Clinton Camp Pushes Visuals to Keep Obama ‘Bitter’ Comments Alive
ABC News’ Sarah Amos and Eloise Harper report: While Former President Bill Clinton has been unusually quiet regarding comments Sen. Barack Obama made calling rural America "bitter," the story has been front and center at his most recent campaign events in the form of a little white sticker.
At a late afternoon rally in Goldsboro, N.C., a dozen or so audience members were seen wearing computer-printed stickers with the slogan "I’m not bitter."
The slogan was in response to comments Obama made recently, when he said, "It is not surprising that they (rural America) get bitter and turn to guns or religion or antipathy." The stickers were again spotted on a random assortment of audience members at the former president’s events in Deep Run and New Bern.
At first, those sporting stickers were confused as to who exactly was distributing the items protesting Obama’s remarks. One young man thought students had been passing them out; another said they came from event organizers; a third said she thought they came from the campaign, but wasn’t quite sure. At first a campaign staffer played up the grassroots angle, not admitting where the stickers had come from
The Clinton campaign staff eventually acknowledged that the stickers were printed by members of their North Carolina team and distributed at the rally, an act that seems to be part of a larger push to keep the Obama story alive in rural North Carolina.
Despite the campaign’s efforts, though, the story doesn’t really seem to be catching on as much as the campaign might have hoped. The stickers are still few and far between in the crowds. In addition, Clinton surrogate and former North Carolina DNC party chairman Tom Hendrickson brought up the remarks at two rallies this morning, and neither time received anything above a tepid response from the crowd.
"My message to Sen. Obama is: We are not frustrated, we are not bitter. We turn to our faith because we believe. Amen. We hunt and fish because it is part of our culture and we enjoy it. So, Sen. Obama, don’t pity us and think that we are bitter and frustrated. We are hard-working family folks who are smart and we get it. We don’t need the pundits to tell us what to think. In the words of that old Hank Williams song, ‘We are country folks and we will survive,’" Hendrickson told a barely applauding crowd this morning in Winterville, N.C.
Whatever the long-terms effect of the stickers and the story, a few audience members seemed happy to have a sticker to wear. As one woman walked out of the event in Goldsboro she said she was appalled by what Obama had said and that the sticker was a good idea.
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Hendrickson is right. HE is not bitter. The folks he, as a Clinton Democrat, left behind are.
Posted by: Harriet | April 12, 2008, 7:38 pm 7:38 pm
Hillary will apparently do anything to win, including smearing the likely Democratic nominee. For her, of all people, to suggest that Barack Obama is somehow elitist is beyond ridiculous. (Wasn’t last week’s smear that he was a scary black man from the ghetto?) Time to start treating us like grown-ups!
Posted by: Billy | April 12, 2008, 7:45 pm 7:45 pm
Brilliant tactic. Keep this scandal front and center. Excellent. Obama is going down with a thud.
Then he’ll be the bitter one.
Posted by: Jo | April 12, 2008, 8:05 pm 8:05 pm
Tom Hendrickson is not a gifted speaker and had a hard with his speech reading and delivery. So Obama Zombies don’t read to much in the crowds response. He’s Country and American voters got his message! Remember Rev. Wright said “God Damn America”, and Small Town Americans says not in our house!
Posted by: Kenny from CT. | April 12, 2008, 8:19 pm 8:19 pm
The allegedly “tepid” reaction may well have been because some people at the rally hadn’t heard the news yet. After sitting on the story for a week, the reporter from Huffington deliberately released the story this weekend because she knew a lot of people wouldn’t be focused on the news.
Posted by: Emily | April 12, 2008, 8:21 pm 8:21 pm
Hillary said “america” or “americans” 4 times in 18 minutes. she’s grasping
you have to be an elitist to NOT be bitter. gas prices, jobs, war
if you’re not bitter, you’re not middle class or poor.
Posted by: Gion | April 12, 2008, 8:37 pm 8:37 pm
Hillary, the more you lie about Obama being ‘elite’ -while he’s talking about how we really feel and you’re releasing 109 Million dollar tax returns- the more stupid you look.
Posted by: penn | April 12, 2008, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm
Many people in these crowds wouldn’t have known about the comments yet.
It will take a few days to see what the response will be.
Besides its the undecideds who probably arent at a Clinton rally and might have voted Obama before they heard this who could make a difference.
