Question about George Wallace

[bluestateguy]

Did Wallace ever actually switch to the Republican Party near the end of his life? I know that he served as a Democratic governor of Alabama until 1986, and that his son ran as a Democrat for Congress in 1992 and was state Treasurer until the early 90's. I also know that Wallace Sr. appeared at an Alabama campaign rally for Bob Dole in October of 1996 (remember how pathetic that was? Dole had to campaign to win Alabama!). But I still don't know if Wallace ever formally changed his allegience to the Republican Party before he died. Maybe some of you Alabamians would know?

[stuckinlucky]

1. My recollection is that Wallace was a Dem. until the day he died.

n/m

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. He Endorsed Dole

He Died A Republican IMHO

[thermodynamic]

12. Still sounds like an infiltrator

A Dem who acts repuke on numbers of issues. We've got a few others today like Miller, Berman, and Biden (nearly spelled out "Bidet", heh...).

I'll give Norm Coleman some credit, he came out in front of the world when he switched parties - though anybody with enough money or influence can easily win Unkie Norm back from the pukes. Of course, Norm is a worthless piece of slug shit so who'd really want him?

[stuckinlucky]

3. Just called my source in AL.

My father served two terms as a Dem. in the AL legislature: One under Fob James, one under G. Wallace. George Wallace, Sr. never offically changed his party affiliation and stayed a Democrat "until the bitter end." The Junior Wallace did switch to the Republican party shortly after his father's death, and currently holds one of the three elected positions on the Alabama Public Service Commission (the governing body that regulates utilities in the state).

[bluestateguy]

5. Have you read "Politics of Rage" by Dan Carter?

I have about 20 pages left. It's a political biography of Wallace and the kind of politics he summoned in the 1960's and 70's. Fine book.

[stuckinlucky]

7. Haven't had a chance.

Maybe I'll pick it up.

[bluestateguy]

8. link

Have a look:

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?userid=2TTPBZZNIP&isbn=0807125970&itm=6

[mitchum]

11. I also recommend "Politics of Rage"

very good book
Carter is also consultant on "Settin' The Woods on Fire", an excellent 3-hour Wallace documentary.

[trof]

4. My feelings have changed,

but not my opinion of him.
How's THAT for convoluted?
Just finished "Carry Me Home" and learned that he was a liberal populist early in his career. It wasn't until he lost his first governor's race because his opponent quote<out-niggered>unquote him that he changed to a white supremecist for political purposes.

Now I wonder what would have happened to my state if he had won that first election with his principles still somewhat intact.

I think he was a lifelong Democrat, at least when he was on the ballot in Alabama. He ran for president in the American Independent Party.
Google has a lot of info.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. I'll

bet the lion's share of Wallace voters and their progeny are now in the Republican party.

I once read that there was an intersting cross over between Kennedy and Wallace voters in 1968. I think many working class whites saw in Bobby Kennedy a scrappines, an empathy, a toughness, not seen in any liberal since.

Bobby Kennedy was sui genersis. A tough minded liberal his critics couldn't "feminize".

[bluestateguy]

9. Wallace voters

All the political science shows that northern Wallace voters would have voted for Nixon over Humphrey by a little more than a 50%-50% margin. In south, Wallace voters were about 80% for Nixon and 20% for Humphrey. Wallace clearly hurt Nixon more than the Democrats, and had Wallace not been shot in 1972 and gone on to run on the AIP ticket again he might have won a few southern states and swing one or two more states to McGovern.

[TheBigGuy]

10. My dad was one of those crossovers.

He voted for JFK, and was going to vote for RFK (not sure if he had that chance as I don't recall if RFK ever ran in the Illinois primary).

He ended up voting for Wallace in the general election,

But he never really left the Demcoratic fold. either.

[redwitch]

13. I remember a screaming fight between my Dad

and my grandparents over wallace- my Dad told them that if Wallace was elected it would be like the third reich all over again and if he was elected the family was moving to Canada- He was totally serious. I remember the fight very well-it was at my birthday party. It scared me- the nazi thing and that my family were at odds with each other.