I never knew there was so much anti-WV sentiment until the last two days

[Cant trust em]

I'm from the west coast, so I've never really been exposed to the level of bigotry that this state has had showered on it on this website. Not to say that people from the west coast don't have their idea of where redneckism lies, but they (we) have just assigned it to different states. I guess you learn something new everyday, even if it is cringe-worthy.

[redqueen]

1. Never met anyone from there?

I have. And they were the ones making the "had to buy my brother his first pair of shoes to go to my graduation" jokes. Only they weren't jokes, just anecdotes.

Summer teeth... now those were jokes. Again, I wasn't tellin 'em.

[Cant trust em]

9. I never have met a WVer. Or maybe I have, but didn't ask where they were from.

What's this Summer Teeth joke?

[redqueen]

15. Summer teeth...

summer here, summer there (indicating that they have lost teeth... which makes it a stupid joke, because there are people without access to good dental care all over the country and the world... but I didn't make it up).

[Erin Elizabeth]

43. I'm missing a molar

I had pulled because the root cracked. I'm a professional white-collar person with a master's degree.

Just goes to show ya! LOL!

(Oh and er, I'm agreeing with you.)

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

61. I grew up in WVa, the economy died in the 70s

it was a tough place anyway, with very little industry - mostly coal mining
and the industries that interlaced with that.

The miners kept striking and finally the mines shut down in late 70's.

That affected all peripheral businesses.

WVa gets more depressed as time goes by, and the youth continue to move out.

I think that the youth either move away (like I did, now in NC) or
they join the military.

I have great teeth, only because my father could afford proper care for us.

News travels slow in WVA, many mountaineers don't accept change quickly.

The ones that stay behind do so while enduring more financial hardship.

Unlike Oregon or other places, WVa doesn't have the ocean, doesn't have a good climate,
and young people don't want to go there.

[AllentownJake]

2. If they are from PA

and expressing it or any of the neighboring states its a regional thing.

[Waya]

24. Yes, it is.......

......... I lived in Ohio, about 25 miles from the WV border, for 15 years. You'd be surprised what ya hear and see... LOL... Now I live in PA and that was a whole new experience, too...... Ya haven't lived until you have seen Grandma - and I mean GRANDMA (70's) run around town in Camouflage from head to toe with the gunrack stacked in the back of the truck.........

[AllentownJake]

28. I just hate driving through there

Their state cops are terrible and set up speed traps everywhere.

[MonkeyFunk]

3. It's because they're going to vote for Clinton

if they were going for Obama, we'd hear what a great state it is. The only way they can accept the fact that a state is going to vote for Clinton is to believe they're all racist idiots. Obama fans here just can't face the fact that the rest of the country, the rest of the party, doesn't hate Clinton like they do.

[cali]

6. Partly that's true, and partly it's because of comments from dem voters

there about never voting for a black or a Muslim. Obviously not all WV dems who are voting for Clinton are racists, but to deny that racism is playing a role in that primary is just silly. It played a role in Ohio and PA and some counties in VA and other places. Why do Clinton supporters so ferociously deny that? Interesting to see them do it.

[griffi94]

13. yeah maybe

but there are plenty of people in other states who also would never vote for a black or a muslim, but since obama carried those it's not the issue that wv is.

[Cant trust em]

21. racists aren't endemic to certain states, but

they certainly do play a bigger factor in state politics in some places. Sorry for wasting your time with something you already knew.

[MonkeyFunk]

25. but I don't deny there's racism there

there's racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. everywhere in America. Racism may even be worse in WV than in other states. I doubt sexism is much better there than in other states, though.

But we're seeing people here characterize the entire state as "toothless cousin-fuckers". They don't even see the irony that they're insulting an entire state because they think they're opposing bigotry. It's a head-scratcher.

[JuniperLea]

55. Oh, the irony!

Amazing, isn't it? And this is supposed to be a very liberal, progessive group of people. Go figure.

[salbi]

23. to me it has more to do with WHY they are not voting for Obama

I think everyone should vote for the one they think is best for the country. And, I admire people that will stand up for the candidate they believe in even when they are losing. That said, I'm not sure that is why they are all voting for Clinton. I have NO respect for those that are voting for her only to make sure the black guy doesn't get it. Unfortunately, according to reports, there seems to be a big group of the racists voting today. For those that really believe in her, I respect their vote and congratulate Hillary and her supporters on her expected large win today.

[aquarius dawning]

59. As if Millions of Obama supporters aren't supporting him just to make sure the black guy does get it

Give me a break. Obama has practically reinvented identity politics. Now he can deal with the other side of that sword.

