Has President Obama ‘Written Off’ the Deep South?
Posted by Scott Williams on 08.16.2009
‘Land of Cotton’ gets the cold shoulder
President Obama likes Town Hall meetings. He likes reaching out directly to the American People in about as personal a forum as a President can create. There is little doubt of that. He's conducted going on 20 or more of them; just since becoming President. Not to mention how many he did during the 2008 Presidential Election Campaign.
But, it's at least as interesting WHERE these meetings take place, as is the fact that they are being held at all.
Let's take a look at both when and where President Obama has "reached out" to the American People in a Town Hall "like" format (since becoming President):
Colorado 8/15
Montana 8/14
New Hampshire 8/12
Indiana 8/5
North Carolina 7/29
Ohio 7/23
Virginia 7/1
Wisconsin 6/11
New Mexico 5/14
Missouri 4/29
Iowa 4/22
Missouri 4/16
Virginia (multiple)
North Carolina 4/1
California 3/19 and 3/18
Illinois 2/12
Virginia 2/11
Florida 2/10
Indiana 2/9
He even did one in France on April 3rd.
But as far as I can tell, with the exception of maybe Virginia, Florida and North Carolina (all of which he won in the 2008 elections), none in the Deep South (Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, or even Kentucky).
It's true you could say, "President Obama did not win Missouri or Montana. What about those?"
And that's fair. I would surmise that his appearance in Montana had more to do with drumming up support for healthcare reform relative to Max Baucus (Senator from Montana) than anything else. Missouri? Remember, he only lost Missouri by 5000 votes. Very close. If he pays enough attention to Missouri, things could be different there in 2012.
So why the cold shoulder to Dixie?
Personally, I think it's because he simply doesn't think he can influence events or opinions very much in those states. Whereas in other regions (Mountain West, Midwest, North, West Coast, East Coast, New England) he thinks he probably can.
The sad fact of the matter is, why waste precious and limited resources, where you're probably not going to be able to make that much of a difference in relation to support for your agenda?
But we'll see. He'll eventually make it down to the "Land of Cotton". If for no other reason, they have fantastic catfish (Love It!!):
Probably for the same reason Kennedy's folks advised him not to visit Dallas.
Posted By: The Riverbottom Nightmare Band (Guest) on August 16, 2009 at 09:57 AM
It is unfortunate he hasn’t made it to Arkansas. I can understand why since, we didn’t give him too much of our support in the last election. I am of the impression this was more a skin color thing more than anything else. We have a large group of people that are Christian, but that belief only goes so far. Of course our Us Senator is very conservative, almost to the point she is much like a California Republican. I find it interesting you cannot find a photo of President Obama and Senator Lincoln. Yet you can find photos with all the other US Senators. Why is that? If for that reason alone, I can understand why the President feels he wouldn’t get a warm reception here in Arkansas.
Posted By: Andrea Lea (Guest) on August 16, 2009 at 01:16 PM
I'm going to let you in on a little truth...people in the states you mentioned CAN be persuaded, but only with facts. We KNOW the DNC is full of shit, and is responsible for nearly all the racial discord still extant in the U.S., and as such, his attempts at subterfuge fall on deaf ears. Seriously, we didn't vote for him, because we KNEW he was a liar. Seems the rest of the country is finally catching up. Yeah, he may have 'given up' on the South, because we're not fooled by his lofty rhetoric and horseshit ideals. We aren't as foolish as you 'progressives', who will apparently fall for anything, so long as it isn't Republican. In addition, the South has already survived Reconstruction, so we know what northern "compassion" and "idealism" is worth. Empty promises and, ultimately, destruction at the hands of those who would save us. No thanks. We'll wait for someone who has displayed honor and courage in the past...not one who calls the enemies of this country his friends.
Posted By: Neil Young (Guest) on August 16, 2009 at 03:14 PM
...or because he thinks they'll try to kill him. Yeah let's send a black president to states still flying Confederate Flags.
