Murtha: Western Pa. 'racist' but Obama should win

Murtha: Western Pa. 'racist' but Obama should win

By KIMBERLY HEFLING, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Democratic Rep. John Murtha said Wednesday his home base of western Pennsylvania is racist and that could reduce Barack Obama's victory margin in the state by 4 percentage points.

The 17-term Democratic congressman told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in a story posted Wednesday on its Web site: "There is no question that western Pennsylvania is a racist area."

Murtha said it has taken time for many Pennsylvania voters to come around to embracing a black presidential candidate, but that Obama should still win the state, though not in a runaway.

In a separate interview posted Wednesday on the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Web site, Murtha said Obama has a problem with voters' racial attitudes in western Pennsylvania that could trim his winning margin on Nov. 4.

The working-class region is a key battleground in Pennsylvania. The area is struggling economically, and has a high percentage of veterans and elderly voters. Murtha's district outside Pittsburgh encompasses Johnstown and many small towns once dominated by steel and coal.

Murtha, who backed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the state's April primary, told the Post-Gazette that the older population has been "more hesitant" to support Obama. But he said that over the past three months, groups he deals with regularly such as veterans and senior citizens, have decided to back Obama.

Murtha said Republican John McCain has been stymied because of the economy. He said voters have also been turned off by the attacks on Obama's character.

"I think Obama is going to win, but I don't think it's going to be a runaway," Murtha said. "I think he wins Pennsylvania."

He told the Tribune-Review, however, that he sees no enthusiasm for either candidate in his district.

"The public is confused, they're despondent, they're unhappy. They want to see a change and I think the change is whatever the individual might believe it is," he said.

The most recent Quinnipiac University poll showed Obama with a double-digit lead after surveys a few weeks ago indicated the race was close. Quinnipiac pollster Clay Richards has said growing support among working-class voters in the state were behind the change.

Murtha said he asks voters to look beyond Obama's skin color and "listen to what he's saying."

Earlier this year, Murtha, who is 76, told a union audience that McCain, who is 72, was too old to be president.

In February, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell — another Clinton backer — told the editorial board of the Post-Gazette that some whites in his state were likely to vote against Obama in the primary because of his race. Clinton went on to easily win the primary in Pennsylvania.

"You've got conservative whites here, and I think there are some whites who are probably not ready to vote for an African-American candidate," Rendell said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081015/ap_on_el_pr/murtha_obama_racism

:eyes:

about PA not being willing to vote for a black man?

Poor racist Pennsylvanians. Here's to PA going Blue for Obama and Biden:toast:

I probably was buying into that line of bullshit until I watched my first Democratic Convention back in 1976. I was such a Jimmy Carter fan because he was a peanut farmer and figured he made the peanuts for my favorite food - peanut butter (mind you, I was only 10 at that time give or take). Barbara Jordan was the first time I really heard an African-American speak and well, she didn't live up to the way people would talk about 'her type' back where I came from.

It was that moment I realized perhaps I shouldn't believe everything that people tell me. There was alot of racism where I grew up, I'm just glad I found my way out of that horrible place.

straighten them out? Too bad about all the racists in Murtha's District.

"straighten them out". I grew up here - it's really quite racist, always has been and probably always will be. It definitely looks like Obama is going to take PA, but western pa is just a weird, weird place.

just on the other points he was making.

"The public is confused, they're despondent, they're unhappy. They want to see a change and I think the change is whatever the individual might believe it is," he said.

:shrug:

I live between Johnstown and Pittsburgh and I notice a lot of racism. I see signs up in Johnstown for Democratic Congressmen and other democrats but McCain for President. I know someone that is working the phones and she notices a lot of racism.

They are betting on the racist. Sad but true

Things seem to be solidifying there for Obama like they have elsewhere, and while I never like to see McCain and the RNC increase advertising anywhere, I doubt it'll be enough to flip the state.

closely on election night. It has me worried no matter what the Polls say!

commercials for every one Obama commercial, so yes it would not surprise me if McCain isn't courting the racist vote.

Which was probably the most prudent thing to do, but it doesn't make his comments any less true.

http://www.tribune-democrat.com/local/local_story_290101932.html

<snip>
In his statement today, Murtha said: “I apologize for making the comment that ‘Western Pennsylvania is a racist area.'"

Wednesday's reports have caused a stir nationally.

Murtha's statement continued: “While we cannot deny that race is a factor in this election, I believe we’ve been able to look beyond race these past few months, and that voters today are concerned with the policy differences of our two candidates and their vision for the future of our great country. Senator Obama has shown sound judgment and has presented us with a change from the failed policies of George Bush and John McCain. I believe he will win both Pennsylvania and the White House.”

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, a Republican, released a statement Wednesday through the state Republican Party.

