Obama faces racism in West Virginia

[Pharaoh]

Run time: 03:57 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-q4MDQ0cDI   Posted on YouTube: May 14, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: May 14, 2008 By DU Member: Pharaoh Views on DU: 5656

 

[NJmaverick]

1. More proof the Obama supporters were right about WV

and as is often the case the Hillary supporters were WRONG

[zanne]

2. Wow. That's all I can say. nt

[AspenRose]

3. And that's it in a nutshell

I know; I lived in WV

Edited to add the cursory "not everyone in West Virginia is like that."
There ARE some nice, decent, intelligent and enlightened folks in WV. Unfortunately, however, they are in the minority.

[goddess40]

4. That's one of the most disgusting things I've seen

These people aren't democrats. I don't know what they are besides disgusting.

They can't even be honest enough to say "I'm a racist low life and not only won't I vote for a black man I'm going to cross over and vote for the devil because that's a better choice."

[heliarc]

53. They are the old school.

We have to remember that the democratic party was the party of States rights and the Jim Crow South...

The split still exists in the south where the "tradition" of voting Democrat only holds for white candidates. I find it is still true to this day in the rural areas of my home state of Florida at least. I'm sure its the same in West Virginia. Karl Rove may be a jackass, but he's right about the KKK in WV.

Today, my hope is that Obama redefines the democratic party, as the party of the poor and dispossessed no matter their race. I hope he alienates these people but also incisively argues the points that should redefine the party to represent working and dispossessed people who seek a better life. People have the same goals and aspirations no matter their race,-- all men (and women) are created equal and have the rights to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Right now I think that the part of the democratic party that believes this is in the Urban centers. Its a real shame.

[GreenEyedLefty]

5. How rotten can people be?

I *guess* I can understand the views of the "older" generation but the younger people shown looked like flat out morons.

[sfaprog]

6. "He's Muslim"...

How can people still be saying this after the Wright "issue"? Didn't that at least clear up that he is Christian? I guess one predominately dark-skinned church is the same evil as the next to some people :eyes:

[AspenRose]

11. He's covering up the truth, don't you see? *sarcasm*

He's not really a Christian, and his church isn't really a Christian church. It's all a black militant front designed to help black people and only black people, to the detriment of white people.

That's the rationale with these people. That's what they believe to be the truth. And it doesn't matter if he's half-black. Black is black is black, and their convenient rationale for their racism has been provided and blessed by the media and, unfortunately, the HRC campaign.

[IronLionZion]

54. I know some Appalachian Americans who asked me if muslims believe in Jesus

Chillax, I'm from Appalachia.

And yes, there are people who don't really know what a Christian is, let alone what a Muslim is. Many of them just don't know any better. There are still some people in that area who are so poor they live without indoor plumbing.

[Yael]

7. It is one thing to be stupid and lowlife as all hell

and another to agree to have it put on film.

How embarrassing.

[eagertolearn]

8. Hillary and the GOP's campaign's were aiming for these people...

and it works. There are people like this all over the U.S. and that sickens me that she has made this divide worst. Places like W.V. pass these kind of prejudices on generation after generation. This is excactly why we need Barack Obama as president to make this a more UNITED States of America. It makes me sick to my stomach when I talk to people this way off. Great video by the way!

[The Political Jerk]

9. I've never slapped myself on the forehead any harder...

than I did right now.

-The Political Jerk

[Pirate Smile]

10. Does anyone really wonder why Obama didn't contest WV anymore?

Geez, there is even video of Rove mentioning Klan activity and that culture as being part of why Obama did so bad.

I've felt bad for WV during this primary. I'm feeling less bad and more disgusted now.

[treestar]

12. What morans

LOL, being able to sing the Star Spangled Banner and knows what the pledge of allegiance is? Stupid beyotch.

Though in a way there is a stereotype at work here, too. The "redneck" stereotype - WVA may not be that full of ignoramuses.

[Clear Blue Sky]

13. Wow! Obama should write off this state and not spend a penny there.

[jjr5]

37. He can't ignore these people -

Regardless of how off-center their ideas may be, he still needs to reach out to them. I mean, they will probably need a lot economic help from Barack, in the coming term.

[heliarc]

47. I think you are right.

These are exactly the people who need the most help. Poor people. Lacking in education, and resources. This is exactly how Reagan won. He said he was for the workers and then he undercut them... but in the end "saying he was for the workers" was a wink that said "we are whiter than they are." Its really sad.

