What is the Southern Strategy? Wiki has an excellent introduction to the Southern Strategy. "In
American politics, the Southern strategy refers to a
Republican Party (GOP) method of winning
Southern states in the years after the passage of the
Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the
Civil Rights Act of 1964 by exploiting opposition to the
cultural upheaval of the 1960s/70s and in reaction to the changing economics of the South."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_strategy
In Alabama we see the Southern Strategy in the Governors race. Robert Bentley in his political platform has highlighted "State Rights." Bentley says, "I believe the Tenth Amendment establishes limits on the federal government, which have not been enforced." Dr. Bentley has not replied to questions I have submitted to him regarding his statement and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Bentley's political platform concerning State Rights:
http://www.robertbentley2010.com/index.php?page=protecting-our-constitutional-rights (The link listed was the link of Robert Bentley's political platform. It has been removed and replaced with "RB 2010 - Random Banter" How convenient considering the legal actions being taken against Alabama due to Bentley's racist policies based on state rights.)
Locally we see the Southern Strategy being implemented via surreptitious efforts of the Alabama Republican Party sending its representatives to Jackson County to organize groups of rural whites. This is evident in the formation of the Jackson County Patriots. Republican, Council of Conservative Citizen, CCC, (
http://alcofcc.wordpress.com/who-we-are/ This Word Press Blog was cancelled, they accomplished their mission and did not want to be exposed as racists.), organizers from St. Clair and Jefferson County's were present in the initial organizing phase of the Patriots. The 2 speakers standing before the group, which Senator Barron challenged, are Republican, CCC, organizers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yK1Plin6WC0 On local discussion al.com/forums, you witness the same action when the conservative extremists are challenged. They lie, attack and make threats. This is the face of the far right "New Republican Party."
The Republican Party attempts to infuriate hidden racial prejudice in the hearts and minds of white people in our nation. The Republican Party propagandists prey on white guilt and racial prejudice like a hawk hunting a mouse. We witness this bigoted ideology from Republican ultra-conservative propaganda artists such as Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh just to name a few. Republican Tea Party signs
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/04/16/10-most-offensive-tea-par_n_187554.html
The Republican Party's Southern Strategy is reflective of the Republican Party, some cases the racism is very visible, other cases the racism is covert. Which ever the case the Republican Party is travelling down a regressive, ultra-conservative road not in keeping with our Republic's Constitution. For some reason, the Party of Lincoln has decided they will do better if they appeal to hidden racial prejudices of whites. A political ideology that stands to damage our nation and the Republican Party for many years in the future. The Southern Strategy is an example of the greatest American war of all times, "The Culture War," there are no winners in this war.