Race played an intriguing role in Ohio primary

[Algorem]

Source: Plain Dealer


Sunday, March 09, 2008
Robert L. Smith
Plain Dealer Reporter

While Ohio's Democratic primary wrested the attention of America last week, a disquieting characteristic of the vote is intriguing political observers near and far.

In exit polls conducted for the Associated Press and television networks, 20 percent of Ohio voters surveyed said the racial backgrounds of Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton loomed important in their vote.

No one is shocked that race played a role in an Ohio election, but in no other primary in this campaign have such a high percentage of voters cited race as a critical factor, analysts say.

As political strategists weigh the role of race in a Clinton victory and an Obama loss, they also question what it says about Ohio...



Read more: http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/1205063707165990.xml&coll=2

[Mojorabbit]

1. I wonder what the age

breakdown to this is. I can see if it is the more elderly who were raised in a different mindset. That might skew the numbers.

[zanne]

3. God, I hope it's only the elderly...nt

[bjb]

71. Believe it or not

My elderly employer, a Democrat, says he will not vote for a "Black Terrorist" for president.

[ohio2007]

17. they should have explained what color the exit poller was. nt

[zanne]

2. But why Ohio?

I've often wondered about the prevalence of the right wing in Ohio. Why that state? Did hard-core conservatives get together one day and say "Let's move to Ohio"? Can anybody from Ohio explain it to me?

[salin]

6. I don't understand either. In the 80s there were two strong dem senators

from Ohio. John Glen slightly left of center, and the strongly left of center Howard Metzembaum. How the same state that reliably reelected these two senators has become a rw bastion (though the most recent statewide elections have turned back the rw), is beyond me - but I don't live there. I would love to read an explanation.

[Lasher]

9. I'm not from Ohio but my BIL is.

He says he knows for a fact that the Klan is active there. But I can't offer an explanation. Maybe there isn't one.

:(

[salin]

15. How does that account for Ken Blackwell winning statewide before

losing statewide?

[Maeve]

19. He only won among Repubs voting in the primary

And primaries only garner half of the vote that general elections do. And yes, we do have a Klan presence. Southern Poverty Law Center can affirm that.

And I was one of those voting R in the primary, cuz I knew Stickland could beat him. :spank:

[salin]

21. But wasn't previously elected state wide as sec of state?

We have had a klan presence in Indiana, as well, but in terms of politics they are pretty much marginalized - though nearly a century ago (1920s, I believe) they got ensconced in power and briefly ran the state.

[Maeve]

23. Yes, twice

I was just thinking of the gov race....he was a moderate conservative and not too controversial at a time when Repub rule in Ohio was the norm (they were supposed to be the ones who understood business--ha!)

But the more you get to know Blackwell, the less you like him and he energized the left as well as upsetting the prejudiced.

[roseBudd]

26. Yes but he was the R, and Rs will vote for anything with an R, conditioned by Fox & Limpballs

It wasn't until Bush 44 & entire GOP jumped the shark, that a D had a chance

[Lasher]

25. It doesn't.

I was just sharing an indication that bigotry exists in Ohio - which comes as no shock but I was surprised to have learned that the Klan actually as been active.

OK let's try to make some sense of this. We're talking about a political race in Ohio where there is a black candidate running against a white candidate. In such a contest some people will vote for the candide of their own race but it appears a higher percentage of blacks are so inclined. I will refer to the article linked in the OP:

Meanwhile, blacks voted almost unanimously for Obama. In fact, white men emerged as the state's swing voters -- the only identifiable group generally willing to consider either candidate.

Thirty-nine percent of white men voted for Obama. Only 31 percent of white women did so.

None of Cuyahoga County's majority-black precincts supported Clinton, according to a Plain Dealer analysis of election results. More than 260 majority-white precincts supported Obama.

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/03/race_mattered_more_in_ohio_pri.html

And so, maybe white bias against Blackwell was overcome by black bias in his favor. White voters are more numerous but if the Clinton/Obama race is typical in this respect, a greater percentage of blacks can be expected to support a candidate of their own race when given a choice.

