Obama has rejected rural voters: How does he plan to win the GE?

[OzarkDem]

Let's see, so far he's written off Florida and MI, and Ohio, too.

His latest comments show he's definitely written off rural voters, so I guess he should forget winning any southern or western states in the GE and that would probably include Texas, WY, Montana, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, etc.

What states are going to support him to help him win the GE?

[TML]

1. They won't vote for him anyway

Rural voters do have a problem with voting for a Black man or a woman of any race. They will vote for McCain regardless who wins, so this is a futile argument if you're trying to push for Clinton's candidacy.

[OzarkDem]

4. Then he can't win the GE

Isn't it time for him to pack it in, then?

[TML]

8. And neither will Hillary

What's your point? I LIVE in a rural area and I'm well acquainted with how they will vote. They would rather die under current conditions than vote for a Democrat. That's the way things are.

[movonne]

75. And especially hillary..

[Yurovsky]

88. Yep, Hillary can't win rural voters ANYWHERE ...

Sen. Obama can at least be competitive in the rural south, which, unlike the north, has a large African-American population. And rural southern blacks don't give a rat's ass if Obama called out northern rednecks for being gun-toting racist bible-thumpers.

[cali]

12. You're nuts or ignorant to lump all rural voters together

And Vermont and Maine are too highly rural states that will never vote for McCain. oh, and shove your racist sexist crap where the sun don't shine.

[TML]

30. What racist or sexist crap?

I'm talking about what I have here in MY rural town.

[cali]

54. Not in my rural village

or the nearby rural towns.

[TML]

60. It happens in mine

And I live in Cali

[cornermouse]

94. That's stereotyping.

You have no idea what you're talking about. Rural voters are not stupid. They're not 100% white. They and their kids have a higher rate of graduation from high school than city kids. They send their kids to college at a higher rate and their kids compete quite successfully scholastically against the city kids. Rural people watch tv. They read newspapers. They have internet access. Automatically assuming rural voters are racist is just wrong.

[stray cat]

2. Rural voters are often more likely to vote Republican

at least in the south

[lumberjack_jeff]

22. So making it more likely is.... good? n/t

[OzarkDem]

32. Then Obama's candidacy was doomed long before

Because he's written off so many states that are key to electoral victory.

For a while, Obama supporters were spinning the belief that he could overcome these deficiencies by winning southern "red" states.

Doesn't look like that's going to happen.

[SOS]

72. Kerry lost every state on your list except MI

He lost TX, WY, MT, NE, IA, KS, FL and OH.

Hillary isn't going to win them either.

[anonymous171]

3. No one cared when the Clintons' wrote off College, Youth, and Black voters.

And Obama didn't write them off.

[OzarkDem]

6. Got a link or proof?

No, you never do.

[anonymous171]

14. Yeah, actually I do.

Writing off black vote:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/26/bill-clinton-obama-is-ju_n_83406.html

Writing off young, college voters:
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/02/20/684411.aspx

[OzarkDem]

24. Sorry, no proof there

but good luck trying.

Now answer the question or will you dodge it as usual?

[Joe the Revelator]

89. Bullshit....you were presented with proof, and you ignore it

Have been being a hack.

[City Lights]

91. That's OD's MO. nt

[cali]

23. You never have a link for your absurd shit

and you lecture others???

[Forkboy]

74. LOL..we're all still waiting for link to the billions you said Obama made from Rezco.

But, no, you never have links. You just run like a coward when asked.

[Spider Jerusalem]

5. Except his latest comments haven't 'written off rural voters'.

I realise you're totally incapable of either objectivity or intellectual honesty where Obama is concerned, but you could at least make an effort, because as it is you sound at best wilfully ignorant and at worst profoundly stupid.

[OzarkDem]

11. The rural voters will make that decision

not Obama supporters. And, having roots in rural America, where it might surprise Obama supporters to know there are many liberal and progressive people, his remarks are going to cost him their support.

You can spin it all you want and it won't change the way they vote.

