"You Are Wrong About Trump Country"

[Staph]

When Democrats think about so-called “Trump Country,” they see a land of hopeless Trump-loving racists who insist on voting against their self-interest. Republicans see the kind of older, whiter electorate that can be led like sheep if you just say the magic words: coal, guns, abortion. Cable news networks see only what Trump happened to Tweet about within the past hour.

All of them are wrong.

Try to fit this into your stereotypes about the Appalachian Region and the people in it. A statewide strike has shut down every public school in the Trumpiest of places, the state of West Virginia. Regular, often Trump-voting, women illegally walked off the job, taking progressive, collective action. Every one of these teachers could be fired for their actions. They, along with public employees and service workers, are furious that the Republican-dominated legislature is giving them the shaft while giving away the store to the coal and natural gas industries.

By the thousands, a grassroots army flooded the Capitol in Charleston yesterday, chanting: “We’ll remember in November!” and “Tax your friends!” Oh, and they’re coming back today, and they were there last week, and they’ll be there next week.

Let me just be clear about the type of folks who showed up to protest. Imagine the world’s largest PTA meeting sprinkled with some dudes with tattoos in camo hats. This wasn’t some hippie, lefty, Berkeley-looking group. And they certainly weren’t bused in from out of state, as some on the right suggested. They are ordinary West Virginians who have the support of their communities and are disgusted with the Republican-dominated legislature and Gov. Jim Justice, a coal company owner who is one of the state’s few billionaires.

http://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/375209-you-are-wrong-about-trump-country


My sisters, my niece, my brother-in-law and nephew-in-law are on the picket lines. Those of you who are sure that your state is a progressive paradise and that West Virginia is Trump Central . . . well, you are so wrong! Republican legislators in suits are being yelled at and vilified by school teachers in jeans and sneakers. November 2018 is going to be a really interesting election in West Virginia.

By the way, Joe Manchin was on the picket line at the state capitol today.

[LuvLoogie]

1. Do they still want to kick people off medicaid? Build the wall?

Defund Planned Parenthood?

[Staph]

3. Did you even read the article?

[Squinch]

2. Who did they vote for in the election? By what margin? That means they ARE Trump Central.

Why did they vote for him? Because they believe coal is going to come back.

Teachers striking because they are among the lowest paid in the country is not a sign that they aren't voting stupidly. It's a sign that the ramifications of their votes are finally coming home to them. I wish them success, but they did go for Trump in a big way, and they vote in goofy ways so it's no surprise things are difficult.

So yes, it might be interesting in November, but no, we aren't wrong about them being Trump Central.

[Staph]

4. Did you even read the article?

[Squinch]

8. Yes, I did. Why do you ask? What is it that you think supports this contention that they

are not Trump Country? The fact that teachers have walked out? The article itself says that most of them voted for Trump and don't regret it.

Not really sure what you're seeing that makes them not trump country.

[D_Master81]

35. I believe....

The point of the article wasnt so much that they may not still believe much of that, but that its not a lost cause like many Progressives believe.

[Squinch]

38. If they come over, lovely. But there is a lot of much lower hanging fruit for us to

concentrate our efforts on.

[maxrandb]

5. Why they voted for him is an easy question to answer

Donnie Short Fingers voters, voted for him because he promised to hurt the people they wanted to see get hurt

I give them no credit for striking to get more money for THEMSELVES

I don't want to understand them.

I don't want to reach out to them.

I will never forgive them.

If this country and this world lasts for a billion more years, this historical shitstain will be on Americas reputation. No matter how many years pass, this administration will be right there in our history like a wet fart in church.

[Blaukraut]

13. You said it better than I ever could.

I don't care if they see the light now. A day late and a dollar short. And like you said - it's STILL only about themselves.

[appalachiablue]

18. So West Virginia was the decisive reason Trump won the election, amazing.

In a state with a total population of 1.5 mill, what about the 26.4% (188, 794 Democrats) who voted for Clinton? They're just stupid unforgivable trash too I suppose. Says much about perceptions and very familiar long held biases, no strangers to the Mountaineer state that incidentally gave JFK the Democratic Primary in 1960 for which he expressed genuine gratitude, and rural labor West Virginia which voted loyally, solidly and proudly Democratic from FDR through the 80s, 90s and more.

Some real stuff there, to borrow a phrase from Vice Pres. Biden.

Postscript: They don't need you to forgive them, reach out to them, or go anywhere near them-- any of 'them.'

