According to year-end campaign finance reports, Barack Obama received over $400,000 in donations from Vermonters.
For a point of reference, on the Republican side, Rudy Giuliani raised $54,400, Mitt Romney received $49,709, and Vermonters gave John McCain $47,450. And for Democrats, Hillary Clinton brought in $47,450 and John Edwards received $33,239.
But Barack Obama raised a whopping $400,904.
I guess a lot of Vermonters are looking for an imaginary hip black friend.
February 4th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Back in the 80s it was “Hey, some of my best friends are black”.
Now it’s “I gave to the Obama campaign”.
The upside here is that the one about Obama is probably true!
Of course, it’s a pretty good deal. You get to prove to yourself and others that you are compassionate, assuage your white liberal guilt, AND forge a connection with the ‘black community’, all for $50 or $100 dollars. And no strings attached!
February 4th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Yea, Obama has been kicking everyone’s butt in fundraising in VT for quite a while now. Besides the fact that a lot of liberals in VT view Obama as the more liberal candidate…I can’t explain it either. Whenever I bring up the topic of “why is VT so lilly-white?”…a lot of people get real ancy, real quick…it’s odd…
February 5th, 2008 at 11:46 am
“Whenever I bring up the topic of “why is VT so lilly-white?”…a lot of people get real ancy, real quick…it’s odd…”
What’s odd is that they are uncomfortable with it at all.
The reason Vermont is so ‘lily-white’ is that not a lot of blacks and other minorities have moved here. It’s that simple. It’s just a fact and there is nothing inherently wrong with that.
Do Hispanics fret over their large numbers in southern California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas?
Do Cubans worry about their ‘over-representation’ in southern Florida?
Probably not, and for good reason. There is nothing wrong with it!
I wonder why these liberals stay here if they are so uncomfortable with the state’s ethnic distribution. A short move to New York, south-eastern New Hampshire, or Massachusetts will get them the mix they supposedly long for.
My cynical side says they don’t really want that. They just want to feel good about themselves for pointing out the ‘injustice’ of it all.
(On a similiar note, I also wonder why Bernie Sanders wants to work so hard to change the US into a socialist country when there is one less than an hour’s drive north of here!)
February 5th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
“The reason Vermont is so ‘lily-white’ is that not a lot of blacks and other minorities have moved here.”
Gee thanx Captain Obvious…that doesn’t answer the question about *why* that’s the way things have panned out so far.
And thanx for demonstrating the anxiety about this issue that I was talking about in the first place. My home state was founded not that far from here. It was founded by a bunch of white people that tried to get along with Native Americans and that wanted to live in religious freedom. It is generally a small, very liberal state, and, I think, whites are a minority there now.
It’s always puzzled me why a state like VT that seems to be so “open” to diversity isn’t very diverse. It’s odd to me…I’m not saying that it’s wrong…just very odd. I think the civil union debate from a while ago proved, to me at least, that VT is not as tolerant as it might look on the surface…but that’s just my view. I personally would feel much more like VT was really a diverse place if I looked around and saw actual diversity. This “VT, love it or leave it” stuff is a big load of baloney BTW…
February 5th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
“that doesn’t answer the question about *why* that’s the way things have panned out so far.”
What’s to bring them here? Jobs? Culture? Lower cost of living? Cheap land and housing prices? Pleasant climate?
Most liberals are here because of the socialist leanings of the state and the fact that it’s generally more rural and ‘environmentally friendly’ than the state they left. They are also willing and able to accept the trade-offs of lower salaries, fewer jobs, expensive land and housing, the high cost of living and the crappy weather most of the year.
To many people, the ‘quality of life’ here does not make up for the salary drop they will take for the privilege of living here.
Also, not all minorities want to live around liberal white people!!!
“It’s always puzzled me why a state like VT that seems to be so “open” to diversity isn’t very diverse.”
Being open to something and having it happen are two different things. Not everyone likes the country. If you’re one of those, you won’t be moving here. Also, not everyone wants to be an ethnic pioneer. And not everyone likes white people.
Think of it this way, restaurants are open to everyone. Do you wonder why everyone doesn’t patronize them?
“This “VT, love it or leave it” stuff is a big load of baloney BTW…”
Why reinvent the wheel? They leave a place with mixed ethnicity to come to a place they know is mostly white and then turn around and complain about how wrong it is.
It’s disingenuous. It’s also easier to claim to speak for oppressed minorities when they’re not around to contradict you!
I don’t understand the liberal fascination with diversity. Why is it to important to you?
February 5th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Yea, minorities don’t like the cold and snow…sure. Why the heck are you here then…or are you even? How about for those reasons?
“Being open to something and having it happen are two different things.”
Thank you again Captain Obvious…how would we get along without you?
“And not everyone likes white people.”
Ah, the old “reverse racism” argument…sure, right.
And, the “VT is like a restaurant” argument…hmmmm…maybe minorities just don’t like what we have on the “menu” here in VT?
“I don’t understand the liberal fascination with diversity. Why is it to important to you?”
If I really need to explain this to you then you are beyond help IMO. Keep your head firmly planted in the sand there Jebediah…
February 5th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
“Yea, minorities don’t like the cold and snow…sure. Why the heck are you here then…or are you even? How about for those reasons?”
You’re latching on to the tired old liberal line here that prejudiced whites think blacks don’t like the cold. People complain about the crappy weather here from November till May.
You didn’t answer my question: what does Vermont offer that would make them want to live here. I listed a few reasons that would make them reconsider moving here. If all they see are bad weather, low pay, high prices and condescending liberals, why bother coming here?
“Thank you again Captain Obvious…how would we get along without you?”
Apparently this isn’t so obvious to you. You don’t seem to be able to grasp the concept. I don’t know how to further simplify this for you. What about this is so puzzling to you?
“And, the “VT is like a restaurant” argument…hmmmm…maybe minorities just don’t like what we have on the “menu” here in VT?”
EXACTLY! There’s hope for you yet.
All you can do is open the door, it’s up to them to walk through it. Either way, they’ll have their reasons why.
“Ah, the old “reverse racism” argument…sure, right.”
No, I simply stated a fact. Not all minorities like or want to live near white people. Not all white people like or want to live near minorities either. It would be nice if this weren’t the case, but I don’ t think complaining about the lack of diversity in VT will do anything to change it.
“If I really need to explain this to you then you are beyond help IMO. Keep your head firmly planted in the sand there Jebediah…”
I really don’t get it. Can you explain why diversity is so important to you?
February 5th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Mister Guy,
I may post here in the future as Captain Obvious!
Thanks for the moniker!
February 5th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Sorry, but I think you should change it to Captain Idiot…
February 6th, 2008 at 11:19 am
“Sorry, but I think you should change it to Captain Idiot…”
Good one.
I can’t help but notice that you haven’t answered any of the questions I have asked. At best, you have dismissed some with a snide comment, but usually, you have ignored them.
Diversity is a core liberal belief these days. Why can’t you explain it?
I really don’t understand why it matters so much to liberals.
February 6th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
You’re right…I am ignoring you. I’ll say it again…if I need to explain to you why diversity is important in America, then you are beyond help IMO…sorry Captian Idiot.
February 6th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I will have to say, Mister Guy, you are the one who comes out of this looking like an idiot if you can’t even defend your own position and must resort to puerile name calling.
February 6th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Sorry…I refuse to engage with the helpless…just like I refuse to engage in the same mindless discussion on political strategy with people that obviously have no knowledge about such a topic. There aren’t enough hours in the day for me to waste my time.