Reply #26: I think it is true... [View All]

[violetandblue]

that there are hidden racist agendas in the southside, but that is only part of it. Strickland is loved down here, especially from Portsmouth on down. He's for unions, and he has busted his butt to save businesses. Every time they try to shut down that Piketon plant, he shows up to save it. He's a hero, deeply respected. And no, Southern Ohioans are not going to go for an urban black man. I spent a year in Columbus, a gangster's paradise of a city, and their black mayor has done nothing to stop criminals from taking over. He touts his "war on crime," yet the crime rate continues to climb. The cops are totally incompetent, and aren't patrolling areas that they are required to. I had my apartment robbed in the middle of the day, and that was supposedly a nice area. I don't think a black mayor will do much for crime - blacks support their own. Any way you cut it, blacks are responsible for the crime in Columbus, and with the unbiased, equal rights sort of crap, nothing will get done. You don't see thugs taking over down here - we don't put up with it. I would rather be in an area with racist attitudes than in one where I don't feel safe at night. I'd rather be in an economically depressed area and struggle to find work than go back up there to work - most here feel the same. Just like blacks, we support our own. Blackwell is going to look out for urban blacks' interests - he always has, supporting their businesses and their causes. There's nothing wrong with that, but Strickland, I believe, will look out for HIS district's folks. It's not just about Blackwell. It's about Strickland, too.

Also, I believe that Cleveland suburbanites are just as racist as southerners. They may have more progressive attitudes up there, but you don't see blacks in several of those suburban areas. I wonder why that is?