A Mississippi tidbit (a follow-up to our Kentucky one)

We never would have imagined that our brief item on Kentucky's Magoffin County -- the least demographically diverse community in the nation and site of Hillary Clinton's best showing, percentage-wise, in the state's Tuesday primary -- was going to strike such a nerve.

But so it did, as judged by the more than 200 comments it prompted -- some hard-edged and nasty, but most well worth reading and contemplating (which we did).

The majority held forth on whether and to what extent racism and sexism have driven voting patterns in the historic Democratic presidential contest. Others reflected on urban attitudes vs. rural ones, as well as "elitism" vs. "working class" values. And quite a few questioned or (to a lesser degree) defended the journalistic value of what to us was simply a fact worth chewing over.

One prominent thread in the comments -- an ongoing debate over whether a difference can be drawn between the huge vote margins Clinton rolled up in the largely white, rural areas of Kentucky (and, before that, West Virginia) and the overwhelming backing Barack Obama receives from black voters in virtually every primary and caucus -- caused us to wonder about the flip side of Magoffin County.

Times reporter James Hohmann tracked down the answer we sought: Jefferson County, Mississippi, nestled in the state's southwest corner, is home to the nation's largest concentration of African Americans. In the 2000 Census, 86.49% of its 9,740 residents were black.

And in the state's March 11 primary, Obama won 88% of the county's vote -- his best showing in a state where he defeated Clinton, 61%-37%.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Wm Tate]

After this primary season, Democrats can never again accuse Republicans of using "the politics of race."
-Wm Tate,
http://www.atimelikethis.us/

[VICKIE]

Most of those Kentucky comments were unfounded...and just sad. Our Country is in trouble right now...so why bring racism or sexism into the picture. We should be looking and listening to what the candidates are saying and vote for the PERSON that you feel would do the best job. Are we really so petty that we would vote for the color of a person's skin, or the gender of a person?

[edwina]

Well, it's really unfortunate that people cannot let go such stereotypical views of the Kentucky populace. My long time neighbors, a married couple, are from the beautiful blue-grass state.

It so happens they are siblings also. If you think about it for a minute, it eliminates the negative "mother-in-law" element most marriages are plagued with. How brilliant is that? Those who call them stupid hicks and rednecks, better think again.

[PatB]

The commentators keep saying that Barack is not getting through to the voters in the Appalachian states as though it is somehow Barack's fault when Barack's Appalachian problem has nothing to do with his lack of experience, nor his message nor any personal weakness. When they say that Barack has "work to do" to win these voters they are ignoring that sad truth, the "elephant in the living room". The only way that this brilliant candidate can not change the minds of uneducated voters who are inherently racist would be to magically change the color of his skin.

[js]

I know how Obama will try to win the November election. Obama will remove his name from the ballot and not campaign in states where he is likely to lose ... and then claim the process is unfair to him.

[shirlin]

Hillary Clinton keeps saying that racism has no overt effect on the race, and that sexism is to be blamed for why she is losing the race. So, sexism explains her very high votes from Americans who say they will never vote for a n*****, and sexism explains why she came under sniper fire in Bosnia.

[Vote Hillary]

Seems to me Obama has the racist support,come on 88% and in other places more,does anyone bother to ask the black supporters of Obama if the reason they vote for him is because he's black? Well i have many black friends and guess what that's exactly why most are voting for him they feel they are somehow betraying their race if they dont,so many of my friends have told me,It actually worries me that people are not even considering the man's position on many policy's that will affect there lives and the lives of there children, so while the media is dwelling on what they consider racist vote's in kentucky,they should also point out the MANY racist and sexist votes Obama has accumulated .

[COL.[retd] A.M.Khajawall]

Dear Fellow Americans,

Our Greatgrand Nation, the United States of America,
is facing and will face very critical, substantial
"Challenges" in the coming months, years, and decades.

It is imperative that we the people of the America
become interested, involved, and engaged in choosing
and voting for our next President.

The following criteria will guide and help us to a
right candidate. The candidate we choose must have
following characteristics:

1. A clear, candid " Vision and Mission" for our
Nations present and future.

2. A " Strong Character and significant
Integrity".

3. A sound and sustained "Presidential Temperament"
and " Judgment".

4. Less "Washington exposure" and "real
connectivity with the people and future
generation".

5. One who "Inspires us up" rather than
"Tears us Down or divides us".

6. One who is not based on sexism,
racism,regionalism,ageism, or any other ism and as
well as one who attempts to " bring us together ".

