In Kentucky, a look at the white vote Barack Obama won't get

With the subject of sexism much in the news so far this week (see here), the Chicago Tribune has a story today out of Munfordville, Ky., that casts the spotlight on racism. Here's its lead:

Mike Rife is white, a semiretired factory worker with a high school education and a 2-foot-square sign on his lawn that makes friends and neighbors flip him the finger as they drive by.

The sign reads: "Obama for President."

"I think I almost know what it feels like to be a black guy," said Rife, his voice gravelly and defiant. "I take heat every day. I got an Obama sticker on my car, and I catch hell for it."

The rest can be read here.

Last week, the Washington Post cast a slightly wider net, writing about examples of racism encountered by Barack Obama's campaign workers in Indiana and Pennsylvania. The story, which can be read here, noted that campaign officials "say such incidents are isolated, that the experience of most volunteers and staffers has been overwhelmingly positive." 

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[mark g]

anyone really surprised...? What is surprising among the KY Uneducateds is that they would vote for a women in the first place... to them it must be the lesser of 2 evils, no white man to vote for until the general election...

[Tina]

Acropolis Review has a summary of some good reasons why Obama will probably do well in Oregon tonight:
http://acropolisreview.com/2008/04/top-reasons-to-give-barack-obama-your.html

[simplerep]

Has Hillary ever been in the military? Kentucky needs to know that they voted for someone who can be this nation's Commander in Chief. Do you think rogue leaders like Osama and a controversial military regime like North Korea would defy the U.S. more than they already do, with Hillary as the Head of State? It's not only the economy stupid!

[Nathan]

Yes, same story as West Virginia. If I were a superdelegate in the Democratic party, Hillary's argument that she will be able to carry the bigots in the general election would not provide me with a compelling reason to send my vote her way.

I thought the Democratic party is supposed to be the progressive party? But Hillary is embracing this most backward of voting blocs in typically Machiavellian style.

If you really consider it, it is quite revolting.

[N.E. BodybutHillary]

This is the "hard working white voters" that Hillary is so proud of. Doesn't it make her a racist to identify with these hate mongers?

[Brian Peterson]

I'd like to hear from even one voter who won't vote for Obama because he's black, or even one who won't vote for McCain because he's white. In either case, if race is your criteria, you are un-American. Racism is not part of my America, though I will even defend a racist's right to hold that point of view. Still, if you can't see past race, then you have failed as an American and need to repeat Civics 101. Well, any racists out there proud enough to defend their vote?

[DonsBlogVomit]

Hey, when Obama wins maybe these racist hicks will secede from the United States and form their own little backward, inbreeding, evolution denying, corndog munching country. Then all the rednecks, hillbillies and trailer trash from the other states will flock there to be a part of a great experiment in devolution. Just imagine a real life Idiocracy.

That would do wonders for the USAs collective IQ level!

[CHRIS]

BARAC OBAMA CANNOT WIN THIS ELECTION JOHN MCCAIN WILL BE NEXT PREZ FOR A MILLION REASONS #1 THAT HE IS A TRUE AMERICAN HERO WHERE DID BO SERVE EXCEPT IN CORRUPT POL JOBS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!