Posted on 05/15/2008 8:07:53 AM PDT by prolifefirst
. . . Before the April and early May primaries, cultural and racial politics seemed to throw the Obama campaign off its stride, especially as the controversy over Obama's former minister, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, smoldered, then flared again. It angered Don Lutes, a retired steelworker and union official from Griffith, Ind., who voted early for Clinton.
"All this came out with the Rev. Wright and this [former Weatherman] Bill Ayers deal," Lutes says. "I can't believe he knew this Ayers. They bombed the Capitol. How could he associate with people like that? That really turned me off. And [Obama's] wife says this is the first time she felt proud of being an American. That's what Rev. Wright teaches."
Lutes says he knew many former steelworkers felt the same way, some claiming they would vote for McCain rather than Obama. But Lutes says that regardless of the candidate in the fall, he will be "sticking with the Democrats. Our country is down so much."
On April 30, the day after Obama repudiated Wright, Lutes called back. "[Obama] cleared up a lot by denouncing his minister," Lutes said. "That helped a lot. If I'd known that he'd denounce the reverend, I would have voted for him." But he worries it will be an uphill battle, as he hears local Republicans plan to exploit the controversies in the general election and hears "constantly" that "a lot of white people will not vote for a black person." . . .
(Excerpt) Read more at inthesetimes.com ...
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This will be the mantra...Obama will not lose because White Americans are learning who he really is and rejecting his marxist positions, no, it will be solely because White America is racist.
“a lot of white people will not vote for a black person.” . .
And if there is a black face in the race, even a guy like Obama who is much more white than black, blacks will vote at 90% + levels based purely on dermal melanin concentration.
This union rep doesn't emphasize racism, he says it's not the main factor.
Fine, I’m a racist.
Call me what you may, but I will not be voting for the “magic negro”.
Too bad he fell for Professor Harold Hill's smooze.
I am about to lose a friend in the Aviation industry whose criminal protection racket, excuse me, the Teamster's union, has just endorsed Obama in exchange for removing the Federal oversight on them.
This guy thinks that -ready for this? - TARRIFFS will save America and bring back all of our jobs.
I guess freedom, as in The Free Market, is an arcane concept to him.
Freaking insane.
As a Union electrician I can attest...
There is no bigger closet racist bastard on earth than a working class Dem....
They talk a good game..but in the privacy of the booth...it’s black Vs white...
Unless They can Make Obama white...they will never vote for him...
West V is case in point.
Obama will not lose because White Americans are learning who he really is and rejecting his marxist positions, no, it will be solely because White America is racist.
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Exactly — this man is not only TOTALLY UNQUALIFIED to be an AMERICAN President, but he is a radical Marxist who hates America, hates its core values, and is a raving socialist who would destory the essence of America. Our enemies, those who hate the freedom and success of America, would LOVE TO HAVE THIS PERSON IN THE WHITE HOUSE. I wonder why....?
The Steelworkers were supporting Edwards, after he dropped out they didn’t choose between Hillary and Obama, they “allowed” there members to decide. Now that Edwards is in Obama’s camp, maybe the Steelworkers will go toward Obama?
well, he’s half white, so I’m willing to bet that the main st media will treat us to MANY stories after the D convention, leading up to the election about osama’s white mother. They will try to make him white.
I wouldn’t vote for him because he is totally unqualified and because both he and his wife scare the tar out of me. If he was a Michael Steele I’d vote for him in seconds but then Steele is smart and makes sense! This Obama is fluff and I truly believe he is a racist thru and thru. You couldn’t be married to someone and have a pastor like they had and not share the same views-sorry! He is not a very bright guy either-so if all that is racist so be it!
The reasons I think Obama would be a disaster for this country have nothing to do with his color, but if anyone wants to call me a racist because I won't vote for Obama, then I'll just have to be a racist in their opinion.
It'll be tough (/extreme sarcasm), but I think I'll still be able to live with myself and sleep at night.
Ending a friendship seems like a disproportionate response to a trade disagreement.
“I wouldn’t vote for him because he is totally unqualified and because both he and his wife scare the tar out of me. If he was a Michael Steele I’d vote for him in seconds but then Steele is smart and makes sense! This Obama is fluff and I truly believe he is a racist thru and thru. You couldn’t be married to someone and have a pastor like they had and not share the same views-sorry! He is not a very bright guy either-so if all that is racist so be it!”
EXACTLY...
One of my HEROS is Doctor Walter E. Williams..the man is down to earth and simply brilliant.
If you cant understand ecomics on a mirco or macro scale after listening to him...you have to be brain dead...or a democrat.
I also greatly repsect:
Thomas Sowell
Larry Elder
JC Watts
Micheal Steel
I even like some of what Alen Keys has to say..
It has NOTHING to do with race..It has to do with Ideals and values.
He began to discuss politics and I politely listened.
He was not keen on Obama and eventually asked me if I thought he was really a Muslim. I told him to just look at his middle name Hussein and then think about it.
The boiled down soliloquy seemed to mean that he, a good ol boy Southern Union Democrat was too PC to admit that Obama is Black and that was an issue, but it obviously was. The scape goat is Muslim. If Obama is a Muslim it's ok to forsake the died in the wool Ratthink and vote McCain. ....No Muslim!!
The guy has become a flaming communist.
His ideology would make Lenin blush.