The people at these rallies were already Clinton supporters.
Posted by: s.b. | April 12, 2008, 8:44 pm 8:44 pm
The people who are out of touch are the ones going around and pretending there is not a deep well of bitterness in the American electorate. Wake up, folks! Surveys indicate over 80% of the people believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. Why is HRC getting mad at Obama for commenting on the obvious?
Posted by: Tom in California | April 12, 2008, 8:51 pm 8:51 pm
funny how the Obama youth defend him no matter what.
If you paid much attention through the whole primaries, You would have seen, Obama to be The major candidate to start the mudslinging, to Point the fingers, to cast Blame on everyone. To Plant stories, to twist facts, to tell mis-truths.
His vast lies surpass anyone else’s. He was low enough to lie on and about his best friends, his family.
He is the first to cry woe is me, Look they are picking on me, and Whine about everything.
He was the first and only one to talk down to, put down and use and abuse the American public.
His campaign consist of trying to make everyone else look bad, since he has nothing to stand on.
He was the first to name call, and continues to do so.
He was the first to divide into races and groups.
He is a scam artist, he has used, abused, and manipulated the American people. He does not care for you. He only cares for you vote.
He put himself on a pedestal, thinking he is high above all else. His arogance
has him thinking he is free to do or say anything he wants to, and get away with it.
He beleives no one will call him out or challenge him for fear of being called a racist. He hold that above all heads, and ready to cast it upon anyone if they speak ill of him, disagree with him or challenge him.
He is worthless as a person and as a senator. So he does not deserve to be The President of the United States of America.
He refuses to show a support for our troops. He refuses to place his hand on his heart for the national Anthem.
So what makes you think He would lay down his life to Defend or Protect The United States of America. He would not, he is the type that would sell us out. or run crying and hide.
Obama beleives in Obama
The change Obama wants is a change of Address to the White House.
He’s the one to pull the wool over your eyes.
The “we” he keeps talking about is Him, Michelle and Rev Wright and his Friends.
Not you and me. (he wants us to stay out of corporate American and take the jobs as nurses and teachers and factory work, that is what he needs”
He is the weakest link and the worst candidate.
Posted by: seah | April 12, 2008, 8:51 pm 8:51 pm
I am bitter but I have hope.
Obama 08!
B man deserves some real respect. He could have tired to blow the whole Bosnia thing out of proportion but he didn’t.
Me and my blue collar wife and kids… white as can be in PA are voting for Obama.
take that.
Posted by: ruralPAman | April 12, 2008, 8:53 pm 8:53 pm
New Obama slogan:
BITTERNESS WE CAN BELIEVE IN
Posted by: UM | April 12, 2008, 8:56 pm 8:56 pm
Housing Values going down, Investments losing value in 1st quarter of 2008 -401K/403B, Eduation 529 plan, etc.. and at least 19 dead U.S. soliders in Iraq already in April and all anyone can talk about is how Sen Obama hurt our feelings. I would rather have hurt feelings than dead soliders, I would rather be called bitter and have investments which are in the Black and I would rather have an Elitist in the White House if my personal housing value would rise and foreclosures wouldn’t dot my neighborhood… God Bless America and Politican’s who can prey on our racial, religious and class divisions.
Posted by: MiamiMeltdown | April 12, 2008, 8:59 pm 8:59 pm
Obama’s comments were not that the general population is bitter but that small town people resort to hunting and church to deal with their bitterness (rather than hunting as a tradition and religion as devotion to god). He stereotyped them and described them as though they were some kind of anthropologic experiment.
Posted by: al | April 12, 2008, 9:08 pm 9:08 pm
You can’t even own up to what Obama really said. I guess you are so bitter and clinging to your guns to the point that you cannot read! typical i guess.
Posted by: al | April 12, 2008, 9:10 pm 9:10 pm
Yes, I am a bitter American fed up with the Economy as it is – I blame it on The Old Way thinking of Washington. And Hillary is part of that. I am voting for Barack Obama right now, he is right.
Posted by: latinovoter1 | April 12, 2008, 9:12 pm 9:12 pm
BTW.. to all of you who are foolishly not bitter…
Both Gore and Carter will be endorsing Obama, not Clinton alas.
Why? Because they are bitter but have hope OBAMA 08.
For all Americans… white..black…bitter…happy…sad…hopeful.
