EDITORIAL:NBC News’ Mitchell wrong to disrespect Appalachia with ‘redneck’ comment

By Bristol Herald Courier Editorial Board

Published: June 6, 2008

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.