What is a 'South Park Republican'?

[Moooooo]

Just curious.

[Alcon]

Generally a very un-PC Republican.  Generally, they are libertarian - they do not believe that the moral fibre of America is declining, and strongly oppose the Christian Right.  They also, however, are socially conservative in many ways, with a deep loathing for Political Correctness, radical environmentalism and feminism, etc.

[Frodo]

Hope this answers your question....  

South Park Republicans
 
By Stephen W. Stanton  
Published   10/07/2002  
 
Picture a typical Republican. Perhaps you see images of George Bush, John Ashcroft, Ronald Reagan, or maybe even Alex P. Keaton. Basically, many people think Republicans are a bunch of stodgy white guys with money.

Times are changing. The Republican A-list now includes Colin Powell, Christie Whitman, J.C. Watts, and Condoleeza Rice. Women and minorities have been making great strides in the party, but they generally dress, talk, and act like their predecessors. You are more likely to find them at a formal reception than a rock concert.

If Republicans are so different from mainstream America, then who voted for them? The nation has more Republican congressmen and state governors than any other political party, plus control of the White House. There are not enough Alex P. Keatons to account for these election results. Our nation is among the most diverse on earth. Half of the voters are women, a quarter are minorities. There are millions of union workers, retirees, immigrants, government workers, customer service employees, and individuals in low paying jobs, unemployed or on some form of public assistance. All of these groups are expected to lean left. Surely, the stodgy, affluent, religious white guys are outnumbered in the electorate by a huge margin. Yet Republicans candidates still do well. How is that possible?

The answer could very well be the "South Park Republicans." The name stems from the primetime cartoon "South Park" that clearly demonstrates the contrast within the party. The show is widely condemned by some moralists, including members of the Christian right. Yet in spite of its coarse language and base humor, the show persuasively communicates the Republican position on many issues, including hate crime legislation ("a savage hypocrisy"), radical environmentalism, and rampant litigation by ambitious trial lawyers. In one episode, industrious gnomes pick apart myopic anti-corporate rhetoric and teach the main characters about the benefits of capitalism.

South Park Republicans are true Republicans, though they do not look or act like Pat Robertson. They believe in liberty, not conformity. They can enjoy watching The Sopranos even if they are New Jersey Italians. They can appreciate the tight abs of Britney Spears or Brad Pitt without worrying about the nation's decaying moral fiber. They strongly believe in liberty, personal responsibility, limited government, and free markets. However, they do not live by the edicts of political correctness.

The South Park Republicans are an incredibly diverse group encompassing a variety of nontraditional conservatives, such as the Terminator, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Bruce Willis supported Republicans because of their commitment to lower taxes and fiscal discipline. Rap artist and movie actor LL Cool J recently endorsed NY governor George Pataki.

The most important South Park Republicans are not famous. They are the millions of people of every age, race, sex, and religion that generally agree that government spending is usually not the best way to deal with the nation's problems. Many of these individuals can tell you why Ayn Rand should displace some other authors in high school literature classes. They know firsthand from endless hours at the DMV, at the post office, and preparing income tax forms that government wastes time and money. They know a nation cannot tax its way to greatness.

If he were alive today, John F. Kennedy could very well be a South Park Republican. He rightly proclaimed, "An economy hampered by restrictive tax rates will never produce enough revenues to balance our budget-just as it will never produce enough jobs or profits." You read that right. JFK was a supply-side tax cutter. His alleged private exploits would place him squarely within the South Park wing of the Republican Party.

Sound farfetched? There have been many Democrats that changed parties. Ronald Reagan, Senator Phil Gramm, and Mayor Mike Bloomberg were all once Democrats that became Republicans. The Democratic Party moved left, and the people that stood in the same place increasingly found their views shared by the elephants of the GOP. But not all elephants belong in the same herd. Pat Buchanan pushes a Christian/protectionist agenda that has absolutely nothing in common with the Libertarian folks who support free trade and complete separation of church and state. Depending on whom you ask, "Conservative" can mean smaller government of lower hemlines. (Hint: South Park Republicans are more likely to get Cosmo than the Weekly Standard.)

The South Park Republicans are not new, though they may now be more vocal. The party finally seems willing to embrace members that listen to the hard rock and rap music long denounced by the old guard. Heck, even vegetarians are welcome.

The media generally misrepresents Republicans as religious rich white males. This is patently false. Half of the voting public is Republican. They watch R rated movies, enjoy a few drinks at happy hour, and even go to the occasional Wrestlemania. Hopefully, the South Park Republicans will shatter the unfair stereotype and set the record straight. As Cartman would say, "That would be pretty sweet."

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[jokerman]

Basically a socially moderate, economically libertarian, and heavily anti-politically correctness type of person.

[TheresNoMoney]

Matt Stone is a Republican and Trey Parker is a registered Libertarian. They make fun of both parties pretty equally.

[J. J.]

