Let's be honest...we all know why Alison Grimes won't say if she voted for Obama

[Cali_Democrat]

while proudly calling herself a Clinton Democrat.

Obama is just too dark for Kentucky even though he's helped half a million Kentuckians get health coverage.

I hope to see the day when white Dems won't have to run away from black people as they seek office.

Even Clinton did it with his coded language of 'welfare reform' and 'tough on crime'.

A lot of people think of blacks as a plague that should be avoided. Grimes plays into this. Will we ever see the day when blacks are treated as equals?

America 2014.

Soak it up.

[JI7]

1. yes, i want her to win

and it's sad that the only chance she has of winning is by doing what she is.

but we need to stop pretending race is not an issue.

[OLDMADAM]

85. This is appalling, and totally unbelievable, not to mention, as racist as any in the GOP..

How could anyone on this site condone this behavior? Yes, I'm black and I find this disgusting. Couldn't we find anyone to this important post, with a tiny bit of integrity, and backbone??? Unless of course, she didn't vote for our president, and she is afraid to tell anyone, and she thinks someone knows it.

[kentuck]

2. Why is voter ID a big issue?

But voter secrecy is not? Shouldn't they both be very important?

[Cali_Democrat]

3. She made no secret about being a Clinton Dem

[Spider Jerusalem]

5. Not only "no secret"...

her response to "who did you vote for" was "well, I'm a Clinton Democrat", which...yeah, dog-whistle, there.

[AtomicKitten]

6. +1

[kelly1mm]

4. President Obama got a higher percentage of the vote in KY than 'lilly white' John Kerry did

in 2004. If it is solely or mainly because of the Presidents race that Kentuckians don't support him, shouldn't he have gotten a lessor percentage than the white Democrat?

[JI7]

7. he got a larger turnout of black voters

and none of that changes anything about why Grimes feels she can't even say she voted for Obama.

[madville]

11. He did in 2012

President Obama got 38% of the Kentucky vote in 2012 while Kerry got 40% in 2004. Obama did get 41% in 2008.

This Kentucky Senate election is way more about them being unhappy with McConnell than wanting to support a Democrat. It is impressive that McConnell is only up around +4 averaging the last month's poll numbers.

[The Traveler]

8. It sucks ... but

we gotta think "Art of War" here. I firmly believe a Grimes victory supports the cause of progress on racial issues far better than a McConnell victory. (Because, let's face it, a Republican Senate majority is not going to help. At all. Indeed, I expect regression in that event.)

So I don't despise her for it ... but, yeah ... it bites. Big time.

It feels to me we have regressed as a nation.

Trav

[kentuck]

26. Interesting..

If we let McConnell win, then we have no hope for progress.

If ALG wins, then at least there is hope.

She would be judged slowly in her first term, to see if there is progress?

[The Traveler]

57. Probably stated my thought poorly

I see Grimes as essentially a neutral factor on these issues ... but one that will support the Party. I don't expect her to lead on the subject. I also don't expect her to be a hindrance.

Trav

[kentuck]

58. Thanks.

[Zen Democrat]

9. These Democrats who disrespect Obama, as Grimes has done, and as Panetta has done are dead to me.

Panetta and Grimes are in the Clinton camp -- where I once was, but no more. I'm sick of the self-serving Clintons. They use people. And they hate Obama for messing up their 2008 plans. TFB Bill and Hill.

[VanillaRhapsody]

10. how about the ones on DU that do the same??

[bahrbearian]

13. Well we got you to hunt them down, jury them and band them.

[VanillaRhapsody]

15. sorry I hurt your feelings....

[Ken Burch]

46. "band them"? You mean give them tracking collars so we can follow their migratory patterns?

[bahrbearian]

50. Is MIRT working with NSA and Verizon ?

[notrightatall]

12. Maybe she did not vote for Obama.

Many good Democrats did not. Would it be better for her to say that? Would she be believed?

[VanillaRhapsody]

16. NO "good" Democrats DID vote FOR him....

there I fixed that for ya!

[notrightatall]

17. right.......................

[VanillaRhapsody]

18. right on!

[movonne]

24. All she had to say is that she is a dem and that's the way she votes...and leave it at that...

[VanillaRhapsody]

25. she should have said hell yes I voted fir Pres. Obama

[kentuck]

32. How dare she!

Acting like one of those uppity women. Let's water-board her and she if she will talk??