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election_in_West_Virginia,_2016

[OAITW r.2.0]

26. Do you think these are Trump Voters/GOP/Putin supporters striking?

I certainly don't. I commend the strikers, but I don't think they represent the political majority in the state. Am I wrong? If so, West Virginia is another "red" state gamed by the GOP.

On edit, not a personal attack on you or your point...should have posted to the OP.

[Squinch]

32. All very well, but who did they vote for in the last election and by what margin?

The thesis of the article was that West Virginia was not "Trump Country." It most certainly is, and the article offers no evidence to the contrary.

[maxrandb]

34. First of all

I was not specifically speaking of West Virginia voters, and I don't give a damn if they don't want forgiveness.

Anyone who voted for this piece of shit, and after watching this shitshow...STILL SUPPORTS HIM can go fuck themselves.

I don't care if they're from Dumbfuckistan, Pennsylvania, West Virginia or California.

Quite frankly, I don't give a fuck what their excuses are for supporting this fascist piece of shit.

I don't give a fuck about those who voted for Hitler, and I don't give a fuck about those who voted for Donnie Short Fingers.

I only care that they get the shit beaten out of them at the polls this November, and that we put this fucking historic bowel movement out of it's fucking misery.

[appalachiablue]

37. The post you replied to #2 specifically referred to WEST VIRGINIA,

Last edited Mon Feb 26, 2018, 06:42 PM - Edit history (1)

stated 'they' voted for him because they believed coal was coming back, "TRUMP CENTRAL", and the TEACHERS ON WALK OUT IN WEST VIRGINA.

This is the entire focus of The Hill article OP, comments of the Op poster, a WEST VIRGINIAN with teacher- relatives in that state, and Appalachia stereotypes of "Trump Country." If you read the article.

Interesting to see you just expanded to Trumpers in PA, CA, etc.

The majority of states that went for Trump and there were many- MI, WI, NE, FL, and more BTW do not MINE COAL.

Yet these states and regions are Never referred to as "Trump Country" or "Coal Country," as are West Virginia and Central Appalachia. Why that is, why WV and Appalachia falsely get all the beat up and blame for Trump is because of the clear bias and ignorance, addressed in the OP.

The previous remarks I made are in order and stand.

[marylandblue]

6. It's a good article

Just more evidence that the Blue Wave is washing over the most unexpected places.

[Orange Free State]

7. I live close to WV but not in it.

I have spent considerable time there and know the people well. It is the damndest State you ever saw for people voting against their own best interests, time and time again. You may get a few to protest for better pay but not enough to ever flip the state blue. I ain’t buying it until I see it. IMHO These will be the very last people in America to admit that Trump does not have their welfare at heart and that they have been lied to. The place also has the worst opioid problem imaginable and they fear the war on opioids, because it will leave them high and dry. I bet the death rate from opiates is as high or higher per capita than many big cities.

I will say that if Trump loses support in WV, stick a fork in him, cause he’s done.

[Squinch]

9. They remain the state with the highest levels of support or Trump, so I agree.

[marylandblue]

11. He is slipping in the the polls in WV

This poll is from January 18. If the poll is correct, they found out they were lied to.


"A poll conducted by Charleston-based Orion Strategies and released Wednesday found that President Donald Trump has a 51 percent approval rating, down from 58 percent in a similar poll conducted in February 2017. Asked if Trump is bringing coal jobs back to the levels he promised in the campaign, 49 percent said no, while 41 percent believe he is."


https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/politics/trump-s-approval-rating-slipping-in-wv-statewide-poll-shows/article_975bf36f-b90d-517e-9155-f80101cad50a.html

[Honeycombe8]

24. The 41% who think Trump is helping coal are uninformed, apparently.

That's how stupid they are. I read a blip in an article this week something like:

Utility coal power closures driven by market economics were a regular occurrence throughout 2017. While President Donald Trump’s “Energy Dominance” agenda gave the false impression that federal efforts could revive coal, 27 coal-fired plants totaling 22 gigawatts (GW) of capacity were announced for early closure or conversion in 2017 – roughly one every 15 days since Trump’s election.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/energyinnovation/2017/12/18/utilities-closed-dozens-of-coal-plants-in-2017-here-are-the-6-most-important/#151a370f5aca

I read that coal production is up, but coal mining jobs are way down.

Trump knows nothing about nothing. Coal is slowly dying. How could those 41% not know that? Maybe they see what they want to see.

