Something a friend said to me last night...need help on this one.

[PlanetBev]

We're both Obama supporters, my friend Joe being a little to the Left of me. He said that being from California, we're in our little fantasy world, thinking that the rest of the country thinks like us.

He told me that the bulk of this country is a bunch of "banjo-picking, sister-marrying inbreds" and that the "fly-over" states wouldn't never vote for a woman or a black person for president. As usual, they'll go for the white war hero/war monger.

Believe you me, there are plenty of knuckle-walkers in California too, but thank God there are enough of us Progressives to beat them down.

I want you DU'er's living in conservative states to weigh in on this. What's your take on this? Can we win in your states in the General Election?

Given what we've been stuck with for the last eight years, I don't put much faith in the majority of the American people. They usually go with what's safe and familiar.

[CottonBear]

1. There are plenty of liberals in GA - we are just outnumbered by idiot GOPers.

Remember, not so long ago, we were a solidly blue state. :(

I live in a blue city in a sea of red but I have plenty of liberal friends in the hinterlands!

[kdpeters]

25. Hinterlands of Georgia speaking here

:hi:

[shadowknows69]

2. He actually used the phrase "Wouldn't never"?

I think your friend shouldn't throw stones in his glass hillybilly hut.

[PlanetBev]

6. "Wouldn't never" was my goof...

I meant to say wouldn't ever...

[Arkansas Granny]

3. I can't really say about Arkansas. Democratic governor, 2 Democratic

Senators and all but one of our US Representatives is Democrat, but managed to help elect Bush twice. Go figure.

[featherman]

4. Not a very cogent analysis based on Electoral Vote history

The term "fly over states" is pretty broad. Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Colorado, New Mexico and many others included?

[NoBushSpokenHere]

5. Believe me, people are FED UP with the Republicans US will be blue in Nov nt

[Rob Gregory Browne]

7. Here's something you have to understand...

Obama is the exception here. He's a rock star. A freaking one of a kind leader who doesn't come along very often, who is delivering the message that so many of us want to hear -- AND seems sincere about it. THAT'S why people are so attracted to him. He transcends any thoughts about race. He just makes you FEEL good.

That's how Reagan was in the 80's. People loved him because he was, basically, a rock star -- in his own way.

Thank god the rock star is on our side this time.

[Ravy]

15. And that is why about half of the Democrats are supporting him!

Let's hope he brings in some of the Independents and republicans in the GE.

[Rob Gregory Browne]

28. He's already doing that now. n/t

[Ravy]

30. You would think he would be way ahead in votes

drawing in all those new people and Independents and republicans. Clinton must be getting more than her fair share of Democratic voters.

[Two Americas]

8. one thing for sure

The people will never support a movement that characterizes them as "banjo-picking, sister-marrying inbreds" and "knuckle draggers" and such.

This is a chronic problem with the party and the progressive community, and it seems to be getting worse. The way the public reads this sort of talk - and the way I read it - is that we are being asked to replace one aristocracy with another by voting Democratic, and that the "progressive" aristocracy has nothing but contempt for and hostility toward the people. At the same time, the almost complete absence of any support for the traditional ideals and principles of the Democratic party within the progressive community means that we are not offering a powerful and coherent alternative message to the public.

[redqueen]

9. No way to know.

A lot depends on what happens between now and Nov.

And it doesn't matter anyway, because we've got what we've got... so if you have yet to cast your primary vote, pick the one you think has the best chance. Then work for the nominee in the fall.

:hi:

[olkaz]

10. Honestly, this is what makes the rest of the country dislike places like California.

Ever listen to Bill Hicks? Check out "Arizona Bay" sometime.

The fact is that almost every urban center thinks everything outside of city limits is a dangerous wasteland, inhabited by half-human goat people. The fact is that most of the people who have this opinion never go and visit these areas.

Honestly, this type of thinking is just like any other type of discrimination and should be looked down upon.

"...the cool serenity of Arizona Bay."

[Bake]

26. Until they have car trouble out in the hinterlands ...

Then one of us yokels helps them out, goes out of our way to help them out, because that's what good and decent people do. And they're always so shocked!!

Remind me not to have car trouble on some city freeway. I'd probably get robbed before the tow truck arrived.

