A GOP Racial Primer

News item: Time magazine this week reported that The Prez is continuing the tradition of sending flowers on Memorial Day from the White House to the Confederate Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery. This, apparently, at the urging of an active GOP lobbyist in South Carolina with ties to the Sons of the Confederacy. Despite his criticism of Trent Lott's remarks in December, Dubya apparently doesn't see anything disingenious with speaking of racial healing out one side of his mouth while, out of the other side, he honors the folks who fought to break the country in two over the issue of "state's rights" -- a smokescreen for segregation. Well, as long as the honoring is politically favorable. There’s moral courage.

Perhaps it's time for someone to write a book as a primer on hidden meanings.

For more than 30 years, the GOP has had what is called the Southern Strategy. It was simple. Talk about an open society, creating an environment in which anyone can succeed if they work hard, yada, yada, yada. Or as Dubya says, the GOP has a big tent with enough room for one and all. But actions speak louder than words.

Most of the hesitancy to create MKL Day was among southern Congressmen. Ronald Reagan started his 1980s campaign in the Mississippi town in which civil rights workers were killed, and talked of States' Rights. Trent Lott fell because of the same thing. Georgia has a Republican governor -- the first time in more than 130 years -- due in large part to his pledge to bring back the Rebel flag over the state capitol. All along, the GOP talked one way, but winked at the Southern loyalists and pleaded ignorance on racially sensitive words and images.

"What? States' Rights can mean slavery? Why, I never would have thought . . .!"

"What? Some view the Stars and Bars as homage to the days of segregation, intimidation and slavery? I thought we were just honoring history and valor. Who would have thought!"

All the while, the winks and nudges fly and the GOP picks up the disenchanted white rural vote. So lets write a book -- a primer of what things mean. Perhaps the recent events will finally cast light on what is said and what they mean so politicians can no longer hide in the shadows. If you talk about States' Rights, there's no excuse for not understanding what that means. For the Stars and Bars? Buddy, you're talking about the history of repression.

No more buzz words and phrases without you, the public and the media knowing exactly what you mean. So it'll be interesting to see if Dubya makes another election-year pilgrimage to Bob Jones University or if another wreath ends up at the Arlington site next Memorial Day.

We'll see if the politicians have learned – and if the media is now tuned in enough to notice these actions and call the pols on them. But then, that sort of clarity and honesty has been driven out of politics. Another victim of the Southern Strategy.

© Copyright 2003 Keith Jameson. Last update: 1/27/2003; 7:23:50 PM.