Posted By: Guest#0796 (Guest) on August 16, 2009 at 03:58 PM
It may be that it's just to early in his presidency to get to every state. There are other states not in the deep south that he has yet to visit also.
On the flip side, this has to be somewhat of a blow to those who waited well into the wee hours of the morning to vote for him 1st as Democratic choice then again later as President. These same Obama supporters who were everywhere on tv in the time from Sept 2008 thru February 2009 seem to have vanished recently.
Is it because they are beginning to realize that change comes at a price? That regardless of the color of the skin of the President it's still a job where promises are conceded if not entirely forgotten.
True change will mean making decisions that require more from a portion of American citizens who, in the past, are accustom to receiving rather than giving.
Posted By: TNA Mark (Guest) on August 16, 2009 at 04:01 PM
I live in the Deep South, Mississippi. We have two hard-line conservative Republican senators, and a former tobacco lobbyist as a governor who is sacrificing the well-being of his state just to help his presidential hopes. Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi are really the last of the Deep South states that Obama really can't reach.
Posted By: Kevin (Guest) on August 16, 2009 at 04:07 PM
He certainly has written off capitalism.
Posted By: John (Guest) on August 16, 2009 at 06:36 PM
Neil Young - Spoken like every other idiotic evangelistic conservative that I see every day in SC. Any validity in your argument is immediately negated by your ability to sound like you're screaming from the front row of either a Hank Williams concert or a tent revival.
The president will not come to SC because he knows that most would rather believe distorted facts from a 30 second commercial (or Flush Limbaugh), than someone of intelligence willing to have an actual conversation.
Posted By: BakaKaiju (Guest) on August 16, 2009 at 07:21 PM
"I'm going to let you in on a little truth...people in the states you mentioned CAN be persuaded, but only with facts. We KNOW the DNC is full of shit, and is responsible for nearly all the racial discord still extant in the U.S., and as such, his attempts at subterfuge fall on deaf ears. Seriously, we didn't vote for him, because we KNEW he was a liar. Seems the rest of the country is finally catching up. Yeah, he may have 'given up' on the South, because we're not fooled by his lofty rhetoric and horseshit ideals. We aren't as foolish as you 'progressives', who will apparently fall for anything, so long as it isn't Republican. In addition, the South has already survived Reconstruction, so we know what northern "compassion" and "idealism" is worth. Empty promises and, ultimately, destruction at the hands of those who would save us. No thanks. We'll wait for someone who has displayed honor and courage in the past...not one who calls the enemies of this country his friends."
You're just as full of shit as the DNC. You didn't vote for him because you're partisan just like the people that voted for him. You have no ideas to offer, just like the Dems. The difference is now you get to play victim like the Dems did for 8 fucking years so you get to pFretend he's the evil scourge of freedom like those asshole progressives did for Dubya. Fuck you and fuck your honorable, courageous politicians. Fuck your hollow rhetoric and fuck your self-aggrandizing new victim status. Fuck your "South" and fuck the shallow assumptions that all people below the Mason-Dixon Line think like you.
I'm not a progressive and I'm not a conservative. I'm not a Northerner and I'm not a Southern. I'm nothing because when you attach labels to who you are and what you believe, you end up like the condescending prick above.
Posted By: Guest#3844 (Guest) on August 16, 2009 at 07:49 PM
"...you're screaming from the front row of either a Hank Williams concert..."
Hank made some great music. Don't drag him into this.
Posted By: Q:? (Guest) on August 16, 2009 at 07:53 PM
Northern isn't a label, it's a geographical fact. I live in the the North of the United States and no one can argue otherwise.
Posted By: Guest#7161 (Guest) on August 16, 2009 at 09:18 PM
Obama's written off the South because of people like Neil Young. Oh, it's true.
Posted By: EPIC CAT (Guest) on August 16, 2009 at 09:52 PM
To the Mr. Young, you said the Deep South didn't vote for him, I'm from Texas. I voted for him. In the words of Lynyrd Skynyrd "I hope Neil Young will remember, a southern man don't need him around anyhow." Stop speaking for everyone from the South.
