CNN talked to 24 people in Copper Hill, TN, and only ONE of them knew Obama was a Christian

[ErinBerin84]

Did anyone just see that report on CNN on AC 360 (Wolf Blitzer is "standing in" for him tonight?. CNN randomly picked a small town called Copper Hill TN to go around to talk to people in diners and ask people about the Muslim rumors. Smattering of the typical stuff ("His name is Hussein! I don't care WHAT he says!"), even one person who thought that Obama was "probably" a Muslim but was still voting for him.
'

Even the MAYOR was interviewed on camera and said that he didn't really think that Obama was a Christian. He said "now, I'm speaking for myself, not the town". But of the 24 people (I believe that's the number they said they talked to, right?), only ONE was able to unequivocally say that Obama was a Christian and not a Muslim, and seemed really pissed off that everyone else believed stuff in emails. The report was kind of annoying because the reporter would prod the people "But he SAYS he's not a Muslim. Don't you take him for his word?". It's not just that he "SAYS" he's not a Muslim...he's not one! I mean, I know that they probably didn't want to "interfere" for their little field experiment (snark), but that part was kind of annoying.

[Cha]

1. Oh they missed the mediawhore

Wright shit?

[ecstatic]

5. Amazing huh? I wish I could be that blissfully ignorant! nt

[BrklynLiberal]

12. But it is not blissfully ignorant..it is willfully ignorant...which is not only destructive to the

country, but to each of those people as well. They can now vote against their own best interests and not even know it. They will, of course, complain if the results are not to their liking...

[jezebel]

6. the Wright shit just reinforced their perception he's a Muslim. nt

[ErinBerin84]

8. yup. That's the most depressing part.

[snowbear]

20. That is LAME.

The dude was outspoken.

But he was an outspoken Christian, soldier, etc...



Jeremiah Wright (second from right, behind I.V. pole), in 1966, as a U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman. He is tending to President Lyndon Johnson, standing behind him is Bill Moyers.<1> (A letter of thanks on behalf of the President is superimposed on photo).

---

[dansolo]

21. They probably believe that Wright is a Muslim as well

[Ichingcarpenter]

23. The per capita income for the city was $15,677

they don't have an education or a computer.

[skooooo]

2. the face of ignorance

[jezebel]

3. yeah, I just posted about it too. It was really depressing. I don't see how Obama can overcome so

much ignorance. Willfull ignorance. They don't want to believe the truth. They refuse to. The whole town was a bunch of racist rednecks.

[BeyondGeography]

4. There's no reaching these people

[bigmoon]

7. This is a backwoods mountain town

Copper Hill is in the eastern mountains of TN.

What did you expect?

[ErinBerin84]

9. I know, but it's still so jarring to see people believe whatever they read in emails.

[Ichingcarpenter]

19. 3/4 of the town doesn't get 'e-mails.... let alone have a computer

look at the demographics.

[ErinBerin84]

27. I was just going off of the

ONE person (allegedly. I really don't trust CNN) who knew the rumors weren't true saying that most of the people who he talks to believe the rumors bc of emails. I don't know if its bc of emails that others have received, and it spreads as word of mouth, but that's why I phrased it as such.

[Ichingcarpenter]

34. the per capita income for the city was $15,677

doesn't leave much room for computers or the internet.

GET IT?

[ErinBerin84]

40. you don't have to be such a fucking snot.

I SAID that I was just going off of what the one guy in the town said, that most of the people in town "believed the emails". Sorry if I did not confirm the number of computers in the town to think that this was maybe plausible.

[chill_wind]

32. And CNN had to go out of their way to find it, to try to suggest a broad "case".

And to keep it as a visible doubt.

[Thrill]

10. I'm amazed how much people don't care how stupid they look or sound.

[azmouse]

The media is trying to demoralize us and tell us

in an unsubtle way that Obama can't win.

Tell the media to fuck off.

[snowbear]

11. Well... at least 25 of them now know better...

Then again. It tells me that Senator Rockefeller (early Obama supporter) and Governor Joe Manchin (D) are not doing enough campaigning!



And perhaps... Obama needs to spend more time there too?

