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

[az_sbux]

Ahhh, the Democratic party. The party of the Large Tent - Diverse, Fair, Color Blind, Equality between the sexes - The Quilt of America.
Isn't it a hoot to watch them step on each others necks in the naked pursuit of Power?
John McCain is a genius to just sit back and let the Dems fight it out until the tear gas flows in Denver. Then he gets to be voice of reason and stabilty for 2 months.

[Luanne Laib]

I keep asking. How come we never hear about this Larry-Barry thing? Double standard?

[jr]

"But I have a BIG problem with Obama for being condescending"
Can you give me an example?, because I think it is more of a "cool confidence" I like that in a leader.

"for not being forthright and honest about his true beliefs (witness his Wright association...")

Do you think Hillary has been honest about her associations? How about Hillary's lies to the voters in Ohio, Teaxas and Penn about her position on free trade for just ONE example, so you don't like him because he didn't out reverend Wright-which should not be a POLITICAL issue, but you excuse Hillary for her multiple cases of serial bald-faced lying, then lying about lying?

"and his closed-door remarks on rural whites who don't agree or support him)"
And what would these remarks be?

for lacking ANY track record for anything other than academics."
max s.

I think you should check his record because he has authored and co-authored several meaningful bills, too many to list here, it's public knowledge.

Barack Obama gave up job offers in the 6 figures after graduating from college to work for a less than poverty wage to help displaced Steel Workers in Pittsburg find new jobs. That says something about his character and track record.

What does Hillary, who comes from a privileged background have in common with them? Name one thing she has done for the middle class, name one thing she has done in 35 years that is of any significance to you or I, let alone that qualifies her to be commander in chief.

[DCX2]

That the results somehow mean white people voting for white candidates are racist is a straw man argument. This is not what the original statement implied. The original statement implied that a significantly larger proportion of the white people than normal were not voting for a black candidate. It is perfectly legitimate to question this statistical anomaly and the reasons for its existence.

It is also perfectly normal to identify statistical outliers as part of characterizing a set of data. A county is much larger than a city, so it is a legitimate resolution by which you can judge a state's demographics. While care should be taken not to overemphasize their meaning, to ignore it entirely is naive.

While it is somewhat excessive to imply that all residents of KY or WV are stupid, racist hicks, to claim that a majority (or even all) of them are not is...optimistic, at best.

[zack]

this whole argument that black people voting in droves for obama is racism is a load of crap. racism would mean not voting for somebody because they are white. but black people have voted in similar margins for the white democratic candidates in the past. at the same time voting for hillary because she is a woman is NOT sexism, but voting against her because she is a woman is. Racism is defined by negatives, not positives. If people vote for Hillary because they like her more that's fine, but if they are voting AGAINST obama because he is black that is racism. If you talk to any good political scientist they'll tell you identity politics is extremely common. droves of older white women (not 90%, but upwards of 70%) are voting for hillary because they identify with her, just like droves of black people are voting for obama because they identify with him. both populations are justifiably excited about electing "one of their own" for the first time. that is not racism or sexism. but believing it is racism or sexism just might indicate you've got a little bit of resentment about the political correctness and affirmative action that have taken root in this country. take a good look at all the numbers, and at yourself and recognize where this perspective is coming from, and you'll realize it's not racism and that obama shouldn't be held accountable for the fact that black people support him overwhelmingly, just like clinton shouldn't be held accountable for the fact that women support her overwhelmingly.

[Justin]

Being a white male from Lexington, Ky I have to say, I can't believe what I am reading. Rednecks, inbreeds, and snake handlers? Is this really the image that is equated with Kentucky. I think you all...I mean Ya'll forgot about our women being barefoot and pregnant!

Don't get me wrong, we have our fair share of "rednecks" but no more than say Mississippi, Oklahoma, California, or the rest of the country for that matter.

We do not live with 1930's technology or infrastructure. We have Universities (Go Big Blue!), Zoo's, big cities, little towns and everything else you would expect to find in (_________) <--insert any state name here.

