Obama steps in it! Gives Hillary second wind?

[kinggovernor]

Obama Says He Used Wrong Words to Describe Small-Town America

By Julianna Goldman and Karen Leigh

April 12 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said he used the wrong words earlier this week to describe the plight of rural, impoverished Americans, remarks that rivals Hillary Clinton and John McCain assailed as condescending.

Obama, an Illinois Senator, today said there are segments of small-town America that are ``bitter'' at being left behind and feel that ``nobody is paying attention to what they're going through.'' As a result, he said they vote about guns, get angry about illegal immigration, or take comfort in their faith, families and communities.

``That's a natural response,'' Obama told a town hall meeting today at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. ``I didn't say it as well as I should have because the truth is that these traditions that are passed down from generation to generation -- those are important, that's what sustains us.''

Obama made his original remarks April 6 at a fundraiser in San Francisco when he was asked why he had difficulty wooing blue-collar voters.

``You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them,'' Obama said, according to an audio recording on the Huffington Post Web site.

``It's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns, or religion, or antipathy to people who aren't like them, or anti-immigrant sentiment, or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations,'' he said.
Clinton, a senator from New York and Obama's rival for the Democratic nomination, today criticized his remarks.

Embracing Faith

``The people of faith I know don't cling to religion because they're bitter,'' Clinton told workers at the Allison Transmission plant in Indianapolis, Indiana. ``People embrace faith not because they are materially poor but because they are spiritually rich.''

McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds assailed Obama for sticking by his remarks.

Obama's ``elitism allows him to believe that the American traditions that have contributed to the identity and greatness of this country are actually just frustrations and bitterness,'' Bounds said.

Trade, Job Losses

Clinton and Obama have been campaigning in Pennsylvania and Indiana where trade and job losses are playing a prominent role in campaign rhetoric, ahead of the states' April 22 and May 6 primaries. Pennsylvania has lost more than 200,000 manufacturing jobs and Indiana, more than 100,000 since President George W. Bush took office in 2001.

``What is absolutely true is that people don't feel like they're being listened to,'' Obama said today in Muncie, where he wrapped up a three-day Indiana bus tour. ``So they pray and they count on each other and they count on their families.''

Steve Schmidt, a senior adviser to McCain, yesterday called Obama ``out of touch with average Americans.'' Obama responded to that criticism at a town hall meeting in Terre Haute yesterday evening.

``Out of touch? I mean, John McCain, it took him three tries to finally figure out that the home-foreclosure crisis was a problem and to come up with a plan for it,'' Obama said.

``Senator Clinton voted for a credit card-sponsored bankruptcy bill that made it harder for people to get out of debt after taking money from the financial services companies, and I'm out of touch? No, I'm in touch and I know exactly what's going on,'' Obama said.

Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana, a Clinton supporter, said he's concerned that Obama's comments will provide fodder for Republicans in the general election in November.

``I don't think he's an elitist,'' said Bayh, who attended the Indianapolis event with Clinton. ``But these comments are subject to misinterpretation and used by the Republicans to make him look that way.''

To contact the reporters on this story: Julianna Goldman in Muncie, Indiana at jgoldman6@bloomberg.net; Karen Leigh in Indianapolis, Indiana at kleigh@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: April 12, 2008 13:33 EDT

Seriously, cling to guns and religion? Who does he think he is? I used to think that the Democrat party was the party of the working people, unions members and other blue collar people.

Instead it the party of the Starbucks crowd, and comments like these go to show just how out of touch Obama and the Democratic party is.

This goes right along with his "typical white person" comment, it is subtle racism.

[RMNIXON]

Enough wind to get the broom launched again? Perhaps! The last thing Obama needs is a popular vote revolt among Democrats to Clinton. Just short of talking about "Flyover Country" we now know the White Gun Toting Jesus Freaks in Small Town America are "angry" and Obama can solve their problems!



WASHINGTON -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, known for his skills as an orator, conceded today that comments he made at a private San Francisco fundraiser about working-class Democrats clinging to "guns or religion" were poorly chosen.

"I didn't say it as well as I should have," he said. "But what is absolutely true is that people don't feel like they are being listened to. And so they pray and they count on each other and they count on their families."

