Kentucky anxious, seen leaning Clinton's way

As a Chicago native stuck in Kentucky I have no doubt these Wal Mart working, Wal Mart shopping, monster truck driving, tobacco spitting, mullett wearing, ultimate fighting watching, hillbillies will vote for McCain. The republicans will throw the name Hussien around during the campaign and have these narrow minded people believing he is Osama's brother. They got em to believe Sadamm Hussien was behind 911 so they can pull it off again. Just watch.

Wow - please make so more stereotypes. That is just the type of thinking that keeps this country divided. you are thinking like Barack Obama does - elite, better than everyone else, and people who cling to guns and are racist hillbillies. Well that type of thinking will keep him out of the white house!!

It just amazes me the prejudice, the igorance of Americans. Black people have given their vote to white America for decades, that's all they've given their vote to -- white America -- yet white America is so damned racist, whatever that means, that they can't give their vote to a black man, even though he is the most qualified, the better candidate. What does this say about America? We are not the leaders of the world by any stretch. Because how in the world could a nation so limited, so isolated, so filled with hatred toward one another, so colorskin blinded, so ignorant, so uneducated about another people, so wanting to remain backwards, be the leaders for anybody, or any thing? It simply cannot be a leader for any one or any thing because of their narrowminded bigotrys. And then I must ask this question: Who in the world do 'these bigoted people' think they are to be so racists? These are the same people who are called 'white trash' by their own, these are the same people who are labeled as 'uneducated' voting for Hillary, as reported, these are the people with 'incomes under $50,000', as reported, yes these are the people who 'hate'.. So who do they think they are that black people have been voting white people into office ever since voting began and that they today 2008 say they cannot vote for a black? Hm. This is Amerca.

I think that it is a shame that some people in Kentucky,(just like in West Virginia) will not vote for Barack just because he is black (or bi-racial, however you want to say it)!

And, to Harrison on this blog: if those stereotypes are not true, as you suggest, then why is it that a lot of the people from Appalachia admit themselves that they cannot see themselves voting for a black man? It is the voters of states like Kentucky and West Virginia, themselves admit why they will not vote for Barack. So, it is not a negative stereotype to say that some of the people from this region are racists. They admit as much themselves! And, one has to ask themselves why do these people feel that way? Could it be that they are simply uneducated about other races and cultures? If so, then whoever says that, is certainly not being biased against the voters of Kentucky, etc. They are just stating a fact. Now, sure there are people in West Virginia (Barack got about 26% of the vote there) and Kentucky (Barack will probably get as much as 35% of the vote of Kentuckians) that are not prejudiced (or will not let their prejudices limit them from voting for a black man)! And, that is good! Critics don't see all people from Appalachia as being bigoted. But, there is not doubt that most probably are!

So, you have to ask yourself, what are the people of Appalachia going to do about their prejudices? Are they going to just remain that way? Or, are they going to try to do something about it, like going to college or out into the black communities and learn about their black neighbors? Don't get me wrong, I think that this nations people will finally come together regardless of things like race, gender, age, religion, income bracket, etc. The only question is when?

And again, obama supporters mouthing off here, too. HMMMM? not much of an audience for you here since there have only been 4 comments. If you are so sure about your candidates chances of winning the white house, why do you feel it soooooo necessary to bash hillarys side everywhere you go. You must have a lot of doubts about whether barack can actually win in november.

You are saying that everyone, is prejudice, that doesn't support YOUR candidate. You may want to look at you own words? Your WORDS exude BIGOTRY!

I am a voter in Kentucky and I dare say 3/4 of the posts on here are not from Kentucky. Democrats outnumber Repubicans here 3-1. We have a Democratic governor and state house. National Democrats do not reflect our values. Many of representatives that are Democrats are more conservative. Look, Obama was named the most liberal senator, he does not support gun rights, and then pokes fun at us for our religious beliefs. How does any of that fly with Kentucky voters? Bill Clinton was able to carry the state twice... why, because he knew where voters in Kentucky come from. Why do we elect Democrats on the state level, because they know where we stand. Perhaps if Senator Obama would come to the state (not just Louisville) he would see this for himself. So before you start saying it's because he's black, look at his stance on issues and then compare them to the state. I'm a Republican so I could give two cents on who wins the primary but I want to pose this question. I want you to look at who your local state senator is now. Next, think if in three years you could see him/her being the most powerful leader in the world? That's what you're getting with Senator Obama. A man three years removed from the state senate with no executive experience. Plus I don't hear anybody else's family say they've never been proud to be an American before and if your preacher was saying preaching that kind of language, would you have sat there for 20 years, I would hope not. Blacks in this country are going 90% for Obama, so you don't think race has anything to do with their decision? Race is a two way street my friend. But remember, as Tip O'Neil put it, "All politics is local" and based on Senator Obama's voting record, and his speech, they are not the values of Kentucky.