Obama and democrats need to work extra hard on the ground to win the hearts of poor people like poor democrats in the south. He needs to look them in the eye when McCain can't and say I will help you. I will fight for you, be cause I know your life is hard even if you hate me. That is going to be our challenge in this election. We have to be up to it as much as Obama does.

[Duke Newcombe]

58. He'll do it.

He already has, and will continue to reach out to the poor and working folks. But I don't see how it's necessary to cater to the ignorance of the majority of VWians to do it.

When he's President, he'll represent them just like the other 49 states, whether these throwbacks deserve it or not.

Duke

[NOLALady]

63. Of course he will reach out to them and help them,

I'm sure of it.

But, I'm sure most of them will never accept him.

It's really sad.

[jjr5]

70. He will

I think they'll see the light soon.

[evolvingsteve]

41. I disagree....

he needs to give another amazing speech on Race, one that elevates but is still understood from the last one, and mobilize a large group to talk with people personally in order to get them to move past their bigotry and get to know Barack Obama for who he really is, and that is the Uniter that they want in the end but just can't see it in him yet....living in Idaho, I know personally that racism can be taken care of and abolished by using sincere one on one dialogue and simplified education for these morons to catch on to.....it's possible, I promise you that! Change can happen anywhere in America if we just understand Obama's organizational skills.....it's sad that the campaign decided to not focus on WV as much, hopefully this wasn't are only opportunity that we lost on tackling racism in America that we passed by, hopefully their will still be more time to accomplish this as the campaign still goes national...







:hippie: :hippie: :hippie: :hippie: :hippie: :hippie: :hippie: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[madaboutharry]

14. I agree with goddess40.

These people are just disgusting.

They are an example of the worst truths about this country.

I honestly believe that Sen. Clinton demeans herself by celebrating a win that has its foundation in racial hatred and bigotry.

[evolvingsteve]

42. !

AGREED!

[rusty quoin]

15. Ignorance is the Republican Party's best friend. n/t

[NikolaC]

16. West Virginia

is one of the poorest states in the U.S. They just keep voting against their best interests by going Red in every election. Little wonder that they hold such views of Obama, the people who were interviewed would rather give in to their prejudices than actually research anything to do with Obama on their own much less listen to anything he has to say. I would say that it was sad except I have little sympathy for anyone who is willing to be morally and intellectually obtuse when it comes to issues that affect their lives and the lives of others. Rather vote for McCain than for Obama? No sympathy when they get crapped on again by the government if McCain wins.

I just find the ignorance and thinly veiled racism of the people who were interviewed sickening. I will vote for anyone BUT McCain because too much is at stake.

[Kittycat]

17. Pure. White. Trash.

Plain and simple. There's no excusing their behavior or ignorance.

[Duke Newcombe]

24. Bigotry and slurs in response to bigotry is not cool, Kittycat. eom

Duke

[Kittycat]

29. Would it be better if I called them Pure Racist or Pure Bigoted Trash?

Doesn't change the fact, now does it?

And sorry - having grown up in a very ethnically diverse family, I have little tolerance for such ignorance.

[DIKB]

18. My father used to quote someone

and it fits this situation:

"There are limits on human intelligence. . . There are no such limits on human stupidity."

[progressoid]

19. Sweet Jesus.

:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead::banghead::banghead:
:banghead::banghead:
:banghead:

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

20. That made me want to puke.

bunch of fucking racist rednecks.

[Amaya]

21. I am not shocked at ALL

If some of you on this board didn't know some of our fellow Americans felt like this ( and it's totally disgusting) - well, it's time to take off the pink glasses.

and BTW, it's not just in West Virgina.

[NikolaC]

23. Apparently

the Clinton campaign knew this and ran with it. McCain is going to do well in that state.

[gtar100]

82. Yep, grew up surrounded by racists - in Boulder, Colorado!

I was fortunate to have parents who weren't. Their hateful, ignorant attitudes were not helpful to growing, young minds.

[Hope And Change]

22. Sad.Really sad.

[democracy1st]

25. I love it the Democratic party showing its true colors

[Lakerstan]

26. WHY AREN'T PEOPLE OUTRAGED?

Why do we take the fact that our country still has racism so casually? While many people in West Virginia may legitimately have wanted Hillary for intelligent reasons, the results of the primary and the number of people who ADMIT that they will not vote for someone who is black (not to mention anyone who does NOT admit it, as noted in this video) is simply unacceptable in this day and age.

