Former Rep. Glen Browder: Democrats' Real Southern Problem

Former U.S. Rep. Glen Browder, who served Alabama's 3rd Congressional district (my old home district) from 1989 to 1997, identifies some of the major problems that the Democratic Party must overcome in order to win in the South. Beware, it's long, but worth the read.

Here are a few excerpts:

The Democratic Party is painfully aware of its so-called "Southern problem" -- the fact that most whites in this region used to vote for the donkey and now vote for the elephant. However, our national party leaders still seemingly view their Southern problem as a wardrobe malfunction, a debating fault, a turnout matter amenable to willful adjustment within their skilled capacity for progressive, competitive coalition.

...I'm doubtful that my party understands the nature, magnitude and potential permanency of its problem...

...there appears to be, among many Democratic leaders and activists, a dysfunctional mindset, an elitist cultural conceit that resists the central, necessary correction -- dealing aggressively and positively with the South and our transforming partisan environment -- for future revival in heartland America...

The debilitating fault of our party's prevailing mindset is not liberalism simply and by itself, although contemporary liberalism is unattractively out of step with heartland culture (not only because of Republican propaganda, but also because of Democratic obsession with contentious issue positions).

The most irritating aspect of our party's "blue conceit" is a paralyzing conviction of angry, bewildered, self-serving righteousness that blinds us to historical reality and impedes corrective action for our future.

Browder promises to address "what to do" next Sunday. Howard Dean would do well to pay attention...but I know what his reaction will be.