My thoughts as a Texan about Obama's supposed "race" problem among working class/Southern whites

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/05/exit-polls-spel.html

Re: tonight's results in Kentucky:

"...exit poll data showed her voters feel none too kindly toward him.

"Those figures found that only a third of Clinton supporters would vote for Obama in November, while about 40% would cast their ballot for Republican John McCain and the rest -- roughly a quarter -- would stay home."


Where I'm from, in East Texas, Hillary received a similar percentage of the vote (I think around 65%). I would expect a similar exit poll there. But what people seem to be missing is that this 40% who say they'll vote for McCain were probably going to vote for McCain anyway.

I'd like to hear from someone in Kentucky, but from my vantage in East Texas, the fact is that a lot of important local and state races are decided in the Democratic primary, which, despite the region's swerve to the right since the LBJ years (and because of them, I daresay) are still the important primary in a lot of culturally Southern areas of Texas. Some counties still don't even have a Republican primary. Take for instance my parents - voted for Hillary in the Dem primary, will vote for McCain in November. They voted for Hillary because they thought she was more qualified, they wanted to f*ck around with the Dem primary, and because, yes, they are racist.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I don't think there are many folks out there who are so racist that they will not vote for Obama solely because of his ethnicity, yet they would be willing to vote for Hillary Clinton. You've got to be kidding me! Among the Dixiecrats, Reagan Democrats, and out and out Republicans that I know in Texas, Hillary is practically synonymous with Fidel Castro (silly fundies seem to think she's a socialist - HA!).

Just some thoughts.

no one is saying that.

Mmmm..I grew up in San Antonio....I miss that TX BBQ....I live in the Seattle area now.....

It's not surprising that Repukes vote for HRC in the primary. They will be overwhelmed by the young and hopeful who will vote for Obama in November.

certain percentage of people who are bigoted and we will lose them (not your parents. What you are saying will make McCain's numbers
go up. But that is already factored in in the hypothetical matchups. McCain will lose some to O and lose some
of the severe wingnuts, maybe to Barr. So it all evens out. What is so funny, ironic, is that people think she
is conservative. Guess everything's relative.

I think most of them never intended to vote for her either. They are screwing with the Dems. I do think there are some who are upset because she is losing and are venting.

I also think that, in the case of Kentucky, many were probably just ticked off because he didn't have enough "respect" to show up.

for a women. People are just used to voting for a white man and they will stay that way. Not all people, as we do grew and learn but many just will not want to change and it is hard to give up old ways. My guess is that if Clinton takes it from Obama McCain will win and If Obama gets it, McCain still may win. I am voting for Obama and even sent him money. I am a old lady by the way.

I went to the package store today. I was wearing my Obama shirt and had a quick conversation about the election - her younger sister (a HRC supporter) thinks that all white people will be made slaves if he's elected.

I'm shocked she doesn't know his plan for reparations.

that unless you're a billionaire corporatist, you are already a slave -- whether you're black or white?

Sums it up.

The only thing she has to worry about is reparations. :o

I think many people voting for HRC and will vote for McCain are "Reagan democrats" who still believe that the Repubs' will lower taxes and have smaller government (their track record sure doesn't support that) and they remain socially conservative. As for white racism , yes it's a factor, however these people have drank the kool aide for so long that there is no way they will vote for a Democrat. Blacks voting for Obama purely because he's black, doesn't hold water. Would the black community vote for Condi Rice? They sure didn't support Alan Keys. There are some states that we're just not going to win. I think your break down is better than any other I have heard.

I can understand why the corporate media isn't saying this; but I am surprised more people on DU aren't expressing a similiar sentiment.

I would still like to hear from Kentuckians vis a vis my Texan experience.

Those people are not voting for Hillary against McCain, in spite of voting for her in the primary. You have the Limbaugh crossovers accounting for 20% of her votes, and another chunk of DINOs who vote in the Dem primary but always vote R in the presidential elections.

Most of those who voted for Hillary in the primary and say they won't vote for Obama in the fall wouldn't have voted for Hillary either.

I'm sure you have proof to back that up, right?

I still don't see anyone else making this point.

who voted for Barack in the primary and plan to in the general...


I guess Texas Women don't buy in to the "sexism" meme...

Wed May 21, 2:10 AM | Permalink / Comments
McCainiacs cast 362,000 votes for Clinton in past month

Partners in crime?
I've crunched the numbers, and over the past month, one out of every ten votes for Hillary Clinton has come from a John McCain supporter.

These McCainiacs for Clinton vote for Clinton in the Democratic primary, but in the general election they say they will choose John McCain -- even if Clinton wins the Democratic nomination.

In all, over the past six primaries, they have cast about 362,000 of Clinton's 3.6 million votes. They're having a major impact -- without them, Clinton would not have won Indiana earlier this month.

I don't know whether these voters are part of Rush Limbaugh's Operation Chaos or if they are acting on their own initiative, but it doesn't matter. They will not support Clinton in the fall, a fact that must be taken into account by undeclared superdelegates as they assess Clinton's flimsy popular vote argument.

...more at the link
http://www.jedreport.com/2008/05/clinton-gets-36.html

in MI and FL

If Obama had been on the ballot in Michigan, she WOULDN'T be ahead in the popular vote.

:argh:

Not that a bunch of people would vote for McCain, but since there's virtually no republican party here, even people who would vote for a repuke still vote in the democratic primary because that's where all their local races are decided.