My mom married a black man in 1989 when I was 10 years old. Racism DOES exist. I've seen it, I've heard it, I've felt it.

But it exist EVERYWHERE.

Clinton's huge win wasn't because "us Kentucky folk ain't gonna vote for no bastard son of a black man". As an aggressive campaigner for Sen. Barack Obama I got out and met a lot of the Hillary supporters and this is generally what they had to say.

"I like what Barack has to say, I just remember the good 'ol days when Clinton was in office. Those were good times. I'd like to see those again."

Kentucky largely benefited from the 90's economic boom. Toyota, Lexmark, Ford, GE are just some of the company's that helped fuel the economic expansion.

But GE is closing its plant, Ford is cutting production, and Lexmark is struggling, again.

Kentucky has been slipping back into poverty and its citizens are more than aware of this.

It angers me to know that Kentuckians go to the polls and vote their conscience with the hope of better days, and the entire nation dubs us as "uneducated racists rednecks".

And you call us racist!!!!!!!!!!!

Instead of stereotyping an entire region/state/race, perhaps EDUCATE YOURSELF with what is really going on.

Kentuckians are hungry for CHANGE......they just chose someone else to represent them.

See you again in the fall. Barack gets my vote.

[KY Proud]

Hello! Do you people really think that everyone in KY is - white, uneducated, racist and redneck? Do you not realize many of us are educated professionals with nice, white collar jobs? How about us IT Techs and Project Managers, us lawyers, and doctors? Hello! We live in Kentucky too and we are definitely educated enough to cast our votes without pointing and guessing.

Give me a break. You folks are making me sick.

[Heather Yenawine]

I'm shocked at how much negative feedback is being posted about Kentucky, when in fact, like all other states we have a wide variety of people living here, from all social and economic backgrounds. How can readers characterize us, when so few have actually been here, but rather have based their opinions on stereotypical films and literature? The ignorance, bigotry and pverty that does exist in Eastern Kentucky and other pockets of the state are the result of a very complicated history and pattern of dissenfranchisment going back to the conception of this country. I by no means justify the existence of ignorance or hate, and resent it, but feel it's important to understand why they exist in a larger social and historical context. Ignoring the poor or making fun of Appalachia as representing all of KY, in no way solves the problem. Appalachia has contributed very mcuh to our American identity through music and industry.

Besides, Louisville, where I reside, is a progressive and exciting city and largely supportive of democrats in general. Over 10,000 people showed up to support Obama just a couple weeks ago. So please, pause to learn more about the state and stop perpetuating these vicious stereotypes. I would expect more of "the left coast."

[Moonage]

If these results had happened in, let's say, Washington DC, would it have been a story according to the LA Times? 75% Obama, 25% Clinton. Do I really need to cite the racial mix of DC?

There is absolutely nothing to this story that isn't happening anywhere else in this country, or this planet. The implication that Democrats in Magoffin County Kentucky are somehow inferior to Democrats in the slums of LA is nothing but LA Times eliticism based on stereotypes and has become the status quo at the LA Times. Did the LA Times look at how blacks voted in their own slums to balance this article's insinuation?

Go ahead, make my day.

Pathetic what passes as "news" any more.

[Alien non-voter]

If you vote for Clinton, you are not a racist.

If you vote for Obama, you are not a sexist.

But, if you vote for Clinton saying the following things, you are a racist:
1) He is black
2) His middle name is Hussein
3) I don't trust black man
4) His black preacher talks trash
5) I'm scared of blacks
6) He is a muslim

But, if you vote for Obama saying the following things, you are a sexist:
1) A Woman cannot run the country
2) Clinton couldn't get Bill to do the right things .. how is she going to take care of the country?

I am not here to argue whether KY/WV voters are racist or not .. but a FEW people who were interviewed after the WV polls, said the following on why they voted for Clinton:

1) Obama is a muslim
2) We don't trust black man
3) His middle name is Hussein
4) You know i aint gonna vote for no colored man
5) They should hang that darkie up on a tree

The above are RACISTs not because they voted for Hillary but they voted against a black man ....

