Tuesday, December 28, 2004
DLC: We Gotta Placate the White-Flighters!
Over at Donkey Rising Ruy Teixeira explains again (here and here) why the DLC's much-touted Exurban Republican Voter Upsurge is largely mythical, and how, if anything, the exurbs nationwide are less Republican than they were under Reagan. The DLC, of course, is pushing the we-gotta-placate-the-exurbs line because they want to argue that we must ignore our base voters: Urban, multi-ethnic, socially AND fiscally liberal men and women. In the Greenberg report on Minnesota's exurbs, which are populated to a large extent by white-flighters from urban areas in and out of the state, we find this little passage:
... Moreover, residents outside of metro areas, in particular, perceive that increased immigration is draining resources from public schools and other services, and that immigrants appear to shun integration. All of this takes place in a partisan environment where politicians appear not to be addressing the state’s most important challenges – the rising cost of health care and the quality of public education. These concerns are strongest in exurban areas, where residents are trying to escape the perceived challenges of urban living – poor public schools, increasing racial and ethnic diversity, crime, and a high tax burden. Here, we find the greatest skepticism about government and the role of immigrants in society, and the greatest reluctance to make a public investment in helping the disadvantaged or in public services more broadly."Placating the exurbs" means placating racists who don't want their tax money going to help people whose skin tone is darker than theirs. Even if this really would get us votes, is this something we really want to do?
Comments:
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In Oregon Dems did well both in the urban areas and exurban areas. I think some local 527s (The Oregon Bus Project) played a big role in the success in the suburbs and exurbs.
The DLC can screw itself. They are narrow minded bastards who have been losing elections for us for too long now. Time to kick them out and look at the new progressive philosophies that are emerging in the West.
Sid, from New Frames
The DLC can screw itself. They are narrow minded bastards who have been losing elections for us for too long now. Time to kick them out and look at the new progressive philosophies that are emerging in the West.
Sid, from New Frames
# posted by 
: 12/28/2004 12:11:00 PM
: 12/28/2004 12:11:00 PM
NPR and PBS have actually done a pretty good job. The News Hour last night spent almost the entire hour on the tsunami.
The BBC has done a better job though. On their site they have an ongoing update, almost like a blog.
But, overall, you're right about the bias and racism. If this disaster would have been any place else broadcasters would have interrupted regular programming and done 24/7 coverage, like after 9/11.
Sid from New Frames (http://www.newframs.typepad.com)
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The BBC has done a better job though. On their site they have an ongoing update, almost like a blog.
But, overall, you're right about the bias and racism. If this disaster would have been any place else broadcasters would have interrupted regular programming and done 24/7 coverage, like after 9/11.
Sid from New Frames (http://www.newframs.typepad.com)
# posted by : 12/29/2004 12:46:00 PM
: 12/29/2004 12:46:00 PM << Home
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