My mom told me she went canvassing in Aurora, Colorado and ran into rampant racism.

[JRLeft]

They called my mom a nigger to her face, and a referred to the president as Nigger and Chief. My mom is union treasurer for Transit Union Local 192. She was surprised by the pure hatred in a Western state such as Colorado. I wish I was there, because there would have been serious consequences for saying those words to my face, but my mom is 57 years old.

[Flashmann]

1. pure hatred in a Western state such as Colorado.

Apparently your mother has never been overe to the western slope...Grand Junction...Montrose...Or even to Colorado Springs.....That sort of mindless hatred is rampant....

[JRLeft]

2. That was her first time in Colorado.

[Flashmann]

19. I'm very sorry your Mom

Was exposed to that ugliness on her first visit to a State I love dearly.....I'd offer an apology on behalf of Coloradans,but it would be hollow and empty...There are just too many ignorant goat ropers and shit kickers there....

[JRLeft]

20. Hey it is what it is.

[luvspeas]

3. I'd love to get my hands on one of those people too!

I greatly admire your mom and give her a big hug from me and the American people (us good ones) for her bravery! She's taking one for so many of us of all stripes. I hope theirs is an attitude that is on it's way out forever!

[Lex]

4. One of the biggest myths in America is that racism only exists in the South.

I'm so sorry your mother had to endure that, JRLeft.

[stubtoe]

5. I am so sorry that happened to her. Shame on those hateful throwbacks.

[JRLeft]

9. She handled it better than me. She also stated it wasn't a few people. There were a lot of them.

She was stunned by the number of racists in Aurora.

[Jersey Devil]

30. I see it even here in blue NJ

At a social organization last week sitting at the bar I overheard 2 guys I know talking about how we had to get rid of the "N***** in the White House." Most of it is much more subtle of course because racists generally don't want to be exposed as such, but under stress it seems people let it all hang out and it isn't pretty.

[JRLeft]

31. The idea of some one other than a white person in the white house kills the racists around the

country.

[Jersey Devil]

32. well, yes, and entirely explains why the election is close

Obama could be the most successful President in history and they'd still want him out and replaced with a white guy, and in this case it doesn't matter a bit that the white guy is a lying chameleon weasel. If Obama were a white guy this election would have been over before the conventions.

[JRLeft]

33. Yep. Hopefully Obama wins, because I believe Hillary will crush your Governor in 2016.

[Jersey Devil]

38. Governor Crisco?

I loved what Bette Midler had to say about him last night in Twitter:

"Watching (the debate) with Gov Chris Christie. We’re an item. Yes he’s married but he likes a little something on the side. Better me than curley fries."

[JRLeft]

40. Yep Christie. the Koch brothers have decided he will be the next GOP nominee.

[Jersey Devil]

42. Ever see the guy in person?

TV does not do justice to how humongously large he is. He is in my estimation a MINIMUM of 450-500 pounds. No matter what the Koch brothers want I doubt anyone would elect a guy who looks like a candidate for a fatal heart attack from just walking up the steps of Marine One.

[JRLeft]

45. Teabaggers seem to love that asshole.

[Indpndnt]

47. Especially one who yells at the public to "sacrifice" and "cut back" programs for the country.

Yeah, he's credible.

[COLGATE4]

35. Obama could walk on water and

Faux would headline it "Obama afraid to swim".

[BlueDemKev]

6. Pathetic

Nobody can tell me that racism isn't a major pillar of conservative principles today.

[OneGrassRoot]

7. It's everywhere.

It truly is. I'm also so very sorry your mom experienced that.

[Jim__]

8. Sorry to hear that your mom ran into that.

You can find racism anywhere but I am surprised someone would say that to her face - I doubt they would have said it if you were there. Was this at 1 or 2 houses, or more than that? One or two houses, bad as that is, is, unfortunately, not that surprising. If it was more than that, then it is shocking.

[JRLeft]

11. She said it was something like 4 in 10 doors she knocked on, where she received racist feedback.

[Jim__]

15. Wow! That really is shocking!

[JRLeft]

17. She had a bad feeling about Colorado after her experience.

[CreekDog]

59. Surprised? Not if one is white. I hear racist things all the time when nonwhites aren't around.

The same white people (and I am white) who need every instance of racism proven to the most insane detail are sometimes the ones who will often say outright racist things or words.

[JRLeft]

61. I am from the SF Bay Area and there are a shit load of racists here.

[CreekDog]

62. and I think there are a lot less here than in most places

but yes, it still exists.

i think this area is more tolerant than most and the key to that tolerance is the diversity many of us here grew up with.

[JRLeft]

63. Definitely, more tolerance here. Diversity is the reason.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

10. Please thank your Mom for me....

...she is a brave woman. I hope she isn't deterred by this. Maybe there are better neighborhoods she can canvass in - and please not alone. Someone should go with her and take a cellphone/camera. Just in case. OTOH I wouldn't blame her if she just didn't canvass anymore - that had to be highly upsetting to her.

