I am a caterer and I did an event for a major media outlet’s news-operations division — cameramen and the like. These are the guys and gals who make the pictures appear on your TV. And they were some of the nicest and hardest-working people I’ve ever met. Of course, politics came up a little (I keep my views to myself while working), and many of them felt the need to emphasize that they didn’t agree with the talking heads they work for. Support for McCain-Palin predominated. This was in New York City. Please withhold my name.
And:
my husband is black, I am biracial (white/Korean). Here is my three (homeschooled) children’s experience of life: All their black and Korean relatives are voting for McCain (security, taxes, marriage, and abortion). All their white relatives are voting Obama (well-meaning, misguided liberals). At least half the Republican families they know are black homeschoolers.Comports with my experience. Off the top of my head I can name, lessee, (2, 3, 4, 5, 7) black families I personally know voting McCain, with varying degrees of enthusiasm. I liked this from an Obama voter:
Last weekend I was in South Haven, Mich., a town on the shores of Lake Michigan that has a few thousand year-round residents, many vacationers, and farms surrounding the town. Here is my very informal survey of political support, based on yard signs:
If you are a local year-round resident, living in a modest home, you are a McCain supporter. If you have a lakeside home (these go for $1 million and up), you are an Obama supporter. If you have a trailer home, you are a McCain supporter. If you are a farmer, you are either a McCain supporter or a Ron Paul supporter, unless you are an organic farmer, in which case you are an Obama supporter.
That also comports with my experience. I'm likewise struck by the fact none of the people I know with foreign accents are for Obama (I take it back: George Soros, although I don't know him). There's my Venezuelan friend I've already written about, who thinks she's seen this movie before. And Mr. W. works with a Cuban-American who says the same.
There's Ahnuld.
And Tito the Builder
And Connie from the Caribbean (same link as Tito)
And Fouad Ajami
And we know a number of Poles and Czechs and Russians who fear Obama --but it could be objected, legitimately, that we know a disproportionate number of folks whose life's work has been opposing Communism. (Although they'd be in the best position to recognize it, wouldn't they?)
But what about just folks you run into? Like the Turkish chef who works at the retreat center I do who's gung-ho for McCain and very nervous about what Obama will do to the economy and to freedom? And Kissoon the Plumber? And the old duffer who mows our lawn (not an immigrant) and has never cast a GOP vote in his life but who's voting McCain? And Mr. W.'s NJ cousin, who similarly has never voted GOP, but whose husband owns a small and struggling business? She just told us last night she's re-registered as a Republican and is voting McCain.
I just don't see the working poor and lower middle class --the folks living in three dimensions-- loving Obama. I see the elite and students flocking to him.
All of which is really just prelude to re-introducing this essay, which I linked during the last election cycle, but it still rings true.
I remember first no freedom and then freedom quick. When freedom came I knew what I wanted in it."
"What was that?"
"To come here. To be here. Quick to America."
"Why so quick?"
He shook his head and looked at me as if I was the one who didn't understand English.
"Because in Russia, freedom can go away. In America never. Never, if I vote always for best."
How do you suppose Paul will be voting?
