Jackson Free Press

Linked to the top of the conservative Magnolia Report right now is a press release the Mississippi GOP put out April 15 to explain "why John Kerry is wrong for Mississippi." Beyond focusing on emotional wedge issues (that "reflect the values and ideals of folks down here") that don't actually affect most Mississippians' everyday lives ("partial-birth" abortion, death penalty for drug-related murders) rather than issues that do (jobs, public education), the GOP twisted John Kerry right out of context to apparently prove that he's some Yankee who doesn't give a damn about southerners.

The state GOP writes: "Mississippians won't be fooled by a Northeastern Senator who has not only written off the South, but has even said that Democrats 'make the mistake of looking South.'"

The obvious question is: What did Kerry REALLY say?

Here's an excerpt from a CNN "Crossfire" transcript about the comment, which is not quoted in its entirety (we journalists get slapped for that kind of selective word-twisting):

TUCKER CARLSON: Here's what John Kerry said about your state. Feel the contempt.

He said this at Dartmouth January 26: "Everyone always makes the mistake of looking south toward Florida. Al Gore proved he could have been president of the United States without winning one Southern state, including his own." In other words, John Kerry to Florida: Drop dead.

REP. BOB WEXLER (D-Florida): No. No.

CARLSON: How can he win saying things like this about your state?

WEXLER: First of all, when people talk about the traditional South, they're not talking about Florida.

CARLSON: You're above the traditional South? It was part of the Confederacy. What are you talking about?

WEXLER: Look, Florida, is -- as Ileana and I both know, is a conglomeration of the whole country. Florida is a swing state. What John Kerry is saying is also fact. Al Gore could have won, of course, without winning any state in the traditional South. Had Al Gore won West Virginia and New Hampshire, that would have been the case.

CARLSON: No, he said, "People make the mistake of looking South." He's showing contempt. And, by the way, Florida is part of the South. I'm sorry if it embarrasses you, but it's true.

(CROSSTALK)

WEXLER: I was with John Kerry yesterday in Florida, in the South. He has nothing but passion and love for what's happening in Florida.
------

OK, a few random comments:

1. The state GOP needs to stop insulting Mississippians by telling us what "our" values are. We are not a monolith -- and we're much smarter than the idiots they're playing us all for.

2. The state GOP is blinking a lot lately. That is, they seem very worried about whether Haley Barbour is going to actually deliver "his" state for George Bush this fall. From what I'm hearing on the streets (even in Northeast Jackson and the 'burbs), they should be concerned. Mississippi could prove itself a swing state, yet.

3. Tucker Carlson is a whiny weinie. (Sorry, I know I'm not supposed to name-call on the blog, but puh-leaze).

4. Northern conservative weinie pundits need to stop trying to play the race card on us Southerners.

5. The writer of the GOP press release would likely have trouble meeting the reading comprehension and explanations standards set by "No Child Left Behind" testing. Try a little harder, guys.

6. Finally, the Magnolia Report needs to start linking to some chick columnists and more writers of color before people start thinking it's simply a front for the ideas of conservative white male Mississippians. They wouldn't want people to get the wrong idea.

Previous Comments

ID

137567

Comment

From The Clarion-Ledger in March: "With Mississippi's primary over, Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry's campaign is mobilizing in the state. The senator does not necessarily need the South to win, however. Nor is it likely he will see any of Mississippi's six electoral votes from a state that has not voted for a Democratic president since Jimmy Carter in 1976. But Democrats here say Kerry's campaign, if nothing else, will be an opportunity to strengthen their party in the state and promote their philosophies in the months leading to Election Day on Nov. 2. ... Despite Bush's popularity in this state, Republicans are not making any assumptions. "As far as the Kerry campaign goes, I don't think any of us should take for granted how the people in a state would vote several months before the election," said Mississippi Republican Party Chairman Jim Herring, who will be promoting Bush's response to terrorism and his handling of the economy. "We intend to mount a full-scale campaign." http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0403/15/ma04.html

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-04-17T13:33:02-06:00

ID

137568

Comment

So, Herring basically admits what we all know... Missississippi is quickly changing towards a safer more diverse middle-ground. We're no longer rich and poor whites casting the votes. We know our history, our current population/citizenship and ideals. We know there's a chance that the middle-to-left rainbow of ethnicities might eventually stand against Bush when it comes time to cast votes. Herring confirms that possibility. "Finally, the Magnolia Report needs to start linking to some chick columnists and more writers of color before people start thinking it's simply a front for the ideas of conservative white male Mississippians. They wouldn't want people to get the wrong idea." -Ladd What? The Magnolia Report isn't a front for ideas of conservative, white, male Mississippians? Wow! I had no clue. That's what I assumed from viewing it on a daily basis. I think people have already assumed the wrong (right?) idea.

