The view from Mormon, conservative Utah on Obama's speech.

[Drunken Irishman]

Not many liberals here in Utah, most have settled in Salt Lake -- the reason why Rocky Anderson won two terms and we elected an even more domestically liberal mayor to replace him. But Salt Lake is small, maybe only a city of 170,000 in a county of over a million, so you have a lot of conservatives once you cross outside the city's borders. These are white, Mormons who attend church every Sunday, do not drink alcohol, married shortly after returning from their mission and probably haven't voted for a Democratic president in their lifetime. And the fact Utah hasn't gone Democratic in the general since Lyndon Johnson in 1964 seems to solidify this belief. This is the state that gave George Bush his highest vote total in 2004 and even today a majority of its citizens still think the Iraq War was justifiable. That is what we are working with here, so I found it interesting when talking with other Utahns about Barack Obama's speech.

A few said it was political and proved he was nothing but a politician. They didn't support him before and wouldn't support him now, because he's nothing but a big government socialist. Oddly enough, their reason for not supporting him had nothing to do with Wright. There were also those who said the speech was powerful, articulate and showed leadership. And even though they didn't think they would vote for him because of the ideological differences, they wouldn't mind if he were elected president, because he has shown, through all of this, he has the capability of really leading. Then, and most surprising, were the skeptical conservatives who never liked Obama to begin with, but were moved by the speech. This is a quote from a guy I work with whose family has voted Republican since Taft. He told me, "The guy can flat-out communicate his vision and ideals better than any of the candidates. I really think he will get the nomination after hearing it." I asked if he would vote for Obama, but he wasn't sure, a lot depended on who McCain picked as his running mate. But the door is now open.

I don't know how Obama's speech will go over with working class white voters. But I do know Obama has done something here that has everyone I've spoken with today talking. Whether they're Democratic or Republican, all tend to agree -- except for a very slim minority -- the speech was one of those You Had To Be There Moments. A moment maybe not on the level of King's I Have a Dream Speech, but one that rivals John Kennedy's inaugural address in terms of historical importance. Obama rose to the occasion when he needed to and I'm starting to feel the American people will as well. This was Obama's defining moment and it has not only changed the trajectory of this campaign, it has changed the trajectory of this country.

[flyarm]

1. Oh pleaseeeeee..i am getting emails like crazy right now of people pointing out all the lies he told

TODAY!

please enough of the obamapropaganda..haven't we all had enough of this crap!

[Nitrogenica]

3. Ignore: Engage!

[K Gardner]

13. Oops ! I missed one when I went on my IGNORE tear today.. thanks ! ENGAGING!

[knixphan]

19. roger that....engaging.

[boppers]

28. Cap'N! We're gewin tew fast!

[catgirl]

30. And roger again! Ignore activated! :-)

[grantcart]

4. well that says a lot more about who you communicate with than anything else -thks for the laugh

[Kahuna]

18. Har! Grantcart! I officially love you...

:loveya:

[Drunken Irishman]

5. If you don't like it, IGNORE my posts.

It really isn't that hard. This is a discussion board and I'm relating my personal experiences today. If you don't like it, then just put me on ignore. And then you can go start a thread of your own about all the people who think Obama is a liar.

[cottonseed]

7. That's sort of a right winger thing no?

Emails like crazy? Either you're a part of an Obama hate circle, or a Freeper. He made a great speech today.

[cali]

11. sure you are.

please enough of the hillybot bullshit lying spin, dear. We've had enough of your crap. And tough for you, hillbot, the media is largely lauding the speech. Don't choke on that.

[meow mix]

12. heh. obama whups your ass and its hurting. this is obvious. keep crying im loving it

woot

[Kahuna]

22. I just logged onto DU after all day. I wondered how many Obama-haters...

heads would be exploding. They should probably hang out at sean hannity or rush limbaugh's website for a few days. :rofl:

[MADem]

16. It's funny as hell--you say something that the borg disagree with, and they "punish" you with

their powerful "ignore!"

:rofl:

What they don't seem to realize is that it makes the board so much nicer, not having to deal with their hypervigiliant anger and their pouting, repetitive, swarming whines.

I really am pleased at their Group Fingers-in-the-Ear strategy, whoever thought it up and childish though it is, because it has cut down on the level of rank horseshit... to some extent, anyway....!

[Name removed]

17. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cali]

23. now that's an excellent suggestion

[MADem]

27. Gee, you'd benefit from a reading of the DU rules, there....

Thanks for demonstrating yourself to be such a "classic case" though. Your charm is about equal to your wit!

:rofl:

[zanne]

26. I use the "ignore" function on some posters because...

Some of them are just a waste of my time.

[Liberal Veteran]

21. Apparently your anecdotal evidence trumps everyone elses...

:eyes:

[grantcart]

2. For now everyone is talking Obama, not Hillary not Rev Wright

[TwilightGardener]

6. I think it will resonate in a positive way for him--because he made

it honest, personal, inter-racial, inter-class, and used historical context, all at the same time. It was quite an undertaking, and very Presidential.

[zanne]

25. If Obama does not become the next president of the United States...

He will definitely remain a very important voice in our culture. Thank God for Obama.

[4_Legs_Good]

8. Thanks for the insight!

Great post, and very good news.

David

[Swamp Rat]

9. k&r

[woolldog]

10. Oh

I didn't know you were in Utah.

k-r

[K Gardner]

14. Those who don't rise to the occasion will be left behind as we forge our new America :-) Thanks

for the input !

[cbayer]

15. Were most of these people Mormon or not?

I ask because I was equally appalled at how Romney was being dragged through the mud for his religious beliefs and his church.

There may be a great deal of empathy amongst people who have suffered because of their religion or lack of religion.

[knixphan]

24. good point actually

I was laying over in SLC between NY and LA on Super Tuesday...

And I heard at least 5 local Salt-Lake-ians (Lakers?) saying that it was Romney or bust - they actually Hated McCain so much that they said they'd vote for Obama rather than him.

Dunno if that was just the root beer talkin...

[totodeinhere]

20. Remember that Obama won the Utah primary and handily won the white vote.

[femrap]

29. Looking at the demographics of those

who vote for BO...urban areas with large Black populations and areas with sparse white populations like Utah and Idaho.

Do you think these populations are enough to beat McCain?

edited for clarity.