Colin Powell would have been unstopable, it’s clear in retrospect now that we’ve seen the gigantic success Obama had in Iowa.
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Because communism didn't die, it went into hiding in the media, academia, the green movement and local urban democrat/union politics. It has been positioning itself for forty plus years. The blessing is they jumped too soon and with the wrong guy.
I’d knock you down getting to the pols to vote for Watts, I’d vote for him so fast it would make your head spin!!!
“The Steelworkers were supporting Edwards, after he dropped out they didn’t choose between Hillary and Obama, they “allowed” there members to decide. Now that Edwards is in Obama’s camp, maybe the Steelworkers will go toward Obama?”
Sure the leadership will ...hell they would support Hitler if he ran as a democrat...
The rank and file is another keetle of fish though...
Many Union Members voted For Bush...twice..
I’d have to dig out the stats...but IIRC...it was around 40%...
Many of us in the Building trades are Organized for the basic reason that it provides a better standard of living for our Families...
And most of us do Side work even though it’s forbidden by the leadership...
I worked non unions for 18 years....I know both sides of the fence...
I go broke for no man...
One guy is retired in a $700k house that he just updated to the tune of $150k. He says Bush and the Republicans have turned the US into a "third world economy".
The other guy is about 35 with a seven year old son (the kid is always at my house with our seven year old grandson - you should hear their political arguments). He wants "change". He thinks Obama is great and disputes that Michelle is the prototypical 'angry Black woman'. I asked him who Reala Odinga is and told him that if he doesn't know then he has no idea who Obama is in truth.
I just ignore the older guy (actually closer to my age). I send the young guy regular research links on the Obama connections to marxists in Africa and communists here. He says he might have to sit out a McCain/Obama contest.
I’m with you Joe.
My old Aunts who have ALWAYS been democrats, have said they WILL NOT vote for Obama
They will either NOT VOTE or vote for McCain.
I think they are typical of all Democrats.
By the way, my retired cousins were lifelong members of a union that destroyed the Hoover company ... and now blame Bush for the company failure...lots of that kind running around here.
2. I hope its not true where you are, but the building trades unions in PA, NJ, and NY are extortionists who do everything possible to prevent competitive bidding. It is not as bad as it was 15-20 years ago, but the dictatorship of the proletariat is still alive and well in the city of Philadelphia. No wonder they've been "working" on the airport for over 20 years now.
“The figure from 2000 and 2004 is about 30%.”
Ah...ok...thanks...When I look around...I’m surprised sometimes it’s not just 1%...me and 99 idiots..
“. I hope its not true where you are, but the building trades unions in PA, NJ, and NY are extortionists who do everything possible to prevent competitive bidding. It is not as bad as it was 15-20 years ago, but the dictatorship of the proletariat is still alive and well in the city of Philadelphia. No wonder they’ve been “working” on the airport for over 20 years now.’
Well...honestly...there is a lot of non-union competition here in NW ohio...so contractors cant get fat and lazy...
The IBEW has been tryng to partner with NECA to provide better productivity and better quality..
We’re higher priced....so there has to be some added value...such as projects being done on time...and without corrections....
I would point out that after years of doing away with prevailing wage in KY on school projects....the bean counters figured out that it was more expensive...cost overuns, projects not done on time..and costly corrections were sucking more dollars out of state coffers than hiring Union contractors...
and quite frankly...we dont employ illegals like many of the traveling contractors do...we buy american...and spend our money locally...
YES there are some huge assclowns...but many of us realise we cant maintian our industry if we dont maintain quality and value...
I currently hold 5 licenses...take over 40 hours of code updates and 36 hours of safety training year...
Maintaining my licenses alone costs me hundreds of dollars a year...
I can troubleshoot and repair anything from homes to industrial machinery to nuke plants...
I know Union is a dirty word around here most times...
But I would remind folks...all unions are not created equal...
I take my occupation and my ability to provide a better standard of living for my family quite seriously.
I dont care how much money other people make....so IMHO...other people shouldnt care how much I make...
but I can tell you this...in my best year I never made as much as a moonbat professor at a liberal college...
and I WORK for a living...most I ever made was around 55k
I have NO problem with those folks such as yourself who contribute to and, dare I say, improve our society through work. I do have a problem with locals extorting contractors (literally) and prohibiting/limiting open bids. This is the case in many areas around here (although it is improving, with no noticeable decline in the standard of living of tradesmen in the areas where competative bidding/open shop have been introduced).
“You should join the local in Philly. You can make $85K before overtime, and more after that.”
Nah...IBEW also means...I been everywhere...
I left Town and worked out of town for almost a decade...
My 4 bed 2 bath, finished basement house with a huge yard and two car detached garage would cost a fortune there...
Money just goes farther here...I’ve been able to buy both rental property and a vacation spot in NE indiana...
I can be anywhere in town in twenty minutes...I can be standing in corn fields in 30 in any direction...and at the lake in indiana an hour an 10..
I have access to Michigan snow slopes...and lake Erie sun spots...
There are intrinsic benefits to not living in a metropolus..
“I have NO problem with those folks such as yourself who contribute to and, dare I say, improve our society through work.”
Thanks...
“I do have a problem with locals extorting contractors (literally) and prohibiting/limiting open bids. This is the case in many areas around here (although it is improving, with no noticeable decline in the standard of living of tradesmen in the areas where competative bidding/open shop have been introduced).”
That sucks...but glad to hear it’s getting better...
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