[Drunken Irishman]

26. Well it's good to know you're the authority on rural voters.

Kinda funny you say Obama supporters won't make that decision, but then go on to make that decision yourself. Do you actually read what you write? Ozark, you're a true gem...I can't figure out whether you really are that ignorant of a Clinton supporter, or an Obama operative appearing to be a Clinton supporter just to prove how pathetic some of them can be. If you're real, then I pity you more than I pity your loser candidate.

[OzarkDem]

49. and you're the expert on drunken Irishmen?

Yes, I'm sure my posts cause you to feel uncomfortable because they regularly bring common sense and reality to the Obama world.

[Drunken Irishman]

57. Stop it, you're killing me!

You and common sense? :rofl:

Keep it going, you're making my morning enjoyable! :)

[John Q. Citizen]

28. Are you predicting Hill defeats Obama in Montana? That's rich! Dream on, little dreamer, dream on.

[OzarkDem]

38. No Clinton will win the states he's written off

she won't need to rely on some fantasy of writing off key electoral states like FL, MI, OH and PA.

[Petrushka]

70. Yep! And some of them have convinced Repubs to vote for Clinton if she's the Dem nominee. (eom)

[movonne]

80. If you think rural voters will vote for hillary you are crazy...they would

never in a million years vote for hillary...never, never, never...

[MercutioATC]

7. I believe this is going to surprise you.

If you can't see how opening this discussion in a controversial way...so it makes headlines and draws wild statements from opponents...works to Obama's advantage, I think the part this "rejection of rural voters" plays in helping his campaign is going to surprise you.

I don't believe this was a calculated political maneuver, but if it was, it'd be brilliant...risky, but brilliant.

[C_U_L8R]

9. Just because Hillary lies and distorts

doesn't mean everyone else has to.
C'mon Ozark, you're better than this.
Don't stoop.

[PresidentObama]

10. Nice distortion. You know what he said, what he meant, and are spinning it.

Is this the new campaign tactic?

Try and paint Obama as a loser, and hope the Superdelegates flock to the real loser?

[OzarkDem]

19. Tell it to the rural voters

they will be the ones who decide and they don't appreciate his remarks. You know, rural voters can read, too.

[onenote]

31. rural voters not only can read, they can think

Which puts them one step ahead of you.

[OzarkDem]

36. Last resort of Obama supporters, ad homimen attack

right out of the old GOP playbook.

[roseBudd]

37. "they don't appreciate his remarks" really, they called you up and told you? Or did they text you?

[OzarkDem]

53. You'll find out the hard way

But don't count on the superdelegates to be led down the same Obama land primrose path.

They're realistic and know what it takes to win the GE.

[roseBudd]

56. really? The Super Delegates called you up & told you? Or did they just text you?

[OzarkDem]

63. Which states will he win in the GE?

[onenote]

120. ahh, the last resort of the the HRC supporter (or at least this particular one)

Avoiding a question by asking a question they couldn't answer for their own question and imagining that its scores debating points.

So tiresome.

[PresidentObama]

43. I come from rural America, and I don't appreciate you distorting the truth to try and trick voters.

[OzarkDem]

55. So you're saying you are a right wing GOP'er?

Because my argument was that there are MOR and progressive voters in small towns who won't care for Obama's statements.

If you're not one of them then what are you?

[PresidentObama]

79. Wow, you really don't like the truth do you?

[SOS]

82. Fun with ad hominem

Ozark Dem at 2:36 PM: "ad homimen attack, right out of the old GOP playbook."
Ozark Dem at 2:38 PM: "So you're saying you are a right wing GOP'er? If you're not one of them then what are you?"

Irony - noun - a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result.

[OzarkDem]

103. Another stalker

and one who likes to distort facts, too.

Good luck with that, maybe you need a hobby or something.

[SOS]

110. Pointing out your hypocrisy make me "another stalker"?

paranoia:
a mental condition characterized by delusions of persecution, unwarranted jealousy, or exaggerated self-importance.

We've both been here since 2001. I have 4700 posts, you have 17,000.
Maybe you need a hobby?