Excellent and objective/informative news article -- incl. in-depth analysis/look at the economic difficulties facing Kentucky, its social/racial biases, and the impact of both on the Democratic Presidential Primary election. Outstanding and insightful journalism at a time when the mainstream media seems to have lost its balance and competence, and simply become an echo chamber for the simplistic, right-wing, neo-conservative Fox news-like reporting that is 99.9% bombastic blather and 1/10 of one percent news.

Both Rick Pearson and the Chicago Tribune should be applauded for this effort. If only the rest of mainstream media in the US would take notice.

If the fine people of Kentucy and Oregon will come out in support of Hillary Clinton, maybe we can finally show the DNC and the biased mainstream media that the voters still count for something. Both the DNC and MSM have been in the tank the entire time for Obama, and we have had it shoved down our throats every evening on cable news networks [Fox excluded]! But if they think they can win in November without women, white working-class, non-college educated, gun-toting, religious voters, than they should take their chances with their "black base", their college partygoers, their latte-drinking, highly educated, wealthy elites, who by the way can't seem to reason to save their lives. Most Hillary supporters say they will never vote for Obama, they will support McCain in November, and I believe them; I am one of them. The DNC keeps telling the MSM, who keeps reporting it in the hope that we will believe it, that we will all come together for the Democratic party in November...NOT SO!!! We will actually leave the party and become Independents, something I think Hillary should do as well. An Obama presidency would be disastrous for Israel, and we Americans do not want a PLO-supporting black separatist and his corrupt friends in the white house. Case closed!!! The DNC can continue to ignore the will of the voters, but they do so at the peril of the Democratic Party!!!

"Leans" Clinton? More like a blowout. I love how the article starts - reminding us that "backwater" people are voting for Clinton. Well, there are a lot of black Chicago voters who eat pork butt -- ask them about "chopped bbq." Yummy.

dpatrickmotoplexsucks wrote:

As a Chicago native stuck in Kentucky I have no doubt these Wal Mart working, Wal Mart shopping, monster truck driving, tobacco spitting, mullett wearing, ultimate fighting watching, hillbillies will vote for McCain. The republicans will throw the name Hussien around during the campaign and have these narrow minded people believing he is Osama's brother. They got em to believe Sadamm Hussien was behind 911 so they can pull it off again. Just watch.

And Chicagoans are so "civilized." Those Dalys just happen to be the best city managers in the area. LOL. Give me a break. Someone from Chicago criticizing another state's political reflection....lol. Too rich.

Mae wrote:

I think that it is a shame that some people in Kentucky,(just like in West Virginia) will not vote for Barack just because he is black (or bi-racial,

Oh, please. White people in the Northeast and West Coast will only vote for a black person who is post-racial. They have their own racial hangups. Powerful whites always try to put racism on poor white people. They are just less sophsticated in expressing it. Corporate America is just as lily white as structures of power in West Virginia. So why is a paper like the Chicago Tribune mocking Kentucky? How is the quality of education on the South Side of Chicago? When is the last time Chicago had a black mayor? Has it? Has the state ever elected a black governor? White blue-state hypocrisy is far more dangerous than anything poor whites could do.

Definitely a blowout again in KY! Media is just silly to say thing mildly because they are backing Obama and like to play down KY's importace in this race. Leaning? Such a joke. She is way leading and that's a face. Look sneaky media is! Leaning? Not even close to the fact. And it more like a blowout than leading.

We;ve got ot get away from defining ALL AMERICA by the scum racists in Appalachia! Why do you insist on defining America as a big appalachia? it simply is not true and Buchanan;'s rants are bull shite!

RuthieM wrote:

It just amazes me the prejudice, the igorance of Americans. Black people have given their vote to white America for decades, that's all they've given their vote to -- white America -- yet white America is so damned racist, whatever that means, that they can't give their vote to a black man, even though he is the most qualified, the better candidate. What does this say about America? We are not the leaders of the world by any stretch. Because how in the world could a nation so limited, so isolated, so filled with hatred toward one another, so colorskin blinded, so ignorant, so uneducated about another people, so wanting to remain backwards, be the leaders for anybody, or any thing? It simply cannot be a leader for any one or any thing because of their narrowminded bigotrys. And then I must ask this question: Who in the world do 'these bigoted people' think they are to be so racists? These are the same people who are called 'white trash' by their own, these are the same people who are labeled as 'uneducated' voting for Hillary, as reported, these are the people with 'incomes under $50,000', as reported, yes these are the people who 'hate'.. So who do they think they are that black people have been voting white people into office ever since voting began and that they today 2008 say they cannot vote for a black? Hm. This is Amerca.

