NASCAR fans boo First Lady before start of Ford 400 race

[kpete]

Source: The Morning Call

NASCAR fans boo First Lady before start of Ford 400 race

By Juan C. Rodriguez
Sun-Sentinel
7:42 p.m. EST, November 20, 2011

HOMESTEAD—
NASCAR fans booed First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, before the start of the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Obama and Biden served as Ford 400 Grand Marshals, where they addressed the drivers’ meeting Sunday afternoon before presiding over the ceremonial starting of the engines for Sunday's race.


“I know this is a big day for all of you so we’re not going to take up your time because you need to be focused,” Obama said. “We just wanted to stop by and say thank you. NASCAR has just been amazing in terms of its support not just today, but everyday of military families.

“What Joining Forces is trying to do is rally the country to make sure these families feel the same kind of support from this country they’ve given us. One percent of our country serves and they protect the freedoms of the other 99 percent of us. ...


Read more: http://www.mcall.com/sports/motorracing/sfl-nascar-homestead-michelle-obama-20111120,0,2306349.story

[JustAnotherGen]

1. Keep it Klassy

:sarcasm: IndieTeaPublicans

[pbrower2a]

2. NASCAR fan demographics

In 2000 and 2004 the Republican Party targeted NASCAR fans as likely voters for the GOP.

[JoePhilly]

14. Makes sense ... a government controlled by the GOP only goes in around in circles too.

[Remmah2]

22. Good one!

LOL!

Been known to crash too!

[iscooterliberally]

39. The funny thing is that while they go in circles, they turn left. n/t

[BanTheGOP]

50. I wrote about this years and years ago...

..so I'll just bring it back again.

Original NASCAR rant

[sylveste]

55. wow that

was a stupid. there are minority participants in nascar.
wish i could get the two minutes spent reading that back.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[angry citizen]

7. You are right

These are the same people who constantly listen to the pre-packaged hate on talk radio, however a little respect would have been nice.

[No Elephants]

8. Less hypocrisy? Please see Reply 4.

FYI, regional biases/stereotypes violate DU rules.

[flpab]

13. They are very rich Republicans, I live in Daytona

I see the jets, see the people at the track and many are very rich people. Just because we are from Fl does not mean we are poor rednecked hillbillies.

[DainBramaged]

32. You are assumed to be a redneck as are Union members assumed to be lazy

rhe current crop here seems to think that it's OK to kick certain sports and labor as a means to make themselves more acceptable to the limousine liberals here.


Most of these folks here have never even been out of their own home state.

[era veteran]

9. Enough with stereotyping

[PearliePoo2]

11. They shouldn't have been scheduled for this event in the first place.

and I mostly AGREE with your assessment. (you forgot the "Bud drinkin' " adjective though!) ;)

[DainBramaged]

24. Your generalization of NASCAR fans is ignorant to say the least

meh for ignorance. and JUST LIKE DU treats Union members, NASCAR fans are allowed to be insulted by the ignorant here.

[Critters2]

45. Booing the First Lady is the embodiment of ignorance. nt

[Fawke Em]

27. Firstly, hillbillies fought for the North - they are

hardly the model for Southern racism.

Secondly, it's the NASCAR demographic more than the location. I'm willing to bet you'll find the same "knuckle draggers" at the track in Pocono as you would in Bristol.

[DainBramaged]

29. Demographic has changed nationwide, but I don't expect people here to care to do research

Meh for ignorance.

[Fawke Em]

33. I'm sure it has changed some, but my point was

that a NASCAR fan is a fan whether they are in Tennessee or Pennsylvania.

My beef was more that the poster assumed only redneck Southerners like the sport, which is patently untrue.

[DainBramaged]

34. You're sure it's changed

meh.


Beating up on NASCAR fans is approved here, just like beating up on Unions.


DU needs to relearn it's own roots.

[Fawke Em]

38. I don't beat up on Unions.

I only drive American-owned cars and would prefer to always support American unions. Wish that I could.

That said, most NASCAR fans I know do fit the stereotype, even though I know that's anecdotal.

[Kurmudgeon]

35. Agreed with Fawke Em. WV Hillbillies left Virginia to stay in the Union.

[No Elephants]

4. If we had booed Laura and Lynne, they would have excoriated us.

As it was, I was told again and again I had to respect Dummya, simply because he was President.