This could be a reason why Blackwell was able to get elected. But then why did he lose the 2006 gubernatorial election after that? Two main reasons IMO: By the time of the 2006 election Blackwell had become embroiled in controversy. And as I recall with satisfaction, 2006 was not a good year to have been running as a Republican.

Just like in Blackwell's case, race was not the only factor in the Clinton/Obama contest. For example, women made up 59% of the Ohio vote and they went overwhelmingly for Clinton.

That's my theory, Salin. What do you think?

[roseBudd]

32. Blackwell was elected at a time when only Rs had a chance in that state,

and SoS is not an office most people give any thought to. They may not have even known he was black, as Rs just vote R without any thought.

[salin]

36. Question for you ...

as a neighbor (from Indiana - though I have lived on the coasts and Michigan, but was raised here and am back) I just noted elsewhere the different pattern per the GOP in our states. Tell me if this observation rings true:

In Indiana the GOP tends to be more successful while in Ohio there is still a swing effect. However, in Indiana the GOP (and dems) tend to be pretty centrist on a state-level, while the GOP in Ohio seems rather far right.

If it rings true, then another question: what dynamics shifted from the late 80s to recent times in the state when Ohio elected two democrats to the Senate - one slightly left of center (Glenn), the other pretty firmly left of center (Metzembaum) - to a state dominated by a pretty firmly right of center GOP? (That is until that party was soundly trounced in 2006). I am really confused by your state.

Any insight is appreciated.

[roseBudd]

38. Reagan & Rush happened, the GOP is really good at branding, then GOP corruption...

Ney, Coingate, etc. So the GOP with major help from Bush jumped the shark.

No GOP black candidate got elected in 2006. Remember Michael Steele & Lynn Swann? The racists are GOP voters.

[salin]

39. There was also a black GOP candidate running against Bayh in Indiana

his campaign was so poor, that I can't even remember his name.

Still not sure why Rush and Reagan would have such a much bigger mark on Ohio, than on Indiana per the tenor of the state party. Except perhaps greater economic insecurity (felt earlier there than here) per floundering manufacturing - and Rush's pandering to that crowd with the "angry white man" faux populism?

[roseBudd]

45. Isn't IN all GOP? Interesting factoid, in IN punch cards have the precinct punched, in OH the punch

cards have the precinct printed on the card. If the precinct is punched, the tabulator can't mistabulate a candidate's punch. In OH all you had to do to cheat is mix ballots behind the wrong precinct's header card.

[salin]

46. Indiana is interesting

centrist candidates win statewide. Hence Lugar (R) and Bayh (D). And 16 years of centrist dem governors (Bayh, O'Bannon, Keirnan (filled out O'Bannon's term) - and the GOP thought Daniels was centrist based on his time at Lilly as a corporate guy. At the local level some GOP areas are rw (and congressional folks show that) but remember that three GOP republicans (rw) were all ousted in 2006 by centrist democrats.

At the top of the ticket Indiana is reliably red. But in the state - much more mixed - most markedly is the preference for centrists. In Indiana conservative means "no change" more than anything else.

That is why I am pondering why the pattern for the GOP has been so different in Ohio - becoming more extreme.

Interesting factoid about the punch cards. There has been a little funnystuff in Indiana (voter ID, and "cleaning up the voter rolls") - however there has also been a lot of attention to machines being accurate - in 2006 primaries - due to some problems with machines - the GOP Sec of State required some precincts to go paper. Perhaps it was due to a lot of media attention with problems with certification of new voting machines, but the Sec of State seemed to take action to try to keep elections fair (or at least appear fair).

[roseBudd]

57. Of couse I should have used Had as punchcards are gone but '04 was punch cards in OH

and it was really easy to mistabulate a ballot by feeding it into the tabulator in a stack of another precinct's ballots.

In fact in Warren County FOIA requests showed there were voted ballots with no precinct and many ballots with only a Bush punch

[Lasher]

37. Those are both good points.

In particular, that's an interesting one about lots of people not knowing he was black. You're right.