[Inuca]

50. And how on earth do you know

what a majority of rural voters think? Unless of course you look down on them, and assume that they are all dumb and cannot distinguish between substance and empty words.

[OzarkDem]

58. Because no one likes being called ignorant, gun toting, religious fanatic racists

Which is what Obama called them.

Now maybe you know of some people who do like this, but my guess is they're rare.

[Bjorn Against]

93. Wow, do you have a link for that?

I sure don't remember hearing him say something like that, but you say he did so I am sure you can provide a link to that statement.

I did see a statement about people being bitter, but it did not even come anywhere near saying what you claim he said. But I will wait until you provide a link to back up your claims before I say you are just pulling shit out of your ass.

[OzarkDem]

104. Yes

Take your pick

http://news.google.com/news?ned=us&ncl=1150389414&hl=en&topic=h

[Bjorn Against]

116. Funny, I don't see a single one of those links that calls anyone a...

"ignorant, gun toting, religious fanatic racists" like you claimed he says. Show me a link that backs up your claims, or I will have to believe that you are lying.

[Capn Sunshine]

13. wow, you are one true campaign genius motherfucker, all right

empathizing with voters equals "rejection"

No wonder Obama's losing so badly :rofl:

[OzarkDem]

107. Even Obama disagrees

http://news.google.com/news?ned=us&ncl=1150389414&hl=en&topic=h

[dkf]

15. Obama to rural voters: I feel your pain.

He understands that politicians promise everything and execute nothing.

That is the government I'm sick and tired of...and YES I'm bitter.

[John Q. Citizen]

16. If your analysis were any good you would have predicted Clinton staggering defeat

six months ago.

You would have been asking, 'How does Clinton plan to win the nomination, given her campaigns' horrible problems?'

You are as wrong about Obama as you were about Clinton.

That's OK, you have the right to be wrong. Over and over and over and over...

[Schema Thing]

17. Your just bitter

...because even in rural areas, most everyone except white women over age 50 have more confidence in Obama than Hillary.

[Petrushka]

83. white = race; women = sex; over age 50 = age. Hm-m. Racism, sexism, and ageism rolled into one?

:spank:



:eyes:

[Schema Thing]

111. so the study of demographics is really just a beard to let

people engage in racism sexism and ageism?


hmmm, could be.

[cali]

18. BAGHDAD BOBETTE SPEAKS

ALL HAIL TO BAGHDAD BOBETTE.

[onenote]

33. LOL!!

[AtomicKitten]

39. * snort *

:thumbsup:

[ima_sinnic]

20. do these people look "rejected"?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc9PepjyDow

what an asinine statement! but it's what we've come to expect from the dittohead knuckledraggers for hillary.

[CakeGrrl]

21. This doesn't make any sense

You're still beating the FL/MI dead horse? How many times can it be said that their own state officials broke the rules of moving up their primaries that caused their disqualification? How is that remotely the Obama campaign's fault?

"Rejected" rural voters? By making a correct assessment that many of them ARE embittered by NAFTA (supported by HRC, and let him hammer that point home with emphasis since she's making such hay) and other governmental policies that pulled their jobs away from them?

When did Obama EVER say he didn't want their vote, simply by pointing out the fact that they're rightfully pissed and are probably not casting their vote for economic reasons because they're disillusioned by the process?

The crowd applauding his reiteration of that observation last night didn't look "written off". And those who would interpret his remarks the way you have are not looking to like him or find a reason to cast a vote for him. They are their own 'write offs', and the Obama campaign knows quite well that some voters just won't choose him no matter what.

[OzarkDem]

27. Your spin

doesn't change their opinion.

[CakeGrrl]

40. Is this "Opposite Day" AGAIN?

I've never seen so much projection. You spin the remarks as a flat-out rejection, which is some serious intellectual dishonesty. I'm quite sure HRC, if not necessarily her supporters, understood damn well what he meant. She's on a mission to divide and conquer using any wedge she could.

Exactly how many rural vote opinions have you tallied so far?

