Mike Allen: Thursday, July 14, 2005
It was called "the southern strategy," started under Richard M. Nixon in 1968, and described Republican efforts to use race as a wedge issue -- on matters such as desegregation and busing -- to appeal to white southern voters.
Ken Mehlman, the Republican National Committee chairman, this morning will tell the NAACP national convention in Milwaukee that it was "wrong."
If you think the Southern Strategy is dead, I'm sorry to tell you that you're wrong. It's just less blatant. The GOP leadership appears to have developed a symbiotic relationship with those who are reviving and working to evolve the Southern Strategy (though is it fair to use 'evolve' and 'Southern Strategy'in the same sentence?). The GOP leadership is both led by this strategy and seem to follow it gladly. The only thing 'NEW' about the strategy is that, this time, the plan seems to be to spread the Southern Strategy Virus nationwide. Follow me after the fold.
Allen reports additional comments from Mehlman:
"Some Republicans gave up on winning the African American vote, looking the other way or trying to benefit politically from racial polarization. I am here today as the Republican chairman to tell you we were wrong."
What a difference half a decade makes! Many of us, myself included, have long suspected that electing Michael Steele as RNC chair had two primary purposes:
First, Steele was clearly meant to be the 'anti-Obama'. The GOP was deathly afraid of charges of racism for any criticism of then candidate, now President Obama. They were in uncharted territory. His successful campaign seemed only to heighten their concern that any criticism against the nation's first African-American President would finish off what was left of the Republican party. The election primary season was sufficient confirmation that GOP leaders were RIGHT to be fearful of the racially charged sentiments coming from their party (and it's probably best to view these clips on an empty stomach):
Steele seemed to relish his role as the GOP attack dog against President Obama. Unfortunately for him, his highly entertaining gaffes were too much of an embarrassment to the GOP to make him an effective tool against the poised intellectualism of Barack Obama.
Second, Steele's election seemed to be predicated on the notion that he would potentially bring new African-American and minority voters to the GOP fold. After all, it would only take a little Fried Chicken and Potato Salad. It wouldn't take too much of an investment, right?
The question is, what does Steele have to offer in light of the merging of what's been called the Teapublican Party? He seems to be losing ground while Teapublicans are gaining ground, and so much so that Bob McDonnell appears to have no qualms with issuing a proclamation that April is Confederate History Month and "inadvertently" leaving off the whole messy issue of "slavery", in the original proclamation:
WHEREAS, April is the month in which the people of Virginia joined the Confederate States of America in a four year war between the states for independence that concluded at Appomattox Courthouse; and
WHEREAS, Virginia has long recognized her Confederate history, the numerous civil war battlefields that mark every region of the state, the leaders and individuals in the Army, Navy and at home who fought for their homes and communities and Commonwealth in a time very different than ours today; and
WHEREAS, it is important for all Virginians to reflect upon our Commonwealth's shared history, to understand the sacrifices of the Confederate leaders, soldiers and citizens during the period of the Civil War, and to recognize how our history has led to our present; and
WHEREAS, Confederate historical sites such as the White House of the Confederacy are open for people to visit in Richmond today; and
WHEREAS, all Virginians can appreciate the fact that when ultimately overwhelmed by the insurmountable numbers and resources of the Union Army, the surviving, imprisoned and injured Confederate soldiers gave their word and allegiance to the United States of America, and returned to their homes and families to rebuild their communities in peace, following the instruction of General Robert E. Lee of Virginia, who wrote that, "...all should unite in honest efforts to obliterate the effects of war and to restore the blessings of peace."; and
WHEREAS, this defining chapter in Virginia's history should not be forgotten, but instead should be studied, understood and remembered by all Virginians, both in the context of the time in which it took place, but also in the context of the time in which we live, and this study and remembrance takes on particular importance as the Commonwealth prepares to welcome the nation and the world to visit Virginia for the Sesquicentennial Anniversary of the Civil War, a four-year period in which the exploration of our history can benefit all;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Robert McDonnell, do hereby recognize April 2010 as CONFEDERATE HISTORY MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.
Why no mention more than half a million slaves whose lives hung in the balance during the war of Southern Aggression? Because according to McDonnell:
McDonnell said he did not include a reference to slavery because "there were any number of aspects to that conflict between the states. Obviously, it involved slavery. It involved other issues. But I focused on the ones I thought were most significant for Virginia."
He's since decided that slavery was an important issue. My enslaved ancestors thank you for the acknowledgment - post controversy, and post statement from members of your staff that you DO think slavery was an important issue.