[JRLeft]

13. She wasn't alone it was her and her union.

[nobodyspecial]

26. That was my first thought

that she isn't going out there alone. I just don't get the hatred.

[mnhtnbb]

12. I'm very sorry your mom had to experience such hateful words.

It's always a shock to encounter mindless hatred, especially when
it's unexpected. There are a lot of right wingers in western states
and a lot of their belief system encourages racism and sexism.

[buckyblue]

14. That sucks so bad.

People are so ignorant.

[bushisanidiot]

16. There are right wing/racist militias all over the place who are too chicken to spew their hatred

in public. But when someone comes to their house voluntarily, they won't hold back how they really feel. They are underground chickenshit chickenhawks who, like romney and romney's kids, have never served in the U.S. military.

[JRLeft]

18. Oh no doubt about it. The racists are afraid of the ever changing demographics in this country.

[lunatica]

21. If you were there they wouldn't have said such filth

They're cowards who get brave when it's a 57 year old woman by herself.

Pigs.

I'm sorry your mom had to endure that crap from people who are obviously the scum under her feet.

[Wellstone ruled]

22. It's rampant at the

the junior high level in Aurora. White kid suspended from school for defending a African American kid against a racial bully. Kid had cell phone video,still suspended. What the hell is going on here?

[occupymybrain]

23. I am sorry to hear your mother had to put up with these idiots.

Wow and kudos for her work. I understand what your mom says, I live in Colorado and the conservatives here are nuts. These people are relics they are not the majority, they are gun toting tea publicans that have no clue because they are to full of hate. I went to knock on doors with a nice Hispanic lady here in Colorado and not five doors in I get a guy saying that he didn't want to talk to a stupid fucking Mexican immigrant. He then turns to me and says so what do you want to talk about sir. I was aghast, really I thought? The lovely lady I was with just stood there I could tell she was fuming but held her words. I tell him we are out to get support for the president. he looks at me with hatred and says I don't care about the president. I said so you'll be voting for Romney then? His answer was disgusting. Why yes I will be voting for the white guy that wants to get rid of Mexicans and make blacks work for their money. I then said "So you base this election on race then?" He says why the hell shouldn't I. And then says no it's not me that is playing the Race card. I said who is? You all know who he blames. I told him there was no reason to talk to him because he had no reason. I told him to have a nice day and tuned to walk away when he starts screaming about how he was going to get his gun and take out the Mexican and the liberal. These people are out there but they are not the majority. I could hear this guy screaming a block away thirty minutes latter.
Just had to share my story with you. Your mother is brave and should get a medal for the work she is doing.

[nobodyspecial]

29. You have to wonder what has happened in their lives

to make them so hateful and pathetic.

[Scuba]

24. There's plenty of racists here in Wisconsin too. Shame on the Republicans for nurturing it.

[JRLeft]

27. Mitt Romney knows a large percentage of his vote is because he is white.

[Scuba]

28. Mitt Romney is a race-baiter of the highest order.

[RomneyLies]

25. White supremacists are rampant in the West

I'd say they're more white supremacists per capita in Western states than any other region in America, especially the Mountain west.

Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana are the worst.

[Arugula Latte]

34. I'm not a fan of the non-urban mountain west.

The scenery is usually pretty, but the people scare the hell out of me.

[KamaAina]

49. Aurora is a Denver suburb

the new Denver airport is there.

[Arugula Latte]

51. I know -- I've spent a lot of time in the Denver area.

I find even a lot of the 'burbs scary there.

[union_maid]

36. That's truly disgusting

I'm so sorry your Mom had to experience that. She's a brave woman to go out canvassing in a strange area. I've never been to Colorado, and have only ever lived in NYC and on Long Island, but my son was in a touring band for close to 10 years and went almost everywhere in the counry. He said that one stopover for a meal in rural Colorado was the only time he was ever scared at all.

[cojoel]

37. My humblest apologies to your mom

and anyone that has to endure this kind of hate. Sometimes it seems it is never-ending.

She would have had a much better experience in Boulder.

[bemildred]

39. And that's why we need to re-elect Obama.

Add my apology to the list here.

[tarheelsunc]

41. The 19th century called, it wants its bigotry back.

Seriously, it's 2012, and all people are concerned about is the President's race?

It's called the White House because the color of the paint on the building, it's not a statement about the residents.

[Cha]

69. lol.. I know, huh? Even the 20th Century is calling.. Have these people been living under a rock

mainlining rush limbaugh? Why yes.

Thank your Mom for us, JRLeft! She's brave and patriotic to keep going to strange doors after getting such idiotic racist insults. These people are zeros ..trying to make themselves feel better by spewing bigoted Ugliness.

[SoapBox]

43. I am NOT surprised at all.

It endlessly shocks me how Racist and Bigoted, white America is or has become.

