What's Real About the Split In Virginia (Marc Fisher / WaPo)

[struggle4progress]

By Marc Fisher
Thursday, October 30, 2008; Page B01

... A top aide to John McCain said last week that her man is still on his way to winning the state because of his support in "real Virginia," which McCain senior adviser Nancy Pfotenhauer described as the "part of the state that is more Southern in nature, if you will."

That part is not to be confused with "communist country," which is how Joe McCain, the candidate's brother, described Arlington and Alexandria, which happen to be, respectively, where John and Joe live, but we don't talk about that part ...

"All I see in my neighborhood is McCain signs, and I said, 'Why do they keep saying Virginia's going to go for Obama?' " says Leah Paley, who traveled to the rally from Richmond. "Then I went to cast my absentee ballot, and I saw all these different people voting. In the past, where I vote, there weren't any blacks. This time, it was mostly blacks and young kids, and they were there for Obama" ...

"We're not ready for a black guy," says Angi Kraft, 39, a mortgage processor who has been laid off three times since February. "I'm scared he will be killed. I don't trust him. And I'm telling you, we are becoming a minority -- and a Northern state. They're all coming down here, the Northerners" ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/29/AR2008102903795.html?hpid=news-col-blogs

[The Magistrate]

1. It is Very Telling, Sir

That the McCain campaign describes as 'more American' those places which still identify with the old Confederate States of America, and dislike 'yankees'.

The fact is that treason to the United States of America has a special place in the hearts of the Republican base and its political leadership: they are not patriots, they hate and despise America and its promise of equality and opportunity for all.

[gmudem]

2. Quite accurate.

I go to school at George Mason in what I guess is considered "fake Virginia." I have a good friend here who admitted to me that he doesn't think a minority should be the president of this country. It was pretty disappointing as I knew he was a Republican but I didn't think he was like that.

[struggle4progress]

3. In the same vein, across the two continents in this hemisphere, a number of folk have sometimes

questioned the appropriation of "American" to describe only citizens of the US -- and a long history of US relations with other countries in this hemisphere similarly suggests a certain disregard for the promise of equality and opportunity

[AuntPatsy]

8. As always your words hold absolute truth.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

4. All I can say is that I hope Ms. Kraft never finds a steady job.

[Jennicut]

5. Welcome to the North VA! Us "fake" American northerners want to welcome you.

Seriously, if they don't like the way VA is going then why don't they get out and move to Alabama or Mississippi? Its still nice and red in those states! Sheesh! And Joe McCain=biggest asshole ever. They guy who called 911 for a traffic jam. Nice one.

[genna]

6. My people are from Virginia - Hampton Roads area and Powhatan vicinity

I now live in Georgia. There are parts of the deeper south that are extraordinary red and backwards fitting right into the stereotypes.

That being said there is a great deal of western Virginia up to Charlotsville into the eastern shore of Virginia that are as red as Kentucky can get.


The old parts of Virginia who want to levy racial slurs should be forewarned...the natives and newcomers have had enough of how it has been.

[PBS Poll-435]

7. ....If you will.

:eyes: