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GOP's Rural White Guys: The Night They Drove New Dixie Down

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Republicans are busting with pride about the parade of rural white men who voted overwhelmingly for their candidates in last week's midterm elections. And not just on the national level. You have to go back to 1966 to find the same number of state legislature switches. You have to go back to 1928 to find this many state legislature seats filled with Republicans.

That fact alone could ripple for years to come, due to the potential for partisan gerrymandering (fun fact: so named for the salamander-shaped district designed by a Gov. Gerry in 1812 Massachusetts). Representative districts are redrawn once a decade, and the United States just did a new census.

Debbie Walsh of the American Center for Women and Politics at Rutgers University says the Republican tsunami of 2010 is a reflection of ideology, not gender. "More men are still likely to vote for Republican candidates, and women are less likely," said Ms. Walsh, who noted that ideology, not gender, is at play here. "In general, women tend to support Democrats because they see themselves as more economically vulnerable, and needing the social safety net."

Republican Sen.-elect Rand Paul of KentuckyEveryone knows Southern politics is all about race. Until now. Can gender trump race? asks Jim Galloway of the Atlanta Journal Constitution asks. Can women stop Democratic bleeding? Sounds like Galloway is asking, but really, he's telling: "You are about to witness the feminization of the Democratic Party." Race is too hot a topic, he says, but gender is Goldilocks.

I'm old enough to remember the days when a female physician would be introduced as a "lady doctor." At some point in my young life, I may have come across a "lady pilot" or a "lady lawyer." Those days of tokenism have gone with the wind. Women now outnumber men in both medical and law school. Some observers blame the decline of public school education on the fact that for a generation, talented women have been leaving the teaching profession in droves. Why? Because they could.

Last year, for the first time in U.S. history, more women than men earned doctorates. ("Future waitresses and bartenders," writes one cynic, but that's another post.)

It's the age of women, says Psychology Today. "The global economy is evolving in a way that is eroding the historical preference for male children, on a worldwide scale...The reason for the shift is that physical strength and stamina -- male abilities, once required for economic success -- are being eclipsed by thinking, knowledge and communicating." And that, it just so happens, is women's forté.

Women went from earning about 5 percent of family income in 1970 to about 40 percent today. Most start-ups are now female driven, and their businesses have lower failure rates than the men. Financial success alone could explain why, in 1970, just 14 percent of women aged 30 to 44 were unmarried, but now 60 percent are. No doubt there were cultural forces at work too.

"I've never met a man who was not a liability," my grandmother used to say. She was exaggerating, but in point of fact, female leadership, as expressed through collaboration and openness, is not new. Just newly appreciated in an increasingly interdependent world.

After the 2010 midterm elections, It may seem that women took a step backward. We now have fewer women in Congress than before the elections last week. Not to mention the fact that Republican men supported by the tea party movement -- Marco Rubio and Rand Paul -- won, while their female counterparts -- Christine O'Donnell and Sharron Angle -- did not.

Slate.com weighed in on The Real Reason Sharron Angle Lost. It's all about cognitive dissonance. Mama Grizzly candidates presented a "contradiction, laying claim to feminism while denouncing most feminist ideals. Sarah Palin, with her peculiar genius, created the term Mama Grizzly to rationalize this contradiction. The Mama Grizzly could be ambitious without being feminist, could be fierce without being threatening, because her feminist means are in service of anti-feminist ends."

And therein lies the problem. You can't play the sweet, deferential Christian grandmother while you sharpen your claws on programs benefiting women, children and the elderly. A classic paradox, but one that is familiar to women who grew up in the South. It's the steel magnolia effect. You get your power by manipulating powerful men, but don't ever tip your hand. Make the men do your bidding, all the while believing it's their own idea.

The brick wall that female candidates will hit again and again is society's discomfort with female sexuality. Sexually-active women can have all kinds of pejorative labels thrown at them, but men with similar pasts might be viewed as just another lucky guy. False or dubious rumors of adultery can sink a female candidate (although Nikki Haley did manage to squeak by) while confirmed infidelities and even paying for sex apparently don't stand in the way of a man getting elected. Case in point: David Vitter of Louisiana. (For the record, Eliot Spitzer was forced to resign as governor of New York in 2008 after his hook-up with a prostitute in a Washington hotel room.)

Politically speaking, it's been a wild year. I suspect the freak-show quality of the 2010 field of candidates is just evidence of growing pains. We'd all prefer a gradual, orderly transition, but that's not the way life works. Witness the havoc new technology has wreaked on established industries in the span of just a few years. I think the same wrenching change is taking place in politics.

