Those "white- working class men, making under 50,000 - no college", voters who went for Hilary, wouldnt have voted for Obama anyway, those people are probably voting based on race . They figure they would rather vote for a woman, than a black man. Years ago those are the same people who would have never voted for a woman , but they have finally come to realize that, since their wives run the household , and they work with women on the job, and see the capability there , its not a crazy idea that a woman can be President. Besides, those men are are also voting for Bill. Hes charming, and hes flawed, hes human, just like them .

But they dont make up the entire picture ! My husband and I , are baby boomes in our 50's, together we,make 90,000. but indivually, we are in different sub-groups .My husband has a college degree,(masters) and a teaching certificate, but hes been union- blue collar for 20 years. ( Yeah, thats the republican economy for ya !) Hes about to retire but still needs to work, so his concern is the job market.

I have 2 years of college (a long time ago),and Ive been working retail. Downsizing is an ever present monster looming over my head, so my concerns are wages, and corporate stability.

We both like Obama, because he reminds us of Kenney, thats the plain and simple truth. Young, visionary and fresh enough not to be tainted by Washington politics. We feel Obama is that rare combination of formally educated and street smart. His plans are specific and a little radical, but we need the shake up. We like his plans for health care, unions in the workplace, and wage increases.

On a personal level, he has a calm demeanor, and can take a punch and give it back without blinking. He has a stable family ,( free of drama), and I feel he has the passion and capability to negoitate in Washington and get things done for us.

Basically, since we are democrats, we will vote for any democrat over McCain, in November. But if Obama wins the nomination, I think everyone will be very surprised as to how strongly, we come out to vote for him in November.

Your sign in name is appropriate. Who decides what the budget will be and what it will be spent on? Who has been in control of congress for the past 8 years? We all know that socialism / communism does not work - look at the world today. It seems as though the dems want to become more socialized every day.

Good post.I agree with you.In reality,only a small number of racists will not bring themselves "to vote for the colored guy".

I completly agree with nutmuffin. I'm an attorney living in a wealthy NYC suburb (Hillary's hometown actually -- she's literally my neighboor). We are definitely an Obama family, in a HUGE way -- I've actually given his campaign money and in 50 years I've never given a campaign one dime -- we love Obama for all the reasons nutmuffin notes -- but I'm from western PA -- from a gun-toting, uneducated, trailer park, coal mining town (it was a mining town -- until the mines and small factories closed, now it's a depressed shanty town). NO ONE where I'm from is voting for Obama no matter what Obama says or does. Because he's black. I'm pleased to note that, for the most part, they don't actually come out and say their refusal to vote for him is due to race (not long ago they would have gladly shouted from the rooftops, while waving their God-given freedom-protecting shotguns, "I ain't votin' for no n*****") so i suppose that's progress of a sort. These people are just not that developed. Much like their more sophisticated New York counterparts, who hide their racism behind more and fancier words, but it's still racism. Nutmuffin I salute your thoughfulness and that of your husband! You stand out amongst your fellows in blue collar towns and amongst your fellows in silver soon towns too!

It's no "small" number blackmoses.

Lobo -- is that short for lobotomy? speak english. what are you talking about?

You say the Democrates and Country will vote for Obama over McCain..thats just like I heard the Country will vote for Kerry over Bush in 2004. I guess we will see but I do not think Obama is qualified to lead this Country at this time. For all the Black voters who are saying we will not vote for Obama because we are racist well I guess that means they are not voting for McClain because he is White. It works both ways.

I completely agree. As a 45 year old retired US Air Force (enlisted) from Indiana I think the democrats will step up and vote for Obama when the time comes. These nut jobs that say they will switch to McCain are either bigots or weren't really going to vote democrat in the first place.

Fortunately, the higher income/educated whites are concentrated in the urban areas and could easily carry a state. Just look at my current home state (Washington). If the Seattle area goes Obama then the state goes Obama.

Typical liberal BS. Since when is it the govenment's role to provide you and your hubby with jobs and better wages? Jobs belong to employers, not you or the government. And where is the extra money going to come from? Oh, I know....increase taxes on the "evil rich" and raise your minimum wage! What entitles you to that money???? What is right about penalizing one citizen who has outworked you and outearned you in order to pay you more for doing the same old thing? If you want to make more money, educate yourself in a field where there is demand for your skills. Stop believing it is government's job to bail you out because you are too lazy to acquire marketable skills. Take responsibility for yourself and stop believing that you are "entitled" to more. YOU ARE NOT! Get off your lazy ass and earn it!

YOU ARE WHAT IS WRONG WITH AMERICA!!!!!!

Dear ftleft (Oh dear, aren't we angry!),

"Jobs belong to employers"? Without workers there would be no jobs and no employers either, for that matter. How do you know you have "outworked" anybody? What gives you that status?

The Bush government has had more than a little influence (putting it nicely!) over jobs during the past 7-plus years, so don't pretend government isn't involved. You sound like one of those Repubs (or wanna-be Repubs, i.e. Reagan dems) who can't stand to see anyone else get ahead.

We recently had a factory closure in our rural community with the corresponding rise in unemployment and knock-on, depressive economic effects. Yup, those jobs "belonged" to the employer all right, who decided to ship 'em off to China to "earn" another few millions. But hey, those workers can easily sell their homes (NOT!!) and move out of state, to whatever trade school you think they should attend.

