CNN finally had an honest interview w a "WWC" male voter...

[bettyellen]

Said he had a good job for forty years w Harley Davidson and a "little side business" - a bar- that Obama ruined? Why? "The wrong people" started moving into the neighborhood and none of his regular customers wanted to go anymore.

The black reporter asked him flat out if he meant black people and he actually admitted it. Said he was a racist and that most of the Trump supporting friends he knew were too. The reporter didn't look as surprised as the bar owners who pretended they didn't share his views.

[guillaumeb]

1. Recommended.

Even if the average Trump voter is not a racist, that average voter voted for an overt and obvious racist. That cannot be escaped.

[yardwork]

20. This can't be swept under a rug.

[Linc13]

55. But the average racist

seems to be a Trump supporter.

[guillaumeb]

84. No coincidence there.

Welcome to DU.

[Grassy Knoll]

2. What Is WWC?

[WhiteTara]

4. World Wrestling Clown?

No clue, but that sounded good.

[tandem5]

60. Whenever I see WW_ I always assume World Wrestling too...

I don't know why.

[nycbos]

5. White Working Class.

[meadowlander]

6. White Wombat before Clinton?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

38. It's a TLA

opaque obscure not-immediately-obvious Three Letter Acronym

[randome]

70. Okay, but what does TLA mean?

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[Bernardo de La Paz]

74. Three Letter Acronym. Frustrating, isn't it, when posters post TLAs assuming everyone knows. . nt

[Starry Messenger]

3. I wish this would get more acknowledgement

Otherwise we are going to waste an election cycle trying to dangle treats this demographic keeps rejecting in front of them, instead of bearing down hard on gerrymandering and vote disenfrachisement.

[bettyellen]

11. And that he made some weird connection that it ws Obama's fault black people moved into

That neighborhood?!? Ugh, they're never too smart, are they?

[nycbos]

12. If you can convince the lowest...

... white man is he better than the best colored man he won't notice you picking his pockets."

-LBJ

[SunSeeker]

35. Yep. The Southern Strategy in a nutshell. nt

[workinclasszero]

18. I agree

Screw the white racist vote!

Go after the 40% or so that didn't vote instead.

[SunSeeker]

36. Totally agree. A waaaay more productive use of time. nt

[liquid diamond]

45. There are posters here who believe

we should reach out to these assholes and try to understand them. Lol. Sometimes I wonder if I'm at the right discussion board.

[workinclasszero]

46. Screw that. They are brainwashed racist haters

They will never vote Democratic and who the hell would want scum like that in the party anyway?

[Iggo]

59. I already understand them.

[True_Blue]

71. And fight voter suppression & disenfranchisement

[Bernardo de La Paz]

39. Absolutely correct about importance of eliminating gerrymandering and of facilitating the vote. nt

[uponit7771]

48. +1

[CurtEastPoint]

7. WWC white working class, I think.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

8. I saw that story and the man said he is prejudiced

He didn't say he was racist.

[paleotn]

22. red / rouge

same thing.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

51. Not always...and I wasn't saying the guy isn't a douche...only that he did not say he was a racist

In the interview the man believes that his small bar failed because his customer base moved out of the area and minorities moved in. He is attributing (and pretty unreasonably so) his financial loss to white guys like him being driven out of the area by minorities. In his mind (no matter how screwed up his thinking is) he honestly believes that he is a victim and he's resentful about it. In his case it's probably less about him believing other races are inferior to him and disliking them for that reason and more about him feeling he personally lost something because of them...it's personal to him. Obviously he's wrong...and probably kinda under the influence. He was willing to talk to the reporter, though, so his mind is one that can be changed if he were around minorities more often so that he could get to know people different than he is.

