Reply #60: About 1970

[Blue Wally]

Because of the overwhelming idnetification of voters with the Democratic Party as opposed to the Republican Party or independents, the Republicans began to try and separate the Democratic voters from their party (and not just in the south). Remember that voters tend to decide based on an everchanging mix of security, economic, and social concerns. The Republican strategy was to identify certain Democrats as "liberal" and out of touch with the rank-and-file Democrats such that the blue collar worker was justified in voting against the Democratic candidate. Here are the themes:

1. Security:

a. Foreign Affairs/Defense: World government by the UN, soft on Communism (a bit passe' now), hate America, make America weak, weaken our defenses.

b. Internal Security: Fear of crime (has a racial component), fear of terror.

2. Economic: Tax and spend (income taxes have resonated since 1970s inflation), welfare queens, take away your hard-earned money, inflation/stagflation.

3. Social;

a. Fear of change: Radical feminism, gay rights, affirmative action.

b. Schools deteriorating.

c. Anti-religious.


Even fair-minded folks who are not overtly racist, sexist, or homophobe are still "uneasy" and are targets for a skillful use of these themes. Too many on the left reinforce the Republican message by their rants which "prove" the GOP message to Joe and Sally Sixpack.