[salin]

34. Believe it or not...

I have been pretty much stymied this election cycle. I can't predict a darn thing, except a very likely loss for McCain due near "Perfect Storm" conditions on the national level due to bushco's disasterous policies on so many fronts and a growing distrust overall with the RW that seemed to have begun with the Schaivo spectacle (many republicans and independents in Indiana that I know started getting really concerned with the fanaticism of the GOP during that episode, which allowed blinders to come off and suddenly discomfort with the war, became disgust; discomfort with the handling of Katrina became fear (as in this could happen here and the bushco policies have rendered the govt incapable of providing security); and on it goes.

But as to the dynamics in the dem primaries - I really find myself more observing than even attempting to guess.

For example, a good friend called me last night to get my opinion of the Clinton's floating the "joint ticket" meme. I noted that the touting seemed to be with Hillary at the top of the ticket and that while a joint ticket was interesting, I wasn't sure that Clinton should be at the top, given Obama's momentum. Then he asked what my opinion was per which would be stronger at the top - and I couldn't opine - I just don't know - so many mixed dynamics, mixed strengths and weaknesses that I really have no idea. Just as I had no idea who would emerge out of the GOP back in January. Given that with my news reading I usually always form opinions, this is odd for me.

That also applies to this question in Ohio. For example, given the story of the large crossover vote - possibly influenced by rw radio folks urging folks to cross lines - how much of those switching party were tricksters versus how many were real disastisfied republicans? If Ohio mirrors Indiana in anyway (though the electorate here is more GOP centered, it is generally centrist GOP at the state-wide level and both of those things are different in Ohio which is more toss-up centered BUT the GOP seems to be more far-right than in Indiana) I would venture to guess that more of the crossover vote was due to disgruntled republicans (we have tons of those here in Indiana). As to the race factor and the difference between Blackwell and Obama - I really can't say - but the
inconsitency in the explanation slapped me hard in the face, which is why I posed the Blackwell question.

[Lasher]

42. Don't worry Salin, you have an inquiring mind so you'll figure it out if that can be done.

And guess what, I feel pretty much the same way. Sometimes I've leaned a little one way or the other but I haven't made up my mind if I like Hillary or Obama best. Luckily for me in that respect, I don't have to because West Virginia's primary comes so late in the game my vote probably won't matter.

This is a perfect storm in our favor. But never underestimate Democrats' ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. And sentiment could quickly change, particularly with an event such as another major attack on US soil. You would think that in that case people would turn against the dummies in charge, if they failed to prevent such a thing. But the opposite is true.

I think most of the GOP crossover vote was due to sinister intent toward Democrats, not to GOP disenchantment. The choice was between two Democrats, not between a Democrat and a Republican. My guess is, the Republicans wanted Hillary to win because otherwise Obama would have gotten closer to finishing things off. Now McCain is in the clear while Democrats are still embroiled in a long, costly, divisive battle.

[salin]

44. I have to disagree per "most of the crossover vote" being mischief,

mostly because the pattern is not unlike the higher voter turnout for dems over repubs, even in "red states", when there was a wide open primary on the repub side as well as the dem side. Certainly there was mischief - the signed pledge cards with reports of notes scribbled on them "ya for a day!" - but I don't think it accounts for the majority of the crossover, unless the pattern in Ohio is just very, very different than in other earlier primary states.

I also find the story itself a little ... interesting... I mean, why would so many people write their intentions of mischevious on the pledge card, given that it could lead to either nullifying their vote (if vote challenges were happening as they should have, but reportedly did not), or worse be illegal (granted no prosecutions are on record for this law.) Unless part of the Rush and local rw radio "directives" included telling folks to write snide comments disclosing their illegal actions on the "pledge cards" as a sort of "thumb in the face".

I think the story might be trumped up a bit - making it seem like Rush et al is so POWERFUL in throwing elections. And completely ignoring the legit crossovers that have been happening since Iowa. And if my suspicion is correct - i say bring it on! All it does is continue to paint a false image for the GOP, their media, and thus their operatives, per the real loss of voter appeal the GOP has on its hands in 2008.

