Take a look at the states that voted for Goldwater, and THEN tell me the key issue was something other than civil rights. I didn't say he personally was a racist. I'm saying he was one of those guys who took libertarianism to its nutjob logical ends. Those guys are great to have around debating gvt. policy. I mean that with all sincerity. But you can't have one of those wingnuts in a position of any real influence.
The issue certainly wasn't segregation for Goldwater himself, who was as mentioned not only not a racist but an integrationist personally (and later in life a crusader for gay rights and deeply susicious of the religious right he unwittingly helped to prominence), though those for whom it was found him convenient. He was one of the very few who was sincere when he said "states rights." Of course, he probably did see the Civil Rights movement as tied in with 1960s social revolutions he might have regarded as vaguely Communistic and threatening. The political lesson there is sincere politicians can be dangerous. Hitler and Lenin were sincere, at least in the sense that they believed a lot of their own bulls--t. Nicholas Berdaieff is quoted in the introduction to "Brave New World" (in French, for some reason. Berdaieff was Russian) saying that society should not strive for utpoias, but avoid them at all costs. Basically he said that because any world that makes too much "sense" will have someone at the bottom of the social order for some ostensibly 'sensible' reason.
Somehow the liberals don't feel this way when it comes time to protecting abhorent speech, such as the ones that can be found in 50% of rap "songs" or Michael Moore movies. But, for some reasons, right to own property is not held as highly by you fellow Gramscians. Surprise, surprise.
Of course, there's a difference being on the wrong side of the "civil rights" issue and on the unpopular side. Barry was only on the latter.
I would generally assume that MLS fans would tend to be democrats. But soccer in the US, because of the nationalist side to things, also attracts and turns us all into nationalist fanatics. The things that we do to support our national team (and denigrate our opposition) would not be acceptable anywhere else in the broader society. Talking about "hating the Mexicans" wouldn't be kosher even in the most anti-immigrant corner of the republican corner, but it's standard on BigSoccer. Obviously, it's not racism (well, not by the vast majority of people here)-- but try explaining that to the average American. That kind of nationalist passion just wouldn't be understood at a Greenpeace meeting.