The problem with Hillary is that lying is her mother tongue and is ready to DO ANYTHING to get the nomination ticket. She gives a feeling that she will DO ANYTHING (right or wrong) to get ahead in the race. Sniper fire, Edmund Hillary, kids Soccer teams, War support ...

Hillary didn't give a shit about MI or FL democrats when the primary results were originally taken out of the count. She accepted the DNC rules. Now when she is in trouble, she suddenly remembers FL & MI and how lovely the people are! If she can flip flop policies for votes, I am not sure whether I can trust her when it comes to running the country.

Like the Jay Leno joke, Hillary has got more positions that Paris Hilton is an understatement... partly because she is an experienced senator and ex-first lady and pays the price.

I hope that whatever antics Hillary employs from now till the convention, those does not affect the elections, because plainly, everyone is tired of the Dems right now.

There is RACISM .. there are people who hate whites, blacks, jews, mexicans, asians, etc. I have experienced it first hand. One can only hope that it dies with the oldies.. and the youngsters change the way we look at others. Education will help in many ways .. first it will increase your social circle and will let you be in touch with people of different creed/culture. It will open your eyes to whats happening around you and let you take a reasonable decision. Gone are the days when people bought Chevy because they are American made, you can still buy Hondas and Toyotas and still be patriotic. Wearing a lapel pin doesn't mean you are patriotic .. you are not a pussy if you dont support the war.

Vote for Obama or Clinton if you like their policies on health care, iraq war, social security, unemployment issues, etc. Not because they are black and a lady.

[yael]

and OBAMA is getting what? 91% of the BLACK VOTE throughout the nation?
RACIST anyone?

[DCX2]

The author merely points out that "here's a county that voted overwhelmingly for Clinton. It is also populated almost entirely by white people." It is neutral journalism, reporting simple facts. It offers no hypothesis, suggestions, or opinions.

The article itself makes no statement that the people in KY are racist or stupid. It makes no claim that 90% of black people in KY voting for Obama is not racist. (oddly, 90% is higher than compared with most other states)

I think most of the people who are attacking the article are themselves ashamed of how they feel after they read the facts, and this is their way of coping with that shame.

[Hallie]

I have been born and raised in Kentucky and still live here. I have a computer with internet access, a brain, a master's degree, and a strong passion for justice and fairness.

It's true that there is racism in Kentucky. However, its also true that there is racism all over the world. Kentucky is not a unique oasis of uneducated, hateful, racist, snake-handling, uncivilized barbarians.

Many of the rural counties could be viewed as less refined and uncultured by the standards of those living in coastal cities.... but they are also very spatially isolated. Its definitely not an easy part of the country to access. There are no major interstate highways traveling through the eastern part of the state.

It is brash and ignorant to make the assumption that the people of one county are an acceptable "sample" from which to base conclusions about the entire state. It is also ignorant to assume that those people voted for Hillary because they are racist.

It is VERY likely they voted for Hillary because they feel comfortable with her, they know her, and they understand her. Also, Hillary, Bill, and Chelsea spent an enormous amount of time courting the voters of this state. They were here more times then I can count in the past few months, making visits throughout the state. Plus, they were here for an entire week leading up to our primaries. They pulled a grassroots vote that came from a lot of hard work and many, many campaign visits. They stumped everywhere across this state, from the gay bars in Louisville to the small town of Loretto where the Maker's Mark distillery is located.

Personally, I am an Obama supporter. So, I took note that he was largely absent from making visits here. He made a few stops in Louisville, but he did not commit such a large amount of time to this state as the Clintons. That shows, because she won the vote. She courted our voters hard, and it paid off for her.

Its not a matter of ignorance or racism. Its a matter of campaigning. Period.

Many of the comments above are flat out hateful and rude. I think that the LA Times had every intention to imply these negative stereotypes about our state. I find it to be offensive, biased, and riddled with poor journalistic standards.

[jr]

maryjane and all you Florida/Michigan or bust proponents are leaving out two very important points:

The elections were badly flawed in both states, do you really want to include skewed totals? what about the people who stayed home? (and followed the rules set out by their representatives)

and two

It is NOT your constitutional right to vote in the Democratic primary, the DNC makes the rules, not Hillary or Bill.

