The reason that the South was Democrat during the Jim Crow years was because of the terrible treatment they received from the Republican controlled US federal government after Lincoln was killed.  And Lincoln's VP and following president was treated to the same hate and control games as the South was put under.

Therefore the South became Democratic as the Republicans had shown their most odious side to the world and those most affected by it turned away in disgust.

But by the 50s Senator Lyndon Johnson was ready to push for Civil Rights, and between JFK and himself got more done.

In fact, because of his stance LBJ was warned that the Democrats would lose their Congressional majority.  Johnson didn't care though and pushed on.

That left a lot of white Southerners estranged from their party, but the nation was putting racism on the run.  People had to hide their racism.  Not only laws, but rulings by Supreme Court Justices were nailing the lid down.

Then Richard M. Nixon, who was never accused of being dumb, thought of a lovely plan.  The Republicans could grab the majority again if they gave comfort and support to bigots, who were feeling like they weren't being respected and catered to by government officials anymore.  

Therefore, to pander to racism became a major Republican ploy (as even Ken Mehlman has acknowledged). This "gambit" not only gave the Republicans the majority, but also helped revive racism as a major lifestyle.  We can thank the Republicans for the renewal of bigotry as a hidden 'religion' among people, not only in the South, but throughout the nation.

That is why it doesn't matter what party MLK put down on his voter registration form.  It's what's in the party strategy over the last 35 years that counts.

Do you want the pro-war pro-racism party in power or not.  I'm thinking that most people are going to choose somthing else this year, and if we just make sure to get to the polls we are going to say "no" to racism --> Start of StatCounter Code -->.. --> End of StatCounter Code -->