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Obama Enters Enemy Territory: West Virginia

Los Angeles Times   |  Stephen Braun   |   May 10, 2008 12:43 PM

Read More: Obama West Virginia, West Virginia, West Virigina Primary, Politics News
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In Hardy County, Democrats outnumber Republicans more than 2 to 1. But there is little enthusiasm for Barack Obama in this mountainside enclave, a portent of trouble for the Illinois senator in next week's West Virginia primary and the general election beyond.

Nearly 97% white, the county is as conflicted as any rural and working-class Democratic bastion as it struggles to adjust to the likely prospect of the party nominating its first African American presidential candidate.

Read the whole story here.


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collapse GrainOSand See Profile I'm a Fan of GrainOSand

You cannot legislatively force someone to love someone else. You cannot negotiate with someone in denial. Lives have come and gone to never know anything beyond the crippling effects of hatred and division based on race. Everybody has an opinion but not everybody can see or wants to see the truth. Sometimes the truth told is no indication of what is reality, but more an indication of a desire to suppress the untold truth so as not be indicted by reality. One needs to get in touch with the frailty of self and then they will have an appreciation for frailty in others. There is no excuse for hatred but there are plenty of sanctuary"s for it. The race problem is not Barack Obama's problem to solve anymore than it is John McCain's or Hillary Clinton's problem to solve. Racism existed before Obama's campaign, and win or lose it will exist after. The chickens have not yet come home to roost on the question of racism in America and I will rue the day they do. Will you?

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:43 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse Janet Carter See Profile I'm a Fan of Janet Carter

Why is West Virginia so racist? Maybe they should break off and start their own country - WHITE Virginia.

The people from WV just don't come across as being very intelligent. Hillary's type of people ! haha

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:17 AM on 05/12/2008
collapse LucieLee See Profile I'm a Fan of LucieLee

This is the most out of touch article I have ever read~!! This is totally based on that AP article that Hillary used to back herself up to the USA Today reporter........Barack Obama may be an issue with the folks in West Virginia......but that really isn't Barack's issue..they have a problem with his race...er....at least the African American portion of it......which automatically limits them from going any further to know the man.......The quotes from some of the people who are from West Virginia in this article actually prove my point. in saying that Barack is "all fluff and no substance".......which is totally ridiculous....this man's own prejudices against Barack's race, makes it easier to use the vague talking points he has heard from either the Hillary campaign or some shallow-thinking political punditry. It amazes me how some in the media can fall for the Hillary talking -points evwn while criticizing them....Barack actually does quite well with whites.....since Iowa...and he has only improved along the way....Isn't it sad that we Americans have to be seperated into falsehoods of denominations, by race and income levels.....I didn't think we had apartheid here in this country~and one fact that can never be challenged no matter how some try....Obama is still winning, and is still leading Hillary!

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:55 AM on 05/12/2008
collapse DMW1 See Profile I'm a Fan of DMW1

Okay, I'm an Obama supporter and would like him to win the presidency.

I have never been to West Virginia, but I do not believe for one second that every person there is a racist or uneducated. I am fairly certain, having faced prejudice in his own life, Barack Obama would be disgusted with the comments on this thread from some of his supporters.

This has been a long and drawn out primary. Obama and Clinton both have loyal, passionate supporters and tempers are flaring, but how can Obama's hope of unity succeed if his own supporters display the kind of divisiveness that they are accusing Hillary of?

Stop and think before you make these statements online for all to see. If an undecided voter searching the Internet for information on Obama and came upon hate-filled post after post from his supporters, I wonder how it would affect them?

For Christ's sake, even the HuffPo headline of "Enemy Territory" is divisive!

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:54 PM on 05/11/2008
collapse CatLadyforObama See Profile I'm a Fan of CatLadyforObama

Agreed. I have myself said I would never vote for Hillary at emotionally charged moments, but know I could never go to the dark repug side, EVER. Had Hillary won I probably would have even campaigned for her.

