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Originally Posted by GunnyL  Hardly. Anyone that left the Dems over civil rights is most likely dead or institutionalized. Either way, hardly a viable voting bloc.
Be that as it may, I don't recall a mass exodus from the Dem party over civil rights. I DO recall a mass exodus over Jimmy Carter. The Democrt party has failed to live up to its promises since, and it DOES pander to the black vote. |
I am bereft of stats here, but my understanding is that half the South left the Democrats over 'civil rights'. LBJ said, after signing the bill, "I just killed the Democrats in the South" or words to that effect. Folks went with the Dixiecrat movement. Then, the Republicans rose to prominence in the South.
But you are right that many, many working-class folks voted for Reagan over Carter. Tidbit: One-quarter of all union families vote GOP, mostly over values issues.