[DefenseLawyer]

25. Yeah, Obama has run a train wreck of a campaign so far

I can't believe he is still in it at all. He has no chance. We are doomed. I hope he gets beaten like a drum in the general election just to teach everyone a valuable lesson about abandoning the Clintons and then everyone can get their minds right and elect Hillary in 2012. That is obviously the best thing that could happen now.


Oh and just in case you are one of the tools that actually thinks this way: :sarcasm:

[OzarkDem]

41. He's only focused on the primary not the GE

and he's been able to rely on the news media to cover up his gaffes on the trail.

But he's gone a little too far this time. His arrogance and stupidity have caught up with him.

[DefenseLawyer]

52. Meanwhile, back on Earth...

You are saying what you want to be true. Reality, whether it is in delegates garnered, fundraising or polling, says you are wrong. Your allegiance to Hillary Clinton is admirable, but by any objective standard your assertions are nothing but wishful thinking and sour grapes. Your candidate LOST. Sorry. Thanks for playing.

[OzarkDem]

67. Which states will he win in the GE?

Running w/o small town voters, tell me which ones he will win?

[DefenseLawyer]

90. Again, you are making assumptions based on what you want, not based upon facts

You obviously wish very strongly that this "gaffe" will mean no "small town voters" will vote for the Democratic nominee in November unless it is Hillary Clinton. As I have said, the fact that you wish that to be true doesn't make it true. There isn't any polling data which supports your position. There aren't any previous election results which support your position. You would be far more credible if you said "I hope Barack Obama doesn't get any support from small town America" which is the truth, rather than asserting as fact that he won't, which isn't the truth.

[OzarkDem]

98. Sorry, you're in denial

but clear-thinking Dems will be making choices and evaluating the situtation based on who can win the GE. And that prospect looks very unlikely for Obama, given his latest gaffe with small town voters.

[DefenseLawyer]

102. Do you have ANYTHING to back that up?

Prior successful political predictions, perhaps? Polling data the rest of us haven't seen? I mean no offense, but so far all I have heard is bloviating from some anonymous nobody in an online message board. Is there some reason anyone should take what you say at face value simply because you say it? If there is I would like to know what it is. If not, either show me some basis in fact for your assertions or stop flattering yourself.

[jbm]

101. He won't win any...

I know the Obama supporters don't believe the disaster that's coming our way in November, but they're looking at the election through tiny rose colored primary glasses. Obama is about to make history, but it's not going to be as the first black president. Elections aren't about hope and change and idealistic bullshit and empty fancy sounding rhetoric. They are about numbers, and he does not have general election numbers. He does not have anywhere close to general election numbers.

[RoadRage]

100. "he's only focused on the primary"...

Umm.. exactly what has Clinton been focused on? I guess when you're opponent who really has NO SHOT at winning the primary still doesn't take a clue and stays in - then you sort of HAVE to focus on the primary, don't you?

And exactly what "gaffes" has the media covered up?? I belive CNN turned in the the Wright station for about a month. Everything Obama does is thrown under the microscope (like THIS COMMENT) for example. Give me a break!

[onenote]

29. OD has rejected common sense. How does he plan to cope with real world.

Just sayin...

[OzarkDem]

35. Obama has to win states to win the GE

He can't win on hope alone.

Tell me which states he's going to win that will ensure GE victory?

[roseBudd]

59. Tell us which states you the omniscient one claim he won't win

[OzarkDem]

62. The question is for you

Which states will he win?

[cali]

42. She has.

I remember with great fondness her OP explaining that a packed Obama event was really an illusion and that she knew this because of the traffic pattern. And who could forget her ever so endearing comment about living in a gated community that keeps the "riff raff" out? Whatever would we do without her enlightened and deeply perceptive and honest voice?

[otohara]

34. With The Help of Hillary Clinton

who will encourage all of her supporters to vote for Obama.

[OzarkDem]

44. What states will Obama win in the GE that will assure him victory?

Can no one answer that question?

[cali]

47. Why bother?

[TML]

48. California

We won't vote for McCain.