[AgadorSparticus]

62. Not sure why you are attempting to dilute the stench of racism here

except maybe it is just uncomfortable for you. I see that a lot by racism deniers. He opened a business. But he only wants white customers. That is pretty racist to me.
His victimization stems from not just entitlement but the racism from which it sits on top of.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

73. I'm not attempting to dilute anything...I'm trying to do my part in eliminating it

You can't eliminate something until you truly understand exactly what is happening. It's sort of like cancer. You have different types of cancer and each type requires a different treatment plan. Like cancer, if you don't treat it correctly it spreads. Much of what I see happening here in regards to this issue contributes to the problem.

I see many people on this site trying to treat all cancers the same way without recognizing that doing that is a huge mistake and can make matters far worse.

This particular man is probably not the best example of what I'm getting at because he clearly is misdirecting some blame for his business failure. To me, he also looked like he had been drinking a lot before he was spoken to. I'd be curious what he had to say without any alcohol involved.

That being said...I'm of the belief that attaching ugly, hateful labels to a person is not something to do so casually and carelessly because it's very hypocritical. I need to know more information and background before I'm willing to toss something so severe out there.

[AgadorSparticus]

75. It doesn't matter what the excuse is for the racial scapegoating.

You know why people get ugly, hateful labels? Because they engage in ugly, hateful things.

And when people make excuses for racism, I find that offensive. It doesn't matter WHAT the rationale is for their rascists beliefs, because it doesn't change the fact that it is a racist belief. That is like asking me to be more tolerant of someone who thinks I am a second class citizen and need to go to the back of the bus. Fuck that. You need to evolve.

But I understand where you are coming from with trying to eliminate this virus. What I have seen with racism is that it exists on a spectrum. There are mild cases where "I am not racist because I have Asian friends" all the way to "all people of color need to be hung from a tree". But it doesn't matter if it is mild or severe. Get better coping mechanisms.

Racism is often a DEEPLY ingrained generational concept that would require them to reconcile their ENTIRE world view and existence. That is an existential transformation some people don't obtain through lifetimes.

That is why we have people who cannot reconcile facts and what they see with their own eyes to the reality that is infront of them.

People can't even make lifestyle modifications for their own health, you think they will upend their entire way of being to not be racist?

When my son was little and threw a tantrum because I wouldn't let him have 8 scoops of ice cream, I told him, I understand you are angry but that behavior is not acceptable. Please go to your room.

I understand that you are racist, but that behavior is not acceptable. Please go back under the rock from where you came from.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

77. Clearly you believe that intent makes no difference

Unfortunately, many on this site believe the same. If I wanted to engage in that kind of thinking then in my personal experience I personally have encountered far more racist minorities than I have racist white people. Most of my life was spent in rural New England. When we moved from New England to a southern state and moved into a neighborhood comprised of mostly minorities and put my middle school child into a school with mostly minority kids she experienced daily and relentless racism. That child has never had a racist bone in her body yet she was treated as if she were just because she is white. Under your definition that is racism. Every time a person who happens to be a minority does or says something that annoys me and they assume my irritation is because they are a different race...they are racists under your definitions. Oh wait...let me guess...mind reading about what someone must think or believe is only allowed if it's directed at someone who happens to be white, right?

That idiotic thinking is exactly why there are still race issues in this country. If you think intent doesn't matter then you'd best start looking in the goddamned mirror because biases work in two directions and they don't hurt a minority 12 year old kid any less than they hurt a white 12 year old kid. There are a hell of a lot of people you would consider racists who are guilty of nothing more than being fucking sick and tired of being labelled or accused of being a racist over assumptions because people are too quick to jump to conclusions rather than asking questions and finding the facts and truth.

If something is intentionally done or said because that person hates a group of people or discriminates against a group of people just because of their race then they are a racist. When I see that, I point it out. If there is not intent and people still toss around those labels I WILL speak up because that is wrong.

[AgadorSparticus]

78. You think that is why we still have racism in this country?!?!!?

No. We have racism that is taught from generation to generation. We also have institutional racism. Forgive me if I don't feel too sorry for you when you are at the top of the food chain.

