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May 16, 2008 The Lessons of West VirginiaBy Rosslyn SmithWhat I saw Tuesday that caused my eyes to go wide was Fox flashing exit polling results showing that while 63% of West Virginia Democrat primary voters found Hillary Clinton honest and trustworthy, less than half said the same of Barak Obama. While I find it mind boggling for any politician named Clinton to poll so well on the issue of honesty, it was equally startling how far voter perception may have shifted on Obama. In the hard fought campaigns in New Hampshire and Pennsylvania in which Hillary ultimately won, Obama's supporters were quick to note that their man had prevailed in the character question in the exit polls, sometimes by an impressive margin. This, they said, certainly made him the best choice for the general election. Now that their man gets walloped by a Clinton on the question of who is the more honest and trustworthy their tune has changed. Now perceptions of honesty don't matter at all to voters. At NRO, Jim Geraghty noted that Obama supporters are now insisting that there's an antipathy to Obama unique to white, working class voters across Appalachia that just isn't shared by their counterparts in the rest of the nation. Thus those West Virginia, western Virginia, East Tennessee, Southern Pennsylvania, Western North Carolina and (presumably) Eastern Kentucky voters who voted against Obama can all be safely ignored even though recent results have totally eviscerated the initial narrative that Obama's campaign transcends race, class and culture. So what if the facts show the only thing this race is about right now is identity politics based on race, class and culture? It's best for everyone that those facts get ignored. Clinton was expected to win West Virginia. She won so it means nothing to the narrative. Move on. What an amazing way to run a campaign! Those who continue to consider Obama a great political candidate are not unaware that his voting record has moved further to the left each year that he has been in the U.S. Senate until he now stands to the left of all 99 of his colleagues. They just dismiss it as irrelevant. As the number of voting blocs finding serious flaws in the vision of Obama as a unifier continues to expand, it is amusing to hear the Obama media claque bleat even louder about his unique political skills on the one hand, as they dismiss voters who say they're just not comfortable with Obama's philosophy and his experience with the other. No appeal to working class whites in Appalachia? Big Deal. They're too stupid and racist to matter. Weak appeal to observant Catholics? Nobody cares about sexually uptight anti abortion zealots anyway. Jews voters are uneasy? They're Jews. Who cares to begin with? We don't need any of them. So much for the big tent concept in this crowd. Should Puerto Rico go for Clinton, the political tent under construction by this claque is at risk of looking so small it might find itself marketed by Mattel as part of the Barbie Goes Camping ensemble. Their attitude is rapidly approaching that of why even count the votes anyway? America has been offered a compelling narrative supported by the people who really matter: Us few. We the smug. We the Obama-maniacs. And if you're not one of us, it must mean you are a racist. What a recruiting slogan! As I observe much of the media coverage of this election I sometimes have to make sure I have not picked up a copy of Gulliver's Travels by mistake and am inside at the School for Political Projectors at the Academy at Lagado in Balnibarbi That's because much of the recent primary analysis in the media is laden with extravagant and irrational nonsense that our self-described political philosophers maintain as truth. Principal among such irrationality is the idea that a 40 point loss by the purported Democrat frontrunner in a state that was solidly Democrat until 2000 is irrelevant. White working class voters in Appalachia are unimportant? To whom? They certainly were important to Al Gore. For the last eight years the Obama-maniacs have been blaming imaginary Republican dirty tricks in Florida for his defeat. In reality it came at the hands of voters in West Virginia and Eastern Tennessee, states that Gore was an early favorite to win. The second part of the proverb Swift cited in his Polite Conversation applies here. The most deluded people are those who choose to ignore what they already know.
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Comments
If Stumblebum Republicans were a real political party, with true conservative principles, one might imagine a rout in the making. Unfortunately, while John McCain might defeat Mr. Pomposity with relative ease (or not), the bench-warming minority in Congress is too Washington minded to be any earthly good. So, in the end, what does it matter? Tweedledum and Tweedledumber.
Posted by: Robert McClain | May 16, 2008 12:35 PM
Democrats saw Tuesday's results and ignored them as an outlier. There are reasons perhaps for doing this. It is too soon to see if what happened in West Virginia is a trend for Obama.
Kentucky and Oregon will also weigh in on this next Tuesday. It appears that while Kentucky is go solidly for Clinton, Oregon will go as solidly for Obama.
As a result, we have witnessed one of the more bizarre primary seasons ever. There appears to be an acute polarization of the Democratic Party at a time when it appears that this is their year.
So, we will see. It is too soon to read WV results into the mix at this point, in my opinion.
Posted by: VanillaMan | May 16, 2008 01:05 PM
Be nice to believe that WVa was because Obama is too,too,left wing, but voters aren't normally that bright anywhere.
Posted by: Fred Edwards | May 16, 2008 01:31 PM
Be nice to believe that WVa was because Obama is too,too,left wing, but voters aren't normally that bright anywhere.
Posted by: Fred Edwards | May 16, 2008 01:31 PM
It strikes me that Obama may be a tougher nut to crack than people give him credit for. Yes, he certainly is an elitist, empty suit, bubblehead who doesn't know how many states the United States has, but he has two major allies: The old press, and the Chicago Machine. Hillary Clinton may be as corrupt as the day is long, but without press backing, she's effectively finished. McCain had better realize that his buddies in the media will turn on him like a shark with blood in the water as soon as Obama officially has the nomination. Also, don't be surprised if the action line coming from Obama's media backers turns out to be that opposing Obama on substantive grounds (and there are plenty of them) is somehow "racist" and "backward." We're seeing that line being warmed up after West Virginia, and it'll be brought out full force when the campaign REALLY gets going.