[OzarkDem]

65. You voted for the Gropenfuhrer

:shrug:

And even if you manage to help him win California, that's not enough to win the GE.

[TML]

68. California has a lot of delegates

And voting for the Governator was more of a reflection of the Democratic party nominating a very bad candidate who was involved in Republican-like environmental scandals. That has nothing to do with voting for president.

Your argument is baseless. I'm done with you.

[lumberjack_jeff]

45. I don't think he intends to write them off.

What he did was this; he tried to create affinity with his San Francisco audience by disparaging guns, religion and immigration control while pointing out how some of his relevant campaign promises can be used as a tool to fix those objectionable sentiments.

The surprise (and more frequently denial) among my more urbane DU'er friends, that this is viewed negatively in flyover country, vexes me.

He needs to recover from this.

I don't own guns, but my neighbors all do, and I'm okay with that. I don't go to church, but my neighbors all do and I'm happy for them. My job wasn't taken by a contractor who hires only illegal workers, but some of my neighbors have. I empathize with them. The former mayor of my little one-stoplight town is gay. He is judged on his ability to do the citizens work.

The stereotype underlying his comments about rural working-class people frankly pisses me off.

It is condescending in the extreme to attempt to rationalize away those "sentiments" as grounded in nothing more substantial than generalized bitterness toward government.

It isn't intentional, it's just stupid.

[JBoy]

46. That's funny! Obama beat Clinton in TX, WY, NE, IA, KS

[OzarkDem]

61. And after he's called them ignorant, gun loving racists

do you think they'll still support him?

I think a whole lot of Obama supporters just found out what he really thinks of them and they aren't going to like it.

You may also want to remember that winning a primary doesn't mean you'll carry that state in the GE. Do the math.

[roseBudd]

64. "winning a primary doesn't mean you'll carry that state in the GE" oh but that is what HRC claims

shucks you just explained Hillary's spin on her wins as opposed to her losses proves she will win the necessary states in the GE

Now you have me thoroughly confused.

[OzarkDem]

66. Still can't tell us which states he'll win in the GE?

[MattBaggins]

108. No and neither can you

this early in the game.

I can tell you he will win any state Hillary could and then some.

[totodeinhere]

81. You know damn well he didn't call them that.

You are just trying to spin his words to fit your agenda. It's nothing more or less than that.

[JBoy]

84. Plenty of red states are in play with Obama that would not be with Clinton

http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/election_2008_presidential_race_state_by_state_snapshot

The following states are competitive between Obama and McCain, and are either not, or are significantly less so, between Clinton and McCain:

Alaska
Colorado
Iowa
Montana
North Carolina
Oregon
Wisconsin

With a little help from the Clintons, he could also carry Arkansas.

[MattBaggins]

105. Really?

You might want to tell Hillary about that winning a primary vs winning the GE. You are going to be in for a real rude awakening when the SDs do not anoint her for that very reason.

[Swamp Rat]

51. Obama has re-framed the debate.

Watch and see. ;)

[Gore1FL]

69. Recognizing and Addressing problems is writing people off?

Go figure...

[FlyingSquirrel]

71. He didn't denounce them though so I guess

In HillarySpeak he hasn't really rejected them either.

[movonne]

73. Tell me how hillary is going to win....she is hated by the right wing repugs but

not the right wing dems...she is totally unelectable..

[blogslut]

76. ...

A wedge issue is a social or political issue, often of a divisive or otherwise controversial nature, which splits apart or creates a "wedge" in the support base of one political group. Wedge issues can be advertised, publicly aired, and otherwise emphasized by an opposing political group, in an attempt to weaken the unity of the divided group, or to entice voters in the divided group to give their support to the opposing group. The use of wedge issues gives rise to wedge politics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wedge_issue

[totodeinhere]

77. Actually, Obama has done quite well with rural voters in many states.

Here in Elko County, Nevada, which is about rural as you can get, he got better than 65%.

