Yes, looking at some of the individual counties Jesse Jackson actually did way better than Obama did. He also drew huge crowds - I was in one of them. He did well because he came here. Obama needs to come. He needs to talk populist.

So true about neighborhoods as well. I live in a working class neighborhood in a small Appalachian city. Totally integrated. Not just the neighborhood but individual blocks, as integrated as any place in the country. There are Obama signs all over the place including my front yard. Go to the rich part of town and you'll find Clinton people.

Dear Alecsmom. There are no, repeat, are NO coal mining masses. Whenever anyone says that I know they know nothing about the Appalachian coalfields. The work is done now with only a handful of workers and armies of heavy equipment and explosives. Very few people who live in West Virginia or Kentucky work in the coal industry now.

I voted for Obama and will vote for him in November. But the one thing that has troubled me is his coming from a coal-producing state, Illinois. And now this.

The UMWA has a proud history of fighting for working people and the coal miners who once were. But now it mostly consists of the heavy equipment operators who are doing mountaintop removal. I haved questioned whether Obama will be willing to take on the coal industry, and this raises my fears. If the UMWA sees Obama as an ally, then the rape of Appalachia will continue. And you can kiss the Appalachian Mountains goodbye.

You say, "There are good people in Appalachia. They are grossly outnumbered by racists and willfully ignorant hicks."

Wrong, wrong, wrong. You've got it exactly reversed. I suspect your neighbors will be mightily glad when you move on. Assuming they even know you, since I doubt you deign to talk to them.

Thanks for your response. I can't speak to the situation in south Georgia because that is not Appalachia and I don't know much about it. But I would point out that while 2 in 10 Kentuckians said race was a factor, 1 in 10 Oregonians also said race was a factor. I don't see a whole lot of difference except that you have a slightly economically better off group in Oregon. But Oregon is painted as progressive and Kentucky and WV backward. But racism unfortunately exists everywhere. Perhaps the racists should just be written off and Obama will never get them no matter what. But I do know that when Jesse Jackson ran in eastern Kentucky during his presidential campaign, he had way better numbers than Obama has had, and drew great crowds in eastern KY. Because he was there. I hope after the primaries Obama will feel more free to go on the offensive and take it to the people.

I really question how much worse racism supposedly is in WV and KY than elsewhere. 2 in 10 in KY and WV said race was a factor. 1 in 10 said race was a factor in Oregon. So a difference of 10 percent makes one state racist and another progressive? I don't think so. And if we want to praise Oregon because of the 90 percent of its citizens who say they aren't racist, and throw out WV and KY because of the 80 percent of their citizens who say they aren't racist, then we (Obama supporters and Democrats as I am) are idiots who deserve to lose.

Thanks Joan for again mentioning the revolting remarks being made about people from Appalachia. And there is an interesting article posted now in the New York Times which is a kick in the pants to all those who claim Appalachian people are uniquely ignorant and racist.

According to the Times a lot of folks are claiming that Obama is an Arab, or that he is a Palestinian, and that he works for al Qaeda. Plus many openly acknowledge they won't vote for him because is black.

Are these people poor, ignorant hillbillies? Nope. They are elderly Jewish people from south Florida.

Check out the racist comments about Obama in today's New York Times, as well as the ignorant claims that he is an Arab, a Palestinian, and for al Qaeda. Who's saying it? Ignore hillbillies? No, no -- Jewish voters in Florida. Where's the outrage?

I can assure you that "all" of West Virginia won't go against Obama and the state is very much in play. Actually a better chance here than KY, which is traditionally more Republican.

But I will again point out the article in today's New York Times. I know you have been defending Appalachian voters, but the point needs to be pounded home that racism and prejudice against Obama are widespread and endemic. Apparently a number of older Jewish voters think he is an Arab, or a supporter of al Qaeda, or say they will not vote for Obama because he is black.

If this problem is to be addressed by the Democratic Party the solution will start first by stopping the demonization of Appalachian people and understanding that it is a problem that cuts across the board geographically, ethnically, and in terms of economic class.

I am still waiting, by the way, for the apologies to start rolling in from the various media outlets which had such hateful things to say about us. And I'm waiting for the sketch on the Daily Show.

Please see my recent post to Joan and get over the idea that WV and KY are the problem.

Exactly, exactly!! It is age. And even then it is not monolithic, just a tendency. Groups are made up of individuals.

I just want people to understand the level hurt the insults have caused here in West Virginia to see all this blamed on Appalachian people rather than looking at it analytically. It's like kicking a poor defenseless little dog for no reason at all except to kick it.