[RazBerryBeret]

33. Nope...

life long Ohioan here. WV and Kentucky are the brunt of many jokes. My parents are from KY, and honestly I don't volunteer that info much--neither do they. check out the "major" cities in both states and compare to other state's...it has nothing to do w/their voting preference.

[LisaM]

60. I'm from Michigan and all our family jokes

are about Ohio!


:rofl:

[RazBerryBeret]

64. there are a lot of Michigan jokes here in Ohio as well,

ESPECIALLY in Columbus...but they don't quite compare to the KY and WV image ...

[MethuenProgressive]

4. Once it became obvious WV wasn't going to support Obama, the DU attacks started.

If you asked about WV a year ago, you probably would've heard only nice things.

[nomorewhopper]

7. once hillary said "white people", that was the end for WV

obama's "problem" (according to hillary) would be front-and-center, and on full display in WV, and the public would be determining whether WV was truly racist or not. since there's so few black people in WV, it gives us all a chance to figure out whether hillary was right or wrong, which is what this "race" brouhaha is all about.

from the looks of it, this board has made up its mind already.

[MethuenProgressive]

26. "once"? As in Obama only visited West Virginia once.

Yep, "once."
Obama doesn't care about West Viginians, only making one stop there back in early March.

"Every place is Barack Obama country once Barack Obama's been there." ~ Barack Obama

[nomorewhopper]

35. then i suppose you should punish him for not visiting more!

makes a great reason to select who to vote for.

[MethuenProgressive]

39. "Because you never asked me for it."

Tip O'Neil told that story often - as a life lesson for other Democratic politicians.

[RoseMead]

63. He's been here more than once

I've seen this "He only visited WV once" statement several times on here today. He was here in March, and again yesterday. Where is this "once" thing coming from?

[dionysus]

8. they finally let you out of the penalty box?

:rofl:

[Cant trust em]

12. I knew there was something missing for the last few days.

LOL!

[dionysus]

17. try last few weeks

;)

[Cant trust em]

27. How long do suspensions last?

I thought it was on 10 days or something.

[dionysus]

29. not sure, i think it got extended or something...

:shrug:

[Cant trust em]

31. If I were skinner, I'd be keeping track of whose supporters were getting TS'd

I'd track the data on a spreadsheet or something, just for fun.

[Marrah_G]

36. And you know all this how?

[dionysus]

51. because i am omnipotent...

actually if someone get suspended it says so in the profile, with a little detail...

[Marrah_G]

53. Really?

I never noticed that! See I learned something new today! Neato.

[dionysus]

56. yup... says something like

"so and so was suspended for 10 days on blah blah blah for not following the rules of the board" ect ect...

[LowerManhattanite]

14. Someone crossed a line? Got a time-out? n/t

[Lost4words]

18. no , thats not true, take it from this former Virginian n/t

[MethuenProgressive]

32. I never saw an attack on WV here until his followers found out he wasn't going to win there.

But, I only read for a few hours a day. I'll take your word on it.

[Lost4words]

37. I didnt mean here at DU , I ment in general in the surrounding states

sorry I misunderstood. For me its a joke, WV is a beautiful state as is the Mid Atlantic area in General , very lush and green with lots of rolling hills.

[MethuenProgressive]

40. I've hiked through WV a few times and volunteered in Harpers Ferry for two months once.

I'm not white, and I can say truthfully WV was a very comfortable place to visit for me.

[Cant trust em]

46. also we haven't had a reason to talk about it yet.

if WV had been in the news a lot and then it was figured that Obama was going to win then you'd have a better point. I'm not saying that you're wrong, but the fact that WV is now hot it also a factor.

[JackORoses]

62. didn't you get tombstoned?

I get some things are too good to last.

[thunder rising]

5. You'd think that all the pork that Byrd brags about getting to WV, they could hire a few teachers

But no...

This is the bed they made, this sentiment is well deserved since WV is so proud of it's racism. Well, this is what the "Whitest State" gets in return. Condemnation from the nation.

[salbi]

10. West Virginia is a beautiful state!

I've travelled through it several times. It's a beautiful drive. The times I've stopped I've met some very nice people. I don't agree with how they are voting, but I wanted to say something nice about the state since everyone seems to be putting them down.

[Cant trust em]

16. I have driven through part of the state, and it did look quite nice.

The only time I got to talk to a person is when we got out of the car and ate at Long John Silver's. I think that 2009 might be my "Travel America" year.

[Teaser]

11. WV catches shit from most of its neighbors

shame, it's a beautiful place.

