CNN calls Indiana for Barack Obama

[Spiffarino]

Source: CNN Broadcast

This comes directly from John King on the air this morning.

No link yet.

---

Indiana is now Obama country, going to a Democrat for the first time since 1964. A bright-red state has turned blue.

[wryter2000]

1. Holy cannoli!

Yeehah!

[Skittles]

2. A W E S O M E

:thumbsup:

[snappyturtle]

3. From a native Hoosier: Glory Hallelujah! FINALLY. K&R nt

[Spiffarino]

10. I have deep roots in Indiana

My parents, their parents, and their parents were all born in Southern Indiana (Baron Hill's district). Before them were Swiss, German and Scots-Irish immigrants. I lived there 1963-64...the LAST time it went to a Democrat.

I am so proud and happy words can't express it.

[snappyturtle]

11. Me too, deep roots and the proud and happy part! I went to school in

Bloomington so I had the opportunity to explore the southern part of the state. I think it's the best part of IN! :hi:

[Vidar]

4. Considering the number of Klan members in Indiana, that's awesome.

[Spiffarino]

12. In 1925 Indiana helped destroy the KKK

Indiana's governor and Republican Party chairman were KKK back in the 20s, brought into power through the political clout of Grand Dragon D.C. Stephenson. When Stephenson was brought down by a rape scandal, he struck a deal with state law enforcement and named every person he put into office and outlined their corruption.

It was the death knell of the Ku Klux Klan in America. Once Stephenson was exposed, the Klan went from being a "legitimate" national organization with millions of members to a minor fringe group of a few dead-enders. It wouldn't rise again until the Civil Rights movement began, and even then it was largely confined to the South.

[douglas9]

17. Some would believe demise actually started in 1924 in South Bend

"Notre Dame Vs. the Klan: How the Fighting Irish Defeated the Ku Klux Klan" by Todd Tucker

one of the reviews of the book:

In 1924 the Klu Klux Klan was the largest and most powerful organization in Indiana. It boasted 350,000 members, one out of every three white men in the state. Among the many groups hated by the Klan was the Catholic church, whom they hated and feared because they were seen an aliens in a Protestant America.

On May 17th, thousands of Klansmen converged on South Bend with the intention of terrorizing the students of Notre Dame. A riot developed between the Klan and the students with the students eventually gaining the upper hand. This was the climax of the Klan's existence.

Within little more than a year, D. C. Stephenson the head of the Klan in Indiana was convicted of murder. From prison he engineered the release of documents that detailed the close relationship the Klan had with various elected officials, many of whom wound up in prison. Within another year membership in the Klan had fallen to 15,000. ==This book is well written, making the historical events come alive with his excellent characterizations of the key players and fast moving story.

http://www.amazon.com/review/product/0829417710/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?%5Fencoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

[Spiffarino]

19. Just when I thought...

...I knew something about history, here's comes a DUer with a piece of history I had never heard of. Thank you so much.

DUers = Da smartest peeple on teh internets!

[Vidar]

22. You are correct. I didn't have the names or dates handy, having only

seen it in a History Channel program.

[RainDog]

21. Eugene Debs was also an Indianan - 1st Socialist Presidential Candidate

His platform is now standard issue among American pols - Teddy R. adopted lots of it, and then FDR did the same.

The midwest has a along history of progressivism - along with the usual crap. Indiana was an important jazz state. A lot of the "Great American Songbook" came from Indiana too - Cole Porter and Hoagy Carmichael are native sons. The whole "what's the matter with kansas" thing was wondering what happened to the midwest's progressive roots.

hopefully we'll see more of them.

Republican Mitch Daniels won re-election, but his concession speech seemed aimed at claiming his share of the "Obama karma." - Future that works for young people - no divisive campaigns... I think he was aligning himself with moderate republicans rather than the culture warriors.

The cities with larger populations all went for Obama. I hope this race is the beginning of a new trend. Have to find work for the factory workers whose jobs have gone to Mexico, tho (ala RCA).

[Robbien]

5. Some credit needs to be given to the team of lawyers Obama sent over

to protect voting rights of Lake County Dem voters. The GOP was relentless in their efforts to throw out all their votes.

[Crowman1979]

6. I guess that John Cougar Mellencamp endorsement helped out!

[Historic NY]

16. Kick for John.

[JTFrog]

7. Yes We Did. n/t

[StarryNite]

8. Super!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[darkism]

9. WOW! This former Boilermaker is so proud of the state he spent so much time in.

As the Reverend Peyton (and his big damn band) would say, take me back to Indiana!

[Spiffarino]

13. Whooo! Go Purdue!

My dad was a graduate of the School of Engineering!

[aquart]

14. Finally. I know we didn't need it, but I wanted it.

[UU_Mom]

15. Wow.

As a native Hoosier and IU grad now living in Badger country, I can't even begin to express how pleased and astonished I am that Indiana went blue. I take a lot of ribbing up here for being from Indiana. No more. My Hoosier pride -- just like my American pride -- is back.

[bbgrunt]

20. Welcome to DU UU Mom. As a Wisconsin

resident who moved to Indiana last week with great apprehension and dread, I too am delighted! (But WI will be forever in my heart)

[bloomington-lib]

18. Here in Monroe County it was

Obama 66%
McCain 33%

There were people dancing in the streets.