I have read and heard some hateful things from supporters of both candidates and hope this changes very soon or we will see a President McCain.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:20 PM on 05/11/2008
collapse Gary47 See Profile I'm a Fan of Gary47

Absolutely right on target. I hope your admonition is embraced by Obama supporters nationwide and here at Huffpost.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 01:26 AM on 05/12/2008
collapse Krikkit See Profile I'm a Fan of Krikkit

It's about as white and backward as you can get here in WV, and yet, even here you can see change in the oddest forms.

I grew up with racial slurs being just part of every good old country boy's speech patterns, but that has died down considerably in the past decade. Now you hear something much more subtle. Hillary's die-hard female supporters here don't come right out and say they won't vote for Obama because he's black. Instead, they say (and I've heard this numerous times) that "there's just something about him that scares me." When pressed for specifics, they demur and say, "I just can't put my finger on it."

I have a typical response to these reactions to Obama from Hillary's female supporters here in WV, and that is "After 8 years of Bush, aren't you tired of basing your decisions on fear?" And then I finish with a confident, "Vote for Hillary if you want, it's your right. But in any case don't worry; Obama will be a fine president." I am not sarcastic in these exchanges. Culture changes slowly, especially among older folks, but change it does.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:41 PM on 05/11/2008
collapse CatLadyforObama See Profile I'm a Fan of CatLadyforObama

Thank you for sharing your experiences. It 's good to remind everyone that while Hillary may have a large lead, there ARE Obama supporters in WV.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:22 PM on 05/11/2008
collapse DMW1 See Profile I'm a Fan of DMW1

A thoughtful and impressive approach Krikkit.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:37 PM on 05/11/2008
collapse PlantGod72 See Profile I'm a Fan of PlantGod72


I like your approach very much! You're a wise one......

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:52 PM on 05/11/2008
collapse dadele See Profile I'm a Fan of dadele

Democrats in West Virginia and Kentucky will vote for Bill Clinton's wife in the primary. It's OK. It is too little, too late for Mrs. Clinton. There are a lot of people in this country that won't vote skin color, they will vote for the candidate that offers then the best chance for a better life and a better America. Maybe by November WV and Ky voters will come around, maybe not. I think people understand 4 more years of Republicans is going to destroy us.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:17 PM on 05/11/2008
collapse eurydice See Profile I'm a Fan of eurydice

Whatever you do, Barack, steer clear of banjo players, and Don't Bend Over!
Remember the movie "Deliverance"?
All them good ol' boys are lookin' for some action, cause they're bored with tipping over sleeping cows.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:58 PM on 05/11/2008
collapse Krikkit See Profile I'm a Fan of Krikkit

I am a West Virginian and I am highly insulted by your ignorant slurs. You know nothing about WV so keep your ignorant trap shut.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:43 PM on 05/11/2008
collapse liberalrebuttal See Profile I'm a Fan of liberalrebuttal

Okay NUMBER ONE ! This nation is not 97 % White . I don't know where the hell that number came from. NUMBER TWO , the Black and Latino Communities are voting DEMOCRAT. We will make up the numbers thank you very much and Si Se Puede. NUMBER THREE !The majority of that White Working Class people keep talking about , vote REPUBLICAN and have been for years. NUMBER FOUR . Generation X and Millenial Whites are NOT being polled and they vote DEMOCRAT!

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:40 PM on 05/11/2008
collapse jupitor See Profile I'm a Fan of jupitor

Don't get in a up roar! West Virginia isn't voteing for Hillary Clinton! That good Ol State with it's racial colors is voteing to reinstate President Bill Clinton! It's a real Hoottttttttttttttttt! Really , think about it ! this two states are the most racial states in the U.S, and they live in good ol boy territory, and the funny thing is they aren't even voteing for Hillary clinton! They are Voteing back in their Good Ol Boy Bill Clinton------------Soooooooooooooooo HOW IS THAT A WIN FOR HILLARY CLINTON? It's sad , but true! If she wasn't Bill Clintons wife, those good ol boys wouldn't vote for her at all! They'd go for the good ol boy John Mccain! I just find this so funny! His Win, His Her Lose, because they don'lt even care she's there. Just a way, to get a good ol boy back again! Ha Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:43 PM on 05/11/2008
collapse liberalrebuttal See Profile I'm a Fan of liberalrebuttal

Okay...the 97 % was in reference to a county not the country. I stand corrected. But still, I am not worried about a thang. There are more WHITES in America in 2008 , who are over the race bullshet, than there are still clinging to their "issues". So, they will outnumber the Archie Bunkers of this nation and we will win in November. EVERYONE is tired of the crap...all of us and we are ready for CHANGE. Period!

