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

[West Virginia Born, Proud to be Kentuckian]

As a PhD candidate with two master's degrees under her belt, I would hardly call myself "uneducated". Sounds like a lot of folks out here are more ignorant than the stereotypes they're posting.

Even those who are not as educated or happen to have different social/political beliefs are entitled to participation in the political process. If you are so disturbed by the results and/or "ignorance" in KY and WV, perhaps you should be doing something to combat the persistent poverty and lack of opportunity these regions face.

[RAH]

I am african american from chicago. All of my family at the beginning of this election up to now were Hiliary supporters. We learned from the Clarence Thomas issue that you can not vote based on race. MY 80year old mother once attended J. Wright's church and left. By the way her grandfather was lynched in KY. After listening to the issues we all agree Obama is the man. p.s Ivoted for a whole lot of whites bdoes that make me a racist?

[A.Y.]

HATEFUL PEOPLE!! I am from Kentucky and can't believe what I am hearing. I voted for Obama but you are giving me pause to think about doing that twice!

[Joe]

I agree with Fred - it appears to me like the person who composed this article is racist.... realizing many of us who stood with Clinton will vote for John leaving that other fella ole whats his name in the cold.

[Rabin Deka]

"Black voters are ridiculed for not supporting a fellow african american, while white voters are labeled racist for voting for a white woman." - Jeremy.

Seems this "black" definition is fuzzy!

Lot Asians look much darker than Mr Obama. Here his father's root is used to classify him black, no credit to his mother.

But his father was a Muslim too!

"According to Islamic jurisprudence, children of a Muslim father – even an apparently nonpracticing one, such as Obama's father, and irrespective of the mother's faith - are automatically Muslims." - Shireen K. Burki

So Muslim definition is not used but Black definition is used.

One got to weight and see what other scenarios may pop up upon replacing 9/11 President with one with Islamic root.

[dharper]

It is an interesting fact of history that both the poor white people and the black people have electing Democrats with the promise that they will be "lifted" out of poverty.

At this present time their status has changed very little and will not do so in the near future because that is how a politician gets elected and remains in office. Promise and promise but NEVER deliver. Most glaring example is Robert Byrd, longest serving Senator. WVA remains to this day the epitome of poverty.

Bill Clinton, as the first "black" president, certainly did nothing to enhance the status of the "less fortunate", whatever that term entails. KY, Miss, Ala, WVA, AR. LA, still have the worst educational records in the nation and the accompanying lowest income levels.

Perhaps the reason Republicans don't resonate with these folks is that don't want to see them on the welfare rolls forever and that work is not a "dirty" word.

For many of us we have to work at jobs that we did not like, in fact we may have hated, but we did so until something more rewarding came along.

As a child of the depression I can assure you that I am familiar with poverty and hard times. Don't ever tell me that hard work and education will not solve the problem BUT you have to want it bad enough.

Thus far the government has made these people captives of the system and apparently they like it - BUT they must concede that somebody is paying for it and it "ain't" Big Brother Government.

This entire nominating process is nothing more than a cesspool. We should all be ashamed.

[Chili Palmer]

So what does it mean when a predominantly black county votes for Obama? How come the LATIMES does not say anything about that?

I am so sick and tired of the media trying to pit us against each other. It should not be about race. It should be about whether or not we think someone is qualified to do the job.

I wish there was a way we could cover the nominees' faces and gender and vote based on their record.

[patrik herweck]

actually the new polls show that obama beats mcain by the same margin mcain will beat hill-dawg with. So i am not sure where your facts came from but check them again. Also, majority of hillary democrats will still vote democrat (obama) because their policies are very similar and mcain represents Bush for a third term. Just look at the race rationally and you will see Obama has the best chance, hillary wins the people who do not know what they are doing or what is going on in the current world today.

[Greg F.]

