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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
I'm originally from Harlan County, Kentucky (one of the sites mentioned in this article), and I absolutely agree with what Hoyle observed. My father is still practicing medicine in Harlan, and his patients sound exactly like that Middleton guy from Cranks Creek. In fact, he probably *is* one of my dad's patients!
The thing that makes me want to tear out my hair during every election cycle is this: These folks are *consistently* willing to vote against their best economic interests--and we're talking some of the poorest, most downtrodden people imaginable--because the candidate is too black or too un-Christian or too educated. It's mind-boggling to me that people actually *want* to elect someone based on mediocrity!
I have lived almost my entire in small towns across America. I have lived in NJ, TX, NC, IL, WI. Each town depending on the geographic location have different concerns and would respond to a black, urban man very differently. I know for example that during my years in NC that if an elite manager was transfered to that town with a company, the locals would be polite but that person would never, ever fit in unless they were really small town themselves. So I am saying that some of those elite Chicago bosses that moved to rural NC were small town at heart and they welcomed the change. Barack is definitely not small town. He wants to expand an already big government. The small towns that would embrace Obama and his big government platform would be those that support a state university system because they are government employees. I say that having worked in government myself and also in the private sector. They are two different animals. The government environment gives out across the board raises to all regardless of job performance. The private sector has job performance reviews based on meeting criteria already agreed upon when hired, and the increase might be big or small or none at all. That would never fly with big government. Small towns recognize that big government means red tape and most of all lack of personal touch. Small towns like knowing everybody on a firsthand basis. They like inquiring about the health of friends and family. They do not like big government.
THE STUPID POLLS, NOT KEEPING YOUR EYE ON THE PRIZE, AND WHITE FOLKS IN SMALL TOWNS
Folks, Barack is behind McCain in the average of the NATIONAL polls due to the OUTLIER GALLUP POLL taken right after the Republican convention. It's McCain's bounce so calm down. The state polls are what counts the most and if everything holds today, Barack will be the next President of the United States. Sure, the excitement has been transferred to McCain's running mate, but she's being found out. Every day people are discovering that her knowledge of the would is about as shallow as a cup of tea. The debates will matter.
But ads matter too. Most low-information white voters aren't stupid. But someone must effectively communicate what Bush/McCain has negatively affected their lives during the last eight years, and what Barack plans to do about it. Barack has one of the greatest pitches EVER. TAX CUTS FOR EVERYONE, but the rich. McCain has convinced some poor whites that Baracks gonna send their hard earned dollars to the negras. Barack should be on the television everyday talking TAX CUTS and WAR and how those cuts will be paid for by ending the war in IRAQ, or he will lose. He will not get their vote by simply saying McCain=Bush.
This guy gets it. I may be rare, a white intellectual who has lived in south and west working class settings. But most journalists have a blind spot for how deeply racist, under educated, and anti-intellectual this country is. Sarah Palin gives them an excuse to vote for McCain that lets them continue their self delusion of not being prejudiced like their parents. For these folks, if they don't hear it on Fox News or talk radio, they don't hear it.
Is it possible that this kind of condescending language is alienating working-class America and perpetuating the idea that Obama truly is elitist? As long as Obama’s supporters portray people who work with their hands and actually contribute something useful to society as uneducated and common, they condemn us to a McCain-Palin administration.
Salon's diatribe will be until November will be about getting Barack Obama elected. Why? With pat answers like - because he's so cool, everybody likes him, the Republicans are evil, McCain is so old, etc. they'll never get anywhere. People have heard that stupid stuff time and time again. They're tired of it. It's like young kids were put in charge of running election and got away with it for a little while and are shocked when the grown ups aren't buying it anymore. The Democrats are as corrupt as any Republican party and are just more stupid about it. They just justify it by calling others stupid and get psyched out everytime.
FINALLY, LET ME ADDRESS THE WHITE DEMOCRATS THAT STILL THINK THAT BLACKS OUGHT TO WAIT THEIR TURN AND LET THE WHITE PEOPLE RUN THE PARTY AND THE COUNTRY
No, we too are Americans. Deal with it. Blacks cannot wait for equality and to FULLY participate in this democracy because of some timid white so-called progressives are afraid that the country white folks won't vote for one of us cullerds. I want Americans to see two men (or women) side by side in the debates and judge for themselves whether or not their ideas, beliefs, and records reflect their goals and dreams for this country. It's ok for America to vote for McCain. He will take us into war, and those small towners' children will be the majority of the folks putting boots on the ground in take your pick (Iran, Russia, North Korea).
Did Bill Clinton receive the majority of this small-town American vote? Nah, he didn't.
I just wanted to let everyone here know my real name is Hussein, I'm a muslim, and I'm also a flaming homosexual.
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Once seen as a lunatic fringe, reactionary anti-women groups are courting respectability
Salon headlines in your mailbox
