Native John Cole:
Now I don’t want to throw the state under the bus (since that is so fashionable these days) because I love it here so much, but anyone who is surprised by this simply is not paying attention. Racism is alive and well in central PA, SE Ohio, and much of WV. What Carville said about central PA (it resembles Alabama) can be said about the regions I discussed, and it was why I was able to say, when I was a Republican, that most of the racists I have met in my lifetime were Democrats. I wasn’t lying.
Now to drill this in as much as I have to for it to sink in (which probably would verge on Carpal Tunnel territory, but here goes):
Cole is not saying the only reason folks vote against Obama is racism.
Cole is not saying the only reason folks vote against Obama is racism.
Cole is not saying the only reason folks vote against Obama is racism.
He is saying that there exists vibrant racism in the segment of Appalachia West Virginia inhabits, and that it will hurt Obama there.
But Cole is not saying the only reason folks vote against Obama is racism.