Hatred is hatred no matter the color of skin spewing the comments. If we are to excuse hatred because of past actions, then we can never hope to be absolved of any part of it. That being said, the hateful comments spewed towards the populations of Kentucky and West Virginia prove that hatred is alive and well in America. We are well practiced at it, and articles such as this give us another opportunity to exercise it. Let's say, though, that we can identify a segment of the population as being thoroughly, completely racist. Does that mean the answer is to, in turn, hate them and belittle them? How can we tell someone, "Do as I say, not as I do." Hatred works both ways and is equally dangerous. Someone has got to stand up and be human enough to stop the vitriolic hate language and set the example for how we all should behave in society. Unfortunately, political campaigns help in fueling our country's hatefulness in that we're taught to hate and belittle the opponent. In a country where both Democrats and Republicans are equally corrupt and share fully in the blame for most governmental errors, we still salivate at the opportunity to play political games rather than to reach across the aisle to offer unity for the sake of a great country. And this is all wishful thinking.

[Mahandi]

Some of these comments are outright ludicrous! Just because a person is from WV or KY doesn't mean that he/she is uneducated - there are plenty of educated people from these states too. Not all of these states are rural back roads, with snake handling churches and homes with outhouses and no running water. And not everyone from these states is racist or sexist. There are actually some people that take the time to decide who they want to vote for and why based upon the views and values of their chosen candidate. Yes, racism and sexism still exists, but isn't it going to exist to some extent in most all populations - diverse or not? I guess my point is that not everyone from KY/WV is stupid, illiterate and without shoes, and if that is the way you think, YOU are the ignorant one.

[Craigbob]

Well, at first blush it sure appears that racism could be to blame for Obama's loss in Magoffin county, Kentucky. I mean the county's population of around 13,000 are 99% white and the county voted 93% for Obama. Those facts almost seem to speak for themselves. Especially when you take Kentucky's history of racial division into account. After all, we ARE talking about the south here, where some these folks are still flying the rebel flag as a race statement. It's incredibly sad that this kind of racism still exists but it's definitely there. Of course it exists elsewhere to varying extents as well, but has always seemed especially pervasive in the south.

For some contrast, please consider the county where I myself live in Oregon, where we all voted on the same day this week as Kentucky did. The Oregon county where I live is called Deschutes (pronounced like "Deh-Shoots), it is rural, mostly republican, the population is around 20,000 and those people are 94% white. I think that's a nearly perfect comparison to Magoffin county Kentucky. And yet, Deschutes county this week reported a FAR more balanced voting tally, with just under 60% voting for Obama while the remaining almost 40% voted for Hillary.

So you see, over here in Oregon, in my county of Deschutes, where for the most part we tend to be very proud of our upward mobility and forward-thinking mentality, we have shown strong support for Obama even though we are 94% white AND in a rural area. Doesn't that seem to be more in alignment with the national trends?

Anyway, regardless of the reasoning behind their votes, whether it be racist or not, I still believe every vote is valid, every vote is worthy and every vote should be valued. Just because they think differently in Kentucky than in Oregon doesn't mean I think their opinion has any less right to be represented. So if Magoffin county's results are truly revealing of a racist trend in that area, maybe it's less a matter of pointing fingers at them for being hateful or ignorant, and more a matter of finding ways to reach out to that community in ways that will attempt to reassure them about the viability and benefits of having a black candidate. Maybe they simply haven't had the case presented to them in a way that they can relate to. Maybe they voted so heavily for Hillary because they simply felt like they could understand her better. Or maybe we're leaving out some unknown factor like some point in one of Obama's plans that could end up somehow being a detriment to that specific county.

The point is, we can't really say for sure what's going on in Kentucky without being in those people's heads or hearing their side of the story. That's why I'd really love to hear from some Magoffin county residents themselves as to why they tilted so heavily toward Hillary, and I'm actually rather shocked that an article like this would be posted without even interviewing anyone in the county to see if they had some fair explanation for the obvious tilt of their results.

