I drove to Jefferson City yesterday afternoon to cover the Joe Biden campaign event at Memorial Park. While I waited for the media credential table to open I had the opportunity to speak with Tony Viessman and Les Spencer of Rednecks for Obama.

Toney Viessman (left) and Les Spencer (right) of “Rednecks for Obama” at the entrance to the Joe Biden campaign event in Memorial Park, Jefferson City.

According to Tony Viessman, during the 1992 gubernatorial primary someone called Mel Carnahan a “Redneck from Rolla”. He continued:

“Why not ‘Rednecks for Obama’…?

…[Obama] is for working class people…

…Guns are [used as] a wedge issue every four years…

…Our web site has had over 800,000 hits so far, it jammed up pretty good this morning…

Les Spencer added:

I think Obama will build this economy from the bottom up. Top down ain’t workin’…

…Don’t be afraid to vote for Obama. We need change. Things have gotta be done different…

…We’re doin’ this on our own money…Most reaction has been pretty good…

…A lot of the time we’re preachin’ to the choir, but the choir carries the message.

A small group of republican students (identified as such by their signs), one dressed up as the Statue of Liberty and another dressed as Uncle Sam, gathered opposite Tony and Les and started in with chants.

republican students opposite the “Rednecks for Obama”. The two students on the right have obviously been spending a goodly amount of their time making costumes (and the others, signs) instead of canvassing and phone banking.

Most of the media in the credential queue ignored the republican students, though someone did quip, “That’d be news if a ‘Redneck for Obama’ punched out the Statue of Liberty’.” There were a few laughs.