Superville Review

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Kevin Merida of the Washingtonpost.com has written an article that speaks to the dirty little secret that the media and Barack Obama's campaign itself has shied away from discussing in depth. Racism against Obama's candidacy.

The media has talked about race in relation to polls and constituencies, but the hidden details of campaign workers on the ground, the mean spiritedness, racial epithets and threats of violence have not been covered until now. Veteran New York Times columnist Bob Herbert recently blasted Hillary Clinton's casting of "hard working" white Americans and what it was truly a code for: that Obama could not win the Presidency. Maybe Mrs. Clinton is more in tune with her supporters than anyone realized up to now.

Small town white America as depicted in a "It's a Wonderful Life" and Norman Rockwell paintings has always been a myth to those outside of its supposed quaint and familial environs. How does hatred, ignorance and lack of thought amongst some small town and rural Americans related to God or family values? They are not and that is apparent to anyone with clear vision. Unfortunately, for America her constituents with the least clouded of vision appears to be the so called working class. During the Vietnam war protests of the late '60's protesters were told to "Love it or leave it..." Well, it seems the time has come that that statement can be turned around on those so called patriots for whom America means white America above any and all else.

Beset with jobs that have disappeared across borders and continents, rising fuel and food costs and families depleted from the fatality of war in Iraq, small town America is in the throes of pain; both in pocket and spirit. It has been reported that this is Clinton's base and the base of the Democratic party. It has also been reported that many of these people make less than $50,000 a year and have not attended college. No study has been made public as to how many have even completed high school. With so many challenges to their very survival, one would think, that in concern of self-interest, no white voter in these regions could afford to discount any Presidential candidate out-of-hand. Obama, to be sure, has suffered through the circus show that Reverend Wright made himself at the National Press Club. However, his fate was sealed long before Reverend Wright emerged into the media spotlight. His blackness ensured a segment of Americans would not consider a vote for him.

This fact speaks to a lack of self-respect or self-worth on the part of these narrow minded, hard-workers. If one considered themselves valuable they could not discount any candidate who might present them with a plan that would help them transcend their circumstances; help that any American deserves from their government. Flag pins and pledges of allegiance and the willingness to believe internet lies that have been countlessly refuted by Obama and his campaign staffers lead these people to the same sorry state they find themselves in. Nowhere. It is possible that America's eroding public education system is haunting us with a segment of the United States that does not think clearly, does not think logically or with any eye toward their own possible betterment. It seems the only way their lives can be made better is by the same white candidates that have helped put them into the very circumstances that steals away a way of life that they used to count on. A job, a salary that could feed their families and benefits that would serve them into old age.

The fact that Obama could be the President to turn these things around means little to some of small town and rural America. And it feels troubling to think that the people associated with these negative and self-defeating attitudes must still be accounted for during the remainder of the primary season and the coming general election in November. However, here's the shout for those of open mindedness. Obama has managed to commandeer the lead in states won, pledged delegates, popular vote and now super delegates without the support of this blatant and blasphemous minority. To be sure, Obama will need to address and spend face time with those small town and rural Americans who are active and open minded in their own self-interest and willing to hear if Obama is a candidate that can help them. But for the narrow minded populace an Obama victory in November is a very real possibility and an old statement applies for those who will be hard pressed to stomach America's first black President.

Love it or leave it.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24588813/

Labels: Barack Obama, Democratic Primary, Economic Recession, Hillary Clinton Supporters, Kevin Merida, Media Coverage, MSNBC, Reverend Wright, Small Town America, Washinton Post, White Voters