Posted by: Matthew Quigley | May 16, 2008 04:52 PM
So if the "Republics" won't hit on all the other Marxist ties that "Barry" possesses in his past for fear of being labeled "racist," can we count on "Billary" to drop these bombshells (along with his endorsement of the Moslem butcher Raila Odinga in the '06 Kenyan election)just before it becomes apparent that she has to go? I'm betting she won't go quietly into the good night.
Posted by: Dave | May 16, 2008 06:34 PM
I have no love for McCain, but I would be terribly remiss if I did not vote and allowed Mr. Empty Suit to get in by default. My question is this:
Is the MSM going to say Obama is way behind when the election between him and McCain gets closer, or will they say he is way ahead?
I know they will do whatever they can to suppress the McCain vote and energize the Obama crowd. We should be very aware that this misinformation campaign will really get into full swing then.
Posted by: Jeff | May 16, 2008 07:11 PM
HILLARY CLINTON IS THE GREATEST CAMPAIGNER IN AMERICAN HISTORY !!!
HILLARY CLINTON CAN BEST WIN IN NOVEMBER:
IT'S ABOUT ELECTABILITY !!!
It's time for everyone to face the truth. Barack Obama has no real chance of winning the national election in November at this time. His crushing defeat in Pennsylvania, and loss in Indiana and West Virginia makes that fact crystal clear. His best, and only real chance of winning in November is on a ticket with Hillary Clinton as her VP.
Sen. Obama has zero chance of winning against the republican attack machine, and their unlimited money, and resources without Hillary Clinton. Zero chance.
It is absolutely essential that the democrats take back the Whitehouse in November. America, and the American people are in a very desperate condition now. And the whole World has been doing all that they can to help keep us propped up.
Hillary Clinton say's that the heat, and decisions in the Whitehouse are much tougher than the ones on the campaign trail. But I think Sen. Obama faces a test of whether he has what it takes to be a commander and chief by facing the difficult facts, and the truth before him. And by doing what is best for the American people by dropping out of the race, and offering his whole hearted assistance to Hillary Clinton to help her take back the Whitehouse for the American people, and the World.
Sen. Obama is a great speaker. And I am confident he can explain to the American people the need, and wisdom of such a personal sacrifice for them. It should be clear to everyone by now that Hillary Clinton is fighting her heart out for the American people. She has known for a long time that Sen. Obama can not win this November. You have to remember that the Clinton's have won the Whitehouse twice before. They know what it takes.
If Sen. Obama fails his test of commander and chief we can only hope that Hillary Clinton can continue her heroic fight for the American people. And that she prevails. She will need all the continual support and help we can give her. She may fight like a superhuman. But she is only human.
Don't be fooled by the pledged delegate, and math arguments. Neither candidate has the necessary pledged delegates. The entire delegates counts, and votes from Florida, and Michigan are not even being counted. Plus the democratic caucuses, and primarys have been heavily corrupted by fraud, and vote cheating. The only relevant question now is who can best WIN IN NOVEMBER and take back the Whitehouse for the American people. And the answer is HILLARY CLINTON. Everyone knows that now.
Sincerely
Jacksmith... Working Class :-)
p.s. Cynthia Ruccia - I'm with ya baby. All the way. "Clinton Supporters Count Too."
Posted by: jacksmith | May 16, 2008 07:43 PM
"America, and the American people are in a very desperate condition now. And the whole World has been doing all that they can to help keep us propped up." - Jacksmith.
And what fantasy talk solution will stop the rest of the world from having to Prop us up? Make all US oil drilling illegal? Supress nuclear? Open all our borders and offer everone free healthcare? Talk to our Jihadist enemies to let them know that we are sorry and will follow their prescription for peace - namely our removal or submission?
I understand young people, meaning under 25, having some fantasy views about the efficacy of hoping that "can't we all just get along?"... But to see it in adults who should understand that the nature of man and its play in our enemies is not persuaded to bow down before a wishful and irresponsible peace vision put forth by people unwillling to defend their views. It seems that leftists are still fighting their fathers discipline in a rejection of the truth that "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it."
Appeasement doesn't work, Talk is just that, talk. It is the ultimate hubris to think that leftist American views of bringing the world to peace, contrary to all the lessons of hostory about how peace is won, have any merit. They don't.
If the Democrats were concerned about peace, they would recognize the danger we face. If they were concerned about the health of our economy, they would stop their constant support of radical envrionmentalism that sees Cuba drilling of the coast of Florida - when US oil companies can't. If Democrats were serious about security against enemies, they would stop using race-bating language and the "mean-sprited" republican atttack to stop any real reform on immigration.
Barack Obama doesn't want a mean-talking discussion with that loser Bush or liar McCain and soon his claim that he is walking a "high road" in this campaign will crash under the weight of what he really says and does. I hope that Democrats and Republicans can keep an eye on reality when we look at this campaign -- I am afraid that the Democrats have already decided that this is not necessary.
Posted by: Ralph Riley | May 17, 2008 11:55 AM