Why are poor, uneducated Whites called “blue collar workers?”
Categories: Earnest Gates, Featured, Politics and Elections
Written By: Earnest
By Earnest Gates
As your daily politics watcher, it is my responsibility to raise concerns that are of interest to you. Since that is the case, I would like to pose a question: Why are poor, uneducated Whites called blue collar workers?
It is interesting to me that poor uneducated Whites get more credit and recognition than poor uneducated Blacks or Hispanics? As a matter of fact, most poor uneducated Blacks and Hispanics are not even thought of as likely voters. But not poor uneducated Whites. Poor uneducated Whites are give a fancy title, like NASCAR dads. Is something wrong with this picture or is it just me?
Why is it that when the Democratic primary came down to Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, poor uneducated Whites were the ones that everyone wanted Barack Obama to cater to? Do the poor make up a majority of the U.S. electorate? I’m just trying to understand what’s really going on.
July 31st, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Where did you get “white” from Blue Collar? Since when did being black make you not blue collar?
July 31st, 2008 at 2:43 pm
@Phelps it was the same consistent message that was all over the airwaves during the democratic Primary or have we forgotten? Obama is having problems with working class (traditionally called blue collar) white voters.
July 31st, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Yes, it was all over the airwaves, and it was always formulated as “blue collar whites”, because those are two separate qualities.
The questions were:
It’s you. Not everything in life is filtered through a white vs. black lens. Most things don’t have anything to do with Vietnam, Walter.
They made up the deciding portion of the primary races in those states. That is why they were important.
The presidential race isn’t one big election (despite what Al Gore might have led you to believe.) It is 51 smaller elections. Each one has a separate demographic, and require different appeals.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Phelps,
Let’s keep it real. No one wants to talk about the other elephant in the room. The fact that Senator Obama has to cater to working class White voters in order to get elected. These are the very same, uneducated Whites who have blamed Blacks and Latinos incorrectly because jobs that they once that they would retire from are now being shaped overseas. Surely, you can’t deny this fact. Why do you think he polls so low with those who are “uneducated.” Because you can play on their fears and insecurities and know that they will vote against their economic interests. It happens year after year.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:55 am
I think that he polls so low with those who are “uneducated” because he is a Harvard educated lawyer who talks like a Chicago politician.
And I’ve never heard someone complain that jobs were being outsourced because of blacks or latinos. I always hear it is The Rich (without ever really getting any names to go with The Rich.) Other than your most hard-corps skinheads, white people really don’t blame everything on minorities. (I’m starting to think that there are a lot of black people who blame everything on racism, though.)
August 1st, 2008 at 11:30 am
outspoken - “These are the very same, uneducated Whites who have blamed Blacks and Latinos incorrectly because jobs that they once that they would retire from are now being shaped overseas.”
Don’t forget the perception that affirmative action was/is unjustly discriminating against this group. In poor white men, you have a large population that are seeing their factory jobs disappear overseas, and at the same time they perceive a preference given to minorities for whatever jobs are available.
What political group has their best interest in mind? Democrats who favor affirmative action, unions, and environmental regulations, or Republicans who pander to big business? Tough question.
“Because you can play on their fears and insecurities and know that they will vote against their economic interests. It happens year after year.”
Oh yes, I had almost forgotten about the brilliant “guns and religion” comment. How does Obama or any other Dem better represent the interests of the poor, uneducated white class of voters? Al Gore couldn’t even win his home state. I don’t think it is so easy to write off as fear and ignorance.
As to the central questions posed in the original post, I don’t think I could have answered any better than Phelps.
August 1st, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Why is it so hard to admit that Republican presidential candidates play on the low education White voters to get their support at election time but never put forth any policy ideas to help their economic condition? In the words of John McCain: It is what it is.
August 14th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
I can’t help but remember the dream that Daniel interpreted in the Bible. It revealed that the Nations would become weaker and weaker until Jesus became the ultimate Ruler of the earth. I have never witnessed a campaign like this one. I have decided that I am not voting for either guy, but Obama has been inspected down to the dirt under his toe nail. At the same time, few even know about the other Mrs. McCain and how she became disfigured after a terrible car accident. They don’t know how she once was a beautiful model until she had to go through 23 sergurys. He fooled around on her and divorced her and married Cindy one month later. Some of his closest friends are worried about him becoming a leader because of his temper and foul mouth. He doesn’t allow his wife to speak until he tells her. No one can deny how she just stands there, smiles and looks pretty.
August 15th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I just found your site, through Pam’s House Blend, and this really struck a cord with me.
Poor uneducated Whites are give a fancy title, like NASCAR dads. Is something wrong with this picture or is it just me?
To me and my experience, not working around whites or really socializing around them, it’s the medias inability to grasp the reality that by 2024 whites will be the minority in the US. After centeries of being uncontested in their “place” they are scared and clinging to what once was. White men ruling without question and deaming on high what happens to and in society. The dinosaurs of the Republican party and older white men remember a time before the 60’s and do not understand why minorities demand a place at the table, why they won’t just sit back and let the world happen to them.
Why is it that when the Democratic primary came down to Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, poor uneducated Whites were the ones that everyone wanted Barack Obama to cater to? Do the poor make up a majority of the U.S. electorate? I’m just trying to understand what’s really going on.
Growing up around that segment of society I am not sure it was catering, even thought it’s what it looked like and felt like to me, I think it was trying to get them to understand who Senator Obama is and what he stands for. He is so far removed from an experience they have had with a non-white, hell half of them wouldn’t have even understood what he was talking about if it came from a white man. Granted that’s a board statement, but again my experience, they see people from big cities as being uppity and men who have “white collar” jobs and college educated as being out of touch with what happens in middle America. That’s why they like the stupid redneck act Bush put on.
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:38 pm
Wow. What a racist site. Only posting “black” missing? I guess dem damn honkey crackers aints worths finding.
September 11th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Black people revel in their racism. that is certainly not “leadership”