[marylandblue]

28. All humans see what they want to see n/t

[lunasun]

10. Still trumpers even the article said so

"ople in it. A statewide strike has shut down every public school in the Trumpiest of places, the state of West Virginia. Regular, often Trump-voting, women illegally walked off the job, taking progressive, collective action"

"If you polled the teachers who showed up to protest, odds are good that the majority voted for Trump and don’t regret it."

So....They have a problem and a democrat is helping them but they are still trumpers

[OhNo-Really]

12. Wow, the fog of delusion is lifting. Lose WV, lose the nation

So proud of these teachers. Maybe teachers everwhere will say ENOUGH too

[Staph]

15. Thank you for your understanding.

Most of the responses to my original post make me want to take a break from DU. West Virginians seem to be like fat people -- it's okay for everyone to make fun of them and put them down.

[OhNo-Really]

17. I am sorry and know how you feel. But please know this

There are players that are literally paid to attack and discourage (dis....courage) good hearted citizen journalists like you.

I have been at this for over 10 years and have developed a thick skin because I know the future depends on good people working together to offset the messages of the greedy, the racist, the haters, and the power hungry that make up the the majority of the GOP.

The GOP has carefully crafted divisive tactics to keep the people from realizing that we all rise and sink together.

I am saddened that things had to get unfair enough for the WV teachers etc to strike; however, I feel this and hopefully more strikes are long overdue.

The GOP power grip has ruined so much. ENOUGH. It will take incredible courage, but we have to change the present system that is financially and emotionally impoverishing this nation.

The kids need us to STRIKE

I don't know you, but my heart says we are cut from the same cloth.

🎆🙏🎆

[mentalslavery]

14. This is a good sign for WV and the nation...but it does not really mean that libs are wrong

about the fundamental problems with the electorate there...moreso and indicator that if kicked enough times....even the most loyal will flee...

[SHRED]

16. They still won't vote for Democrats

Good luck.

[SCantiGOP]

19. Encouraging

One of my best friends was from WV. He couldn’t figure it out. He said if it hadn’t been for FDR all of his family would have starved to death in the Depression, yet his cousins who still lived there (and were still generally poor) were all Reagan republicans.
Maybe poor white folks are getting woke!

[zentrum]

20. K for visibility

[irisblue]

21. Krystal Ball wrote a very hopeful article.I hope she's right.

The comments to the article, & there is no way to know where any of the people who replied are from W.Va, were sad.
I hope things change for the better.

[stonecutter357]

23. if you vote for a racist pig you are a racist pig ....

[Honeycombe8]

25. Proof positive that many people care only about themselves.

They were fine with Trump, when he bragged about molesting women, relished in calling ordinary citizens w/o power vile names, didn't produce his tax returns, lied almost every time he opened his mouth during the campaign, was overly negative and disgusting during the campaign, didn't disavow David Duke's endorsement, yelled that he'd keep refugees and Muslims out of the country, etc.

But now that they are effected by the false promises and impressions, they care.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

27. They voted for Trump.

And now they are redeemed because they are striking? What a disconnect. The fact that they are an important reason why Trump is our President is NOT mitigated by being out on strike. If, come November, they vote for Democrats in a huge way, then I'll cut them some slack. But until then . . . I'm just sorry that the rest of us are suffering from Trump.

Here's the important quote:

If you polled the people who showed up to protest, odds are good they voted for Trump and don't regret it.

So no, I don't think we're wrong about Trump Country.

[elleng]

29. Thanks, Staph, and a reminder,

Robert Carlyle Byrd was an American politician who served as a United States Senator from West Virginia from 1959 to 2010. A member of the Democratic Party, Byrd previously served as a U.S. Representative from 1953 until 1959, AND

John Davison "Jay" Rockefeller IV (born June 18, 1937) served as a Democratic United States Senator from West Virginia (1985-2015). He was first elected to the Senate in 1984, while in office as Governor of West Virginia (1977–85).

[lapfog_1]

30. "This wasnt some hippie, lefty, Berkeley-looking group."

so the prejudice and stereotypes work both ways, right?

Have you ever even been to Berkeley?

[Staph]

31. Did you even read the article?

I didn't write those words. Krystal Ball did, in the article in The Hill website.

[SammyWinstonJack]

33. Elections have consequences. Seems they're just now figuring that out.

The Gov. is a coal company owner and a billionaire.

[ananda]

36. Trying to rehabilitate yourselves with people who know better?

Trying to make yourselves look better in your own eyes?

Sheesh