Lot's of viewpoints in this thread, here's one from somebody who lives in the heart of the area the article was written about.

 

Yes, there is a lot of opposition to Obama in EKY. Places like Jackson, Harlan, Pikeville, Martin, McCarr, Whitesburg, etc. who rely almost solely on coal, have seen the industry all but dry up in the last few years. The perception, right or wrong, is that the blame falls on Obama, due to his policies. The EPA has strangled the coal industry by locking up the permitting process and regulating them into submission. Obama gets the blame for that from the people who have earned their right to blame whomever they want, they coal miners and their families.

 

So environmental policy against coal is the official rallying cry against the POTUS... but

 

Racism? It is alive and well in this area. I wish it weren't but that is a fact. Many people in my daily acquaintance have a very serious bigoted, racial dislike for our President. Maybe even hatred. And that was true before he declared war on coal. Maybe now they have a better reason to voice it, a more legitimate focal point.

 

It isn't true of everybody, there are some wonderful people in EKY who are salt of the Earth. But there is an undertone of racism that runs pretty deep and I can tell you it is a pretty big part of the reason that Obama is disliked. If you could be a fly on the wall and listen to a few good ole boys in any of the aforementioned places having a conversation about Obama, you might be surprised as to how many of them would prove it.

 

 

This is what I was trying to say but you said it better.

Lot's of viewpoints in this thread, here's one from somebody who lives in the heart of the area the article was written about.

 

Yes, there is a lot of opposition to Obama in EKY. Places like Jackson, Harlan, Pikeville, Martin, McCarr, Whitesburg, etc. who rely almost solely on coal, have seen the industry all but dry up in the last few years. The perception, right or wrong, is that the blame falls on Obama, due to his policies. The EPA has strangled the coal industry by locking up the permitting process and regulating them into submission. Obama gets the blame for that from the people who have earned their right to blame whomever they want, they coal miners and their families.

 

So environmental policy against coal is the official rallying cry against the POTUS... but

 

Racism? It is alive and well in this area. I wish it weren't but that is a fact. Many people in my daily acquaintance have a very serious bigoted, racial dislike for our President. Maybe even hatred. And that was true before he declared war on coal. Maybe now they have a better reason to voice it, a more legitimate focal point.

 

It isn't true of everybody, there are some wonderful people in EKY who are salt of the Earth. But there is an undertone of racism that runs pretty deep and I can tell you it is a pretty big part of the reason that Obama is disliked. If you could be a fly on the wall and listen to a few good ole boys in any of the aforementioned places having a conversation about Obama, you might be surprised as to how many of them would prove it.

Alot of what you say rings true in WKY as well.

You will find as much racism within the inner cities of this country as you will in any rural area, including eastern Kentucky. If you are white and don't believe it, come and take a drive through SE Washington or go for a stroll through west Jackson, MS. Nobody is disputing that racism exists in this country, but the fact is that far more whites support Obama than blacks oppose him. He has more support among blacks than any white Democratic president, despite his lousy performance.

 

A recent survey of journalists conducted by the School of Journalism at Indiana University showed that four times as many journalists self identify as Democrats as Republicans. That is why there is so much more focus on racism among whites than among blacks - but just because it goes unreported does not mean it does not exist.

You will find as much racism within the inner cities of this country as you will in any rural area, including eastern Kentucky. If you are white and don't believe it, come and take a drive through SE Washington or go for a stroll through west Jackson, MS. Nobody is disputing that racism exists in this country, but the fact is that far more whites support Obama than blacks oppose him. He has more support among blacks than any white Democratic president, despite his lousy performance.

 

A recent survey of journalists conducted by the School of Journalism at Indiana University showed that four times as many journalists self identify as Democrats as Republicans. That is why there is so much more focus on racism among whites than among blacks - but just because it goes unreported does not mean it does not exist.

