Progressive Movement

In my last post I talked about how Obama missed his chance to shed his elitist image if he had taken the time to talk and listen to the good folks of WV. It would have given him the chance to hear why many of these blue collar working class Appalachians vote on cultural issues and not on their economic situation. Indeed, many people, Appalachian or not, vote on cultural issues against their own well-being.

Spending time in WV doing what I suggested would make Obama seem more approachable and less out of touch.

And while that may have worked somewhat to alleviate his cultural disconnect, he would still have one other problem – the media.

We all know the media loves a good controversy. Moreover, they love an easy plot line and narrative. ‘Obama the black man has a white problem’ is a great controversy and a ready made narrative. It writes itself, so they stick with it.

Problem is, it is not true. Obama has won the majority of white voters in many states, as does particularly well out West and in the Plains states. He does okay with whites in the South. He has won the working class vote in several states as well. The issue here is with more culturally conservative Democrats from Appalachia, as well as older voters.

In fact, his difficulty with older voters is more of a problem and has been consistent in every state. But that story line needs explaining as it does not make obvious sense. So the media drops it and runs with the false story that reads like a Lifetime made for TV drama.

Obama needs to nip this narrative of him not connecting with white voters in the bud. He cannot let that be the message coming out of the primary. Obama can help alter this theme by not only winning OR, MT, and SD (very white states), but by highlighting places where he got the majority of white votes.

Of course, getting John Edwards’ endorsement gives him more street cred with working class whites, so clearly Obama understands this situation now, although I think it took a 41 pt loss in WV to really see it. But he and his surrogates need to not only appear less elitist, and out of touch, they need to take the media to task for running a false narrative about him.

And the Netroots needs to make this a priority too. Maybe someone can make a T-shirt that says, “White for Obama..” That would be sweet. Someone get on it!

At the end of the day, Obama has more of an economic problem than a race problem. Neither is good, and he needs to address both since perception is reality in politics.

Posted by parmenides on Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 01:37 e.