It's not these people who are "what's wrong" with America...it's the systematic selling off of our country from under our feet by the economic Ruling Class that's wrong.

AND anti-American!

coderjo (I'm not angry, just smarter than you)

The reality is that jobs DO belong to employers, and they can do anything they want with them. People go into business to MAKE A PROFIT, and jobs are created as a result. It's not the other way around. The reason jobs are moving overseas is not so the evil employers can make more millions, but so they can make a profit. The biggest reason for this exodus is our burdensome tax code. It is a drain on resources and a killer of profits. The Obamas of the world want to INCREASE this burden, which will only make matters worse (i.e. repeal the Bush tax cuts = raise taxes), not better.

As for "outworking" someone, I'm not claiming that I have or that I'm any better than anyone else. What I am saying is that the vast majority of rich people (which I am not) have EARNED their money. They've worked long hours for years and years to have what they have. I don't begrudge them that. I believe that in America, you can have anything you want if you're willing to WORK for it. The democrats want us to believe that only "working class" people work hard. It's just not the case. We do not live in a socialist society (yet, at least), so while you don't want to hear it, rich people should not have their money confiscated at gunpoint to raise the "minimun wage" for the unskilled. Even though it is sometimes very difficult, INIVIDUALS need to take responsibility for their own plight. They are where they are because of the decisions they have made. Plain and simple. There is no economic RULING CLASS, as you put it. Just those who work to achieve their dreams and those who aren't willing to work hard enough and expect taxpayers to bail them out.

The hard truth is that government has never done ANYTHING effectively or efficiently, but you lefties just want to keep handing over more and more control to them. Socialism has NEVER worked, and never will. But you are always willing to try it one more time, aren't you?

Dear (I still think you're angry!) ftleft,

I doubt if you have ever lived anywhere outside the USA long enough to be able to have the fainest idea what "socialism" really is. You would probably call any country with a national health care system as "socialist", wouldn't you? Tell you one thing: I would rather have my hard-earned taxes spent on health care than on endless wars that do nothing to make us safer. Our healthcare system is now ranked about 35th in the world for quality and our infant mortality rate is shamefully high for an industrialized nation. But heck, healthcare just isn't profitable when it's run that way, is it? How can you make money when people are healthy? Nationalized healthcare knocks the big drug companies and insurance companies out of the picture. Making a profit is fine, but in this country it seeps into areas it just has no business in.

I guess you won't be drawing Social Security when you retire? I guess you won't be needing Medicare? Good for you, but lots of us Americans still think they are a pretty good idea, and deserve to be properly funded.

There sure is an economic Ruling Class in this country - just ask the poor folks who lost their life savings in the Enron Scandal. Look at Dick Chenie, with his overstuffed, no-bid contracts at the expense of our service men & women! Look at that creep Bill Gates and his bloated Microsoft company crying out for yet more cheap overseas workers! No one is talking about taking anyone's money "at gunpoint" (why do you types always have to be so melodramatic?!), we all just need to pay our fair share. And a little morality along with it would be nice!

In the mad rush for more and more profits (geez, how much is enough?!) our country's infrastructure, our schools, our hospitals, the entire fabric of our nation, is breaking down through neglect. What's advertised the most on TV right now? Drugs, stock portfolios, and credit counseling (i.e. credit card companies). We don't manufacture anything in this country anymore, having outsourced all that overseas. Why? You know as well as I do: those foreigners will work for peanuts!

I guess all this patriotic, America-first talk is like water off a duck's back to you Profit Mongers. Business has its place in America (we were built on it), but while the top 1% is doing great, everyone elses' standard of living is sliding no matter HOW hard they work.

Which is why people want change as bad as they do. It can't come soon enough!

Hi Ftheleft I'm glad you understand how economics work in america, I work one day a week and make over $400,000 a year off the saps that work for me. We that own the companies run the show period. We will do what is best for business and not for the wining worker. Most of my workers goof off about half the day and when I can get Mexican workers they work harder and don't complain about no overtime pay because theyre glad they have the work; If you have problems just call your state senator and make a contribution and the INS just goes away.

It's time the working class realize that we are in control and know what's best for the movers and shakers and the rest will take what we give them. If we could lower the minimun wage and get rid of having to give our employees benefits such as healthcare and vacations we could improve our bottom line so we would have more money to invest in overseas plants where the people really appreciate our business oppertunities.Working is a privilige not a right and we have the right to pay whatever the market will stand. Why should workers in America get $20 an hour when we can pay Chinese $20 a month for the same work . Also when we manufacture overseas we don't have to follow all the america safety and quality issues.

By the way I'm smarter than you.

Cha Ching $$$$$$$

One question for you, coderJo:

How much is my "fair share"???? The top 1% that you seem to villainize are already paying about 35% of the total tax burden in this country. The top 50% of wage earners pay almost 97% of the total. The bottow 50% pay less than 4%!!! And the majority of the "poor" in our country pay ZERO.

Also, as for your attack on my morality....I donate time and money to several local charities where I live, and would certainly donate more if Uncle Sam wasn't taking 35% of everything I make. It's been proven time and again that conservatives, like myself, donate far more to charitable organizations than do you liberals who scream about it the loudest. You guys are very charitable with other people's money (taxes)....but not so generous with your own. Your solution to EVERY problem is some government program that costs TAXPAYERS millions....but costs YOU nothing. What's moral about that?

Dear ftheright,

If you're really making $400K, good for you! But I doubt it.