#3 Republican says they lost the "white redneck" vote. Adam Putnam. FL

This guy was just elected to be 3rd in line of Republican power in the House.  We who have him as our congressperon are appalled he would talk like this.  Betcha if one of our Democrats said anything at all similar it would be all over the news.

From Hotline on Call:

Putnam Wants To Know: Where Were The Rednecks?

"White rednecks" who "didn't show up to vote for us" partly cost GOPers their cong. majorities, Rep. Adam Putnam (R-FL) told fellow Republicans today. And Putnam, seeking the post of GOP conference chair, chided ex-Chair J.C. Watts (R-OK) for ruining the conference's ability to serve its members.

Three Republicans in the room independently confirmed to the Hotline the substance and context of Putnam's remarks. But Putnam's chief of staff insists that the remarks were taken out of context.

Examining the 2006 midterms, Putnam blamed the GOP defeat on "the independent vote, the women vote, the suburban vote." He said that "heck, even the white rednecks who go to church on Sunday didn't come out to vote for us."

Here is what this 32 year old Republican looks like.

And here is the proud write-up from the local paper which sings his praises almost daily.  Proud as punch they are.  

Putnam Takes No. 3 Republican Position

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Adam Putnam of Bartow defeated three challengers Friday to become chairman of the House Republican Conference, the No. 3 position in the party leadership.

Putnam, who decided to run for the job after the Democratic takeover shook up the Republican leadership ranks, won on the third ballot, 100-91.

As chairman, Putnam will be responsible for shaping and spreading the Republican message. The job will boost his profile, and he says Florida's.

Congratulations, Florida, you have done it again.  

•  32?!?!?!

  Good Lord, he looks like he's 15!

  by TDDVandy on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 09:50:55 AM PDT

  •  definitely a southern "opie" thing going there.

    n/t

    by MikeHickerson on Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 11:56:24 AM PDT

•  Well, that's one way to insult his

  constitutency.  Unless "redneck" is a compliment.

  by TomP on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 09:52:25 AM PDT

  •  As I understand it

    the phrase originally referred to those fair skinned folk (northern europeans, brits, scots, irish etc) who sunburned after working hard outdoors, bending over to plant, harvest, hammer, or dig etc.

    At least that's honest work, and nothing to be ashamed of, unlike what this pasty-faced @#$% is up to.

    by marykk on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 09:55:23 AM PDT

    •  it was a term of abuse

      for your white endentured servents in the old south.

      by haagmm on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 10:06:36 AM PDT

      •  who were probably scots-irish

        but "turkey necks" was a reference to the Irish gandy dancers who laid the track for the Union Pacific - a variation on the same theme.  Either way, honest, if humble, work.

        by marykk on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 10:15:23 AM PDT

  •  Redneck

    has become less of a derogatory term with the popularity of comedians like Jeff Foxworthy and pretty much the entire Blue Collar Comedy Tour.

    by TDDVandy on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 10:31:35 AM PDT

•  I agree that it's appalling.

  But I have to say I see that particular slur on DKos quite often as well, which pisses me off.  I wish we could rid that word from our vocabulary.

  by Tony on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 09:54:18 AM PDT

•  Just warns us early.

  That the next generation of republicants are likely to be neanderthals like the previous ones.

  by manwithnoname on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 10:04:45 AM PDT

•  Guess he didn't get the memo that "Nascar"

  is the euphamism for White Red Neck.

  by worldbeggedyoutovoteKerry on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 10:08:01 AM PDT

•   white rednecks

  That's the proper term for "guys who fly Confederate flags on the backs of pickup trucks."
  Because he got the term right, the media is giving him a pass.

  by collegekid318 on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 10:11:39 AM PDT

  •  /snark/

    just to make things clear.

    by collegekid318 on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 10:12:49 AM PDT

  •  Not to be confused

    with all those Black, Hispanic, Asian and Middle Eastern Rednecks.

    by marykk on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 10:28:38 AM PDT

•  As a southerner-

  Redneck carries a certain independence to it.  You are the way you are because you don't give a flip what others think.  I can see Opie losing that vote.

  Maybe he can at least salvage the poor white trash vote.  That is if he doesn't combust in sunlight....

  by robroy on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 10:37:42 AM PDT

  •  Please

    don't compare this guy to Opie.  Andy raised Opie so much better than this guy was.

    by TracieLynn on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 11:00:29 AM PDT

  •  ROTFL

    I can't believe this guy beat Jack Kingston R-GA for the post. Then again its the repugs, so of course I can belive it.

    by Predictor on Sat Nov 18, 2006 at 06:37:17 PM PDT

•  You know

  The Republican base turned out to vote this year.  That's why the Republicans are in deep shit.  All their psycho voters came out and voted for them.  But the only problem was that we came out and voted too.  But you know what, I'll let them continue to have their little fantasy.  It works better for us.  I hope they drive themselves off a cliff in 2008!

  by SoCalLiberal on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 10:39:07 AM PDT

•  We ougt ot be able to beat

  Opie in 2008.  FL-12 has more Dems than R's registered. All that is lacking is a good candidate and a little hard work.

  On another note, Floridagal, we are maintaining an email list of Florida Kossacks and would love to have you with us. Please email me at gatordem at verizon dot net, and we'll add you to the list.

  by gatordem on Fri Nov 17, 2006 at 10:33:13 PM PDT