Letters to the Editor
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From Joan Walsh
Um, Eric, it was a direct quote from the original Appalachia thread. Please try again.
doloresflower, I understand your frustration, but he'll be expected to win quite a lot of demographics to beat John McCain. He might be able to do it without Appalachia, to be honest. But he won't be able to do it without people who think we ought to fight for Appalachia, and who are appalled by the bigotry and yes, elitism, of too many of his admirers.
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@baby grumpus
Well, you're entitled to your simplistic version of the American Revolution if that's all you can handle. But you've got a bit of a stretch turning Jefferson into a tidewater planter. Can you find Charlottesville on a map? Have you ever been there? Have you seen the mountains there? Oh, but that can't be Appalachia. Those people have money. The stereotype requires that they be poor and ignorant.
What truly amazes is your insistence that it is east coast city dwellers who are the real victims of bigotry and not the other way around. Unless you're African-American, that is a joke to claim. You ought to try being absolutely misunderstood and hated, as Appalachian people are.
But at least you're suggesting I fuck myself instead of assuming I fuck my brother.
One silver lining -- I don't suppose there's any chance of your moving here. Thank God.
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@Phylmom
Thanks for fightin' the good fight.
You're a slugger!
And you're not alone.
Hell with these idjits. We'll get Obama elected in spite of their stupidity!
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umm Joan
And you chose to quote "the ignoramus vote" post because you thought it was representative of a group of other posts or because you thought it was inflammatory?
You know I agree with your thesis. West Virginia will not be won by a black or by a woman against a war hero in the general election. Given the massive increase in Democratic registration in Pennsylvania, and given the fact that even Dukakis got 48 percent there, Obama is unquestionably going to win there. But with Florida in play (because of demographics not some stupid primary scheduling issue), Ohio is hugely important. I agree with you that Obama has to run well in rural Ohio. I just think Clinton should stop trying to incite a white rural backlash against him. Even if these offensive purported Obama posters are real and not on the Blumenthal payroll, your citing them as representative is about as logical as someone arguing that Proud Texas Girl is a representative Clinton supporter.
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from Joan
"But he won't be able to do it without people who think we ought to fight for Appalachia, and who are appalled by the bigotry and yes, elitism, of too many of his admirers."
This is stunning that now in Alice in wonderland Barak's followers are bigots and elitists?
It is late and I hope I misread .. I hope i did. What are you saying .. spill Joan Walsh ... you are the editor use your language. You are ever so vague in your concerns and don't make your point.
I was struck tonight watching the Obama family in Iowa on the stage and Barak working the rope line ... but also admiring the wired in secret service persons fully focused protecting his life and his family. He will be lucky to get out alive let alone have to justify words of his admirers.
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@Phylmom
I really appreciate your comments, and I'm sure a lot of people here do as well. Don't let 'em get to you. It was especially nice to see your response on poverty. I was tempted to write a similar post, but you said it very well. Hopefully we can make Obama an Appalachian homeboy like you said of Clinton and Jackson. Either way, you're cool.
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Double standard
A handful of Clinton supporters say lots of nasty stuff about Obama supporters and voters: Joan Walsh is silent, doesn't care.
A handful of Obama supporters say mean stuff about the people who voted for Clinton in some rural areas: Joan Walsh is "sickened" and "has a chip on [her] shoulder about class."
Please explain to me how this is not a double standard, Joan.
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From Joan Walsh
Eric Berry, are you reading what I'm writing? Seriously. First you claim the ignoramus comment wasn't there. Now you admit it's there, but claim I claimed it was representative, when in fact, I said the Appalachia letters thread was a "great debate" where "most people are grappling with real issues."
XH, you're wearing me out. Go read my letters at the end of my signature. Even Eric Berry understands why I'm concerned about this. I've explained it a million times. Contempt for the white working class has been toxic to Democratic majorities as long as I've been conscious. You guys are free to disagree with me, but stop pretending I haven't answered your questions. I take it as affection -- you and Carol and doloresflower like me, and you want me totally on your side. Thank you! And I feel affection for you -- and therefore I am really exasperated why my answers aren't enough! So we're even!
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Phylmom
By the way, people with short memories -- Jesse Jackson ran very very well in his day. So much
for the race thing. Jesse was the same as Bill - came across as a populist homeboy. People loved it.
Personally I like Obama best. If he'd get his butt out this way, people here would take to him too, I think. But if he doesn't show forget it.
Not all Obama supporters are bigoted.
You make a good point, and I hope he does get out there and keep on with his fiesty defense of his wife, pummeling of Bush etc.
We need a fighter and a good negotiator in the white house. I live nowhere near Appalachia, unfortunately, but if I did, I'd be knocking on doors. And this racism thing makes me angry because as I've written before, I've traveled and worked in different parts of the country, and the poorer neighborhoods have generally been more integrated, more accepting of people on their own merits. Richer neighborhoods have shown deeper, malignant, disgusting racism...so why the press is insisting that Appalachians must be racist, I don't understand. Your theory that Bill Clinton is a good old boy makes perfect sense.
If Jesse Jackson can be too, then Obama needs to reach out. (If I had his ear, I'd tell him...)