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Is Ohio McCain Country?
Buckeyes decided the 2004 race. I traversed the state to see if the same scenario might play out this fall.
Later, I was informed Baker sang in the church choir and Wilson was a city councilman in Englewood. They also both officiated local high school sports. No one told me who they preferred for president, but as this “small town scene” played out again, I realized that the wonderful clichés are surely true. And here we were just miles from Ohio’s fourth largest city.
An hour down sat Ohio’s capital city of Columbus.
My cousin and her husband — he just back from a tour in Afghanistan — reside here in the Buckeye State’s largest city, and we stopped to say hello.
“Jeremy” grew up in a family mostly consisting of , as he puts it, “old Democrats from the working party mindset when party lines were not necessarily drawn along social lines.” But as he and his twin brother joined the ROTC in college and then were deployed to Afghanistan, they became conservative-minded, particularly with respect to the Global War on Terrorism.
“My vote in November will be for John McCain. He is an expert on national security, the most important issue at hand,” Jeremy, now an Army captain, who spent two years at West Point before graduating Cum Laude from Vanderbilt in 2003, said. “He is a true American hero and a qualified commander-in-chief. ”
Jeremy currently works as a mechanical engineer. He was valedictorian of his high school class in Louisville, KY. With respect to his perhaps erstwhile Democrat-leaning family, he now claims, “Although this election, the majority of them will vote for McCain.”
One of Jeremy’s co-workers, “Steve,” an engineer who resides in Columbus as well, noted: “In this presidential election I think we have two choices: a Democrat and a Marxist. McCain is the Democrat and Obama the Marxist.” The 40-year-old with a wife and two small kids added, “I wish we had a Republican running.”
To find dedicated Obama supporters, I had to enter Dennis Kucinich country in northeastern Ohio. As I moved into the East Cleveland suburbs, I entered the lily-white suburb of Beechwood, median income $166,000. About every fourth house on historic Shaker Blvd., where the 4,000 square foot houses start at well over a million dollars, had an Obama sign planted in their huge front lawns. There are few, if any, churches or synagogues in Beechwood, and an abundance of Whole Foods and shiny malls.
On this Flag Day 2008, we went to briefly visit our family friend, “Tim.” A native Ohioan, Tim is a 32-year-old salesman with a pleasant wife and two precious young children. He’s not necessarily a salesman in the Willie Lohman sense, but the modern sense in that he’s comfortable and happy. He has a nice house, good friends, and season tickets to all the three major Cleveland sports franchises.
I’ve known Tim since we were children, and he’s always been apolitical; but this year, though he does not have a campaign sign on his lawn, he’s really into Obama. I asked him why, and his best answer (after refusing to discuss it at first) was that he “wants change.” Particularly, he traveled on business to New Orleans last year and saw the devastation of Katrina, which helped him make up his mind that we needed a president who “cared about the little people.” He is no fan of President Bush, claiming “every time that man opens his mouth, I’m ashamed he’s the president.”I don’t know why else Tim wanted “change” from his great life, and he offered no more clues, only saying, “Let’s just agree to disagree.”
We attended the Cleveland Indians game that night with a few locals, including “Leah,” who is friends with my cousin. Before we were introduced, my cousin confessed, “Ari, you may not get along with her.” I pondered if she was perhaps a New York Yankee fan or something, before hearing about her admiration for Obama.
Leah was not your typical liberal elitist, having grown up in Alaska. And aside from ranting about the melting glaciers there, at first she seemed as white-bread American as anyone. Much like me, she loved sports and the Midwest.
Then we came to learn she was a Spanish and Women’s Studies instructor at a local university, and that she had attended Barack Obama speeches all throughout the Midwest over the past few months. As my cousin chucklingly told me prior, “she’s in love with him, treats him like G-d…even though she’s a committed atheist.” I would have laughed harder if I had not heard that one before about other Obama supporters.
Leading off, Leah bemoaned that HBO’s The Wire will never be a popular show since it has an “all African-American cast” which “we are not ready for.” Facts to the contrary aside, she feels the same about Obama, declaring to all of us that “Americans are not ready for a black president.” When I pressed about other Anglo nations, she was unaware of any who had black leaders. She continued on a diatribe, but, as I turned my attention to the baseball game, the only other nugget I took note of was her angry declaration that, “Fear and hatred of blacks in the US is ingrained in the national culture.”
For the record, Leah is neither a fan of the current president, nor Hillary Clinton. She called Pres. Bush “an evil environmental rapist,” and said she did not vote for Mrs. Clinton in the primary because Hillary “reminds me of my mom.”
On the long drive back Father’s Day evening, we stopped in Ashland to have an early dinner with a friend. Ashland, whose city motto is “Where Accent on the Individual is a Tradition,” is also home to a small private college; but unlike other liberal arts schools in Ohio, Ashland University is a religious school. There are thus more KFCs and Grandpa’s Cheese Barns than Panera Breads and Starbucks.
I met up with “Mike” at the local Bob Evans, a Heartland staple, founded by the eponymous farmer from southeastern Ohio. Mike is a Republican through and through. I knew this, but also wanted to pick his brain on a town like Ashland, which sits nearly halfway between Cleveland and Columbus in the Cuyahoga Valley.
We ate well, and it should be noted that Matt is not your typical conservative in that he is a recently-retired public schoolteacher. But, he was a teacher who bucked the system, creating his own military history curriculum each year during the 33 years he taught.
