Wow, i Had no Idea that Kentucky had so many fucking outright Racists

[yodermon]

...
But the background of the piece is just how readily many white Kentuckians admit that they simply won't vote for a black man for president.

"I've talked to people--a woman who was chair of county elections last year, she said she wouldn't vote for a black man," J.K. Patrick told Packer. And he won't either. "I really don't want an African-American as President ... I thought about it. I think he would put too many minorities in positions over the white race. That's my opinion. After 1964, you saw what the South did ... There's a lot of white people that just wouldn't vote for a colored person. Especially older people."

With frankness like this, it was probably no accident that it was Kentucky Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY) who got in trouble two weeks ago for calling Obama "that boy" at a GOP party dinner in his home district -- a comment for which he later apologized.

more...
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/192341.php

[leftofcool]

1. It isn't just KY

You will find this in all 50 states.

[cliffordu]

That's right - those idiots are everywhere.

[enki23]

8. let's not pretend it's equally bad across the nation

barack obama didn't carry places like minnesota and iowa on the strength of black voters. responding to this with "there are problems everywhere" doesn't make the very real discrepancy go away.

[leftofcool]

14. Oh I think it is equally bad, just not as outspoken

and the ones that are silent as just as dangerous politically and socially

[enki23]

23. ok, so i'll put you down as someone who would pretend exactly that

.

[cali]

27. Sorry, you're wrong. There are greater concentrations

of racists in some areas. It's simply true. It's hardly a secret. You would be very hard pressed to find that attitude where I live in rural VT. In fact, you'd be hard pressed to find that attitude anywhere in VT. Part of it may indeed be that it's absolutely socially unacceptable to express something like that, but it's not just that.

[hfojvt]

39. that's why they can be more outspoken

because they know they've got lots of like minded people around.

[leftofcool]

40. Okay, Vermont doesn't have any racists. That is a wonderful thing for your state.

[cali]

45. not quite what I said.

Why will white people in a state that's whiter than KY, vote for a black man when the majority of whites in KY won't? And I can guarantee you that if Obama is the nominee, he'll win VT and lose KY. Explain why the very white state of VT will vote for a black man and KY won't.

[WCGreen]

51. First of all the comment was anecdotal and not really a valid

starting point to call most of the people in KY racists, even if it does turn out to be the truth.

That's Rush Limbaugh type of extrapolating.

I think and hope you are better than that.

Perhaps the people who are not voting for Obama factor other reasons beside race in making their decision.

We don't know for sure now do we.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

38. there's some nice people there, but theres alot of "Ditto heads"

its mostly rural, and not alot of mobility.

Old traditions die hard.

[crimsonblue]

47. i agree. this sort of shit isn't happening in Kansas...

call us ass-backwards and creationist losers if ya want, but we fully embraced Obama-- even in the small town of El Dorado, there were thousands of people from all across the state that showed up to catch a glimpse of him. Free State born, Free State bred!

[Zodiak]

70. Have you read "What's the Matter With Kansas?"

The Populist movement of the late 1800's got it's start in Kansas, and culminated with the election of FDR.

Kansas is not a "red state"....they are a religious state, which makes them vulnerable to right-wing pandering when economic issues are absent from the discourse. But when the economic chips are down, Kansas turns blue. From what I hear, this phenomenon is being played out today.

Kentucky I know little about, but from driving through it a few times, they are very into their red-statedom

[crimsonblue]

85. yes, i very well know that Kansas is a very religio-wacko state

but we aren't racist. Everyone that's not a Jesus loving Christian is hated here, irregardless of color.

[crimsonblue]

86. also, since I live in the state and I am pretty observant, I dont need to read the book.

[Coexist]

2. that is grotesque.

[IndianaJones]

3. thats like saying "wow I had no idea Kentucky had so many white people." lmao. nt.

[yodermon]

26. huh?

guess I'm just naive then.

[Barack_America]

4. Well, they're going to have to get used to having a black President.

If they don't like it, they're welcome to go wherever Clinton and Bush already shipped their jobs to.

[hell-bent]

65. Well, you can't get a Black presidential candidate

elected unless you get the White and the Latino vote. It's a fact,Jack! The Black vote represents what? 20+% of the electorate? It isn't going to happen.

[TahitiNut]

78. Your concern has been noted.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5751295

[Barack_America]

89. If people want to vote themselves into economic extinction...

I have no choice but to let them.

But I think that in most states, voters will choose their economic well-being over their personal prejudices. Maybe not in WV and KY, but since when were they going to vote Democratic anyways?

