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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Segregation of Southern Legislatures
Why white Democrats are so rare in the South
There are no white Democrats from the Deep South in the US Congress, and southern state legislatures are quickly going the same way. There's only white Democrat left in the Alabama Senate,
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The fall of white Democrats has resulted in parties that have become increasingly divided along party lines.
"Now we've got down to a situation where you have blacks in the Democratic Party in the Legislature, at least in the Senate, and you have whites in the Republican Party. What that does it take us one step closer to the past, and that's not good in my point of view," said Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma, who is black.
Sanders said the result is that African-American voters feel the sting. The percentage of black legislators is roughly proportionate to the general population. But their party's dwindling numbers means fewer opportunities for minority legislators to exert influence, he said
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http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2014/1115/Why-white-Democrats-are-so-rare-in-the-South
napi21
(45,806 posts)Most don't pay a lot of attention to politics (I spoke about the KOCH Bros. to 2 of them about a month ago, and they thought I was talking about Coke the soft drink) but really believe all Dems are against all white people and they'd never vote for a Dem...EVER!
I'm white, but I had a positive outlook on the 2014 mid term because Nunn & Carter brought memories of past Ga. leaders that were loved by everyone. I & my hubby & my son voted for Nun & Carter, but alas, they both lost big-time.
I've tried everything I know of to get messages through to the people around here, but haven't been at all successful. My son works for a very large employer and he's even more confrontational than I am. He's tried to break the "thought" barrier and sometimes just telling them flat out, "You don't use your brain at all do you?"
He didn't succeed either.
I don't see a fix for this other than letting the south seceded from the US and let them do their own thing and all the sane people move! The big problem is I 'm too old to be moving around the damn country, and many working people can't just move because it's too hard to find a job elsewhere.
AnalystInParadise
(1,832 posts)tailoring our message to millennial's, minorities and urban white gentry is a poison pill that will kill us in any election where Barack Obama is not running. We have ignored white middle class and rural America to win now. It is going to hurt us badly.
dem in texas
(2,674 posts)Dallas county is one spot of blue in a red state, but the redistricting is pushing all the Dems into districts that are already heavily black. I live in West Oak Cliff and got pushed into a South Dallas district. I am white, but democrat, as are many whites around me. Now our votes will be wasted as the new district we were moved to did not need our votes, but our old district did. This is exactly what is happening in Alabama. It is reverse of what the voting right act was trying to prevent, but the effect will end up being the same and if the supreme court lets the ruling in Alabama stand, you will see this take place all over the South.
brer cat
(24,578 posts)is a white Dem US Representative from GA, although he is a very conservative Blue Dog.
Edit to add: Barrow was defeated this year, so that will be true next year.
Savannahmann
(3,891 posts)He lost his reelection bid. One poster tried to celebrate the loss of another DINO, and was quickly quieted down.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025761043
So he is a White Dem, and he's in Congress, for another month and a half, including holidays.