brooklyn-voting-map-1008.jpgThis morning the Columbia Journalism Review Journalist puts into pictures what most of could have guessed about the political leaning of King’s County: Brooklyn’s pretty blue. Working with data from opensecrets.org, CJ mapped political contributions to Obama and McCain by zip code. Only seven areas donated in McCain’s favor, and they were all in the south. By far the most pro-McCain neighborhood was Bensonhurst, where the white-haired war hero got 95% of the loot. The percentage was flipped in Park Slope, where Obama raked in a total of $496,089.


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  1. I could see that BRG…my only real issue was MGP’s original use of the term It rang of, well, racism!!! He/she hasn’t been back to defend it either.

    Posted by: daveinbedstuy at October 31, 2008 1:22 PM
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    It really just took a while since I was busy getting Barack Obama elected.

    That said, you cannot deny the historical implications of race relations in Bensonhurst anymore than you can deny the implications as it existed, and continues to exist (though far less), in Crown Heights.

    Whereas I’ve seen the improvement in race relations Crown Heights, I’ve yet to see any kind of improvement in Bensonhurst. I know people that live there and have family there. While the younger generation is certainly far more open, the older generation, which is by and large what Bensonhurst’s population still is right now, are not.

    So if you want me to say racism, fine. Happy?

    Now that it’s been said, I’m glad to see Barack Obama elected and ready to move this country in a new direction. Stating the facts about certain areas, however, is not a bad thing. It’s merely that. Fact.

  2. MGP;

    Your ignorance is astounding. Have you actually been to Bensonhurst in the past 20 years? It is now one of the more mixed areas in the city, due to an influx of Chinese, Russian and Hispanic immigrants. In addition, the adjacent Marlboro project is almost 100% Afican-American. Hey, but don’t let the facts stop you from disparaging people who don’t agree with your politics.

    Posted by: benson at October 31, 2008 12:46 PM
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    So having newly arrived immigrants (who typically don’t donate), and the erection of city projects means Bensonhurst is now multicultural?

    That takes away all of the problems that have occurred with race relations in Bensonhurst through the years?

    If you say so. 🙂

  3. i’m voting for balanced government. both candidates are horrendous but it’s going to be one of them at this point. scary to me how people can be so manipulated and get so passionate about a person when they know and understand so little.

  4. pjsubway is right,
    I’ve spoken to many Russian and Eastern European immigrants. Most are educated professionals. They are dead set against big government and socialism-lite. Many can’t believe how easy the average person has it here in the US. let’s face it, we have become a nation of whiners. I have read research where it states that the average poor american is receiving something close to $30,000 worth of entitlements, taking into account housing subsidies, food programs, free public schooling and free medical coverage. this is not a misprint. 30 thousand. I suspect the research is right.
    And yet we cry and cry about “poverty” in the US. Let’s face it, everyone won’t be happy until they are given a one millon dollar check with an Obama logo printed on it in goldleaf.
    Even then, half of Americans would be bankrupt by the end of a year. Again, not kidding.
    So here we go again, if you belive the polls. We will have another few years of entitlements galore until the pendulum swings back the other way. When will people understand that hard work and self sufficiency are the true route to individual freedom and self respect. You cannot mandate success and happiness, no matter how hard you try. And before the knee jerkers and the bleeding hearts go on about the historical inequities, I’ve heard it all. The entire history of mankind is the story of one group subjugating another, sad but true, and even sadder to look at the future through a prism of recompense.
    I also object to the overall tone of this thread, as if the zip codes favoring McCain somehow have some apologizing to do for their political beliefs. Let me be the first one to tell you . I will be voting for McCain. I already posted my reasons last Thursday or Friday on that thread with the Obama poster headlining. My reasons are well thought out and truthful. It is not at all about race, I’m not even white or black, and you two groups should get over it already. because the majority of the planet is neither.

  5. pjsubway,
    The last thing expatriates from a communist country do is bring attention to themselves by donating to a political process. They don’t get involved in the political process and like to remain incognito (ie. don’t do anything to be deported), maybe their next generation will. The descendants of immigrants are not choosing an anti-socialist candidate, they want the best candidate for them and their country (USA). Many immigrants come to the US for better opportunity, not necessarily because they disagree with their former country’s type of government.

  6. Hmmmm…maybe all those recent immigrants in Bensonhurst, from Russia, China and Eastern Europe are donating heavily to McCain because of their first hand experience with socialism.

  7. I have a nice little story about a racist.

    I was just talking to this guy, originally from Queens but living upstate for the past 30 years. I mentioned that I was helping with the campaign and he said “I hope you mean for Obama.” I was like “Duh, of course!” So he sez “Let me tell you something. I’ve never voted before in my life. But I’m so excited to vote for this guy. My friends say ‘But you’re racist’ and I’m like ‘Yeah, but I just love this guy and I trust him to do the right thing for our country.” He even sports an Obama cap and wants to volunteer.

    So, even racists love Obama!

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