The O.C. and the G.O.P.
The O.C. and the G.O.P.
There's an interesting article from the New York Times tonight about the changing demographics of Orange County, long-known as the right-wing mecca that gave us Richard Nixon and John Wayne and was a hotbed of the John Birch Society. Here's the money paragraphs:
At the end of 2009, nearly 45 percent of the county’s residents spoke a language other than English at home, according to county officials. Whites now make up only 45 percent of the population; this county is teeming with Hispanics, as well as Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese families. Its percentage of foreign-born residents jumped to 30 percent in 2008 from 6 percent in 1970, and visits to some of its corners can feel like a trip to a foreign land.
The demographic changes that have swept the county reflect what is happening across the state and much of the nation. It has happened slowly but surely over the course of a generation, becoming increasingly apparent not only in a drive through the 34 cities that fill this sprawling 789-square-mile county south of Los Angeles, but also, most recently, in the results of a presidential election. In 2008, Barack Obama drew 48 percent of the vote here against Senator John McCain of Arizona. (By comparison, in 1980, Jimmy Carter received just 23 percent against Ronald Reagan, the conservative hero whose election as California governor in 1966 and 1970 was boosted in no small part by the affection for him here.)
Two things here really dovetail with the things we've been discussing. One is that this is a clear-cut indicator of one of the major sources of social anxiety for the white, middle-class, 50-and-over folks who are moving into the Tea Party movement. But the numbers also suggest that -- whatever hay the political right may be able to make in the 2010 elections -- in the long run that Tea Party movement may be doomed, unless the GOP shifts gears quickly and comes up with some kind of appeal to younger people and at least some non-whites.
Programming note: I'm going to be appearing as a guest in the 10 o' clock hour on WHHY's "Radio Times" (90.9 FM in Philadelphia) to talk about both the book and this weekend's Beck rally. So among other things, you'll have a chance to call up and harass me verbally for a change.
[[[=== "Whats needed is both sides need to move to the center, but what I have been noticing is the move to the far left by the democrat party..." ===]]] Gotta say, that is absolutely hilarious coming from someone who has said that all American Muslim citizens should be forced to take a loyalty oath or be deported.— Talking point sleuth- Writing's on the wall - whites will be the minority by 2040. Thus the American Kristallnact on muslims, mexicans, and any other non-lily americans. They've been through denial, now they are working on anger. Next will be bargaining. Ultimately, their temper tantrum will give way to the sad realization that their anger and hatred was for nothing - and they will still be the minority. Chin baggers, unite - your time is running out.— CiceroSpuriousDeodatus
"Whats needed is both sides need to move to the center, but what I have been noticing is the move to the far left by the democrat party..." I love this meme. In the last 20 years Democrats have moved to the right (talk and action are two different things, PA) and Republicans have moved to the far right. So where, exactly, is that "center"?— Hamlet- Two parties funded by big business doing their bidding. American politics is soooo hard to follow.— Hamlet
- ===]]] In the last 20 years Democrats have moved to the right [[[=== Wow! Where have you been, Hamlet. Have you missed our far-left, extremist, communist/socialist president, who advocated health insurance reform that was more or less identical to the reforms proposed by mainstream Republicans a very short time ago - a type of reform very similar to that proposed by one of the leading Republican candidates to be the Republican nominee for president only two years ago? You know, the "socialist" president that has lifelong financial sector bigshots crafting his economic policies? Don't you know "socialism" when you see it?— Talking point sleuth
The thing about young voters, whether minority or not, is that they are YOUNG. Their views are not set in stone, in fact, they are quite likely to change over time. When I was 20 (or even 30) I was a lot more liberal in my political outlook than I am now. Life has a funny way of showing you just how much you didn't know when you were young. There's no guarantee the young minority voters who voted overwhelmingly for Obama and overwhelmingly are registered Democrats will stay that way forever -- or even for very long.— JimA1- Sorry, TPS. I forgot about the Marxists from Goldman Sachs who advise the President.— Hamlet
Billy Ray - I agree with a lot of what you said at 11:52a but if you look at it the Bush tax cuts completely relieved many of the working poor of any tax burden yet as long as it is hammered home by the left that the Bush tax cuts were only tax cuts for the rich that perception becomes reality for many working poor. I'd be interested in any ideas from either party that increases wages for the working poor but with the current world economy there are always going to be places in the world where manufacturing jobs are going to go to where wages of unskilled workers are lower. Short of huge tariffs on foreign made goods (which I don't reject out of hand) how do you bring that work back to Americans?? This is one of my bringest problems with allowing so many illegals into the U.S. - they suppress wages. People always want to say that illegals are the only ones who will do that work but the truth is they are the only ones who will do that work for that wage - why work those jobs when the government provides more for not working. Now if there were no illegals to work those jobs which can only be done in the U.S. - in order to get that work done wages would need to increase to a point that is greater than what the government provides.— bird11- Hamlet - you almost ruined my weekend I thought for sure I'd see the Beck pie face, thank God the Phillies swept or I'd be really P.O.'d at you right now.— bird11
- "I'd be interested in any ideas from either party that increases wages for the working poor" If you beleive the government should or could have a role in determinign salaries and wages, then you aren't really in favo of free markets.— RG
- "Don't you know "socialism" when you see it?" He's a corporatist when it comes to business in that he'll allow them to socialize losses and force people to buy their products. But to cancel that out, he'll buy votes by favoring moderate levels of wealth distribution.— RG
- Well, I thought about how it might offend your sensibilities, Bird, so I decided not to pie Beck. He has you to thank for that narrow miss.— Hamlet
- "Thus the American Kristallnact" I'm fairly sure you don't understand the meaning or historical signifigance of this term. Or you're simply a drama queen.— RG
- Hamlet, offend me??? I was looking forward to it!! It might have actually added something to the non-event attended by 85,000 to 600,000 people.— bird11
- Fox News is not claiming a million attended? They disappoint me.— Hamlet
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