Posted By: DSJ (Guest) on August 16, 2009 at 11:03 PM
I am from the deep south(south carolina) and I am not offended he hasnt shown up here. I dont want him here or any of his liberal democrat brothers, they can all stay in Washington for all I care. Nothing they do will ever get me to vote for them, and if I have to deal with them in my everyday life, Im just glad its at a far distance.
Posted By: JWestmoreland (Guest) on August 16, 2009 at 11:17 PM
Funny...I've responded to both of my detractors, but the cowardly fucks who police this site didn't see fit to post it. Oh, well...more liberal censorship. They redact anything they don't like. Fucking fascists.
Posted By: Neil Young (Guest) on August 16, 2009 at 11:28 PM
Neil Young - Spoken like every other idiotic evangelistic conservative that I see every day in SC. Any validity in your argument is immediately negated by your ability to sound like you're screaming from the front row of either a Hank Williams concert or a tent revival.
The president will not come to SC because he knows that most would rather believe distorted facts from a 30 second commercial (or Flush Limbaugh), than someone of intelligence willing to have an actual conversation.
Posted By: BakaKaiju (Guest) on August 16, 2009 at 07:21 PM
you're right but for all the wrong reasons. you're stereotyping him, and letting him represent an entire geographical area. and claiming that his 'validity is negated' because sounds like he's screaming is just ignorant and irrelevant. Your whole argument is pretty much pointless and doesn't make you look like you're one whose interested in having a conversation or interested in hearing others opinions.
Posted By: Guest#3867 (Guest) on August 16, 2009 at 11:31 PM
Half of America has "written off" Obama
Posted By: Guest#4549 (Guest) on August 16, 2009 at 11:46 PM
"He certainly has written off capitalism.
Posted By: John (Guest) on August 16, 2009 at 06:36 PM"
Yep, that's the new Republican Party for you.
"Obama is a socialist" or some variant thereof is apparently the appropriate reply to any comment at all.
"Damn, I forgot to do my laundry."
"Well, Obama forgot to do his Capitalism."
--
"I really love this chicken fried rice."
"Yeah, well, Obama really loves his Marx."
---
"1+2=3"
"Yeah, well, Obama does Socialist math."
---
Pathetic, guys, really.
Posted By: Pat Shepard (Guest) on August 16, 2009 at 11:47 PM
when did this site start leaning all the way to the right?
Posted By: Guest#7108 (Guest) on August 16, 2009 at 11:58 PM
I'm amazed by the hypocritical, judgmental posters here. Criticize Obama in any way and you're a moron/racist/whatever, but it's fine to stereotype and denigrate an entire region of the country that you've probably never even been to. Simple-minded fucks.
Posted By: Guest#6550 (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 12:25 AM
The idea that any of you have any kind of handle on Obama 6 months into his Presidency is retarded.
I will say though that the entire "the south didnt vote for Obama" thing is overblown. They haven't voted for a Democrat in 40 years, so no explanation of them voting here is neccesary OR valid. You cannot come up with a reasoning for doing what you've been doing for 4 decades, and try to pin it down on THIS candidate.
Posted By: AdamS (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 03:28 AM
Well, most of the people in the South do want to kill him so I can understand this completely.
Posted By: Anonymous (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 08:10 AM
Deep South Wrestling? Hell Vince wrote it off too!
Posted By: Obama (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 08:35 AM
Pat, god you are pathetic. Keep ignoring what the man has been about his whole life and blame his current failures on republicans all you want. Must be hard to look in the mirror or be intellectually honest about things. Pat, just keep talking to yourself, both members of that conservation are idiots.
Posted By: John (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 10:18 AM
Because the majority of them (the loudest) are backwards, lower-class, uneducated, questionably-inbred morons laughably susceptible to the lies, manipulation and fear mongering of individuals they share very few similarities to but for the irrational hatred of the aesthetically different?
