Towery: South ignored by nation

Conservative Georgia columnist Matt Towery argues in a syndicated newspaper column published today in Charleston and other papers across the South that the region has been ignored by the rest of America. His evidence: the shoddy response to Hurricane Katrina that devastated the South "with the equivalent of a nuclear bomb."

His rant is a little self-serving and paranoid, for the greater South spawned the presidency of George W. Bush and the Congress recently has been run by real Southerners (Sen. Trent Lott, Sen. Bill Frist) and some transplants (former House Speaker Newt Gingrich).

The response to Katrina seems more to be a lack of leadership and preparation by many. But Towery makes a few good points in the column, which can be viewed on TownHall.com:

"These effete national executives just can't get a handle on the South, be it our politics -- especially in predicting our elections -- or our economic significance. They are always a day late and a dollar short.

"They think we're racists, when in fact the greatest peaceful mixing of races in the nation -- and maybe the world -- occurs in the South every day. Substantial African-American and Hispanic communities are an integral part of our economy and communities.

"They assume we are dumb and poorly educated. That ignores the massive improvements that have been made since the Civil War ended. That's when a dual set of second-class citizens was created overnight -- destitute whites, including many in the former planter class, and uneducated former slaves.

"Trace a line from Houston through Atlanta, Jacksonville, Charlotte, Miami, and yes, what was once New Orleans, and you will see the clear outline of who controls Congress and the White House.

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