CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Why do West Virginia Democrats vote for Republican presidents? After the 2006 election, Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia wrote in The Wall Street Journal, "Working Americans have been repeatedly seduced at the polls by emotional issues such as the predictable mantra of 'God, guns, gays, abortion and the flag.'"
Obama was criticized for a remark in which he suggested working-class Pennsylvanians become frustrated with their economic condition, yet cling to guns and religion, or "antipathy to people who aren't like them ..." to explain why they didn't vote for him in the primary. For many West Virginians coal is also a gateway issue, synonymous with jobs, and threatened by environmentalists concerned with global warming.
Yet Obama won in Pennsylvania, and he did not do much differently here than Al Gore, who lost to "values voters," or John Kerry, who tried to do a balancing act on the Iraq war. Can Democrats counter some of these concerns for more West Virginians in future elections? Defining issues in clear-cut black and white terms has been a Republican strength. Democrats tend to ask voters to think about shades of gray, to be critical thinkers. In West Virginia, white voters with no college education voted heavily for John McCain, while if they had even some college, they voted as often for Obama.
In '05, John McCain and Shelley Capito voted with the GOP to cut the largest amount from education in history. These were mostly cuts to federal loan and grant programs to aid students wanting to go to college.
The rich and elite obviously don't have the same problem as normal folks
http://phillipian.net/article/36link
In WV there are plenty of Repubs and DINOs (Democrats In Name Only) whose long term goal is to keep voters uneducated. They disrespect WV teachers by lying about them while underpaying them and cutting their benefits.
The GOP strategy is to do away with oversight so they can privatize n' profit. They couldn't care less about your kids' future, except to keep 'em stupid so they can be easily duped into voting against their own interests.
Actually, Bush greatly expanded Federal money spent on education but you would never know it reading the Gazette, or One Citizen. There is a lot you'd never know just reading them.
So it's no secret that the GOP strategy is to underfund education at every level. In '05, John McCain and Shelley Capito voted with the GOP for the largest cut to education funding in the history of the Dept of Education.
In West Virginia there are plenty of Repubs and DINOs (Democrats In Name Only) who feel that disrespecting our teachers by underpaying them while cutting their benefits is justifiable. Their long term goal is to keep constituents uneducated.
MEANWHILE the rich and elite...
http://phillipian.net/article/36
SOME FOLKS CHOOSE TO HIDE BEHIND RELIGION SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH "WHAT IS".
THAT'S OK WITH ME, JUST DON'T ACCUSE ME OF TALKING ABOUT THE WORLD I LIVE IN BECAUSE I HAPPEN TO CARE ABOUT THE "HERE AND NOW".
I THINK CHRIST WANTED PEOPLE TO CONFRONT THIS REALITY, NOT RUN AND HIDE FROM IT.
JESUS HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES.
Perhaps doing away with the Dept. of Education would not end public schools but it would certainly do away with National oversight of education in this country. Oversight from the Fed. Govt. has not been good over the recent past but the country needs an overarching view of what education should be for each child. It should set standards for educating ALL students in an equal manner requiring all students to be able to read, write, have math skills, science, etc. etc. In my opinion, all money spent on education in this country should be spent on excellent PUBLIC SCHOOLS open to every student no matter their race, religion, ethnic background or country of birth. Education is the great equalizer and has been so from ancient times. Ignorance keeps people in their place because they have no way to state their case to those in charge. Our Federal Govt. should support providing every citizen an educated voice to express their opinion by keeping the Dept. of Ed.
It's no secret that Republicans want to completely do away with the U.S. Department of Education so they can privatize our entire school system, and run it like they ran their country clubs over the last century.
Rich kids in, poor kids out.
Most folks don't realize that elite private schools like the one Bush attended (Phillips Academy) allow only certain kids to attend due to their private endowment program. In 2008, they left no elitist behind through private endowments totaling $787 million.
But, alas, due to tough times, the Phillips Academy endowment is searching for additional private equity sources next year.