I call it, the "P. J. O'Rourke wing,"  of the GOP.  :-)

[Cubby]

As a South Park fan from the very beginning (1998), I can say that I have become disillusioned with the shows of the last 2 seasons. They have started making fun of people like Carl Reiner (does anyone under 25 even know who he is ?) and other liberal targets, such as one show about Queer Eye for the Straight Guy that was unusually lame, as opposed to the show's early pro-gay rights themes. In the first season they made fun of Barbra Streisand but then again, who doesn't?

In the first 5 years, South Park was about anti-censorship and shock value, and it was awesome. Then the creators politics totally changed and the show is not only less funny to me, but sometimes offensive in a political way. I disagree with the term "South Park Conservative", since I'm very liberal and I've always watched it. It is Libertarian, not conservative, since the latter type is always pro-censorship.  

People who oppose hate crimes are lame.

[falling apart like the ashes of American flags]

I quit watching it awhile back, but that's largely because it's mostly lost its shock value, it was pretty shocking as far as standards on TV went once it started but now it's pretty standard fare. Of course that is partially because it raised the bar.

Bob (where did he go anyway?) was pretty close to what one is like, although he wasn't a Republican. But otherwise he summed up what they are like perfectly.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

People who oppose hate crimes are lame.

Well I oppose hate crimes, so I must be lame

[Alcon]

People who oppose hate crimes are lame.

...Uh...?  OK...

[Gabu]

People who oppose hate crimes are lame.

Well, I'm not lame because I fully support hate crimes, such as murdering a black man because he's black.  That's always a good one.

[opebo]

Fools who do not understand they are supporting theocracy.

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

Fools who do not understand they are supporting theocracy.

I'm okay with theocracy, I watch "Jesus and Pals" while eating cheezy poofs on my couch.

[Bono]

Fools who do not understand they are supporting theocracy.

I'm okay with theocracy, I watch "Jesus and Pals" while eating cheezy poofs on my couch.

LOL

[Bono]

As a South Park fan from the very beginning (1998), I can say that I have become disillusioned with the shows of the last 2 seasons. They have started making fun of people like Carl Reiner (does anyone under 25 even know who he is ?) and other liberal targets, such as one show about Queer Eye for the Straight Guy that was unusually lame, as opposed to the show's early pro-gay rights themes. In the first season they made fun of Barbra Streisand but then again, who doesn't?

In the first 5 years, South Park was about anti-censorship and shock value, and it was awesome. Then the creators politics totally changed and the show is not only less funny to me, but sometimes offensive in a political way. I disagree with the term "South Park Conservative", since I'm very liberal and I've always watched it. It is Libertarian, not conservative, since the latter type is always pro-censorship. 

People who oppose hate crimes are lame.

I didnt stop watching it after the homeschooling episode, and i support homeschooling. You're just pissed off because they're making fun of people you like.

[Ebowed]

People who oppose hate crimes are lame.

I oppose hate crime legislation, myself.

[Democratic Hawk]

Just know I ain't one

Dave

[MasterJedi]

A 'South Park Republican' is a Republican from South Park, Colorado!

[afleitch]

Me.

I've been called one and I have no problems with that.

Socially liberal, economically right wing, anti christian right, anti political correctness.

But I wont label myself a Republican, as i'm still closer to the Democratic mainstream than the Republican mainstream at present.

[??????????]

Me.

I've been called one and I have no problems with that.

Socially liberal, economically right wing, anti christian right, anti political correctness.

But I wont label myself a Republican, as i'm still closer to the Democratic mainstream than the Republican mainstream at present.

So what's the difference between an American Conservative like myself and a Scottish conservative?

[afleitch]

Scottish Conservatives themselves are part of the mainstream British Conservatives. But while American Conservatives are not a unified bunch, neither are Scottish Conservatives. I believe conservatism in America has become warped; too much religious dogma, hangups about abortion, homosexuality and science. Most Conservative supporters in Scotland have a Libertarian slant and yes, they supported both Gore and Kerry.

[DanielX]

I'm thinking someone like me, if I used very crude language and ate 'cheesy poofs' (I call them Cheetos, and I don't like them).

[Hatman 🍁]

I dont really get the politics of South Park that much. I actually enjoy South Park a lot, and I share many of their libertarian values. It doesn't strike me as being a Republican show, far from it in fact. So, it surprises me to know their creaters are Republicans. Oh well, whatever.

[Bono]

I dont really get the politics of South Park that much. I actually enjoy South Park a lot, and I share many of their libertarian values. It doesn't strike me as being a Republican show, far from it in fact. So, it surprises me to know their creaters are Republicans. Oh well, whatever.

One's a registered libertarian, IIRC.

[Platypus]

I call it, the "P. J. O'Rourke wing," of the GOP. :-)

Personally, I prefer the 'sane and realistic' wing.

"such as one show about Queer Eye for the Straight Guy that was unusually lame, as opposed to the show's early pro-gay rights themes"-pym

QUEER EYE IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF GAYS, OR THE CULTURE OF THE AVERAGE GAY MAN, AND HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH 'GAY RIGHTS'.

Breathes deeply.

Seriously, If someone catches me mincing down Chapel Street in a tank top and Gucci sunglasses, they'd have every right to bash me.