One last Kentucky tidbit

No one was surprised by Hillary Clinton's absolute dominance in the hills, hollows and other rural stretches of Kentucky in the state's Democratic presidential primary Tuesday. But as she rolled up an overall victory margin of 35 percentage points over Barack Obama in the state, one local result stands out.

Magoffin County -- which according to the Lexington Herald-Leader has been identified by the Census Bureau as "the least diverse place in the nation" -- delivered Clinton her largest share of the vote among Kentucky's 120 counties.

She racked up 93% of the vote in Magoffin (named for a former governor and located in the state's eastern half). In raw votes, the totals were Clinton, 2,714; Obama, 146.

How homogenous is the county? According to the 2000 census, 99.29% of its population of 13,332 was white.

[UPDATE: For information on the primary result in the U.S. county with the largest concentration of black residents, go here.]

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[David Velazquez]

I am not voting for Obama because he is black. I am not voiting for him because he has not said much about important issues. He is using the same rhetoric that got George W. Bush elected, which is to say as little as possible. I suspect that he will be a liberal George W. Bush.

[Helen]

It can be too easy to judge a group by its ethnic makeup and see voting as either anti or pro a candidate's face or gender. However, when one candidate has clearly already lost the race and a large mass of people not only turn out to vote for her, but express their intolerance in exit interviews, it is a shameful vote and certainly not one to be proud of.

When you adds less educated to the mix, I do wonder why Ms. Clinton thinks she has bragging rights. She has a strategy of trying to destroy the Democratic Party on her way out because she is a coldly calculating, selfish person who wishes for the Presidency because her brothers are already skilled in selling Presidential pardons.

[fred]

Let's really get down to the understanding of racism... if you have 10% of black blood in you you are considered black. Why do you think that is?

But, if you have 10% of white blood in you, you are not considered white...

The basis for this belief is in some type of pure verses tainted blood. How can we get rid of this racism? stop identifying people by race and/or gender. Take it off the census, out of surveys, out of statistics. Until then, racism will endure.

[tr]

Helen you're a snob. You should be banned for voting for snobbism.

[doug]

To "nina" and "loi"

nina said: "Should we call all the black people that voted for Obama sexist?"

loi said something similar.

The answer is no. Not all black people or people generally that voted for Obama over Clinton are sexist. But some certainly are sexist. I am an Obama supporter and I certainly acknowledge that sexism is in play. I am not proud of it, I do not defend it.

Can you not see that at least in KY and WV racism was also certainly in play?

Perhaps even more importantly, why do so many here deny and defend the obvious racism?

[Agnostic Saint]

This is the way I see it:

Both blacks and whites in the lower income group and without a college degree see race as a major factor in their choce of the candidate, whites against obama and blacks for obama.

On the other hand, those blacks and whites with a collegiate degree and higher income do not see race as a major factor..they are able to see beoynd race. Gives us hope for the future, isn't it?

[Mimi Schaeffer]

From your post Eddlien Texas, it sounds like you might be a kissin' cousin to all those inbreds from Kentucky.

[Jim]

Why would this possibly be viewed any differently than Senator Obama's ridiculous 9-1 advantage in African American votes? There seems to be a statement being made much more consistently by African Americans than by White voters. If it is some form of racism , that is unfortunate but must be viewed both ways. The numbers in this case reach beyond a reasonable doubt.

[Peter Bolaji]

The trend of SOME black people flocking to Obama because he is black is entirely different from SOME of these rural white people flocking to Clinton because she is white. If the black and white people of this country had the same history, then yes, it would be the same. Unfortunately, the two groups have vastly different paths and it is not fair to compare them. Black people who may vote for Obama because he is black are coming from the history of a people who were treated as sub-human property for decades. On the flip side, you have the people who were doing the oppressing.
To sum it up, in this country voting FOR someone because they share your skin color is vastly different from voting AGAINST someone because they DO NOT SHARE your skin color.

[Shannon]

the reason Clinton brags about the "less educated" voters (as they've been termed here) is because apparently they are the majority....if the idiots are not the majority, someone needs to explain how we've had a dictator for the past 8 years and it was never mentioned to us. our country is simply an expansion of the situation present in classrooms all across the nation....30 kids total....5 highly intelligent....20 are average or "C" students...the rest either don't care to try or are suffering from mentall illness or a learning disability. THATS WHY OUR FOUNDERS FEARED DEMOCRACY THE SAME AS MONARCHY. Just because the herd thinks it's a good idea, doesn't mean that it's the right one..............

