The Definition of Reagan Democrats

Reagan Democrats are mostly white, working class Americans who vote on social issues. anyway, that's what the pundits would have you believe.

Actually, I've found those "Reagan Democrats" to be that demographic, but they vote Republican because they have already got theirs. Retired union workers with good pensions, or others approaching retirement who got everything in their lives from Democrats and unions. Now, instead of the appreciation for the sacrifices that have given them a good life and put their anti-union kids to college, they have decided to bite the hand that fed them.

Republicans have found the middle class Achilles heal, it's our own short-sighted greed.

now they are called retired republicans. Think Zell Miller.....

snip>Southern Democrats are members of the U.S. Democratic Party who reside in the U.S. South. In the early 1800s, they were the definitive pro-slavery wing of the party, opposed to both the anti-slavery, Republicans (GOP) and the more liberal Northern Democrats. After the loss of their territory in the American Civil War and the Republican-led Reconstruction which followed, Southern Democrats regrouped into various vigilante organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan and the White League; eventually "Redemption" was finalized in the Compromise of 1877 and the ensuing institutionalization of Redeemers throughout the South. As the New Deal began to liberalize Democrats as a whole, Southern Democrats largely stayed as conservative as they had always been, with some even breaking off to form farther right-wing splinters like the Dixiecrats. After the civil rights movement successfully challenged Jim Crow and other forms of institutionalized racism, and Democrats as a whole became the symbol of the mainstream left of the United States, the form, if not the content, of Southern Democratic politics began to change. Most Southern Democrats defected to the Republican Party at that point and helped accelerate the latter's transformation into more progressive party Republican organization.

After World War II, the civil rights movement took hold by Republicans. Democratics in the South, however, still voted loyally for their party. The old conservative stalwarts were trying to resist the changes that were sweeping the nation. With the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it was the final straw for many Southern Democrats, who began voting against Democratic incumbents for GOP candidates. The Republicans carried many Southern states for the first time since before the Great Depression.<snip
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Democrats

:kick:

:kick:

He is the best kind of republican now.

like jews for jesus an oxymoron

...they are either dead or call themselves Republicans now.

For comparison, are there any more "Eisenhower Republicans" or "FDR Democrats"? It was a term invented by the media to explain demographic blocs (see also soccer moms, NASCAR dads, et.al). The notion of the Reagan Democrat is a myth perpetrated by the Rethugs to spread false notions about a demographic that does not exist today. Even if it did exist at one time, for one candidate, does that mean that they voted for Shrub or that they will vote for MCSAME?

I hadn't read your post but I agree completely.

...also throw the DLC ("Democratic" Liars & Crooks) for good measure.

Reagan's first election was 28 years ago. Many of the folks who were in their 40's are gone now. This is a made up term used to justify Dem's voting against their own interests.

Actually, the older union guys pave the way for those younger workers to vote against their own interests.

Never Democrats.

It was a false term the republic party invented to recruit racists in the south during integration struggle.

Until the 60's there were no significant numbers of republics in the south.

that was the promise but instead - they increased their salaries while cutting parks, education and anything that was good for the whole of the people. They did not cut anything that was expected but instead increased spending and war machine. As the videos that have been out, Reagan took off the solar panels and did everything he could not help the environment or the people but instead helped corporations and he was very anti union since it gave people power - his folksy style appealed to people - people wanted to believe him - the repuke personality and hate and the kkk, and white sheet, and southern strategy and states rights, and family values are all key words for the same thing over the years - it is code to appear non-discriminating yet they are out to hurt the very people Kennedy and FDR wanted to help - they are angry to pay and help people they want all the riches for themselves and have learned how to manipulate minds to have people hurt themselves by voting for them -

They are dimwitted like EH, hannity, rush, ann couter, and now palin -