Comments for La. Dems: From super majority to minority at http://www.theind.com , comment 1 to 11 out of 11 comments http://www.theind.com Thu, 23 May 2013 02:47:26 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/8843-la-dems-from-super-majority-to-minority#comment-21010 Farrow -- "the Democrats were the party of southern conservatism. This began to change in the mid- to late-1960s, and on into the '80s under Reagan" If the shift from Democratic Party to Republican Party began in the mid to late 1960's, then--once again--how is it that 90% of LA's registered voters were still Democrats in 1978? 10-15 years later. "Nonetheless Bro, you need to study your history" If you have a point to make, then make it. "it just be" is not hard-hitting analysis....Bro. Tell you what, Bro. Let's look at some history. After the Civil War and during Reconstruction, the Republican Party favored political rights for Blacks, and the Democratic Party opposed it. That began the dominance of the Dem's in the South. Since Blacks couldn't vote, that makes sense. Then with the Voting Rights act of 65, which was opposed by the Southern Democrats, Blacks could vote. In the 70's, Blacks could vote. So my question is this--why register Democrat if you're a Black man in the South? If you're a black man in 1970, you've watched one-party political rule by white Democrats your whole life, you've watched Senate Democrates filibuster the 1964 Civil Rights Act until a Republican Senator got the votes together to break it, you've watched Southern Democratic governors defy a Republican president's order to integrate schools....and you register Democrat in the 1970's? Why? Is it that there just weren't any blacks registered to vote in Louisiana in 1978? That can't be, either. If a third of the state is black and their interests are opposed to those of the "white oppressor", why would they register to vote in their party? - ragin_cajun Thu, 18 Aug 2011 09:11:30 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/8843-la-dems-from-super-majority-to-minority#comment-20962 It's better to be an other, none for race and party. Other, none is the term for Independent, as using the word Independent for party affiliation is prohibited under Louisiana statutes. Actually, creating a party termed "Independent" is forbidden, you can call yourself whatever fits, but on the voter registration, they won't accept Independent. - PhilNdeBlanc Wed, 17 Aug 2011 12:09:31 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/8843-la-dems-from-super-majority-to-minority#comment-20950 "90 percent of registered voters had a “D” after their names in 1978" Yes, D as in Southern Democrat which meant Republican, or least what Republicans stand for today. - James Smith Wed, 17 Aug 2011 06:16:36 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/8843-la-dems-from-super-majority-to-minority#comment-20916 All the whining about the evil Republicans purging the voter rolls, targeting Democrats. FACT: The vast majority of Katrina evacuees who still have not returned after almost 6 years are Democrats. Therefore, it makes perfectly good sense that when you finally remove from the rolls people who have not lived in Louisiana since 2005, most of those removed will be Democrats. - RCajunrunner Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:48:55 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/8843-la-dems-from-super-majority-to-minority#comment-20905 It took over a 100 years but we are back. - Abraham Lincoln Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:31:08 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/8843-la-dems-from-super-majority-to-minority#comment-20882 It's undoubtedly true that some of the reversal has to do with Democratic support of civil rights in the 60's and 70's, but I think that the Democratic party in this state is also paying the long term price for its unabashed support of Edwin Edwards long after he was widely known to be crooked. They enjoyed the benefits of his political machine so much that they ignored the writing on the wall when people in the state began to feel a sense of outrage at what he was doing and humiliation at the reputation he and his cronies created for Louisiana in the eyes of other states. He is the reason I never registered as a Democrat even though I would never register as a Republican. - b f Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:21:07 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/8843-la-dems-from-super-majority-to-minority#comment-20881 written by ragin_cajun 90% of registered voters in the state are Democrat? How can that be? (1964) ------------- It just be. Nonetheless Bro, you need to study your history. Start with Re-construction in 1877 and go forward. - Iffy Cycle Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:05:59 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/8843-la-dems-from-super-majority-to-minority#comment-20880 > Only 14 years earlier, Democrats >filibustered the Civil Rights Act In the early to mid-1960s, and prior to that, the Democrats were the party of southern conservatism. This began to change in the mid- to late-1960s, and on into the '80s under Reagan, when many southern conservatives switched parties and became Republicans. In other words, different time, different politics. I say this not as a Democrat or Republican, but as an Independent who has an appreciation for history and accuracy. - Farrow Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:54:47 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/8843-la-dems-from-super-majority-to-minority#comment-20878 What is astonishing is that in a state that is a third black, 90% of registered voters were Democrats in 1978. Only 14 years earlier, Democrats filibustered the Civil Rights Act, yet 90% of registered voters in the state are Democrat? How can that be? - ragin_cajun Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:46:24 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/8843-la-dems-from-super-majority-to-minority#comment-20874 Note to St. Julien: They moved to Houston. - Iffy Cycle Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:38:25 +0100 http://www.theind.com/news/indreporter/8843-la-dems-from-super-majority-to-minority#comment-20871 There were all the Katrina evacuees who didn't come back, and of course there have been several rounds of voter purges as Republicans have gained power in the state, such as this one: From Facing South Magazine, 2007: "Testifying last week to a state House and Governmental Affairs committee, state party attorney Randy Piedrahita said far more Democrats have been targeted for removal from voting lists than Republicans or members of other parties, the New Orleans Times Picayune reports. He said that about 11,500 voters -- disproportionately Democrats -- were removed from the rolls by parish registrars from late August to late September. The ratio of removal of Democrats ranged from 2 to 1 in some parishes to as high as 25 to 1 in East Carroll Parish, where there are few Republicans, according to Piedrahita." - Layne St.Julien Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:46:50 +0100