And, I've said it over and over and over...

President Obama could walk on water and then change the water to the booze of your choice (wine, whiskey, beer, etc.),

they would STILL hate his guts because he's an "N" word that is illegally squatting in THEIR White House.

[Catherine Vincent]

44. I'm not surprised at all

It's not just in the South as everyone pointed out. It's everywhere. A friend in Maryland was campaigning for Steele when he was running for Senator, I believe. She is a republican and was calling registered republican voters...she told me that a lot of voters said they will not vote for that N before hanging up on her. This wasn't a few times, it was a lot. She was quite shocked. My friend is one of a few republicans that would be honest and say that certain members of their party is very racist.

[JRLeft]

46. This is also why Steele was casted out as party chairman.

[AspenRose]

50. Colin Powell's wife Alma was afraid of her husband running for president back in 1996

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1996/news/9604/11/alma/index.shtml

I seriously doubt the threats they received were from Democrats.

[jeff47]

48. If Obama was white, he'd be up by 15% nationally.

Racism isn't restricted to the South. Southerners have just been more overt about it.

[Jamaal510]

52. Damn man that's too bad.

I feel for you. Even though I don't know your family personally, I even feel a little hot under the collar and wanting to kick some ass after hearing your story. To still have people like this in the 21st century who think they're better than you simply due to skin complexion is downright vile. They disrespected your mother AND the president. And the funny thing is that Obama is 1/2 white, so you would think these racists wouldn't be so harsh on him, but no. Plus on Stephanie Miller's Show this morning, they mentioned the most popular Obama-related Google search being his name+nigger. Yeah, that's right. Obama's name and the N-word being among the most popular Obama-related Google searches...boy this country still has a long way to go in fighting its bigotry demons, especially in regards to American conservatives. Even in their own party, Herman Cain never had a snowball's chance in Hell of getting the nod, while Michael Steele was chairman for only a couple of years.

[OldDem2012]

53. So, where are the posters always ranting about racism in the South? Newsflash for them...

...racism exists in EVERY state in the US!!

I'm sorry your mom ran into a nest of racists...wish it had never happened.

[AspenRose]

55. "Stop talking about the South. As long as you are south of the Canadian border, you are South."

-Malcolm X

http://www.hark.com/clips/nptbrsgnqq-south-of-canada

[JRLeft]

54. Read Yahoo messages and there is nothing but garbage over

there.

[budkin]

56. I would have just said "I pity your igorance" and walked away

[JRLeft]

57. She did not argue with the Neanderthals. She went on to the next

home every time.

[mrs_p]

58. I had never seen open racism until I moved here

to Colorado. Makes me sick to my stomach.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

60. Yeah, I guess that's what you're dealing with.

My ex-girlfriend was canvassing for Obama in Colorado in 2008. Said that most of her interactions were fine, some people just didn't want to hear it or whatever....but she did have one guy who started being real creepy and then taunting her about "A nice looking white girl who wants a n***** for President....if I were your daddy I wouldn't let you out of the house cause you'd probably get knocked up by one of them....". It really turned her off to campaigning door to door after that, especially since she was alone (had split with her small group to fan out) at the time and it was almost nightfall.

[Catherine Vincent]

64. That's probably what he wanted to do...the pervert.

If he was living back in the 40's, he would probably rape a white lady and blame it on the first black guy he would find.

[musical_soul]

65. Sorry to hear about your mom.

She has guts doing what she does.

[tavernier]

66. Tell her to come to my house.

I'll treat her to a cup of coffee and a plate of cookies, and some true southern hospitality.

[smorkingapple]

67. I would laugh at them, then throw them a dollar and say thanks for the laugh....

I've done this before. Nothing makes a racist more upset when someone of color doesn't act upset at racist attacks then makes them feel like a stripper or homeless person in return.... They'll remember that for the rest of their lives...

[fujiyama]

68. This is unfortunate and disappointing to hear

I lived in Arvada, another suburb not too far (maybe 45 minutes) away from Aurora. I had a good couple months out there. People seemed friendly and welcoming. I'm a minority that too. I really didn't know what to expect going out there.

I suppose it's a matter of changing demographics and there are still a lot of neanderthal idiots out there. The last several years have brought out the worst in racist ass holes. Wow. Just staggering how blatant many are.

[pointsoflight]

70. This is why the state is so split.

On the one hand, you have a lot of transplants from places like CA and liberal strongholds like Boulder. On the other hand, you also have a lot of strongly conservative people and even white supremacists in some areas. It's gradually trending blue, though. Probably be another couple of election cycles before it becomes reliably blue.

[trailmonkee]

71. i live in Colorado...

Half my neighbors are teabaggers.....

Difference in Colorado is the western attitude of 'i don't give a fuck what you think' there are probably just as many racists here as any other reddish/blueish state, but they don't really hide it here... Makes it kind of a nasty place, in some areas, lots of hateful bumper stickers, etc