OK, so it’s not a surprise that Hillary Clinton has been projected the winner of the WV primary. But did you know that no Democrat has won the White House since 1916 without winning the WV? Democrats carried West Virginia in 1992 and 1996, but lost the state—and the White House–in 2000 and 2004.
Hmm.
Electability, folks.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
So how come you didn’t answer my question about what Obama’s agenda for the black community? Or the fact that he hasn’t spent any money in the black community? How in the heck is that voting “our” interests?
And unlike you, Chaz, I never claimed to be a spokesperson for the “mythical” black community.
Here’s what I know: if 90% of the black people support Obama and 90% of the white people support McCain, guess who wins?
At the end of the day, I’ve consistently said it’s about Democrats winning in November. That’s what this post was about – No Democrat since 1916 has won the White House without winning WV. It’s a fact.
Obama preaches unity while his supporters preach hate. And y’all wonder why so many of Hillary’s supporters say they won’t support BO in the fall.
Well since this post’s comments thread seems to have gone irrevocably off topic, I want to venture an observation:
At a party I was at recently, a handful of first generation Americans were offering some rather surprising (and downright insulting) observations about black Americans, whom they regarded as lazy and unmotivated. Their views were informed by their parents, all of whom had come to this country and found varying degrees of success. Consequently, they’ve completely bought into the idea that America is a land of opportunity and thought it was “disgusting” how complacent black Americans are.
Without going into too much detail, I drew upon some of the exchanges you and I have had, Vivian, and explained how these immigrants’ children had strong role models who came to this country entirely on the premise that they could have a better life here if they worked hard, whereas most black Americans’ ancestors came here in chains and survived generations under slavery, Jim Crow laws, and Segregation to teach them that no matter what they did, they would never be allowed to succeed in America, so they didn’t have quite the same sort of role model for hard work equaling success.
Obama may not have a “black agenda,” but I think it would be a positive step if young black Americans had a mainstream black role model for public success–unequivocated success, not the self-loathing Clarence Thomases of the world or the Jesse Jacksons who spend more time drawing attention to the victimization of black America than holding up its successes for emulation. Although I definitely understand Vivian’s point and think Hillary Clinton has done a lot of reaching out to black Americans, she cannot be the sort or role model that Obama can be. And even those Americans new to this country realize that those people really could use a new role model.
That’s not the only reason to elect him, in fact it’s a pretty bad reason to elect him. Obama needs to be the president of all Americans, not just the black Americans, and I hope he’ll take heed of the work he needs to do among white working-class voters.
“Anon, by that same standard, how does Hillary pass the character test?” — Chaz
She doesn’t.
If you think Clarence Thomas is “self-laothing,” then you have never met him.
Vivian,
So let me see Bill clinton wins in 1996 with a massive elctoral college victory and he could not have won it without West Virginia. Is that really the assumption that is being made. I suppose the other states mean nothing so let’s just take the vote of West Virginia in the fall and let them pick the next president.First of all it is only 5 electoral votes. there have been very few elections that have came down to 5 electoral votes and of these many states could have given the loser the necessary numbers. this is just ridiculous to rule out other states and their more sizable electoral votes, besides Vivian I have been to West Virginia and it isn’t much to brag on. they openly told unions out their they preferred their guns to their jobs. what a hell of a mentality.Virginia Beach has a higher population than voted in that primary. My surprise was that Barack got any votes or delegates out of that state much less 9 delegates. Now thats a hell of a victory.
Lovingly Gene
P.S. Barack has gained
It’s a logical process: Until a black man becomes president of the U.S. no woman will ever have a clear opportunity to arrive in that seat. Because Hilary did not stand up and divorce her husband after his affair with Monica Lewinsky, she showed women that we are little more than sex objects to men of the universe. I’ll vote for Obama and hope that America can generate a better female candidate than one who does not stand up to men who violate our positions in the work world.
Tanya – what? Honestly, we are in no position to make decisions on other people’s marital affairs. I don’t think Mrs. Clinton’s decision to stay with her husband symbolizes anything of the sort. Also, it is really none of our business. Maybe, Hillary Clinton takes marriage seriously. We don’t know the love, the marriage, the bond between Hillary and Bill. It is ridiculous for you or anyone else to suggest she should have divorced her husband and a failure to represents a degradation to the image of women.
“No Democrat since 1916 has won the White House without winning West Virginia.” Who says he’s not going to win it over McCain in November? Just because he lost to HRC in a primary doesn’t mean he can’t win against McCain. What is McCain offering to WV voters that will appeal to them other than he is white — very?
For that matter, no woman has EVER won the White House. No African-American has EVER won the White House. So should we assume that it will NEVER happen?
Also, remember Bill Clinton lost 4 of the last 6 primaries in ’92, and STILL won the White House.
Just simply having Obama (AA) and HRC (female) in such a high-profile, high-stakes primary battle, throw out the rule book. You will have NOTHING to compare to this fall’s campaign.
I think Hillary carries WV, OH and FL in the fall and becomes President.
I don’t think Obama does carry them while MI and to a lesser degree PA might be in jeopardy to McCain. Not sure if this expanded playing field BO claims can overcome that.
If I am right, we are doomed. If I am wrong, we can breath a sigh of relief.
“I think Hillary carries WV, OH and FL in the fall and becomes President.”
“If I am right, we are doomed. If I am wrong, we can breath a sigh of relief.”
I agree whole-hearedly! 🙂
cute
Mouse…
Let me take this opportunity to apologize for losing my temper on the earlier thread that was hijacked by Iraq. The entire issue of Iraq, the run up to it and subsequent debacle of the occupation is very very personal. I love my kids, I am proud of my Marines service. I knew both intellectually, as well as deep down in “my gut”, that this was a wrongheaded decision and my child was needlessly being put into harms way. Thank God that no physical or emotional harm came his way.
I saw the Phil Donahue documentary last night, “Body of War” that chronicles the life of an Iraq war vet paralyzes from the chest down from a round taken in the back. As a parent, knowing this could have happened to your child for something you passionately believe and know was for a totally uneasy and optional war, you react and react strongly. Committing our soldiers, sailors and Marines to possible death and critical injury is the most solemn duty of our elected representatives. For me, it was done callously with the backdrop of an approaching election and for all the wrong reasons. I will always know that bush and the neocon cabal that hijacked US foreign policy used fear and distortions (or lies) to start this war, and many families will be forever have to bear the ultimate cost of this strategic blunder and their boneheaded decision.
Hence, I have very little patience (It shows, huh) for those who defend this, especially it they have no “skin in the game”.
“I knew both intellectually, as well as deep down in ‘my gut,’ that this was a wrongheaded decision and my child was needlessly being put into harms way.”
While I understand your feelings — my own father was in Vietnam, and we now know that the Gulf of Tonkin incident was manufactured by Johnson — the fact is that we CANNOT know all of the reasons we went to war. That information was, and will remain, classified. That is why we have Representatives and Senators — to review that classified information before sending our troops, sailors, and Marines into battle.
The person you should be pissed off with is Sen. Clinton, who voted to send them into battle without bothering to go read that classified information. That laziness and disregard for our soldiers reeks of her husband’s loathing of the military.
We cannot read that classified information. We must trust our elected representatives to do so and vote appropriately. That she could not be bothered to do so is simple dereliction of duty.
BTW, I may have no “skin in the game” now (I tried, but failed the physical), but I am encouraging my sons to join the military.
Me, I think the Mouse is lying.
In what regard?