Yellow Dog Democrat
In an earlier post this week, I identified myself as a yellow dog democrat. Bipolar Lawyer Cook asked what that could be. She is not alone. For some people, including my partner, this is not a well known term.Melanie, over at Bean Paste, was quick to offer the definition in the comment section, but I wanted to give you a little bit of the history (I'm all about the history, dear readers).
There are competing online versions of the history of the term, and this time, I think that Wikipedia has the more correct of the versions. DO NOT tell my English students about this; they will insist that their desire to cite Wikipedia in academic writings should be honored.
The term, "Yaller Dog Democrat" springs from the post restoration period in the South when white men swarmed to the Democratic party as a response to the restoration.Wikipedia sites the book, Exit Laughing, with the story of a Kentucky democrat, Theodore Hallam, saying that he would sooner vote for an old yaller dog than a republican.
Another history, at a commercial website, claims that the appellation comes from the 1928 Presidential campaign when many democrats, while they didn't like Al Smith, were loath to vote republican.
When I was a yunggin, my mother told me that a yaller dog democrat was a bad thing: it evoked an ugly, racist past that was better left in the past, and it also spoke of a person who was closed minded. After all, it is possible that a republican might actually be a superior candidate.
Mamma was a wise woman, but I don't think she ever knowingly voted republican in her life.
In recent years, liberal democrats have decided to reclaim (and respell) the term yellow dog democrat. While it still means that we would rather vote for a yellow dog than a republican, it has a different ethos, I think. After all, the voting rights act of 1964 saw to it that most of the racists switched parties. Anyone for a post on the Southern Strategy of the Republican Party?
(Before you ask, the dog at the beginning of this post is mine, the other is just a good looking yaller dog.)
Comments
Your yellow dog is handsome; I have to share photos soon of my chocolate dog.
And your partner. I had to click over of course because of art. She's SO TALENTED! Wow!
And I've decided it's okay in general to source cite Wikipedia, so long as I am confident of the information and verified it. Often is IS a good source!
But yes, don't let students get used to it. :)
Julie
Using My Words
I have to admit, this is the first time I've ever hear this term. Very interesting.
I'm a little bit afraid to see what happens in the Democratic camp - my co-worker, who has never voted a day in her life, said that she will vote in the presidential election JUST to vote against Hillary if she is the Democratic candidate. And I don't think she is the only person who feels this way. So, I guess there are Yellow Dog voters on both sides. (Although I think she would prefer to be called a Wiener Dog voter.)
It should become very interesting.
I think I left inaccurate info on my site about the recent Blogger changes. In fact, if you're reading this, I definitely did. It looks like all is actually fine. Sorry to raise the alarm like that. My bad. (*retreats to the naughty corner in shame*)
Your yellow dog is a beaut!
Poet, I know what you mean. Some words should not be reclaimed.
Mary Alice, you tell your husband that he's what we used to call a conservative democrat. Of course, there used to be liberal republicans, too. Funny how things have gotten. . .
Jozet, evidently I need to do something silly on the blog. Sorry If I've been too pedantic lately. . .
I tell my kids that Wikipedia is an excellent jumping off point for further research. Which is totally how I use it. Most of the time. Honest.
And, yes, I'd like to read a post on the Southern Strategy of the Republican Party. :)
Politically, I guess I am a YDD as well, although I am about to participate in my first election as an American. I am not enthusiastic about the selection of candidates in the Dems, but I am SO not voting Republican, as I like them less.
Thank you for the explanation; I'm still feeling my way toward a political definition.
Also, I loved your comment about equating "English Teacher" with "Terrorist" over at my place; it's happened to me, too!
Heidi
Nice looking dog by the way.
Dixiecrats" declared that they would rather vote for a "yellow dog" than vote for a Republican because the Republican Party was know as the party for blacks.
But you folks think racist Democrats jumped ship to join the racist party. 79% of Republicans voted for the 1964 bill, while 63% of Democrats did.
Democrats switched parties becasue of LBJ's socialism.
Try getting an education, it wont kill you.