[tomm2thumbs]

31. Maybe she did not

It does not seem like an outlandish concept

[Cha]

52. Yeah, maybe she voted for Mitt Romney.. Oh, and many good Dems DID VOTE 4 President Obama.

[hfojvt]

14. no you are just flat wrong

My brother's wife is a Republican - but she likes Hillary, and will likely vote for her in 2016.

Women in Kentucky, many Republican women are going to vote for Grimes, and probably like Hillary too. They are much less fond of Obama.

It's about gender, not race. Grimes can embrace Hillary and not offend her conservative female supporters. Embracing Obama is not as safe - conservative females are not as fond of him. Not because he is black, as much as because he is male.

[moondust]

60. Same in Iowa.

I'm not aware of Iowa ever having sent a female to the U.S. Senate. Some Democratic women will probably vote for Ernst--even if she is a Koch puppet--because of gender/glass ceiling/"first female Senator/President" factor.

[davidpdx]

64. Wow, a very interesting perspective

I hope you are right. If we can GOTV women and the younger generation in high numbers she will have a real chance of winning.

[HereSince1628]

19. AFAIK, it's more evidence of the moral bankruptcy of pragmatism as a political guide

[Maedhros]

29. Political courage is a vanishing trait these days.[n/t]

[Nuclear Unicorn]

20. At this point nobody is buying the "sanctity of the vote" schtick.

It's quickly turning into, "too embarrassed to admit it." It's not the vote, it's the cover-up.

It may not be fair and it may not be correct but that seldom counts when dealing with optics.

[kentuck]

33. Thanks for the help.

Fairly appreciated.

[Puzzledtraveller]

59. The cover up would be if she actually voted for Romney.

Which is something I'm beginning to think may be possible.

[mstinamotorcity2]

21. She wants to win!!

She is doing what she needs to do to win. Its about a variety of things. The Presidents color. His gender. His political party. Him having the nerve to be President. Because today is Tuesday. He is Democratic Leader in Chief. What? How soon some people forget. We went through a twisted time any time a republican President was in office in the last forty years. They talk about government being too big and spending, and the Debt. And they expand Government through policy and laws, spend all the money, and increase the Debt.

[Cali_Democrat]

30. So what kind of message does it send to blacks in America?

where a Dem Senate candidate runs away from Obama?

Sorry we have to kind of runaway from Obama and embrace Bill and Hillary even though Obama's policies aren't much different than Clinton's.

Sorry blacks....but we gotta win!!!

That's pretty much the message blacks get.

[mstinamotorcity2]

84. Yes it sends all kinds of messages.

It seems to have been that way since he was elected. I have watched him get beat up from front to back. there are some things I don't agree with this President on, but a lot of it he can't do anything with it without the help of Congress and the people. congress wasted a lot of time allowing silly memes to permeate the air. Anytime you spend three days talking about a suit, its a bit much.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

22. obama is too unpopular right now for anyone to want to associate with him

especially in a red state

[Cali_Democrat]

34. Why? Loads of liberals on DU have said Obama is too conservative....

Shouldn't that mean it's easier to associate with Obama in a red state?

[Ken Burch]

44. In a "red state", black equals "gay Muslim Communist"

Obama could ride a nuclear missile Slim Pickens-style as it landed on ISIS headquarters and that wouldn't change.

[Cali_Democrat]

48. Exactly right.

But what's bad is how Dems like Grimes try to cater to these assholes. They shouldn't be catered to, they should be shunned outright based on principle.

[Ken Burch]

51. Weird thing is, IIRC, McConnell actually took the KY Senate seat in 1980

from a Dem who was going out of his way to distance himself from Carter

[Spitfire of ATJ]

36. Most of those "red states" would be blue if the majority voted.

[kentuck]

38. How do you counter...

...such attitudes? Everyone is not racist. There are some good people. But, there is no beginning if Mitch McConnell is not defeated.

I think most of the reactions to her decision to not say who she voted for were rather reactionary. If someone wants to tell you who they voted for, they have that right. If they do not wish to tell you who they voted for, for whatever reason, they should not be pressured to do so. But that does not mean they can refuse to give their stances on the important issues. Well, I guess they could.?

[Cali_Democrat]

40. But she immediately called herself a "Clinton Democrat" when she was asked if she voted for Obama

How do you explain that?

[kentuck]

42. I don't think Clinton was a racist?

Maybe the difference is in other policies? Economic, for instance?