Where are our leaders whom can influence this mindset? Where is the outrage in the media? Who the hell is going to stand up and say, "THIS IS NOT RIGHT!!"

[Barrymores Ghost]

27. The best advocacy for Hillary I heard in this clip was...

..."I know that Hillary knows what the Pledge of Allegiance is...Hillary knows -- can probably sing the Star Spangled Banner as better than anybody...so can John McCain."

Great. A blow-out in a state chock-full of easily-manipulated, so-called Democratic, redneck sheep who'd cross over and vote for a clueless Republican near-corpse before they'd bring themselves to support a black man.

What a Pyhrric victory for Clinton. Really.

[Duke Newcombe]

33. And the funny thing about "Sharon"?

Look at her body language-her eyes were downcast while she was talking about Obama. This individual KNOWS what she is thinking is shallow and wrong, and can't stand to look the interviewer in the eye!

Pathetic.

Duke

[aaronbees]

86. Isn't that the truth?

And the sad thing is these misguided folks are surely best served by Obama in office over McCain ... but their blindness, racism and old-school prejudices will keep them for voting Obama even though he's surely best equipped to serve their interests. Disgusgting on one level and quite simply sad at the same time.

[L0oniX]

28. These people are a huge shit stain on America.

:grr:

[DirtyDawg]

30. This is the way it's gonna be....

...all across the South, and in pockets of the country everywhere. I hope Barack's guys and gals have figured it out - namely, how to win without the South, because it ain't gonna happen. These people may not like what George Bush and Dick Cheney have done, but it won't translate into voting for a black man...it just won't.

And for those that keep suggesting that he needs to put Hillary on the ticket...here are two candidates that come with as much baggage as any two you could name. Obviously there's a significant percentage that won't vote for Obama because he's black - or any of the excuses they use (muslim, inexperienced, Reverend Wright, etc.) - and there's another bunch that would never vote for Hillary for any number of reasons. So, we're gonna combine them on the same ticket where you already know that at least 50 percent of the country wouldn't vote for 'em? How dumb is that?

[NOLALady]

65. Do you have any suggestions?

[Phoonzang]

31. Human filth...

Oh sorry...was that elitist? Too fucking bad. Fuck those dumb hicks. So stupid they don't even deserve to vote In My Humble Opinion. :grr:

[Duke Newcombe]

32. Right!

Only if you own property, or can pass a literacy test, or are white....er, nevermind. We tried that.

Duke

[Phoonzang]

56. Meh, it was said in anger...

I've calmed down now. I still stand by my statement "Fuck those dumb hicks" though.

[raystorm7]

34. Here is your 15-20%ers that will vote for McCain. Hope you HRC supporters are proud to join em!

[ProfessorPlum]

35. Gene Wilder quote from Blazing Saddles comes to mind:

"You've got to remember that these are just simple farmers. These are people of the land. The common clay of the new West. You know... morons."

[GreenEyedLefty]

43. The best movie line ever!

[ProfessorPlum]

36. "Obama's not Muslim." "I don't agree with that"

hey, shitstain, it's not an opinion that you can agree or disagree with. It's just a fact. Holy Hayzeus.

[AspenRose]

48. "la la la la, I can't hear youuuuuu....."

[progdonkey]

38. "Hillary can probably sing the Star Spangled Banner better than anybody"

Ohhhhkayyyyyy.

Warning: may cause permanent ear damage. ;-)

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

[mrreowwr_kittty]

39. Where are the Clinton supporters to defend this?

Too busy churning out multiple concern troll threads, I guess.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

40. Kicking so Clinton supporters will see this.

Indefensible.

[mythyc]

67. they won't post here

river in egypt....

[jberryhill]

44. MCCAIN WASN'T BORN IN THE US!

Unreal... this woman thinks Obama is not from "this country", and McCain wasn't born in any state of the US.

Just unreal.

[evolvingsteve]

45. scroll back up....

and read my response above to someone regarding how I feel it should be handled and how I felt about Obama not going out to WV enough...

[iamthebandfanman]

49. i agree, he should have gone more

and i hope he will for the GE.

[iamthebandfanman]

46. kick for dillusional people

dont worry hillary supporters, just keep saying racism doesnt exsist in america and itll go away!... right?!

