Facing Racism in America

While covering the primary in West Virginia, I encountered pervasive racism only hinted at by Tuesday's exit polls and the pundits who wonder aloud if America is ready for a black president. What I heard on Tuesday was shocking. It depicts the blind prejudice that still possesses pockets of America and that provides traction for outlandish character assaults, such as claims that Obama is Muslim and unpatriotic. These rumors are used as euphemisms for many of Democrats I spoke with--excuses to vote Republican this Fall for the first time in their lives.

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Comments

[Dachozen1]

Everything is in codes now. If u listen u can hear. Life long democrats who say they wont vote for Obama??? People who still say he's not Christian??? People who are unwilling to forgive for preacher??? Hard working Clinton supporters who is trying to go against Obama even though Hillary's policies are similar????

[Dendera]

This is America, people. We need to stop pretending we are anything but a nation run on the fears of ignorant white people who refuse to see any others as equally human. Fox news has certainly spent the last 8-10 years fomenting and inculcating ignorance and hatred in this group. They are strong, they are united, they are stupid and we are even more so if/when we let them win.

Emigrate.

It's the only way to leave the shallow bastards to stew in their own juices.

[MARTYB]

Ahhh! America the beautiful, and it truly is. But folks this is just the tip of the iceberg. Come November
John McCain ,with the "right" VP at his side will be POTUS. And for those people who keep hollering about Blacks going 90% for Obama, PLEASE! We surely gave FDR, JFK, JC, and BC (twice) our support in those %, when and where we could vote. And don't tell me that JFK did not get 90% of the
Irish-American vote. Conversely, i bet that Colin Powell or Condi could barely get 20% of Blacks to vote for them for ANYTHING, and last time i checked they were firmly in the "not White" category. So those who are not for Obama , please stop using that as some sort of crutch to say Blacks are being racist, overly optimistic though.

[merle7]

Now I see what is meant about uneducated Hillary voters. The people probably don't even follow Obama's campaign and does not have a clue what his policies are. At least one said she would vote for McCain for experience. These the type of people voted for GWBush twice

[zebra3]

The idea that superdelegates are being asked to overturn the results of the nationwide democratic primary race for fear of losing these voters shocks the conscience. The idea that the "party of inclusion" has become so P.C. that it feels compelled, not only to welcome blatant racists into its tent , but to give them a special position of privilege at the table is.... i don't even know what to say it is.

Since when do West Virginians matter more than other voters? I am sorry so many of them are poor and uneducated, but if the democratic party values their votes more than mine, then the democratic party is screwed up. We need to redraw the electoral map and reshape our party. I would've thought that backward racists belonged in the GOP. Who knew they were so important to my party that my party's leaders might actually consider scrapping legitimate election results in order to give white racists a candidate they could love?

Also, I know Hillary keeps pointing out that Bill won WV, but let's remember that both times he ran there, the GOP ticket was split by Ross Perot.

[lostnusa]

Just sitting here reading such comments-"It's also a matter of intelligence, If people are still racist in this day and age then they need to move to a country where it"s acceptable because it should not even be tolerated in today"s America, Real redneck types, held a certain self-righteous attitude against those with money and education, The racist areas of the United States including West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania are being identified and routed out. These people will be ridiculed and vilified for what they are and will be required to wear the racist title, They will soon understand during an Obama administration to either wise up or be isolated and left out of mainstream America, i agree. we have a choice to make at this juncture in history. either we decide to move forward and leave these morons behind, or we cater to their views and allow them to continue holding back progress, This country does not allow people to vote who are convicted of crimes. To me that will only be fair if you take away the votes of idiotic biggots like the ones I've just seen, Until we have a more educated electorate some Americans will continue to vote along racial lines with the politician that looks more like them, Who cares about those stupid hillbillies?" Some of your idiot comments. Educated==Elitist? Shame on you!

[richmc]

Thats a mighty fine tooth you have there ma'am. Your husband sure looks a lot like you. Dont you worry, them there republikins will fix all your problems. after all them mine owners are rich and smart, so dont you think that you should let them run everythang?

[richmc]

Who cares about those stupid hillbillies? Why is anyone surprised?

[Gma11]

Very, very disturbing. This should be shown on all corporate media stations. (Not holding my breath!)

