[quote author="Shooby" date=1223762983]Or people ignorant enough to say he is a Muslim because of his middle name, or that electing a person of color will ruin our country. c'mon people its 2008, not 1960.
As the world rapidly advances, parts of this country are still living in the past, ie 40 years ago. Maybe that's why we are at where we're at?</blockquote>
It's certainly part of the problem, but I wouldn't characterize it as "living in the past". I think it's more accurately described as "left behind while the rest of the world continued to evolve." Its true on economic oppourtunity, health care, income disparities, racial stereotypes, class issues, water quality.
Obama was roundly critisized for his "guns and religion comments".
<a href="http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/04/11/obama-draws-fire-for-comments-on-small-town-america/">http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/04/11/obama-draws-fire-for-comments-on-small-town-america/</a>
The problem is............Obama isn't wrong. I spent most of my life living in small town America. None of the Republicans I know in large cities can come to the realization that this is reality becuase they haven't spent any time in small towns getting to know these people.
They (folks in more rural areas) do so because they have nothing left to cling to. The tougher the enviroment, the more hardened and conservative people become, and by extension, thier beliefs on religon, politics, economics, guns, and everything else in their lives. The sense of community is much more tight knit, but so is the socal contract that makes welfare a badge of shame in these same communities.
I don't claim to know everything, but I know my neighbors back home. They make Winex look like a Communist.