Upon entering his house, paraphernalia from the military concert band he conducts each weekend in the summer greets you, as does a Bush bobble head doll, and lastly, his incredible collection of Second World War artifacts: helmets, pictures, uniforms, and lots of guns.
Being well-versed in history but not necessarily helmets nor guns, I inquired.
“A lot of conservatives and even some moderates are big fans of the Second Amendment,” he told me with a wry smile. “The Democrats are not. They take this seriously. I am not an NRA member but I own a gun, so this does matter to me.”
Matt’s father helped liberate Normandy in June 1944, though his grandfather actually fought for Germany in The Great War three decades prior. His German descent was only evident in his last name and perhaps his array of German/Nazi war helmets.
The small house was adorned with Old Glory, and his two college-aged children both drove vehicles with “Support our Troops” and “Bush/Cheney” stickers. Matt shared with me that not all teachers are like those I worked with in Los Angeles.
“In the Ashland schools, it’s about a 50/50 split between party affiliations amongst faculty” he said. “But this year, the kids happened to be infatuated with Obama. Makes me glad I’m now retired,” as he laughed and offered me an RC Cola.
Matt shared then with me that “McCain has four votes here,” proudly hugging his wife, also a teacher, and children — both music majors in college.
When I asked him what he though would occur in Ohio, overall, he was not bashful.
“McCain will cruise. I really believe there are too many veterans, conservatives and moderates who care about this country here, especially outside of the major metropolitan areas. How the Dems decided to nominate a radical is beyond me.”
He seemed confident. And he had to head to Home Depot to get supplies for a “summer project” he was working on in the backyard. Therefore, though it was mid June with lots of daylight in the 7pm air, we moved along southeast and headed for home.
The Obama campaign is wisely realizing their candidate very well may have to win this general election without Ohio now. Though the Illinois Senator was able to gain the Democrat nomination while losing badly in Ohio and other regional states (West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Kentucky), Obama’s braintrust should realize that the last person to win the presidency without carrying Ohio was Franklin Roosevelt in 1944. It would clearly be evidence of “Change” were “The Messiah” to pull that feat off.
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Ari Kaufman resides in Indianapolis where he is a military historian and an Associate Fellow at the Sagamore Institute. A former Los Angeles schoolteacher, he is the author of Reclamation: Saving our schools starts from within.
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59 Comments
1. HillaryforPresident:I myself will vote for McCain this fall.
His is moderate Republicans. Meaning… he takes care of good democratic party’s principles including environment.
I am moderate democrat. Like him, I value some republican principles including pro-life and sanctity of marriage.
We are both patriotic and will die for America… and America first.
In the end, America first before the damned two parties that divide this nation. Maybe it’s time to reconsider this so-called two party system, which is more becoming Anti-America.
I can live with my own differences with McCain. Knowing that his 3 sons are in military, I know he will be most careful in going to war. Knowing that he had also failures in marriage… I know he is not hypocrite enough to blame others of their sins.
With Hillary out of the race, I am McCain through and through.
Jul 7, 2008 - 1:55 am 2. Cal:A HIGH percentage of moderate Dems will vote McCain, leaving the radicals, collegians, blacks and white guilt liberals to vote for The Empty Suit (Obama).
It is so ironic, but good for America, as Victor Hanson noted a few weeks ago:
“In a year that for historical and contemporary reasons should be a Democratic shoo-in, the Democrats have nominated about the only candidate who can lose in November, the Republicans the only one of their own who can still win it.”
Proves which party cares about politics and which cares about America.
The GOP has fallen in line and settled on the most electable candidate, while the Dems have chosen race, inexperience, naivete, divisiveness, “hope,” “change” and radical politics over America. It’s quite telling, eh?
But when Obama loses, and loses big in Nov., those who voted against him will be called names, instead of his cult followers admitting he had no business coming close to the highest office in the world, based upon his total lack of leadership experience.
Jul 7, 2008 - 6:36 am 3. revolutionist:You had to go to Cleveland to find Obama supporters when you were “in” Columbus. I would wager you didn’t venture out into the city much, especially around the campus area; and the more heavily populated surrounding urban Neighborhoods (Short North, Victorian Village, German Village, Clintonville, Weinland Park). It’s clearly Obama country around here (with a smattering of old Paul signs).
Columbus (Franklin County) went to Obama in the Dem Primary… I don’t think you got a good sample in a City with at least five colleges/universities a heavy research economy and a large gay population. A demographically young population of 3/4 million people.
For McCain to win Ohio he’s going to have to give the people in the smaller communities, like the one I grew up in (which McCain will win), something to vote for, otherwise the enthused masses of the urban centers will out number them greatly. There is no way Columbus, with a fairly popular Dem Mayor Coleman and a heavily Democrat city council will go to McCain.
Jul 7, 2008 - 6:51 am 4. Lisa:This midwestern woman is voting for McCain ’cause there is no way in hell I am voting for the Dems after they ignored the media’s sexism and expressed some of their own.
Screw the Dems.
Screw Obama.
Jul 7, 2008 - 7:52 am 5. Daryl:“My vote in November will be for John McCain. He is an expert on national security, the most important issue at hand,” Jeremy, now an Army captain, who spent two years at West Point before graduating Cum Laude from Vanderbilt in 2003, said. “He is a true American hero and a qualified commander-in-chief. ”
Who made Jeremy an expert. He shared his opinion. (we will see what happens in November) I am convinced that as democrats and republicans we want the person we think best to lead our country to win. As an American I would like our next president to be someone who shares some of my values and beliefs. Republicans and Democrats have flawed candidate.
YES…. all that you say about Obama could be true.
