Who Will Senator Byrd Endorse?
22 comments on this post
West Virginia is looking very good for Senator Clinton. The latest Rasmussen poll shows Senator Clinton at 56% and Senator Obama at 27%. Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia has been in the Senate a long time. Just about everything in the state is named after him. There are bridges, a telescope (pictured right), a dam, buildings, and tons of other structures built with government money that bear his name. Byrd has yet to endorse a presidential candidate in the Democratic Primary and West Virginia votes next week. I'd imagine both campaigns are heavily courting Byrd's endorsement. It would be a great press bump for Clinton because it would help her shore up her support with West Virginia voters. It is important to note that West Virginia has the lowest percentage of citizens with a bachelor's degree in the United States. If the Clinton campaign is looking to connect with less educated voters, then West Virginia is the place to shine. Byrd's endorsement would also be great for Senator Obama. It would help him limit the damage in West Virginia and show that he can put together a broad coalition. It is also an opportunity for Senator Byrd to use his seniority to influence the outcome of the race.
By Kyle - 5/08/2008
22 Comments:
HRC will definately win West Virginia. I don't think that it is politically advantageous outside of WV to have Senator Byrd endorse either candidate. Due to the fact that Senator Byrd was a member of the KKK and was vehemently against the civil rights act of 1964 either candidate would be under severe criticism for having this mans endorsement. Senator Byrd does not have a positive political following outside of his home state. Both candidates should avoid him like the plague.
Ozone - That's really interesting...I didn't know that about Sen. Byrd. It prompted me to refresh myself on the history of the Democratic and Republican parties, and look at how they shifted positions (particularly in the South) during the middle of the 20th century (which also relates back to the quote from my post yesterday).
Obama spoke very highly of Byrd in his book, so he would welcome a Byrd endorsement.
I mean, are voters going to say "I won't vote for Obama because a supporter of his supported racist positions......so I am going to vote for McCain, who also used to support racist positions"
I'd be all for Byrd endorsing Obama. It would show how broad Obama's coalition is.
It is important to note that West Virginia has the lowest percentage of citizens with a bachelor's degree in the United States.
That's a disgustingly elitist comment, Kyle. Shouldn't you also point out how Obama shined in Mississippi and Alabama? Those two are a few brain cells higher than W. Virginia, but extremely "uneducated" in your eyes.
What about Hillary taking Mass.?
You make the assumption that liberally educated folks with bachelor's degrees are some how smarter than people without. Your assumption is highly illogical and wrong.
"College has spoiled you by reading papers that don't deserve to be read, listening to comments that don't deserve a hearing, paying attention even to the lazy, ill-informed and rude. We had to do it, for the sake of education. But nobody will ever do it again. College has deprived you of adequate preparation for the last 50 years. It has failed you by being easy, free, forgiving, attentive, comfortable, interesting, unchallenging fun. Good luck tomorrow." - Professor Carter A. Daniel, Rutgers University (Chronicle of Higher Education, May 7, 1979)
A college degree is important, but it is not the be-all end-all to gauge intelligence.
why is elite a bad thing? Here's the definition:
1. (often used with a plural verb) the choice or best of anything considered collectively, as of a group or class of persons.
Kyle was pointing out the number of people with a bachelor's degrees. Russ made the jump to infer that a bachelor's degree indicates intelligence.
People with bachelor's degrees largely support Obama. There isn't another way to measure education during a poll.
Yeah elitist as a slur is ridiculous. It's possibly one of the most misused words in the language.
I used to have a guy who worked for me who was to the left of Castro. He called guys like Russ elitist until I asked him what the hell the term meant. Didn't hear it too much after that.
There are some people that you should avoid putting in a coalition.
If he wants a broad coalition perhaps Obama should seek out the endorsement of David Duke.
Scary fact. If Bush, Cheney and Pelosi died tomorrow the former Grand Cyclops of the KKK would be the leader of the free world.
its just a fact that less educated voters support Hillary.
I believe that Paul Begala said yesterday that the Dukakis coalition of eggheads and blacks only carried 10 states and could not win.
So while it is accurate that Obama carries the elite, you still need the less than elite in order to win a general election.
Begala and Hillary's comments yesterday showed they are racist
whats worse?
The term racist is thrown around way too much. I doubt that Hillary and Paul Begala believe that they are racists.
Senator Byrd on the other hand took a racist oath in his membership to the KKK. I would say that is worse.
Yeah elitist as a slur is ridiculous. It's possibly one of the most misused words in the language.
In the context it's used regarding Obama, or Kyle for his poke at people who do not have a degree, it's befitting.
Translate it into disconnected snob.
its just a fact that less educated voters support Hillary.
It's a fact those less educated folk fix your car.
Some of those "less educated" folk have skills beyond your wildest dreams.
And I will throw this out for shits and giggles...
Obama received 92% of the black vote down south. How many of them have bachelor's degrees, and how many would any of you dare to point that out to, let alone throw it around insultingly?
White guilt, it ain't just for breakfast.
PS...I was at that telescope as a side trip on a backpacking trip. It's infrared, and amazing. As soon as you get within 5 miles of it, your cell phone goes dead.
"Some of those "less educated" folk have skills beyond your wildest dreams".
And all for $5.35 an hour....
wow mencken that is an extremely condescending and blanket stereotype.
Russ, my comment was a dig on the Clinton campaign because they like to try to knock Obama for having the support of people who went to college as if it is a bad thing. I never used the word "uneducated." I said "less educated."
"Blacks and eggheads are not enough for obama to win." Damn I love it when liberals preach to the unenlightened about moving beyond race etc.
I now understand what I always thought might be true. I wasted my many years in college. Perhaps if I pursue my doctorate and really apply myself I can be re-educated in liberal thought and join the Obama elite. My wise and educated friends that dont understand why I no longer embrace the progressive line hopefully will embrace me with open arms when I become as wise and caring as they are. I miss the days of being at their beautiful homes sitting on the deck sipping wine looking at their fancy new cars as we discussed world poverty, the sad state of eductation and the evils of big buisness due to the evil power structure. As they always said if people would see the light and vote Democratic the ills would be corrected. If the farm bill that Peolosi and her boys are pushing is any indication it is the same old crap just different letters(R-D) beside the self serving decision makers.
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