LA Times: Pro-Hillary, Pennsylvania Working Class Women Side with Obama/Biden

[writes3000]

Sarah Palin's appeal to working-class women may be limited
For many of these critical swing voters, economic interests trump any admiration of the Alaska governor's maternal grit, and some are repelled by her sarcastic jabs at Obama.

By Faye Fiore and Peter Wallsten, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
September 7, 2008

UNIONTOWN, PA. -- Trish Heckman, a 49-year-old restaurant cook and disappointed Hillary Rodham Clinton supporter, watched last week as the country's newest political star made her explosive debut.

She followed the news when John McCain introduced Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate, paid attention to the raging debate over her qualifications, even tuned in to watch her dramatic speech at the Republican convention.

But when it came down to an issue Heckman really cares about -- sending a daughter to college on $10.50 an hour -- her desire to see a woman reach the White House took a back seat to her depleted savings account.

"I wanted Hillary to win so bad, but I saw Sarah, and it just didn't work for me," said Heckman, taking a break in the empty courtyard of J. Paul's restaurant in a downtown struggling to revive. "I have no retirement. Obama understands it's the economy. He knows how we live."

HERE'S A KEY SECTION OF THE ARTICLE...

Republican delegates and activists in the convention hall delighted in Palin's jabs at the Illinois senator, such as when she poked fun at the columned backdrop for Obama's stadium acceptance speech or mocked him as intent on "turning back the waters and healing the planet."

For many women here watching closely, though, that portion of Palin's speech was all they needed to hear.

When Palin belittled Obama's history as a community organizer on Chicago's South Side -- suggesting he was a do-little activist while she, as the former mayor of tiny Wasilla, Alaska, had "actual responsibilities" -- Sandy Ryan, 59, clicked the remote.

"That's enough of that. I switched over to 'House Hunters,' " she said with some disgust over dessert with a group of women from the senior housing complex she manages.

One of a dwindling number of coveted undecideds, Ryan gets a firsthand view of retirees forced to choose between food and medication. She is not convinced Obama has the experience to be president, but Palin only reinforced her concern that McCain would mean four more years of divisiveness and gridlock.

Patty Tobal, a 63-year-old retired nurse and lifelong feminist, shut off the TV set and went to bed. The promise of a woman on the ticket had piqued her curiosity, but she found Palin's sarcasm offensive and her priorities out of touch.

"We don't need any more fighting in Washington," Tobal said while having her hair done at a little shop on Route 40, where the customers go longer between appointments in these hard times. "Women are not for women just because they are women. We are intelligent enough to make a conscious decision."

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-women7-2008sep07,0,7702239.story?page=1

[IndyOp]

1. One voter at a time. K&R (n/t)

[Kdillard]

2. That's right keep it on the issues and we will win one

voter at a time.

[Cha]

3. palin attracts ignorant voters who are just dyin'

to get another 8 years of bushit.

[scarletwoman]

4. Good article, really appreciate you posting it! Rec'd.

It's very heartening to read about ordinary women NOT being impressed by Palin. At least some voters out there aren't so easily fooled.

And I really loved the anecdote about the woman who vowed to vote for the first candidate who talked about gas prices! It was Obama (of course!).

It's the economy -- that is THE most important issue for winning votes for Obama.

sw

[MH1]

5. I don't know how many pro-Hillary women were ever really going to vote for McCain

but the awfulness of Palin may have had a shock effect to wake some of them up. If there ever were any in the first place, which I'm not so sure of. But there was a woman at work who was wavering on Obama, and after learning about Palin, she is now 100% pro-Obama!

[intheflow]

10. Sadly, I met some of those extremist Clinton supporters

walking around the street of Denver during the DNC, trying to "enlighten" people, or at the very least, convince them not to vote for Obama. :(

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

6. Palin appeals to men under 50 more than to to women (IMO)

If I can pat myself on the back (is there a smiley for that?), I've said from the get go that Palin would erode Obama support among younger independent men more than among Hillary voters. (Some Hillary voters will vote McCain, but they already were before Palin.)

She will attract some women on the religious right while repelling some more moderate women. Probably a slight gain or a wash.

Some of Obama's youth support is purely generational. Obama is cool McCain is not cool. Some younger people will see Palin as cool. (I know, that's awful, but professional wrestling is considered very cool by millions of people under 40.)

[Cosmocat]

20. I half agree ...

Again, I usually have a VERY good intuition - it isn't on demand, but when something hits me, it usually is on track. Now, I don't know that I can trust it, cause I am not exactly unattached to this election, but ...

1) IMO, Palin in the kind of woman that a lot of women DO NOT LIKE. Someone else ran with the "soccer mom" meme - there is always that one or two real outspoken and haughty soccer moms who get all the attention, but the other moms really don't like. That is kind of it.