Posted by: in the loop | April 12, 2008, 9:14 pm 9:14 pm
Hillary is pathetic. Won’t someone please wish her into the cornfield already?!!
Posted by: Californian | April 12, 2008, 9:16 pm 9:16 pm
Obama is unelectable. All the hysteria in the world won’t change that. Please obama people, no violence.
Posted by: al | April 12, 2008, 9:17 pm 9:17 pm
I applaud Senator Obama for running a campaign that at least tries to deal with reality and to appeal to me and every other American as an adult. What is wrong with this political climate that a candidate cannot clarify a statement without the other candidate(s) being adults and gentlemen and women and allowing him to speak? He has shown this courtesy to HRC. And if HRC is so sure she is the only one fit (entitled) to be president, what should she fear? Where is the faith that she so stalwartly defended (bragged about)? And did you ever think you would see her get behind guns?!? She will stop at nothing and is behaving foolishly.
Thank you, Obama, for trying to speak directly to us. I pray that my fellow-Americans can be as reasonable as our fore-fathers and mothers thought people could be. I, a blue collar American feel bitterness not only for our current state of affairs, but also for HRC’s deplorable greed and mudslinging. I can barely watch anymore.
God bless you, Obama!
Posted by: GrainneG | April 12, 2008, 9:21 pm 9:21 pm
I have noticed that all Obama does is say one liners like: Oh it’s just more old style politics or some such thing as that, instead of facing all his lies, deceitfulness and nonsense. He thinks that if he just brushes off the real criticisms he should have to face, people will just forget about them. Be careful everyone or that just might be what happens. Don’t forget all the stuff he should have to face and answer for..that’s just what he is counting on.
Posted by: Vickie | April 12, 2008, 9:23 pm 9:23 pm
she is soo dirty
The Clinton campaign staff eventually acknowledged that the stickers were printed by members of their North Carolina team and distributed at the rally, an act that seems to be part of a larger push to keep the Obama story alive in rural North Carolina.
no way for a fellow dem to be acting
liars pointing finger
Posted by: Lauren | April 12, 2008, 9:24 pm 9:24 pm
I wonder how many different kinds of brie cheese obama sampled in that san francisco mansion while he talked bad about small town americans?
Posted by: al | April 12, 2008, 9:25 pm 9:25 pm
the economy sucks
we’re mired in war
we’re heavily in debt
people are losing their jobs
gas prices are insane
threats such as global warming loom
damn right i’m bitter, and today i’m especially bitter that people care more about the word “bitter” instead of the things that make me bitter
i could give a crap today who doesnt and doesnt like Obama here. I was an Edwards fan to start. It’s clear only Obama of the candidates left recognizes bitterness of people like me, the other two are living in a fantasyland where they hear horror stories from people every day about health care, put them in their stump speeches
but dont think I’m bitter about it?
WAKE UP
Posted by: Sitsu | April 12, 2008, 9:26 pm 9:26 pm
The Clinton campaign staff eventually acknowledged that the stickers were printed by members of their North Carolina team and distributed at the rally, an act that seems to be part of a larger push to keep the Obama story alive in rural North Carolina.
Despite the campaign’s efforts, though, the story doesn’t really seem to be catching on as much as the campaign might have hoped. The stickers are still few and far between in the crowds. In addition, Clinton surrogate and former North Carolina DNC party chairman Tom Hendrickson brought up the remarks at two rallies this morning, and neither time received anything above a tepid response from the crowd
The lady just does not get it.
She will never win
Supers see what she is all about.
Obama 08
nice guys do win
Posted by: Lauren | April 12, 2008, 9:27 pm 9:27 pm
Whatever the long-terms effect of the stickers and the story,
Long term will be American voter will
reject you. and reject you big.
some people have empathy it is very clear she has none.
Millionaire elitist.
800,000 reasons not to vote for her
Posted by: Lauren | April 12, 2008, 9:30 pm 9:30 pm
Lifetime Democrat:
Voting for McCain if Obama wins the nomination..
Taking him down one vote at a time
Let’s see: I am over 500 now for people I know will do the same since our little talks. (who’d a thunk it..me stumping for a Republican)
Hillary 08..if not then McCain!!