 

IMO it goes unreported because the media has never truly cared enough about black people to find out stories such as black racism in America. Not to mention that in those inner cities the chances of a journalist going in to get that scoop on black racism and who inner city blacks vote for and support also could put an innocent journalist's safety at risk. I'll be the 100th person on BGP to tell you that there is a very large percentage of black people voted for Obama because he was black. However, you cannot discount that a large percentage of blacks are democrats and would have voted for the democrat regardless of who it was. And of course he'll get more support from black people than any other white democratic president. The issues that bother white America are not going to be the same issues that bother black America. You aren't going to find black people in the inner cities that care about Benghazi. They live Benghazi every day. You aren't going to find blacks in the inner city that are going to believe and trust what the media has to say about Obama's record. They are going to be just like the poor folks in EKY and see what Obama is doing for them. As long as they like that he'll get their support. Example: he spoke out on Trayvon Martin's murder and against Donald Sterling. To them that is golden. "The president feels what I feel." That's golden in the inner cities.

 

I'll also add that a better study would be to find black republicans who have always voted republican that voted for Obama because he is black. To me that is a far bigger story.

IMO it goes unreported because the media has never truly cared enough about black people to find out stories such as black racism in America. Not to mention that in those inner cities the chances of a journalist going in to get that scoop on black racism and who inner city blacks vote for and support also could put an innocent journalist's safety at risk. I'll be the 100th person on BGP to tell you that there is a very large percentage of black people voted for Obama because he was black. However, you cannot discount that a large percentage of blacks are democrats and would have voted for the democrat regardless of who it was. And of course he'll get more support from black people than any other white democratic president. The issues that bother white America are not going to be the same issues that bother black America. You aren't going to find black people in the inner cities that care about Benghazi. They live Benghazi every day. You aren't going to find blacks in the inner city that are going to believe and trust what the media has to say about Obama's record. They are going to be just like the poor folks in EKY and see what Obama is doing for them. As long as they like that he'll get their support. Example: he spoke out on Trayvon Martin's murder and against Donald Sterling. To them that is golden. "The president feels what I feel." That's golden in the inner cities.

 

I'll also add that a better study would be to find black republicans who have always voted republican that voted for Obama because he is black. To me that is a far bigger story.

I can't disagree with much of anything here. I do disagree with you about the media's motivation in ignoring or downplaying black racism, especially in the case of black on white crimes - but I agree with most of what you are saying.

 

I was very disappointed in Colin Powell's decision to vote for Obama. It is hard to understand how somebody in good conscience could have served in Republican administrations and espoused generally conservative views for many years could vote for somebody as liberal as Obama. If anybody in this country voted for Obama strictly because of his skin color, it was Powell. His lack of loyalty shocked me.

I can't disagree with much of anything here. I do disagree with you about the media's motivation in ignoring or downplaying black racism, especially in the case of black on white crimes - but I agree with most of what you are saying.

 

I was very disappointed in Colin Powell's decision to vote for Obama. It is hard to understand how somebody in good conscience could have served in Republican administrations and espoused generally conservative views for many years could vote for somebody as liberal as Obama. If anybody in this country voted for Obama strictly because of his skin color, it was Powell. His lack of loyalty shocked me.

 

Wasn't he an independent?

 

I'd say Colin Powell felt tremendous pressure when it came time to cast his vote. The pressure on black people to be pro-black is hard to explain and something I don't think could ever be truly comprehended by white people. It is unexplainable.

 

Plus, we'll never truly know who he voted for in the voting booth. He could tell the public one thing and privately vote the other. :lol2:

Lot's of viewpoints in this thread, here's one from somebody who lives in the heart of the area the article was written about.

 

Yes, there is a lot of opposition to Obama in EKY. Places like Jackson, Harlan, Pikeville, Martin, McCarr, Whitesburg, etc. who rely almost solely on coal, have seen the industry all but dry up in the last few years. The perception, right or wrong, is that the blame falls on Obama, due to his policies. The EPA has strangled the coal industry by locking up the permitting process and regulating them into submission. Obama gets the blame for that from the people who have earned their right to blame whomever they want, they coal miners and their families.