7. A foreign policy of mainly "USA Centric".

In my professional, political and personal opinion,
the only candidate that meets all the above
characteristics and has shown consistent
coolness, calmness, and connectedness { PRESIDENTIAL
TEMPERAMENT } is Senator Barack Obama.

As an independent registered voter since 1980, I voted
for Carter, voted for Reagan, voted for First Bush,
and second Bush in 2000 and in the process lost
interest in Washington politics to the point where i
stopped voting. Getting disinterested and disgusted in
our political process and stopping voting was a very
very bad decision in any circumstance, particularly
under present circumstances.

This time we can not afford to stay on the sidelines
and let "Washington" stay the same. We can not afford
to allow our Greatgrand Nation to become less than
what we are, what we were and what we can be.

We need to send a clear, careful and candid message to
the world and sometimes 24-hour partisan divisive
media, that We the American people will set the agenda
for our future. America and Americans will be back.

These partisan media outlets are trying and will try
their best to deprive, decieve,dupe, and derail us.
Let us stay involved, engaged, and express our opinion
freely and vote. Our Nation will get it right this
time
to protect, preserve, and promote our future.

Some of these partisan media and pundits are trying
their best to deny us a better future and continue
focusing on our weaknesses to generate a bitter future
for us and our Greatgrand Nation. Our nation's people
will see thru. Unfortunately our Greatgrand Nation's
people are persistently and constantly subjected to
this "Psychological Terrorism" without common people’s
knowledge.

The common and regular people do not have time to see
thru and sort thru this psychological terrorism
perpetuated by some of these partisan media outlets.

I find it tragic, unfortunate, and sad [ They probably
do not care about our Greatgrand Nation ]as they claim
that they do it in the interest OF our Greatgrand
Nation.

We the Americans should not and will not to allow
some of these partisan media outlets to
psychologically
terrorize, traumatize and silence us this time nor
any other time in future.

I am sure that we will get it right this
time and elect Senator Obama as our next President.

Let us remember that our Greatgrand nation consists of
family, friends,fellowships, faith, funds,foundation,
fun, and future with fairness and freedom and without
fear, favor, or failure .

We can not afford to lose any of the above. Let us
stand up, be counted, save and rebuild our Greatgrand
Nation for centuries to come. I am sure our Greatgrand
nation andits diverse people. will reclaim, regain and
restore the global economic, social, moral, and power
status of USA.

God Bless our Great grand Nation and its diverse
people.

Our Greatgrand nation needs present and future
stability, security, safety,sustained progress and
restoration of our due status in this perilous Global
World at all levels.

Yours sincerely,

COL.[retd] A.M.Khajawall M.D.
Forensic Psychiatrist.
Disabled American Veteran.
Las Vegas Nevada.
Cell: 951-505-6975

[SMS]

I’m 55, and have been following politics for quite a while, and I’ve never been so disappointed with a politician I’ve admired and respected. Yesterday’s tactics weren’t just wrong, they were offensive. For that matter, they seem to be part of a deliberate strategy to tear Democrats apart and ensure a defeat in November.

For several weeks, I’ve appreciated the fact that Clinton considers herself the superior candidate, and has kept her campaign going in the hopes, from her perspective, of saving the party from itself. But after yesterday, it’s become impossible for me to consider Clinton’s intentions honorable. Her conduct is not that of a leader.

Instead of trying to help bring the party together — Election Day is 24 weeks away — Clinton went to Florida to argue that if Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee, his nomination will be illegitimate. And if the DNC plays by the rules Clinton used to support, it’s guilty of vote-suppression — comparable to slavery, Jim Crow, and Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe.

It is disgusting for HRC to co-opt the Civil Rights struggle after weeks of transparent appeals that whites won’t vote for the black guy which JUST SO COINCIDENTALLY took form during the Appalachian primaries (which conveniently occurred after North Carolina, the last state with a large black population)

It really is disgusting, and yet another nail in the coffin of what used to be Bill and Hillary's positive legacy to the party. She is now being openly mocked across the media and political spectrum. But I'm sure mentioning that is "sexist", and that everyone criticizing the joke her campaign has become is sexist as well.

Also…does anyone know why this would be…If you look at Hillary’s contributions by state she received 7,709,576.28 from District of Columbia this month. Going back and checking previous months shows that, by state, DC is always far and away her biggest contributor with millions each month.

