HuffPost: Keith Judd, Texas Inmate, Gets 40 Percent Of Votes Against Obama In West Virginia Democratic Primary

[EersSkins05]

no, it's not. it's not completely about any one thing. and while your reasoning about policy makes sense, it doesn't change the fact that he is viewed largely as wanting to take down coal.

Everywhere you go in the state, you see billboards put up by "Friends of Coal" or Massey Energy, etc. about Obama's "job-killing EPA". The coal industry has put millions of dollars into opposing Obama's every move. Lombardi's_kid_brother is incorrect in saying that a West Virginian working at Wal-Mart doesn't care about the coal industry, as a large number of them either know someone that is involved in the industry, had family members involved in years past, or feels a civic pride in the industry even without any real connection personally.

I, personally, think Obama's policies with lowering taxes on the lower and middle classes and the Affordable Care Act have a far greater impact on West Virginians than any EPA regulations opposed by the coal industry, but the Democratic Party in WV has done a piss-poor job of educating people as to the benefits they receive as a result of legislation championed by Obama.

All in all, it was a protest vote, not a vote for an incarcerated felon. Most probably had no idea who Judd was, he was just the other guy listed on the ballot. In order of importance, here's what I think the factors behind the 40% for Judd in WV (just my opinion).

1) Belief in the "Obama's job-killing EPA" propaganda

2) Economic factors ("I don't have a job so I'm voting for the other guy")

3) General ignorance about President Obama ("He's a Muslim", "He wasn't born in America", "He's a socialist/communist/whatever", etc)

4) Racism. (Enough of a factor to where I'm not ruling it out that some people voted for the other guy because Obama is black, but not enough to be even in the top 3).

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

Since it's now the topic of this thread, I believe a lot of the decrease in Dem support in WV has coincided with the decrease in power of unions. WV was and is one of the most unionized states in the country, and 30-40 years ago the Democratic party was the party of the unions. More recently, union has become a bad word in national politics it seems, and the support there has not been as strong.

There are currently 20,000 coal miners in WV. I believe at this point, the majority work for non-union shops. You know...like Massey which regularly kills its employees.

I can't find the numbers of steel workers in WV, but it must be under 5,000 at this point. Wheeling Pitt is gone. Weirton Steel is a shell.

The largest employer in WV is WalMart.

When I was born, Weirton Steel alone had more than 15,000 unionized employees. I doubt there are that many union coal and steel workers in the entire state right now.

[TheGoodBits]

There are currently 20' date='000 coal miners in WV. I believe at this point, the majority work for non-union shops. You know...like Massey which regularly kills its employees.

I can't find the numbers of steel workers in WV, but it must be under 5,000 at this point. Wheeling Pitt is gone. Weirton Steel is a shell.

The largest employer in WV is WalMart.

When I was born, Weirton Steel alone had more than 15,000 unionized employees. I doubt there are that many union coal and steel workers in the entire state right now.[/quote']

Yeah I just checked, WV is now 18th in the country of % of unionized workers. I'm trying to find historical data, but I know it was much much higher back in the day.

[AsburySkinsFan]

Say what? West Virginia is a red state?

Republican - 1972, 1984, 2000, 2004, 2008

Democrat - 1976, 1980, 1988, 1992, 1996

Of the last 10 presidential elections, it has split between R & D. If that defines a state as "red as red gets", then I guess almost every state is red. Amazing a Democrat has ever been elected president.

You seriously want to look back 40 years to see if the political climate in West Virginia has changed? Come on man you know as well as I do that in the last 20 years conservative states have gone red and have stayed red. So we can play this game of, "Well if you look back 100 years ago you'll see...blah blah blah" but the reality is that for the past 16 years (counting Presidential elections) West Virginia is as red as red can be, and that won't change this year either.

Frankly, I think it is rather hilarious that people are trying to argue that West Virginia isn't a red state...next I'll see an argument that California isn't blue.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

no one has said that's the only reason. no one at all. most of us have even said race plays a role. never good enough, it has to be all about race, right?

I think race is a factor in people believing the propaganda spread about Obama regarding coal. The exact same things were said about Clinton and he won the state twice. Al Gore easily won the Dem Primary in 2000 and did reasonably well against W....and he actually wrote a book about the evils of coal.