Posted by: Vickie | April 12, 2008, 9:30 pm 9:30 pm
Please guys, even though obama sat in that mansion and ate brie cheese and drank wine and stereotyped you and said you cling to your guns when you get bitter shutting the world out, don’t be bitter about being bitter. obama really cares about you. really, he does. he’s just a nice guy who wants to make things better for you typical whites. LOL.
Posted by: al | April 12, 2008, 9:30 pm 9:30 pm
Sorry Clinton supporters but this isn’t the general election, it’s the Dem primary. Most Dem voters agree with Obama, and even if they didn’t, don’t forget that the ones who really matter now, the superdelegates, are all liberal elite who probably feel this was an act of courage.
Posted by: Raj | April 12, 2008, 9:31 pm 9:31 pm
Vickie
I too will be voting for mccain if obama is the nom.
Posted by: al | April 12, 2008, 9:32 pm 9:32 pm
What’s really sad is that for so long, people thought if they supported Obama, they would gain access to this elite club of well-educated, wealthy, hip people. All of his promises of unity were empty words, and that was all he had going for himself. Now, his true feelings about the American people are coming to the surface.
Posted by: Sarah | April 12, 2008, 9:32 pm 9:32 pm
Well when the boss sreams shut up i guess you shut up. He has alot riding on her winning 800,00.00
worth riding on her. And just think if she was to win the GE how much they would be worth when her term was up.
Millionaire craves money and power.
They are devoid of human empathy
Posted by: Lauren | April 12, 2008, 9:33 pm 9:33 pm
I can’t help visualizing a crowd of Clinton fans wearing ‘I’m not bitter’ stickers on the day she announces her withdrawal.
That’s the spirit.
Posted by: Niels | April 12, 2008, 9:36 pm 9:36 pm
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY HILLARY SUPPORTERS NEVER EVER LISTEN TO ANYONE BUT HER. CLINTON WHO CAN DO SOME STRANGE INTERPRETATIONS CHANGED THIS TO AN INSULT. IT WAS NEVER MEANT TO BE AND NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN IF SHE HAD NOT ONCE AGAIN POINTED HER FINGER ACCUSINGLY. THE MAN HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG. INSTEAD HILLARY AND BILLS FINANCIAL CONDUCTS, THE CLINTON LIBRARY, IE.. ARE HANDED TO THE TRASH AND WE ARE MISDIRECTED TO FRONT PAGE NEWS WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS
Posted by: GAWANIA | April 12, 2008, 9:37 pm 9:37 pm
Niels, that post is a classic.
Excellent. Yes, there’s nothing like the mind’s eye. Haha.
Posted by: greg | April 12, 2008, 9:39 pm 9:39 pm
All Americans will have heard about her giving those stickers out . do you supporters understand what she has done to a fellow Dem.? She stinks and everyone will remember that.
Especially after the RNCC said they were going to write letters threatening the Dem Senators and Representative.
Dont forget the supers will hear from their people
the GOOD GUYS WIlL WIN THIS ONE
HILL IT IS CALLED EMPATHY..TRY TO BUY SOME
Posted by: Lauren | April 12, 2008, 9:42 pm 9:42 pm
when i think of ‘bitter’ the first people that come to mind are rev wright and michelle obama-
Posted by: sonia trevino | April 12, 2008, 9:45 pm 9:45 pm
MONEY CAN BUY LOTS OF THINGS…BUT IT CANT BUY PEACE OF MIND,
CANT BUY TRUE HUMAN EMOTIONS
CANT BUY UNDERSTANDING
CANT BUY SYNPATHY FOR OTHERS
CANT BUY FORGIVENESS
CANT BUY GOD
CANT BUY HEAVEN
HILLARY IT LOOKS LIKE YOUR IN SERIOUS TROUBLE
Posted by: Lauren | April 12, 2008, 9:50 pm 9:50 pm
lauren-you are correct money cannot buy allot of things. but spellcheck is free. i recommend it to all you wealthy, educated, obama supporters. please it drives us poor blue collar, uneducated, clinton supporters nuts.
