Comments: GOP backlash in Louisiana
I take your point, overall. But I think it is strange for you to emphacize "that Barnes offers NO proof that Blanco used racist appeals," given that Barnes expressly said: "Blanco, who'd served as lieutenant governor before being elector governor did not make any racial appeals in the campaign."
Posted by Mike at April 22, 2004 02:14 PM
Well I guess both Barnes and I are right, then. The whole point is that you really can't blame Democrats for the lack of success of a black Republican in the South, and this is what Barnes is trying to do.
It's guilt by association but the reason these voters won't associate with a black candidate (even if he's a Republican) is mostly the fault of David Duke and more subtle Republicans in the past 30 years.
Posted by Chris at April 22, 2004 05:41 PM
Do you think that the apparent racism displayed is largely the effect of two generations of Republican race-baiting? Or do you think that the "ain't gonna vote for a black" voters are racist for other, extra-electoral-politics reasons? It seems to me that you're right, as far as it goes. But I think that at the very least there's a mutually reinforcing cycle of racism on the part of the electorate and appeals-to-racism by politicians. And that almost seems to assume that politicians are somehow not also part of their communities. I know that your recent experience tends to lead to the conclusion that politicians are untainted by ideas--that they are cynical being is search of power, but I think a lot of the southern politicians who make racist appeals are at least somewhat sympathetic to that position.
I think that there are ultimately economic issues braided with the racial issues; the urban/rural (black/white, for the most part) divide that you bring up is a perfect example.
Posted by neil at April 22, 2004 09:07 PM
When speaking of Louisiana politics, all conventional wisdom fails. I think both you and Barnes have missed it. Blanco didn’t beat Jindal because of his race (forget for a moment that he’s Indian-American, not African-American, and that’s a huge difference in a place where very fine racial distinctions are drawn), she beat him because of his class. Jindal comes across as a well educated, well-heeled, well-spoken East Coast type—the wunderkind who’s wound a little too tight. He just doesn’t seem like one of us, and that’s nothing to do with skin color. In fact, many Southern Louisiana folk are Creole, a mix of French, American-Indian and African-American ethnicity. It’s no big deal to be dark down here. Trust me on this. For Blanco’s part, she walks, talks and quacks like a coon-ass from Mamou. Her maiden name is Babineaux for crap sake. In my home state, an X on the end of your name is good for, at least, another 10% of the vote.
Posted by Melanie at April 23, 2004 03:19 AM
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)