Why has 50 years of propaganda from the coal lobby suddenly mestatized in Obama?

---------- Post added May-9th-2012 at 09:35 AM ----------

You seriously want to look back 40 years to see if the political climate in West Virginia has changed? Come on man you know as well as I do that in the last 20 years conservative states have gone red and have stayed red. So we can play this game of, "Well if you look back 100 years ago you'll see...blah blah blah" but the reality is that for the past 16 years (counting Presidential elections) West Virginia is as red as red can be, and that won't change this year either.

We have two Democratic Senators. We have a Democratic Governor. The Senate and House are both controlled by Dems. The only Republican in the state with any juice is the daugther of the only popular Republican in state history.

[Teller]

You seriously want to look back 40 years to see if the political climate in West Virginia has changed? Come on man you know as well as I do that in the last 20 years conservative states have gone red and have stayed red. So we can play this game of, "Well if you look back 100 years ago you'll see...blah blah blah" but the reality is that for the past 16 years (counting Presidential elections) West Virginia is as red as red can be, and that won't change this year either.

Frankly, I think it is rather hilarious that people are trying to argue that West Virginia isn't a red state...next I'll see an argument that California isn't blue.

When LKB disagrees with you, I feel pretty confident in my position. I mean really.

West Virginia is more like Virginia, nationally, than say South Carolina.

[Major Harris]

I think race is a factor in people believing the propaganda spread about Obama regarding coal. The exact same things were said about Clinton and he won the state twice. Al Gore easily won the Dem Primary in 2000 and did reasonably well against W....and he actually wrote a book about the evils of coal.

Why has 50 years of propaganda from the coal lobby suddenly mestatized in Obama?

race, for some voters i'm sure, does play a factor.

but again, the climate is different. coal is on its' death bed, and people are scared. i can't speak about 1992 as to how much the coal industry lobbied against clinton. but they're lobbying hard against obama, like eerrskins said.

[The Evil Genius]

Dems (politicians) in WV usually are only Dems in name only. The only national Dem notion they usually support is worker's rights (and everything union).

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

2) Economic factors ("I don't have a job so I'm voting for the other guy")

3) General ignorance about President Obama ("He's a Muslim", "He wasn't born in America", "He's a socialist/communist/whatever", etc)

4) Racism. (Enough of a factor to where I'm not ruling it out that some people voted for the other guy because Obama is black, but not enough to be even in the top 3).

I don't understand why 2 is such a big factor when WV actually should be experiencing some economic optimism right now - at least compared to, well, any other time in the state's history. The unemployment rate is a full point lower than the national average. There is a natural gas boom taking place that promises real opportunities in the future. There was no housing bubble there so people haven't lost value of their total worth as in other places. The last four years have actually been pretty good in WV all things considered.

I think 3 and 4 are tied together. I don't think WV hates Obama because he is black. I think it fears Obama because he is a black Muslim communist from Hawaii who was born in Kenya.

[DRSmith]

Having family in WV who are Dem supporters who will not vote for Obama and did not in the last election because he is black this sort of thing is not surprising

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

race, for some voters i'm sure, does play a factor.

but again, the climate is different. coal is on its' death bed, and people are scared. i can't speak about 1992 as to how much the coal industry lobbied against clinton. but they're lobbying hard against obama, like eerrskins said.

Coal has been on its death bed since my father was a kid.

[AsburySkinsFan]

We have two Democratic Senators. We have a Democratic Governor. The Senate and House are both controlled by Dems. The only Republican in the state with any juice is the daughter of the only popular Republican in state history.

As does Kentucky....and yet I don't think anyone is calling us Blue.

[The Evil Genius]

Again - the D next to the name doesn't mean much in WV. For most of the state, it used to be the only way you could get elected.

[AsburySkinsFan]

Again - the D next to the name doesn't mean much in WV. For most of the state, it used to be the only way you could get elected.

Oh no man come on they have Democrats in office, they aren't red.

[EersSkins05]

Again - the D next to the name doesn't mean much in WV. For most of the state, it used to be the only way you could get elected.

Dems (politicians) in WV usually are only Dems in name only. The only national Dem notion they usually support is worker's rights (and everything union).

