41% of WV Democrats Vote for Prisoner over Obama (Man: lawyers, buying)

[snorpus]

Originally Posted by Mr. Opinionated

Not to mention that someone though this was important enough to start a thread about.

That would be me.

It just seemed to me that learning what the Democratic voters of West Virginia thought of the incumbent President would be noteworthy.

At least as noteworthy as whether West Virginia is Northern or Southern, or if the Tales of the People in the Hills are true.

Feel free to ignore this thread if it doesn't interest you.

[CTMountaineer]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

I want to love West Virginia... but my goodness... its populace can be so embarrassing.

People weren't really voting for the inmate. They were just expressing their displeasure with President Obama's policies and leadership. His policies are costing tens of thousands of West Virginians good paying jobs. You can debate the virtue of his energy policy all day long, and whether vulcanos or smoke stacks create the most carbon dioxide, but nodody can deny his policies are killing jobs and the economy is still stagnant after almost 4 years.

[bballjunkie]

I agree that the vote was for "anybody but Obama". It couldn't have been about his leadership because that is something he doesn't possess. He is a great speaker (unless he doesn't have his teleprompter). He says things people want to hear but has no clue how to build consensus or to bring the legislative branch into the fold.

He will probably be re-elected but this should be a strong message about how he is seen in WV and that is:

One
Bad
A$$
Mistake
America

[spunkydawg]

There was an article about this in the Washington Post, and folks in the comment section just went off with their anti-WV nonsense -- the usual stereotypes: calling us racists, toothless goobers, inbred cannibals, etc. I and others tried to come to WV's defense, but I'd say comments were running about 8:1 against us. And there were thousands of comments.

Oh, and the funny (?) thing was that it wasn't just the usual Republican commenters bashing the Democrat commenters -- it was mainly Democrats turning against their own! Most of these limited-brain-cell trolls just couldn't get past the possibility that votes for the felon could have been anything but race-based.

What I tried to explain to some commenters (trolls included) was that I felt the vote was primarily just an indictment of Obama's policies. Voters weren't choosing the felon per se, they were more just voting against Obama. A small minority of those votes were probably simply based on racism, no doubt, but I felt like most of them were letting Obama know how they felt about how he's been running the country, and no doubt re WV in particular.

For my part, FWIW, I voted for Obama in 2008 but won't do so again in 2012. The guy who ran in 2008 disappeared the moment the votes were counted. Yes, I'm old enough to expect that from politicians, but this was the worst example of it I've ever seen. He just threw us overboard when he felt he no longer needed us, and to me, he's basically a Republican -- right of center.

Anyway, he's lost my vote... though I sincerely doubt Romney will be able to pick it up. Looks like I'll be sitting this one out, ugh.

[boycewv]

Originally Posted by Katie1

I find this TOO Funny!

I find it disrespectful and an embarrassment.

[alphamale]

I guess the myth of the greatness of Obama has been greatly exaggerated!

[ButtercupMcToots]

Originally Posted by CTMountaineer

People weren't really voting for the inmate. They were just expressing their displeasure with President Obama's policies and leadership. His policies are costing tens of thousands of West Virginians good paying jobs. You can debate the virtue of his energy policy all day long, and whether vulcanos or smoke stacks create the most carbon dioxide, but nodody can deny his policies are killing jobs and the economy is still stagnant after almost 4 years.

How do you know why they were voting?

[GottaHerdOn]

I love how it's Obama's fault the EPA is pushing for cleaner sources of energy... I think some of the ignorant people out there think Obama hangs out at the EPA building all day... If you have a problem with the EPA voice that concern with them... Don't blame the president for everything. Also I agree with the post earlier how sad it is that people still think coal is a livelyhood in WV... It gets all these protections and kickbacks and the populace is brainwashed that coal is some magnificent thing that WV is lucky I have.... You know what is a real industry in WV? Education! It provides 10 times more jobs and actually helps future generations where as coal is helping the executives out of state while destroying WVs landscape and continually creating a delusional mentality in the state... Oh not to mention burning coal is extremely bad fr the environment... But yeah let's just blow up all the mountains and ignore an actual progressive industry like education... I'll be out there everyday campaigning for Obama!!!

[pknopp]

Just curious......I mentioned that coal was a dying industry but how much does education net for the state?

How much coal money supports education? (the tuition paid by miners)

[GottaHerdOn]

Originally Posted by pknopp

Just curious......I mentioned that coal was a dying industry but how much does education net for the state?

How much coal money supports education? (the tuition paid by miners)

Well for every coal miner there are two teachers in the state of WV.. Average wage for teachers in WV is about 40k... College professors make roughly the same amount or more depending on the school. Not to mention the amount of money that is brought it from out of state students attending colleges and universities in WV.

And I'm not sure what you're trying to say... Miners don't pay tuition...

1.9 million people in WV and 10,000 are miners... If WV politics would quit being so enamored with coal and embrace the 21st century the economy would be in much better shape... countless generations wouldn't be lost from the exodus of the young and educated, and we could develop a niche that we are proud of... instead... we're stuck with coal.

I get so annoyed when people find out where I'm from and they're like.. "OHHH COAL MINES!!!" Is that really something you want to be known for? Wyoming produces more coal but they don't glorify it like the politicians and brain washed in WV do. They'd much rather be known for a pristine environment, skiing, wild wild west... etc...