"As a Pennsylvanian, I am appalled by Congressman Murtha’s outrageous comments," Santorum said. "Barack Obama's problem connecting with voters in western Pennsylvania has more to do with the comments he made about Pennsylvanians being ‘bitter’ because they ‘cling’ to their guns and religion than it does racial bias.”
<snip>

And Rick Santorum can just stuff it.

I grew up there and have relatives there, and I'm battling the racist shit nonstop. These people were always PROUD to be racist, yet suddenly they're denying all the bullshit "he's a muslim" emails they're sending around are based in racism and bigotry.

I'm calling out the racists up there, and everywhere else I encounter them (sadly, everywhere), nonstop.

I honestly don't know why these people are upset at the Murtha comment; it's oh so very true and, again, they're genuinely proud of being racist. I grew up in an almost violently racist atmosphere, so I know of what I speak.

Secondly, there's another shit-storm brewing up there that these relatives are frothing at the mouth over. Granted, if it's censorship, I'm against it, too. I don't have much information, but here's what I found last night:


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/15/141520/73

The right-wingers are crying communism and a return to the Fairness Doctrine. Without more information, I don't understand the move by CBS, KDKA's parent company. It doesn't sound like a good move though. Bottom line, Obama's camp didn't seem to have anything to do with it, and if they accept the offer of free air time, hopefully they'll get someone like Franco Harris in there on Obama's behalf.

Between the Murtha comment (which, as someone who grew up there, is spot on) and the KDKA event, the Republicans are going to be frothing at the mouth by tomorrow. Especially the racist Republicans.

I'm glad he's not my congressman because that would mean I'd have to vote for a Republican this year.

What a truly STUPID thing to say.

and I don't have an opinion about Murtha (I don't live in PA).

But the comment was spot on.

The area is known to be racist. I grew up there in the 60's, 70's and early 80's, and have family there who have only grown MORE racist and bigoted in the last couple of decades.

I've lived in western Pa my whole life, so I really don't have much else to compare it to, but quite frankly I don't know what he's talking about. How could anybody think that a statement like this could serve any useful purpose at all?

I think the senile old goat needs to retire and check himself into an old age home.

I know, I grew up there. Racism all over the place.

as we damn liberal "thinkers" are apt to do, I'm seeing it as a positive that I grew up immersed in almost violent racism.

Between that area where I grew up and visiting relatives in southern Alabama who were also racist (but it was more violent in the north because, remember, in the south they "knew their place"), I've been able to spot it a mile away, including when the first "he's a muslim" emails started coming through (they didn't feel comfortable saying "don't trust him 'cause he's black," so they played into the equally racist muslim fear instead).

And, I know how they think, so I know how to get to the root of it. So, I'm trying to see this "knowing" as a blessing.

I must say I'm stunned when adults don't realize how pervasive racism and bigotry are in this country still (and it goes in many directions, these tentacles of hatred and fear).

Now I'm in a red area of NC and it's here, big time. I got called a "ni**er-lovin' terrorist" yesterday at the gas station. Lovely. :)

My hometown in PA is homogenous (mostly whites) and if you're someone like my mother, who was born and has lived in the same three mile radius, there's no exposure to anything different. She has some very racist ideas because she doesn't know any better. If I still lived there, I might be that way too. It doesn't mean she's a bad person; she's just ignorant - I think most 'racist' people are in this category. I've talked to my mother a lot and she will be voting for Obama. The best cure for the ignorance is knowledge; fear can't be used as a tool for manipulation.

You are so right. It is the most God awful racist place in the world. Thank you for setting me straight. What was I thinking? Thank you for pointing out that myself, my family, my friends and neighbors are ignorant racists. I guess I'll just have to vote for McCain now.

I love where I grew up and the people there - it's home for me; where my roots are.

Go ahead and vote for McCain if you must. Were you considering voting for Obama?

We're not bad people, we're just 'ignorant'.

then you shouldn't be so uptight about what the area is being called and worry more about why the heck you've been blind to it this whole time.

Much of it isn't conscious. I just happened to be hyperaware of it growing up because...long story, but it was simply in my face from an early age and I didn't feel as those around me did. So I was simply very aware of it my entire life.

My nieces now attend the same high school I did, 30-some years later. When I graduated, there were a total of 300 students in the whole school, with 4 black kids.

Now, there are like 1000 students in the whole school, with 3 black kids. And the white kids are UBER racist. Makes my skin crawl to hear my nieces talk.

But, to them, it's normal. It's the way it is...the way it SHOULD be.

Perhaps being away from it is when people realize something is wrong with this picture.

:)

Look, I do not live under a rock, and I am certainly not 'blind' to racism. Nobody in their right mind would deny that there is racism in western PA, as I believe there is racism everywhere in the US. I'm sure there is probably more racism here than in some areas and less than in others.

What irritates me is some fat headed congressman insulting the people he is supposed to be representing and giving the media a story to run with. It makes it seem like this area is especially racist while in the rest of the country blacks and whites are running off into the sunset holding hands.

btw...I was just being a smart a**, there is no way I would ever consider voting for McCain.