[Cali_Democrat]

43. What's the main difference between Obama and Clinton when it comes to economic policies?

Obama said time and time again that he wanted to go back to the Clinton tax rates.

Both Presidents and Hillary appear to be free traders....

[kentuck]

45. The Clintons have been close friends with her family...

for a long time. Do you think that has anything to do with it?

[Cali_Democrat]

47. So that's why? Obama wasn't friendly with her family....

that's why she refused to say whether she voted for Obama, but she proudly called herself a Clinton Democrat because they're friends with her family?

WOW.

[Major Hogwash]

49. Do you currently live in Kentucky?

Because you're seriously misunderestimating the people of that state.

I read a lot of your posts.
I like you.
But, we are talking about Kentucky here.

[Cha]

65. Is that so? This Dem in SD isn't running from President Obama, Rick Weiland.. and Michelle

Obama campaigned with Wendy and Mary Burke.

Rick Weiland's singing campaign across South Dakota

IDemohttp://www.democraticunderground.com/10025654044#post6

[La Lioness Priyanka]

67. whats his popularity where grimes is running?

i am not sure what exactly you guys are trying to dispute with me. i dont like the fact that he is unpopular, i just know that in KY he is unpopular

[Cha]

68. Just replying to your statement.. "obama is too unpopular right now for anyone to want to

associate with him especially in a red state."

Giving you examples of Mary Burke, Wendy Davis, and Rick Weiland not running from President Obama.

[fadedrose]

23. It might not have to do with Obama's race

He is starting to worry about the environment and coal is a problem. From interviews I've seen with miners in Kentucky, some fear Obama, and some recognize that coal is finished there. Grimes says she loves coal, and Hillary is for all kinds of energy. That explains it best.

They have health care, yes, but a lot of their bad health is due to coal mining, the dirty air, accidents, lung diseases, etc....

[rwheeler31]

27. Who'd you vote for, who'd you vote for, who'd you vote for,

quit badgering the lady she is not under any obligation to tell. She has every right to make decisions about her campaign and I see no evidence of bigotry.

[world wide wally]

28. I woad somebody would ask her if she voted for Romney

[Spitfire of ATJ]

35. "A lot of people think of blacks as a plague that should be avoided."

A lot of them think of Blacks as nothing but animals that just came out of the trees and could go back at any time,...after they've killed all the white people.

[sulphurdunn]

37. Her cowardice

before the racist vote just threw the election to Turtle. He already had that vote in his hip pocket. Now she looks like just another amoral, triangulating Blue Dog, more afraid of offending people who won't vote for her than she is of loosing her own base.

[kentuck]

39. I thought she said she supported keeping Obamacare last night??

I thought I heard her say that she would not rip the coverage out of 500,000 Kentuckians' hands? Mitch McConnell said he would repeal it, root and branch. Then said, in an effort to deceive the low-information voters, said that he would be willing to keep the website, Kynect??? What good is a website if you cannot get any coverage on it??

[sulphurdunn]

61. The ACA

is here to stay. That's why republicans can campaign against it and democrats can support it.

[Ken Burch]

41. Sadly true. A very thoughtful OP. n/t.

[onecaliberal]

53. Same reason she won't tell

Them Kynect is ACA.

[DonCoquixote]

55. when some people defend the Confederate Flag

Inbcidents like this remind me why it needs to be purged. Here is handpicked Alison grimes, running on the same side as Clinton (aka willing to play all the racist harpstrings if it gets her elected) and she is not only selling herself out, she is still considered too much of a lefty for the same people that benefit from Obamacare.

KY, if Mitch is still in power, I will cry for you, but also laugh AT you.

Also...be prepared to see a Grimes loss as a preview of Hillary 2016, for we all know, despite so many trying to appeal to her liberal side, that she will do the exact same thing Grimes is doing: run from Obama, and offer to stomp liberals harder than the GOP.

[kentuck]

56. How does she gain the 25 points that Obama lost by in Kentucky?

She doesn't?

But at least she stuck by her President and her Party?

This is the first candidate in Kentucky in a long time that has truly stirred up the voters. Many had no intention of voting and do not show up in any polls. She has worked her butt off to meet as many people in Kentucky as possible. And she has had great receptions in the black community.

It's a tough political battle going up against Mitch McConnell. These folks have been primed for months and years to vote for Mitch. If there is any racism, it is coming from that side of the field. That is why they hate Obama and Obamacare.