Racism towards whites is what we should focus on. Got it.

[AgadorSparticus]

80. Here is an article on combating hate and how this lady led the way to sheriff Arpaio losing.

This was a BIG loss.

--Snip--
“Some of us have already been living in Trump’s America,” she said. “There is a bright spot in Maricopa County, and I think there are significant lessons to be learned: We don’t make excuses for bigotry, and we don’t normalize the abuse.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2016/11/22/she-helped-bring-down-sheriff-arpaio-now-shes-ready-to-take-on-hate-nationally/

[SidDithers]

26. You don't say...

Sid

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

43. Lol. From what I have observed,

according to NoGoodNamesyou, have to not just be in the crowd applauding a lynching, you have to have made the rope and performed the hanging yourself to qualify as a racist.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

54. First, no where did I say that and second, that is a personal attack

eom

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

56. First, nowhere did I say that you said that. Clearly stated as my opinion based on

what I've observed.

And, second, not really, but if you are so thin-skinned as to regard it as such, alert away. I don't really GAF.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

58. To refresh your memory...

"No personal attacks or flaming
Do not personally attack, insult, flame, threaten, bully, harass, stalk, negatively call-out, ascribe ugly ulterior motives to, or make baseless claims about any member of this community. Do not post in a manner that is hostile, abusive, or aggressive toward any member of this community.

Now, what you posted: "Lol. From what I have observed, according to NoGoodNamesyou, have to not just be in the crowd applauding a lynching, you have to have made the rope and performed the hanging yourself to qualify as a racist."

Perhaps you should read the quoted rule again. I am pretty sure that name calling falls under the same category. If you take issue with me pointing out a misquote from a news report in order to ensure accuracy then perhaps you should just block me. And with that, I am done responding to you.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

61. Done responding to me?

Yay! I mean, I was going to ask you to tell what name I called you, but you couldn't have truthfully said, so no loss.

Just a tip, which you ignored last time I gave it to you: Agreement upon definition of terms is key to meaningful discussion. Keep in mind that very few DUers or linguists agree with your very narrowly prescribed definitions of the terms "prejudice" and "racist."

Don't bother to respond. You'll be going back on your word, and I doubt anyone will read it. I certainly won't.

[we can do it]

32. Isn't that precious?

[SunSeeker]

37. Did you forget that sarcasm smilie? nt

[brush]

47. Come on, you know he doesn't know the difference. If you're a racist, you're not that smart.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

52. See my post #51

I'm of the belief that words matter, and prejudice and racism is not the same thing...and bigotry is different too...as is bias. There are similarities but with all the "alternative facts" and the utter shit storm of things being twisted I think accuracy in terms is important.

[bettyellen]

83. He said he thought black people shouldn't go to his bar or live where they want admitted racist.

And blaming it on alcohol? Oh please. That's like saying Spicer, Conway and Trump just have a habit of making mistakes. No what is actually happening.

[spanone]

9. welcome to america. Obama just brought out in the open.

ripped the scab off american rasicm

THAT'S what trump tapped into...hatred.

[Cooley Hurd]

10. Link to video:

http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2017/02/04/trump-wisconsin-supporters-carroll-pkg.cnn

[LenaBaby61]

13. I sincerely hope and pray that they ....

ENJOY their right-to-work state 😄

I HOPE they enjoy earning far less, having that GOP/tRumputin/Nazi-Bannon "fantastic" health care 😄

Oh listen to me. Being a total meanie to the voters we NEED to get on our side

I'm telling ya, a huge mug of hot cocoa topped with tiny marshmallows and a warm loving hug will do the trick.

They'll love them some minorities and be singing "Kumbuyah My Lord" within NO time

[jaxind]

14. They Just Don't Get It!

I watched the show, and just this morning, I sent an anonymous letter to the bar owner, Kim Gamroth! It was a 4 page letter! I was just showing her all the different ways that Trump is not looking out for the little guy. And, I told her to please share the letter with her racist patron (I think his name was Donnie Baliska or something like that).

