The Ascendancy of Barack Obama in Small Town America

UPDATE, 1-30-08: Exposing Racism: A Worthwhile Thing To Do

For those of you wondering how the Obama ascendancy is playing out in Small Town America, I offer you this column from the Independent, a weekly newspaper published on the East End of Long Island by Jerry Della Femina, the former advertising executive turned restaurateur and columnist. This particular piece was written by Rick Murphy under his weekly "Low Tidings" column. Murphy is also credited as a publisher of the Independent.

This article has caused quite a stir in East Hampton and beyond. So much so that the paper has pulled it from their website and Murphy, a regular antagonist of the Democratic Party, both locally and nationally, and the Clintons in particular, has replaced it with a brief apology. The Independent is considered the more right-leaning and Republican-endorsing paper of the East End community. Della Femina himself is regarded as one of the great Hillary-Haters in all of the world.

On the heels of Barack Obama being endorsed for the presidency by the normally close-to-the-vest Caroline Kennedy, whose invocation of her father's enduring legacy carries, in some people's hearts and minds, more weight than any ten such endorsements by others, please read what the local Republicans in my home town are thinking, and publishing, about Senator Obama. This is, quite clearly, not to be believed.

Article shots from Hamptons Plum

Comments

[NyPrincess]

Wow, just wow.

[vontrapp]

Nice. Rampaging racism... alive and well in the conservative movement.

[thegirlnextdoor]

Well, I actually do not think Jerry Della Femina represents the thinking of small town America. But he would appear to represent the thinking of idiot racists. I just don't think small town America is filled with idiots and racists!

[UltraClassic]

Hillary '08

We don't need Obama at the point in time. He will take his place in the future.

Hillary '08

[msabbynormal]

As obscene as that article is, equally obscene is the fact that there are probably people somewhere who take it seriously and will buy into it as a rallying call. That those people are considered (a) fit to vote, (b) N. American, and (c) human is as disturbing as anything.

[splashy]

Looks like something from the 40's or 50's. Pitiful.

Thanks for putting that up, so all can see just how the Repubs think. That way we know why New Orleans was allowed, no encouraged, no MADE, to happen.

[Bocababs]

And it's that kind of bigotry why America as a country will always be in our own, created, "Dark Ages". Thank God for the young people like my children who like Obama NOT because he is black or white...bu­t because he has a message.

[Waitaminute]

I've had many experiences with the kkk, as far back as i remember. They went as far as break into my grandmothers house, looking for me. I've heard all their slang and felt their hatred, they (chief of police, judge etc) walked and drove boldly in my community. This murphy guy is no more then kkk without a sheet and hood. But then again, maybe he keeps an outfit readily available. He has a lot of hate within him.

[WintonyMay]

I see nothing remotely funny, instructive or of any other value in the clipping. It is repulsive, senseless and shallow; and that level of communication is below the gutter. It shamefully exposes the basest underside of our beloved country.


John Edwards struck a chord with his "two Americas." Most likely, had he been aware of that clipping, he would have named his campaign theme The Three Americas.


Thankfully, the clipping reflects the thoughts and values of just a narrow, contemptible, group.

[wattle]

Disgusting.

[tdgolstch]

if the news media were the electorate, obama would be president. Do you think GE, Microsoft, Warner is really for obama? . There is absolutely NO chance of obama winning the presidency, and if you think he can win in the south and west in a pres election I have some swamp land for you, or erik estrada has. Big Corporations run all of the media outlets, all of the channels and if they can get obama nominated, they are looking for another 4 years of corporate orgasm under a new republican president. think people!!

[bkztx]

Obama is pure media hype.

[RAVEN13]

Alec, thank you. That is disgusting.

[JackWOrf]

This is a good post. New Yorkers are not known for their politeness. So even if they are politically correct, they may be very different behind closed doors.

The name yoMoma is probably going to catch on. Especially if it gets Obama angry. That's what they like to do.

But then maybe he should just laugh it off, the way Hillary laughed off the heckler who wanted her to "iron his shirt".

On that subject, what if a heckler asks OBAMA to iron his shirt? A reference to slavery. Would Obama laugh THAT off? I doubt it. The crowd would probably kill the guy.

There's quite a difference between our attitudes toward racism and our attitudes toward sexism.

[Louee]

Perhaps I'll be seen as a pollyanna, but I'd rather see all you progressives expressing your happiness that we have such intelligent, well spoken, dignified candidates to represent our views. My state primary is a long way off, so I expect the decision will have been made before I am called upon to express my opinion. Regardless of who is the winner, I won't have a problem casting my vote for the Democratic nominee. Just beware the republican undertow when you join in a bad-mouthing our candidates. There's a rovian creature lurking under those dark waters.