The straight talk express is correct when he says that jobs want come back. He does not have to help send them away. I realize that those on the right want see this as an issue.
McCain Advisers Lobbied for Airbus
WASHINGTON (AP) — Top current advisers to Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign last year lobbied for a European plane maker that beat Boeing to a $35 billion Air Force tanker contract, taking sides in a bidding fight that McCain has tried to referee for more than five years.
On February 29, in a stunning victory for the European aerospace industry, EADS (the parent company of Airbus) and Northrop Grumman won a $35 billion contract from the U.S. Air Force to replace its aging fleet of aerial refueling tankers. Boeing had widely been expected to win the contract, which would have supported 44,000 new and existing jobs at Boeing and unspecified number of jobs at more than 300 suppliers in 40 states.
By contrast, the Airbus contract will create just 2,000 jobs in Alabama, although Airbus says it will also support 25,000 jobs at suppliers nationwide
Ari…. I do not believe that no one will argue racism.
Should obama lose it will be because
· Political views
Jul 7, 2008 - 8:04 am 6. Uncle Fire:· Some folks just do not like him for a number of reason. (race, big ears, etc…)
· Perceptions about him and Michelle
Nice “boots on the ground” piece, Ari. I hope you argued with that Leah. There are tens of thousands of indoctrinated automatons like her all over the place.
Jul 7, 2008 - 8:20 am 7. PDK:A very well-written and entertaining piece that is in no way bipartisan. The piece is very pro McCain and all the comments I’ve seen in response to it are equally so. It is specious to pretend otherwise.
Many months to go “before we sleep,” but if the RCP-reported polling data of today were to hold up, Mr. Obama wins the state by about 5 points.
Jul 7, 2008 - 8:35 am 8. Go McCain:It sounds to me like “Tim” is more of a Todd.
I thought Ohio was more of a split state with the Northeast, specifically Cleveland, leaning far left, and the Southeast, specifically, Cincy, more conservative.
It seems to me that Ohio along with Pennsylvania are the key states to victory in November.
Jul 7, 2008 - 8:51 am 9. RCD:BHO is no messiah…and he’ll show why over the next few months…His ship, like most of his primary platforms, are already taking on water because of all of their holes.
Jul 7, 2008 - 8:58 am 10. Andy Jackson:“The piece is very pro McCain and all the comments I’ve seen in response to it are equally so.”
Non-partisan pieces always seem “biased” to libs, so used to having their news their way: full of lies, liberal/anti-american bias, etc.
I don’t know how or why the comments would affect the legitimacy of the article. Intelligent, curious people read good blogs like PJM.
Have not seen the polls you reference. Obama pretty much knows he has no chance in Ohio, as evidenced by the article linked at the end of Kaufman’s piece.
Polls are often wrong. See NH this past Jan. See Nov. 2004. Kerry was way ahead coming into election night. In the end, the “undecided” are not going to pull the lever for someone with no leadership experience, the most liberal politics in America, and whose friends and idols practice something called “black liberation theology.”
Jul 7, 2008 - 9:18 am 11. Maria:This is very telling:
“In this presidential election I think we have two choices: a Democrat and a Marxist. McCain is the Democrat and Obama the Marxist.”
I am tired of people referring to a McCain presidency as a third Bush term.
I am a moderate living in the midwest. I consider myself pro-life, anti-death penalty, anti-war (yet know that we cannot just back out of Iraq), and I am also someone who “cares about the little guys” (but do not expect the federal government to pick up everyone’s slack).
That said, I also believe in doing what is practical and what makes sense. Obama has said or done nothing to make me believe that he can effectively tackle all the issues I just mentioned as the president of a major world power. McCain (who was far from the first choice from may conservatives because of his moderate views) has been one of my favorite candidates to begin with. No, I do not “fawn” over him as some do over Obama. I don’t really know anyone that does. McCain supporters back him because he addresses serious issues and proposes solutions backed by facts. They support him because they believe he will be better at running their country and not because he is a revolutionary new icon who gives them hope in forever changing the face of politics in America.
It is hard to believe that in November Americans will elect an unexperienced “rock star” figure with a past we know nothing about (and sometimes seems a bit sketchy). But then again, you never know. Many people are too blinded by the media, Hollywood, college professors and their hatred for Bush (who, last I checked, is not running!) to really research the facts behind each candidate. I really hope Americans step up to their civic duty and not fall into the stereotype that we are lazy and naive.
If it is true that the rest of the world has a negative image of America, it is not so much because of Bush or what Americans stand for, but (besides our own media slandering us) because many of us do not appreciate how good we really have it and because we are willing to fall for the first individual to promise “hope and change” for our “oh so screwed up” nation.
Jul 7, 2008 - 9:27 am 12. xzins:In the metro areas Cleveland is largest, then Cincy, and then Columbus.
The suburbs and exurbs outside Cincy proper are heavy conservative territory. That’s why Pres. Bush and Sen. McCain keep returning to Cincy. The rural areas are hugely conservative.
Obama loses.
Also, anyone named “Barak Hussein Obama” is not a natural fit in Ohio. It’s an odd name for an unknown man who has little experience.
I think he loses Ohio.
I think he loses by a minimum of 5%.
Jul 7, 2008 - 10:11 am 13. Lefty Flynn:Ari,
Jul 7, 2008 - 11:22 am 14. CJD:Jack Kennedy is the last man elected President without taking Ohio. No Republican has ever been elected without taking Ohio.
I’m from Ohio. I’m voting for McCain (but I think he will be a failue)because Obama would be a disaster.
Good stuff.
For most liberals, “how?” matters little, if ever — if it feeeeeeeels good, that’s all that counts – intentions are everything, and we all know what the road to hell is paved with. Hence, they vote Obama w/o recourse, even though he talks and talks and talks and says nothing. That IS the definition of an Empty Suit.
But do my Jewish friends—who will vote for him at 60-65%—still not understand issues like this?
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/30245_At_the_Official_Obama_Site-_The_Israeli_Connection_to_9-11
Though rabbis at liberal temples will still allow anti-Christian speakers to speak and the Univ. of Dayton allows pro-terror speakers to spew hatred, my latest personal “poll” tells me there is still enough sanity left in America (though it’s fast dwindling) not to elect this marxist/black liberation/America-hating slimeball, whose wife is a vicious, hate-filled woman.
Cyndi McCain is worth a lot more than anyone thinks at this point. She is a doll as compared to Michelle, though the left thinks Cindy is a theif.
McCain wins in a nail biter: 290 electoral votes… but (there’s always that “but”) we have 5 long months to go — that is to say, 5 months of dwindling sanity
Jul 7, 2008 - 11:29 am 15. Lola:Excellent article, Mr. Kaufman.
Jul 7, 2008 - 11:51 am 16. Columbusite:Beachwood (not Beechwood) has 4 rather large synagogues and a Chabad center.
Clearly you have not been to the East side of Columbus. I have seen one McCain sign, but our neighborhood is full of Obama signs. Usually it is mixed.
Nice convenience samples you have there. Ohio is deep purple.
Jul 7, 2008 - 11:51 am 17. Big My:A nicely written and breezy piece. Enjoyed it becasue it moved swiftly alhtough obviously such a big state can’t be handled by interviews with four five randonly selelcted folks. But it was bi partisan and did illustrate the comonly noted wisdom that somem folks on the liberal side of the equation really think obama is the messiah. It is unbelievable that a man with no proven track record could get these accolades. Absolutely no white perosn could garner such approval ratings. It is scary and points out how dictators come to power.
Jul 7, 2008 - 12:09 pm 18. Ray:Great Article. From my experience in Ohio it seems to be very similar to political views of nearby states. You have a mix of working class citizens who will stick to their party no matter who is running and those that will vote the politics not the party. Either way the best way to decide in my opinion is the track record of our candidates and the lives they lead over which party they represent.
Jul 7, 2008 - 1:53 pm 19. lee:What Ohioans (I don’t know if this is the correct term for Ohio residents) need to do is flood my home state California, where someone like Leah is dime a dozen depending on the location.
And whoop de doo, we have a budget deadlock once again. So while backwards “hick” red states like Virginia spend wisely and carefully, and create reserves and surpluses to tap during difficult times, there’s gonna be a whole lot of borrowing and cutting of services here in the progressive bluetopia that is Cali. We RECALLED a governor to fix this eternal problem and the democrat leaning populace constantly block reform measures to spend within reason.
Don’t be too scared about the crime, drug, freeway rush hour, or high gas prices. Those things can’t really hurt you. Move here, have children and grandchildren, and color the state red. Don’t let the hippies win.
Jul 7, 2008 - 2:04 pm 20. l boucher:I am from the Dayton area and it has been hurt economically the last 10 years. I spoke to some of my old college friends (Dems) about a month ago and they can’ stand Obama! They think he is a Marxist in disguise and will raise all taxes, raise social security taxes be an appeaser on terror. I was shocked to hear this from friends who have voted Democratic for 25 years!
Jul 7, 2008 - 3:11 pm 21. Paul M Hupf:Senator Obama is a Marxist. His statements in San Francisco to the “elite” demeaning those whose “solace is in guns and religion,” is more than a little revealing. It is consistent with the statement of Karl Marx that “religion is the opiate of the masses.” Senator Obama describes himself as a Christian, but the church he professed to belong to betrays an entire lack of Christian principle. His position on “late term” abortions is so clouded that he can hardly be said to oppose late term abortions or for that matter any abortion. All his views are consistent with Marxism.
Jul 7, 2008 - 3:22 pm 22. Trev:I live in NY, but have been thru Ohio many times. It is the consummate American state in terms of the diversity of people and views. I do think this article is a good synopsis, as are the comments.
Seems Ohioans, like many in other states, will be turned away from the Democrats’ candidate by his lack of experience and Marxist style politics. As a former Dem who is currently a registered libertarian, I don’t know how they could blow this chance to “take back America” as their silly slogan goes.
(They can talk about Obamacons, like the media does too often, but I know dozens of Kerry supporters who will back McCain in Nov.)
I believe it all goes back to choosing Howard Dean as Chairman. He is a devout socialist, weak in the important areas, and easily susceptible to the far left hate American wing of George Soros and “educators” like Howard Zinn, Noam Chomsky and other Islamic-sympathizers.
I did not leave the party of FDR; it left me. I am not alone, it seems.
Jul 7, 2008 - 3:45 pm 23. Thomas Lindaman:What a wonderful piece of writing, Ari! You’ve done a great job in putting together a fine, thoughtful piece that reflects the independent nature of Ohio, and the Midwest as a whole, in my opinion. It doesn’t get covered much by the “mainstream” media, but the Midwest is a complicated bit of political landscape that can swing an election as easily as Florida can. Thank you for going deeper than the “authoritative” voices in the media.