[Tom]

I feel sorry for anyone that uses the term REVERSE RACISM. There is no such thing. You won't find it in the dictionary; why? Because no matter what, racisim is racisim. Nothing REVERSE about it. Choosing one race over another is racism. Fortuanately that is not what this election is about. Though I'm sure racism is alive and well, it is only our own ignorance of each other and disrespect for our fellow man and woman's right to freedom that promulgates racism. Just like the people that drive by my house blaring their music at all hours of the night with the bass turned up so high it wakes up my 12 week old daughter down to the inconsiderates that rev and gun their motorcyclyes doing the same thing. Learn some respect and be considerate of others. Vote for who you feel will support your beliefs and disregard the socialist media that skews your opinion how it sees fit to sell you lies.

[Kevin]

Hillary hasn't dominated a vote like this since her first NY Senatorial campaign. The homogenous upstate NY town of Kiryas Joel had always voted 90%+ in favor of Republicans. In that election, they voted 99%+ in favor of Hillary. Not long after, Bill pardoned two prominent citizens of Kiryas Joel for felonious acts of corruption. Perhaps Bill pardoned somebody in Magoffin ?

[052208]

If Barack Obama was getting in front of TV cameras saying “Hillary Clinton has a problem with the Black Vote …look at Mississippi, Georgia, So. Carolina, No. Carolina! She is losing the Black vote by 20 -35 points in black states” He would have been stoned and accused of playing the race card. Hillary does it and its okay because she is a white women???? Double standard in America is and always will be what is. Its okay when a white person summons help from other white people. But if a black person does it they are accused of playing a race card and should be ashamed of themselves. Hypocrites is what you are if you try to say that ‘rural uneducated hard-working middle class white folks’ is not another ‘nicer’ term for racist white people. Hillary Clinton has done NOTHING for these people – just like Barack …so you tell me why they are so CONNECTED to Hillary Clinton if NOT for her skin color? You think they would have voted for a black woman like that? Get real. Based on what Hillary Clinton is now saying we have to now stop and listen and depend on the votes of these people and forget about the votes of 22 other states? That’s preposterous! WV, Kentucky vote republican in general elections!

[Mark Leslie]

jr, talented does not equate to experience. The Obama campaign has been based on "I said this" and "I wrote that" but if you take the time to consider his voting record, you will notice nothing distinguishing him from Hillary Clinton while in office. Now, this should bode well for him in the general election should he be nominated (after all, neither candidate will reach 2,025 by the voters themselves so superdelegates will cast their votes - it is my opinion that they should remain silent through campaigns as they can change their vote at personal whim - during the convention.)
Furthermore, to assume that 'white" people will not vote for a qualified "black" candidate has yet to be proven. And finally, what does slavery have to do with modern society? As I type this, there is at least 50% of the "black" population that while enduring modern racism did not endure slavery, indentured servitude unless we refer to current corporate servitude, Jim Crowe laws, or even segregation. The current generation and the one just prior to it saw the abolition of legal racism and the creation of affirmative action and entitlements (much like everyone else).
So, do not go on a diatribe about racism or how "black" solidarity is acceptable. I find it highly unacceptable to look at someone from the exterior only as I've tried to rid myself of the loathsome concept of race for several years. Until we finally get to the point where we see "race" as nothing more than an outward appearance and see that culture, religion, and ethnic identity (person to group) are the primary drivers in many communities...until we get to that point, we will continue seeing this elitist condescending attitude toward both "blacks" and "uneducated white". I simply hope the concept of racial division use to justify and enforce slavery is not sharpened as a result of heavy anti-legalism and anti-assimilationist Hispanic influence in the coming decades.

[Josh]

So when 80 (SC) or 90 (MS) percent of black people vote for Obama that isn't racism, right? Of course not... it's democracy. Give me a break. As a Kentuckian I am apalled by this condescension.

[Curtis]

I am shocked by so many peoples' negative views of Kentuckians. These people you criticize for being inbred, ignorant, hill billies happen to be hard working, loving, friendly people. Apparently kentucky does not have a monopoly on narrowmindedness.

You tell me that I have 1930's technology? That is naive and ignorant! Gosh, it sure is tough to tap out this response on my telegraph machine!