[truthseeker111]

Imagine TRNN claiming they are objective! They are so upset at white voters voting 66-26 for Clinton over Obama that they forgot to interview african american voters in North Carolina that apparently voted 92-6 for Obama over Clinton.
These are staged interviews. Just look at one of the people at the end claiming she would vote for Obama over McCain but not for Clinton over McCain. She claims she is a 100% republican but wants change. Even though she wants change she would still vote for McCain over Clinton. But her friend sitting next to her is portrayed as a racist and 100% democrat. Therefore we would conclude that if this is representative, white republicans are much less racist than their white friend democrats. Interesting. Then they show the race st road sign as though that also represents West Virginia. This last fact confirms the hidden agenda of the reporter that made this video.

[tyrdofwaitin]

Thank you, Matthew for your candor. You have looked into the face of white supremacy that is still a reality in these United States. You have done so without artiface or apology. It's important that white men like yourself acknowledge and publicize this reality. When black folks say it, it's viewed as our problem.

I too wonder whether we are ready for a black president. But this much I do know. That a person like Barack Obama comes along once in a lifetime. And if America is not ready for what his leadership can bring, then I think we have breathed our last as a viable republic.

We have not seen challenges like we face today since the Great Depression. FDR snatched us from the jaws of Hell, because there was a real possiblity that this country would be torn apart. Although remembered fondly now, the conservatives of that day hated Roosevelt and they did everything they could to stymie his programs. What saved Roosevelt and his administration was the love and trust of the overwhelming number of Americans who needed and demaned a change from the moribund policies of the Hoover administration.

Unlike Hoover, however, the Bush Gang have brought evil to our land and abroad.

2008 marks the emergence of a prophet and leader who can help us help ourselves turn the tide against self-destruction. And I don't think we will get another chance. This prophet happens to be a person of color. Are we ready ?

[Fama]

The people of West Virginia are facing a lot of economic pain and have been for centuries. Our hope and dreams is to embrace all our sisters and brothers in the great symphony of national reconciliation. This beautiful movement thats sweeping our nation refuses to discount all people of goodwill.

[laylahb]

Did you notice that many of those being interviewed looked away or down at the ground, rather than at the reporter or the camera?

Ignorance is not bliss, particularly when it comes to the future of our country.

[BeingFrank]

Clan-ism is more like it, which is tied to a basic form of patriotism, that states you will stick with a path despite that groups financial or otherwise direction.

I believe that age plays a large factor in what you believe and if your beliefs can be altered.
It's also a matter of intelligence, which can also be affected by the ravages of age.

One aspect of Intelligence is the ability to upgrade knowledge, thus opinion, to the benefit of you and to as large of a group as your mind can bridge.

Since "isms" are not a logical state of mind, any excuse that presents itself as reasoning for the stance will suffice, no matter how wrong, or illogical the belief is.

This is why people will accept any slur about Obama as fact, and will reject any suggestion that contradicts their belief.

I would say that most of these beliefs will have to be carried to the grave before they die.
Unless that is, one can reach group leaders who "think" for many under them, and I hope this is what Obama knows.

Because the basic core of all human beings is loyalty and goodness,.. however twisted to grace those that are undeserving, either by pigmentation or other blind means of giving of your heart...

This is the problem with our world,.. identifying those who are worth our allegiances..

[Pammy1151]

The bottom line is that racism is based in fear. People are afraid of what and who they don't know. Even sadder than that is they are too afraid to give these people a chance. I would best bet you that the people in this snippet probably are just afraid of their black neighbors as they are of Obama. Until they can get over the fear and reach out it will never change. Thanks god that the younger generations of "these" people are probably much more inclined to do that. I do believe it is very much a generational problem as Obama says. Some people just haven't been able to change fast enough to keep up with the rest of us. I came from a very racist family in PA and it took me much to get over that but I did and here I am voting for a black for president and believe he is the best.

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

"I don't think we should be puttin a black man in there - but I ain't prejudiced.."

oh isn't that nice.

[mia8485]

Those people gave me the shudders...but...that woman (and the other racists in that piece) aren't exactly the future of America, are they? Isn't this all just the simple and stagnant viewpoint of a small segment of a small part of the country?

Am I too optimistic in thinking that there are vastly more of us (smarter, not racist) than there are of them?