Bake

[sagetea]

11. Well I currently reside in Idaho...

if the children are to be believed, they want Obama, to be the next president. Anyway that is what my daughter tells me. After he (Obama) came to Boise, that was pretty much the turning point for alot of people. Surprising, as Idaho is really big on skin heads!!! lol

[TheDoorbellRang]

12. Seems to me your friend is forgetting Iowa led the way on this one

and both California and New York were behind the curve. :D

One thing that will be most important this year -- the M$M will not control the perceived image of our candidates. I read a stat a few months ago that 54% of Americans now get their news from the internet. That will be our biggest advantage.

[shain from kane]

13. Hillary was born in Illinois, and there for over 20 years, and Obama lives there now.

[RememberWellstone]

14. This is the crucible

That is what many of the Obama supporters fail to realize. Bill Clinton knew how to "speak" to "them", Bushite is one of "them". There are a lot of "them" and not enough of "us" imo. Obama will never get that or any other blue blood crowd to vote for him.

Thank you for your honesty. You are an Obama supporter I respect, at least you are thinking outside of the Oompa box.

[IndyHatedByBothSides]

19. Bill did...

...but Hillary does not. The other two problems she will run into in rural areas is that we take it seriously when people lie about the war record, and when big-money hucksters don't pay their bills and stiff working people.

[waiting for hope]

16. It seems than more people than just your

friend are thinking this: http://www.capitolhillblue.com/cont/node/5777

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

17. Tell your friend that the most conservative whackos I've

met were people who moved from California to Arkansas! Newton County has, per capita, one of the higher concentrations of solar power/alternative power usage in the NATION--this was back in the '90s.

If Mrs. Clinton is the nominee, Arkansas will definitely go blue. If Mr. Obama is the nominee, it may be harder, because there is a racist element here. But there are also a LOT of progressives, and more coming every day. I think that if the truth can be told about Obama (he's not a Muslim, etc), people will come around.

And doesn't your friend realize that the "flyover state" of Illinois is the birthplace of Clinton and is now represented by Obama? So much for stereotypes.

[RichardRay]

18. Wyoming?

Certainly a fly-over state, and pretty conservative.

Democratic governor, about the replace a 7 term Cheney-close representative with a Democrat (we only have one). Probably not going to vote Democratic in the GE overall, but there are deep pockets of support for Senator Obama. Some of those supporters play the banjo, althugh none that I know of have married their sisters (or brothers).

I think Joe has been living in California too long; he needs to get out more.

[Not the Only One]

20. Obama will need to change the electorate

He needs to make it blacker and younger, by registering all of those young and African American citizens who aren't registered or are, but don't vote. He also needs to reach independents who do vote already, but a big part of his strategy is to bring a lot of new people into the process, and there are more than enough of those people to move states into his column.

[MagickMuffin]

21. Your friend needs to travel outside of his state and see for himself

that his perceptions are just a state of mind. Every state has the characteristics he described. We are diverse all across America.

I'm hoping Texas turns blue again. I will work hard for that to happen, whether Obama or Clinton is the nominee. I will be more excited if it is Obama, but if it is Clinton, I will have to take a different approach.

[katty]

22. agree, born/raised in CA, it's CA Nation-often we are in our own wrld

[Steely_Dan]

23. I'm a Californian

And if there is one thing I have learned over the past eight years is that this country is FAR more conservative than I ever dreamed. I think your friend is right on the mark. This is why we shouldn't have tried to make Presidential history with the two remaining candidates.

-P

[madwivoter]

24. Wisconsin...

Definitely a flyover state, if you listen really really close you can hear the banjo pickin' all the way up in that thar' aeroplane :P

Seriously though. Wisconsin has been blue since 1988, pretty red prior to that.

I think Obama would take Wisconsin in the GE.

Obama won the primary here by about 17 points.

Just a few of my favorites here in Wisconsin:
Feingold, which is good.
Doyle, which is also good (endorsed Obama).
We elected Tammy Baldwin, which is also good.

[trof]

27. McCain will probably take Alabama.

Unless he has a major meltdown and scares the shit out of everybody.

The feeling I'm getting is that more undecided/independents, and maybe even conservative Dems (and there are many here) might be able to vote for Hillary, but the color line is just too strongly ingrained to cross.

Alabama is still a write-off for this one, I think.

[trof]

29. Oh, I'm unable to play the banjo. And I'm only distantly related to Miz t.

;-)