Jul 7, 2008 - 4:41 pm 24. Dave II:Great article that gives just a hint of Obama’s problems:
He has NOT unified the Democratic Party, with more than 1/2 of Hillary voters saying they will NOT vote for him…nor will he be able to (much to the surprise of CNN and the MSM!).
He has NOT been able to make inroads with conservative evangelicals with his pandering and flip-flops on issues like abortion.
He has NOT been able to attract white married women voters who are actually a VERY LARGE demographic.
He has NOT been able to even secure his BASE among liberals who see his recent flips as a reason to now question his candidacy.
Don’t be fooled by polls out there that show him as leading in these swing states. They are, as a RULE, scewed to reflect a large majority of likely DEMOCRATIC voters, thus scewing the results…
Obama will lose OH, PA, MI, FL, and McCain will win with 300+ electoral votes! Book it!
Jul 7, 2008 - 4:48 pm 25. Ryan:Very nice piece…..your passion for the complexities in Midwestern culture & politics really shines through. I’m from New York and appreciate the on-the-ground insights from this region of the country – helps lend some well-needed perspective.
Jul 7, 2008 - 5:03 pm 26. CPT D:Excellent article Ari, a joy to read! Your depiction of the race in Ohio is quite accurate in my opinion. Speaking as a Columbus resident, most are pro-McCain/pro-Hillary, although “Obama Pride” signs were quite numerous at the recent annual Comfest event and Gay Pride parade held downtown…
Jul 7, 2008 - 5:43 pm 27. Rick554:I have a Son thats a SOLDIER, my daughter is married to an AIR FORCE Captain. Does anyone really believe I will vote for Barry???? Not on your life. We dont see too many obamaites here in Cleveland and frankly they can stay away.
Jul 7, 2008 - 6:46 pm 28. Sherry:Boy, good analysis of Ohio, sir. Though you obviously cannot hit all the locales, this is thorough and overall, very accurate from my time in the state.
I do think Ohio is representative of the country, for better or worse.
I cannot imagine why and how Obama’s fans do no tunderstand that there are SO many reasons not to vote him other than his race. I guess when in doubt or confused, avoid facts and call names.
How can we expect white voters to vote for a candidate who attends such a church of hatred and has an angry wife who calls America “mean”?
I kinda agree with this guy:
“I’m voting for McCain (but I think he will be a failue)because Obama would be a disaster.”
Mitt was my first choice, then Fred, but McCain will be better than the disaster Obama will bring—certainly changing our nation for the worse.
Maybe the liberals don’t care about that? They wish were more like Europe. I cannot understand why for many reasons.
Jul 7, 2008 - 7:00 pm 29. Jim Stutts:Ohio isn’t McCain country, Oaxaca is.
Jul 8, 2008 - 5:34 am 30. Jim Stutts:“Mitt was my first choice, then Fred, but McCain will be better than the disaster Obama will bring—certainly changing our nation for the worse.”
Either one of these two are disasters for the country.
After McCain’s amnesty, it won’t matter much anymore.
Jul 8, 2008 - 5:35 am 31. Uncle Fire:Well, I seriously hope that there will be no amnesties but I hope Ari’s right and McCain pulls Ohio out of the fire.
Jul 8, 2008 - 5:49 am 32. fieldmarshaldj:Just my sneaking suspicion Obama won’t carry Ohio. If he had won the primary there, I’d have given him even odds, but there’s just too many people in the state that seemed to have been rubbed by him the wrong way, and those are the White Dems (especially I think he’ll fare poorly in the White Dem areas in “Strickland Country” along the WV state line — and it’s all but conceded WV is going GOP for the 3rd consecutive Presidential election, the last time that happened was from 1920-28). I think he’s going to have problems with Pennsylvania, too, but they’re going to be working overtime in Philly to make sure there’s 200% Dem voter turnout.
Jul 8, 2008 - 7:09 am 33. CJD:“I think he’s going to have problems with Pennsylvania, too, but they’re going to be working overtime in Philly to make sure there’s 200% Dem voter turnout.”
Amazing how corrupt the Dem machines are from ChiTown to Cleveland to Philly—and yet, all we hear from HBO, CNN and the lefty media is that “Bush stole both elections” and that too many (black) voters wee “disenfranchised.”
A tragedy the lies and brainwashing committed each day by the media and their liberal/Obama loving allies.
Jul 8, 2008 - 7:28 am 34. Lucky BD:Did you know that a current study says that ALL people who have bumper stickers on their cars are prone to road rage, which is now classified as a mental illness……?
Moving right along.
I liked the article very much, and it held my attention.
Of course, there’s neither rhyme nor reason as to why people are infatuated with Obama.
I, for one, have always been a democrat.
This time around, I cannot vote for a person whom I despise.
I mean, we’re talking absolutely DESPISE to the point where he makes me angry every time he opens his mouth. Obama………what IS the attraction? I keep hearing the phrase “Empty Suit” when referring to him, and that was what I called him way before I ever heard the phrase uttered by those in the media. He has NOTHING to back up what he says…..and it’s only been recently that he’s started an attempt to fill in the blanks about HOW he intends to “do things”. It still means nothing because he has no experience and little to back up his empty words that he uses in order to get elected. I picture bad grammar in the White House, which we KNOW will become known as the Black House if he’s elected. Don’t get me wrong, I’m really not racist (a phrase that will be uttered ad infinitum) but I cringe when I think of what could be the future. I also despise his wife.
She DOES look like an uppity bitch (forgive me) and I can only guess what might be on HER mind.
