Gov. Matt Blunt today issued a fiery statement responding to remarks by a St. Louis University political scientist in a St. Louis Beacon article.
Professor Ken Warren told the Beacon that “unequivocally that the racist vote in rural Missouri cost [Obama] the state.”
“People don’t like to use that term, but what else do you call it? We have the data to support that.”
Warren, who conducted an exit poll for the Beacon on Election Day, noted that in the St. Louis area, Obama did better than Democrat Claire McCaskill did in her successful run for the U.S. Senate in 2006. But he was unable to get enough strength in outstate Missouri to defeat McCain, where McCaskill was able to match her urban showing with enough votes in rural areas to defeat incumbent Sen. Jim Talent.
“There was a redneck vote in the rural areas,” Warren said about Obama’s showing.
“Why did Obama not do as well as other Democratic candidates? Unquestionably, it was not over the issues. People don’t vote by and large on the issues. They vote on visceral responses.
“Why did they vote for Nixon, (Chris) Koster, (Robin) Carnahan — three white people — and not vote for Obama? There’s no question that in rural areas, they’re not going to vote for a black guy.”
In response, Blunt issued a statement saying Missourians voted for the candidate they believed best represented their views and values.
“Ken Warren’s allegation that President-elect Obama lost Missouri because ‘the racist vote in rural Missouri cost him the state’ is not only detestable, it is absolutely incorrect. Both the liberal New York Times and conservative Wall Street Journal published articles today on how race was a relatively minor factor in electing our new president.
“Like many Missourians I supported John McCain for President, but now is the time to put the contest behind us. Americans should rally together to support the next President of the United States Barack Obama and not make inflammatory statements that are untrue, offensive and divisive.”
Read the St. Louis Beacon story here.
I grew up in St. Charles and that place looks progressive compared to rural Missouri.
At my “christian” high school, a noose was hung from a gym locker. The students were expelled, but allowed to return the following semester.
Anyone who believes race was not a factor should have their head examined. Parts of Missouri are definitely redneck.
Posted by Douglas Duckworth | 07. Nov, 2008, 7:23 AMAs someone who grew up in rural Missouri in a farming town of 632 people, I would have to agree with Professor Warren. When an interracial couple from nearby Whiteman Air Force Base moved in a couple doors down from us, we started hearing comments from people around town about that “zebra” couple down the street. It’s amazing I managed to grow up with parents who were above that and taught my brother and I to think differently. But Professor Warren is right. Regardless of what Governor Blunt says, there is still a large portion of rural Missouri that is still racist to the core.
Posted by Curtis | 07. Nov, 2008, 8:09 AMWarren’s comments are unbelievable. To characterize an entire area as racist just because they didn’t vote for Obama is reckless and ignorant. What about the 50 plus million people who voted for McCain? Does he classify them as racists as well? If this is the kind of person who is teaching our children, then I am quite fearful – Warren should apologize immediately. Kudos to Gov. Blunt for standing up to these baseless attacks.
Posted by Harris | 07. Nov, 2008, 12:05 PMBlunt is totally right. Warren needs to take his reverse racism (love that term!) B.S. and shove it.
Posted by Turd Ferguson | 07. Nov, 2008, 1:35 PMSomething PubDef readers may want to know–efforts to dismantle affirmative action succeeded in Nebraska and failed in Colorado. This is only in those particular states for state issues. There is no affirmative action in California and Washington.
Posted by butterfly | 07. Nov, 2008, 3:04 PMWashington State, if there is any confusion
Posted by butterfly | 07. Nov, 2008, 3:05 PMAs someone who grew up in North St. Louis City blacks in general do not accept one another and prefer not to be neighbors. Most voted for Obama because of Iowa and hope the White Man will accept them, how ironic!
Posted by Independent Voter | 09. Nov, 2008, 10:02 PMI grew up in St. Louis County when it was still rural, lived in St. Louis city, St. Charles County, Warren County and Montgomery County. Yes, there is racism and yes it was a major factor (not for all, but many) in the rural areas. St. Charles had the largest voter turnout in the state I believe, and I have heard MANY racist comments leading up to the election.
Posted by native missourian | 11. Nov, 2008, 8:21 AMYeah, me too. They go along the lines of “You don’t support Obama? You racist redneck!”
Posted by Turd Ferguson | 11. Nov, 2008, 10:37 AMNo, I’m serious. I’m also sure that there have been unjust accusations against Republicans as you claim. But I’m not making this up.
Posted by native missourian | 11. Nov, 2008, 12:45 PM