Obama Enters Enemy Territory: West Virginia

Los Angeles Times:

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: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[kinnycut]

Unfortunately, it isn't going to matter how West Virgina votes in the primary, so there is no sense in readers bickering with each other over it. West Virgina also rarely goes democratic in the general. Bill Clinton won West Virgina when he ran for President. Prior to that the last time West Virgina voted democratic in a Presidential election was when JFK ran, so democrats talking about West Virginia is ridiculous because it is a state that is most likely a loser for democrats in the fall no matter who the democratic candidate.

[KMKY]

Actually, West Virginia voted for Democrats throughout much of the last century. They voted for FDR (all four terms), Truman, Adlai Stevenson, Eisenhower (as an incumbent), Kennedy, Johnson, Humphrey, Nixon (as an incumbent), Carter (in both 1976 and 1980), Reagan (as an incumbent), Dukakis, Clinton (in both 1992 and 1996), and then for GWB (two terms). The question is, then, why did a state that had voted solidly Democratic, except when it voted for a few Republican incumbents, decided to vote for a first-term Republican with GWB. Maybe it was name recognition, discontent with the Dems, values voting (or what we are calling wedge voting this year)...bu­t Dems need to know what and why in order to get a Dem elected in the fall.

[TrueIndy08]

they may have voted DEM a lot... but they won't do it for a black man! They would rather wallow in misery and have their jobs shipped off by nasty trade deals like NAFTA than put their own racial bigotry aside and vote for who is going to help them!!

Thats their perogative­... but hey, when you don't have jobs, don't whine, moan, and cry about it... you voted for your misery!!!

That goes for anyone would rather vote against their own interests bc of something so stupid and trivial as skin color... is this 2008??? This place makes me think its 1958

[Spiriteddona]

Spirited Dona says-- It was John Denver, who, put it ? "West Virgina--almost Heaven!" Hillary must feel like that. As a southerner, I remind those, who don't respect West Va, unfairly, to boot-- our intellectual, east and west coasters, in New York and California, voted Hillary! N. Carolina-- Obama! Barack supporters thought the south was groovey when he won N. Carolina!
My video for Hillary is "Pantsuit Vixens For Hillary" on yahoo vid.
link number= video.yahoo.com/watch/2559101/767208372083

[TrueIndy08]

given enough time, Obama would have won CA!!!! I am from this great state and many many people here kept saying, "I just don't know about him"... so they went for name recognition and voted for the SHREW!!!

Alot of people now say they are happy to have the opportunity to vote for him in NOV!!!!

Hillary won alot bc of her name... once people saw her for the Republican that she is, they became turned off by her... hence the reason Obama is our nominee!

[matthewhusseinsmith]

Too many latinos and asians voted for Hillary in CA primary.
Asians in CA have one of the highest rate of college education,
yet they voted for Hillary; this shows:

College degree =! political awareness.

""I just don't know about him"... so they went for name recognition and voted for the SHREW!!!"

They can read in CA, can't they? Just google!

Dumb_old_m­idwest_far­mer

[illinoisan]

The Appalachians took to the Catholic Kennedys well enough. Obama did very well among southern Illinoisans in his senate bid. That section of the state is populated by a lot of the Scotch-Irish cousins of the mountain folk in West Virginia and, if anything, have a more racist history.

Obama detractors have to bend over backwards to find an excuse to dislike him. I think they're ripe for the picking if he can charm them and speak to their hopes.

[SMP]

West Virginia will vote for McCain in the fall.. Wont matter if it is Obama or Clinton on the dem ticket. I guess West Virginians would rather "fight than switch" West Virginia is not a swing state anymore. Barack Obama has changed the electoral pattern this yr..

The only thing that really pisses me off about this article is that because of Clinton...­people still think he is muslim, unpatriotic, and he wants to limit the number of hunting guns......­.....grrrr­rrrrrr....­people can be so thick headed.

Barack Obama IS a christian, patriotic, and he only wants laws concerning machine guns and the like.

Come June 3rd (or sooner) Obama will have sewed up the nomination

Hang in there Obama supporters and DONT tangle with Clinton supporters­...not worth your effort to

[disappointedvotr]

I just don't understand why every one is so focused on him being Muslim (Like that is so terrible, not all Muslims are terrorists­.). What if he was atheist? Would we not like him then? What if he was Mormon, Jewish, Scientologist? I thought this country took pride in its diversity. Certainly doesn't seem like it.

[matthewhusseinsmith]

Haven't you heard?
For many in America, Muslim= terrorist; Sadddam Hussein = Al Qaeda.

