First an excerpt of a Red pundit rant on why they aren't "dumb Americans"
Believe it or not, it wasn't just rednecks who voted for Bush
By Mark Steyn (Filed: 07/11/2004)
What was revealing about this election campaign was how little the condescending Europeans understand even about the side in American politics they purport to agree with - witness The Guardian's disastrous intervention in Clark County
Uncowed by Islamists, undeferential to government, unshrivelled in its birthratesBush's redneck America is a more reliable long-term bet. Europe's media would do their readers a service if they stopped condescending to it.
Red pride: brave, independent, virile
I read here their pride: We're brave, independent, virile they are a bunch of ninnies who can't even get it up to have kids. We didn't see that as a reason Kerry lost but I think he is right on the money here. We missed the "Proud to be American" crowd...
Update [2004-11-7 13:52:45 by lawnorder]: More on this and HOW the Swift Liars hurt Kerry below
Pushing the Proud American's hot buttons
And after reading this excellent diary, I see all Bushpeak was geared to press on this hot buttons:
* I am brave, Kerry is a c...rd who talked bad about his troopmates
* I am independant, Kerry wants to bring in UN
* I am virile, Kerry is a'frenchie'
They don't care if Bush is a real brave, independant and virile man as long as he plays one on TV
The DUMB/ Bibble Thumper Argument will make Dems loose everytime
Would you vote for people who openly call you dumb ? I wouldn't. I suspect very few would.
If he's dumb then I'm dumber
When we make fun of him they feel we're making fun of them (Or their uncle, neighboor, dad) since they also live around people who misunderestimate the ammount of woods they have on the Internets. And they are not living in the WH, ergo...
Trading Places w/ Vinny
Bush is their revenge, their answer to "My Cousin Vinny", "Pleasantville" and other tales of the backwards red states being saved & outsmarted by a cool NY yuppie / kid.
How did we missed them ?
- The gay myth: It wasn't by being pro-gay that Dems lost the PROUD vote. It was by being openly condescending to the 6 pack toting Nascar American
- Metrosexual girlie man: Believe it or not, I think I know at least one case of a Red who voted Bush in large part out of fear of being called "girlie like Kerry" by his friends. We needed Jesse Ventura on our side sooner, vocal and proeminent
- HOW the swift lies hurt Kerry: It took away the only "macho" glory we coud claim. Whether or not they believed the accusations, the mere suspicion made Kerry "damaged goods" in the eyes of a crowd that gets bullied and embarassed by their peers if they show any sensitivity or self-doubt
- Stay the Course, Top Gun President They don't care if Bush is a real leader or a real pilot as long as he LOOKS and ACTS like one. Lack of self-doubt is a quality they admire (and I suspect envy also)
- Independant: This got them in several fronts: The adamant conviction that they need their guns and they don't want the government's nose on it, Bush's snubbing of UN and world opinion, their loathing of PC speech which they view is an intrusion in their life...
- Virile To press on the point, it doesn't really matter to them if Bush is a real Marboro Man cowboy riding alone into the sunset. As long as he LOOKS like one and we make fun of him and of them, they will loathe our confort with our sexuality. Our lack of need to "prove it"....