Democrat Party Race History

I keep on running into liberal Democrats who think that Republicans are racists and that the racial appeal is the reason for the Republican election success in the South. In the December 15, 2004 Los Angeles Times article “GOP Has Lock on South, and Democrats Can't Find Key”, Ronald Brownstein writes the Republican “party expanded its appeal by courting Southern whites with conservative messages on such nonracial issues as taxes, national defense and moral values.”

Nonetheless, a liberal I chatted with was unconvinced apparently not knowing that it is the Democrat party that has the long record of racism in this country. A little knowledge of history might be helpful.

Republican Dwight Eisenhower proposed the 1957 Civil Rights Act to ensure that all African Americans could exercise their right to vote. It was passed due to the leadership in the Senate provided by conservative Republican leader William Knowland of California and Democratic leader Lyndon Johnson overcoming opposition by Southern segregationist Democrats. It is noteworthy that having presidential aspirations, and concerned about support from the solid South, Senator John F. Kennedy voted against the 1957 Civil Rights Act.

Thanks to the leadership of President Johnson and Republican Senate Minority Leader Everett Dirksen, Congress overwhelmingly passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibited discrimination in public facilities, in government, and in employment. To accomplish this, they had to overcome a filibuster by Southern Democrat Senators.

Twenty-seven Senators voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964, twenty-one Democrats and six Republicans. Senator Barry Goldwater voted no stating that “you can't legislate morality”, a position based on principle. While one would not accuse Barry Goldwater of being racist, the twenty-one No votes by Democrats were cast by those who supported Jim Crow laws and segregation including Al Gore’s father.

These Democrat Senators had significant seniority and maintained their positions of power for many years. Only one changed parties; Strom Thurman becoming a Republican in 1964.

Democrats have had difficulty getting elected without resorting to racism. This includes Jimmy Carter. From http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/James%20Earl%20Carter,%20Jr.
“In his 1970 campaign [Jimmy] Carter was elected governor on a pro-George Wallace platform. Carter's campaign aides handed out thousands of photographs of his opponent, the liberal former Gov. Carl Sanders, showing Sanders associating with black basketball players. On the stump, Carter pledged to reappoint an avowed segregationist to the state Board of Regents. He promised as his first act to invite former Alabama Gov. George Wallace into the state to speak. Old-line segregationists across the state endorsed Carter for governor.”

Brownstein writes that “Republicans now hold 22 of the 26 Senate seats in the 13 [Southern] states.” I think history makes quite clear that without the racist appeal, the Democrat party had and has little to offer Southern voters.

See Prior Posts
Blue States to Secede from the Union
Democrat Leaders Plan To Get Tough With Iran and North Korea
Black Vote Suppression Guilty or Not?
In England President Carter Criticizes US Foreign Policy
Hillary Clinton Not Likable Enough to Be President?
Democrats Chances to Take Back Congress
Democratic Party – Supported Expansion of Slavery