Whistling Past Dixie: How Democrats Can Win Without the South [Hardcover]

Thomas F. Schaller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 3, 2006

Two generations ago Kevin Phillips challenged Republicans to envision a southern-based national majority. In Whistling Past Dixie, Tom Schaller issues an equally transformative challenge to Democrats: Build a winning coalition outside the South.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Instead of "futile pandering to the nation's most conservative voters," in the South, Democrats should build a non-Southern majority to regain dominance, argues Schaller, a University of Maryland political scientist, in this focused, tactical account. The Republicans' Southern monopoly may have helped them achieve national majorities in the past, but it has never constituted a majority alone, Schaller explains. There are greener pastures for Democrats at all levels of elected government: the Midwest, Southwest and Mountain West. Schaller's demographic numbers buttress a solid argument, but he contradicts himself at times—as when he argues that many voters (deceived by Republican politicians) empowered "a radically conservative agenda" against their own interests but are "smart" enough to understand a nuanced Democratic platform on American liberties (e.g., connecting gun rights and gay rights). But the basic truth of the author's fight-fire-with-fire strategy is undeniable: a much-needed shot of realpolitik in the arm of the modern Democratic Party, whose greatest weakness lies not in the lack of good ideas but in compromising them. Charts, maps. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

In this highly accessible book, political science professor Schaller points to political history and research on changing demographics to illustrate why the South is now openly hostile to Democrats, who tend to lack the proper "cultural credentials" to appeal to most southerners. The South is the most militaristic, least unionized area of the U.S., and voters are far more likely to weigh social and cultural concerns than economic ones when voting. Rather than trying to recapture the past when the Democrats could reliably count on the South for votes, the party needs to devise a strategy that concentrates on opportunities elsewhere, advises Schaller. Noting that the Republicans dominated politics in the decades between the Civil War and the New Deal without the support of the South, Schaller outlines strategies for how the Democrats can now capitalize on opportunities to expand in other areas even as the high population of blacks in the South will continue to provide the party with a toehold there. An absorbing look at politics and demographics. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1St Edition edition (October 3, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743290151
• ISBN-13: 978-0743290159
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,381,821 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A useful tactical guide, October 29, 2006

By 

David Stinson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Whistling Past Dixie: How Democrats Can Win Without the South (Hardcover)

An overall good book. The author I think has a useful strategy, and lots of numbers to back it up. In fact, my main criticism of the book would be that Scaller is better with numbers than complex philosophical arguments. He can tell you a lot of useful information on the political situation in many places around the country. He analyzes the politics in the south very well. The historical analysis from decades ago is less interesting, though. There is a curious ommission with Katrina, and all the corruption that exposed. Maybe that was because he was trying to protect the line that it was a problem with the feds, not the local southern politicians - but if his thesis is that we're giving up on the south, that would give us free reign to criticize the southern politicians as well.

Later in the book, as he started talking about a non-southern political strategy, he could have said more about policy. There was one chapter on demography that read like a census report. Only one chapter was specifically devoted to policy, and I think there is more to say about that while still utilizing his tactical approach. In that chapter, I also picked up on some contradictions, like the Publisher's Weekly people. The chapter opens with a couple of on-the-money quotes about the Democrats being 'against' stuff, rather then 'for' stuff. Yet later in the chapter, he argues that NAFTA and CAFTA were perfect examples of where we should "plant a flag" in opposition, and show resolve. He never gives any positive examples of "flag planting."

This is the first book I've read in the 'genre' of partisan tactics, so perhaps many of these criticisms would apply to other books as well. But I think a good book on policy should address some of the political issues, and visa-versa. The author does have an insightful argument that the Democratic leadership should consider, and I still think it's a worthwhile read just for that.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Election Results Reflect Schaller's Advice, December 4, 2006

By 

C. Lindland "readerobooks" (san francisco) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Whistling Past Dixie: How Democrats Can Win Without the South (Hardcover)

I haven't read many Political Science books since college, but I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to make sense of modern political strategy. Whistling Past Dixie explains the figures and factoids behind all the punditry and wonkery--how Republicans engineered a political majority and how Democrats can take it back. Schaller offers more strategy than opinion which makes it a refreshing read for anyone interested in politics--right or left.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Detailed, but the timing is off, December 19, 2006

By 

Jon Hunt "musician, teacher" (Old Greenwich, Ct. USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Whistling Past Dixie: How Democrats Can Win Without the South (Hardcover)

Thomas Schaller's "Whistling Past Dixie" offers a comprehensive look at where both parties stand relative to each other in today's politics. The insight and detail are wonderful and although it reads more like a textbook than a flowing narrative, Schaller has outlined where Democrats need to look beyond the South to win in upcoming elections.

One problem with "Whistling Past Dixie" is that it was published before the recent midterm elections and references to what might happen in the "upcoming 2006 races" are now history. One wonders why the author could not have held off having an updated version of this appear until after the November elections, therefore eliminating some of the guesswork.

"Whistling Past Dixie" is less of a hands-on approach for Democrats to win elections as it is an analysis of the current national political realties, but it is nonetheless pointed in its partisan appeal and renders some good advice for Democrats. It's worth the read if you can get past some of the now "old news" it offers.