Like this one
http://phillipian.net/article/36
So the problem is the poor state of public education in West Virginia. So the problem is that teachers are not teaching very well in West Virginia, or, at least, students are not learning. Aren't educated students supposed to be the product we are paying the public schools a lot of money for?
Aren't the teachers gearing up to clammer for more money? Why? Are they saying that if we pay them more money they will do a better job?
The reason the state went for McCain is that the public school teachers are doing a poor job educating students, according to Epstien, a public school teacher. Who would know better?
I agree with you. I spoke with my sister about the candidates' plans for the economy. She told me even if Obama's tax plan saved her money, she would not vote for him. I encouraged her to reconsider since she was worried about her finances. Still she refused to even consider this idea. I love her and respect her view but I am puzzled that race, religion and social issues trumped her worries about her own finances. I send her articles about the economy but she refuses to read them feeling they are too complicated and are not relevant since she doesn't have much money. This thinking is related to education. Formal education does make a difference in how people see issues. Critical thinking is developed with education. Many West Virginians I know personally prefer to be isolated from the larger outside world to their detriment. They take pride in not being part of the broader society and feel highly educated people are misguided, elite and "sinful" people. That makes me sad.
Perhaps your arguments reflect your own personal opinions, but I can assure that you do not speak for the population at large. As Paul Epstein tried to explain, polls show that it really is as simple as education. From a statistical viewpoint, voting Republican has in recent history tracked closely to having little formal education.
Further, I can offer that I personally know countless WV voters who know or care little about an effective plan to improve their pocketbooks. Evangelical and other fundamentalist Christian leaders have convinced their followers that nothing is more important than abortion and civil rights for gays (both in the negative, of course).
The term "likely" is used because of a recent reversal in US District court allowing them to spread their propaganda without first requiring them to reveal who is behind their smear campaign.
1. Don Blankenship is on record as having been WVFL's largest contributor in the past.
2. In the court decision, our Secretary of State was opposed by a host of very expensive lawyers including several brought in through the Washington DC "K" street firm Wiley Rein.
3. Wiley Rein attorneys have been used by Don Blankenship in the past.
4. IF WVFL paid for that litigation, they likely spent more hiding their benefactor's identity than they spent smearing his opponents.
BLANKEN-CHECK/WVFL endorsed Shelley Capito-who actually voted against pro-life issues!
I don't believe Mr. Epstein was saying that no educated people vote Republican. In fact, I was a lifelong Republican until the party drifted off to the far right and embraced all these "so-called" family values. I have 4 children, 8 grandchildren and we all have family values. They just aren't the Bush/Cheney/Rove family values. The Republicans demand a litmus test on abortion, gay rights, creationism, etc. to be a member of the party now. I left the party because I want a broader view of the world than that espoused by the current party leadership. The world is a big place and there are many people who have cultures, religions, and beliefs different from ours. It is not our place to tell them they must believe like us or they can't have a place in society. Mr. Epstein is speaking about understanding people and issues in a more broad context - not just black and white - but in shades of gray. That is reality whether one is educated or not.
Many well educated people voted for John McCain,I recall in college a Professor talking about politics in West Virginia, and he informed the class he always votes STRAIGHT REPUBLICAN.
Their are many Teachers in West Virginia that voted for John McCain.
I would hope that anyone with any education would not want their children to be in Paul Epstein's class, as he knows not of what he writes.
The term "likely" is used because of a recent reversal in US District court allowing them to spread "pro-life" propaganda without first revealing who is behind their lies targeting certain candidates.
1. Don Blankenship is on record as having been WVFL's largest contributor in the past.
2. In the court decision, our Secretary of State was opposed by a host of very expensive lawyers including several brought in through the Washington DC "K" street firm Wiley Rein.
3. Wiley Rein attorneys have been used by Don Blankenship in the past.
4. If WVFL paid for that litigation, they likely spent more to hide their benefactor's identity than they spent smearing his opponents.
TIP: WVFL is NOT a religious organization!