Posted By: Chungles (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Maybe it's not the site that is leaning to the right- but all the people who have pulled their heads out of the sand.
It is easy to defend someone just because you happen to vote for them. You don't want to feel betrayed.
But face facts- Obama is a socialist...he admits it through his actions. And his defenders now are trying to make the word "socialist" mean something it is not- trying to have the word removed, or become the "s" word.
Socialist means: fulfill basic needs of all, tax the rich to support the poor, limit power of the rich, regulate most aspects of society(Pfeiffer & Forsberg, 2005).
Does that sound like Obama?
Of course it does.
Obama says he will only tax the rich. Obama regulates the car industry, banks, mortgage and credit companies, through his bailout bill.
Cap and Trade will regulate the energy industry. Heathcare with a single payer will regulate the heathcare industry.
He will go after education next. Probably through charter schools- much like those in Chicago that are owned by the Tribune company that he funneled tax payer money into- at the expense of the inner city schools that needed it.
So yeah- Obama is a socialist.
Deal with it. Deal with it just like the other 53 percent of America who can't stand him- speak out, don't defend this type of bullshit.
Obama has not kept one promise.
Not one.
GITMO is still open, we still do military tribunials, we still have the same number of people in Iraq, more in Afghanistan, he has not reached across the aisle and unified anyone, he has not done anything for gay rights, he has not done anything about pot, he has not done anything about making people like us as a country, Iran will have the bomb, we have no jobs, the stimulus did not work, the Whitehouse is asking us to spy on each other, healthcare will not have single payer, and on and on and on...
What more does this guy need to do? Even his own party stands against him. People who voted for him know he is jacked up. It's not just the minority that stands agaisnt him- everyone who is not blinded or a "progressive" socialist stands against him.
So let the excuses start: Blame Bush, blame the bluedogs, blame Fox, blame Rush, Glen Beck or Hannity...
It is their fault that Obama can't get shit done, or he puts his foot in his mouth every chance he gets. Making fun of retards, calling cops out for racism...hindering military operations for peaceful solutions, ignoring the threats abroad, and at home. Calling terrorist attacks "manmade disasters".
He's not avoiding the deep south, he's avoiding Americans. He knows he can't stack a townhall in Texas.
So defend this guy- please- but at least hold him to one promise, just one before you do so.
Posted By: The Spook (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 10:40 AM
In fairness, education, hygiene, open-mindedness, and rationalization have written off the Deep South too. I hear bigotry and ingorance still thrive, however.
The Deep South, where 1800's ideals live in harmony with 1900's moonshine-making technology!
Oh yeah, for all of you dipshits calling Obama a socialist/facist/communist... I'm betting you're also the same people that used to say "America--love it or leave it!" if someone used to criticize Bush. Since you'd hate to have a socialist president, feel free to get the fuck out of the U.S. any time now.
Posted By: Zingy (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 10:42 AM
Generally speaking, I detest evangelicals and right wingers (especially the religious right), but the way that you can't say ANYTHING about Obama without being called a "racist" or "ignorant" is getting to be a bit much, and it's only his first year.
I reserve opinion on him, more or less, as president-- but his followers have become as bad as those who followed Bush.
Posted By: M:-X (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Spooky, I like America a hell of a lot more now because of Obama; I think you'll find many of my fellow Eurofags feel similarly. Can you right-wing yankee loons stop speaking for us? You seem to to have an alarming propensity to present the complete opposite to our reality so as to tie in with your inhumane views. It's people like you that make the world think negatively of your nation.
But yes, you have a point about the terrors of Socialism; why on Earth should poor people be helped out? Disgusting, it really is.
Posted By: Chungles (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 01:02 PM
Posted By: J.D. Dunn (Registered) on August 17, 2009 at 01:07 PM
In Soviet Russia, Deep South writes off you!
Posted By: Yakov Smirnoff (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 02:37 PM
Why wouldn't he? The Deep South is worthless. If we had it to do over again I say let them be their own country. And take Texas with you. Good riddance.