[Moochy]

103. MY RACIST NEIGHBORS WONT VOTE FOR HIM!!!!1111

Nice fig leaf you got there.

[Leopolds Ghost]

90. Best Post in Thread, make a great bumper sticker

Get used to having a black President:

If you don't like it, feel free to go
wherever Clinton & Bush shipped our jobs to!

[Leopolds Ghost]

91. Best Post in Thread, make a great bumper sticker

Get used to having a black President:

If you don't like it, feel free to go
wherever Clinton & Bush shipped our jobs to!

[Barack_America]

96. Thanks!

I'm glad you agree!

:hi:

[TheZug]

5. You must not have visited very often.

I have.

It's bad.

Not that there aren't plenty of such racists everywhere else, though.

Indiana is one such place. At one time, it had more KKK members than any other state.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

29. Also Calif. at one time.

[DJ13]

6. Imagine their surprise when Obama becomes President and they have no choice

.....but to call a "Black Man" Mr. President.

Oh to have cameras pointed at their faces when McCain goes up in flames on election night!

[hell-bent]

67. How can he become President without the White vote?

Sorry, it hasn't happen in the last three big, Blue, industrial states. What are you smoking? Or, is it the special Kool-Aid?

[Leopolds Ghost]

95. And... You say whites won't vote for him?

[tabasco]

7. There is a klan "church" in my county in WV.

They don't call themselves the klan but it's the same bunch of dirtbags.

[AndyA]

9. I hate to say this, but Kentucky isn't the only state where this attitude is limited to.

There are many, many, many who simply will not vote for a woman or a black person.

They are all wrong, but when it comes down to just them and their vote, they will not do it.

I'm surprised so many are just now figuring this out. :shrug:

[kwenu]

10. They aren't smart enough to lie and say he's an elitist and doesn't identify with rural voters.

But at least they are honest.

[KaptBunnyPants]

46. True.

[bullwinkle428]

93. "Elitist" is the new "uppity", in their eyes...

[NJSecularist]

11. You can cherrypick a quote like this from any state.

I see the Obamites are getting their excuses ready for Obama's big losses in Kentucky and West Virginia.

[yodermon]

34. In the article, Clinton loses by 2 to Mccain. Obama loses by *34* to mccain.

What explanation do *you* have for that discrepancy?

[butterfly77]

58. I always wonder why some people...

CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH..

[kentuck]

12. Take the comments of a couple people in an article...

and paint the entire state with a broad brush as "racists"? That's really cool.

[yodermon]

20. "*HAD* so many racists"

is not the same as "The whole state is racist" but feel free to hear what you want to hear.

Acutally Josh Marshall's title of the piece is *worse* than mine. His is "What's The Matter With Kentucky?" which is more of a broad-brush sentiment than mine. Maybe you should take this up with him.

[K Gardner]

13. Evidently you haven't been to Tennessee lately either.. welcome to the Southern US of A :-)

[reflection]

25. This Tennessean unfortunately agrees. n/t

[yodermon]

31. actually I live in Charlotte

but i'm surrounded by northern transplants so my view is a bit skewed.
I'm really interested in the county-by-county breakdown of Obama/Clinton here in NC.

[sunnystarr]

32. Exactly ... look at what Corker did to Ford (nt)

[NashVegas]

52. No Fair Using Ford As An Example

Although I voted for him, I was holding my nose. Ford is almost to the right of the average baseball player.

[sunnystarr]

111. So true lol ... I held my nose too! (nt)

[nomaco-10]

37. That's not so. Memphis and Nashville are ......

very large, progressive democratic areas. It's mostly in the eastern part of the state (knoxville) and pockets of rural areas from east of nashville to the sc border.

[K Gardner]

41. Yes, you're right.. unfortunately, I live in the eastern part :-) Even here, we have a nice

progressive community associated with the many universities. Unfortunately, the Appalachian influence remains strong in pockets.

[dogday]

63. Georgia and SC are part of the Southern USA and Barack

carried them as well as other southern states.. ....

[K Gardner]

94. Those states are decidedly different demographically from KY and TN, unfortunately !

[TexanDem]

15. to think that Hillary panders to these disgusting bigots is enough reason to NOT vote for her

[TahitiNut]

79. Amen.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5751295

[LibDemAlways]

16. I'm in California and there are people here

who also will not vote for a black man for President. I don't think you could go anywhere in the country and not find racism.

[rox63]

24. I'm in the bluer-than-blue state of Massachusetts

We've got racists here too. Anyone remember the Boston school busing war from the 70's? But we also recently managed to elect an African-American governor. So I have no doubt that MA Dems would vote for Obama in November.

