Mitchell Was Wrong To Mock Appalachia
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As Barack Obama was wrapping up his speech in Bristol, veteran NBC news reporter Andrea Mitchell was engaging in the most egregious sort of stereotyping.
In an appearance on “MSNBC Live,” Mitchell said of Obama’s Bristol visit: “Interesting images today. Barack Obama, Mark Warner, in Southwest Virginia. This is real [chuckle] redneck ... sort of ... uhm ... bordering on Appalachia ... country. This is not the Northern Virginia ... uh ... you know ... high-tech corridor. And these are voters that he would not logically ... be ... you know, gravitating to. This is the beginning of a pivot.”
To correct Mitchell, Bristol doesn’t border “Appalachia ... country.” It is part of the Appalachian Mountain region. While the region faces challenges, it doesn’t deserve to be the butt of jokes.
Perhaps Mitchell should come visit so that she could experience the region’s beauty and the kindness of its people firsthand. We’re certain she would discover that the derogatory regional stereotype that she repeated on air simply isn’t true.
Her remarks are of the same ilk as Vice President Dick Cheney’s unfortunate joke about inbred West Virginians – for which he later apologized.
Mocking Appalachia is no different than making racial jokes or ethnic slurs. It isn’t acceptable or professional.
Mitchell should be reprimanded by her bosses. A sincere, public apology also is in order.
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Reader Reactions
I urge everyone to contact Andrea Mitchell’s employers and let them know how you feel about Ms. Mitchell’s bigoted, hate-filled attitude toward us and our home. The following addresses are for the heads of NBC News:
Mr. Phil Griffin
Senior Vice President, News
NBC Television Network
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112
email: phil.griffin@nbc.com
Mr. Steve Capus
President, NBC News
email: steve.capus@nbc.com
This address is specific to MSNBC:
email: letters@msnbc.com
Please contact these people and let them know that Ms. Mitchell was out-of-bounds in her comments and should be reprimanded and forced to issue a PUBLIC apology to the good people of Southwest Virginia and Bristol.
Well..well..well.. Here is she is the Queen of Washington bashing what she knows absolutely nothing about. I wish NBC would fire Andrea Mitchell. She is worn out, useless, and worthless. How dare her say the things about our region. I am educated, have a good job, and go to church. I don’t have a sofa on my front porch and if rednecks live here, then I am proud to be one. She should be made to come here and visit our region. Maybe her attitude would change. Oh…NBC couldn’t fire her, she would have to spend all of her money for Viagra for Allen Greenspan to keep her happy!
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