[Lasher]

47. That theory can be tested by party affiliation trends.

And trends seem to confirm your belief. If the crossover vote was mainly due to disenchantment with the GOP, then you would think that we would also see an increasing percentage of voters who self-identify as Democrats.

As the public image of the Democratic Party shifted from Congress to the Presidential campaign trail, the number of Democrats in the United States has soared. In fact, during the month of February, the Democrat’s numerical advantage over the Republican Party grew to the highest level ever measured by Rasmussen Reports.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/party_affiliation/partisan_trends

[salin]

48. And if that "explanation" for the vote outcome gets washed out

we are back to - what accounts for the vote outcome per Hillary vs Obama. I think that understanding that dynamic will probably be beneficial in the general election, regardless of which dem candidate is at the top of the ticket.

[Lasher]

54. My head hurts.

The challenge is, there is not just one dynamic. For example we are also presented with a gender choice. Some women crossed over from the GOP to vote for Hillary. Other women who might otherwise have stayed home went to the polls and voted for her.

Notice, the article said white males were generally the only voters open to voting for either candidate. But hey, what about black females, wouldn't they be just as open? Eeeeeeeeee!!!!

Like I said, my head hurts.

[Berry Cool]

35. The Klan is active in a LOT of states.

That doesn't explain Ohio.

[Lasher]

43. You know, that must be so.

I was shocked when my BIL told me about it. How distressing to think that we have made less progress than some of us have assumed.

I'm not convinced race is more of a general factor in Ohio than in other states. Exit poll results were surely impacted by crossover voters from the GOP, where you will find a higher percentage of people who vote based on racial bias.

[XemaSab]

67. The Klan's active everywhere

The last place I lived in California (near Yosemite) had a big Klan training camp. :(

http://www.splcenter.org/intel/map/hate.jsp

[roseBudd]

31. Reagan convinced whites that hating poor people was OK, and the D partty was cast as synonymous with

lazy black people on welfare

[salin]

41. Could be that economic insecurity was felt more severly

in Ohio (larger manufacturing base to start rusting; it has been in this decade that Indiana is starting to see a real decline and lots of plant closings - though the seventies were hard on the steel industry in Gary) - and that the anger was easier to channel (scapegoating) more effectively in Ohio than here. Just trying to wrap my brain around why the state GOP here didn't get nor stay as extreme as it seems to have in Ohio.

Wait, I think I am on to something... Because the GOP had a stronger hold on the electorate here (with the Bayh exception) perhaps there was less pandering by candidates to the extremist rhetoric of hate of Rush et al - and thus the party didn't have to move so far to the right - where in Ohio there was a long standing strong democratic party - so to start winning - there was a greater use of the ridiculing/punishing/hateful/scapegoating rhetoric of Reagan and Rush by candidates and the state party as they had to fight harder (initialy) to take control. ???

[Maeve]

55. You might have something there, salin

There isn't any one reason for why Ohio is Ohio (see my post #10 below for some) but a brew of several issues--your "possible" may be one of them.

BTW, my mom is a lifetime Repub, but leaning toward Hillary. Don't ask me to explain it--maybe a trace of feminism finally touched her in her 70's.

[salin]

58. cool about your Mom

The only repub branch of my family is my brother - and I am almost afraid to ask. He has grown more moderate in the past few years (the disillusionment with the extremism in the GOP I mention elsewhere) - but i would guess, due to the fact that he doesn't play that close attention to news, is that he will view McCain as moderate and vote for him. Had a more extreme (in the MSM play) repub won - I think he might have been prone to consider Obama (still too much Clinton ridicule from his listening to the rw radio for him to consider Hillary).

[Maeve]

10. Depends on the part of Ohio

The cities went for Obama, the rural areas for Clinton.