Posted By: Dave (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 03:02 PM
Wow J.D., those are a LOT of promises. The pressure on candidates to make, and try to keep, so many promises (in this case 500+) to so many different folks makes me glad I'm not in politics!
Just for shits and giggles, I wonder who the president with greatest 'completion percentage' of promises was in the last hundred years or so (full term of course). I doubt politifact would have that information, though.
Posted By: Scotty H (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 03:19 PM
Call me evil. Welfare is not a solution.
How many people on welfare come off of welfare?
Times are hard, taxing the rich won't make it better- they are the only ones who can produce capital to fix the economy.
It's not like you see lines of poor people waiting to pick fruit or dig ditches- most welfare queens sit at home and collect a check.
Why fund that?
The liberals are pandering to illegals to win votes- and to poor people who sit at home and want more welfare money.
How about kicking the illegals out, and putting the poor people to work?
Or is that evil too?
But liberals will never do it- because you can't gerrymander district seats that way can you?
So someone, anyone, please tell me how these states and cities completely run by liberals is what anyone wants?
California is bankrupt because of illegals and poor people on welfare and overpaid local union workers...
Chicago, the home of modern liberals, including Obama had to close the fuck down because of similar problems?
So how do you defend that?
Obama will somehow change his stripes?
He is a Chicago politican whispering sweet nothings into your ears- and yet with the reality that his city had to shut down, you still want that for the nation?
Seriously- what the fuck? How can you possibly defend any of this?
Call me evil- blame Bush, whatever.
Liberals don't get it.
You can't increase welfare to poor people without having it in the budget. Not without rasing taxes on the people who hire workers.
Obama is a socialist- he is. And socialism is a valid form of governing. But it does not work.
Posted By: The Spook (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 03:22 PM
Yeah kick out Texas- the state with an 11 billion dollar surplus.
Real smart.
Posted By: The Spook (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 03:27 PM
Zingy,
"We have the right to protest and speak out against any administration"
Posted By: Hillary Clinton (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 03:40 PM
He does not want to deal with all the backwoods, hick, redneck, imbred bullshit of all those dam good old boys who are still pissed mcain lostto a black man. Obama is the voice of the future. He is not stuck in a time warp. It is the 21st century. I am a liberal democrat and dam proud of it. You conservatives can kiss my behind if you dont like what I had to say. The first amendment gives me that right.
Posted By: logan (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 04:17 PM
He does not want to deal with all the backwoods, hick, redneck, imbred bullshit of all those dam good old boys who are still pissed mcain lostto a black man. Obama is the voice of the future. He is not stuck in a time warp. It is the 21st century. I am a liberal democrat and dam proud of it. You conservatives can kiss my behind if you dont like what I had to say. The first amendment gives me that right.
Posted By: logan (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 04:17 PM
_______________________________________
First, liberal democrats are the largest group of childish name callers. Using slurs like "hick" and "redneck" to preface a remark is intellectually vapid and does nothing to further any point of view.
Case in point, guest#3867
"Spoken like every other idiotic evangelistic conservative that I see every day in SC. Any validity in your argument is immediately negated by your ability to sound like you're screaming from the front row of either a Hank Williams concert or a tent revival."
So, genius, an argument isn't valid because YOU think it sounds like a concert huh? Brilliant. No wonder you didn't sign your post.
Posted By: El Sexorcisto (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 06:23 PM
thanks to all you liberal posters for proving once again that the left is the home of arrogance, hatred, intolerance, and plain old name calling when dealing with anyone they disagree with.
Posted By: Guest#8341 (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 07:16 PM
"Pat, god you are pathetic. Keep ignoring what the man has been about his whole life and blame his current failures on republicans all you want. Must be hard to look in the mirror or be intellectually honest about things. Pat, just keep talking to yourself, both members of that conservation are idiots.
Posted By: John (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 10:18 AM"
Brilliant!
Me: Republicans consisistently reply off topic.