[David]

The black voters that cast ballots for Obama have pretty much voted for white Democrats their whole lives. Many of Hillary's votes were from Kentuckians that would sooner poke out their own eye than ever cast a vote for a person of color. If you ask them why they will tell you, "I ain't votin' fer no n*****." How do I know? I live in Kentucky myself and have had that conversation many times. Everyone living here knows this to be true, and yet Obama carried the two major cities, and will get the November vote of this tired old white male Republican.

[Duke Hillinger]

Hilliary won because Kentucky has very few really educated people on National and International affairs. They believe what ever she says, because they don't know any better. Why won't anyone ask her how much money she and Bill have taken from Middle Eastern countires? It's 10's if not hundreds of millions of dollars! She has to get in the White House any way she can, because these people have paid her husband for his influence. The presidents salary is peanuts compared to the money they are getting from all these Terrorist producing countries. God help the US!

[Mark Leslie]

It is amazing how Kentuckians are labeled as KKKers and all this anti-white sentiment when 93% of the vote among the black community is considered solidarity and acceptable on behalf of Mr. Obama. You're either a bunch of self-loathers or find that black on white racism is acceptable while white on black is unacceptable. It is my opinion that neither is acceptable nor are your collective attitudes.

[J. Ambrose]

Obama led by his advisors (Kerry/Daschle)will not beat McCain. No Thank You Kerry/Daschle.

Current polls still have Clinton winning over MeCain while obama is -%. But what do we care it is about ignoring the wishes of over 17 million voters that know the logican and correct formula to win in November.

Obama group does not have long time goals they are today kind of people. Long time Democrats plan for the future, get with the program. To the convention just as our other great Presidents won the election..

[Frank US]

Do John McCain or conservative republicans respect the moral foundation of this country? The U.S. Constitution was designed to protect the people of America from misguided government.

U.S. Constitution: Amendment I - Freedom of Religion
Right now, for the first time ever, your tax dollars are funding religious groups you may not agree with. To add insult to injury, conservative judges have ruled that taxpayers do not have a right to challenge this expenditure.

Amendment IV - Search and seizure
Under the guise of court action against abortion, Conservative republicans had John Ashcroft subpoena all the medical records of literally thousands of women just like you and members of your family. Conservative republicans are invading your privacy every day. Unfortunately for all of us, they don't appear to care about our U.S. constitution, or by extension, the people of our great country.

Amendment X - Powers of the States and People
John McCain and conservative republicans have tried consistently to overturn States Laws. They used your tax dollars to destroy the will of the people of Oregon, and the famous "Death with Dignity" law; they lost, but undoubtedly will try again. Conservative republicans and John McCain do not respect States Rights.

Amendment VIII - Cruel and Unusual punishment
Would you rather die, or support a government which supported and sanctioned torture? The founding fathers would rather have died, and in fact they were proud to fight and die for our government: A government which specifically outlaws cruel and unusual punishment for very important reasons.

John McCain and the conservative republicans are destroying the moral foundations of our country. I urge you to keep this in mind in the coming election as we rebuild our nation together by voting Democrat.

[Tim]

I'm a lifelong Democrat but will vote McCain this year because of the way Obama's supporters act,which has been encouraged by the campaign

[tooblacktoostrong]

I think I liked it better when white people were more honest about race like prior to the end of segregation at least then you knew where you stood. (They hated us)

I guess I am a racist because I don't trust people who aren't like me "black". I am sure people will attempt to make the case that many things have changed in this country for the better but thats from a white point of view. Its easier to say when you aren't the minority. I still see racial profiling of not only of Blacks but Hispanics and Arab Americans. If you listen to news and even read the paper there is even a lot of religious intolerance that gets no attention. Don't believe me look at how the faith of Islam gets portrayed as a faith of hate and terror. Once someone knows you are a Muslim there goes the neighborhood.

As long as the balance of power goes towards the majority I don't think a minority has a chance at become the president of the United States. I am not the only who feels this way there are a lot of us who keep silent but know the score.

[Matt]

Actually, there is a big difference between an white county voting 99% for Clinton, and an all black going 95% for Obama. The percent of blacks voting for Obama is about the same, even in diverse areas, while in more diverse areas, the percent of whites going for Clinton is rarely that high. I'm not saying these people are all racists, but I suspect the lack of diversity, not knowing anyone who isn't white, is influencing their votes.