Rural Ohio is practically all white and the southern part of the state is very "southern"--many from the Appalachians moved north to Ohio for better economic opportunity. They are also very conservative and suspicious of government. (I say "they" but I'm originally from rural Ohio myself) When southern blacks migrated north for jobs back in the '40s and 50's, these are the people who were in direct competition with them. Much of the rural part of the state is still depressed economically--once thriving farm communities have become ghosts of their former selves (I grew up watching family farms go up for auction time after time). On the other hand, they often look back to the Clinton years as good times and would like to turn back the clock, if it's possible. They are good folk suffering and looking for a way out. Many thought that electing a "godly man" would help, but Dubya can't tell "pray" from "prey".

[salin]

59. Really insightful analysis.

Thanks.

[hedgehog]

70. I agree with your analysis. Without having access to actual data,

so this is essentially my WAG, it seems to me that the black population went up as jobs went away, so the two became associated in some people's minds. I see some of the same thing directed toward people on welfare here in my area of Upstate New York. The jobs left, and a lot of houses are now rented to families on welfare. Somehow the fact that the houses are getting run down becomes the faults of the renters rather than a result of no money left in the city. When I lived in Southern Ohio in the late 70's, there was a lot of suspicion directed at the white ethnics living in Cleveland, let alone any blacks.

[THUNDER HANDS]

14. southern ohio

borders Kentucky. Places like Parma are very racist.


....from what I've been told.

[ohio2007]

20. pretty ignorant analogy "you have been told" there

Parma is Kucinich country,his voter base is made up of a very heavy dose of eastern european settlers,mostly running from the Soviet Unions Iron Curtain after WW II. They became blue collar factory workers in the largest burb in the country.They also brought with them their eastern orthadox church culture. Those "racists" are dieing out though and many of thier houses are on the market but going unsold as the church population also shrinks.

So whats up with your Kentucky analogy ? Poor white trash mountain folk who would never vote for a woman or black man ?

just sayin

[THUNDER HANDS]

22. just passing along what I've been told from an Ohio resident

my ex girlfriend, who was from Shaker Heights.

[ohio2007]

50. no prob.... her opinion of "West Siders vs East SIders" is understandable

Shaker Hts is east side and those snow belters are a bit 'out there'. ;)

Speaking of race though, I saw an article from the Washington state area. They 'polled' the Oriental population and didn't make a big fuss as to why they chose Hillary over Obama. Just that they preffered the experience over the unknown.

[theHandpuppet]

52. Are we going to go at this AGAIN?

More of your same elitish bullshit about anyone south of Cleveland being racist, especially if they're poor or Appalachian. You ought to be ashamed.

[theHandpuppet]

51. He's always throwing that elitist B.S. out at every opportunity

People from the mountains as ignorant racists -- even blaming the vote in SE Ohio for Obama's loss there! It's a mantra he keeps repeating at every opportunity but since it's apparently okay to trash poor hill people at DU he just keeps posting this garbage.

[lark]

68. Desperate people

When people don't have jobs, they get very competitive, uptight and even irrational. I think I heard that Ohio is #1 in job loss in the nation, so maybe the cornered "rats" are not thinking clearly?? Just a guess.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

4. What they need to ask

is whether these people are VOTING for Obama because of race, or NOT VOTING for him because of race. There is a big difference, IMO. The former implies hatred, and the latter implies pride (although I can't say I agree with either).

[roseBudd]

28. For instance I am a white Obama backer for 2 reasons, charisma is unbeatable in my view & race,...

I think urban, low income, crime ridden America needs Obama more than white blue collar workers who have jobs and are significantly in a better position economically, educationally, etc need Hillary.

Anybody who thinks gritty blue collar towns are as bad off as the inner cities on any measure is smoking something. The HBO show The Wire should give you an idea what like is like.

[lark]

69. Funny, I look at the exact same demographics, yet

come up with a different conclusion. My roots are poor southern white folks, yet I think Hillary would be the much better president for those struggling because I think she'd work her butt off for them. I think Obama is the person for the elitist, not the working person like myself. When asked early on about help for the people getting screwed by the mortgage crisis, he said there was nothing we could do. Hillary came up with a plan to help. That's why I'm supporting her now that Edwards and Richardson are out of the race.