Republicans have to be the most hypocritical group on the planet, outside Ron Paul and his spawn.

Then again, Ron Paul used to be Rethug.

Besides, they were invited to be the Grand Marshalls. They were honored guests. Just on courtesy ground alone, this is disgusting.

[Hubert Flottz]

5. Bush Worship is the reason I haven't watched a race since 2004.

NASCAR isn't even there, if you change the channel.

[mwb970]

6. NASCAR: Non-Athletic Sport Centered Around Rednecks. /nt

[DrDan]

10. so, which idiot thought this would be a good idea. nt

[ejbr]

12. Au contraire..

I would claim that they were booing the military. They do not support our troops. Shameful! (That's my story and I'm sticking to it)

[SkyDaddy7]

20. EXACTLY!

They were there to support the troops & EVERYONE should have come together for that but REDNECK NATION following their orders from Talk Radio decided the troops were not important enough to be civil & respectful...Not to mention the respect one should give the First Lady & the VP's Wife.

What disgust me is most Americans & including the troops think the Republicans do more for the troops well being than the Democrats do...Despite the fact the Democrats had to use the threat of a filibuster in 2005 just to get the Republicans & Bush to fully fund the VA at a time when more troops were coming home from Iraq with body parts missing than at any other time since 9/11.

Plus, Michelle Obama has worked very hard to see to it that the troops have everything possible to help them when they come home & this is how REDNECK NATION thanks her...DISGUSTING!!

[ejbr]

54. +1 n/t

[Gman]

15. A dog bites man story

[TheCowsCameHome]

16. How long did they practice going "boo" before all got it right?

At least three weeks is my guess.

[jberryhill]

Because NASCAR fans are pigs

[DainBramaged]

23. Your generalization pisses me off more than you could possibly realize

You don't have to be a beer-swilling, knuckle-dragging redneck to enjoy NASCAR, and I think your comment reflects back on yourself.





:mad:

[jberryhill]

25. Good

I grew up watching stock car races. Eventually, it became evident that it was a culture of which I wanted no part.

[DainBramaged]

28. It's only a culture if you WANT to be part of it

Merry Christmas, and I don't mean Happy Holidays

[Lugnut]

40. Am I?

Pigs are obviously smarter than you are.

[jberryhill]

42. It's DU... any class of undesirable persons can be denominated as such

[LeftinOH]

17. Who could have predicted such a reaction from the NASCAR crowd?

:sarcasm: Everyone EXCEPT the First Lady's handlers, that's who.

[Vidar]

18. Totally boorish behavior. Spouses should be off limits from

attacks based on what their husbands / wives have done. I despise Obama's political sellouts, but Michelle $ Jill Biden have both epitomized class, and have done nothing to merit catcalls from hooligans.

[mmonk]

19. Recommended but negated by someone's unrecommend.

[ZombieHorde]

21. Paying to see NASCAR is enough punishment for the booing audience.

Even football is more interesting than NASCAR, and football is really lame.

[Safetykitten]

26. And this is a surprise.... why?

[Bake]

30. A big black eye for NASCAR.

As if it needed another one.

And hey, if you dno't want to be stereotyped, don't ACT LIKE the stereotype. They may not be missing teeth, but they're still rude redneck teabaggers.

Bake

[DainBramaged]

36. You talking to me?

you have no idea who they are or were. But it's OK on DU to bash NASCAR and Unions and American car manufacturers but don't let any of the sacred chickens get mentioned or you'll be tombstoned.


DU has lost it's roots.

[Bake]

46. Hey, I live in KENTUCKY. I know what redneck means.

No, not all NASCAR fans are rednecks, but the ones who booed the First Lady are definitely rednecks. You didn't boo? Fine. You "might not be a redneck," to put it in Foxworthy terms.

I live among rednecks, even here in progressive Louisville, KY. Most of the rednecks I know are NASCAR fans.

American car manufacturers? The Fords and Chevys I see around here aren't exactly NASCAR jet-fuel-burners. I drive a Ford, by the way. And I belong to a UNION.