[RevolutionToday]

50. Calling people shit stains is not even a half-way intelligent response to this

I'm not speaking of Obama supporters only because Hillary supporters are just as bad here with added cognitive dissonance. The people on the video's ignorance is only matched by yours. Obama actually does need to reach out to West Virginia, not with bullshit pandering but with truth. Truth of how fucked things are and truth of what he will actually do. They are distrustful for all the wrong reasons, but that doesn't mean they will reject change that penetrates deeply into all of our reified minds. If only the liberal-center actually got its shit together other then feeling superior to people who have different, but by no means worse ideas than your own fucked up believes that keep people enslaved.

[ProfessorPlum]

78. You talkin' to me??

Welcome to DU.

Perhaps, just perhaps, it was not meant to be half-way intelligent.

[whistle]

51. Silent racism, the people and the book....one authors opinion and research

<snip>
‘Silent Racism’ book sheds light on current racial climate
By Marc Speir
University News Service
June 27, 2007

Barbara Trepagnier

Barbara Trepagnier, sociology professor at Texas State University-San Marcos, says that people should replace the question of whether or not they are racist with asking themselves how they are racist. “It’s a much more fruitful question,” Trepagnier said. “We’re this way because of the stereotypes we all grew up with and the ideas in our head have everything to do with our actions. My point is that those stereotypes matter.”

Trepagnier argues that every person harbors some racist thoughts and feelings, and that the acknowledgements of these attitudes are important to changing racial inequality.

The 66 year-old recently celebrated Paradigm Publishers’ March 30 paperback release of her book entitled, Silent Racism: How Well-Meaning White People Perpetuate the Racial Divide, as it continues to find further shelf space in bookstores nationwide.

Trepagnier says while blacks can act with prejudice, there is a difference between being prejudiced and being racist.

“I’m referring to systemic racism,” Trepagnier said. “Blacks can certainly act with prejudice. But with whites as the majority in our society, racism becomes an institutional structure practiced by the dominant group.”

Recent developments involving the firing of CBS radio host Don Imus have raised concerns of how to approach the institutional structure of race in the United States. Imus was dismissed by CBS after a week of uproar surrounding comments he made about the largely black Rutgers women’s basketball team, referring to them as “nappy-headed hos.”

“I sent him a book,” a chuckling Trepagnier said. “I wished he hadn’t been fired until I read an interview where Imus said that he and (radio sidekick Bernie McGuirk) would get into racist humor that was calculated for the show. Although, if his race awareness was increased by the incident, he could have had a very positive effect.”
<MORE>

http://www.txstate.edu/news/news_releases/news_archive/2007/06/SilentRacism062707.html

[evolvingsteve]

59. Thank you for that!

I was actually thinking about writing a book about this, now she can help me bring the bar even higher on this awareness, kudos!!!



:hug: (damn, I'm just giving everyone hugs today, lol.!)

[whistle]

62. You are most welcome, maybe mass lobotomies are the solution

[bow-tie]

52. West Virginny,

a vote for Hillary or McCain is a vote for more mining disaster's you stupid fucks.

[eagertolearn]

55. I don't think we are getting it. These people were born into families

that feel this way and it goes on and on generation after generation. As much as I am disgusted by this I don't totally blame them. The best thing we can do is get Barack Obama in as a president and let them see that he will not reinforce their fears. He will start new generations thinking in a different way. We can only hope.

[NOLALady]

64. Their fears.

I've lived around these people most of my life.

I still do not know what it is they fear.

We had real well founded fears of "the other" when I was young. The Emmett Till incident sent my entire community into a panic. The parents went nuts. They wouldn't allow us to play outdoors unsupervised. They were afraid to let the kids out of their sights. I know about fear.

What in heavens name do they have to fear? I really do not understand.

[eagertolearn]

83. I totally agree there is no basis for their fears....

I was in my twenties before I ever met anyone like these people or even knew there were people like this. I was absolutely shocked just like my teenagers are shocked seeing these video's now. All I can figure is it is the lack of education and opportunity to get out experience different view points.Because of this they are easily influenced by those around them. I don't get it either.

[calmblueocean]

73. Yeesh. Hard to watch. Hard to deal with all the feelings that stirs up.

The biggest one is anger. I've been using the word "contempt" a lot lately, and contempt is definitely what I feel when I see people who seem so hell bent on racism and maintaining their own ignorance.

But I also feel a sense of frustration. Why can't we get through to these people? Why can't we break through these walls? Why isn't the truth enough?

And underneath all that, I feel a sense of pity. Watching poor people vote against themselves out of hatred and fear is nothing but tragic. Makes you wonder what this country could actually be if we could just change these folks' hearts.

