Sound Off
In reading the article on Ralph Tanner in the Oct. 28 Journal-World, I saw a quote from Martin Hawver talking about the Douglas County "Birkenstock Republicans." Where did that term come from?
Hawver, a political analyst and newsletter publisher, coined the term himself.
"It has to do with Douglas County Republicans being among the most moderate in all the free world," Hawver said. "It's a shorthand characterization that alludes to the grown-up-now hippies of the 1980s and, to some extent, the 1970s. But not the 1960s you notice I didn't call them 'love bead' Republicans."
Birkenstocks, of course, are the sensible sandals often favored by those of the hippy persuasion.
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