I read an article on why Obama is about to be trounced in Kentucky and West Virginia. Hillary Clinton could win West Virginia by about 40 points. Polls in Kentucky point to a Clinton victory in the 35-point range.
Why is Obama going to get his hat handed to him in these two states?
Many allude to the “obvious” reasons, but don't want to come right out and say them.
The
LA Times tries to explain why Obama is struggling.
Quote:
“My worry is there’s just too many people in this country who aren’t ready to elect a black president,” said Charles L. Silliman, a retired Air Force officer who is Hardy County’s Democratic Party co-chairman. “There’s a lot to like about him. But I’m just afraid that too many people will vote against him based on their fears and prejudice.”
Silliman and his wife, Carmen, are Clinton supporters, drawn by her healthcare plan and her endurance on the campaign trail. Still, the couple repeatedly have found themselves defending Obama, correcting acquaintances who relay baseless rumors about his name and religion.
Carmen Silliman has collected a sheaf of poisonous e-mails that have flowed into her in-box. “We do not need a Muslim to lead the good ole USA,” reads one. Obama is, in fact, a Christian.
Neil Gillies, an Obama supporter who runs a local environmental nonprofit group, glumly recounted the gibes that his wife, a schoolteacher, hears regularly from her students. “They’re convinced [Obama] is a Muslim, a terrorist, a guy who’s coming to take away their guns,” Gillies said. “It’s just sad.”
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A local farmer lays out the bigotry for all to see.
Quote:
"I've got 50-some guns, and I wasn't crazy about Obama's talk about small towns," said Sam Vetter, 64, a farmer and lifelong Democrat who regrets voting for Bush in 2000. "Besides," he added, "Obama just doesn't sound right for an American president." Vetter is the president of the West Virginia Coon Hunters Assn, and added that he would not vote for Obama “because of, you know, who he is.”
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George Packer from
The New Yorker continues this line of reasoning.
Quote:
J. K. Patrick, a retired Kentucky state employee from a neighboring county, wore a button on his shirt that said “Hillary: Smart Choice.”
“East of Lexington she’ll carry seventy per cent of the primary vote,” he said. Kentucky votes on May 20. “She could win the general election in Kentucky.” I asked about Obama. “Obama couldn’t win.”
Why not?
“Race,” Patrick said matter-of-factly. “I’ve talked to people—a woman who was chair of county elections last year, she said she wouldn’t vote for a black man.” Patrick said he wouldn’t vote for Obama either.
Why not?
“Race. I really don’t want an African-American as President. Race.”
What about race?
“I thought about it. I think he would put too many minorities in positions over the white race. That’s my opinion. After 1964, you saw what the South did.” He meant that it went Republican. “Now what caused that? Race. There’s a lot of white people that just wouldn’t vote for a colored person. Especially older people. They know what happened in the sixties.
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Funny, for the people of Kentucky and West Virginia who don’t like being labled inbred, ignorant racist bigots, appalachia folk sure like to talk and act that way. We do not need to pander to the most ignorant, racist people in America. If Shillary ran a respectful campaign that didn’t play on race, perhaps more in these states wouldn’t worry about the color of Obama’s skin.