[LibDemAlways]

35. When former Mayor Tom Bradley of LA was running for

California Governor the polls showed him ahead on election day. He lost, and the theory is that many whites who had said they were supporting him voted otherwise when push came to shove. We haven't had another black candidate run for governor since, so I don't know if the same would hold true today. I would like to think the state is now more enlightened, but there are still a lot of racists here. Immigrant bashing is especially popular.

[woolldog]

53. Um, please don't compare CA to Kentucky

There is no comparison. Sure there are racists everywhere, but the scope and intensity (as well as the acceptability) of racism are on completely different levels in the two states.

[LibDemAlways]

60. I think it all depends on where in CA you are talking about.

I would agree that northern Calif is much more progressive than where I live in Ventura County. But racism here is not uncommon, if perhaps generally kept more underwraps than in a state like Kentucky.

A couple of cases in point.

I know a very left-leaning couple, both attorneys, who yanked their daughter out of kindergarten when they discovered that there were Hispanic kids from a nearby apartment complex in the class.

I met an old high school acquaintance for dinner awhile back at a restaurant in Marina Del Rey. She looked kind of uncomfortable and I asked what was the matter. She leaned across the table and in all seriousness whispered, "I'm sorry I recommended this place. I didn't realize there would be so many black people here." Her husband, by the way, is Hispanic.

I substitute teach in a school district which is about 95% white. One afternoon I was in an 8th grade remedial class when a verbal scuffle broke out between a white and black student. It ended with the white kid hurling the "n" word. I immediately sent him to the office expecting that he would be dealt with harshly by the dean. Nah. He was back in 5 minutes with a minor handslap and an admonition not to do it again. The kids were appalled. Imagine the message that sent.

I have a couple of neighbors, longtime Californians, who won't vote for Obama because they can't imagine a black man in the White House, and they don't mind saying so.

So, ok, I'll grant you that California isn't generally as overtly racist as some other places in the US, but Californians are certainly not exempt from holding racist views.

[woolldog]

72. It's nowhere even close to KY. So STOP comparing the two

In CA Obama is beating McCain by a larger margin than Clinton, not a significantly larger margin, but a larger margin nonthless. Compare that to the wide disparity in how Clinton runs against McCain and how Obama runs against Mccain in the KY. 30 points? C'mon. Get your head out of the sand.

[LibDemAlways]

82. I don't have my head in the sand. When Tom Bradley

lost his race for CA governor, he was up in the polls. White racism defeated him on election day. And in Kentucky, it doesn't matter who the Dem candidate is. We are not going to win there any more than we are going to win Texas or Utah or Indiana or Alaska or Colorado or any other state which votes reliably "R" in Presidential elections.

The Dem will more than likely win California. I'm not arguing he or she won't. Your contention is that California doesn't vote like Kentucky in Presidential elections. True. But it has more to do with Kentucky being a red state than with the racism quotient of the voters. My original statement stands. There are racists in California as there are racists all over the USA.

[woolldog]

88. So what?

I never said there wasn't white racism in CA. I said it's not comparable to the scope and level of racism in KY.

Tom Bradley lost by 52,000 votes in 1982 (26 years ago) in a state that was maybe 10% black at the time if that. That certainly wouldn't have even been possible in KY in 1982. Is that even possible in KY in 2008? NO.

You're COMPLETELY missing the point with the numbers. It has nothing to do with KY being a red state. The difference between Obama v. McCain and Clinton v. McCain GE matchup numbers is too stark to suggest anything other than widespread racism. 10 point difference, ok. 20 point difference, umm strange, but not necessarily anything nefarious. 30 point difference, sorry. Get your head out of your a$$.

[LibDemAlways]

97. OK, so Kentucky is racist. There isn't anything you

or I can do about it.

It doesn't mean I've got my head or anything else up my ass. And I really don't appreciate your sinking to that level. Don't bother responding further. You're on ignore.

[woolldog]

101. oh no, don't put me on Ignore!

:rofl:

[CBGLuthier]

76. bullshit

California has proportionally about as many racist assholes as every other state.

Ever heard of a guy named Rodney King for instance?

Or some of the lovely shit done in the 40's, like the Sleepy Lagoon murder case.

Times haven't changed that much.

America is a very racist nation from sea to fucking sea without much change.

[woolldog]

81. The 40's? LOL. I wasn't around then

Where do people get this bizarre idea that amount of racism doesn't vary from state to state? It's baffling to me b/c having traveled around the country it's obvious that it does.

