Time For A New Democratic Party Southern Strategy

Cody Lyon

And, despite
dramatic social change over the past few decades and a greater
integration into the economic national fold, there are still reasons
for southern insecurity that are evidenced through inexcusable and
dramatic social ills that should bother the conscience of every
American who calls themselves progressive, and there is no place those
ills are more evident than Mississippi.

Still,
during national elections, the more progressive party, the Democrats,
basically write off the South as un-winnable during national elections
which in turn, further fuels a sense that parts of this nation have
been truly left behind.

It’s
as if Democrats gave up on the South after the successful Southern
strategy by Republican candidates who first latched onto racism and
later pedaled hot button right wing social topics that played well in
the Bible Belt, while the truly immoral injustices of economic, health
and educational equity continued to fester in many parts of the region.

In
truth, it’s almost sad to watch horse race pundit powered Mississippi
Democratic political primary coverage as Barack Obama and Hillary
Clinton come calling for votes knowing full well that if the past is
any indication, once November roles around, Barack and or Hillary
probably won’t spend much time in Mississippi, Alabama or Georgia.