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:44 PM on 05/11/2008
collapse CatLadyforObama See Profile I'm a Fan of CatLadyforObama

What is up with Women's Voices Women Vote? They sent out another mailer, this one to WV, with inaccurate information?

http://www.dailymail.com/News/election08/200805090050

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 04:11 PM on 05/11/2008
collapse Krikkit See Profile I'm a Fan of Krikkit

As we're starting to gear up for the general election in November, a lot of groups are setting up voter registration drives. Most of those groups aren't professional, just people wanting to make a difference. It isn't surprising that some confusion is bound to result.

The information that group sent out wasn't inaccurate, it was just confusing because it was sent shortly after the deadline to register in time for the primary vote had already passed. Of course, the registrations are still valid for the general election. There just isn''t enough time for the information for any registrations after the deadline to be put on voter registration rolls in time for those folks to take part in the primary.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:50 PM on 05/11/2008
collapse CatLadyforObama See Profile I'm a Fan of CatLadyforObama

This organization in particular just seems to be fraught with problems getting their mailers out with correct information. I don't know if it's intentional, or not., but seemed a bit nefarious during the PA elections. Maybe you're right, good intentions and unprofessional.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:24 PM on 05/11/2008
collapse Raisean See Profile I'm a Fan of Raisean

Those people are grossly ignorant, and if you agree with their statements then maybe you should reexamine yourself... I'm all for change... But the first change has got to be that racism out in those areas. I was born in Bluefield WV, I grew up there, I know what that area is like and it's no cake walk for people like me. They talk down to you; they look at you like you were nothing; they run families out of their homes, they're stuck in a time warp with no way out. I cry for my fellow West Virginians because they don't know any better, nor do they want to. By the way I'm mixed Latina/Black, racism/hate is still alive and strong. The question is how many of us are willing to work to extinguish it?

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:41 AM on 05/11/2008
collapse Krikkit See Profile I'm a Fan of Krikkit

I'm terribly sorry you were treated so poorly in WV. How long has it been since you left?

I was born and raised in northern WV and racism was ingrained here, too, but it's changing. It is easier for minorities in northern WV because we have easy access to major metropolitan areas like DC and Pittsburgh. There is a higher degree of education here than in those rural mountain areas, too, as well as a much higher base of working professionals.

Civilization is where you find it. You can't go into a cavern and look for enlightened ways. Also, remember that some things only die out when the old folk go. Just a fact. Folks like my mom, 87 years old, who grew up and started raising a family well before the civil rights movement just don't get it. They never will.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:57 PM on 05/11/2008
collapse Raisean See Profile I'm a Fan of Raisean

Oh those people are so pathetic! Reading that article just made me mad! How can people be so ignorant... They're pigs scum of the earth... I'm so disgusted it's unbelievable.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:04 AM on 05/11/2008
collapse Krikkit See Profile I'm a Fan of Krikkit

I'm a WV Obama supporter and I find your comments and similar ignorant ones here about WV to be entirely intolerable. Before you start calling people "pigs" and "scum of the earth" you'd better be willing to have your nose shoved into a mirror.

I was going to say, "you should come here, meet people and then judge for yourself." But on second thought, just stay away. We don't need pigs and scum of the earth such as yourself coming here to try and lord it. Lord knows we've had enough such ignorance coming from people like you for as long as I can remember. Just.Stay.Away.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:02 PM on 05/11/2008
collapse jayburd See Profile I'm a Fan of jayburd

He doesn't have to win in WV he just has to do better than expected, which I think he will...