[Typical White Person]

TWP - at least that's what Obama calls me. you bunch of elitists. People decide to live in rural KY rather in your precious LA and they're ignorant, inbred hillbillies. The good news is that they have their guns and religion to cling to so they can get over their bitterness.

[ExDemocrat]

Obama is as racist as any white person ever was. He hates America, his wife hates America. He came from howhere and will take USA right back there. Anyone want to start saying their Muslim prayers??

[Dj Dolo]

I believe that this article was irrelevant to this election. But what bothers me is the sudden tone that Blacks are racist for voting for a Black man they believe in. For the first time in the History of this nation we(African-Americans) have someone who we believe can be President, who is one of us, and supports our values and issues! That is how African-Americans vote! We follow the candidate that supports what we believe in, just like every other American. Just like we did for Kennedy, Clinton and to a lesser extent in 2004 Bush(ugh!) (*note African-Americans have voted 100% for a white candidate before. This our FIRST time with a candidate who represents us, Latinos would do the same, Asians, and Arabs alike).
To Megan I must say this to you, you my fellow American, might be a tad racist. I find it sad that you believe that all Blacks are violent and all crime is due to the African-American element. As far as I remember crime has ALWAYS been an issue in America regardless of race, it's unfortunate that Blacks are often targeted by our media and in the eyes of the public, even, yes, African Americans.
The term "reverse racism" is a joke. Racism is racism period, however do not confuse, preference and choice to racism. If in KY they choose to vote for a White candidate because they are proud to do so, kudos to them. However if it was just so that the Black candidate doesn't win, shame on them. WAKE UP AMERICA!

[JDORF]

21% of KY voters said that race played a role in their decision. Thats 1 in 5 people that would admit to someone's face in an exit poll that they won't vote for a black person. How many do you think still made race an issue but wouldn't say so to someone's face? That is the reason the racism issue is brought up so heavily in these areas.

[jr]

"Racism by definition happens when someone prefers a person b/c of their race."
By Seth from Kentucky

Wrong, at least get your definitions correct.
Racism is DISCRIMINATION based one ones race.

But, I'll excuse you because you ARE from Kentucky.

[Shannon]

there is one last thing I'd like to point out, though it has nothing to do with KY, WV, Clinton, or Obama.....all of the racism, sexism, homophobia, or otherwise is absolutely alive and will be for quite some time. the thing the people don't seem to take from those irrational stances is that they are considered a necessary evil by the people that really run the show. so long as your a homo and he's a cracker and she's a n****r we get to expend our energy focusing on that instead of focusing on the fact that the real problem is rich vs poor and you better belive the rich will do everything they can to continue those illogical and irrational points of view. god bless us all, we are all the same, like it or not......

[jr]

Steve: My point is this-Blacks turned out heavily to vote for Bill Clinton, more so than they had ever before. The same cannot be said for white people turning out to vote for black candidates.

[JimRoe]

Blah Blah Blah- Being from KY I realize that many of you so-called "educated" people have never ventured outside of your comfortable little city (chicago, San Fransisco, New York) It must make you so proud of yourself to state with clarity that you are not racist, that you are not ignorant, that you are the future and those wee little inbreed folks know nothing of the modern world.

You can keep all of your political correctness because I know that you have to. You live in a liberal socialist world and fear what others may say feel towards you.

Here are some truths that us poor white snake handlers know:

That we can grow up literally dirt poor, much like those minorities in the slums of our nations bigger cities

That no matter what type of tax cut ever comes out of D.C we will not see a change on our pay checks.