[OzarkDem]

87. How do they feel about his recent remarks?

[totodeinhere]

106. Well, I haven't asked everybody in the county about it,

but I know how I feel. Obama said nothing wrong, and he has made plenty of policy proposals that will help the working class in PA and elsewhere. And after all, one of the main factors that has screwed the working class is NAFTA, which Obama has always opposed, unlike Clinton, who used to support it back when that was the politically popular thing to do.

I think it's much more likely that my fellow Elko County residents are much more concerned with Clinton's pattern of lies than with the innocuous statement that Obama said yesterday.

[TeamJordan23]

78. the Clintons rejected rural voters with NAFTA. nm

[OzarkDem]

95. That was Bush

Get your facts straight, thanks.

[Bjorn Against]

97. You do realize that Bill Clinton signed NAFTA into law don't you?

If not you should get your facts straight, thanks.

[SOS]

112. Bill Clinton signed NAFTA into law on December 8th, 1993

Here's a picture.



Get your facts straight, thanks.

[RememberWellstone]

85. More hope and change!! Full steam ahead!

The hell with the facts! This train is going to wreck, no matter what.

[PerfectSage]

86. He can win the GE when Hillary stops doing Rove's dirty work against Obama

Take something out of context. Then spin it as "fill in the blank" hater.

[Vinca]

92. Rather than rejecting rural voters. Obama has been the first one

to get beyond the Mom-applepie-American flag perception of small towns and address what is really happening. I live in a rural town and within 10 miles of where I'm sitting there are at least 6 manufacturing facilities with padlocked doors. One was a major printer of books, a nationally known shoe manufacturer, a handbag maker, paper products. Communities came to count on employers like these and a person could always find a good paying job with benefits. Now it takes 2 or 3 service industry jobs to equal 1 outsourced manufacturing job. A whole lot of people are beyond bitter. For Clinton and McCain to wax poetic about rural life is like serving bullshit on a cracker. Most rural voters know bullshit from cheddar.

[cottonseed]

96. Every rural voter I know is a rabid anti-Hillary person.

This thing with Hillary positioning herself as some sort of small town rural candidate is a joke. If she blows up the party and somehow wrestles away the nomination she'll get her clock cleaned in small town America.

[RoadRage]

99. As a "rural" voter from Nebraska, I couldn't disagree more..

for once we've found a politician who is actually IN TOUCH with mainstream America. He does seem to grasp the fact (better then Clinton or McCain) that we have serious issues to deal with - and not political spin to keep tossing.

No, actually as much as you and several media pundits hate to see it - this shows that Obama really "Gets" what's going on here, outside in the real world where people aren't rolling around with $109 million and pay off college loans, are fighting to keep form losing their homes, and are sick of paying $3.50 a gallon for gas. We "rural" people are bitter - and i'm glad to see one of the politicans actually understands that.

[mckeown1128]

109. Did you guys over on that other website in the "DUmp" forum...

...think up this little post? eh? Is this your latest attempt to "stick it" to the Obama supporters. Please. Blatant lies are beneath you. Where is the subtlety? Couldn't you start a flamebait thread with a little... creativity to it?

Think about it for a little while then try again later.

[Beregond2]

113. He didn't

write them off, he embraced them, as you know perfectly well. It is Hillary who wrote them off, treating them like morons who can't recognize bullshit when they hear it.

[cooolandrew]

114. He'll win by ignoring the spin and continually proving his detractors wrong.

"only hillary can win " so they said...

[BlueJac]

115. Hillary can't win just devide!

[bvar22]

117. Obama rejected rural voters?

Don't think so.
Obama EMBRACED rural voters, and validated their pain at having been ignored by Washington (Democrats & Republicans) for 30 years.

All Obama has to do now is tour rural Pennsylvania and expose Hillary's ties to "Free Trade" that has devastated that state.

[Cassandra]

118. Did you go all the way to Mars...

to collect those straw men? It wasn't worth the trip. Obama doesn't reject rural voters, FL,MI,OH or any other states you have in mind. It's been Hillary who rejects any state that doesn't give her a primary win....and so many don't count for her.

[Skittles]

119. come on

that is a pretty far-out assessment, to say he has "rejected rural voters".