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:53 AM on 05/11/2008
collapse timeforachangenow See Profile I'm a Fan of timeforachangenow

WOW....the vitriol that is spewing in this blog is palpable....

what's the matter with Obama supports here...

are you scared of something...

is the boogie man poor old West Virginians threatening to stop his momentum...

just WHAT are you guys scared of???

if the race were REALLY all sowed up I would think that you would at least try to be magnanimous...

maybe there is ACTUALLY a weak chink in Obama's armor...

maybe just maybe there is an attempt to leave out a few more voters in this process..

whats the matter...West Virginia isn't GOOD enuff for you to BOTHER with...

OMG!

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:10 AM on 05/11/2008
collapse tel8034 See Profile I'm a Fan of tel8034

Now Obama has to win EVERY state? No Presidential candidate has ever done that, and none ever will.

Besides Hillary's race baiting has a lot to do with this.......Why can't she run a clean campaign just on the issues?

The bottom line is that the Democrat with the MOST DELEGATES WINS THE NOMINATION.

Obviously you are one who believes that the COLOR OF ONE'S SKIN IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER.

As the the years roll on, those persons of ALL races who "cling" to the past, will deplete in numbers as they eventually leave this earth, and the youth of this nation who do not look at the world in terms of skin color, and who believe in "THE DREAM", will be the dominate voice of this great nation........Divisions because of race will then be a thing of the past.

IT IS A PITY THAT THE W. VIRGINIA CONTEST HAS COME DOWN TO A MATTER OF RACE AND NOT ISSUES.......SHAME ON THE CLINTONS.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:00 PM on 05/11/2008
collapse timeforachangenow See Profile I'm a Fan of timeforachangenow

you ARE absolutely incredible!

nowhere in my post did I even allude to this being a racial problem...8(

I was raised most of my adolescent life by a very proud BLACK woman...momma mary...8)

she would be appalled at your insinuation that COLOR makes any difference to me...8(

the greatest thing about her was she was of mixed heritage and proud of it!

you want to discuss the tactics or reasons fine then DO THAT!

you want to race bait...go elsewhere!

the nerve of you to even attempt to denigrate anyone by doing this is disgusting...8(

want to try again???

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:42 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse CocteausTwin See Profile I'm a Fan of CocteausTwin

Ok I am going down the line of post, and yours is the first of which I have encountered. You are somewhat deluding yourself if you think WV is going to be a momentum changer.

I for one have nothing to fear from the primaries.

Stop trying to spread the meme that there is an attempt to "leave out" voters. Have you ever paid attention to the primary process before now?

So whether you are a republican or a confused Dem, you're candidate has already lost.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:42 AM on 05/11/2008
collapse timeforachangenow See Profile I'm a Fan of timeforachangenow

well DUH!

it might have something to do with the fact that I AM a Florida democratic voter...8)

and since when did I say anthing about any other candidate...?

sounds like you are being a bit defensive!

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:44 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse ema See Profile I'm a Fan of ema

The hateful posters here do not speak for Obama, they are spewing forth their own prejudices and ignorance, their own fear of the "other."

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:15 AM on 05/11/2008
collapse 08timefortruth See Profile I'm a Fan of 08timefortruth

You are so right.......I have said repeatedly the kind of crap being said is not productive, not in line with Mr. Obama's views, and causing more divisions but no one seems to see that.

I guess we just have to accept the fact that no matter how much some of us want to move forward there will always be people from all sides that would rather stay in the same old ruts of hate and division.

I just hope the undecided folks out there that read some of the comments on the net remember these are not Obama's words or views.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:30 AM on 05/11/2008
collapse timeforachangenow See Profile I'm a Fan of timeforachangenow

ThankYou!

my sentiments EXACTLY!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:45 PM on 05/12/2008
collapse matthewhusseinsmith See Profile I'm a Fan of matthewhusseinsmith


Voters should pass a literacy, contemporary history and geography test before they can vote.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:21 AM on 05/11/2008
collapse 08timefortruth See Profile I'm a Fan of 08timefortruth

Obviously you have a superiority complex.......there are people in this country that could teach you alot more then you'll ever learn in a book, including my 82 year old mother with an 8th grade education...............the first thing she'd teach you is respect for others.

replyReply favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:57 AM on 05/11/2008