In the last couple of weeks, since Hillary stepped down from her campaign soapbox, Obama has a newfound sense of arrogance. He now sounds downright dictatorial when he speaks and it’s frightening. Where is all this self-righteous preaching coming from? And the now ancient questions still nags at me. Why did it take him 20 years to resign from Reverend Wright’s church.
More questionable is why do his hypnotized followers not see that this man is a sham? Why does everyone turn a deaf ear on all the negativity that is NOT thrown into the press by the McCain camp, but by research by non-partisan groups? Why are people so fervently hanging onto his every lame and empty word? Why don’t the non-blacks see that an alleged 97% of all black voters are voting for him? Since when do people vote for a candidate JUST because they have a sameness in color, religion or sex? This is truly frightening to me……………..
When the race for the party candidacy first began, everyone was so excited over the quantity of choices. SO many were running for their party’s popularity contest…….Then, that dwindled down to what we now see in front of us. NOTHING………Two awful choices….neither of which will get my vote. I can’t vote for John McCain whom I see as a stiff, non-charismatic old man who seems a lame duck before he even gets started. I can’t vote for Obama who makes me feel like I’m going to run for a vomit bag each time he appears on the screen with his dumbo ears flopping in the breeze while bumbling through each speech that hasn’t been written and practiced by him before appearing. The man has trouble putting one sentence together without stumbling unless a speech writer has been on the premises. This is NOT a good sign.
There are two phrases that I’ve learned to HATE.
One is “threw him under the bus”……meaning, to sacrifice one’s own…….
The other is “they drank the Kool Aid”…..meaning…..exactly what those who follow Obama are accused of. Being hypnotized into following someone to the slaughter.
Our country is in complete chaos.
The war is a mess.
The gas crisis is a mess.
Health care is a mess.
The economy in general is a mess.
The current lame duck president is an even greater mess.
And we now have NO candidates worth voting for.
Who will help lead this country back to the greatness it once bathed in?
Whoever that is, it’s going to have to be in 2012 at the earliest because it’s not going to happen this time around. And….for those who believe in the apocolypse, it’s to happen in December of 2012. Do I believe in it? No…….but if either one of these half-baked candidates has a say in it, I may become a believer. At least no one will be around AFTER that to suffer further abuse at the hands of the very people who are supposed to be watching out for us and protecting us.
SO…………….Ari………….that’s my comment on your great article that lit a fire under me.
Jul 8, 2008 - 7:57 am 35. EDinVA:Sorry but I find it offensive that Kerry would go to any college graduation and talk about himself, his election, his loss. Self-absorbed creature, isn’t he?
Jul 8, 2008 - 8:08 am 36. Brian H:Here’s a
recent Rasmussen report on Ohio.
“McCain holds a statistically insignificant one-point lead over Obama, 44% to 43%, among likely voters. Seven percent (7%) favor a third-party candidate and 7% are undecided.”
Nationwide, I think more and more wheels start to come off the Oblabla choo-choo train. The more times he’s obliged to speak or respond extemporaneously, the more shoes he chews.
Jul 8, 2008 - 9:07 am 37. Stray Yellar Dawg in Ohio:Sure it is. Even for a die hard Dem like me. Jumping to McCain will be as easy as falling off a log.
P.U.M.A. in Ohio says:
Jul 8, 2008 - 11:06 am 38. ohio gal:Go John and Cindy!
Growing up in Ohio, I was quite eager to read this latest piece from this prolific writer. I quite enjoy his pieces and look forward to each one.
I remember my hometown as extremely liberal and I am pretty sure much of Cuyahoga County will remain that way in the upcoming election. I don’t even think a large percentage of the people in my hometown even pay attention to the politics that are upon us now.
Being quite familiar with Ashland, Ohio and Ashland University, a Jesuit institution, I KNOW they are still Republican oriented. However, a relative of mine, a liberal fellow, owned a large company in Ashland for many, many years and we spoke often of the dichotomy of the employees there. This was many years ago; however, I am pretty sure the same is still going on in these small towns.
This latest article is so entertaining, so enlightening, I felt as if I were right there in the locations with the writer. He is to the point, funny and a joy to read. I look forward to his next foray into the locales that will determine the outcome of the next election.
Jul 8, 2008 - 11:35 am 39. neefer:We live on the west side of Cleveland. I find it odd that I’ve seen only one Obama yard sign so far (and it’s been there since the beginning of the primaries). There are many blacks in my neighborhood so I just assumed they’d be supporting Obama. There were a lot of Hillary supports in Cleveland and surrounding suburbs.
Jul 8, 2008 - 11:47 am 40. California Mike:I will be voting for John McCain in November. Ari’s articles here at Pajamas Media and in his periodic emails to me, are very insiteful and provide a littany of useful information on John McCain and that of his opponent, Obama.
My only criticism is that I would have liked to see more scientific data and references instead of “soft” quotes and thoughts which are more subjective. However, to that end, I tend to agree with Ari, but I think people could be swayed more to his arguements if he used objective, instead of subjective, data to sustain his points.
Jul 8, 2008 - 11:54 am 41. Hawaii Will:Great piece of writing, Mr. Kaufman.
Jul 8, 2008 - 12:33 pm 42. Joey:I’ll bet “Leah” didn’t vote for Ken Blackwell. Was it because of his race?
Jul 8, 2008 - 1:50 pm 43. JD:It will be interesting to see how Obama handles a state like Ohio, which for the most part – as evidenced in the 2004 election – is largely a swing state. McCain definitely holds the upper hand to begin with, but Obama’s practices have only been observed in the state-by-state race and politics of securing the Democratic nomination.
