Do not make the mistake of thinking that because my conclusion is the same as another person's that my reasoning is the same
I have been asked my opinion of Howard Dean's 'guys with Confederate Flags in pickup trucks' comment. I haven't blogged about it, but I do have several not necessarily connected opinions.
I don't think it goes over too well with those guys because it sounded a bit pejorative to me.
I don't think it goes over well in the Black communities because it sounds like support for declared enemies.
I think it clearly and precisely identified a specific population that Democrats need to address. I think "disaffected Southerners" identifies them almost as well and is far less open to reproach.
What I personally think of Dean going forward will be greatly influenced by how he sets about attracting this demographic. I think they recognize themselves as a demographic and so SHOULD be specifically addressed. But if he excuses racism in any way, even implied, he goes into the same bucket with Nixon. There's a great number of issues of concern to disaffected Southerners that can be addressed constructively, that will benefit people across the board.
Black folks must always promote their agenda such that all people are included in the pool of beneficiaries. A similar approach should be taken with all appeals to disaffected Southerners.
Posted by P6 at November 5, 2003 08:48 PM | Trackback URL: http://www.prometheus6.org/mt/mt-tb.cgi/2199I think he is just taking your advice: "please include white people when you run down the list of ethnicities you want to help out." He's turning to the disaffected whites and saying, "They're not doing a thing for you. I will."
On the other hand, if he does ever appear to be condoning racism, then he's done.
If he's specifically taking my advice, then whoever passed it along (it could have been me, since I posted it on Kicking Ass too) should pass along this, too.
You see I'm not panicking. And truthfully, Black folks are kind of used to stupid slips by politicians.
I refuse to believe the ONLY issues of importance to disaffected Southerners is whether or not Nigras is allowed to be uppity. If he strongly articulates support for issues of positive importance to the folks in front of him he will survive this.
Like you said before, maybe all it will take is someone telling them that they care to change their minds. In my experience, ignorance is created by propaganda (e.g., good jobs everywhere are going to unqualified minorities!) that they just haven't ever heard challenged. Maybe Dean can say to them: "Look, I am on your side, too. And we can all work together for a common good."
Much of the commentary I've seen on this agrees that Dean had the right idea about appealing to this demographic; however, his appeal was poorly worded and there would be a better way to say the same thing that doesn't run the risk of offending people. I have not seen very many people who think that Dean or Democrats shouldn't appeal to this demographic; the issue is with the words he chose. This is how I feel about it myself.
his appeal was poorly worded and there would be a better way to say the same thing that doesn't run the risk of offending people. . . . the issue is with the words he chose.
Man oh man.
What's the problem Phelps? We're trying to watch out for the feelings of white folks here. Should we not?