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When All Else Fails, Wear the Pin

What does Barack Obama do when he realizes he will lose WV by a landslide?


He wears a lapel pin with an American flag while delivering a speech on veterans.

I guess Obama knows he has an Appalachia problem. Let us review the polls:

Suffolk University, West Virginia Democratic Primary
May 10-11, 2008
600 Likely Democratic Primary Voters
Margin of Error, +/- 4.0%

Clinton 60
Obama 24

Survey USA, Kentucky Democratic Primary
May 9-11, 2008
641 Likely Democratic Primary Voters
Margin of Error, +/- 3.8%

Clinton 62
Obama 30

And let us review some articles:

Financial Times

Josh Fry, a 24-year-old ambulance driver from Williamson, insisted he was not racist but said he would feel more comfortable with Mr McCain, the 71-year-old Vietnam war hero, in the White House. “I want someone who is a full-blooded American as president,” he said.

A visit to Mingo County, a Democratic stronghold in the heart of the Appalachian coalfields, reveals the scale of Mr Obama’s challenge – not only in West Virginia but in white, working-class communities across the US. With a gun shop on its main street and churches dotted throughout the town, Williamson is the kind of community evoked by Mr Obama’s controversial comments last month about “bitter” small-town voters who “cling to guns or religion”.

“If he is the nominee, the Democrats have no chance of winning West Virginia,” said Missy Endicott, a 40- year-old school administrator. “He doesn’t understand ordinary Americans.

CBS News

And perhaps most daunting for Obama, not all of the concerns comes from expected quarters. Some Democrats who have backed Clinton in the primaries may very well give the Republicans another look, said Mary Ann Kominar of Kermit, W.Va. – the wife of 14-year state Del. K. Steven Komnar. Both are Clinton supporters.

“I have to support my party. I don’t ever intend to let my party down. But a lot of people are saying ‘McCain looks better every day,’” said Kominar, who lives in Mingo County, W.Va., just across the Kentucky state line.

“I’m opposed to Obama because of his religious beliefs. I believe Rev. [Jeremiah] Wright told me a whole lot,” Kominar said, echoing familiar Republican talking points. “The fact that [Obama] doesn’t pledge allegiance to the flag, he doesn’t wear a flag pin, concern me.”

Obama simply isn’t the right kind of Democrat for the region and would lose in West Virginia just as former party standard-bearers Gore and Kerry did, she said.

“I think over the years they’ve tried to force some very liberal New Englanders down our throat – Obama’s not from New England, but he still fits that mold.”

It will take more than just speeches and costume accessories to convince lunch bucket Democrats that Barack Obama is electable. But Washington, DC, elites and assorted superdelegates will force the empty suit “down our throat[s]” nonetheless. His handlers will even force him to contradict the words he uttered at the beginning of the primary season.

I guess his empty words have failed to be a testament to his patriotism. Indeed, he now must wear the lapel pin in a vain attempt to pander to West Virginia voters. I guess David Axelord’s words really are just words. I guess Obama really is “style” devoid of substance.

Barack Obama: the candidate who will say and do anything in order to become the Democratic nominee.

  • http://!! flyarm

    Looks like CNN and Jack Cafferty won’t give out Hillary’s numbers against McCain anymore..

    anyone want to write Jack Cafferty with his inside email ????????

    go ahead ask him why he is not giving out Hillary’s numbers against McCain..

    Jack.Cafferty@turner.com

    This was my note to him..

    Hey Jack…
    and Hillary is ahead of Obama in almost all those polls over McCain..jackkkkkkkkkkk..what you couldn’t read those polls for the American electorate? yeah i know..you just love women huh Jackkkkkkkk..just like when you hated the war when you were selling it ..as well..

  • stu

    Hey all, I just finished reading Evelyn Pringle’s article Curtain Time for Barack Obama – Part II.

    Here is the link:

    http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_evelyn_p_080513_curtain_time_for_bar.htm

    Here is the intro. I think this is legit and this could put Obama at risk of indictment:

    US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald does not make a habit of destroying pubic officials by listing them in indictments for no reason and the only two political candidates identified as receiving campaign money from Operation Board Games kickback schemes are Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and the US Senator from Illinois, Barack Obama.

