Bluegrass Legend, Ralph Stanley Cuts Ad for Obama in Va. - Campaign Ahead of Va. Registration Goal

[bigtree]

from Washington Wire: http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/10/02/bluegrass-legend-cuts-radio-ad-for-obama-in-va/


Obama’s campaign is running a new radio ad in southwestern Virginia that features Grammy-winning bluegrass musician Ralph Stanley.

“Howdy, friends. This is Ralph Stanley, and I think I know a little something about the families around here,” the ad states.

“Barack’ll cut taxes for everyday folks — not big business — so you’ll have a little more money in your pocket at the end of the year. I also know Barack is a good man. A father and devoted husband, he values personal responsibility and family first.”

Stanley is a legend particularly among the kind of voters—rural, white, lower-income—that populate that region of the state and that Obama has had difficulties winning over in his campaign. As a testament to Stanley’s popularity, bumper stickers began appearing in the Appalachian region that read, “Ralph Stanley for President” in the late 1970s.

Clintwood, Va., is home to the Ralph Stanley Museum and a 2005 Roanoke Times story discusses his importance to the region.

“Ralph Stanley has long been a legend in these parts,” the paper wrote, “In the last five years, though, he has become something more than that; he has come to symbolize the timelessness and durability of this old music and this region.”

audio: http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/new_obama_ad_in_south_stars_bl.php



Obama Campaign Clears its Va. Voter Registration Goal

The Virginia Board of Elections today posted new numbers showing the GOP nominee facing an unusually challenging climate in the state, which George Bush won with 54 percent of the vote in 2004. In September, the board reports, 106,150 people registered to vote in the state; combined with deaths and people moving out of the state, the net increase for the month was 101,737.

That is more than double the number of new registrants in August, and it places Barack Obama's campaign ahead its goal of making sure 150,000 Virginians got added to the rolls in the months since the primaries ended (on top of the 142,000 Virginians who registered in the first five months of the year).

As it now stands, there have been 163,000 voters added to the rolls during the general election period, for a total of 305,000 new voters since the start of the year. And a few days still remain before the Oct. 6 registration deadline. That compares with 210,000 new voters who were added between the start of 2004 and Oct. 1 of that year.

read: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/10/02/obama_campaign_clears_its_va_v.html

[TwilightGardener]

1. I seriously believe Ralph Stanley is a great weapon for Obama.

This is awesome. I wish my other bluegrass faves would come out for him too. OK, I'm not holding my breath for Ricky "Fundie Nutjob" Skaggs...

[ncgrits]

6. You better believe it! I grew up in Southwestern Virginia . . .

and my family still lives there and those folks are big on Obama. And Ralph Stanley is a celebrity in those parts.

And besides that it's a beautiful part of the world!
(If I knew how to post a photo of the view from my brother's house in SW Virginia, I would! Dang it.)

[TwilightGardener]

7. It is a beautiful part of the world--have been through it many times--love the mountains, especially

this time of year when the air smells like smoke and the leaves are turning.

[ncgrits]

13. It really is! I live in the piedmont of NC now and while I love it . . .

I still miss the mountains! Grew up in Emory, VA (about 25 miles north of Bristol on VA/TN border).
October Sky was on TV the other night and made me miss those people and that part of the world. . . .

Anyway. . . Thanks for jumping in with the "Virginia is beautiful" thang!

ncgrits

p.s. How does one post a photo from their computer, not a link to a url? Couldn't find it in "Help."

[TwilightGardener]

15. About the photo thing, I don't know how to post photos myself, sadly--

maybe someone else will jump in with directions?

[Celebration]

24. Sure

Go to www.photobucket.com and upload your pictures there. To link them here use the link at the bottom of the picture you uploaded into Photobucket, by doing copy and paste. Then the picture should automatically post, after you post the link to it in the DU message. You can check the "preview" option to see if you did it correctly before you do the post message. I hope this is detailed enough. If you can't figure it out pm me.

[trueblue2007]

9. HERE IS THE ~~RALPH STANLEY~~ VIDEO!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c4QE-0V0cA


I LIKE IT!!

[Lex]

17. Excellent!

:thumbsup:

[RichardUK]

2. I can't believe that..twilight zone moment.

..a couple of days ago I made a video of McCain with a Ralph Stanley song Oooh death dubbed over it because that song is what I hear when McCain talks.

see here: http://voyporustedes.blogspot.com/2008/10/vps-preparing-to-shout-load-of-crap-at.html

That is so bizarre.

[onenote]

3. Most excellent. They should use Ralph's ads in other markets

Rural West VA and PA come to mind.

[tekisui]

4. That is very helpful. Ralph Stanley is well respected in

VA and NC. He is hero to many, and the bluegrass crowd is almost all white.

Thanks, Ralph!

[codjh9]

5. Awesome - when you said 'cuts' ad, though, I thought you meant he CANCELLED it! :^)

[kwolf68]

8. Is Bluegrass coming home?

Anyone remember the Newport Festival they did back in the 1960s? It was folk and bluegrass stuff...Pete Seeger types, major libs...and bluegrass was well represented.

Welcome home friends.

[TwilightGardener]

11. That might be the case if it could separate itself from country music, but

I don't see it happening anytime soon. Bluegrass sort of depends on its country connection to stay viable, I think.

[WCGreen]

22. Not anymore...

They have their own Music Channel on the cable and the Americana stations are playing a lot of the Blue Grass.

There are a lot of PBS stations that have roots music programing.

[Lex]

14. Merlefest proves ABSOLUTELY.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlefest

[Rosa Luxemburg]

10. Wow!

[Lex]

12. Love him.

Love bluegrass.

[Ichingcarpenter]

16. Ralph Stanley?

I saw him at the Telluride Bluegrass festival back in the late 90s
I'm really rather surprised, I thought he voted for Bush in 2000

That's great news though, he is a god in blue grass.

[Seen the light]

18. I saw him at a John Edwards event in SC this year

Charming guy.

[Inspired]

19. I saw him at the JJ dinner, with Edwards, last November.

He is a great asset to Obama in Virgina.

[jpgray]

20. Ralph Stanley rules.

[WCGreen]

21. That is really cool....

Southwestern VA and Northwestern NC...

[AnotherMother4Peace]

23. Ralph Stanley rocks - I love his old time bluegrass music. nt