Also, on whether or not blacks voting in large numbers racism issue: I don't think it matters any more than whether or not women voting for Hillary Clinton is sexism. Until blacks (and women) are equally represented in politics, I'll give them both a pass on this.

[Bernie from KY]

Uneducated whites? I'm from Floyd County Kentucky and a little holler by the name of Mud Creek and I'm damn proud of it, a coal mining area much like Magoffin Co. It may be different now that the coal mining industry's dying out but when I was a young man the creed was.. "In coal dust, everyone's black." Meaning even the small % of blacks in the area weren't to be judged upon because they worked the same crappy jobs even the whites and Mexicans and everyone worked there. It's probably the most equal area of the US because everyone was dirt poor and tired of getting screwed by the gov't. Quite frankly calling out racism is the call of an uneducated idiot at a key board. Now I voted for Barack Obama because quite frankly I am ready for change and absolute change. Most of my fellow Kentuckians voted for Senator Clinton because they recall a pretty much GOLDEN era for the area under the guidance of her husband during his presidency.
I can't judge them for making that decision. Nor should you.

[Bubba]

Lemme see ifn I have this here right, 93% of one county votes for Hillary and they is racists. However, in NC 92% of blacks vote fer Obama and they is jist exercizin their votin rights, is that about it then?

[Fred Fep]

The reverse racism nonsense is a Republican construct....NOTHING makes up for 100s of years of slavery, lynching and all that. NOTHING. No need for reparations or anything, just an admittance that the Supreme Court in 1956 saw no reason or need to find systematic discrimination against whie people. It is not an equal thinga t all. It is pure and simple racism, when one reads the interviews where teh racism is admitted....Blacks are voting out of pride, many of these whites despise Hillary, they are voting because they are unrepentant racvists and beyond stupid thinking he is botha radical Christian and a closet Islamic person. Get a grip, Republicans would and do, cheat and do whatever they can to win, and now Hillary and her followers seem to have adopted this. CNDIDATES lose, it has happned before, no need to make up nonsense about sexism. Because if it were this powerful and the reason she screwed up Super Tuesday, then how would she avoid it in November.

I am tired of the Hillary peope who act exactly like Rove Republicans. You people are disingenious and I doubt would ever socialize with the uneducated racists you are so proud of now.

Give me a break, you phonies

[John F. Conroy]

I retired and moved to Kentucky from California. I live in a very diverse county, Nelson County. We put Hillary first, because frankly, I haven't seen ANY agenda from Mr. Obama. "We need change" is not a plan. Face it. It's going to four more years of Bush with McCain, or who knows what from Obama. No, thank you. As far as the ignorant remarks posted so far: you're really showing your stupidity.

[William]

When I lived in Kentucky about 10 years ago, I saw an peculiar man exiting my dentist's office as I was leaving. My dentist commented that this man was a Grand Dragon of the KKK.

I found out later that the KKK still had public service annoucements for meetings on local the local tv news down in Hazard (ironic name) county.

The fact Hillary could rally racists is one more reason to stop her.

[jr]

"yes, because the rights and opinions of people who are not diverse should not matter?"

Obviously they do, they just shouldn't be misconstrued as representing the nation as a whole.

[John T.]

Even though I'm a proud Kentuckian, I too am terribly ashamed at the obviously racist attitudes that some in the state still carry, and that these people allowed this hatred to interfere with what I consider their awesome responsibility to vote in the best interest of their country, I'm equally shocked and dismayed at some of the equally ignorant characterizations of Kentuckians that I've seen presented here-- including those of the blogger. For the record, I'm from those "Hills And Hollers", as the writer so fliply put it, and equally for the record, I'm educated, have all my teeth, and have never had a child with a relative.
The racism shown in the Kentucky primary is indicative of a much larger issue-- not only of how far we still need to go in the fight for civil rights and equality, but also of the internal predjudices against, hate for and ignorance of each other that so many of you have displayed today. Racism, ignorance and intolerance infest all regions, races and people in this country, and no amount of college degrees, fine homes and white collar jobs will wash the hatred you've expressed here off of you. Racism is about ignorance and fear, and not about locality, means or station in life. Each of you is blaring proof of that. I'm ashamed of you all.