Murtha: Western Pa. 'racist' but Obama should win

[babsbunny]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081015/ap_on_el_pr/murtha_obama_racism

By KIMBERLY HEFLING, Associated Press Writer
36 minutes ago


WASHINGTON - Democratic Rep. John Murtha said Wednesday his home base of western Pennsylvania is racist and that could reduce Barack Obama's victory margin in the state by 4 percentage points.

The 17-term Democratic congressman told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in a story posted Wednesday on its Web site: "There is no question that western Pennsylvania is a racist area."

Murtha said it has taken time for many Pennsylvania voters to come around to embracing a black presidential candidate, but that Obama should still win the state, though not in a runaway.

[OneGrassRoot]

1. Yep, that's where I grew up and still have family.....

between those hardcore racists, hardcore racist family in southern Alabama, and where I currently live in a very red part of North Carolina, no wonder I believe the vast majority of Americans are racists and bigots.

Please tell me there are areas that AREN'T like this. I can't see it...all I see is ugliness all around, and it's getting worse with Palin and the closer 11/4 gets.

[rosesaylavee]

3. Don't worry... I don't think most areas are like that at all.

You are just choosing to be a beacon of light in some pretty dim corners of the country.

Hang in there!

:hug:

[OneGrassRoot]

4. Thanks, I really needed that....

:hug:

[Hope And Change]

2. LOL.Murtha reminds me a little bit about Gov. Ed Rendell.They are both "old school".

[JustAnotherGen]

5. Murtha is aok

He took my call a few years ago when I called to thank him for insisting we pull back over the horizon in Iraq. I called at like 7:30 in the morning, got a staffer, told him I'd like to thank him, and so he put him on. I'm not even from PA! :rofl:

I'm glad he's telling the truth. He's not exactly a wilting flower. Popular way or not - he's calling his constituents out.

[OneGrassRoot]

6. Speaking of Western PA, anyone in the Pittsburgh area hear....

right-wingers screaming something about KDKA and Obama getting free air time and the employees have been told not to criticize him?

:shrug:

Just got a call from one of those relatives up there, screaming something about communism, but I didn't get the gist of what the heck she was talking about. The above is all I caught from the rant.

I'd love to find the source of her rantings.

Thanks. :)

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

8. I live in the northern suburbs of Pittsburgh. I found this info on the topic...

Personally, I NEVER listen to talk radio. But I found this on kos:

Conservative talk radio program smacks down host/gives Obama 3 hrs of airtime
by michelle
Wed Oct 15, 2008 at 11:54:14 AM PDT
Wow. I just happened to turn on the radio while making lunch. I like talk radio. Unfortunately, in the Pittsburgh, PA area, I only get KDKA (1020 AM which calls itself the first radio station) .

Kevin Miller is the 12:00-3:00 p.m. host. He also makes himself very available to fill in for other hosts, hence more airtime for him. He states he is an Independent, but spends all his time talking smack about Obama. Well, he got smacked down by the station today! Weeee....

Follow me below the fold

michelle's diary :: ::
The program director just announced that that the station has received numerous complaints about his program and his treatment of Obama. As a result, the station has contacted the Obama campaign and offered them 3 hours of radio during any Kevin Miller shift they want. Kevin was told he cannot speak during these 3 hours; he is allowed to run the control panel. Even that much participation is tentative.

I have never heard of such an event occuring in talk radio! I've been a listener since the 1980's.

I've called his program before and commented on his M.O. He picks a trite issue, that is not even an issue until he rambles on about it for two days. He plays insulting soundbites (last week he played the theme to The Jeffersons, an old TV show about a black family moving up the econmic ladder. He claimed it was "uplifting" when in actuality the way he presented it was quite derogatory). Whenever I brought up factual comments in response to his, he was quick to play the 'Bill Clinton' card.

What's odd though, the whole station essentially bashes Obama, Democrats, liberals,etc. Oh, and I should add that Kevin is the one who gets the top right wing political interviews, like Guilianni. He has also been on O'Rielly, Laura Ingrahm and other conservative programs.

The station streams live, if anyone cares to check him out.

http://www.kdkaradio.com You can also send comments to the host on their website which they sometimes address on-air.

Right now, callers vary from agreement with the managements decision, to stating that this is an example of what Obama will do to free speech.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/15/141520/73/200/631367

[OneGrassRoot]

9. Thanks! It seems it was a business decision on the part of CBS....

albeit, IMHO, a poor one since it can be interpreted as censorship, but certainly nothing initiated by the Obama camp. I hope they send Franco in there to speak on Obama's behalf or something. :)

[qanda]

7. For anybody who has lived there knows exactly what he's talking about