Murtha calls W. PA. racist area

[Merge]

All cops don't hang out at donut shops?? Wow, you learn something new everyday.

BTW, Murtha is a loudmouth idiot.

[KyleMayket]

Someone I know quite well who's in their 60's said they refuse to vote for Obama because we'll fall under Muslim rule and all our freedoms will go away. I just couldn't believe it.
I tried to explain that just because he's Muslim doesn't mean terrorism will explode in this country...that's like saying all cops hang out at donut shops.

...umm...Obama's not a Muslim...He's Christian, only his father was Muslim, but he left when Barack was very young, so he went to church with his mother and grandparents, Christians. He just has a Muslim name.

[KyleMayket]

All cops don't hang out at donut shops?? Wow, you learn something new everyday.

BTW, Murtha is a loudmouth idiot.

I don't agree with that statement, but it is your opinion, but it will be a sad sad day for the Johnstown area when he leaves office. He's brought so much business into this area, that when he's gone, and they no longer have tax breaks or incentives to stay, they're gone, and (estimate) 65% of the good jobs in the area will be gone. It's gonna be like the mills just closed down again.

[Merge]

I don't live in PA so I don't know what he's done up there. From what you're saying it seems like he's a lot, and that's good. He just needs to be quiet.

[KyleMayket]

I don't live in PA so I don't know what he's done up there. From what you're saying it seems like he's a lot, and that's good. He just needs to be quiet.

he is getting pretty old and senile about now.

[YankeeRose]

Never thought my mother would ever change her mind and support Obama (WHOO, the things she had said in months past! ), but that day has arrived. Hawk, I wonder what that neighbor thinks of the 2 Obama signs on your street.

[f.sciarrillo]

John Moody got it right - He is executive Vice President of Fox News and is from central PA.

October 15th, 2008 6:00 PM Eastern
Moody to Murtha: What a Jagoff

I proudly hail from western Pennsylvania, a beautiful part of the United States. John Murtha, the Democratic congressman from Johnstown, Pa., just said something unforgivable about my home. He said, “There is no question that western Pennsylvania is a racist area.”

The congressman was sliming his neighbors, and me, because he thinks Barack Obama would be even further ahead in Pennsylvania were it not for racial bias on the part of the state’s residents. Obama leads by 13 percent according to RealClearPolitics.com

I’m sure there are racists in Pennsylvania. They probably exist in all 50 states. Further, there are probably some who discriminate against others whose skin color is not like theirs in Harlem, south central LA, and downtown Philadelphia.

Congressman Murtha served his country honorably in the military; I did not. So I was hesitant to criticize him earlier when he maligned our troops in Iraq. But I’m just as much a Pennsylvanian as he is. And for making such ugly comments about a wonderful part of the country, he can go to hell. I don’t mean to be ungracious, but he started it.

We have a name for people like Jack Murtha: jagoff.

Some one should put the POS Murtha out in the field, as his time has come..

[ZappasXWife]

I tried to explain that just because he's Muslim doesn't mean terrorism will explode in this country...that's like saying all cops hang out at donut shops.

RFBuck, I get your point, but you do know he's not Muslim, right? Wow. And f.sciarello (sp?sorry), dude you just plain scare me. I think this Murtha guy knows what he's talking about. It's embarrassing. Gallowglass, you are so funny (for an Irish alcoholic anyway. Oh, that is so redundant). Or are you Scottish? I forget....oh well they are basically the same.

[ToonaRockGuy]

An interesting point someone mentioned to me the other day. By the year 2018 the White person will be the minority in America.....

News flash...

You already are.

[VENTGtr]

I've been ignoring the political threads for a while, simply because some of the
stuff is bizarrely unbelievable.

If one lives in Western Pennsylvania and does not vote
for Obama, are they racist?

Not necessarily, but they've got to be insane.

I'm from here as well, and if you don't know that racism is alive and well, you're
not paying attention. That was obvious before this election cycle. Racism is about
the stupidest thing there is. AND, I know, and am related to, a lot of people who
are completely racist. They're simply ignorant (And that's all racism is). The hope
is that younger people are smarter, but just last Friday I heard a girl, about 21-22
say to someone "I f-in hate n****rs" (Censoring, obviously, mine).

Someone I know quite well who's in their 60's said they refuse
to vote for Obama because we'll fall under Muslim rule and all our freedoms will
go away. I just couldn't believe it. I tried to explain that just because he's Muslim
doesn't mean terrorism will explode in this country...that's like saying all cops hang
out at donut shops.

Well, he's not Muslim, and who cares if he is. Timothy McVeigh was Christian, yet
that seems to be the religion people are "supposed" to be. Anyone ever KNOWN
anyone who IS Muslim? I have and do and they're friends.

Heard a woman say "I think if he gets in he'll give all the power to black people
and they'll be mean to us". Not sure who her "us" is or how she thinks this would
unfold...but that's part of the ignorance.

[Ron]

An interesting point someone mentioned to me the other day. By the year 2018 the White person will be the minority in America.....

News flash...

You already are.

