just not a majority unfortunately. Not every person in the south voted repuke

And just as a side note that has driven me crazy over the past 5 years......GEORGE BUSH IS NOT A SOUTHERN!!!!

He was born in the SAME hospital I was. Yale New Haven in CT. His father lived in CT and Mass, he Grandfather represented CT as a well known politician of the time

Yes, George II moved to Texas at the age of 2 or 3. The family then moved to Cali 2 years later. They did a stint in New York when his sister was ill, and then went back to TX. When George hit is high school years he moved to Mass. To Andover to be exact to attend school where is father went. From there he went to Yale in CT, and after headed to Harvard.

He lost his 1st bid for office in Texas to a Democrat because he was a yankee!! And in total, has lived in the liberal north longer than he has lived down south!!!

Why the Dems didnt bring this to light I will never understand. I think if this truth was told it would have alienated many southern voters. Nothing is as bad to a southerner than someone trying to sell himself as one when they are not!!!!

[mprest]

37. This fight isn't over. Come to Columbus, OH on Saturday

and hear Jesse Jackson and Greg Palast! Take America Back!
Great info on Ohio at www.ohiovigilance.org

[democratreformed]

16. I don't pay any attention to it any more.

Bias against the South has been constantly stated on this board ever since I first got on here. It used to bother me. It doesn't any more.

[mrgorth]

18. The south

The anger is against the south in general not people in the south that voted for, much less worked, for Kerry. Love your south all you want but it's cultural conservatism is pulling the whole country to the right. It's a little hard to ignore.

[tanyev]

19. I haven't noticed a constant barrage

against Democrats. There is plenty of red state bashing, but it doesn't bother me at all. I agree with most of what they say about Texas. There are a lot of ignorant rednecks here. I used to be very proud of my state, but that hasn't been possible since 2000, and the decline actually started long before that. I don't feel like the criticism is directed personally at me; I think it's directed toward all the bimbette trophy wives driving their Hummers with the W04 stickers on them and all the other uber-patriots we have here.

In fact, I can't wait until I hear somebody I know voted for Bush start complaining about the government. I'm going to throw "You got what you voted for. You should be happy" back in their face so fast they won't know what hit them.

[Trajan]

21. I have stated many times ....

how much THIS New Jersey born Yankee respects his southern liberal collegues ....

You are my brother (my 'real' brothers are red meat RWers) ...

NEVER should we try to whip our own like that: .. shame on THEM who do ....

[funkybutt]

22. I dont' take it personally. I did EVERYTHING I could to get Kerry elected!

New Orleans turned out in astounding numbers in TERRIBLE weather to vote 77% for Kerry. No "red state" criticism can take that away!

[bunkerbuster1]

23. I'm a Democrat living in the south

And since you asked, no, I've never felt like there's been any great animosity heaved my way in here.

[Dob Bole]

24. But South-bashing is the way to win back Southern states...

It's just a strategy, see?

[huskerlaw]

25. I don't mind the red-state bashing,

what does bother me is the generalizations about people in the red states. Even in the reddest states, 40% voted for Kerry. That's hundreds of thousands of Democrats. Go ahead and bash the other 60%, but be mindful of those of us who are trying. I happen to live in a liberal oasis in one of the reddest states (yes, oasis is a relative thing), and I don't appreciate it when people assume that my entire state is full of right-wing nutjobs. There are thousands of liberals here too.

[Stand and Fight]

26. Nope.

And I live in the reddest of the reds -- Oklahoma.

[Pepperbelly]

28. don't sweat it ... they do it reflexively and sans thought. nt

[Cuban_Liberal]

29. Jeez! Let's quit smacking the red-state Democrats around...

I hate this whole 'red state/blue state' thing! We had tons of loyal Democrats in red states, and several of the red states were pretty darn close, largely due to the efforts of the Democrats who lived there working their tails off!

ENOUGH already!

:grr:

[Bouncy Ball]

30. I thought this ended a week or so ago

We have a southern forum by the way, if you'd like to frequent it. It's pretty good.

We're all on the same side. They are bashing the red state RED voters not you. I am in a red state, too. Don't take it personally. Or try not to. I don't. My state DOES suck.

[Cheswick2.0]

31. I don't see it

I see bashing of bush voters in red states, but not anger at democrats who voted for Kerry.

What you might be seeing is the north refusing to cater to those who are convinced that we must only nominate social conservative southerners.