At first I thought maybe her campaign headquarters were there, so money without a state listed would be from there but a. there already is a “no state listed” column and b. she moved her campaign headquarters from DC to Arlington, VA last year.

Looking specifically at the Obama donations month by month he never even breaks a million from DC. And, while he consistently gets big money from large states, there’s not one state that’s an outlier each month.

It can’t be her loans, they said the numbers didn’t include her loan and the state figures add up to the $22 mil. So if individual contribution limits are $2,300 and DC’s population is somewhere around 590,000, how can it be that this month, as well as the past 3 she keeps bringing in millions upon millions of contributions from the DC area?

I know this is ripe for snark, but I’m really curious as to how this is. There has to be a reason, these are public numbers so I doubt I unearthed something scandalous. I’m just confused as to how this could be.

[Sarge]

The idea that overwhelming Black support for Obama is "racist" just doesn't hold water. The difference between the black vote for Obama and the Appalachia white vote for Clinton is that the vote FOR Clinton is just a vote AGAINST Obama. You certainly can't accuse blacks of voting against a white candadite since we've been voting for whites for decades because we had no other choice.

And yes, I feel an obligation to vote for the first really viable black presidential candidate. So what if he's new, inexperienced, naive, etc - all the things the detractors say. Can he really screw up things worse than Bush (who I voted for BTW)?

Also please remember that although the Presidency is a powerful position, it is nicely balanced by the other two branches of government. A President is constrained by our political system and can only do so much on his own.

I would be happy if we got rid of 80% of the incumbents in DC and started with people who care about the country first, not their own political party or personal agendas.

[Steve Rankin]

Mound Bayou, a small town in the Delta region of northwest Mississippi, is 100% black-- or close to it.

I would imagine that Mound Bayou voted for Obama by an even higher percentage than the one you mention for Jefferson County, Mississippi.

http://southerncrown.blogspot.com/

[Jeff Noble]

If Sarge thinks the other two branches nicely balance out the Executive branch, he is not familiar with the 5-4 decision of the Supreme Court which decided Bush's first election. Our court system is decidedly conservative.

[fighting mad]

Just for the record,we DO have Blacks in Magoffin County.One is a pharmacist,one of the nicest people one could want to meet.And I AM white.I don't know of any white in our county whom would call a Black person a bad name.We are hard working people and don't call ALL L.A.Countians freaky gays or sissy boys.We do not marry our kin,we do not go to family reunions to pick our next spouse.We are sick of being type cast as ignorant incestuos freaks.We are not abnormal weirdos.I have a daughter,and she graduated from college with high marks.I think it's time you people in L.A. think about this-Which is normal,a man marrying a woman,or a freaky man marrying another freaky man??????We are not The Beverly Hillbillies nor did any of us have a part in Deliverance.We still have the freedom to vote as we choose,the same as you people.I didn't vote in the May election,I didn't have to my candidate was unopposed.You see I am a republican,and that too,is my right.Lay OFF.

[Lang]

I do believe that the people who posted comments about Magoffin County should realize what a small community they are commenting on. It has a little over 13,000 people, it doesn't even boast a Wal-mart. To say a place is racist because it choses not to be like a butch of lemmings and run off the clift with the rest of the lemmings is really the most stupid and ignorant thing I have ever heard of. The great thing about being an American, is that we can chose who we want to run for the Presidency of the United States. I personally chose neither Clinton or Obama ( I didn't like either candiate) I was born in Magoffin, went to college married a man from Malaysia, lived there eight and a half years, moved back to the states, finished college, and moved back to Magoffin because of the great Christian family values (no not incestous) ones that are prevalent here. No, don't start bashing me because I believe in God. I was married to a man of another race. I believe that the prejudice is all on the part of the people who write the hate-spewed things about Christians out of the LA TIMES and like Media. GET A LIFE, and let others live theirs!!!! HAVE A GOOD DAY:)

[Nathan Howard]

Well, i live in the middle of magoffin county and have lived here for 18 years. And not yet have i even met a incest person. And you idiots out there have the guts to set and call us racits... Well what the hell do you think your doing calling us incest, rednecks hillbillys.. And one thing i am damn proud i liv in magoffin county kentucky and for you damn pricks that live in L.A u guys need to back the hell up and look at your own damn self. You have no damn way of calling us RACIST, oh well thats our freedom to vote for who ever the hell we want to... GET OVER YOURSELF you popas jackasses....All of you people need to shut the hell up.....