I predict stronger women candidates in 2012, and I can't wait. Who better to break Washington gridlock than a mother? When I was little and complained to my mom about my best friend committing some playtime crime against humanity, my mom would respond: "If you two can't get along, it's time for Margaret to go home." I'd slink off, and Margaret and I would somehow work out our problems. Neither of us wanted her to go home.

Although the late great Ann Richards, onetime Texas governor and keynote speaker at the 1988 Democratic National Convention, is famous for her "silver foot in his mouth" quip about then-vice-president George H.W. Bush, I prefer her lesser-known quote: "Twelve years ago Barbara Jordan, another Texas woman, made the keynote address to this convention, and two women in 160 years is about par for the course. But if you give us a chance, we can perform. After all, Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels."

For better or worse, Republican or Democrat, qualified or unqualified, it's hard to stop a train. And she's a-comin.'

Follow Donna Trussell on Twitter.

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21 Comments

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Rob & Kathy

It's amusing how liberals, like the writer, are always saying, "race shouldn't be an issue", but, are always making race an issue...

November 15 2010 at 11:18 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
vanbren5

The Majority White South--now republican-- still will not not let go of the ignorance, hatred of Jim Crowe legacy. This will not stand. The urban centers will provide the oasis. Those with enlightenment will move to Atlanta, Charlotte, Birmingham, Raleigh, Memphis, Nashville. Rural waste lands will not survive without intellegent, creative, open minded, intellectual curiosity driven people who drive successful economies. More and more they will feel they are unwelcome in the rural south. In time, the Urban Centers like those listed above the dominante the darkness and oppressive attitudes that prevail in the rural areas. Much like Chicago dominates Illinois, NYC dominates New York, Seattle dominates Wasington state...

November 15 2010 at 10:17 AM Report abuse -4 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to vanbren5's comment
fireball12763

Your arrogance is astounding. To assume that everyone who is white, male and rural must by virtue of those facts be less intelligent, creative, open minded or intellectually curious is no different than assuming that all urbanites are morally bankrupt and predisposed to criminality. Why is it that those who preach so loudly about tolerance and diversity are the least likely to practice them?

November 22 2010 at 9:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Stephanie

Really it is very simple, our economy is trashed, our houses can not sell, and we have bailed out everyone but ourselves. This is a joke of an administration with every element from the 70's tangled up with in it. Throw in some racist minister and you have alphabet soup only no one can find a letter. As for this ranting, so call journalist, every roural white- sounds racist doesn't it-needs to open their eyes and see what is being said across the country. Or she maybe just having her guts twisted in her garter and is mearly passing the wind of all that crow she's had to eat this week. Regardless, as a woman, I gage who I am going to vote on by the character, their voting records and what they stand for ethically. I denounce a president who travels the world to tell them that we, America, is a second rate country. I denounce a health care mandate that has not been read by the very same people who voted on the bill. I denounce this woman's theory as to the female candidates who ran as they were attacked by the Democratic Party with such silliness as using whitch craft to undermine a person. Think back to your own school days and I am sure we would all find a skeleton or two that we would not like the media to get a hold of and spread it across the world. Throwing dirt is what lost this past election..so when 2012 comes around you may see Obama win but you will see the Senate become controlled by either Republicans or Tea Party Candidates because that is what was said on Election Day.

November 15 2010 at 4:04 AM Report abuse +4 rate up rate down Reply
cooterliveshere

As a white man born and raised in the south aka " Dixie " I am very honored and proud to be from a part of the country where principles and morals still count for something. What's with the liberals and many in the media circles who have some sort of perverse obsession with bashing the south and those who know it as home?? How far off the rocker has our country fallen when traditional values and constitutional limited government as prescribed by our Founding Fathers become something radical or extreme? Who's really the enemy of the people and our country these days? It sure ain't Dixie or the inhabitants of the south that's for sure! Why do more people from the south over any other part of America serve in the military? It's because they're brave and patriotic believing without fail in the foundations and traditions that have made the United States unrivaled as a country! Liberals only find blame and fault for those who do no share the same philosophy or beliefs as they and that is why the south is so hated and despised by them. The next time any of you hear some lefty trashing the south, ask him/her what did George Washington,Thomas Jefferson,James Madison,James Monroe,John Tyler,Zachary Taylor,George Mason,Patrick Henry or Richard Henry Lee ever do to you?? People forget how our country would've never been possible without the help of these great men of whom all are titans of Dixie. American by Birth and Southern by The Grace of God....

