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Southern Rednecks Killing GOP: Parker

Is it any surprise that birthers are common down there?

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 5, 2009 7:48 AM CDT

(Newser) – Asked recently what was wrong with his party, Ohio Sen. George Voinovich didn’t hold back. “It’s the Southerners,” he said. “They get on TV and go ‘errrr, errrr.’ People hear them and say, ‘These people are Southerners.’” No one’s sure what “errrr, errrr” means, but his overall meaning’s clear: “Those ignorant, right-wing, Bible-thumping rednecks are ruining the party,” translates Kathleen Parker in the Washington Post, adding, “Alas, Voinovich was not entirely wrong.”

Of course, not all Southern Republicans are wing nuts, and not all ignorant racists are Republicans. But increasingly the GOP is “associated with the South’s worst ideas.” It’s down there, for example, that “birthers” are spreading like kudzu. A recent poll showed that only 47% of Southerners believe Obama was born in America—compared to 87% to 93% in every other region. “Southern Republicans, it seems, have seceded from sanity.”

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (2)]

Sen. George Voinovich, R-Ohio, listens during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Feb. 5, 2009. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., center, accompanied by, from left, Tom Coburn, R-Okla., Jon Ensign, R-Nev., David Vitter, R-La., and Jim DeMint, R-SC, speaks to reporters, Dec. 10, 2008. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)

Senate Judiciary Committee member Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. speaks on Capitol Hill, July 13, 2009, during the committee's confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

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Sarah Palin may not have realized what she was doing, but Southerners weaned on Harper Lee heard the dog whistle.
- Kathleen Parker

We got too many Jim DeMints and Tom Coburns. It's the Southerners. They get on TV and go 'errrr, errrrr.' People hear them and say, 'These people, they're Southerners. The party's being taken over.' - George Voinovich

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 42 comments

schmidtkoff

Aug 6, 2009 3:13 AM CDT

addendum: of all you commentators, who among you are white, how many of you have a true black friend? a friend you you have dinner with, talk with frequently and sometimes fall asleep on their couch when you have maybe had too much to drink to drive? that's the benchmark. angry black persons have a valid argument to be angry - especially in SC. - yas masstah, no sur. it is still happening here and it turns my stomach.

Spudsy

Aug 6, 2009 2:27 AM CDT

Come on Godawgs. Today Rush put forth a scenario that had Clinton hitting on the two girls released from Korea because he had done it in the past. So using that logic, Rush was stoned on Oxy when he made that statement about failing. Right? Now you wouldn't be supporting the viewpoint of a degenerate drug addict would you?

Spudsy

Aug 6, 2009 2:24 AM CDT

Impeach Bush stickers existed because he had already failed. I don't recall any liberal or centrists saying that they hoped Bush failed on 9/12/01. Only crazed religious righters would hope for their country to fail.

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George Voinovich • right wingers • Southerners • South • Kathleen Parker • Republicans • birther

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Southern Rednecks Killing GOP: Parker