[SHRED]

76. 4 pages

Problem is they don't read.

I'm serious. Most trumpets I know would take one look at that letter and forget it.

Good job though trying!

[IronLionZion]

15. What does any president have to do with who moves into a neighborhood?

Dude is apparently living near the largest city in the state. If he doesn't like the increasing diversity, he could move.

What is Trump going to fix about where black people live?

[yardwork]

21. Don't you get it? The black guy got elected president.

That meant that all "those people" got the idea that they could live wherever they want. Can't have that. This is the actual worldview of racists.

[ProfessorGAC]

65. Nailed It!

The racist tendencies percolated to the surface when a black guy hit the White House. The seething over that fact meant every bigoted nerve in the body fired. Disgusting, ain't it?

[IronLionZion]

81. Trump thinks Black people live in inner cities

so do his voters believe he's going to do something to make black people move to inner cities? It's craziness.

[George Eliot]

16. Not the msjority. Always been there. Always will be.Obama won twice

Obama won twice. Keep that in mind. He won now red states. It's the message. Hope and change won for him.

[malaise]

17. Yep - truth will out

Bet the vast majority of African Americans have ancestors who were here long before his

[muntrv]

19. Regarding the bar, market forces at work.

No demand, no supply.

[paleotn]

24. Damn it! You're using facts and logic.

Adam Smith wrote that all white businesses were guaranteed to flourish....it says so, right in the capitalist bible....somewhere....I think.....

[paleotn]

23. Not all 45 voters are racist....

but all racists voted for 45.

[Squinch]

30. Nah. All 45 voters are racist. Acknowledged to themselves or no, they are racist.

[paleotn]

31. Just giving them the benefit of the doubt...

....in the extremely unlikely case someone, somewhere digs up a 45 voter who's actually not racist. To be honest, I'm not holding my breath.

[Fast Walker 52]

25. but you know, "both sides"

Link to tweet

[Proud Liberal Dem]

53. I have honestly tried to "listen to both sides"

but I just can't do it- because "the other side" says or does things that are so repugnant, mean-spirited, hateful, or out of touch with reality that it's flat out impossible to listen to for more than a few seconds. In this country, it seems like we have divided ourselves into pretty much two opposing camps: Progressives/Democrats whom, on the whole, live in reality, generally try to make things better for most people in the country, and genuinely seek cooperation and consensus. There are a few conservatives/Republicans whom, though I tend to disagree with them most of the time, generally live in reality and have some ability to listen to reason and work towards the common good. And then you have a much larger group of radicals on the right-wing of the spectrum whom are mostly in charge in Congress and in Statehouses across the nation whom live in their own reality and have their own hateful "vision" for society (which excludes about 99% of the population), which they then try to impose on the rest of us and when they can't get their way through lawful means, they either find a way to change the rules to benefit them or throw sand in the gears of their opponents so that they can't get anything positive done, all in the name of being "the loyal opposition". How do we reason with these people? I have no f***king clue. I'm glad that Democrats- to the extent that they have any power left- are using whatever tools they have left to fight. And it seems to be helping. Republicans had to change the rules (cheat) to get many their nominees through (faster) due to Democratic obstruction and ACA repeal seems to be losing steam. Plus, the Democrats have pledged opposition to Trump's SCOTUS pick and people are getting out into the streets, getting up "in the grills" of Republican represenatives and calling them out. I'm not saying that it's not going to get worse but things seem to be looking up a bit. If we are able to do nothing else, the least we can do and pressure Democrats to do is make things miserable for Donald and his Trumpublicans.

[Fast Walker 52]

67. well said... there really is no reasoning with modern RW miscreants

MAYBE once in a while you can get them to go along on individual policies, but as a whole, they are awful people who just need to be driven out of public office whatever way we can.