[Ned_Devine]

5. I'm not from Ohio...

...and I've only driven through once...but why is it considered a cross section of the the US? I can't believe that for a second

[fujiyama]

63. I don't it's so much as a cross section as it is a bellwhether

The winner of the general election has almost always carried Ohio and Missouri (another one considered a bellwether).

I think Ohio (and Pennsylvania) are actually a bit older than the national average but in some ways they reflect national demographics. They represent both white collar and blue collar, urban, rural, suburban, black, white, evangelical, etc. Still, its Latino population is small. Pennsylvania has diversified its economy better than Ohio though a lot of people are hurting there as well (though it doesn't have the same level of foreclosures as MI and OH).

[Lasher]

7. Here's the article at a website that doesn't make you sign up to read more.

It's titled differently but I'm pretty sure it's the same one.

Race mattered more in Ohio primary than in any other state

While Ohio's Democratic primary wrested the attention of America last week, a disquieting characteristic of the vote is intriguing political observers near and far.

In exit polls conducted for the Associated Press, 20 percent of Ohio voters surveyed said the racial backgrounds of Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton loomed important in their vote.

No one is shocked that race played a role in an Ohio election, but in no other primary in this campaign have such a high percentage of voters cited race as a critical factor, analysts say.

As political strategists weigh the role of race in a Clinton victory and an Obama loss, they also question what it says about Ohio.

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/03/race_mattered_more_in_ohio_pri.html

[Cirque du So-What]

8. Consider that 'pugs were instructed to vote for Hillary Clinton

and that evidence suggests a great many of them did as instructed. Those conducting the exit polls would undoubtedly have encountered a good number of crossover republick voters. Perhaps it's the racism of these crossover voters whose racism skewed the results of that poll :shrug:

I haven't been living in Ohio for very long, but I've got strong ties to the state through friends and family, and I've visited here a great deal over the years. I see no evidence of a greater tendency toward racism - especially among its Democratic residents. That's what leads me to believe that the exit pollers' results are skewed due to 'pugs trying to influence our election.

[Lasher]

13. Good theory.

And one that is set forth in the article.

Pinkney concurs with Johnson at Hiram College that many of the white male voters for Clinton -- and many of the voters who told survey-takers that race mattered -- are probably Republicans who "crossed over" to vote in the Democratic primary for Clinton, whom they see as beatable.

They'll cross back to vote for John McCain in the general election, Pinkney said.

http://blog.cleveland.com/openers/2008/03/race_mattered_more_in_ohio_pri.html

[roseBudd]

30. Also exit pollers do not know if they are asking a real D or a crossover R...

Cincinnati Enquirer did 2 A1 stories on crossover Rs in the heavy SW OH exurb counties and reporter Howard Wilkinson is seeking comments from crossover Rs as to motivation

Remember the R primary was useless to Rs unless they wanted to cast a protest Huck vote

[Cassandra]

11. As I've said before...

while some of the respondents are racists, some may have been worried about the general election and whether the racism of others will effect it.

[zanne]

12. But why is racism so often denied?

It's almost too PC to admit that there might still be bigotry in this country. Why so many excuses for it?

[ohio2007]

16. exit polls should replace actual polls. Isn't that the real story with this article?

They suggest that if someone voted for a canidate other the Obama, that voter was a racist !

It's nice to know in at least 49 states race isn't an exit poll issue it is in Ohio .


/sarc

[FreeStateDemocrat]

18. "Meanwhile, blacks voted almost unanimously for Obama." Double sided sword cuts both ways.

Bad for whites to base decision on race but is ok for minorities, and then we have the gender can of worms to open. Race and gender have now become deciding factors who would have thought that would happen, anyone with half a brain. Besides a majority of people would never admit in public that they were influenced by race and gender when they may be viewed as being prejudicial in their actions by others and that is basic human nature.

[roseBudd]

29. African americans are our most loyal voters, BUT they do rightly complain of being taken for granted

and if Clinton throws Obama under the bus, like these past 2 weeks, I see a Clinton hatred on the horizon among African Americans.

