Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Murtha now calls his constituents rednecks
http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/17764334/detail.html
John Murtha Calls Western Pa. 'Redneck'
CHARLEROI, Pa. -- U.S. Rep. John Murtha is calling many of the people who put him in office "rednecks."
The news comes one week after Murtha claimed the area is racist, then apologized for that comment.
In explaining his comments about racism, Murtha, D-Johnstown, told WTAE Channel 4 Action News on Monday it's difficult for many in the area to change. Murtha said that just five to 10 years ago the entire area was "redneck."
Now Murtha said only certain segments of the population are holding on to those racist feelings.
Just days after classifying western Pennsylvania as racist, Murtha took a step back from those comments, albeit a small one.
"What I said, that indicted everybody, that's not what I meant at all. What I mean is there's still folks that have a problem voting for someone because they are black," Murtha said.
Murtha said the history of southwestern Pennsylvania is rife with racism.
"This whole area, years ago, was really redneck," Murtha told Channel 4 Action News.
Murtha believes there is one segment of the population which is holding on to its racist beliefs and he said it's difficult for them to change. Murtha said it may be even more difficult for them to vote for Sen. Barack Obama for president.
"Particularly older people. They want change but they don't want to see things go too far," Murtha said.
Murtha's comments on Monday were made in Charleroi, Washington County, at an event to open the expansion facility of Nokomis, Inc., and to announce recent contracts the company had received from the Department of Defense.
Throughout the Mon Valley there is a mixed reaction to Murtha's comments.
"I think he made a big mistake. This valley is not racist. Not at all," said Robert Gray, of Charleroi.
Maurice Taylor, also of Charleroi, disagrees.
"I think it probably is, couple people here and there. Like not everybody, but some of them definitely. Older people mostly," Taylor said.
Murtha said he was not surprised to see Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton win the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania and he said he didn't think Obama had a chance to win the presidency after that. But since then, he claims many western Pennsylvania voters have come around and he believes many voters have left their racist beliefs behind.
"It's better than it was a few weeks ago. It's better than it was a few months ago," Murtha said.
Murtha said he has taken a new approach to dealing with voters who are factoring race into the equation. He said he asks them if they agree with John McCain's healthcare policy or with his desire to privatize social security.
"I'm saying to them, 'Let's not vote on whether he's black or white. Let's vote on what the issues are,'" said Murtha.
Re: Murtha now calls his constituents rednecks
Ah J-town, how I love thee
Maybe this will finally get them to get rid of this jerk?
It certainly doesn't help us libs on the "elitist front.
Ditto this hence why I posted it. I can't believe he can be so smart (IMO) on Iraq and so stupid on his own constituents, and well, basic politics.
I think he forgets who votes him into office. Otherwise, he is losing it.
Haha, only this guy only runs in PA, not for the presidency.
Bad PR, stupid thing to say about your constituents, but probably not all that inaccurate. ?Sadly.?
Having lived in PA, including western PA, for a quarter of a century, I can tell you that not only is it accurate, but many people out there embrace this image. I'm highly amused by the faux outrage some of these people are now conjuring.