Did Pennsylvania voters say “I may be poor, but I’m White?”

May 1, 2008

Did Pennsylvania voters say “I may be poor, but I’m White?”

Categories: Earnest Gates, Politics and Elections

Written By: Earnest

By Earnest Gates

The Pennsylvania primary for the Democratic nomination will be a case study for years to come. One thing that stood out to me is how someone could live in an area where the jobs have been sent overseas and the very life you are used to has changed, how easy it is to blame people who don’t look like you or live like you for what the government has allowed to happen.

I have to agree with the comments that Senator Barack Obama made related to the condition of the Pennsylvania blue collar workers. Comments that he also used to describe urban blacks. If they would be honest, I think they would agree too. Just as alcoholics drink when times get rough, so too do people cling to those things they value the most.

And you know what, it’s easier to cling to your culture than to deal with the fact that every four years you get played. It’s a lot easier to accept when you are poor, that as long as I am White I still am better than a middle class Blacks or Hispanics.

In this country, White has always been a birthright of privilege. So being poor has been O.K. at least you could count on your whiteness. And last week, so said many blue collar White Pennsylvanians.

Kim Says:
May 1st, 2008 at 8:46 am

I agree with your opinion. Interesting that it’s mostly poor whites that hold this opinion. Limited exposure to the world equals biased opinions of others.

Phelps Says:
May 1st, 2008 at 9:23 am

The numbers don’t support this theory.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/106360/Obama-Dominates-Clinton-Among-College-Graduates.aspx

The results show little change in the pattern of support among white Democrats with high school educations or less. This group supported Clinton over Obama by 33 points in the March 9-15 period, and supports her by a 30-point margin now. This suggests that as race arguably became a bigger factor in the campaign, less-educated white Democrats were not affected.

Earnest Gates Says:
May 1st, 2008 at 12:31 pm

So Phelps,
The data shows that it is not just in Pennsylvania that poor Whites would rather vote for someone who does not have their best economic interests at heart. It is all over the country.

Phelps Says:
May 1st, 2008 at 12:51 pm

The data shows that it is not just in Pennsylvania that poor Whites would rather vote for someone who does not have their best economic interests at heart. It is all over the country.

Handouts != “best economic interests”

Jazzy Says:
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:01 am

It depressing that no matter how good or GREAT you are if you ani’t white you ani’t right.

Dewberry Says:
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:25 pm

Mr. Gate’s article is a fact in America, I only wish it would change.

Earnest Says:
May 4th, 2008 at 6:43 pm

I think it will change. It will take some time though. The generations of Whites who have grown up around other ethnicities are getting older and they do not buy into the stereotypes of older Whites. Hopefully, the message that Senator Obama is campaigning on will be enough to cause those who have hesitation about supporting him in the general election to vote their economic interests as opposed to going for the same old, same old.