[A Brand New World]

24. As an Ohioan, I can tell you racism is alive and will definitely

play a part in the election in Nov. I myself voted for Obama but I have relatives who are staunch Democrats who will never vote for Obama. It's not a pretty picture and one I wish I didn't have to say but it's true. And yes, the ones I know are elderly.

[roseBudd]

33. Yes but if the choice is between a McSame economy or populist economy do you really

think they will vote against their economic self interest? Aren't racists already voting R because it is the white brand?

[A Brand New World]

61. I think they just won't vote at all. I'm not saying it's right, I'm just

telling it as I know it. I want Obama to win.

[roseBudd]

27. The money quote is right here: "many of the white male voters for Clinton - and many of the voters

many of the white male voters for Clinton - and many of the voters who told survey-takers that race mattered - are probably Republicans who "crossed over" to vote in the Democratic primary for Clinton, whom they see as beatable.

They'll cross back to vote for John McCain in the general election, Pinkney said.

Hubby's GOP coworker called him that AM to rub it in his face he was crossing to vote for Clinton because they fear Obama's charisma

Charisma counts people and the GOP who don't overanalyze really gets this. That is why Reagan and Dumbya were selected by the GOP and/or Rove and groomed.

[williesgirl]

40. I'm originally from OH, though moved 25 yrs ago. Still have family/friends there. Racism is

alive there, but also the Dems were soooo crooked in the 60's/70's/80's (think Jim Trafficant who I went to school with) that the Repukes stepped in and took over. Churches have alot to do with it as well. It'd be interesting to see what impact, if at all, anti-abortionists have on their elections. One of the reasons I moved was I had my daughter, left my husband while living/working in NY state and refused to go back home. I didn't want her to grow up surrounded only by folks who looked just like her.

I moved to VA in the DC metro area to raise her. The street I built my home on was like a mini-UN and we loved it. She grew up understanding/knowing about other cultures/religions (born and raised Catholic myself but no longer believe in any organized religion)and she has zero biases as a result of that long-ago decision.

If we could get the damn churches out of our government, we'd all be better off. Just my opinion.

[taliesin]

49. I have lived in Ohio my entire life.

For the last 11 years in Shaker Heights and am sad to say that throughout my life racism has (although it seems to have become less overt) been all around me. I grew up in Cleveland during busing and that was a really ugly time. I've lived mostly in integrated neighborhoods but many of the people that I've known and worked with who casually throw around racial jokes/slurs have not. I've noticed that there is a stronger generational component, but ignorance and fear play the largest part.

[Skittles]

65. terribly disconcerting

just so damn ugly :(

[RaRa]

53. I grew up in Ohio and left in '90

and I have been secretly thinking this since the election. I can't suggest anything substantive, but my gut just told me racism played a role there. I didn't grow up with obvious racism (NE Ohio), but my brother lives in SE Ohio, and I'm guessing it played a role at least there.

[dansolo]

56. I wonder if this was because he is black, or because some thought he was a Muslim

I realize that Muslim is a religion, not a race, but I can easily see people conflating the two.

[fshrink]

60. It will take

all the humiliation endured for 8 years to compensate for the prejudice against the non-white.

[calicat]

62. As did gener, I'm sure

Bigotry comes in all shapes and sizes.

[Doremus]

64. I live in Ohio.

Deep blue Cuyahoga County to be exact. And I am more than disappointed to say that in my opinion race was indeed a factor. It's a puzzle though. I live in Stephanie Tubbs Jones' district, a woman who is revered here and re-elected time after time.

The Dems I spoke to before the election were overwhelmingly in favor of Hillary, despite her warts and baggage, which they freely admitted exist. When I brought up Barack's potential as a new beginning and a departure from the same old-same old, they nodded and went back to discussing Hillary's shortcomings. One guy said he couldn't put his finger on it specifically, but Obama just wasn't his cup of tea.

If the folks in the Dem stronghold can't get past old stereotypes, imagine how it went down in the blue dog regions. Very disheartening.

[Windex]

66. 16,000 Republicans in Cuyahoga crossed over and voted Democratic in primary

http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/news/120505162549970.xml&coll=2


WOW!