Posted by: sonia trevino | April 12, 2008, 10:01 pm 10:01 pm
All you folks who seem to want to celebrate this need to keep one thing in mind…should Obama go, so goes the hopes of any Democrat, including Hillary ,winning in November. He alone has brought in most of the new voters nationally AND is currently winning about 90% of the African American vote. IF you think a sleazy push out of Obama from this campaign will help the Democrats at all, you are mistaken. Folks, the Clintons win at all cost strategy may work for them to get the nomination, but if Obama is not on the ticket, and I wouldn’t blame him if he said no after all of this if he were asked, then you can kiss goodbye to a Democratic win. And if you think Hillary will be more suited to run against McCain, wait until the Republicans hit her with the Bosnia lie tapes. They are chomping at the bit to get rid of Obama and have Hillary to run against. If I were Obama if that happens, I would say have at her.
Posted by: Stewart from North Carolina | April 12, 2008, 10:07 pm 10:07 pm
I PRAY FOR OBAMA AND HIS CAMPAIGN. HE HAS SAID THE RIGHT WORDS WE ARE BITTER. IT TAKE MOST OF US $200.00 DOLLARS A MONTH TO GET TO WORK. I PRAY FOR THE GAS PRICES TO GO DOWN. HILLARY IS TRYING TO COVER UP FOR THE WRONG SHE HAS DONE VOTED ON THE WAR VOTED NAFTA. I AM NO PLEASE WITH THE WAY HILLARY AND MCCAIN IS ACTING TOWARD OBAMA. I PRAY FOR BOTH OF THEM. HILLARY HAS LIED ABOUT BOSNIA, CAUSED MANY JOB LOST IN THE UNITED SSTATES AND SHE IS TRYING TO CALL OBAMA UNELLECTABLE. SHE IS THE ONE THE COUNTRY SHOULD NOT VOTE FOR. FELLOWC AMERICANS OBAMA IS A NO. ONE CANIDATE. KEEP FOCUSED ON WHAT THE COUNTRY NEED. HONESTY. WE ARE TIRED OF TRYIN TO MAKE ENDS MEET. WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD TO GET TO WORK IF THE PRICES KEEP RISING, RISING. I PRAY FOR A BETTER TOMORROW FOR OUR CHILDREN CHILDREN AND THIRE CHILDREN CHILDREN. GO OBAMA.
Posted by: Wanda | April 12, 2008, 10:14 pm 10:14 pm
This cynical attack against Senator Obama for supposedly being “elitist” is just racism in another form. It used to be that white racists would call Blacks “uppity” if they were well spoken and highly educated– nowadays, that racism takes the form of calling a self-made African-American man “elitist”. Senator Obama is the only candidate left in this campaign for president who has rolled up his sleeves and “walked the talk” in working side-by-side in the trenches with working people to help them. He gave up opportunities for lucrative work and instead went back to Chicago to help working class people in the streets of Chicago and in fighting for their civil rights in court and in the Illinois state senate. Hillary Clinton grew up white in a two-parent household, went to Wellesley, then made money on the backs of working people by being on the board of Walmart, and has been riding on her husband’s political coattails ever since. And she pretends she’s someone with “the common touch”? Talk about absurd! John McCain is the son of a famous Admiral. Senator Obama, by contrast, grew up in humble circumstances in a single parent household, and is a self-made man who got where he is despite all the disadvantages of his childhood and growing up a biracial kid at time when this presented huge challenges and obstacles for success. Barack Obama hasn’t forgotten where he came from.
Posted by: Staton Rabin | April 12, 2008, 10:14 pm 10:14 pm
WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU EXPECT FORM THIS CAMP AND THE LADY(BARFFFFF) THAT THEY ARE WORKING FOR.ANYTHING TO TAKE THE HEAT OFF HER LIES…
Posted by: honest | April 12, 2008, 10:19 pm 10:19 pm
LEELEE THAT IS EXCELLENT!
Posted by: AL | April 12, 2008, 10:21 pm 10:21 pm
If local reporters ask these members of Congress what they think of Obama’s remarks, that could extend this story and hurt him with all-important super delegates. That’s the NRCC’s hope, anyway.
AND CLINTONS HOPE TOO!!!