I'm not sure where you guys are getting your info, but according to the US census there is no evidence at all to support that view. Between 2000 and 2005 (the last two census years) the white population had the biggest increase out of all races, up from 75% to 80%. Look it up.

[Banned]

Someone I know quite well who's in their 60's said they refuse to vote for Obama because we'll fall under Muslim rule and all our freedoms will go away. I just couldn't believe it.
I tried to explain that just because he's Muslim doesn't mean terrorism will explode in this country...that's like saying all cops hang out at donut shops.

.....I thought all cops do hang out in donut shops

[VENTGtr]

.....I thought all cops do hang out in donut shops

I like donuts. Sounds like a good job.

[Hawk]

68% of America is white if you do not include Hispanics.

If you include Hispanics who identify themselves as white, the percentage increases to 76%

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racial_dem ... ted_States

68% of all Hispanics identify themselves as white. I think that represents about 24.4 million Hispanics who identify themselves as white.

Total USA population is around 305,425,000

[Gallowglass]

... Gallowglass, you are so funny (for an Irish alcoholic anyway. Oh, that is so redundant). Or are you Scottish?

I am (in order): Scottish (Hebridean variety) and Scots-Irish (which is it's own thing, sometimes also called "Ulster-Scots"), and Irish. I am also Germanic (German & Norwegian). By far the single biggest ethnicity is Scottish, but I am very proud of my Irish heritage.

I forget....oh well they are basically the same.

From a certain historical viewpoint, I can see your point (especially within the context of my particular family, who had feet evenly planted in both the Hebrides and Northern Ireland), but some of my family just rolled over in their graves. In fact, our family name was systematically Anglicized in the 1840's (from the original MacGillFedders) to avoid confusion with the incoming waves of potato famine Irish.
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Now to the actual topic of the thread...Sure racism is alive and well in Western/Central PA. It's alive all over the world. It makes the world go round. Some people who are advocates against racism are probably the most racist people I've ever met, advocating things like "affirmative action". In the modern PC world just being proud of one's ethnicity is often labeled "racist" if that happens to be a white ethnicity (if you don't believe me just look up some of the "warning signs" of potential "domestic terrorists" as defined under the Patriot Act).

Now, to carry that pride over into discriminatory practice is where things go wrong. I don't care if you're white, black, Irish, Scottish, German, Slavic, Jew, Hindu, Muslim, red, yellow, purple, Catholic, Protestant, or Pagan. If you're cool, you're cool. If you're an asshole, you're an asshole. John Murtha is an asshole. I think that what he's doing is race baiting for a desired political effect. It's wrong and it doesn't do anything towards promoting constructive relations between blacks & whites. It's meant to play on "white guilt", and casts immediate suspicion upon anyone who dares to criticize Obama. The bigger evil here is another form of prejudice, namely that of party politics. It's OK for Murtha to spew this kind of destructive vitriol if it helps his guy get in the "White" House. It's pretty pathetic and I'm sorry some people fall for it.

[VENTGtr]

No, it's meant to point out that a lot of people in this region won't
vote for someone based on the colour of their skin. I had a coupl'a
people from other parts of the country see what was going' on rallys
at Lehigh, and elsewhere in PA say "Seriously?". Ya, it is and it's
pathetic, a national/international embarrassment that people are
that backwards.

[songsmith]

[Scots-Irish (which is it's own thing, sometimes also called "Ulster-Scots"), and Irish.

Me, too! My family is all pre-Famine, though, except my mother's father, who was 2nd-generation Irish. He even spoke with a brogue.


Anyway, John Murtha is an excellent politician. He knows, like Bud Shuster did, how to bring home the bacon (and other pork) to his district. While Blair County adds WalMarts and other min-wage jobs, Murtha was bringing tank-builders and anti-aircraft-missile builders to Cambria. He's been around a million years, and swings a buttload of weight in some very powerful congressional committees. Like him or not, he's going to be re-elected as many times as he wants.
He also has a big mouth, and and a real lack of timing. However, you must admit, statements like his latest gaffe attract a LOT of attention from the conservative punditry and the far right base. While the talkers are going on and on about how awful he is, Obama climbs another few points in the polls, 'cause they're not still hammering HIM. It worked for Bush... everytime he'd trip on his doodads, we'd get another terrible story about a little white girl going missing, and the media would go look at that, instead of the screw-up. Now that there's nothing left as bait in the shell-game opf Bush politics.
Don't ever forget, Obama's biggest asset is his diametric difference to Bush. He could be purple and green plaid, and he'd still get elected on a "change" platform, because everybody wants change from the situation we're in now. And those who don't, aren't voting. They're mad because they wanted Romney or Giuliani, and didn't get them. Rush and Ann Coulter both said in no uncertain terms during the primaries that if McCain won the nomination, they'd campaign for Hillary. It seems the "divide and conquer" strategy backfired, Republicans are divided, guess what happens in 3 weeks...------>JMS

[Gallowglass]

No, it's meant to point out that a lot of people in this region won't
vote for someone based on the colour of their skin. I had a coupl'a
people from other parts of the country see what was going' on rallys
at Lehigh, and elsewhere in PA say "Seriously?". Ya, it is and it's
pathetic, a national/international embarrassment that people are
that backwards.

