Webb spins his Ulster-Scots heritage into the US elections

Belfast (Northern Ireland) Telegraph ^ | November 9, 2006 | Sean O'Driscoll

[Wallace T.]

Webb is a turncoat Republican to be sure. However, his strategy mirrored that of the Democrats generally: running non-liberal (anti-gun control, pro-"family values") candidates in areas where the usual Democratic bloc groups are relatively weak. Looking at the electoral map, Webb did well not only in liberal and minority areas like Northern Virginia and Richmond, but also in a number of western counties that were settled two centuries ago largely by Ulster Scots, with some German and English settlers, the former largely from Pennsylvania, the latter mostly from Tidewater Virginia.

If you look at the areas where the GOP lost House and Senate seats, you will notice that many were in areas with large Scots-Irish populations, like Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. In contrast, the Republicans held their own in the Deep South, where the white population is more English than Scots-Irish.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

My Ulster-scots American ancestors would probably spit on his political party....

[jdm]

There have been many US presidents with Ulster-Scots roots, but for Virginia Democrat, Jim Webb

Webb won the White House last Tuesday? Must have missed that FOX News Alert.

[Siena Dreaming]

You're treated as Bible-thumping rednecks by cultural elitists in Hollywood, New York and Washington."

Yah so why is Webb enlisting with the party of cultural elitists?

[brothers4thID]

The House seat that we lost in Kentucky is compeltely urban, has large African American and Hispanic minorities and very little of the "scots-Irish" that you refer to. Northrup lost because she has a Republican incumbent in a bad year for Republicans.

[exdem2000]

What are Ulster Scots?

[theDentist]

I heard that Webb has this annoying little habit of listening to the arguments and making up his own mind. This may not go over well with the Dem leadership. Maybe we can get him to re-join the 'Pubs. ;-)

[Siena Dreaming]

And another thing...with his "Born Fighting" schtick...why isn't he pro Iraq war?

[brothers4thID]

Also, Webb won by doing the same thing that Mark Warner and Tim Kaine did before him: protrayed himself as a pro-gun, pro-life, social and fiscal conservative while campaigning in the suburbs and rural areas while sticking true to his anti-Bush, "I'm a Democrat" message while in Fairfax Co and Alexandria.

Sadly, the majority of voters in Virginia fell for this trick AGAIN.

[brothers4thID]

A neighbor of mine confessed she was voting for Webb because he was anti-war. I laughed out loud. "Do you really think Webb, a veteran, a Navy Cross winner, a former Defense Department official, would have voted differently in 2002?"

[YdontUleaveLibs]

Uh, no thanks he isn't welcome anymore. Webb is still a perv waiting for a scandal.

This should have been a barf alert in deference to all of us Scottish Americans. My mother's mother is Scottish, my fathers Irish Scot.

[Corin Stormhands]

Although he lives in the boring, utterly middle-class Washington suburb of Falls Church, his language on the campaign stump has been that of the Virginia Hills, and his Scots-Irish relatives who still live there.

The majority of whom did not vote for him. Webb lost significantly in those "Scots-Irish" areas of the state, including his "home" county.

[VeniVidiVici]

My roots are in the Christiansburg/Blacksburg area.

This jackass Webb doesn't know anything other than how to spin a good yarn.

And he was good enough at that to have a few books printed and get elected.

[Wallace T.]

I recall seeing some "blue" counties in the southwest area of Virginia, where the black population is minimal.

[Wallace T.]

Ulster Scots, also known as the Scots-Irish, are the descendants of 18th and early 19th Century immigrants from Northern Ireland. They were not of "Old Irish" stock, but were of British origin, a majority of them Lowland Scots, but with some Highland Scots and northern English as well, plus some French Hugenots. In contrast with the Catholic, Gaelic speaking, and mostly Celtic "Old Irish", they were Protestant (mostly Presbyterian), English (or Lowland Scots) speaking, and partially Germanic (Anglian). The British monarchy settled them into Northern Ireland in an attempt to expand the area of loyal subjects in a subdued, but hostile population.

However, the Anglo-Irish elite based in Dublin required these Presbyterians to tithe to the (Anglican) Church of Ireland, refused to recognize Presbyterian marriages and baptisms, and limited their right to vote. While not treated as harshly as the Irish Catholics, the Scots-Irish were very disaffected by this discrimination. Large numbers of them emigrated to the United States, and are the most important population element in Appalachia and other areas such as the Ohio Valley and the Ozarks. They are an important element in Texas and Oklahoma as well.

They are a population distinct from both the Irish Catholics of the Northeast and Upper Midwest and the mostly English settlers of the Deep South and the Puritan descendants of greater New England.

[catholicfreeper]

Interesting article.

By the way Scots fans this week is St Mary Queen of Scotlands feast day.

This article has given me a great idea for a great Chruch fundraisor next year

[petitfour]

I've never considered the population of the Deep South to be "mostly English." But maybe I just hang out with the wrong crowd, Scots-Irish descendants.

[Hemingway's Ghost]

For those interested in more along these lines, Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America is a fantastic book.

[elc]

The majority of whom did not vote for him. Webb lost significantly in those "Scots-Irish" areas of the state, including his "home" county.

?? His "home" county is either Fairfax county or City of Falls Church. Both of which he won.

[linda_22003]

I wonder if you mean Margaret (not Mary) Queen of Scotland, whose day is November 16? I took her as my "saint" at confirmation, which is why I ask. She was the wife of Malcolm III of Scotland, and founded and supported the monastery of Iona.