Letters to the Editor
circumspect
Published Letters: 13 Editor's Choice: 1
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Obama's problems in West Virginia
[Read the article: Can Barack Obama win West Virginia?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I am white, anglo-saxon, male--like a lot of West Virginians--and 59 years old. I was born, raised and educated here. Other than 15 years in other geographic areas, I have always lived here. I have neither the health, the means nor the ambition to leave again.
John McCain will not win here because he is a Republican. George W. Bush won twice because the Democratic Party here tends to 'rapture' on rupture and Rovian tactics like fear of 'them' attacking us 'here' if we don't kill them over 'there' are bound to please. Let it merely be perceived that you might tamper with the absolute right to own whatever kind and however many guns you want, not fully embrace Jesus Christ, or show empathy toward gays and you cannot win an election here. The bedrock for these positions is summed-up by isolation: geographic (mountains), social (clannish-every family has its own venerated cemetery), cultural (it's the same music and fiddle great-grandpa passed down) and religious(fundamental to the core: the KJV Bible is THE truth--literal and inviolable).
Reaction to gross abuses heaped on the people early by the coal baron operators gave rise to unions and democratic party dominance. Racism, xenophobia and cynicism came mostly from cut-throat competition for mining jobs before the union brought the many divergent groups together, blacks included, notwithstanding they had no choice but to accept differences for the sake of the union,i.e their very survival.The term 'red neck' literally started here during a mine war in the 1920's. It was a red handkerchief tied about the neck that identified union men. Union, non-union--owner, worker: a conflict that rages even today--amplifies the class dichotomy here.
Bottom line: fundamental religion restricts any dogma that is avante guard to protect the prominence of the existing orthydoxy. Local school boards oversee cirriculum to assure it. As people who have suffered hell on earth at times, promises of gold streets and no tears in heaven have allowed people to persevere abhorrent mine tragedies, sudden death and oppression.
Often, why a particular candidate gets elected here defies explanation. From the constitutionally erudite Sen. Robert C. Byrd and adopted son, Sen. Jay Rockefeller to the likes of Richard Nixon and George W. Bush. Bill Clinton won twice because he felt the pain here, successfully communicated it and launched his '96 re-election campaign here etching him in stone to the people. This is the core of Hillary Clinton's commanding lead here and that Barack Obama got defined, mostly by his own misspeak, as 'too high on the hog' got him off to a rough start but he can recover by November. He must mingle, tell the truth, be himself and let people know him, that his beginnings are humble and that he appreciates their self-interest and will address it when president--give them his word that he will. Listen, listen, listen and they will show you the way to their support and vote. Declare the first day of deer season a holiday and he's a shoe in! Thank you.