As is true with all candidates, following the primaries and Party Nominations candidates narrow their politics and move towards the middle of the spectrum. McCain has been there the whole time, and Obama will, with time, creep closer to that position.
What will be interesting is to see how a state like Ohio, very atuned with the issues at hand and with smart people, will take Obama’s slide to the middle. I think it will a lot closer of a race than a lot of people think, but in the end McCain will pull it off.
Jul 8, 2008 - 2:54 pm 44. Cal:“I’ll bet “Leah” didn’t vote for Ken Blackwell. Was it because of his race.”
Nope, his party. They only like blacks they can manipulate and control—-just like when their Democrat ancestors owned slaves in the South.
The biggest racists have ALWAYS been Dems. Now, instead of lynching, they “enslave” them via gov’t welfare programs just so they can get votes. I suppose that’s an improvement, but it’s still detestable…
Jul 8, 2008 - 3:40 pm 45. jk:I think people will focus on the economy come election time. Remember the slogan, “It’s the economy, stupid”?
While neither candidate has great, pro-growth policy ideas, Obama is far closer to an economic idiot, imo. He has no clue about the economic history of the US, nor the econ policies that have led other countries to prosperity.
Jul 8, 2008 - 3:59 pm 46. R. Howard:Good article!
Jul 8, 2008 - 4:36 pm 47. Ev Nienhouse:I will somewhat relectantly vote for John McCain this November. But what about the other residents of my home state of Michigan? With the exception of Michigan’s second largest city, Grand Rapids, Obama will likely carry the state’s major cities, particularly in light of the sad economic situation here in Michigan as a rsult of the near collapse of the auto industry. Unionism maintains is stranglehold on those living in the big cities, not only in Detroit, but all the other major cities of Flint, Saginaw, Bay City, Midland, Pontiac, Jackson, and Ypsilanti,and others Those cities with major college campuses i.e. Ann Arbor (U of M), Lansing Mich State), Detroit (wayne State), and most, but not all, liberal arts college towns will also vote for Obama. Surprisingly, folks from the upper peninsula (UPPERS) will likely split but, at this point, it appears that Obama has the lead. Ninety percent of the counties will vote McCain, but the key counties with the cities mentioned above will likely cause Michigan’s electoral votes to go to Obama. Mc Cain has a chance, however slim. He mu st satisfy the economic concerns of a huge population in this state which does, for the most part, share is strong stand on int ernational terrorism.
Jul 8, 2008 - 7:30 pm 48. LGrant:Greetings from Afghanistan. I too am working for the US Army Corps of Engineers doing my best to help the Province of Laghman construct itself
Jul 8, 2008 - 8:16 pm 49. KB:into the current century. Not only that, I come from small town Ohio aswell; being born and raised in Johnston, which is about 15 miles outside of Warren: Trumbull County. I retired from the US Army in 1993 after 24 years
of service. My mom always encouraged me to get out and get a real job. But, she was always proud of me and wanted me to wear my uniform to church services where my dad preached. My family also is split by politics with two
of my brothers being tried and true NEA advocates, and my sisters being grassroots evangelicals. Going to family reunions is quite interesting because of the politics that is discussed. I really enjoyed reading your
take on “Assessing Ohio.”
I’m in Dayton right now where I grew up, and lived in Columbus for the past years for college and grad school. I think Dayton tends to be more McCain oriented now because there is an air force base here that employs a lot of daytonians, and Republicans like to spend on defense. Columbus is probably more liberal due to the amount of young people but I’m curious to know how many of the college students actually vote. Anyways, interesting article though I also thought you relied a bit much on anecdotal evidence and too little on statistics.
Jul 8, 2008 - 9:53 pm 50. Ari Kaufman:Seems the preponderance of voices have spoken, so I thank you’all for your words of wisdom.
Now, because, unlike news writers in the MSM, I believe in open discourse, I will address a few issues and mistakes I made. (This is why blogs and talk radio thrive while newspapers, magazines, Hollywood and CNN/MSNBC et al die.)
1. The town is “Beachwood” not “Beechwood” as I called it. I apologize for the error. My grandparents belonged to BEEchmont Country Club (in or very near Beachwood) for over 60 years, so I must have been thinking of that spelling. That said, the fact that there are “4 rather large synagogues and a Chabad center” in the area is immaterial to my point. Chabad “Outreach” Centers are, thankfully, everywhere in America. They have nearly a dozen in Indiana, after all, where the Jewish population is miniscule. And as far as I recall from family functions, weddings and visits, the synagogues in Beachwood are Reform, i.e. liberal, i.e. secular, watered down Judaism. What I was saying is that it’s not a town where you’ll find a hardware store, mom and pop shop and churches dotting the corners. Basically, it is a latte town for RICH secular “progressives” where the yuppie stores and businesses dominate.
2. Yes, to all those who questioned my discussions of Columbus, I know that the city, like nearly every major city in America, is very liberal. We did not plan to stop there nor include it in the article, but there was a severe thunderstorm, so we stopped at my cousin’s. They are conservative and their neighbor is an Orthodox Jew who is a devout Republican. I have been on OSU’s campus, to the downtown, to Germantown and other trendy, artsy, left-leaning areas there. It’s basically like Indianapolis, which is also, surprisingly to me when I first relocated here, VERY liberal for the most part. I was only discussing my cousin and her heroic husband. I know C-bus is, for whatever reason, Obama country.