That, my friends, is part and parcel one of the gems of the NEW Southern Strategy. Is it possible that this proclamation is both sincere, given the history of Republican governors in establishing such a month, and intentionally issued as a way of creating political tension which would seemingly favor the GOP with certain cross-sections of the Southern U.S. population as well as those in other regions? Are we watching the slow unfolding of a New Southern Strategy?
- Steele as the ineffective mouthpiece of the GOP will eventually be replaced. He seems to have failed to deliver significant growth in minority participation in the GOP. There doesn't seem to be any evidence that he's played an active role in weakening Barack Obama's Presidency, either. He's no longer needed BECAUSE:
- The Tea Party Crowd more effectively (and frighteningly) does what Steele and the GOP could not. They've made it 'safe' for the GOP to attack President Obama - no matter how irrational the claims. The Tea Party is the thing behind which the GOP Leadership hides no matter how violent, racist, outrageous, unhealthy, unintellectual their rants. Playing his own 'race card', Steele states that he has a razor thin margin for error. The irony is that by having heavily courted the racially tinged Tea Party, he helped narrow that margin. Did he really think that racism would be reserved for 'the other guy'? Has he looked around at those GOP meetings taking place in tropical climates and bondage clubs? Thanks to the Teapublicans:
- GOP lawmakers can NOW claim that they were only 'doing the will of the people' while also claiming 'plausible deniability' related to the racist/sexist/homophobic slurs uttered by its constituents. Bachmann denies what's been viewed on video many times over. Other GOPers excuse unsavory attacks on Democrats as the behavior of people who've been 'pushed too far'. It's a behavior that:
- Makes racists the victims and gets to the heart of the NEW GOP Southern Strategy: Hecklers didn't heckle, spitters didn't spit, Joe Wilson wasn't wrong for showing disrespect to an American President for the first time EVER in a joint session of Congress - the first African American President, which was all a coincidence, right? Does it matter that Wilson was WRONG in his accusation? Not to the GOP. The stage was set. There was The Birth of a (New) Nation, another Southern link; a "hero" to take on that "uppity" Obama... the list goes on.
The Teapulican Southern Strategists remind sympathizers that:
THEY (liberals, 'the blacks', minorities, the people you should fear) are trying to take away your right to celebrate your history. You are not wrong to want to celebrate the confederates - those who were fighting to continue to enslave millions of your fellow human beings. The problem is not us, it's the people we should fear who want us to feel shame for celebrating "our" history.. Teapublicans will spread this message beyond the traditional good-old-boy regions by trying to convince others that if the (liberals, 'the blacks', minorities, the people you should fear) are successful, "you" (non-Southerners) could be next.
THEY (liberals, 'the blacks', minorities, the people you should fear) are whining about being attacked, but look at what they did to US. The purpose of such a statement is to set up a sense of false equivalencies. Which groups of liberals showed up at the homes of Republican leaders' family members and cut gas lines causing potentially fatal leaks? Any equivalent behavior? The Republicans have said that there are comparable examples, they just haven't been able to share them. GOPers follow up those statements by claiming Dems are being 'girly' and 'whiny' by reporting these things. They happen to Republicans all the time and Republicans just don't report them - suggesting 'weakness' in Democratic leaders.
THEY (liberals, 'the blacks', minorities, the people you should fear) are not only trying to take away your right to free speech and but trying to take away your right to defend YOUR country. Chris Matthews has discussed the isolationist language used by the Teapublican crowd: "Our Country", "Defending our Sovereignty", "Meeting the Federal Government at the State Line"... They (Southern Strategist Teapublicans) are the heroes, they will save the 'American' way of life. Democrats, who know nothing of the real world because they're too busy holding hands and dreaming, will destroy us. Democrats are preoccupied with things that don't exist - like racism, and that keeps them distracted from the things that do exist and potentially harm us.
The New GOP Southern Strategy, folks.
Whereas, I believe that the Teapublicans and their GOP leadership have reverted back to the old Southern Strategy;
Whereas, I believe that the return to such a strategy is cowardly and divisive;
Whereas, I think that this nation belongs to ALL of its citizens;
Whereas, It is important for all Americans to reject the forces that try to divide us on Race, Sex, Orientation, Political Identification, Religion, and other states of humanity;
Whereas, I believe we as a nation are stronger than our weakest link;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Progressive and Proud, do hereby recognize EACH month from this point forward the KISS OFF SOUTHERN STRATEGIST MONTH, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.