[deadmessengers]

13. I know that town...

Right on the Georgia line - Copperhill, TN and McCaysville, GA are actually one town, divided by the state line. They've got a big blue line running through the middle of downtown to mark the border - kinda funny when you first see it.

http://www.takemytrip.com/06appalachian/06_13a.htm

[BrklynLiberal]

15. hmmmm. So they are easily confused to begin with....

[bigmoon]

25. Isn't it 'McCaysville'?

n/t

[deadmessengers]

30. Yes. Thanks for the nit. n/t

[tekisui]

14. He doesn't need Tennessee to win.

He doesn't need every podunk town to win.

Of course, he and we should fight the good fight in every county of this country, but we won't reach everyone. Many want to stay ignorant.

[Ichingcarpenter]

16. Demographics- Of Copperhill........ this was a hit piece....511 people live there

Demographics

As of the census<1> of 2000, there were 511 people, 239 households, and 146 families residing in the city. The population density was 271.9 people per square mile (104.9/km²). There were 274 housing units at an average density of 145.8/sq mi (56.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.46% White, 0.20% Native American, and 2.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.

There were 239 households out of which 20.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.73.

In the city the population was spread out with 18.2% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 79.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,313, and the median income for a family was $28,365. Males had a median income of $23,125 versus $18,542 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,677. About 8.7% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 14.7% of those age 65 or over.

[ErinBerin84]

18. I agree. CNN pieces are very self-indulgent.

It's kind of too "good to be true" for their storyline's stake that EVERYONE but one that they "happened" to run into believed the rumors...but you never know I guess. I feel like I keep underestimating the gullibility of the American people. I would have preferred that they not go the "small town" route, bc an amazing number of "EDUCATED" (bleh. Don't mean it like that, but you know what I mean. The media likes to stereotype the types of people who believe the rumors, when there are a diverse array of people who are misinformed) people in larger town settings believe these bullshit rumors...acting like it's a small time ignorant thing kind of marginalizes it.

also, it kind of seemed like CNN just used it as an opportunity to show the Rev wright footage again.

[FrenchieCat]

22. You should send this information to Media Matters and

reference AC360 and the date the piece was shown. [e-mail]

[Ichingcarpenter]

24. Wikipedia.... I'm cooking dinner... someone do it please

And DUers bought into to this shit.

[FrenchieCat]

37. I sent it to Media Matters and FAIR.

[chill_wind]

35. They did that in the primaries, too, in Kentucky. They found a very

tiny forgotten appalachian burg in a remote county that no politician had traveled to in more than 20 years.
A county that voted for Bush twice. There were about 200 people in the town. no jobs, average per capita income less than $10,000.
They aired it the night before the primary.

[ErinBerin84]

36. didn't CBS also do this before the Ohio primary?

in the famous "as far as I know" interview, lol.

the networks must take turns.

[grantcart]

17. bad news/good news

bad news - lots of this stuff in California everywhere.


good news - people who believe this kind of thing represent people that have poor voting records. Moreover this time the machine that they normally respond to - the evangelical churches and what not hate McCain.



More good news - the campaign hasn't started yet and these people will see alot of Obama commercials.


BTW Tennesse has one of the largest leads for McCain.

[NYC_SKP]

26. Let's tell them Obama voting day is Tuesday and McCain is Wednesday

Maybe half of them would fall for it.

[jezebel]

28. Maybe we should start a spam email like that. ;) nt

[chill_wind]

29. :-) Not a bad thought!

eom

[NYC_SKP]

31. Seriously, we should try that in every similar demographic.

And these pretty much align with where he's not winning, ie WV and KY.

[Blondiegrrl]

33. I'm just glad the media signaled out a state other than WV this time.

::heavy sigh::

[ncteechur]

38. To anyone here from Copper Hill, TN, I apologize BUT...

that must be one fucking stupid town.

Sincerely,

A Liberal Elitist

[sellitman]

39. My best friend who hates bush won't vote for Obama because

he is convinced he is a Muslim. I have stood on my ear yelling at him that he is being ignorant to no avail. He won't vote for either McSame or Barack.

It drives me crazy.

[CK_John]

41. This is an image of small towns in upstate NY also. It's a cover excuse for not voting black. Anyone

who believes this election is in the bag are the stupid ones.

[Bobbie Jo]

42. ..and I'd be willing to bet that the ONE is the only ONE of that bunch who knows what a Muslim is...

anyway.