Subject: Re: 18,000
Contemporaneous and after the fact research showed that bigots actually liked the program because it gave voice to what they thought.

That's about what I said above: "I wonder how many people watched "All In The Family", because they thought it was about some victimized conservative, beset by leftists?"

So we have one audience seeing their bigotry being validated, and an audience of snobs laffing at an "ignorant, blue-collar, bigot", while Lear rakes in the money.

Meanwhile, observing how well Wallace did in the 68 election, Nixon embarks on his "southern strategy". Reagan amplifies the strategy, and turns the solid Dem south to the GOP, with racist dog whistles.

I just wanted to correct the record for others who may have read your post and think it reflects some sort of widespread reality. It doesn’t.

The ratings of the program speak for themselves. Norman Lear made himself a lot of money. I found the Archie character neither validating, or humorous. Just an offensive bigot.

Steve