I got some Kool aid & a bridge if you're interested...

This stuff is all for political effect. It just so happens to coincide with an actual trend in the thinking of some Central/Western Pennsylvanians. Unfortunately, this trend is not exclusive to our area. I know plenty of folk who are voting for Barack simply because he is black and represents "change"; even though they can't elucidate any of his platforms or policies.

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Quote: Johnny wrote a bunch of stuff....

On the Scots-Irish stuff. I think it's incredibly cool you're in touch with that. Almost all the Ulster Irish emigrants were pre-famine. Many, many, many of them came right here to Central PA. The biggest period of emigration was the early-mid 18th century (for example, we came here in 1716 on Pop's side & 1746 on mum's). Pop's side had left from Glasgow, but had been a presence in Ulster off and on since the 14th century (they are a branch of the Clan MacDonald). Today, the name "Kilfeathers" (which is another Anglicization of my family name) is most common in the city of Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Lots of these folks (as you well know) are at the core of what we know today as bluegrass.

I agree, Murtha is an excellent politician (for all the reasons stated). That's why I can't stand him. I also agree that the divide & conquer strategy has backfired on the Reps (good for those bastards), but it isn't exclusive to them alone. It seems to be pretty common to both major parties and all the pundits alike. I think "we the people" should take a closer look at all those in power and quit buying into the rhetoric. We certainly aren't being represented very well. Hell, that's why all those pesky Scots-Irish came here in the first place.

[VENTGtr]

I'm not talking about Murtha, per se. Couldn't care less. Also, it should noted
that he did clarify later.

BUT, what he said is, in large part, true. To deny that is just being dishonest.
It's sad that it is, but to crucify him for telling the fact of the matter is ridiculous.

You're saying you know people who are saying "I wouldn't vote him, but I will
because he's black.".? Come on. The "change" part, certainly. I'd hope so.

BTW, like the Scot/Irish thing. I'm neither, but like anything PA-historical.

[Gallowglass]

I'm not talking about Murtha, per se. Couldn't care less. Also, it should noted
that he did clarify later.

BUT, what he said is, in large part, true. To deny that is just being dishonest.
It's sad that it is, but to crucify him for telling the fact of the matter is ridiculous.

Ok, all I'm saying is that it's politically expedient. Murtha could care less about the larger issue.

You're saying you know people who are saying "I wouldn't vote him, but I will because he's black.".? Come on. The "change" part, certainly. I'd hope so.

No, sorry, I may have been unclear. These people haven't expressed that they wouldn't vote for him otherwise, but have changed their opinion just because he's black. They are instead expressing that they are only voting for him because he's black in the first place. They haven't delved deep enough into his policies to know whether they would have supported him otherwise or not. Their rational is that it's "time" for it. I also knew people who were going to vote for Hillary just because it was "time" to see a woman in the White House. Some of those people have shifted their focus to McCain just because he has picked Palin as VP, crazy as it might seem. The American electorate as a whole is pretty shallow.

BTW, like the Scot/Irish thing. I'm neither, but like anything PA-historical.

Cool. The Scots-Irish were the group in question concerning the Whisky Rebellion (intentional spelling). I can imagine that if Washington hadn't abused executive power and chased these people off to Kentucky and Tennessee, there might be a booming Burbon industry right here in PA.

[JackANSI]

You're saying you know people who are saying "I wouldn't vote him, but I will
because he's black.".? Come on. The "change" part, certainly. I'd hope so.

Its not like whitie hasn't voted someone in office just because he's white.

Heck its not even close that the best person for the job actually gets elected.

Hard-line christians vote for pro-life only.

People vote for the stupid reasons... not the ones that actually matter. Thats why the government is the way it is today.

Edit: to be surprised by that fact means you are/were one of them.

[songsmith]

I wish I knew more about my Ulster-Scot roots. Is there a website that can tell me where my ancestors likely came from exactly, based on name? My family names include Stapleton, McCarty, Putt and Stevens (though the Stevens side I actually know very little about). It's been passed down in my family that we came to Maryland in the mid 1700's, and wended our way up to Huntingdon Co, where we've been ever since. PA history is awesome!------->JMS

[Lisa]

One thing I have to give Obama credit for...you do not hear him say to vote for him because he's black...or because he is going to make history by being the first black man. Other black men who have tried to run and never had as much success have stated this during their campaign. Obama does not want the vote because he's black.

See Hawk...I can find good in everyone...lol.

[songsmith]

One thing I have to give Obama credit for...you do not hear him say to vote for him because he's black...or because he is going to make history by being the first black man. Other black men who have tried to run and never had as much success have stated this during their campaign. Obama does not want the vote because he's black.

Word. Jesse Jackson was horrible about that.------>JMS

[JackANSI]

If we didn't have TV or pictures in newspaper, only radio, and he changed his name to Bill Smith, I'd swear Obama was white anyway...