[timeforachangenow]

"Clinton supporters­...not worth your effort to"

so what you are saying is that there are "some" people that aren't worth having...

talk about elitist jive....8(

West Viginia is VERY important is you want to see a democrat electic this fall...8)

[LBM]

I can't believe the amount of hate and stereotyping among the supposed supporters of a candidate of unity. West Virginia is no different from any other state in our country. I've known many people who live there, lawyers, doctors, professors and many students who went to West Virginia University and have gone on to a number of professional careers. Just because there are white working class people in a state doesn't make them racist or hicks or less than any of you. Keep hating like this, and you will lose the support of the whole country.

[Shashi0224]

West Virginia will never go democratic. What happens in West Virginia won't matter to the end result of the Democratic party in the general election any more than what happens in Puerto Rico will matter in the general election. One will go Republican and one can't vote......­..
Out of the two Democrats, Hillary is more Republican. That's why she'll take the state. It doesn't matter in the short run or the long run. Hillary, you're done......­the only thing left for you to do is exit with some shred of dignity...­.and some respect for our party.
Obama '08!!

[Raisean]

Puerto Rico does not vote in the General Election..­.

[KMKY]

Your point is well taken and much needed. It's disappointing that those making comments here are doing it in an incredibly ahistorical way: cheering Obama's win in Mississippi, booing his possible loss in West Virginia. The last time Mississippi voted for a Democrat was in 1976; the last time West Virginia voted for a Democrat was in 1996. Obama needs to get on the ground there now if he wants to win the general. It's not out of his reach.

[mindact]

I think the concern is the sentiments being expressed by West Virginians in the article from LA times. I've always had a suspicious feeling about West Virginians living in the rural backwoods. At least Southern Whites have traditionally had dealings with black folks. It's like West Virginia had all these slave settlements back in the day, which formed the basis of their knowledge of black folks. Then black folks left those communities and then left the state to be 95% white. They tend to be the poorest of the poor and are prime targets for race baiting. They're more likely to percieve the genesis of the poverty around them from affirmative action and immigration. It's either the blacks or the mexicans..­.. Fortunately, most of the country isn't like that. Alabama isn't as bad either. Having said that, Obama has his work cut out for him. We could make up with a couple of states in the western hemisphere­...

[synapse369]

I don't know how many of you have actually been to W.V., but I was there about 6 years ago and can't imagine it has changed much since then. The majority of folks there are very poor and live a rural life style - many I met were out of work miners. I'm sure there are doctors, lawyers etc living there but they certainly did not appear to be majority. They have been heavily influenced by right wing fundamentalist religion and that is a big reason that they voted for BUSH . I hesitate to label them hicks, but they as a group certainly came across to me as pretty unaware of the greater world and very insular in their opinions. As to racism, I was shocked by the many "politically incorrect" racial comments I heard during my visit. It was as close to "dueling banjo" country as I have seen, and I was raised south of the Mason Dixon.
Just some observations by a hard working, white, feminist old lady, who though overeducated, really dislikes lattes.

[Teri]

let the poor white trash rot in hell when barack obama is president.

[kellygrrrl]

there many people in WV who are ready for change!

there are many with Open Hearts and Minds

WE welcome them with Open Arms!!!

[antaeus]

racist

[lotuslike]

hey teri...ple­ase stop it with the mean stuff. i am an obama supporter, too, and a lot of what's gone on has ticked me off, but we can't sink to the level of the folks that have been perpetuating the madness.

[debwarot]

Teri, you are an ignorant fool and do NOT represent the supporters of Barack Obama!

[tempus]

Based on what I've seen on this website, Teri definately represents the majority of Obama supporters. No doubt. You can deny it, but the proof is there for all to see.
The only thing that has calmed the haters down (for now) is the gloating.
But, expect it to come out in full force again quite soon.
Obama's pastor is a hater, his wife is a hater, and he is a hater. He inspired this sort of racist hate, and he will continue to do so.

[matthewhusseinsmith]

Obama will prove these white WV voters wrong by taking good care of them when he is president; first, beause he is president of ALL Americans, second, because few things in life are more enlightening than acts of kindness.

[vippy]

Isn't West Virginia coal miners country? Very simple. Probably stuck in the last centure. Of course,
those people won't vote for Obama. They simply don't understand him. Hillary knows how to drink
beer and down a whiskey and speak in their drawl. Again, the educated will go for Obama.

[kellygrrrl]

some will
there are plenty of People in WV who are ready for change.

We welcome them with Open Arms!!!!!