I don't necessarily agree with this. West Virginia has some of the most progressive laws in the nation when it comes to things like the juvenile justice system, worker's compensation rights, employment discrimination, etc. For example, West Virginia is one of the only states to give juveniles the right to request a jury trial on delinquency charges. Additionally both senators from WV voted to pass the Affordable Care Act.

WV Dems don't fall in line with national democratic priorities like gun control or clean energy, that's for sure. And the last three Presidential candidates for the Dems have been guys that, rightfully or not, the voters of West Virginia have seen as pro-environment coal-hating lefties that want to take your guns.

[Teller]

Oh no man come on they have Democrats in office, they aren't red.

Since 1972, WV has voted for the republican 5 times, and the democrat 5 times. What part of "swing state" is so hard to understand? Sure, the last three elections they've gone red, but twice, so has the rest of the country. It just isn't this tough.

http://www.270towin.com/states/West_Virginia

[The Evil Genius]

Having lived in both the Nothern and Southern parts of WV, I still think the only true collection of "real" Democrats resides in Morgantown and they are mostly stupid college kids. I still believe that most WVians would be registered GOPers in a lot of other states, had they not been raised by union loving "D's in name only" parents.

[twa]

Oh no man come on they have Democrats in office, they aren't red.

Buncha racist Dinos eh?

[AsburySkinsFan]

Since 1972, WV has voted for the republican 5 times, and the democrat 5 times. What part of "swing state" is so hard to understand? Sure, the last three elections they've gone red, but twice, so has the rest of the country. It just isn't this tough.

http://www.270towin.com/states/West_Virginia

Well heck, Kentucky is a swing state too then......

http://www.270towin.com/states/Kentucky

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

I don't necessarily agree with this. West Virginia has some of the most progressive laws in the nation when it comes to things like the juvenile justice system, worker's compensation rights, employment discrimination, etc. For example, West Virginia is one of the only states to give juveniles the right to request a jury trial on delinquency charges. Additionally both senators from WV voted to pass the Affordable Care Act.

WV Dems don't fall in line with national democratic priorities like gun control or clean energy, that's for sure. And the last three Presidential candidates for the Dems have been guys that, rightfully or not, the voters of West Virginia have seen as pro-environment coal-hating lefties that want to take your guns.

It's also traditionally been the most trial lawyer friendly state in the country.

And it's also the state that is arguably most reliant on federal dollars in terms of Medicaid, Medicare, SSI benefits, and pure, good old-fashioned pork (God bless you Mr. Byrd). There is nothing "Tea Party" about WV.

[AsburySkinsFan]

Buncha racist Dinos eh?

Bluedogs and friends of coal.

[skinsfan07]

Is there something I'm missing about Obama? I mean, I don't always agree with the guy politically, but I just don't understand all the anger toward him.

The color of his skin....

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

Well heck, Kentucky is a swing state too then......

http://www.270towin.com/states/Kentucky

Kentucky is culturally different from WV, especially Western Kentucky.

West Virginia Democrats are not Republicans. They believe in big government and want it to protect their industries and to support their people. Subsidies for coal are good. Regulation of coal is bad. They are like Democrats from the 50s.

Kentucky Democrats are just Republicans that never changed their registration.

WV Democrats do no want to put caps on medical malpractice suits.

They like tariffs.

They do not want to cut Medicaid or SSI spending.

They do not want to stop pork barrel spending or unfunded mandates.

They generally are not in favor of right to work laws.

They like the EPA when it cleans up Superfund sites.

They are more or less pro-choice but don't talk about it in mixed company.

They do not like the EPA when it regulates coal emissions.

They are pro-gun.

They are pro-military.

They think people from New York should stay there unless they like white water rafting.

[AsburySkinsFan]

The color of his skin....

Too simplistic, in West Virginia and Kentucky this is more about coal and the Tea Party....but race certainly is a factor.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

Too simplistic, in West Virginia and Kentucky this is more about coal and the Tea Party....but race certainly is a factor.

WV is not about the Tea Party. WV politicians have no interest in cutting government spending - at least not spending that comes to WV. WV politicians are also (typically) not cultutral warriors in any broad sense.