Bake

[DainBramaged]

31. NASCAR demographic for those of you who assume the fans are sub-humans

NASCAR FANS

Gender distribution
Male 60%
Female 40%

Age distribution
U.S. pop. NASCAR fans
18-34 32% 32%
35-44 21% 26%
45+ 47% 43%


Income distribution
U.S. pop. NASCAR fans
$30-50,000 22% 29%
$50-75,000 18% 22%
$75-100,000 12% 12%
$100,000+ 9% 8%


Regional distribution
U.S. pop. NASCAR fans
Northeast 20% 20%
Midwest 23% 24%
South 35% 38%
West 21% 19%


Ethnic diversity
% of NASCAR fan base (18+):
1999 2002 Trend
Hispanic 3.6% 8.6% +139%
African-American 4.9% 9.1% +86%
Source: NASCAR 2004 (I'd let ya chew on this for awhile)

And more recent


NASCAR FAN DEMOGRAPHICS DEMOGRAPHIC NASCAR FANS INDEX (compared to US average)

GENDER Men 62.4% 128 Women 37.6% 73 AGE 18-24 12.5% 99 45-54 20.8% 109 65+ 13.6% 80

OCCUPATION SUMMARY Construction, Extraction, Maintenance 9.3% 145 Production, Transportation, Material Moving 9.9% 127 White collar 39.4% 99 Blue collar 30.1% 119

HOUSEHOLD INCOME $100,000 or more 19.8% 97 $50,000 or more 55.9% 104 (how many of you are included in that income group?

RESIDENCE Own 74.7% 104 Rent 21.0% 88

ACTIVITIES OVER PAST 12 MONTHS Basketball 14.1% 130 Camping 24.0% 131 Fishing 31.3% 147 Golf 18.4% 145 Hunting 14.0% 176 Power boating 10.2% 145

EVENTS ATTENDED/PLACES VISITED LAST 12 MONTHS Busch Gardens (Williamsburg, Virginia) 1.5% 140 Country music concert 11.3% 155 Monster trucks 2.2% 194 NHRA 1.7% 227 PBR 1.4% 166 Supercross/Motocross 1.2% 185 WWE 1.5% 144



Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_demographics_of_Nascar#ixzz1eLrYYPh2

[Lugnut]

41. Bless your heart for trying to educate the ignorant.

As a fellow NASCAR fan I appreciate your efforts.

[DainBramaged]

48. There are people here who think 0-60 is the number of questions on Jeopardy

:hi:

[SixString]

37. Lotsa narrow minded broadbrushin' in this thread.

[bvar22]

43. I watched the race on TV.

Some Boos WERE audible in the background when Michele and Jill were introduced,
but there is no way to know what percentage participated.
Even Santa gets booed at NASCAR races.
Bush-the-Lesser was regularly Booed at sporting events.
There ARE assholes everywhere,
NASCAR is no exception.


I thought this is one of the smartest moves the Democratic Party has made in a long time.
Both Michele and Jill Biden REALLY did a fantastic job,
and seemed to enjoy being there.
Michele seemed to understand the cars, and the challenges faced by these the teams and drivers.
The Network gave them a BUNCH of On-the Air time,
and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Score a BIG ONE for Michele Obama and Jill Biden.

The race was superb,
with the two remaining competitors dueling for the championship down to the last lap.
Great show.
Exceptional performance.

Congrats to Tony Stewart for the WIN,
and KUDOS to Carl Edwards for the tremendous sportsmanship he showed after the race.
America NEEDS more examples of True Sportsmanship and Dignity & Grace in defeat.


Runner Up Carl Edwards has also been chosen by President Obama as a member of The Presidents Council on Fitness & Nutrition.
The Obama's are apparently more Open-Minded than many members of DU.



You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.
Solidarity99!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[savalez]

44. Agreed. It was a good move.

And we've got to stop painting all Nascar fans as RW nut jobs. It is not true and it does us no good to do so.

[DainBramaged]

47. The Obama's are apparently more Open-Minded than many members of DU.

Hear hear

[Lugnut]

51. Hear, hear!

:toast:

[toddwv]

49. Quote from a right-winger on a debate site that I frequent about this:

"Black people don't watch NASCAR...They only watch football and basketball. They are the ones who are racist. NASCAR fans know this. Black people don't belong in this sport. it's simple. Name one black Nascar racer or name any black fan you may know ok."

These people are truly deranged.

[Psephos]

52. What genius politico came up with this idea? It's like sending Walker to address a SEIU convention.

Seriously, Obama's political handlers better step up their game.

[KamaAina]

53. Way to support the troops, dillweeds

Jill Biden's stepson Beau served in Iraq, unlike 95% of the boobirds. :eyes: