Larry the Cable Guy Opposes Gay Marriage Ban, Turns Libertarian
July 26th, 2013
In an interview with Larry King, the Nebraska-born southern-style comedian Larry the Cable Guy came out in favor of a libertarian political perspective when asked whether or not blue collar workers are typically conservative. The famed funnyman indicated that he is “more of a libertarian conservative as of late.” He went on to ask, “Why can’t people mind their own business?”
Larry King took the opportunity to check up on his position on gay marriage, to which Larry the Cable Guy responded, “It ain’t affecting my life at all.” The blue collar themed comedian went further with a suggestion to Americans, “Live your life, leave other people alone, and just enjoy your life. Enjoy being an American. It’s a great country.” Check out a video clip from the interview below, and let’s discuss the significance of his political transition after the jump.
Libertarian Conservatism Is Gaining Popularity in Southern and Midwestern States
I am a born-and-raised Tennessean, which puts me in a socially conservative, hard red state by any stretch of the imagination. A few years back, the typical southern conservative would have been reliably opposed to gay marriage. However, times are changing, and Larry the Cable Guy’s live-and-let-live viewpoint on the issue is becoming increasingly mainstream in the south.
It’s worth noting that Larry the Cable Guy himself is mid-western and not southern, but many mid-western states share in the socially conservative traditions that typify Bible Belt culture. Iowa, as an example, is considered a highly conservative state, yet it was the third one in the US to legalize gay marriage.
Ron Paul’s Rising Influence in Southern and Midwestern States
During Ron Paul’s presidential campaigns, most southern and mid-western states weren’t quite ready for his message. However, that was before the Benghazi, NSA, IRS, and other scandals which have driven mistrust of government to previously unseen levels. In my own state of Tennessee, for example, Republican Senator Lamar Alexander is facing re-election trouble for the first time in recent memory, and, in an effort to win over his own state’s voters, touted a fake endorsement from Kentucky Senator Rand Paul.
When local State Senator Jack Johnson needed a high-profile name to headline his re-election fundraiser, who did he call? Not TN Republican senators Lamar Alexander or Bob Corker. He reached out instead to Kentucky’s Rand Paul, as libertarian conservatism is the new hot ticket in southern center-right political culture.
Larry the Cable Guy’s transition to a “live and let live” libertarian-style conservative is a direct consequence of the explosive liberty movement that arose in the wake of Ron Paul’s historic presidential campaigns. Conservatives themselves have been recently and very publicly crushed under the oppressive thumb of big government, whether in terms of religious freedom or gun rights, and, as such, are more willing to accept a hands-off approach from the state on a wide array of matters, even those that don’t directly relate to their own lives.
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