 

So environmental policy against coal is the official rallying cry against the POTUS... but

 

Racism? It is alive and well in this area. I wish it weren't but that is a fact. Many people in my daily acquaintance have a very serious bigoted, racial dislike for our President. Maybe even hatred. And that was true before he declared war on coal. Maybe now they have a better reason to voice it, a more legitimate focal point.

 

It isn't true of everybody, there are some wonderful people in EKY who are salt of the Earth. But there is an undertone of racism that runs pretty deep and I can tell you it is a pretty big part of the reason that Obama is disliked. If you could be a fly on the wall and listen to a few good ole boys in any of the aforementioned places having a conversation about Obama, you might be surprised as to how many of them would prove it.

 

No doubt this is true, but here's a question: How many of the few good ole boys are truly in tune with the economics of the administration ? My experience has been that many of "these types" of people are not as well informed, nor care to be, about the global economic implications. In the way back past, one could say it was because of lack of available information, in this day and age I believe it some of the reason people can't help themselves out of their situation. I am not disputing that the regional economies have been strangled, they have, but what are the informed doing to bring about change and economic development for the greater whole ?

Edited May 14, 201412 yr by BirdBrain
spelling

You aren't poor though.

 

Are only poor people racist?

 

Breaking News: Donald Sterling ain't poor either..

Wasn't he an independent?

 

I'd say Colin Powell felt tremendous pressure when it came time to cast his vote. The pressure on black people to be pro-black is hard to explain and something I don't think could ever be truly comprehended by white people. It is unexplainable.

 

Plus, we'll never truly know who he voted for in the voting booth. He could tell the public one thing and privately vote the other. :lol2:

Doesn't matter who he voted for in the booth, his public support was very strong for the President and that is what mattered the most. Especially in the first election.

 

I've heard Powell speak and he in no way is a strong conservative or even a conservative in any way that I heard. I was not shocked at all like many were that he supported the President.

Doesn't matter who he voted for in the booth, his public support was very strong for the President and that is what mattered the most. Especially in the first election.

 

I've heard Powell speak and he in no way is a strong conservative or even a conservative in any way that I heard. I was not shocked at all like many were that he supported the President.

I have never considered Powell to be a conservative but I had considered him a moderate Republican. For somebody whose name was bandied about as a potential GOP presidential or VP candidate, it is a long trip across the political spectrum to openly support a presidential candidate like Obama.

 

I could forgive a black Republican for crossing over to vote for the first black president in American but to endorse Obama for a second term after four years of failure was inexcusable. Any Republican who supported Obama for a second term should do the honorable thing and formally switch parties.

Are only poor people racist?

 

Breaking News: Donald Sterling ain't poor either..

 

You completely missed the entire scope and context of that post. Inside jokes between me and spin. :lol2:

Doesn't matter who he voted for in the booth, his public support was very strong for the President and that is what mattered the most. Especially in the first election.

 

I've heard Powell speak and he in no way is a strong conservative or even a conservative in any way that I heard. I was not shocked at all like many were that he supported the President.

 

 

Wrong person. You should be talking to Mitch Rapp. I could care less about Colin Powell.

I came into late to this discussion. So I'll leave one thought #kobesucks

I can't disagree with much of anything here. I do disagree with you about the media's motivation in ignoring or downplaying black racism, especially in the case of black on white crimes - but I agree with most of what you are saying.

 

I was very disappointed in Colin Powell's decision to vote for Obama. It is hard to understand how somebody in good conscience could have served in Republican administrations and espoused generally conservative views for many years could vote for somebody as liberal as Obama. If anybody in this country voted for Obama strictly because of his skin color, it was Powell. His lack of loyalty shocked me.

 

I was a big fan of Colin Powell up until this point. What I am trying to understand however, is what happened to him. I think his "falling out" pre-dated Obama's run to presidency and goes back to the start of the 2nd gulf war. However, I believed him to be a person of more moderate values, and I do not see how he could in good faith vote for a socialist.

Colin Powell was a great general and leader. Totally respect the military side of him. He should NEVER has gotten into the politics of pure politics.

 

On another note: Did you know that Colin Powell was a C / D student and NYU and almost flunked out of the ROTC program ? Just goes to show you that schoolwork ain't warwork.