    Instead of referring to Board Games as the “Rezko” case, before long the media will likely be calling it the “Blagojevich” case. However, because the governor did not become the presidential candidate, when the scandal is recorded in the history books it will be the “Barack Obama” case.

    Curtain Time Part II will show that Obama was the inside guy in the Illinois senate as far as setting up the Health Facilities Planning Board to extort contributions from companies in exchange for the approval of applications to build medial facilities.

  • Untilthelastdogdies

    So why the hell does he put it on now?

    I never gave a hoot if he did or didn’t wear one, but why now?

    He just makes me want to spit, and that, my friends, does not reflect my “nobler aspirations”.

  • Retired

    Why doesn’t Michelle wear a flag pin? That’s the real bellweather of the Obama household.

  • Judith

    I thought there had to be more leading up to him in part II. It will be more than an interesting read. Thanks for the link.

  • workingclass artist

    Ooooooohhhhh………JUICY……..

  • Judith

    OMG, this has to be a ticking timebomb. I will have to read it more slowly and thoroughly, but it sounds like neck deep d**-d** to me. Hillary should never drop out of this race. O will say to his supporters “Who do you believe? Me, or your lying eyes.”

    Larry, can you break this down for us? This sounds like a deal-breaker.

  • stu

    and there is a Part III coming tomorrow…

  • blobert

    I suppose Michelle will start wearing a crucifix.

  • Untilthelastdogdies

    Some talking head is over on Fox saying that Obama needs to get her “out of the closet” so she can appeal to ALL WOMEN.

    Looks like they still haven’t read her Princeton Thesis!

  • scott

    He’s only wearing because the MSM told him to. He always follows their advice.

    Hind site is always 20/20

  • Untilthelastdogdies

    Did Tweety ask him real nice or was it KO???

  • workingclass artist

    OH….I don’t know whether to laugh or throw up…….

  • http://truthteller2007.mydd.com/ Truthteller

    Only 36% of Clinton supporters in WV would support Obama. Obama is unelectable.

  • stu

    I think we should be careful to understand this. But here’s an attempt to boil it down a little:

    1. The “Board Games” scheme involved giving out roughly 50 million dollar contracts to build hospitals, and getting a few million in kickbacks in return.

    2. Obama was state senator at the time and chaired the health & human services committee.

    3. He was responsible for passing bill 1332 “Illinois Health Facilities Planning Act”. This bill reduced the Health Services Planning Board from 15 to 9. Why? Because it is easier to control 9 board positions instead of 15.

    4. Obama was on an e-mail list of people who approved the nominees to the board (many who were friends of Rezko).

    5. The board members donate to Barack Obama’s Senate Campaign

    6. The board members extort hospital building/mangement firms to the tune of 1-2 million dollars to receive the contracts.

    7. While this is going on, Obama is in phone contact with Rezko – the mastermind – on a daily basis. The feds seem to have all of Rezko’s phone records at this time.

    8. When the scheme blows up, the chicago house and senate pass a new bill shutting down the board – but Obama is “not present” for the vote.

  • Emily Pickett

    Does the pin have 57 stars?

  • http://hyper-educated-uppity-woman.blogspot.com Uppity

    I wonder what he wears when he meets his Pakistani buddies?

    West Virginia state senate majority leader tells constituents to send a message to the party with an 80-20 win.
    http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/05/12/sending-a-message-wv-clinton-backer-calls-for-80-point-win/

  • Judith

    Thanks for breaking it down. I think this is going to be important. I think the phone records are going to contradict some prior answers to direct questions from reporters.

  • Emily Pickett

    80-20 win?

    This morning that S.O.B. Chris Matthews was blasting the people of West Virginia and basically calling them bitter racist uneducated idiots because they were voting for Hillary. He didn’t say the words, but that’s what he was really saying … He irked me something bad!

    Thank God for FOX news. (did I just say that?)

  • sonia

    yes it does

    it was specially made for BARACK WAFFLES OBAMA ,,made by islamic nations

  • bamaoil

    Thank you.

    Prosecuting Obama, the whole group, is a positive step.