Seeking to defuse the damage among blue-collar Democrats essential to his chances in upcoming primaries in Pennsylvania and Indiana, Obama told a crowd in Muncie, Ind., that he only meant to show empathy.

"Lately, there's been a little typical sort of political flare-up because I said something that everybody knows is true, which is that there are a whole bunch of folks in small towns in Pennsylvania, in towns right here in Indiana, in my hometown in Illinois, who are bitter," Obama said. "They are angry, they feel like they've been left behind. They feel like nobody's paying attention to what they're going through."

The controversy -- fanned by rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain -- began when the Huffington Post website published remarks the Illinois senator made last weekend at a closed-door San Francisco fundraiser.

In those comments, Obama responded to a question about why his candidacy was struggling in Pennsylvania by saying that residents of some hard-pressed communities had grown bitter.

"You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them," Obama said. "And it's not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

Fellow Democrat Clinton, campaigning in Pennsylvania ahead of the state's April 22 primary, seized on the remarks, suggesting that Obama was offering condescension rather than solutions. "Pennsylvania doesn't need a president who looks down on them," the New York senator said at a Philadelphia rally. "They need a president who stands up for them, who fights for them."

Responding today to Obama's concession that his words were ill chosen, the New York senator continued her attack. "Sen. Obama's remarks are elitist and out of touch," she said. "They are not reflective of the values and beliefs of Americans. Certainly not the Americans that I know." She added, "If you want to be the president of all Americans, you need to respect all Americans."

A strategist for Sen. McCain (R-Ariz.) also joined in the criticism. "Instead of apologizing to small-town Americans for dismissing their values, Barack Obama arrogantly tried to spin his way out of his outrageous San Francisco remarks," said campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds. "You can't be more out of touch than that."

Obama seeks to explain 'guns or religion' remark - Los Angeles Times


Hey Obama?

Maybe they use religion to bring better meaning to their lives? And not as a race and class political ideolgy platform to hate people who "aren't like them?" Maybe they have guns to protect home and family?

Mr. Arrogance needs to get over himself. You are a candidate for President, not runnig for Savior of the angry idiots in the heartland! This guy is clueless!

The media spin is dizzy on the defensive

[Rouger2]

Originally Posted by RMNIXON

I was editing my thread when you beat me on the clock. Wizards may merge my remarks at will.

I think he may be talking about a minority of the people in small towns but to generalize like that was not smart and was wrong. He was looking down on them and me who was raised in a small town. People certianly don't cling to religion because they are bitter.

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by Rouger2

People certianly don't cling to religion because they are bitter.

Really? You should meet some of my friends grandparents in small town Pennsylvania

Better yet, watch the family guy episode where Peter's dad shows up, because its funny and it'll remind you of what you probably forgot about

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by Barack Obama

It's not surpising they get bitter, they cling to guns, or religion

Well there is always 2012, eh?

So, four years of McCain, I hope Stevens and Ginsburg can stay alive for 4 more years

[RMNIXON]

Originally Posted by Rouger2

I think he may be talking about a minority of the people in small towns but to generalize like that was not smart and was wrong. He was looking down on them and me who was raised in a small town. People certianly don't cling to religion because they are bitter.

Fox news was talking to some small town folks in Pennsylvania today. They don't deny they are bitter, about jobs for one thing, but the idea that they are gun toting Christians because of that got under their skin! I know what Obama was trying to do. He was trying to explain to the San Francisco liberal snobs how he is trying to relate to these down home folks who still vote Democrat. And he put his foot in his mouth!

Now the Obama camp and the Obama media are trying to convince people he did not say what he said, and Hillary is trying to play the working class girl who was out shooting guns with Ma and Pa Kettle!

This is so damn entertaining!

[Scrum]

Yet another thing blown way out of proportion by the media and the talking heads.

*yawn*

[kinggovernor]

Originally Posted by Scrum

Yet another thing blown way out of proportion by the media and the talking heads.

*yawn*

you don't consider this news? If not what do you consider news?

