"The racists embrace conservative values like respecting the Flag, saying Merry Christmas and a strong military. And we need their votes ..."
Really, Thor? Conservatives need the racists?
No, they do NOT! You're truly a sad case.
In the 1960s, the Democratic Party rejected racism, rejected the Old South. Embraced civil rights. Northern and Western Democrats waited out the Southern Democrats, cut off their filibusters and worked with Republicans to pass the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Act. In 1968, the Democratic Party refused to seat an all-white Mississippi delegation at the 1968 national convention.
Richard Nixon embraced the "Southern Strategy". Lots of Southern Democrats became Southern Republicans.
You cling to old stereotypes because you refuse to admit parties can change.