[Blue_In_AK]

32. Blue in red state

This isn't exactly on point, but I want to complain a little. I'm in Alaska, obviously the most northern red state, which the national democratic party has apparently given up on completely. We had ABSOLUTELY ZERO political ads televised here for either presidential candidate, and, of course, nobody bothered to come up here to campaign ... which was good in a way because we didn't have to look at *'s ugly mug every five minutes, but it's kind of sad that we always get ignored by the presidential candidates, just because we only have three electoral votes. I know a lot of people who voted for Kerry, but really all we had to go on for our information was the debates and whatever we might ferret out to read. It's lonely up here ... could you guys down there help us out a little?

[newyawker99]

38. Hi Blue_In_AK!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Cheswick2.0]

40. My sister in New York feels the same

and they have tons of electoral votes. Of course it is easier to be ignored at election time when you know your state is going blue.

We need to nominate a candidate willing to work a 50 state campaign. I would be very happy to come to AK and campaign if someone would pay me a small salary to do so.

[salin]

33. I feel frustration at my fellow state voters

grew up in this red state (in a blue bubble), have lived in several blue states, and returned home. Split time between my old blue bubble in a red state and an urban center (split red/blue)... actually have little direct contact with the redstate mentality - most folks I spend time with are as mystified (and frustrated) by the voting patterns here as Duers are - I hear worse locally than I read on DU. So, no, I don't read the DU responses as personal attacks against progressives working within a red state, nor do I hear us as being "held responsible". I do hear too much "giving up", however - more calls to "give up" at DU - than I hear among local democrats/progressives in this red state.

[AuntiBush]

34. I have nothing against you...

At that rate, I should be mad at half of my state... it's not just about red states, but red counties, as well. Chin-up! I live in a blue state, but if you live in a red state you're getting it both ways, and at the very least you should find fellowship "right here!"

[quaoar]

35. Fed up here too

I especially don't like those posts that say, "We aren't criticizing you, just everything about the place you call home."

[QC]

36. Yeah, that's a great line, isn't it?

Somebody posts something like "All those inbred sisterfuckers in ____ just need to rot in hell," and when a person from ____ objects, he or she is accused of being too sensitive.

It reminds me of when George W. said to Glenn Maxey, an openly gay state legislator in Texas, "You know Glenn, when I say things opposing homosexuals, I'm not talking about you."

Maxey replied, quite rightly, "Yes you are."

I feel the same way about the broad-brush, blanket condemnations of everyone who lives in about 30 of the 50 states.

[floridadem30]

39. I agree, I may live in a red state but I am no less of a democrat

[Cheswick2.0]

41. One thing I do object to

I object to the fact that some red state democrats are also very socially conservative. I think they enable the worst of the republican aggenda by accepting some of it. I wish you all would stop urging us to adopt your aggenda and learn to fight back for democrati principals when debating your friends and neighbors. Stop trying to pull us right and start trying to pull your state left.

I don't know if this applies to you, but it does to many people here.

[charlie]

42. Can't say that I do

Don't feel like I'm responsible for Kerry's loss, never felt that anyone here was trying to hang that on me. Nor am I bothered when people rag on my home state.

[KnowerOfLogic]

43. I'm a red state dem, and the criticisms are totally warranted.

Who are we kidding? Sure there are ignorant people and intelligent people eveywhere, but the red states have more than their share of the ignorant and bigotted. Denial helps no one.

[Sick_of_Rethuggery]

44. I dont think we should take umbrage

at the South-bashing (completely justified, in my opinion).

After all, Texas, which probably has more of an influx of educated Northerners and immigrants than most other Southern states, went overwhelmingly Rethug -- why shouldnt Texas and the other stupid Southern states be held to account?

I live in Texas, but I dont take the South-bashing here personally -- I know where the blame is being laid (rightly so!)

[giasangria]

45. I don't feel that way

I am in Alabama...the fact is, most of the stuff being said is true, or pretty close to being true.

[Iris]

46. Living in metro Atlanta

I am doubly angry because I not only vote for Democrats, I vote AGAINST the ignorant, racist, homophobic, sexist Bible-thumpers on the one hand and the callous, "I got mine who cares about you?" SUV-driving, money grubbers on the other.

And I'm the bad guy because I'm trying to fight the good fight where I happen to live right now?

[elderly man]

47. Molly Ivins,Dan Rather and Paul Begala are from Texas

[newyawker99]

48. Hi elderly man!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: