Sure. Many white voters voted for Clinton because they reached a reasoned choice that she was the best candidate. Many, in Kentucky and West Virginia, did not make reasoned choices. They made choices based on uneducated reliance on talk radio falsehoods about Obama’s religion, or his what they think his preacher said. They did it in a context where Clinton tried to run up her vote totals with blatant appeals to the prejudice of less educated, “hard working, white Americans”.

Oregon, with similar ratios of rural white voters to urban voters but higher overall education levels and no history of lynchings, voted for Obama. I heard a co-worker explain his vote for Clinton as: “I am not prejudiced against black people. I have had many black folks work for me on my farm, but the only time I ever had to discipline my workers was over ‘the blacks.’” A friend in Monticello was told by her young, Kentucky college educated preacher that her vote for Obama would lead to “the blacks taking over if ‘they’ ever get in control.”

Hard not to see racism at work even if most folks–but not all–have learned no more than not to use the “N” word in unfamiliar company. I lived in Breathitt County where I lived on what was locally called “n—– hill” next to the African American cemetery in a county which had fewer than 10 African American residents, and where my black clients from “Slabtown” in neighboring Lee County wanted their appointments scheduled in mid-day so they could be out of the county before dark. Lexington sold slaves on “Cheapside” and “Quality” streets and still has segregated neighborhoods, churches, and schools. Tubby Smith was great as long as he won, but just another “n—–” to folks in the sports bars when he lost.

Merlene is right, and more restrained than she has reason to be!

Well said, Merlene!