[BlooInBloo]

19. I'm a west-coaster whose family is from that neck of the woods, and I went school in the area...

It's deserved.

[marylanddem]

30. My mother is from West Virginia & so are all her people

and certain West Virginians do fit the popular stereotype. Anybody familiar with Camden Park?

[Alhena]

20. Yeah, well they get to express their views, we get to express ours. Ain't democracy great?

[Justitia]

22. Since you're one of those "San Francisco, latte, elite limousine liberals" you have no idea - LOL

Oh, it's simply WV's turn today. The national media has been spotlighting some of the worst elements of the voting WV populace for the entertainment value and people are naturally responding to that.

I'm in TX, so I'm used to catching shit & I have empathy for WV Dems today - but ONLY the Dems - LOL.

Just like TX, some of it is based on reality, it comes and goes.

I prefer to express solidarity w/our WV Dem brothers & sisters because they are obviously surrounded by idiots.

[graycem]

34. I really think it's

just because that's where the spotlight is at the moment, and some of the interviews with people in their newspapers are confirming the racist aspect. WV is hardly the leader in bigot population, I think all states have a certain concentration of it, and it appears to me to be more prevalent in rural areas. I was raised in Louisiana, and it has had many of the same things said about it, depending on which portion is being discussed. New Orleans was probably our most diverse city, so that area not so much, but in many of the rural towns like mine, every other house still flies a rebel flag and they suffer a lot of the same jokes, even from other people in different parts of the state. And that's just the "country" folk. You should hear what's said about cajuns, fondly called "coonasses." :P

[LiberalAndProud]

38. Caricatures.

Caricatures of candidates, caricatures of states, of regions, caricatures of voters. We draw them and then defend or attack them, depending upon the mood of the day.

[ampad]

41. Funny

Because I always knew there was a bunch of bigots in that state.

[McDiggy]

42. It all cracks me up.....

As a native of the state, really it all just cracks me up.

The media drives around the most remote parts of the state trying to find the biggest bumpkin in the area, ask them loaded questions, get a racist, sensationalist response, THEN they try to pawn it off as the actual opinion of the average state citizen. They don't go to Charleston, Huntington, Morgantown, or any other populated area where they will get articulate opinions - oh no - they go to Logan County in the middle of nowhere. THEN all of the "progressive" types that are suppossed to be above all the prejudiced BS themselves become prejudiced against an entire state because it fits their current political desires. It's true irony.

It's not like I haven't heard this shit my entire life, anyway. I can take the insults. A person from this state has to have skin thicker than Kevlar. What entertains me so much is the fact that so many "affluent" and "educated" people are ignorant enough to actually believe that crap.
Personally, I hope it doesn't stop. It's very Andy Kaufman-esque to us.

And for the record, I voted for Obama about 45 minutes ago.

[Erin Elizabeth]

44. The media treat sTexas the same way, unfortunately.

I know what you mean.

[Cant trust em]

45. I've never been there. Never really thought about it, so I'm not talking about it.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[HuffleClaw]

47. haven't you heard? ANYONE who doesn't support saint obama is a racist!

though i DO find it pretty damn odd that the obama people are FREAKING OUT now, especially considering they keep telling everyone they've WON. so what's with the scorched earth policy? it sure isn't gonna make 'em any friends.

[Cant trust em]

48. After last week, I made it an effort to be cool to Clinton and her supporters

there's no reason to pour water on a drowning woman, so to speak.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

49. I don't think people are saying WV is all racist.

Just 20-30 percent.

:shrug:

[McDiggy]

52. 20-30%?

20-30% of the populace in WV is "racist?" Bwahahahaha. Riiiiight. The more you people type, the funnier and sadder it becomes. I don't know if I should be outraged or just laugh. It's been so surreal all weak long.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

57. Well, 20-30 more than other states.

What do you think the percentage is?

No remember, about 20-30% of Americans are still against interracial marriage. So it's at least that much.

[Eurobabe]

50. I used to make WV jokes, but then I had the opportunity

to drive through the state and I was impressed by how friendly and helpful the people were, and how great the roads were, I took bad every rotten joke I ever repeated. Hey every state has it's share of morons. IMHO, WV gets unduly picked on.

:shrug:

[rove karl rove]

54. yep on the west coast

We tend to blur those states together. I never knew WV was Hickville, either - I'd always assoiated the state with the coal industry, as I do with PA and OH.

[indimuse]

58. So, you noticed ..it is sad.

The obamacans are have zero class and DON'T know when to quit.

Obama will NeVER win the GE if he is the nom..aint nO WAY!