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'Rednecks for Obama' want to bridge yawning culture gap
When Barack Obama's campaign bus made a swing through Missouri in July, the unlikeliest of supporters were waiting for him -- or rather two of them, holding the banner: "Rednecks for Obama."
In backing the first African-American nominee of a major party for the US presidency, the pair are on a grassroots mission to bridge a cultural gap in the United States and help usher their preferred candidate into the White House.
Tony Viessman, 74, and Les Spencer, 60, got politically active last year when it occurred to them there must be other lower income, rural, beer-drinking, gun-loving, NASCAR race enthusiasts fed up with business as usual in Washington.
Viessman had a red, white and blue "Rednecks for Obama" banner made, and began causing a stir in Missouri, which has emerged as a key battleground in the run-up to the November 4 presidential election.
"I didn't expect it would get as much steam and attention as it's gotten," Spencer told AFP on the campus of Washington University in Saint Louis, the state's biggest city and site of last week's vice-presidential debate.
"We believe in him. He's the best person for the job," Viessman, a former state trooper from Rolla, said of Obama, who met the pair briefly on that July day in Union, Missouri.
The candidate bounded off his bus and jogged back towards a roadside crowd to shake hands with the men holding the banner.
"He said 'This is incredible'," Spencer recalled.
It's been an unexpectedly gratifying run, Viessman said.
Rednecks4obama.com claims more than 800,000 online visits. In Denver, Colorado, Viessman and Spencer drew crowds at the Democratic convention, and at Washington University last Thursday they were two of the most popular senior citizens on campus.
"I'm shocked, actually, but excited" that such a demographic would be organizing support for Obama, said student Naia Ferguson, 18, said after hamming it up for pictures behind the banner.
"When most people think 'redneck,' they think conservatives, anti-change, even anti-integration," she said. "But America's changing, breaking stereotypes."
A southern comedian, Jeff Foxworthy, defines the stereotype as a "glorious lack of sophistication".
Philistines or not, he said, most rural southerners are no longer proponents of the Old South's most abhorrent ideology -- racism -- and that workaday issues such as the economy are dominating this year's election.
"We need to build the economy from the bottom up, none of this trickle down business," Spencer said. "Just because you're white and southern don't mean you have to vote Republican." When Barack Obama's campaign bus made a swing through Missouri in July, the unlikeliest of supporters were waiting for him -- or ... more -
NFL opener has GOP hot under the collar
After Hurricane Gustav wreaked havoc on the opening night of the RNC on Monday, the McCain Campaign have apparently got a new obstacle to face - the opening game of the NFL between the Redskins and the Giants.
The game's scheduled to kick-off at 1907 Eastern Time, meaning if it finishes within its 3 hour allotted slot then McCain and co. should be fine. However, should the game have extended overtime or 'an unusual number of disputed calls or injuries' then RNC's 'paramount moment,' John McCain's acceptance speech, might have a little bit more competition. After Hurricane Gustav wreaked havoc on the opening night of the RNC on Monday, the McCain Campaign have apparently got a new obstacle... more -
Gun scare prank
A husband sets off firecrackers as his wife is handling his gun.
While I can find this is amusing, this just makes me scared of being an American.
Git-r-done! A husband sets off firecrackers as his wife is handling his gun. ... more -
State moves to ban fake testicles on vehicles
Senate lawmakers in Florida have voted to ban the fake bull testicles that dangle from the trailer hitches of many trucks and cars throughout the state.
Republican Sen. Cary Baker, a gun shop owner from Eustis, Florida, called the adornments offensive and proposed the ban. Motorists would be fined $60 for displaying the novelty items, which are known by brand names like "Truck Nutz" and resemble the south end of a bull moving north.
The Florida Senate voted last week to add the measure to a broader transportation bill, but it is not included in the House version.
Critics of the ban included the Senate Rules Chairman, Sen. Jim King, a Jacksonville Republican whose truck sported a pair until his wife protested. Senate lawmakers in Florida have voted to ban the fake bull testicles that dangle from the trailer hitches of many trucks and cars thr... more -
redneck ingenuity
the hunting attire and "this sh*t's going on youtube" are nice touches
i'm surprised one of those pickups didn't tear in half... the hunting attire and "this sh*t's going on youtube" are nice touches ... more -
How Harvard students perceive rednecks
" How does the brain differentiate those who are similar to us from those who are different? Does it analyze differences in skin color, language, religion, height, eye color, foot size? Does it discriminate cat versus dog lovers, Pepsi versus Coke drinkers, Shiite versus Sunni, Crips versus Bloods?" " How does the brain differentiate those who are similar to us from those who are different? Does it analyze differences in skin ... more
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Red State Update Presents Hillary's Health Care Plan
Hillary. Red State Update. What could possibly go wrong?
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