Fear does not always outperform hope. 1992 was proof positive. It's a matter of whichever is made to be more Believable.
I have to agree with JJ on this one. The Republicans were of course responsible for the active effort of characterization. But they weren't responsible for the ammunition given to them by their own opponent. To what extent do we say "The Democrats did a bad job of correcting it" over "It was really correct to some degree" ?
Religious Demographics are on the side of the Democrats. Add time to trends, and religion becomes a Democratic advantage. Make no mistake, the South is transforming and becoming infested with all the religious elements that the Religious Right fear most. It's foolish to judge American culture based on the timing of its election cycles.
As things progress, the South will continue to be the bastion of 'Old Fashioned' Theology...but it's already in seige mode...and has been for a long time. Urbanite liberals wish they could wiggle their noses and enlighten them overnight by preaching their own futuristic vision...but that's not how it works. Mostly, you wait until old people die, and young people age enough to get a grip and start voting.
Thanks, Niles Caulder, this is the most hopeful post I've read in a long while.
On the other hand I'm not entirely convinced the trend is away from relgion. I hope you're right.
