>>Calling the Southern Democrats of the 60's Liberal is a gross mis-statement of fact. They were Democrats for a century largely as a reaction to the Republican imposed Reconstruction period after the Civil War. There was almost no ideological agreement with their Liberal Northern Democrat brethern.
>
>Wasn't this also the time period where the Democrat and Republican were essentially switching ideologies? Wasn't Reagan a Democrat originally, for instance, switching to match his political views?


I may be wrong about my understanding of his history......but

As I understand it, Reagan did not change parties to find one which reflected his views. In the late 40's he was actually quite liberal. As a result of things he saw happening within the motion picture industry and elsewhere he changed his ways of thinking and broke with his party.

Again.....I may be wrong and am willing to be corrected.