Letters to the Editor
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Thank you, Joan, for that link to Dawnt's writing.
It illustrates two important things. First, it shows that good writing can be simple and straightforward and powerful for that very reason. Second, it gives excellent advice for Obama supporters who would try to win those votes.
I also enjoyed reading about a part of the nation that I have not visited.
Unfortunately, I see that many of your "fan club" began posting to denigrate you before they could have possibly read the link that you gave. I believe that many of them don't have the patience to actually read it. They would rather continue with their own version of class warfare. God, help Obama if he continues to depend upon the support of people like these.
To others: Read the link. You might learn something. Or do you really care if your guy wins or not when, instead, you can indulge yourself with stereotypes and hate?
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Let's not forget...
That you don't need to be poor and uneducated to be racist.
Cause if you did, where would the GOP get its money?
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Obama is a loser
When was the last time a "presumptive nominee" lost a swing state by over 30 points?
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White working class voters
How can Clinton win African - Americans? They have rejected her in overwhelming numbers. Why is this not a topic? I agree that Obama will have to work on getting the "white working class vote," but I also think that same group of people need to do some work. Is their reluctance to vote for Barack partly prejudice? Ignorance? They need to do some introspection themselves as we all do at times.
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@Phylmom - Not Singling Out WV
As I pointed out the 25% figure of West Virginians who cited Obama's race as a factor in their vote, I want to make it clear that West Virginia is no better and no worse on the race issue. I think that 25% figure would hold just about anywhere, including Obama's home state of Illinois, where I'm from. I think West Virginians are just being more honest.
West Virginia is also an absolutely beautiful state with a very interesting and colorful history. (And that goes for Kentucky, too).
My problem is that no one who can be said to speak for Obama, or Obama himself, has ever shown contempt for working class voters, black or white, and yet Joan constantly tries to link Obama to those who do.
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Of course Joan doesn't post a reasonable link ...
... in case you haven't noticed, the m.o. of Clinton supporters is to talk up a storm about how horrible Obama and his supporters are, but when asked to point to specifics they all come up blank.
It's a nice broad brush to tar us all with. In Joan's last article, Obama himself was specifically accused of being "wretched" and "sexist" - but the posters simply disappeared when challenged to provide a specific justification for their charge.
Joan's just being a sore loser. She wants Obama to reach out to white working-class voters (a category he has no trouble reaching outside of Appalachia) without noticing that the biggest part of his problem with them is caused by HIllary's vicious and race-based attacks.
HIllary can't win the nomination. Isn't it past time for HER to stop being part of the problem and start being part of the solution?
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Joan,
I have been quite disgusted by the way some people have spoken about Appalachia and West Virginia (I have roots there, and a soft place in my heart for the culture, sans the Stars & Bars). I just wish you would not call this "elitism." "Contempt" does ring true. But many of the people coming under fire in these nasty rants are pretty damned contemptuous themselves. There is nothing elitist about contempt. You are letting Republicans define the terms.
I believe there are a few voters out there who will never be convinced to vote for an African-American. I myself have an aunt who refused to accept a biracial adopted baby as part of "her" family when the baby was adopted by her own daughter. But I doubt there are very many people who cannot be convinced; even my aunt came around.
I would like to see anyone who considers him- or herself a Democrat or progressive or liberal or anything left of Republican to think before you start spewing your personal vomit about anyone, including Appalachian and southern voters. Overt racism is scary and horrible - there's no doubt about that - but you can't accuse everyone in an entire state of racism because they trust Clinton on the economy. It's just not rational. And here's a really good tip (completely FREE!): making jokes about illiteracy, inbreeding and dental care will not convince people that Democrats Care About The Poor. If you make jokes like that, you're not on my side, or Obama's side, or the Democrats' side. No, we should not tolerate racism. However, there is no known correlation between racism and number of healthy adult teeth. That's a scientific fact.
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@doloresflower (thank you)
I think those are great questions. I'd like to see the examples Joan is thinking about as well. While I have no doubt she can find ugly comments here, I want to see the kind of comment that she considers a pattern that represents something distinctly Obama.
I could be blinded by the fact that I want him in the Oval Office. But I don't see it. I just am not seeing that he has a special kind of awful supporter and I don't see any reason to believe that he has the power to be the first candiate that had a major influence on his worst supporters. I can't imagine Hillary being able to influence those people on the net or elsewhere who support her with awful comments.
In my opinion this focus on awful-Obama supporters is a major distraction. I just don't see that he has an odd amount of idiots. Just look around and you can see Clinton has the exact same type.
That said: I agree that it would be great if Barack did all sorts of things to sway any and all voters that presently would rather vote for McCain. Hillary's weaknesses lost her tons of votes and Barack's will certainly hurt him as well. I don't know how much we can expect from these people, but I trust that Obama does at least a good job with the skills he has.
Anyway, I like how you laid out your points.