We also know that because we are white that no one will ever give us help through affirmitive action, and that BET will never exist for whites, no JET magazine or BLACK MEN magazine. God forbid we attempt hold a pro-white raller, even though the rich pass us over as they do the helpless people who have sufured so much from slavery. I will never have a Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton

But here are a few good stereotypes for you:
Big city=Queer/tree hugger/coward
Black=Thief/drugdealer/welfare recipiant/uneducated
Liberal=socialist/queer/anti-american

My point isnt to insult anyone, but untill your in the top 10% in terms of wealth then your screwed, reguardless of race and once you make the top 10% you will never really give a damn about helping those you left behind in the poor towns

[Jess]

I will reitterate, as a person from KY, that there is racism is involved - this cannot be denied. Although two significant points need to be made.

1. As mentioned only once in this entire blog, Obama DID take the two counties that contain the two largest cities in Kentucky - Lexington and Louisville. Both of these cities are largely college towns with highly educated populations.

2. As I drive around in my town and in Kentucky, I can tell you that on EVERY street corner there is a sign for Hillary Clinton. But, I haven't seen ONE sign for Obama stuck in the ground. I have heard multiple stories about Clinton coming to KY but I believe only one about Obama and that was in Louisville (where he DID win). Perhaps the largely Clinton vote has something to do with the fact that the exposure in Kentucky is largely Clinton?

Both of these points illustrate the fact that this difference in voting may very well be about exposure and access. How many people in Magoffin County have computers? How many of them even have cable TV? What exposure do these people have to information about what Obama stands for or what his plans are? This is where the racism comes into play. All these people know about Obama is that he's black. As demonstrated here, the people who live in Magoffin County have very little exposure to blacks. It's a natural, understandable reaction for these people to fear someone that is unfamiliar to them. (Oh, and don't forget their ancestors taught them to fear blacks.) Hillary Clinton is accessible, white, and a woman. She is familiar and someone they can be more comfortable with than Obama who is inaccessible, black, and maybe even Muslim (That little piece of ignorance really gets to me but it's there. They hear Hussein and ... well.).

[Craigbob]

By the way, to everyone who keeps diverting attention to the places where blacks have voted upwards of 90% for Obama, that's a non-issue here. Haven't you ever heard the saying "two wrongs don't make a right"?

It saddens me to see these divides happening BOTH ways, but to say "Oh yeah, well black are doing it too!" doesn't make it any more right for whites to be doing it. I say EVERYONE needs to grow up and vote based on the issues alone. And if that were happening, seeing as how there is realistically VERY little difference between Hillary and Obama's positions on the issues, I am completely convinced we would be seeing far more even-handed outcomes, ESPECIALLY in the south and in any other areas where the black-white racial tension is still palpable.

OR...OR...maybe what's REALLY going on is that because Hillary and Obama hold such similar positions on all the issues, people are left with only surface differences to base their votes on...differences like race and sex...and if that's the case, then it's perfectly valid to vote for the one that you can most easily relate to.

Eh?

[Marc1A]

TruthIsTreasonComplianceIsPatriotic said:
>>It's no surprise that those hillbilly barrios are full of racist rednecks. Have you ever seen Deliverance?

And no the reverse racism thing just doesn't hold. Black people have voted for whiteys before. King Clinton I owes being elected to the black voters so you can't call them racist. Just because they would prefer to vote for Obama than Queen Clinton II does not mean they are racist and would refuse voting for whitey.

Seriously is anybody going to say with a straight face that Kentucky and West Virginia are not hillbilly, redneck, cesspools of racism, bigotry and ignorance? Come on!<<

First of all, blacks voted for Clinton because they felt no other candidate would be better for their interests. Guess what, they were right. He came through for them which is why Clinton left with great approval numbers in the black community, so great in fact, that he was comfortable moving his office into Harlem, so great that that Hillary was able to win the black vote easily twice in NY; so great that she was winning the black vote at the beginning of this current campaign until the black community finally decided that Obama was indeed, "black enough" to vote for. So what does it say about your community- that you can work your ass off for them and they'll just turn around and throw you under the boss and then call you a racist.

And seriously, can anybody say with a straight face that, especially with today's Hip-Hop generation, color is never a factor; there's never any "blame whitey" attitudes or Rev. Wright rhetoric going on in the 'hood.' I used to live in Bed-Stuy, and I can tell you from experience, there are black areas that are also "cesspools of racism, bigotry and ignorance."