Just because a county is nearly all white does not mean it is a racist county!! Did you ever stop an think maybe these people are Christian gun owners? Perhaps they are turned off by candidates that think religion is something you just 'cling to' because you're bitter about being poor. Perhaps they've grown suspicious of government run programs that make all kinds of promises only the screw them out of everything they've ever worked for.

Before you criticize an entire segment of of people for being racist, you better think about your own prejudices and preconceptions!

[SammyT77]

Hey Don - Ever heard of the book Lying with Statistics?

[AF]

A. Voter wants to criticize Hillary Clinton for being racist all the while stereotyping everyone from KY as "uneducated, poor , rural whites".
I am from Kentucky and am none of those.
Go to Hell you narrow minded fanatic.

[Bubba Smith]

I'm one of those hillbillies ya'll been talking bout. I thinks you don't realize how it is. I have to vote for Hillary. My momma told me to. She said we don't vote for no Irish, especially a guy named O'Bama.

Bubba

[HC]

To the potential spoiler who would vote for McCain if Obama gets the nomination, don't you remember your role in giving us 8 years of Bush?
I encourage everyone who would vote for McCain if Hillary doesn't get the nomination to try a different, more meaningful action: Write In your vote for Hillary instead. You will still be making your gesture, and you won't saddle the rest of us with a war mongering old geezer that will keep us in Iraq for 100 years.
However, if you get your way, and somehow Hillary stomps all over the will of the rest of us, just remember her promise of genocide. She said she would "totally obliterate" Iran if it attacks Israel. That is a mass murder of 66 million men, women, and children. Think about that, think about whether you conscience will allow that. She will kill more people than died in all of WW2. She will kill more people than Hitler, Stalin, Mao, and the genocides of Dafur and the Armenians. Do you really want a president who has promised to murder 66 million people?
If you do, then feel free to write in Hillary Clinton in the general election. Everybody who really wants to see 66 million people murdered should write in Hillary's name. Even if she isn't nominated, if she gets the majority vote with write ins, she will be your president and you will get your wish of the biggest mass murder genocide in history.

[N.E. BodybutHillary]

If the majority of people in tis country were racist and sexist, Hillary would be doing better than she has. It speaks well of our country that she has been defeated.

[Frank Macdonald]

Dear Don Frederick:

One would have to retrieve the medieval schoolmen and their scholastic fixation with syllogisms to top this tidbit.

Best regards,

Frank

[Nathan]

Wow. I love how people who are decrying stereotypes continue to purport the worst stereotypes of Kentucky. I live in Louisville and am proud to say so.

[Jim]

There's a lot of people commenting here who say they're from Kentucky and immediately take umbrage at the assertion racism played any role in Clinton's victory. Most of these same people cite themselves as examples of non-ignorant and presumably non-racist Kentuckians, drawing from that the unwarranted generalization that the state is not, on average, less ignorant or more racist than the nation as a whole.

I can testify that this is untrue. I am in Kentucky, and have lived here for more than three decades, in various parts of the state. All members of both sides of my family are from Hillary's heartland of Eastern Kentucky, and many of them still live there.

Therefore I know what I'm talking about when I say: Race and relative education played a very large part in voters' choices here, even in urban areas. In many parts of the state, Clinton's opponent was only identified with an epithet rather than by name.

Does widespread ignorance necessarily mean widespread stupidity? A number of posters have argued that lack of college degrees does not imply lack of intelligence, and this is so; but lack of knowledge about the world and unfamiliarity with candidates' positions makes it easy for the most intelligent of persons to be misled. There is an indescribable amount of misinformation floating around here about Obama, and without the education and resources to discern fact from fiction, those distortions are unhesitatingly accepted.

While I support Obama, I would gladly vote for Clinton if she had a serious chance of getting the nomination. It's time for her – and her supporters – to face cold, unpleasant reality. I only hope they aren't so consumed with bitterness that she becomes this year's Naderesque spoiler.

Even if she tried, however, she might fail – all Clinton's "victories" in places like Kentucky and West Virginia really say is that she beats Obama in places that no Democrat is likely to win in the fall anyway. That's not much of an achievement.