Racism alive and well in Lake Mills, WI at Obama grassroots event

[zulchzulu]

I'm going to finish up on my Obama table update from this weekend, but wanted to preface it with a really sad moment when I was helping out a friend who has been supporting Obama way back in Iowa and before who needed my help. I brought along my Obama sign and a tent for the rain, which certainly came yesterday at a Octoberfest event in Lake Mills (about the size of Wasilla)...

As we were setting up the Obama table there, my friend took out her Obama cut-out and propped up it in a temporary spot while we arranged the stickers and other info for people to have.

One guy walked by with his son and proceeded to make a vomiting sound LOUDLY at us. Whatever, I thought... these Freeper types always run away fast after such antics.

Then three older guys came walking by and, at the time they walked by, the Obama cut-out, which wasn't tethered to something yet, fell face down on the ground. The one guy said "hehehe, that's whats' gonna happen to Obama...he's gonna fall on his face..." with the other two yuckin' it up. My friend, upset at them, said, "wow, that was really a nice thing to say on a Sunday morning". One of the other guys then walked toward her somewhat menacingly and said "I don't know nobody who is gonna vote for that nigger..." My friend shrieked (she's pretty emotional at times)... I glared at them and they walked away looking back to see if I was going to go after them. I WAS PISSED. My friend was shaking. Another person, walking by and witnessing this filth, muttered "shame on you" to all of them. They walked on, apparently happy that they could "express themselves" at the town festival.

Being from the small town and having raised her two kids there, my friend knew the guy who muttered the "n" word... he was one of the biggest religious guys in town and does the Christmas lights (and Nativity scene) in the town's main square, where we were standing at the time.

Driving out of town later, I noticed there were a few more McCain/Palin yard signs than earlier on lawns of homes that needed a coat of paint and were in states of mild disrepair.

I thought to myself that we will have to help these people too when Obama is our President as I headed out of that small town.

[grannie4peace]

1. i used to live there!

it used to be a nice place-

[stopbush]

2. Small town America is a moral cesspool.

Why politicians cow tow to the bigots is beyond me.

And, yes, I come from a small town in Ohio.

[Terran]

7. Small Town America is no worse than Big City America, but for

one thing: in small town America, a lot of people pretend this crap doesn't exist. And I've lived in both.

[ShortnFiery]

8. There are exceptions but the rude ones and bigots are the loudest.

When people begin to feel the FINANCIAL PINCH ... we'll all (under $300,000 net worth) be "the peasants." Then, the racial divide will fade out fast. :shrug:

[Forrest Greene]

12. I Don't Think So

We all need someone to bleed on, as somebody once said.

There's a short story, I believe by Ray Bradbury. The scene is a hotel in a small town somewhere. The bar is filled with cynical big-city reporters. The first landing by extraterrestrials has just occurred here, & the reporters are here to get the story.

It seems the ETs aren't very impressive. No tentacles, no teeth, no rea-guns. They're just these short, blobby, crawling things who gasp & choke in Earth's atmosphere, & who don't move very quickly.

All through the story, as the reporters express their scorn & derision for these less-than-badass aliens, they are also talking to an elderly Black man. "Hey Sam, toss me a cigar!" "How about a shoeshine, Sam?" "Sam, fetch me a piece of that watermelon, that's a good boy..." You know the drill.

At the end of the story, one of the reporters remarks that, even though the guys from outer space have finally arrived, due to their ineffectual blobbiness, "...it doesn't seem like things'll be all that much different, does it, Sam?"

Sam considers the proposition, & says, "Well, maybe not for some people, sir..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Or to put it another way, they can always attach a new bottom rung to the ladder.

[Forrest Greene]

13. BTW, Just To Make Sure

...I'm not down on Black folks, or even ETs. I don't like much of anybody.

[tonycinla]

15. not really

actually history shows racial and ethnic hatred INCREASES in hard times

[TheCML]

3. Sad. but not surprising.

I have had to restrict myself from hanging in certain bars, and places, with certain types. If someone got in my face and said something like that I would probably end up throwing a punch and getting beaten up. Luckily for us I think most of these people are too stupid to find their way to the voting booth.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

4. Unfortunately

racism is alive and well everywhere. This has always been the fear of those of us willing to try something different, the fact there exists a large number of people who aren't ready for this change.
I think Obama will be elected but fear for the reaction of people like those you've just described....

[MadMaddie]

5. The fact that the guy is supposedly a Christian and wants the world

to know says it all.

Tell your friend that Black America is not surprised by the vitro and hate mongering that is surfacing. It has always been there it was just easier to hide. The good thing is your friend and you know the truth about the ugly people that are out there and they are exposed now and they can't hide anymore.

My dear Grandmother always used to say, "God don't like Ugly"!!

It's your right to support whomever you want in America the racists can't stop you.

[WI_DEM]

6. There they are the McCain/Palin typical voter. Dumb and racist.

[yourout]

9. It's probably a good thing I was not there I am not a small person 6'2" and 275 and I very likely...

would have lost it. I am mad as hell just reading this.

[damonm]

14. Same size - I used to play Left Guard in College.

Shall we get together & treat a few freepers like safeties trying to stop a sweep? (GOD, I loved those plays...)

[yourout]

17. Counter gap or counter trey would work.

I have coached youth football for the last ten years and I have my take on the old Utah Daffy duck offence were we split the guard and tackle and the tackle pulls in on a sweep his way and get to plant someone coming through the gap.

[zulchzulu]

10. One GREAT thing about the day...

My friend got a LOT of people who wanted to sign up for yard signs, do GOTV and a few people who had properties on the main drag, Main Street, wanted 4 x 8 foot Obama/Biden signs to display.

Despite the hate from some, there indeed were plenty of people in little Lake Mills that support Obama and were ready to kick McCain/Palin's ass in a couple weeks.

[FrenchieCat]

11. Instead of getting emotional......a cool quick "Poor Narrow minded Bigots" Sigh

would have been more effective.

Folks want you to be upset...which is why they do and say what they do and say.

A matter-of-fact roll of the eyes accompanied by a shake of the head and a low chuckle while saying...."Poor narrow minded undeducated bigots", works wonder. Folks walk away realizing that the impression left has more to do with them than about Barack Obama.

[BlueIdaho]

16. We need to fight like we are ten points down.

Sadly, America is full of racists but we can make a difference. We need to build an overwhelming force for change. We need to show these cockroaches that their bigotry is NOT welcome in the 21st century. We need to turn the racist republican party into nothing more than a smoldering crater where these fools once hid.

edit - typo