John: You're ignoring Obama!
Posted By: Pat Shepard (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 08:33 PM
Because the majority of them (the loudest) are backwards, lower-class, uneducated, questionably-inbred morons laughably susceptible to the lies, manipulation and fear mongering of individuals they share very few similarities to but for the irrational hatred of the aesthetically different?
Posted By: Chungles (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 10:27 AM
Best description I've ever heard of liberals. Bravo, sir!
Posted By: Christ, David Sucks! (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 08:48 PM
"thanks to all you liberal posters for proving once again that the left is the home of arrogance, hatred, intolerance, and plain old name calling when dealing with anyone they disagree with."
This is fucking ridiculous. The fact that people here identify themselves as liberal Democrats or conservatives or probably even Libertarians is fucking crazy. You people, all of you, are the reason this country is sinking into a murky abyss of petty politics, partisan name-calling, and all things childish, liberal AND conservative included.
The fact that the country has been broken into labels like this, or especially North and South is what's hampering anything positive from ever taking place. Regardless of party, you people buy into retarded labels that were created by politicians to divide the country so they can manipulate voters into believing that we're all actually different. Either it's someone talking about those dumb yokel Southern rednecks who just can't comprehend the big words we intelligent Northerners use, or it's someone else saying that those snobby, elitist, fag Northerners just don't understand the common man in the South. It's all bullshit. And you people buy into it because you want to fuel partisan outrage for whatever your opinion skews because it lets you feel superior to someone. It lets you vent your anger at a safe target. You can shout down, denounce, demonize, attack, or belittle people you don't know because "they don't understand you." You don't actually have to do anything to fix what's wrong. You can just stand on your little pulpit and shout.
My favorite part in this is that you're all at each other's throats now, but you can all be manipulated into pushing those feelings aside temporarily so a politician can manipulate us to unite as Americans to fight those great foreign evils like Arab extremism. Then it becomes a dumbass parade chanting USA for a little while until it suits that politician better to play you against one another.
Posted By: Guest#5910 (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 09:06 PM
How about adding some numbers to this discussion.
As of 2005 here are results of federal spending received per dollar of federal taxes paid in some southern states:
AL: $1.66
AR: $1.41
GA: $1.01
KY: $1.51
LA: $1.78
MS: $2.02
NC: $1.08
SC: $1.35
TN: $1.27
TX: .94
WV: 1.76
And just for good measure AK: $1.84
So if we're defining socialism as taking from wealthy people to help less fortunate people (which seems to be the thing to do these days), what do these numbers say about the South? Perhaps we should replace the rebel flag with the hammer and sickle. Seems the people in "Real America" are digging awful deep into the pockets of "fake Americans" and gladly helping themselves to more than they have contributed. I'm sure the fine people in NY and CA would be happy to have more of that money spent where it originated. Yep, that federal government really is terrible. BTW, the pledge of allegiance was written by an open socialist.
Posted By: The Riverbottom Nightmare Band (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 09:10 PM
"How about adding some numbers to this discussion.
As of 2005 here are results of federal spending received per dollar of federal taxes paid in some southern states:
AL: $1.66
AR: $1.41
GA: $1.01
KY: $1.51
LA: $1.78
MS: $2.02
NC: $1.08
SC: $1.35
TN: $1.27
TX: .94
WV: 1.76
And just for good measure AK: $1.84
So if we're defining socialism as taking from wealthy people to help less fortunate people (which seems to be the thing to do these days), what do these numbers say about the South? Perhaps we should replace the rebel flag with the hammer and sickle. Seems the people in "Real America" are digging awful deep into the pockets of "fake Americans" and gladly helping themselves to more than they have contributed. I'm sure the fine people in NY and CA would be happy to have more of that money spent where it originated. Yep, that federal government really is terrible. BTW, the pledge of allegiance was written by an open socialist."
BEST post I have seen here in a while
Posted By: Guest#3368 (Guest) on August 17, 2009 at 10:28 PM
STAY CURRENT