Author

kaust

Date

2004-04-18T13:42:20-06:00

ID

137569

Comment

2. The state GOP is blinking a lot lately. That is, they seem very worried about whether Haley Barbour is going to actually deliver "his" state for George Bush this fall. From what I'm hearing on the streets (even in Northeast Jackson and the 'burbs), they should be concerned. Mississippi could prove itself a swing state, yet. Really??? I will have to disagree -- if there's one thing in this region that remains constant, it's that people will judge a candidate by the values they promote. Dubya does that perfectly for practically every value that Mississippi Republicans (i.e., 85% or so of the white voters) believe in. He may see a little slippage in November, but I will not go lower than 75%, even with Americans dying, bin Laden still not captured, etc.) Oh, speaking of the Mideast situation, don't forget ISRAEL -- the Religious Right is all for Israel (Jews are God's Chosen People, The Book of Revelation, the UN possibly being the center of one-world government and all the apocalyptic imagery that entails, etc.). While we're on the matter of foreign affairs, I can easily picture a lot of Southern whites admiring Bush for standing up to the "cheese eating surrender monkeys". Heck even decades ago, conservatives complained about virtually every aspect of general European politics ("decadent atheism", "bloated social welfare", high taxes, lots of government intervention....and did I forget to mention Amsterdam's world famous lifestyle offerings????). I could go on, but I think you see my point: Values will probably remain paramount, just as last time. I'll say Bush will take Mississippi by no less than 55-45 I could go on, but you get the p

Author

Philip

Date

2004-04-18T14:30:06-06:00

ID

137570

Comment

I didn't say I'd put my money on the state swinging in November, Phillip. ;-) But the truth is, on the ground here, Republicans seem very concerned about the fall election. We're hearing this all over the place. Of course, your reasoning is conventional, and may well prove to be accurate, but it sure doesn't hurt for Republicans to start worrying a bit in this state, and for non-Republicans to start believing that their ideas, and votes, could make a difference. And that seems to be happening on some scale. Will it play out by November? Again, I'm not betting on it, but stranger things have, indeed, happened. Personally, I've always believed that anything is possible.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-04-18T15:19:31-06:00

ID

137571

Comment

cheese eating surrender monkeys - Philip, you win the prize for the best phrase of the day.

Author

kate

Date

2004-04-19T09:10:36-06:00

ID

137572

Comment

Philip's won that prize a few times. ;-) And Philip, I apologize that I keep mispelling your name. The only other point I would add is that Mississippians, like the rest of the country, are being hit hard economically by Bush policies. I've talked to a number of folks who voted for Bush the first time who are incredibly angry about (1) his economic policies/deficits and (2) all those soldiers dying in Iraq with no real end in site. And people are getting real ticked off about public education (at Barbour, too). I think the jury is still out on whether Bush is going to be able to gloss over those very real issues that are affecting all of us every day, even with their inciteful culture war rhetoric. The fact is, it's hard to obsess over two gay people deciding to devote themselves to each other when all these bread-and-butter problems are looming, and the government is chipping away at civil liberties at home even as it's spreading itself too thin in Iraq. People of all ideologies care about these very American issues. Sure, there are plenty of folks who think legislating morality (and perhaps protecting Big Industry) is the only role for the federal government, but I wouldn't bank just yet on them having the majority in November. Even in Mississippi.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2004-04-19T11:04:34-06:00

ID

137573

Comment

Heh, you gotta love The Simpsons...

Author

Ex

Date

2004-04-19T16:27:28-06:00

ID

137574

Comment

I remember being bewildered by the blazing gun approach that the RNC took when getting Barbour into office. What was it, three or four visits from heavy-hitters like Cheney and Giuliani? To beat lil' ol' Ronnie? And after all that, Barbour only wins with 53%... I definitely think they're scared, and it's going to be interesting and probably shocking when they really start distorting the issues in order to keep W. in office. I've heard rumors that Kerry will be back to Mississippi (Jackson and Tupelo probably) and that Dean (potential HHS secretary!) is going to be stumping around the South drumming up support for Kerry. I think it's too early to write Mississippi off as a red state.

Author

Jay

Date

2004-04-20T10:29:32-06:00

ID

137575

Comment

I think there's much more chance for Mississippi to swing than most people would think. The level of outrage I hear expressed toward this president from people who could have been counted solidly in the republican column just three and a half short years ago is astounding. I have daydreams of Bush fighting for his political life in Mississippi by late summer. While by no means a given, it is definitely within the realm of possibility. I haven't seen any polling data out of the state yet, though. And, as always, it all comes down to voter mobilization.

Author

mitch

Date

2004-04-20T12:11:36-06:00