BUT SHE IS FINDING OUT THE HARD WAY DECENCY COUNTS IN AMERICA…TOO BAD MONEY CANT BUY YOU SOME. SHE IS DEVOID OF HUMAN EMOTIONS
SELF CENTER EGO MANIAC
Posted by: Lauren | April 12, 2008, 10:24 pm 10:24 pm
Thanks Al, I can’t claim it, but I won’t be bitter! I just happened to find it on a blog earlier today. The only thing that is better than me not writing it is the fact that it out there in the great blogosphere where thousands of other eyes can read it and get a good chuckle at ole’ FalseLips expense! :D
Rise, Hillary, Rise
Posted by: LeeLee07 | April 12, 2008, 10:30 pm 10:30 pm
THE RICH CLINTONS DO NOT GET IT .BUT SHE WILL COME THE CONVENTION WHEN SHE DOESNT WIN. SHE MIGHT THEN UNDERSTAND WHAT BITTER IS. BUT I DOUBT IT. WITH HER MILLIONS SHE BE LAUGHING IT UP SOMEWHERE.
TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO STRUGGLE AND WATCH YOUR JOB BE FLUSHED AWAY BY SOME POLITICIAN CHOICE.
Posted by: Lauren | April 12, 2008, 10:30 pm 10:30 pm
I think that the people endorsing Obama are the ones that are bitter… bitter that they weren’t the nominee themselves. So, in an effort to make sure that no one in their party wins the election, they endorse the guy who can’t win… and afterwards, will explain that if American had nominated them, their party would have won.
Posted by: Hope Dude | April 12, 2008, 10:31 pm 10:31 pm
Focusing this time on Rep. Jason Altmire, D-Pa., the National Republican Congressional Committee is trying to damn local Democrats with the comments about small towns made by Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.
Posted by: Lauren | April 12, 2008, 10:32 pm 10:32 pm
Hey – BITTERNESS seems to run in the Obama family….first the wifey says Americans are bitter, now the Messaih himself says small-town America is bitter
Certainly never going to get my vote, see I am bitter :)
Posted by: BitterBama | April 12, 2008, 10:34 pm 10:34 pm
Despite the campaign’s efforts, though, the story doesn’t really seem to be catching on as much as the campaign might have hoped. The stickers are still few and far between in the crowds. In addition, Clinton surrogate and former North Carolina DNC party chairman Tom Hendrickson brought up the remarks at two rallies this morning, and neither time received anything above a tepid response from the crowd.
IT ISNT WORKING SORE LOSER GET OVER IT YOUR DONE
Posted by: Lauren | April 12, 2008, 10:37 pm 10:37 pm
I THINK ITS FUNNY THAT HILARY WOULD SLAM ANYONE ON WHAT THEY SAY DIDNT SHE SLAM TAMMY FOR “STANDING BY HER MAN” THEN HILARY DID THE SAME THING! OH AND HER COOKIES AND TEA COMMENT WENT OVER WELL WHEN SHE PRETTY MUCH TOLD AMERICAN WOMAN THAT STAYING AT HOME TO CARE FOR CHILDREN WAS A WASTE OF TIME! GO TO LOVE THAT..
NOT TO MENTION HER MANY FOOT IN THE MOUTH COMMENTS SINCE THEN.
Posted by: melissa | April 12, 2008, 10:45 pm 10:45 pm
MONEY CANT BUY EMPATHY FOR OTHERS. EITHER YOU HAVE IT OR YOU DONT. POOR HILLARY JUST DOES NOT HAE IT. IT SEEMS TO BE IN THIS BLOG TODAY MANY HAVE IT. JUST NOT HILLARY.
BARACK OBAMA 08
Posted by: Lauren | April 12, 2008, 10:46 pm 10:46 pm
What do you mean? I’m wearing my “I am NOT bitter” sticker right now! :D
Rise, Hillary, Rise!’08
Posted by: LeeLee07 | April 12, 2008, 10:47 pm 10:47 pm
I am not from a small town. I am neither a member of the N.R.A., possess a firearm, or have ever had the inclination to do so. I do not actively pursue any faith, though I have been compelled in recent years to pray more often than I ever imagined I would — to a God I’m not at all certain exists. I do not prejudge anyone who fully embraces their faith or their right to bear arms. I do not harbor a distrust of particular people and do not consider myself better than my fellow man.
Still, I am bitter.