[AverageJoe90]

83. She is *definitely* one of the good ones.

[DonCoquixote]

69. hoe doeps she stay a democrat while cowering in fear

she doesn't. If she cannot admit she even voted for Obama, how will she be able to govern?

[NCTraveler]

74. She will governm better for the people of Kentucky than Mitch.

Very strange question to ask.

[B Calm]

62. There's Nothing in the Middle of the Road but Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos!

She SCREWED UP BIG TIME!

The perfect reply for her would have been: I voted with the vast majority of Americans and my opponent voted for a LOSER!

[Vinca]

63. Exactly. Being a Democrat is nothing to be ashamed of.

[Cha]

66. The more I think about it..

It's her right to not say who she voted for but, claiming she's a Clinton Dem. And, just how is that Different than being a President Obama Dem? PUMA? Woman Power? What message? She's not Obama? Rofl

Hillary's campaigning for her.. Michelle Obama campaigned for Mary Burke and Wendy Davis.. guess that wouldn't do in Kentucky.

[badtoworse]

70. Obama's polling pretty poorly right now. She just doesn't want to be associated with his policies.

Last edited Wed Oct 15, 2014, 01:23 PM - Edit history (1)

No more to it than that.

[Cali_Democrat]

71. So what's the big difference between Obama's policies and Clinton's policies?

Why is she calling herself a Clinton Democrat in a state like Kentucky? Are Obama's policies and Clinton's policies vastly different?

[badtoworse]

72. Clinton's favorables are probably a lot higher. It's about numbers

[Cali_Democrat]

73. You referred to Obama's policies as being unpopular

How do Obama's policies and Clinton's policies differ?

[badtoworse]

75. That's irrelevant. People were a lot better off during Clinton's presidency than they are now

By identifying with Clinton, Walker is trying to connect herself to what many people would consider a positive experience - economically, we were doing well during his administration. You can't say that about Obama's administration.

Whether you like it or not, the president gets the credit for good times and wears the blame for bad times. Right now, an awful lot of people are still hurting. Why do you think so few (are there any?) Democrats want to be seen campaigning with Obama?

[Cali_Democrat]

76. So it's not about the policies?

Your words:

She just doesn't want to be associated with his policies.

Again, how do their policies differ?

[badtoworse]

77. You're making too big of a deal over one word.

Most people understand that policy is what drives the actions taken by a president.

Maybe Bill Clinton is just a more likeable guy than Barack Obama, but I really don't see the issue as personal. If you think it is, then the onus is on you to lay out a case to support that.

[Cali_Democrat]

78. LOL. You still can't say how Clinton governed differently than Obama

Then you switch from policies to "likability".

Of course the folks in Kentucky are gonna like the white guy more.

[badtoworse]

79. I've made my point

I know where you want to go, but I'm not interested. Have a nice day.

[Tarheel_Dem]

80. Say what you will, white skin will always carry with it, a certain privelege. Grimes knows this....

She wouldn't stand a chance in a state where Obama lost by 25 pts, if she doesn't reach out to the folks who may not even know they're racist. All they know is they are much more comfortable with white skin, even Bill & Hillary's skin. I won't fault Grimes for doing what she needs to do to win, but I would hope her career in the Senate would be used to make up to all the people she's offended.

[JI7]

81. i agree , i just wish people would stop pretending race is not an issue

especially when we discuss it on things like DU or elsewhere.

some actually tried to claim she was a populist (unless they meant in the pat buchanan way) and the dlc/third way etc was trying to take her down.

[Tarheel_Dem]

82. I've seen "liberals" who insist on "holding Obama's feet to the fire" jump to the defense of Grimes

who, if elected, will undoubtedly be one of the most conservative members of the Democratic caucus, and it makes my head spin. Even the much celebrated and bally-hooed Elizabeth Warren recognizes this fact, but she also knows that keeping the gavel in the hands of Harry Reid is the objective here.

Even though EW is arguably seen by many as the most liberal member of the Senate Democratic caucus, she can help in KY because at the end of the day, she still has "white skin", and that still trumps party affiliation no matter how much folks argue to the contrary.

We saw this dynamic in WV, during the '08 primaries. People who were lifelong Democrats, and Hillary supporters made no pretense about why they supported HRC over Obama, which is why he didn't do much campaigning there. Sadly, there will always be cloistered pockets of this country that will be resistant to minorities based on their long held views about race and culture. They may even agree with Obama on a host of issues, but in the end, he's only half-white, and half ain't good enough.