The Voters of Appalachia …

We are hicks, hillbillies and rednecks ... all true. But since all of your articles suggest that let's see he doesn't need the women, he doesn't need hispanics, he doesn't need the old people, he doesn't need the Clintons, he doesn't need the catholics, he doesn't need Ohio, Pennsylvania or Florida, so ... ah why bother with appallachia, apparently all the red states will turn blue, throw in Alaska and "poof" he's done. Great strategy ... brilliant.

If WV'ians are ignorant, that must explain how Rockefeller got elected. Isn't it interesting that one of the richest men in the country represents a "poor and illerate" group of people. It must feed his big ego to be SO much more "upitier" than his constituants.
Also, the polls in WV, OH, and PA always stated "non university degrees". Which must mean they haven't been brainwashed by liberal professors.
WV, OH and PA keep on thinking freely. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a free thinker. It is sick to be a brainwashed idiot.

The writer sounds like a sweet, funny and compassionate man I have never been to Appalachia I was born and raised on Long Island NY . And this story reminds me WE ARE ALL SCREWED!!!!!!!!!!

I have never been anywhere near Appalachia ..I was born and raised on Long Island NY but the writer sounds like a funny and compassionate man good for you for being good natured and proud at the same time!!!!

I grew up in East Tennessee. The people there are gracious, intelligent and educated. I received an excellent secondary education there in the 60's, voluteered to serve in the U.S. Army in 1968 and served in Viet Nam for 17 months. After returning, I earned two post graduate degree's by working and putting myself through college. I work a a professional now and am close to retirement.

Poverty? It's still there. Look around you and if you look close then you'll see it where you live.

I'm white. Who do you think I will vote for? Wrong! I've voting for Obama. Let's give someone besides the establishment a chance.

I was born and raised in WV and left as soon as I graduated from HS in 1984. WV has been predominately democrat and continues to elect the same ole democrats into office. Democrats have done nothing for WV and it shows by WV being at the bottom on of every list, ie poverty, income, education etc. I pray that the state I love will open their eyes along with the rest of this country and vote out these democrats; the same democrats led by the ms. speaker of the house who stated four years age that now that the democrats are in control of congress things are going to change. She was right, things have changed for the worse. The American people are going to have to open their eyes and quit being decieved and vote out these democrats that are determined to lead this country down the tube.

How can a discussion get so off beat? This article is not about who is or isn't going to be the next president, its about what a politician needs to do to carry the votes of the people in appalachia. I grewup in a large city and upgraded to WV as soon as I could. The writer has it down. Appalachia is not about being poor or uneducated. It is about being a proud people who take care of them selves and do not want a hand out. What most people that need help want is the oppurtunity to do for themselves. I live in a small town that 'takes care of its own'. When something needs done it does not matter if you have are college educated or a grade school dropout everyone gets involved and does what they can and more. What the politicians need to do is get in a car and go town to town and listen to the people of this extended region. As for the articles author - I hope to see see you in Summersville!

hey don't feel bad about those extra name 's I'm black so think of what Ive read or heard storie of and have been called yet I think religion helped me alot with conviction's and gotten to know some alright folk's of those names it's jus that some of your own race thought of themselves as better than you hey we have some to that say some off the wall name calling we might not never get all the way along yet for the nation's sake let us try just think of all the healing this will bring hey maybe Obama for PRESIDENT and JOHN FOR VICE PRESIDENT look some of people will not vote for him that's okay but don't poision the rest of the people when you look at it now a-days we do a lot of thing side by side cuz come -on give Obama your vote

"Hick." "Hillbilly." "Redneck." "Inbred." "Cracker." "Ridge Runner."

Those are words frequently used by the educated, open-minded, progressive, tolerant, non-judgemental liberals. Come to think of it, I heard those very same words in reference to people they have never met when I worked in Boston.

Enter Your Comment Everyone in Appalachia is not poor, illiterate, racially prejudice or "living off the land". Your reader comments reflect the bias that I (as a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee) have endured all of my 66 years on this earth. I have lived in Atlanta, Georgia and Vienna, Austria and experienced it in both places. Please do not rely on television shows and cartoons for your opinions. Visit Appalachia.

This article is very well written by someone who obviously grew up in appalachia. Onyly a person who grew up in those mountains knows what it is like to have been born and raised. there. Appalachia has a lot to offer and which is greatly appreciated by the inhabitants. One can only appreciate those good things if that person has expierenced the bad things.e.g. not being able to earn $.25 to attend a basketball game or not being aaable to take your best girl out on a dated because you couldn't earn enough money to do so.

This article is extremely well written by someone who has been subjected to all of the things good about the people of appalachia as well as all of the hardships and abuses hurled against those hillbillies .it is proof positive that even a deprived hillbilly can accomplish if given the opportunity to succeed. I should know for I am one of those southeastern Kentucky, Middlesboro, who has experienced all of the good things and the bad things that growing up in those mountains has to offer.

Everyone in Appalachia is not poor, without indoor plumbing, illiterate or "living off the land". Your reader comments reflect the bias that I (as a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee) have dealt with for my entire 66 years on this earth. I have lived in Atlanta, Georgia and Vienna, Austria and encountered it in both places. Some of your readers referred to us as "those people" as if we are aliens from space. Please visit Appalachia and do not rely on cartoons and television shows for your information.