November 15 2010 at 1:23 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
bubba1zfg

The Dems lost the midterm elections based on the performance of our President, Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader. The color, religion, gender, etc., is a moot point. The voters based their decisions on performance and to minimize the change in party majority has nothing to do with color. The whining, complaining and excuses will only help to boost anyone but Obama and the Dems in 2012.

November 14 2010 at 10:14 PM Report abuse +7 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to bubba1zfg's comment
exitar01

No they lost because Americans always and forever seek balance within their government. Of course it has everything to do with color - if you're a white southern male which exactly what the article was about.

November 15 2010 at 12:45 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
nlknlk7442

I think this is a fairytale of wishes. Southern politics are no more racist that the midwest. I know quite a few men that think and have knowlege along with women and i know some women that can physically hold their own. Painting a regional group or even a sex with a broad brush is a fools folly. As women become more intwined with the work world their views have and will shift. The view of a women dominated world overlooks the majority of the world. Think China, middle east or India on this. One election does not a trend make.

November 14 2010 at 6:59 PM Report abuse +12 rate up rate down Reply
kilcannon2010

I have always wondered why in this color blind, gender blind society, that when a white male votes for another white male it is not assumed that he did so because he agreed with his politics, but instead it is attributed to some racist or sexist reasoning. Why are racist and sexist remarks pemissable against white males but not against any other group. If this article had been this derogatory about hispanics or blacks, or condensending against women would it have even been published>

November 14 2010 at 5:27 PM Report abuse +16 rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to kilcannon2010's comment
Sieben

Because it happens to be the TRUTH.If it wasn't so do your really believe that our President would get the disrespect that he does????????? He is rescuing our country from the disastrous 8 year rule of the repuglican party yet gets no credit for his accomplishments

November 14 2010 at 10:13 PM Report abuse -6 rate up rate down Reply
exitar01

It also happens to be that white men vote for white men especially if that white man is a republican. In case you're wondering this country is not color blid yet. Or didn't you see the election ads featuring every feirce looking middle eastern man the republicans could find to scare their voters.

November 15 2010 at 12:47 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
Steve

Get over yourself, take your pathetic, poorly-stated, sexist male nonsense with you, and don't let the door hit you on the way out. It's rather amusing, although a bit annoying, to watch the most pampered and privileged creatures on the planet--white, North American women--whine about how they are not still more pampered and privileged.

November 14 2010 at 4:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
stevenmkingusaf

How bizarre to see morality trotted out to the center ring of Ms Trussell's anti-Conservative circus. The margin of Nicky Haley's primary victory (the only election even remotely affected by the bogus adultery claim) was anything but narrow, and David Vitter? Really? Does she seriously want to go there with the rogues gallery of Democrat cads, felons and tax cheats past and present she'd have to wade through along the way? About the only thing this article communicated was the considerable extent to which delusion runs through the corps of Liberal journalists.

November 14 2010 at 4:49 PM Report abuse +4 rate up rate down Reply
RIPSTER

Jadeona1 I couldnt disagree with you more. Women will vote Democratic for two reasons. The main one is the abortion issues. Republicans claim they don't want Government interfereing but we know that is not true. They want to tell women, grown women what to do with their bodies and their lifes. They claim government is the problems and yes, it is, in their hands. The second reason is obvious, look at the women Republicans have representing them. Palin, Bachmann, O'Donnell, Malkin, Coulter. All good looking but without two brains cells to rub together between them. What modern women wants to be afflicated with a bunch of Barbie Bimbos?? Women stopped tuning into the Miss America Pagent because it was insulting to their minds and the Republicans will go the same way. Look at the anchors on Fox news, All blonde, with this crazed look in their eyes. From Gretchen Carlson to Meagyn Fox. I looked up a site and there are about 48 women working at Fox now in the forfront. 10 of them are brunette with 2 being Black and 2 being of Latin decent. They poll that ask do you know your Fox New Girls (yep, girls( starts with two important questions. WHICH FOX GIRL (YEP, IT SAYS GIRL) WAS A FORMER MISS AMERICA, and the second one is WHICH FOX NEWS GIRL (THAT WORD AGAIN) WAS A FORMER CHEERLEADER.!! Never mind who ran campaigns, ran companies, graduted from which Universities or who worked in high level positions, its BABEOLICIOUS AND BIMBOS CITY AT FOX.

November 14 2010 at 4:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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