Sorry but you couldn't pay me to live in states like WV, KY, MS, and AL.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5767742&mesg_id=5771776

[CBGLuthier]

83. And believe it or not

Thy wouldn't want you to live there. I imagine you include Oklahoma on your list. Ever heard of how you wonderfuck Californians treated the poor from Oklahoma? Such a liberal bastion.

I too have traveled this land. It's everywhere rather you want to admit it or not. North South, East and West.

And as for you not being around in the 40's neither was I. But I have an education, in particular about our racial history.

[woolldog]

87. Ok, you got me! CA is as racist as MS.

Minnesota is as racist as Kentucky.

And Washington State is as racist as Alabama.

:eyes:

You must live in bizarro world. I live on Earth.

[nomaco-10]

42. A couple from cali moved in ......

two doors down. they were gonna vote for duncan hunter, but missed the primary here (tn).

[LibDemAlways]

49. Lots of neanderthals in So. Calif. I live close to

the Reagan Library and am surrounded by idiots. No Cal is generally much more politically aware and progressive.

[TahitiNut]

80. Most of them call themselves "Republicans"

:shrug: They just loved Pete Wilson.

[DangerDave921]

17. Incorrect

You simply failed to put their comments in the proper context and understand the nuance of their meanings. :)

[TragedyandHope]

18. That's what happens when your leaders prefer war to education

[chill_wind]

22. Quote of the Day!! And pic of the day, too. n/t

[ellisonz]

73. Bingo.

[WHEN CRABS ROAR]

19. I'm 66 years old, lived in Calif. most of my life, this is a racist

country, to say it isn't, simply is not true. Yes, in many ways we have grown, but the sad fact is there are many racists out there. Peace be with you all.

[AlinPA]

43. I think we are one generation away from losing a lot of this racism and prejudice;

a lot of people your age and older still won't have a non-white or woman as president. That is just my opinion based on people whom I have heard make statements about it.

[Renaissance Man]

21. This is not surprising!

It happens everywhere, but these notions are more prevalent in places like Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma, a portion of Ohio, and West Virginia, and a portion of Florida and a part of Indiana.

Denying it won't help anything.

[backscatter712]

28. The Shrill-bots would have you believe KY's full of open-minded progressives...

who just happen to support Hillary after a long and thoughtful decision-making process.

Bullshit.

That state's full of hicks.

Uneducated, willfully-ignorant, downright stupid, closed-minded, cross-burning, banjo-picking, inbred, fundie, wife-beating mouth-breathers.

That's why Obama's at a disadvantage there.

[NJSecularist]

30. Imagine if somebody said the same thing about Georgia or Mississippi?

Imagine how much of an uproar the Obamacult in this forum would be in?

[woolldog]

92. It's true

Georgia and MS are just as bad, probably worse. The difference is that in those states the whites all join the republican party to get away from the blacks. So the democratic electorate in those states tend to be made up of people of color and progressive whites.

In states like KY, WV, and TN they didn't all join the republican party because there wasn't a high % of minorities living there who were democrats. As a consequence the racists are spread more evenly between the political parties.

[terrell9584]

107. proving you don't live in Mississippi

Let me explain rural Mississippi elections. All elections, decided in Democratic primary, because Democratic nominee just wins magically at general time.


So, anyone who registers as a Republican, disenfranchises themself. The same with rural counties in Georgia. The county where they had the segregated prom two years ago is one controlled by the Democratic Party, oddly enough, it has voted for Thurbert Baker, GA's black AG, several times.

[Bake]

56. Did you omit any slurs? Oh yeah: hillbillies.

Your post is about as offensive as anything I've seen in GDP in a long time:

"Hicks," "Uneducated, willfully-ignorant, downright stupid, closed-minded, cross-burning, banjo-picking, inbred, fundie, wife-beating mouth-breathers"

first off, dipshit, I lived in KY for 19 years or so. My wife and all of her family are from KY. We don't burn crosses. We're not inbred. Many of us have college degrees. I'VE GOT FOUR DEGREES, DIPSHIT -- B.A., M.Div., M.B.A., J.D. Why don't you try and match that, assclown.

Oh, by the way -- I PLAY THE BANJO. And if you knew half as much as you think you do, you'd know that the banjo is a serious instrument.

You're an insulting, closed-minded, willfully ignorant dipshit.

Bake

[NatBurner]

61. would u vote for a black man tho?

just curious

[Bake]

62. Of course I would.

Just because I happen to support a different candidate doesn't mean I am voting "against" Obama. Neither Clinton nor Obama was my first choice anyway (Gore first, and then Edwards).