Ruthie you've been smoking crack! Do you think white people are the only racist people in America? How about black people? they are racist too honey buns! You say white people call each other white trash? What about the black people who degrade themselves by calling each other the "N" word. There are many WHITE people voting for Obama, he wouldn't of gotten this far sweetie without the white vote. Even though this looser has bashed America and had racist Rev. and is backed by the terrorists the Hamas. I'm not democratic and I'm not white, I'm a minority like yourself, but please do not talk about the white people not voting for Obama because he is Black, they may not be voting for him for other reasons like the ones I just mentioned.

Mike wrote:

I am a voter in Kentucky and I dare say 3/4 of the posts on here are not from Kentucky. Democrats outnumber Repubicans here 3-1. We have a Democratic governor and state house. National Democrats do not reflect our values. Many of representatives that are Democrats are more conservative. Look, Obama was named the most liberal senator, he does not support gun rights, and then pokes fun at us for our religious beliefs. How does any of that fly with Kentucky voters? Bill Clinton was able to carry the state twice... why, because he knew where voters in Kentucky come from. Why do we elect Democrats on the state level, because they know where we stand. Perhaps if Senator Obama would come to the state (not just Louisville) he would see this for himself. So before you start saying it's because he's black, look at his stance on issues and then compare them to the state. I'm a Republican so I could give two cents on who wins the primary but I want to pose this question. I want you to look at who your local state senator is now. Next, think if in three years you could see him/her being the most powerful leader in the world? That's what you're getting with Senator Obama. A man three years removed from the state senate with no executive experience. Plus I don't hear anybody else's family say they've never been proud to be an American before and if your preacher was saying preaching that kind of language, would you have sat there for 20 years, I would hope not. Blacks in this country are going 90% for Obama, so you don't think race has anything to do with their decision? Race is a two way street my friend. But remember, as Tip O'Neil put it, "All politics is local" and based on Senator Obama's voting record, and his speech, they are not the values of Kentucky.

Amen Mike!
You said it all!

Obama does not have the experience to be president. Hillary does. Come on Kentucky and especially Oregon vote for Hillary so we can put this madness to rest once and for all.

they call the white house that name for a reason

Tony wrote:

When is the last time Chicago had a black mayor? Has it?

Yes, we've had two African-American mayors, the most recent being Daley's predecessor in 1989. We've also had a woman as mayor. Sure, we have typical inner-city issues, but we've been pretty progressive when it comes to our national politicians (particularly our senators).

Glad others picked up on the "leaning" headline. I mean, come'on, 59% to 30% lead for Clinton "leaning". It's as if the author and paper actually are going out of their way to have us to discredit anything they write and publish. This is a BLOWOUT, as stated by many others.

And, oh, one more thing, if you're black and vote for Obama, along with 90%+ of your similiarly complexted friends why is that any less racist than the 60%+ of whites who vote for Hillary or McCain?

Oh yeah, only whites can be racist, sorry, I forgot.

RuthieM wrote:

It just amazes me the prejudice, the igorance of Americans. Black people have given their vote to white America for decades, that's all they've given their vote to -- white America -- yet white America is so damned racist, whatever that means, that they can't give their vote to a black man, even though he is the most qualified, the better candidate. What does this say about America? We are not the leaders of the world by any stretch. Because how in the world could a nation so limited, so isolated, so filled with hatred toward one another, so colorskin blinded, so ignorant, so uneducated about another people, so wanting to remain backwards, be the leaders for anybody, or any thing? It simply cannot be a leader for any one or any thing because of their narrowminded bigotrys. And then I must ask this question: Who in the world do 'these bigoted people' think they are to be so racists? These are the same people who are called 'white trash' by their own, these are the same people who are labeled as 'uneducated' voting for Hillary, as reported, these are the people with 'incomes under $50,000', as reported, yes these are the people who 'hate'.. So who do they think they are that black people have been voting white people into office ever since voting began and that they today 2008 say they cannot vote for a black? Hm. This is Amerca.

Holy Crap!!!!! What a ridiculous posting. Obama may be the best, most qualified candidate to you, but not to me. That makes me bigoted? I think not. Are you saying that I should vote for a black man for president simply because he is running for the office? I vote for who I feel is the best person for the job, not who YOU think is the best person. I would be the first one to vote for Colin Powell if he was interested in running. I feel he would make a better president than ANYONE else running this time, but, sadly, he isn't interested. Please keep your bigoted, stereotyping statements to yourself. Thank you.