[Cosmocat]

64. O H F U C K T H A T S H I T

And this mealy mouthed pos, 8 years of relentless bullshit thrown at bho, and he was all like, gee, they are just mad ...

[Fast Walker 52]

66. yep, seriously

this both sides shit is why our political media is so fucked up

[Cosmocat]

72. Yep

EVERY fucking time the media, or an average Joe, babbles "they are both the same" it is mitigating Republican fuck wittery.

EVERY time.

[SidDithers]

27. Racist Rust-belt voters elected Donald Trump...

They weren't "economically anxious". They shouldn't be coddled or wooed.

They're racist fucks and should be shunned.

Sid

[kacekwl]

33. Said it hundreds of times if

they were really voting on economically and jobs issues they would have voted Bernie. Hatred,fear and bigotry is why they chose trump.

[Vinca]

28. Don is the ideal choice for racists. The only thing whiter is a bona fide albino person.

[kacekwl]

29. What does any of that

have to do with Obama ?

[zentrum]

34. This is the Civil

....War that never ended because we never had truth and reconciliation trials.We just continued the war by other means.

[liberalmuse]

40. His bar lost business because of racists.

Not President Obama. People can become so misguided.

[maddiemom]

42. And being that clueless...

well, these people are threatened by critical thinking. They won't change, but maybe their grandkids will have evolved a bit.

[TexasBushwhacker]

82. His bar lost business because he didn't adapt

Lost the old customers? Do something to attract new ones. Businesses that don't adapt to new circumstances and different market demands fail. That's not something new.

[iluvtennis]

41. The "wrong people started moving into the neighborhood"...wow, things that make you go ummgh...

...this just confirms what I've thought all along and that is that the white racists voted for Trump. They want to make America White again, no people of color, and everyone needs to be Christian. So sad they are among us.

[UTUSN]

44. R51 & K n/t

[mountain grammy]

49. oh, he didn't say anything about getting back coal mining jobs. shocking!

[Takket]

50. i saw the same interview......

he said as soon as blacks moved into the neighborhood, all the whites moved out. as if it is somehow the fault of black people that racist whites don't want to live near them.

[HassleCat]

57. I know a few of them and this is what they think.

They feel Obama has somehow enabled black people to swarm in and overwhelm small town America. They have no specifics, of course, but they talk about looser welfare rules, secret programs to move black people out of big cities, etc. I find this intriguing and frustrating at the same time. Intriguing because it's interesting to see how propaganda works. Frustrating because people can't seem to think for themselves.

[MountCleaners]

63. Reminds me of this article

It reminds me of this article from the Chicago Reader, about the Chicago neighborhood that supported Trump:

http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2017/01/20/inauguration-bar-hopping-in-chicagos-most-pro-trump-neighborhood

Mike added that "Obama phones" (actually a pre-Obama, nongovernmental program to provide free or low-cost cellular service to low-income households) also threw the local populace into a rage. "It was a huge contributor to why people were angry, and that's what led them to vote the shit out of Trump."

[AwakeAtLast]

68. Maybe other "WWC" are not so racist

And refused to set foot in an obviously racist's bar.



But go ahead, blame Obama.

[ck4829]

69. What a sad little man

I watched the video and honestly, I ALMOST felt sorry for him for just a moment; and then I quickly remembered he's scapegoating the failure of his business on minorities and he has nothing more to say about the white customers at his old bar... guess they weren't your friends if they decided to up and leave you like that, ever think about that? But even if his story is true, he makes no attempt to cater to changing demographics.

No golden haired man-child will make your life better unless you think that by making the lives of those you deem inferior worse then your life will improve... but I think he thinks just that.

[kimbutgar]

79. How could he blame Obama for people moving into his area?

There is no logic to that?

Oops I forgot we're talking about a racist chump supporters who is not living in fact based reality.

My bad.