[kombayn]

Obama did put his foot in his mouth. Now people do have to look if he can win these swing states. If he talks like that, he's going to turn-off a lot of voters. I really wish there was a viable 3rd party candidate, with two candidates from each party that don't know when to shut up are being caught flip-floppin' or saying out of line statements... Easy pickings. I don't agree with what Obama said at all.

[Thorgrim]

There is nothing that stops a moderate or reform minded candidate from joining either party...the idea that just because someon rejects the label "Democrat" which can mean anything from a pro-life, gun-totting, anti-gay, anti-immigrant christian wacko out of LA (See LA-06's district) all the way to a staunch pro-choice, anti-gun, pro-gay/transgender rights, citizenship to illegals (see California Reps)

Really, anyone of pretty much any ideology that is moderate can be a Democrat, and indeed many are...

But to make some third party that is moderate? I think Ross Perot shows you still can look like an idiot on TV and do inexplicable things

[Scrum]

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

you don't consider this news? If not what do you consider news?

It's news, it's just way overblown.

What he said was correct but it's been twisted into "All of you yokels are just gun crazy jesus freaks" in a weak attempt to paint him as an elitist.

[kinggovernor]

Originally Posted by Scrum

It's news, it's just way overblown.

What he said was correct but it's been twisted into "All of you yokels are just gun crazy jesus freaks" in a weak attempt to paint him as an elitist.

the story just broke, how can be overblown? Wait til Monday when the nighly cable news shows get their hands on it.

[kinggovernor]

And the photoshops have begun:

[7960]

he shits on her
she shits on him
he shit on her again
she shits on him again
he takes a huge raging shit on her
she pulls the anal beads and unleashes a torrent of shit
he counters with his "I'm black so you can't disrespect my shit" shit
she rebuts with her "females don't shit, but I'm running for office so I will" shit


and mccain is in the corner hoping both bury each other in shit so he doesn't even had to campaign.

[Scrum]

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

the story just broke, how can be overblown? Wait til Monday when the nighly cable news shows get their hands on it.

The Lou Dobbs show on Saturday devoted the entire hour to this Obama story and how it was "devastating" to his campaign.

Meanwhile this came out on friday and got nothing.

That's overblown.

[RMNIXON]

Originally Posted by kombayn

Obama did put his foot in his mouth. Now people do have to look if he can win these swing states. If he talks like that, he's going to turn-off a lot of voters. I really wish there was a viable 3rd party candidate, with two candidates from each party that don't know when to shut up are being caught flip-floppin' or saying out of line statements... Easy pickings. I don't agree with what Obama said at all.

It is not even a left vs right issue. It is a being out of touch and looking down at people issue. Snobish liberalism or Country Club Republicanism don't fly well with most voters. That was an advantage Bush had in 2000. Weekend BBQ and a few Beers simpleton Bush was comfortable. Gore was stiff and out of place.

[Thorgrim]

Example 1:

"You're really fat because you eat so many carbs."

"Say what!?"

"But it's true. I mean it can be scientifically and medically proven. You're over 650 pounds and if you ate less pasta, you would store less energy."

Example 2:

"Black people are impoverished so they cling to crime."

"WHAT!?" [outrage, and rightfully so]

"But it's true. It's in all the sociology texts, justice system statistics, etc. It's not their fault though; it's just the poor socioeconomic conditions to which America and its government has abandoned them." (See a parallel? a la "I didn't insult you, I just stated [what I consider] to be a socioeconomic fact.")

Example 3:

"Big city voters vote for trendy fad du jour candidates because it gives them a sense of self-identity otherwise lacking in the overwhelm and anonymity of congested urban life."

"Huh?" [offense, naturally]

"But it's true. There's this book called 'What's the Matter with Kansas City' and it explains everything..."

For anyone who says "but it's true!"

[RMNIXON]

Originally Posted by kinggovernor

And the photoshops have begun:

That was quick!

[Rouger2]

Originally Posted by Thorgrim

Really? You should meet some of my friends grandparents in small town Pennsylvania

Better yet, watch the family guy episode where Peter's dad shows up, because its funny and it'll remind you of what you probably forgot about

Like I said there is always a minority of people who are bitter but they usually did not go to church in my small town in the northwest and from my memory most church going people and it was a majority went to church certianly not because they were bitter, but because they believed in the church they were going to.