[kirby]

84. That is the face of poverty...

Ignorance and fear. It the same thing that breeds Al Qaeda among the poor in other countries.

[IronLionZion]

57. FYI, you can find racists in NYC and San Francisco and even right here on DU too.

I'm disappointed in these individuals but not surprised. WV is a swing state and with increased campaigning with the right message (and maybe the right VP) Obama can improve his support there but it will be tough to win. It may help if he has the Dem governor and senators and congresspeople campaigning with him. Make no mistake, WV is the bluest of blue at the state and local levels.

damn

[6thstreetproductions]

60. Drunk Hillary complains about her taxes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b-Mnm3tjH8

[jgraz]

61. There's simply no excuse for that level of ignorance in 2008

And no excuse for a candidate that trades on that kind of moronic hatred.

[file83]

68. Believe it. Racism depends on ignorance, not the calendar.

And WV has plenty-o-ignorance to go around, hence, Hillary & McCain supporters.

[Clovis Sangrail]

66. these people are SFRs

don't bother trying to get their vote.
Throw them under the bus and run over them repeatedly.

Don't pander to them.

[jennied]

69. More than anything it just makes me sad that people can be so ignorant...

[JBoy]

71. That kind of ignorance is just sad. I hope Hillary is proud of her "big win".

[angstlessk]

72. WV voted for BOOSH IN 2000 AND 2004..AND WE GIVE A SHIT WHY????

SORRY THEY ARE NOT OUR KIND! EVER WONDER WHY SO MANY HORROR MOVIES ARE SET IN WEST VIRGINIA???

[L. Coyote]

74. I have heard people say they will not vote for Obama because he is black. I say

"Vote for the white half then, you redneck idiot!!"

[barack the house]

75. As unsettling as it is we should focus on the positives ahead. Oregon here we go, yes we can.

[mythyc]

76. not a single rebuttal in here from all of yesterday's clinton noisemakers , so KICK

to prove the point that those making mountains out of that west virginian molehill "victory" (was as much won as was and is being lost there? :shrug: ) are willfully caught in a black hole blind spot to the harsh realities on the ground.

imagine what the uproar would have been from the clinton acolytes if the election had been edwards/hillary and the bigots were saying the same things about not trusting a woman to be up to the job...

[Lasher]

77. I have never seen a more disgusting thread at DU

Do you think it's OK to slur people from a whole region or culture, just as long as they're white? What about Mississippi, where one third of the population is African-American? They went for Obama and guess what, some people there voted for him because they are of the same race. But no hit team went there to select the most bigoted and misinformed blacks for subjects of a video clip that was supposed to represent what all Mississippi African-Americans are like.

And if the same slurs in this thread were used to demean "those people" in Mississippi, how many of you would pile on? Just look at the comments in this thread! Pick any other group - African-Americans, Latinos, women, GLBTs - and refer to them with the same broad brush. While you're at it, why don't you point out how stupid "those people" are if they tend to have a lower level of education than the national average.

And before you say, "These people aren't democrats." you know that our entire Congressional delegation, except for one, are Democrats, and have been for many years. Our Governor is a Democrat too. How about your state, how many Republicans have you "dumb hicks" sent to Congress?

[EnviroBat]

79. Can we establish a "camp" for assholes like these people?

These are the same fucktards that have basically been running this country in to the ground for the past eight years. How the hell did this happen? How can people be so completely ignorant?

[kirby]

85. Its called Camp WV and it is sad. n/t

[EnviroBat]

87. Probably smells like shit 24/7 too...

[Drunken Irishman]

80. Fucking pathetic white trash.

And yes, they are white trash and yes they make me embarrassed to be a white American.

[Raineyb]

81. After seeing this

Is is still unacceptable to write off the state as a racist waste of land mass?

:grr:

<rant>

This pisses me off. I am sick and tired of fuckwits like these. Apparently these people think it's perfectly acceptable for black people to be in this country as long as black people stay under their foot.

And I'm not supposed to make fun of these idiots? You know what? Fuck them. I am not willing to pretend to respect people who would look down their nose at me just because they're white and I'm not. People who think their whiteness is their most valuable asset deserves to get fucked in the ass by the Republicans. I have absolutely no respect for them.

Obama can win the presidency without these fucktards. He doesn't need them.

</rant>

You may now return you your regularly scheduling snarking.

Regards