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Obama & the blue-collar vote

Thursday, 13th November 2008

Post-election thoughts from George Packer, who actually went out and did some reporting:

People can hold racist views and still vote against them, because they hold other views, too—they contain multitudes. And people can change. No one should imagine that the country has suddenly lurched in the direction of the Upper West Side. Residents of my neighborhood of Brooklyn have certain beliefs that are incompatible with those of residents of Glouster, Ohio. Obama will be wise to govern in ways that leave those unbridgeable differences alone, and instead direct the power of government to improving people’s lives in both places.

I’m grateful to the 2008 election for reminding us of these things. And I’m grateful to the dying breed of reporters for finding them out. 

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