[OlderBudWeiser]

Hillary is no doubt telling WV people "......the road to the White House goes right through WV...." and Texas, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Oregon, etc. she says the same old tired crap in each state.
Oh yes, Puerto Rico. Bill set her up to win PR and "the Hispanic" vote whether in NY or PR and here's how he did it: What a guy!

http://www.judicialwatch.org/archive/1999/303.shtml

[girard1991]

I agree that the term 'emeny territory' is counter-pr­oductivity to the discussion. However, it does not make much sense to discuss indepth the issues about WV on this blog. A number of people voting against BHO in WV due to their ridiculous excuses are irredeemably flawed. When you are living at the bottom and have one of the worse education system and someone is telling you that they can help you, what does your '50-odd guns' and 'his religion have to do with anything?' BABY, IF THIS IS NOT BITTER and CLINGING THEN WHAT IS? They will never vote for a person of color. Also, they will not vote for a woman? I would argue that their vote for Hillary is not really for her, but for Bill Clinton. It just makes me sad, but I hope BHO gives it his best. Finally, why isn't Sen. Rockfeller doing more to dispel this stuff, just as a matter of principle. As a senator, he should hate for his state to go down throughout history as a racist and sexist stronghold.

[thetiger1974]

I mean why be shocked by West Virginia. The FBI has documented a tremedous amount of KKK activity in that state. FOR YEARS

[trinity]

So will the media outlets be searching for another "flag pin" lady in WV? I am sure there are tons to choose from.

[Siryn]

This title is horrendous. I understand the intent but it's unfunny. These people are not our enemies, or his, and the rhetoric doesn't help him or America bridge the racial gap.

[SCG]

agreed.

[kellygrrrl]

The MSM will continue to shovel inflammatory BS.

Don't buy into their flapping.

The Biggest Loser = MSM

step away from the Propaganda!

Take It Back!!!!!!

[bish66]

"Enemy territory", because there are a lot of white citizens in West Virginia. Isn't that racist? I mean, suggesting that a state is against a candidate, because of race?

And does "Ememy territory" mean that black and white are enemies?

If Obama wants to win the nomination, then he has to win the difficult states as well as the piece-of-cake states. West Virginia was once a Democratic stronghold. Together with Ohio, California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania it is one of the states a Democrat has to win.

[SaddieMcCall]

If the states that Obama has won were "piece of cake" states - then why couldn't Hillary win? She was the presumed nominee from day 1 of the primary season, she had the most money, she had name recognition, she had a former President campaigning for her. Hillary had the majority of her superdelegates endorse her before the first primary. So she started out ahead, and just fell backwards. I don't remember any superdelegates switching from Obama to Clinton, but quite a number of them have jumped from Clinton to Obama.

[donaldw6]

I absolutely agree with you that there have been shameful attempts to polarize contests like this one, and that's exactly why Senator Clinton has no business continuing in this vein. And what are you, the last remaining holdout? It's over.

[synapse369]

Together with Ohio, California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania it is one of the states a Democrat has to win.

HUH? Says who? WV has not gone D. in years. And for that matter, B Clinton won the presidency w/only 39% of the white vote. He did have 81% of the AA vote. Last I heard Obama had 40% of the white vote and 91% of the AA vote. So, I'd say Obama is doing about the same as Bill did with whites and better than Bill with AAs. If Bill did it with those numbers, Obama can too. Yes, he can.

Just an observation from a hard working, white, feminist old lady who, though over educated, really dislikes lattes.

[OliverTwist]

"But socially conservative church groups and gun-rights supporters here have helped tilt the vote Republican in recent presidential elections. In 2004, Hardy County lined up for George W. Bush by a 3-1 ratio."

I noticed alot of references in the story to folks who say they were formerly Democrats - before 2000 and 2004.

I think the Christian values of some of these folks are confused. "Thou shalt not bear false witness" is one of those Christian values they would do well to be conservative about.

[ddempesy]

I really think the Clinton argument over electibility is ridiculous. Do they expect us to believe that anyone that is not voting for Obama because he's black would vote for her against McCain? The democrats don't need voters like these...

[lucky54]

Clinton had no chance in hell against McLoser, republicans have tooooo muuuuch dirt on Clintons and that's the main reason they were trying to promote her in media. Because she was an easy target for them, remember the Whitewater, bill's impeachment, their shadowy connection­s... McLoser would love to run against hillary.

[EvereaderinSC]

I spent four years in WV when I attended college there at WVU and I can say it is a state in a class all its own. It's always pretty much been "owned" by corporations outside its borders, interested in ONE thing - its coal. It's also been pretty dependent on the government despite a feisty independent nature. I respect Senator Robert Byrd for his pleadings against the Iraq war just before it started.

To me it remains something of a puzzle, politically. I'll never forget when the Buffalo Creek disaster hit, when a corporation owned dam spewed liquid coal sludge down a valley wiping out homes and people, and the Republican governor's response. My dad organized the kids in the elementary school he was principal of in New York to collect money for the people left homeless. Gov. Arch Moore wrote back to say, basically: "Screw you. We don't need the charity of outsiders.­.." Moore was later indicted in some scam or scandal & may have served time for it. Not sure. Now the place is fighting mountaintop mining. I feel bad for the state. It used to me called, "The Switzerland of America...­" Not sure what it will be when all the mountains are sawed off - not the "Home of Mountainee­rs."