MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Refers To Rural Virginians As 'Rednecks'

One of the things we noticed as the race for the Democratic nomination wended its way toward its conclusion was how the media focused on those so-called "bitter" white voters from rural Appalachia. For a time, following Mayhill Fowler's "bittergate" scoop<, pundits by the score went on the air attesting to the importance of rural voters. But when the cameras actually arrived in places like West Virginia, the cable outlets loved nothing more than putting every outlier example of ignorance they could up on the screen.

Which leads us this afternoon, when MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell briefly - and oh-so-awkwardly! - let slip the mask, referring to the residents of Bristol, VA, a southwestern-Virginia town on the Tennessee border, as "redneck." The haughty-sounding chuckle sure didn't help!

[WATCH.]

MITCHELL: Interesting images today. Barack Obama, Mark Warner, in Southwest Virginia. This is real [chuckle] redneck...sort of...uhm...bordering on Appalachia...country. This is not the Northern Virginia...uh...you know...high-tech corridor. And these are voters that he would not logically...be...you know, gravitating to.

Comments

[brendanm]

She just apologized on MSNBC. She said it is a term many "political analysts" use, but it did overall seem like a sincere apology.

[ThomasMc]

Most rednecks don't consider the term to be all that offensive, some even consider it to be a badge of honor.

It's not like she called them "trailer trash," which would have really offended those living in trashy trailers ;)

[faust2001]

Just a little white truth.
Hey, conservatives get their panties in a bunch over "political correctness." So Mitchell was being "politically incorrect." Sucks when the subject is you though, huh?

[ohiomark]

Typical northeast liberal elite snobs. Always looking down their noses at people.

We in "fly over country" always knew they felt that way. Ms. Mitchell just confirmed it.

[theblueAmerican]

Andrea is right, Most rural Virginians probably are redneck. So what's wrong with beina redneck. Get over it. Wear the title proudly. I'm from California. People all think I'm a liberal Jew. Well, I am Jewish but I love the outdoors, I believe in hunting (responsibly), 4 wheeling and just saying shit howdy. You can be a liberal redneck and support Obama, be against the death penalty, save the environment and want Osama Bin Laden's captured and brought to justice. Have him spend the rest of his life here in the US cleaning up pig shit. Andrea is a princess. But the deal is America is better off with all this diversity. We not a melting pot but a big huge mosiac. That thing called diversity which is a strength of America is why better days are in front of us. You can feel the change coming. The America of Thomas Jefferson, Lewis and Clark and and Bugs Bunny is coming back.The magic is coming back.

[realityczech4u]

Andrea, Andrea, not nice to look down on and make fun of the little people. If you'd expand your horizons beyond the cocoon of privilege you've been ensconced in all your life, you wouldn't be quite so surprised that substantial numbers of 'rednecks' have it in them to vote for a black man. Bet you think they still call them 'nigras' way down there so far below the sophisticates of the DC metro area.

[duze]

I'm sure she picked up that well known phrase up after repeated use at one of the "Hillary for President" rallies.

[likeicare]

Exactly. When the Clintons do it, it's OK -- you know, just a good-natured "family" joke.

When someone else does it, it's reverse-racism. Cheeeeesch!

[Flick08]

I'm not even sure if the origin of the term is even important b/c when used by someone in the upper echelon it clearly means something negative. And to be fair she probably shouldn't have used that. You can't cry racism and sexism when some terms are used and then allow this term to be used.

The above is my better angel speaking. My lesser angel laughed b/c I'd rather chew my arm off then to have to live in WV.

[Phylmom]

And by the way, she was talking about Virginia, not West Virginia. But I 'm sure you don't know the difference.

[Phylmom]

It's your loss. We sure don't miss you, and you have no idea what you're missing.

[joselopez]

Jason, you cannot bring attention to Mitchell's comment by you yourself using a perjorative to describe Chuck Todd. Who by the way I think has done a great job during this primary season.

[noneIn2008]

She let her real opinion slip. But, we already knew she was an elitist that looked down on regular folk.
To be PC, these people are dermal UV pigment protection challenged

[Topfeeder]

These may be the first shots of the revolution. The media is telling the truth and not spinning. First, Jeff Toobin utters the words "deranged narcissist" and now the correct pronouncement of "redneck" to that population. Love it!

[quidam56]

Actually she may be correct, see what is an acceptable standard of health care in Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee. http://www.wisecountyissues.com

[Phylmom]

Also funny if it wasn't so sad to hear people who don't know this area use the term perjoratively. Abingdon, where Obama was yesterday, is a wealthy old town with a historic theater. Oh, but I forgot, it's in Appalachia so it must be full of hillibillies.

The ignorance and bigotry of Huff Post readers continues to appall me.

[Phylmom]

Actually if she knew where the term REALLY came from. It was first used by socialist, union coal miners, including blacks, who wore red bandanas around their neck to identify themselves.

[mergina]

Andrea, rednecks is so passe. Not groovy.

[SwingVoter]

From now on people, when ever you want to refer to McCain, please make sure you use 'John W. Bush McCain.'

Ex: We cannot support John W. Bush McCain because he is advocating the failed policies of Dick Cheney.

Ex: John W. Bush McCain refuses to support a recent G.I. bill in congress, citing "it gives too much benefits to our veterans."

Ex: America cannot entrust a currently unstable U.S. economy to John W. Bush McCain who is on record saying, he does not understand the economy.

Please, spread the word about John W. Bush McCain.

America cannot afford John W. Bush McCain--not in treasure and definitely not in blood.

[BBackSoon]

Seems to me that these people are proud to be rednecks. The chuckle was the bad part. Those are down home rural white folks. You know Rednecks. This is not necessarily a bad thing.

[Buddy McCue]

We rednecks can call ourselves rednecks, but we generally don't like it when other people do. That's not unusual.

[KOBISKING]

If the combat boot fits, wear it!