|
Obama struggles in Pennsylvania
21/04/2008 21:24 - (SA)
Muncy Valley - Barack Obama's efforts to woo white voters in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary have been hurt by his comments on small town bitterness and his association with an outspoken pastor, residents of Muncy Valley say.
Local people called the Illinois senator arrogant, unpatriotic and un-Christian after his remarks that residents of small towns in Pennsylvania and elsewhere are bitter because of job losses, and so have turned to traditions like guns, religion, and anti-immigrant sentiment.
"He is saying people are weak, dumb and naive, and they are seeking religion as a way of getting through," said Darwin Whitmoyer, 54, a white truck driver, at the gas station in this town of about 100 people 240km northwest of Philadelphia. "He didn't help himself."
While most black voters in Pennsylvania will back Obama in Tuesday's crucial presidential primary, only about 35% of whites have said they will vote for him, compared with the 53% of whites who say they will back Hillary Clinton, according to a Newsmax/Zogby poll published on Thursday.
Guns an emblem of rural culture
Pennsylvania's population is about 85% white and 11% black, with most of the remainder Hispanic.
Whitmoyer said Obama's mention of guns as an emblem of rural culture was interpreted by local people as a sign that he will restrict their use if he becomes president.
"If he isn't for guns, he's against guns," Whitmoyer said. "He just cut his own throat with everyone who owns a gun."
Whitmoyer, who said he will probably vote for Clinton, also said he opposes Obama's support for gay rights, and is suspicious of his endorsement by black TV host Oprah Winfrey.
"Anyone who walks with the true Christ is going to be against Obama," said Whitmoyer, whose license plate has the message 'I'm saved, Jesus is Lord!' He added: "Religion is going to hurt him."
Local people are bitter
Across the street at Steve's Saw Repair, owner Steve Peterman said he was offended by the remarks of Obama's black pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, who said the September 11 attacks were payback for US foreign policy and expressed anger at what he called racist America.
"I'm not racist, but if he would allow white people in that church, I don't think that stuff would have been said," said Peterman, who will probably vote for Republican nominee John McCain as "the lesser of three evils".
But Peterman, 51, agreed with Obama's assessment that local people are bitter about a lack of job opportunities in rural Sullivan County, which Peterman described as having "7 000 people and one red light".
"There's no work here," he said. He said US companies should be penalised for outsourcing jobs overseas.
In the county seat of Laporte, Lara McNeil, 35, of nearby Lycoming County, said she was suspicious of any church that would allow a preacher such as Wright.
"I don't know what belief he is following, but it doesn't sound like any church I know," she said.
|
News
US Elections Special Report