Plenty of Obama supporters say they'd gladly vote for a woman, just not "this" woman.

Bake

[sudopod]

64. BAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

OH NOEZ, someone said something mean about stuff I like on the internets!

<==Knoxville resident, lol.

[knixphan]

33. I was doing some reading about KY

Shocked me too.

Bu then, I wasn't really.

[bigtree]

36. there are racists everywhere

There's no evidence Kentucky has any more than anywhere else.

It looks like this is an attempt to smear a state which may not support Obama as he's become accustomed.

[SoCalDem]

44. and yet those people would be perfectly acceptable to HRC if they voted for her in the primary.

:(

[knixphan]

48. Some states have higher concentration than others.

Let's do the laundry everywhere - regardless of candidates!

[yardwork]

50. They won't vote for a woman for president either, white or black.

Racists are bigots and bigots are sexists.

[Danger Mouse]

54. Bigots disgust me. I want to see Obama win just to spite those bastards.

[kentuck]

57. And thank you very much...

You bunch of bigots! :mad:

[Danger Mouse]

59. What? I'm referring very specifically to the bigots who say they won't vote for a black man.

Is there a problem with that?

[Jed Dilligan]

55. "Geoff"

Nice stealthy way to not name your kid after the president of the CSA.

[sandsavage]

66. I'm new and pretty sure

my opinion is scum.lol Having lived in many states, racism is not just a Southern state issue.
Here in Michigan it is alive as well. Talking to many white Democrats, 99 percent are for Hillary.
Very verbal that they will not vote for a black man. Breaks my heart that we can't seem to get past
the race issue. I know Obama would win Michigan in the Presidential Election. I pray that in my life
time to see race not an issue, but think I pray in vain. Makes me very sad.

[McCamy Taylor]

68. And racists join the Republican Party in the South. Southern Democrats are progressives

The whining of some people is getting pathetic. This not the GE. This is the primary. Stop bad mouthing your own party.

[terrell9584]

75. Uh, not hardly

Most rural county courthouses in the south remain under Democratic control. All Republican strength in the South is confined primarily to urban and suburban areas. The exceptions are North Carolina and Tennessee, where the section that was loyal to the U.S. during the Civil War is staunchly Republican at every level, and South Carolina, which is a situation that was solely created by Thurmond.

[mitchum]

69. What? is Patrick afraid that Obama would outlaw cousin fucking?

J.K, I'm pretty certain that Obama is not really concerned about the rather curious folkways of your "white race"

[Catherine Vincent]

71. I hope Barack wins the presidency.

Just to upset idiots that think that way....and not just in Kentucky.

[aquarius dawning]

74. I don't think it's entirely racial at its core. It's more of an "us versus them" mentality

and it isn't restricted to southern white folks by any means. And, even deeper still, it's mother nature at work. You can't undo mother nature's handiwork.

[kwenu]

102. The hell you say?!

[TBF]

77. Kentucky? Try every state...

Did you not hear the results of the same questions asked in rural Pennsylvania? This is a young country and the civil war was less than 150 years ago. Unfortunately there are still MANY bigots amongst us.

I'm so proud to support Obama for president, and to see him as president would give me hope that people are continuing to evolve.

[knixphan]

84. If every progressive called out the stuff in their own backyard...

Who knows how many racists might be altered...?

[Guaranteed]

98. And this is exactly WHY we are nominating a black man. We are going to take this

shit on and destroy it once and for all.

[stillcool]

99. It's kind of funny...

how picking and choosing a few voices here and there results in creating a picture that is just not true of the "American People". Why is a racist voice louder than mine?

[sponge bob]

100. Mississippi is very racist too

Luther King fought hard to end racism in these deep-south states. He partly accomplished his goal.

[Moochy]

106. Tip a 40 For Bob

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=user_profiles&u_id=219877

[crankychatter]

104. I like my racists to be nuanced, intellectual and covert

You're having tea in the gazebo, thinking "this is my new best friend."

They're passing the sugar and quietly plotting your assassination... like Renaissance Medici.

Like........

[cindyw]

105. Really, you didn't know that? Let me tell you about another little state call Mississippi. nt

[VotesForWomen]

108. right; anybody that doesn't support Obama is a racist. jeezus christ, don't you have any shame?

[Zynx]

109. In most of the Ohio River Valley region this is true.

It's a pretty racist region.

[Zachstar]

110. Obama may be able to wear down Clinton's lead there a bit but that is almost a sure win for Clinton

And a sure red state come the GE.

There is no way in hell that state will go blue for the next few decades.