    You know, it would be interesting to compare this scandal to the tea pot dome scandal, a book just came out not too long ago in regard to it’s history.

    Harding, right?

    Guess it’s my next read…

  • bamaoil

    Those were some big numbers, really.

  • bamaoil

    Chris Matthews is an embittered old lesbian, into Obama porn.

  • http://truthteller2007.mydd.com/ Truthteller

    I wonder if he kept the pin on during his futile attempt to gain support in southeastern Missouri tonight. Because I refuse to watch the speech, I hope someone here will offer an answer.

    The presumption of this man to assume he is the Democratic nominee. He and his operatives will have to offer a lot to me if they desire my vote.

  • bamaoil

    I can’t bear to watch the guy.

    All the paper bills in the world would not persuade me to vote for that POS.

    You know how some people just stink so badly, you won’t associate with them?

    “Money isn’t everything.”

    lol/

  • secularhumanizinevoluter

    For me it’s become very clear and very simple. Fuck obamalamadingdong. Fuck the horse he rode in on, yeah I know it’s mean calling mrs. dong a horse, but horses will have to understand I’m makin a point here. And FUCK his obamazoid, koolaide guzzlin asswipe cult members. Plain enough? I’ve already got three bets going that if the dingdong does manage to hoodwink, to bamboozle the nomination he will NOT win the Presidency. I bet them dinner in any restarunt in town they want, and this towns got some PRETTY PRICEY eateries! But I’m already planning on what I’ll order(I’ll have the THREElb Lobster along with my Pittsburge rare Strip Steak thankyouverymuch!) cause there is NO way on GAWDS green(for now anyway) EARTH this empty suit assmonkey is gonna get elected come the general election. So again, in case anybody missed it. FUCK obamalamadingdong. FUCK his sourpussed female dominatrix and FUCK his cult followers. Enjoy the four years of whinning and crying you’re about to embark on.

  • bamaoil

    OT, but rezkowatch has an entry in regard to an Obama adviser recommending Jerusalem by divided.

    I am fully convinced all of this rouge foreign policy stems from big oil, and it’s gaming, in pursuit of more business, and more control, the idea being “he, or she, who controls the oil, controls the world.” Sounds batshit crazy, but we aren’t speaking the Romans on a hill, here.

    Given that, what are it’s intentions toward Israel?

    Does it see US policy toward Israel as an impediment to Middle Eastern oil, say access to Iranian oil, and the like?

    Does this put American oil at a competitive disadvantage to Russian, and Chinese energy?

  • JoeySky

    I can’t stand him either.

  • bamaoil

    And if this is true, Clinton, and possibly McCain, will protect Israel against big oil, according to intelligent foreign policy.

    Obama has already clarified his intentions.

    Clinton will protect Israel because it is the right thing.

  • stu

    Yes, “government corruption through the ages” – I think that the corruption with the Iraqi contracts will will rank right up there with the best of them.

    Many of these guys involved in the “Chicago Combine” also had their hands in the Iraqi rebuilding contracts.

    Give Evelyn Pringle credit for putting these pieces together.

    Could you imagine if Obama is the nominee and this stuff really has merit? Wouldn’t that be an unbelievable turn of events…

  • quarterhorse

    go check out realclearpolitics.com scroll down to the bottom of the page and vote ! i cant believe they let this on here. what a scandal, i wonder if its true and even if it isnt true, i hope it spreads like a wildfire……ha ha ha …go vote and lets see if we can help ignite the fire !

  • Catriley

    “Hospitals??” Hmmmm.. now which candidates wife has a phat hospital job now with an exorbitant pay raise about the time he got in office???

    The big question is how to do we get the media to stop drooling over his tight jeans and start asking questions and reporting??

  • Catriley

    I just don’t think that Obama has enough flags around him in that video!! More flags!! More flags!! You can tell how screwed up a politician is by how many flags they surround him with… next photo op? A flag factory! It’s really so embarrassingly obvious.

