[ClearCase_guy]

And starting with the election of 1964, as the diehard white racist faction in the South turned away from the Democratic Party, the Republican Party embraced them. That's not easily forgotten or forgiven.

I like OSC a lot -- but I think he is off-base here. Anyone have an example that proves his point? Post 1964, I think of these figures:

George Wallace was a Democrat
Jesse Helms was given a bad reputation by the press, but was not racist
Strom Thurmond was given a bad reputation by the press, but was noy racist
David Duke was racist, and was not shunned by Republicans.
Robert Byrd, former KKK, still uses the n-word, and is a Democrat.

[ClearCase_guy]

David Duke was racist, and was not shunned by Republicans

I don't know how that "not" crept in there. My recollection is that Republicans didn't want to give Duke the time of day. Oops.