2) She does strike me as the kind of women that men like - someone who projects her sexuality in a controlled manner, so I get where you think indy men might trickle away from BO. But, IMO, most indy men are liberatarian types. IMO, they were going to vote McCain regardless if they are closet Rs hiding in "liberatarian cloth" OR if they are true liberatarians, IMO, they get turned off by such an off the way pick.

Again, I could be wrong because I am strongly invested, but that is what my gut is telling me.

[denem]

26. That's why you and me both were expecting a Checkers II speech

I guess, in Obama's words, "They just don't get it".

[blue neen]

7. I don't think the fact that Palin is a hunter is going to matter much to these ladies.

They're too busy hunting for jobs and health insurance to be interested in shooting furry creatures, even if this IS western PA, a hunting mecca.

Times are really tough here. The economy is a very important factor in this election.

[Patchuli]

8. Exactly!

It's my hope that people will this time vote their own interests! How any pro-choice person could vote for the rethug ticket is a mystery!

[tech3149]

9. I live just up the road from Uniontown

I was born here and grew up here and I know that most of the people around here have good common sense. I think the same can be said for every region. I'm glad a paper like the LA Times actually put in the effort to get out and talk to people who can't afford to take a vacation let alone buy a vacation home. Gotta go can some more tomatoes!

[ClarkUSA]

11. I know Uniontown, PA -- it's a beautiful area that's close to West Virginia.

Western PA is an area we need to lock down, especially in Pittsburgh, which is 45 minutes north of Uniontown.

[writes3000]

14. I'd love Obama to take the Pittsburgh area BIG.

The PA politicians should be able to help there.

[ClarkUSA]

15. You and me both. PA pols are not what's going to sway Pittsburgh voters, though.

Barack needs to make lots of appearances in the area along with Biden (which they are beginning to do). It would
be nice if Hillary and Bill worked hard for Obama in the area but I'm not holding my breath. Most ordinary folks
think of Rendell as "Fast Eddie" who's more of a Philly phenom than a Western PA kind of guy. The Democratic
mayor of Pittsburgh is all of 28, I think, and does not command voter loyalty although he is well-liked in a mild
milquetoast kind of way.

[writes3000]

16. What about the two senators? I know Obama will be there and Biden is great.

I would love a joint Obama/Hillary appearance there.

I saw that mayor. Get him on stage as well, LOL.

[ClarkUSA]

18. Not really. Bob Casey, Jr. is the Dem senator (the other one is Republican) but he won't move votes

Casey's power base is in Scranton, PA in the northeast and Hillary blew Barack out of the water there.
He has no real following in Pittsburgh although everyone likes him.

I agree with you -- the Clintons need to appear with Obama if they're REALLY interested in seeing him
become president for two terms.

[Barack_America]

12. Obama is going HARD with the radio ads nailing McCain as anti-choice, here in Philly.

I've been listening to the radio at work for about 3 hours and I've already heard it 3 times.

[writes3000]

13. Great to hear! Obama's campaign has been laser-like at the local level.

I think the anxiety here has been in part due to the fact that people who are looking at the national level can't see everything.

I'm glad to hear he's hitting this issue there.

[Muttocracy]

17. yay! Obama and Biden have been on the ground there a lot too! nt

[angee_is_mad]

19. Top Cat had a similar post

about a phone conversation she had with a white woman in her 70s who WILL be voting for Barack Obama. I think we are going to be surprise by who will vote for Obama.

It's gonna be close, but there will be people who will be voting on pocketbook issues and not on racial prejudices.

Here is the link to the earlier post.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6967361

[seabeyond]

21. of course. everything about her is being used by male to mailpulate women. MOST women

get it and know it.

[Colobo]

22. They know McClown and Failin are not the answer.

[McCamy Taylor]

23. Yep yep. Women are the hardest to fool with slick rhetoric. The see too much suffering.

[ClarkUSA]

24. On the other hand, there are women who fall for a slick con everytime.

That explains the post-convention movement to McCain in the latest Gallup poll.

Obama/Biden will just have to work harder to spell out the contrast between themselves and the GOP huckster ticket.

[DemocracyInaction]

25. Want to agree with a poster above

I'm too old now to be a soccer mom...but 20 years ago was of the breed. As you said, women don't like the "kind"--it's the one you want off your back for cupcake donations and who has their loud mouth open at games and who's great ambition is to run the PTA so she can suck up to teachers, etc. BUT--there's one thing to add to that now days: it was the Soccer Moms who became the Security Mom who are now well aware that they were dumb bimbos who put the asses into office that have ruined them and this country. They don't want to be dumb bimbos again. Oh, and my husband (an educated man), took one look at Palin and said "airhead but she'd do okay making porm movies.....never underestimate men who don't give a rat's ass if they are PC or not. She may turn them on but not in a CIC way!

[Skittles]

27. LOL

McCain made the mistake of thinking women are stupid

[WinkyDink]

28. We in the Keystone State always believed this would come to pass. Palin WILL be in PA soon, though.

My lone Republican friend got a phone call to see Sarah Palin at Franklin & Marshall College, I forget when, but soon.