[Jodi Salyer]

Accept and you will be accepted, hate and you will be hated, love and you will be loved, damn and you will be damned.

The incredible out cry of Kentuckians (both intelligent and thought through comments and emotion filled and lacking grammatical correctness) shows that obviously a nerve was struck. I, however, do not believe that the Kentucky Tidbit posted in the LA Times is what actually struck the nerve, but it was the malicious comments that disrespected the needs and basic rights of a community and the area surrounding that did.

It is outrageously selfish to state that an entire region's vote should not count based on an unfounded Hatfield-McCoy stereotype. Each part of this nation plays a vital role in how we all live daily and each is just as important as the other. If Appalachians quit putting on their blue collars and mining coal, can you imagine how much higher energy prices would rise? The area plays a fundamental role in keeping the US running and has the right to cast their votes for who ever they chose to run this country.

Posted on the original Kentucky Tidbit, a comment asked if others had seen the way they live (referring to Kentuckians). To that, I would like to point out that they live in an area where real estate is far less expensive and they have the ability to own more of this country than most Californians, they live without fear of earthquakes, without a celebrity crazed portion of their state (all stereotypes), and lastly they live in a state that is given the same educational ranking as the almighty, apparently far more important, California.

I would hope that each of you who read this continue to have the ability to vocalize your beliefs, but also have the decency to respect others and not speak about that which you do not know.

-Jodi… a Kentuckian, a Hillary supporter voting for Obama, a Democrat, an American, but most importantly a compassionate human who uses the manners my mother taught me and follows the golden rule by treating others as I would like to be treated

[Kentuckian through and through]

Sad, sad, sad is all I can say..... but not unexpected. In this country, that is swiftly becoming liberal and socialist its quite alright to demonize "racism" but liberally make fun of a group of people for their past, or their dialect, or their traditions.

I see hypocrisy flowing like a mountain stream from urbanites and liberals alike. You get your panties in a twist over animal abuse, but say its everyones right to crush the skull of an unborn child and call it "partial birth abortion" or even worse, "choice". You fight with radical courts and unscrupulous judges to give people who should have no rights; detainees caught in the act of battle and detained in Guantanamo full legal protection in American courts, but American soldiers murdered in the alleys of Iraq's cities will never have those rights... You believe like Barack Obama that we white people, "clutching our guns and religion" are backward, ignorant, and racist... yet folks like us are the ones who built this country, who released it from the chains of oppression, who defend it even today. Tell me who will have guns if you ban them? The criminals do not obey laws! Gun control is an affront ot the constitution and an act of oppression on law abiding citizens.

I'm a proud Kentuckian. I was born in the state, I was raised in the state and I will die in this state Lord willing. I find more people here who would die for me and do anything for me than anywhere I've ever been. I don't need a pat on the back from you high-minded, pretentious, hypocritical people. You can continue to run your ignorant, accursed mouths all you want. Our Commonweath has given you the bourbon with which you make merriment with, it has given you the President who released the slaves, our common folks helped protect the Alamo, we dispersed the British in the War of 1812.... We've given you music, food, the greatest race in sports... and many other wonderful things. We understand life and we understand tradition. And for you to sit on your high horse and call us backwards is something that doesn't phase us in the least. We don't pride ourselves on your pathetic praise. We understand that praise or insult is something that is worthless coming from people like yourselves. The only praise or insult that matters is that which comes from hard-working, honorable individuals, which our hallowed state is bursting apart with.

Most of you have never been in Kentucky... half of the occupants of our state haven't even been to the Eastern half. Its filled with hard-working people who allow the entire nation to have a standard of living never conceived of due to an abundance of coal and cheap electricity. Its filled with billions and billions of board feet of lumber that you can make your furniture with and many of the artisans who make beautiful furniture, crafts and musical instruments live there. So next time you hear your dishwasher humming in the kitchen while your TV shows its images while your AC hums outside... while sitting there on your corpulent, hypocritical, posterior contemplate that there is a man laboring in the depths of the Earth, a veritable hell to pull forth that bituminous rock that allows you to cease your labor and live in a utopia of luxury.

The only benefit of having your wretched minds continue to believe we are all hayseed fools is that it keeps you from ever wanting to move here. It keeps you out of our borders, able to enjoy a standard of living that is not based on monetary income, but being surrounded by beautiful people and beautiful environs.