Kishalaya

Rednecks refers to a stereotype of usually rural, Caucasian (i.e. white) people of lower socio-economic status in the United States and Canada. Originally limited to the Appalachians, and later the South, the Ozarks, the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains, this stereotype is now widespread throughout North America. Southern comedian Jeff Foxworthy defines “redneck” as “a glorious lack of sophistication,” stating “that we are all guilty of [it] at one time or another.” - Wikipedia

Rednecks for Obama

Rednecks love Barack Obama. Or at least two of them do.
“We hunt, fish, drink beer and support Barack Obama,” said Tony Viessman, a 74-year old former Hillary Clinton supporter from Rolla, Mo. He and his buddy Les Spencer co-founded “Rednecks for Obama,” a grassroots organization that announced itself outside the Pepsi Center with a huge “Rednecks for Obama” sign. How big is the organization?

Viessman had a red, white and blue “Rednecks for Obama” banner made, and began causing a stir in Missouri, which has emerged as a key battleground in the run-up to the November 4 presidential election.
“We believe in him. He’s the best person for the job,” Viessman, a former state trooper from Rolla, said of Obama, who met the pair briefly on that July day in Union, Missouri.

Obama bounded off his bus and jogged back towards a roadside crowd to shake hands with the men holding the banner.

“He said ‘This is incredible’,” Spencer recalled.

It’s been an unexpectedly gratifying run, Viessman said.
“When most people think ‘redneck,’ they think conservatives, anti-change, even anti-integration,” she said. “But America’s changing, breaking stereotypes.”

A southern comedian, Jeff Foxworthy, defines the stereotype as a “glorious lack of sophistication”.
“I don’t care about his beer, I care about his intelligence”

“We’ve had many democratic presidents, and we will still have our guns”

“He is brilliant. And he’s not an elitist, though he has the education to be”
-Tony Viessman

“People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power”
- President William Jefferson Clinton, August 27, 2008

Anyone unhappy with the past 8 years should care if rednecks vote for Obama. Rednecks count, especially in a few of the critical or swing states. Mel Carnahan, a lawyer from small town Rolla Missouri , became Governor of Missouri in 1992 because he was, “a redneck from Rolla”. During the primary race, Vincent Schoemehl , the then mayor of STL, attempted an insult during a radio interview by saying Mel Carnahan was a “redneck from Rolla”. Mel, a tall, mild-mannered and educated gentleman then ran on that premise, introducing himself as the redneck from Rolla. He won by 40,000 or so votes. Rednecks, no doubt. So, the redneck vote is key in Missouri, and important in many other states! Remember, Missouri has picked the president in every election since 1904 (except for one off year: 1956)!

Rednecks for Obama has been around since early 2007! There is an official Rednecks for Obama section in www.barackobama.com, and there are a couple of great websites! (www.rednecksforobama.com) But, Tony Viessman, 74, retired Missouri State Highway Patrol Lieutenant hadn’t seen these. He just knew why he, a self-proclaimed “half-redneck”, strongly supported Barack Obama. He knew the same old politics of the republican party trying to claim any democrat candidate would “take away your guns”. And, he knew the significance of the redneck vote in Missouri. And, he knew how badly this country needs Barack Obama as president. He took action!

After the announcement of a town hall meeting with Barack Obama in Rolla Missouri, Tony Viessman had a “Rednecks for Obama” banner made at the local sign shop, found a friend, Les Spencer, 60, to hold an end, and headed for the auditorium. With “Rednecks for Obama” bumper stickers in hand, they greeted hundreds as they entered the auditorium. Further excited by Obama’s answers to difficult questions in that hot auditorium, Tony and Les headed to Union Missouri, Obama’s next stop. As they held the banner outside the auditorium, the motorcade came to a complete stop. Barack Obama stepped off the bus and ran over to thank Tony and Les, and to hear their story.

During the 2008 Democratic Convention in Denver, Tony and Les carried the message to thousands while holding the “Rednecks for Obama” banner. They were interviewed, photographed, and video taped by hundreds, some of whom even doubted the authenticity of their message! But Tony, Les, the banner and their message are as genuine as you can get! It is the democratic process at work. The message was heard, loud and clear.

Source : http://rednecks4obama.com/