3. The other “inside info” many Ohioans and others of the region lent was very necessary, and I thank you. My prediction is that McCain will do as well in Ohio as he will in nearby states: VERY well. Ohioans can spot a fake or a radical or a naive person, so Obama will not do as well here as he might in Oregon, Minnesota, Maryland or Vermont. There IS a great deal of Marxism in his rhetoric and demands. That may work in SF or Boston, but again, not in most of America.
4. As to the comment about more statistical evidence and objective data instead of anecdotal evidence and subjective data, perhaps. However, that makes for a boring read, and I am confident the high majority of readers find pieces like this more enjoyable with anecdotes. Plus, you can find those stats and “objective data” on line. I traveled for stories and personal statements.
5. Having made all this clear, my prediction is that Ohioans, overall, will judge the content of Obama’s character instead of the color of his skin (as MLK Jr. asked us to) and not support him, unlike many white and black liberals who are wrongly putting skin color before anything and voting FOR BHO because of that.
I don’t think folks across America realize how many millions of moderate, union, working class Dems, especially women, are voting McCain. As VD Hanson recently opined on PJM:
“In a year that for historical and contemporary reasons should be a Democratic shoo-in, the Democrats have nominated about the only candidate who can lose in November, the Republicans the only one of their own who can still win it.”
Based upon my travels and discourse through all 48 states the past three years, Ohioans, along with Hoosiers, Iowans and perhaps Virginians, are the most alert, honest and knowledgeable folks around, understanding America’s greatness. The Buckeye State will thus go to McCain…unless, as some pointed out, the corrupt Dems in locales like Kucinich’s Cleveland fix the elections…
Jul 9, 2008 - 10:28 am 51. Anonymous:This article puts an interesting perspective on the people of Ohio. As you mentioned, it is a very populous state, yet does not always get the attention or recognition it deserves. Hopefully, as one of your acquantances said, the veterans and conservatives who make up the populous outside of the big cities will have enough representation to pick the only candidate who is fit to be president. The one who doesn’t share the same name as a former dictator named Saddam.
Jul 9, 2008 - 3:58 pm 52. David:Great article! It sheds some light on Ohio which is a state that does not get much attention despite its large population. Hopefully that gentleman is right and there are enough veterans and conservatives outside the big cities to pick McCain and not Osam… I mean Obama.
Jul 9, 2008 - 4:01 pm 53. Josh:Nice slice of life piece. Always interesting to hear the way different life experiences and choices shape one’s political leanings.
Jul 9, 2008 - 10:47 pm 54. Buckeye Born:Great article, Ari. BHO will have trouble gaining the support of big labor and the FDR democrats in Ohio. As he makes more unscripted comments during the campaign, his lack of depth and understanding of most critical issues will become apparent. In BHO, I see a frightening apparition of a black Jimmy Carter with a Marxist inclination. It will be close in Ohio, but I am confident the strengths of McCain and the weaknesses of Obama will become increasingly obvious as the campaign wears on.
Jul 10, 2008 - 5:52 pm 55. Jeff:It’s good to read this article. I was interested in this:
“Though the Illinois Senator was able to gain the Democrat nomination while losing badly in Ohio and other regional states (West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Kentucky), Obama’s braintrust should realize that the last person to win the presidency without carrying Ohio was Franklin Roosevelt in 1944. It would clearly be evidence of “Change” were “The Messiah” to pull that feat off.”
I was going to post that no Republican has ever lost the state and won the Presidency, but it looks like it goes both ways.
The key to an Obama victory in Ohio and in the US is to lie about his real beliefs. If the truth gets out, he’s toast. Or if a scandal gets out, he’s toast. What is the chance the Rezko case will indict him?
Jul 11, 2008 - 3:29 pm 56. Pajamas Media » Seven States That Will Decide the Election:[...] my July article elucidated, the Buckeye State seems to have too many moderates uninterested in a celebrity for [...]
Aug 20, 2008 - 1:13 am 57. Ashland is Home:“On the long drive back Father’s Day evening, we stopped in Ashland to have an early dinner with a friend. Ashland, whose city motto is “Where Accent on the Individual is a Tradition,” is also home to a small private college; but unlike other liberal arts schools in Ohio, Ashland University is a religious school. There are thus more KFCs and Grandpa’s Cheese Barns than Panera Breads and Starbucks.
I met up with “Mike” at the local Bob Evans, a Heartland staple, founded by the eponymous farmer from southeastern Ohio. Mike is a Republican through and through. I knew this, but also wanted to pick his brain on a town like Ashland, which sits nearly halfway between Cleveland and Columbus in the Cuyahoga Valley.”
Just to clarify…’Where Accent on the Individual is a Tradition’ is not the city of Ashland’s motto, is it Ashland University’s motto.
And like the monied Democrats of Beechwood, our “historical district homes” mostly carry Obama signs in the front yard.
We are a red county. More than once, and in fact, just last week (Biden), candidates will pass right through undetected on their whistlestops in Wooster and Mansfield. Most everyone is ok with that. We don’t need face-time or fanfare.
Strong values and corn-fed tradition teaches us to think for ourselves, and understand the difference between right and wrong.
Sep 23, 2008 - 7:32 am 58. Pajamas Media » It’s All Coming Down to a Few Key States…:[...] Minnesota, and Wisconsin — all close in 2004 — to Obama. In prior columns, I predicted Ohio and Indiana would go to McCain, as have other experts. About 35-40 states are obvious, leaving [...]
Oct 3, 2008 - 1:50 am 59. ObamaRocks:I’m from Ohio. We went blue.
Apr 14, 2009 - 4:15 pm