Barack Obama in Hillbilly Elegy, by J. D. Vance

On Principles & Values: OpEd: Admired in most of America, but not by poor whites

The Great Recession, and the not-great recovery that followed, had hastened Middletown's [JD Vance's hometown in impoverished Appalachia] downward trajectory. But there was something almost spiritual about the cynicism of the community at large, something that went much deeper than a short-term recession. As a culture, we had no heroes. Certainly not any politician-- Barack Obama was then the most admired man in America (and likely still is), but even when the country was enraptured by his rise, most Middletonians viewed him suspiciously.

Patriotism had seemingly vanished. The symptoms are all around us. 32% of white conservative voters believe that Barack Obama is a Muslim [or] was foreign-born & another 19% said they were unsure--which means that a majority of white conservatives aren't certain that Obama is even an American. I regularly hear from acquaintances or family members that Obama has ties to Islamic extremists, or is a traitor, or was born in some far-flung corner of the world.

Source: Hillbilly Elegy, by Sen. JD Vance, p.188-90 May 25, 2017

On Principles & Values: OpEd: Meritocracy was built for him, not for poor whites

Many of my friends blame racism for this perception of [Obama as "foreign"]. But the president feels like an alien to many [in white Appalachia] for reasons that have nothing to do with skin color.

Not a single one of my high school classmates attended an Ivy League school. Barack Obama attended two of them and excelled at both. He is brilliant, wealthy, and speaks like a constitutional law professor--which, of course, he is. He conducts himself with a confidence that comes from knowing that the modern American meritocracy was built for him. Of course, Obama overcame adversity in his own right--adversity familiar to many of us--but that was long before any of us knew him.

President Obama came on the scene right as so many people in my community began to believe that the modern American meritocracy was not built for them. Admittedly, there is an industry of conspiracy-mongers & fringe lunatics writing about all manner of idiocy, from Obama's alleged religious leanings to his ancestry.

Source: Hillbilly Elegy, by Sen. JD Vance, p.191 May 25, 2017

On Principles & Values: OpEd: Obama conspiracy theories come from mistrust of press

Many try to blame the anger and cynicism of working-class whites on misinformation. Admittedly, there is an industry of conspiracy-mongers and fringe lunatics writing about all manner of idiocy, from Obama's alleged religious leanings to his ancestry.

But every major news organization, even the oft-maligned Fox News, has always told the truth about Obama's citizenship status and religious views. The people I know are well aware of what the major news organizations have to say about the issue; they simply don't believe them. Only 6 percent of American voters believe that the media is "very trustworthy.'' To many of us, the free press--that bulwark of American democracy--is simply full of s---.

With little trust in the press, there's no check on the Internet conspiracy theories that rule the digital world: Barack Obama is a foreign alien actively trying to destroy our country. Everything the media tells us is a lie. Many in the white working class believe the worst about their society.

Source: Hillbilly Elegy, by Sen. JD Vance, p.191-2 May 25, 2017

The above quotations are from Hillbilly Elegy A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance. Click here for other excerpts from Hillbilly Elegy A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance. Click here for other excerpts by Barack Obama. Click here for a profile of Barack Obama.
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