  • usedmeat

    Rewarding Bad Behavior.
    We’ve all seen it, in a resturant or a store, an out of control child being bribed by a parent to behave. Only problem is the child will do the same thing in the next venue.
    Same with the Obamatons, Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and any Democrat that has gone against the will of their constituents and endorsed Barak Obama.
    If we vote Dem in the GE what message will that send?
    The message that the can stab Hillary and Bill in the back and can get away with it. I plan on writing in Hillary Clinton come Novemeber then going down the ballot and writing in Back Stabber for those pols who endorsed Obama.

  • cc

    someone at taylor marsh says they keep reading that clinton is planning to exit the race. are you guys hearing the same? I’m so disappointed if it’s true.

  • bamaoil

    I hope not, it would be a bad move on her part.

    But then, you know, big oil is stuck with two stinking candidates, and in the end, that can only be good for America.

  • stu

    Like people have been saying, I think we need “boil it down” so that it is understandable (but still accurate). Well, I have go work tonight to pay the bills. See you all later.

  • usedmeat

    Probably an Obamo-troll.

  • bamaoil

    Yeah, I saw one guy named “dave” post it.

    No one else.

  • Nellie

    Truthteller,

    Another terrific Story. You are sooo very good at finding these things. Always well written and well sourced. Please keep it up.

    Thanks.

  • http://truthteller2007.mydd.com/ Truthteller

    Thank you, Nellie. I am glad you enjoyed the diary.

  • SensibleWoman

    Thanks, stu. I appreciate this. I’ve tried to read and understand this from Evelyn Pringle’s writings, but as it has been for so many others, it’s just been overwhelming to absorb and sort all of the details.

    I’ll shall remember this as the year of political spring cleaning in an old, creaky house that’s been standing for years in an old neighborhood. Every nook and cranny you peek into there’s trash and it’s not just crumbs under the couch cushions or dust bunnies under the beds. It’s nasty stuff rodents leave behind…piles of it.

    Here’s hoping someone finds the support beam holding this house up soon and knocks it down with a big ole WHACK from a demolition ball or whatever.

  • bamaoil

    It does have merit, Rezko is being prosecuted, and Ata has plead guilty.

    In addition, I would say former governor Ryan and his crew were also connected to this whole mess, Iraq, the middle east.

    And just for fun, I understand exelon’s involvement in IL politics, I’d really like to see if it goes to Rezko, too…

    Even, say, Texas.

  • beebop

    Because he’s a typical politician pandering for voters because he is starting to realize that he can’t win without a broader coalition …. Hence the flag …

  • beebop

    No way. She’s pointed at Kentucky and Oregon.

  • beebop

    She’d be better off with a bag over her head … just sayin’

  • http://hyper-educated-uppity-woman.blogspot.com Uppity

    Jamal is so cute, even if he isn’t making sense tonight. I just like that guy.

  • http://hyper-educated-uppity-woman.blogspot.com Uppity

    She will take as many votes as she can and stand by for a Barack Obama implosion.

  • http://yikes! drkate

    man, is that an insult to lesbians everywhere!! lol!

  • SueB.

    OK, now tell us how you REALLY feel! LOL

  • Retired

    Actually, I think that Obama should bring Michelle out of the closet and let her speak her mind. Of course, I’m not an Obama supporter. But I think that the Rezko “Board Game” scandal and Bill Ayers are too difficult to fit into a TV bite. Michelle could easily be another Rev. Wright if given half the chance. She is just waiting to spout off.

  • http://www.arguewitheveryone.com ChrisXP

    “I think over the years they’ve tried to force some very liberal New Englanders down our throat – Obama’s not from New England, but he still fits that mold.”

    Dems don’t win elections when they nominate flaming liberals.

    Dems haven’t won a presidential election since the 60s, without carrying the South.

    Dems carry the South when they nominate a candidate that is moderate — and isn’t a personal threat to not only the country, the way of life of more than half of it!

  • DancingOpossum

    Some Dem drone on CNN was saying that BO didn’t need to campaign in West VA or those other redneck places because in November, the Clintons will campaign there for him. Typical — let them do all the work while he takes all the credit. Will he be calling them racists while they carry his water for him?? I really hope they don’t do it. I know they are good loyal Democrats but really, at this point, why? I hope they have some “immediate family crisis” that requires them to abandon campaigning and “spend more time at home”.

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