Bitter and wholly distrusting of this government. Bitter that 7 years of constant lies have now so permeated the national consciousness that when a truth is presented, it is countervailed as an attack on the people, and not the government. Bitter because I see the disingenuous attempt to cloak themselves as agents of change because they see that it is succeeding for one who does not fall prey to prevailing dogma. Bitter that these craven imposters would rather sacrifice the truth of this charge as a means of distinguishing themselves from the bearer than recognizing that the call of leadership does not beckon us all. Bitter because so many of those in my own circumstance are bombarded in an assault on the senses, intended not to lift the damning burden of failure, but to abscond with a charge that is not theirs and in the process guarantee the perpetuation of that failure. Bitter that the same detractors of the truth, embark not only to vanquish the bearer of that truth, but to replace him with his own call. And yet, through all of this, I am hopeful, in that I see in one man the willingness to speak of the national blight — unconstrained by the chorus that has come to mean patriotism and guided by a reason, so beautifully simple, that any common man, employing a common sense, can readily understand it.
If only we choose to do so. Obama ’08
Posted by: H. Aslan Aslani-Far | April 12, 2008, 10:47 pm 10:47 pm
WELL THATS JUST HILARY AT HER BEST, GET AMERICA TO THINK THEY ARENT MAD THEY LOST JOBS OVER NAFTA!
Posted by: melissa | April 12, 2008, 10:53 pm 10:53 pm
The Clinton campaign staff eventually acknowledged that the stickers were printed by members of their North Carolina team and distributed at the rally, an act that seems to be part of a larger push to keep the Obama story alive in rural North Carolina.
DIRTY HILLARY
SAY GOOD BYE HILL DECENT HARDWORKING AMERICANS WILL MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT GET BACK IN THE WHITE HOUSE
Posted by: Lauren | April 12, 2008, 10:56 pm 10:56 pm
lauren i do not think so. the issue is on fire in pennsylvania (where it matters most right now). in fact it is being discussed right now on cnn in a one hour special. this will not go away. if this does not sink him in the nomination process-it will in novemeber.
Posted by: sonia trevino | April 12, 2008, 10:56 pm 10:56 pm
@al-well, mine is not professionally done, of course, just something I kinda threw together – I am sure you could do just as well, if not better. lol :D
Rise, Hillary, Rise!’08
Posted by: LeeLee07 | April 12, 2008, 10:58 pm 10:58 pm
@al-well, mine is not professionally done, of course, just something I kinda threw together – I am sure you could do just as well, if not better. lol :D
Rise, Hillary, Rise!’08
Posted by: LeeLee07 | April 12, 2008, 10:58 pm 10:58 pm
I was prepared to vote for whoever the Democrats nominate because I am so fed up with this war. But because of the constant efforts by the Clintons to win at any cost, I will either not vote or hold my nose and vote for McCain if Hillary and her people screw Obama out of the nomination that he deserves.
Posted by: George Murray | April 12, 2008, 10:59 pm 10:59 pm
WELL IT FITS HER CAMPAIGN IS DYING.
IS THAT WHAT THEY SAY IN VAMPIRE MOVIES?
Posted by: Lauren | April 12, 2008, 11:01 pm 11:01 pm
I DONT THINK SO- I BELIEVE SURE THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT IT AND MAY BE MAD BUT HILARY MAY CAUSE A THREAT TO THE LITTLE BIT THAT IS LEFT TO THE ECONOMY THEY HOLD ON TO!
Posted by: melissa | April 12, 2008, 11:01 pm 11:01 pm
a few audience members seemed happy to have a sticker to wear.
GEEZ WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT THEY WOULD BE SCREAMING HILLARY PRINT MORE.
I GUESS THATS WHAT SHE WANTED BUT PEOPLE HAVE A GREAT SENSE OF REALITY SHE JUST DOESNT.
Posted by: Lauren | April 12, 2008, 11:03 pm 11:03 pm
I CANT IMAGINE WHAT HILARY SAYS WHEN PEOPLE ARENT AROUND- LOOK WHAT SHE HAS SAID WHEN PEOPLE ARE…
FACT IS PEOPLE DONT TRUST HER AND SHE HAS PROVEN THIS AND THE FACT THAT HER HUBBY IS FULL FORCE FOR SOMETHING THAT PA’S FEEL WOULD KILL THEM MAKES ME THINK THEY WILL NOT VOTE FOR HER..
Posted by: melissa | April 12, 2008, 11:06 pm 11:06 pm
HILLARY LIKES TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT. THIS WEEK WITH PEATRUS SHE VOTED FOR THE WAR OVER 4000 OF OUR SERVICE MEMBERS HAVE DIED BECAUSE OF HER VOTE. THE LADY HAS THE BLOOD OF THOSE ON HER WRETCHED HANDS.
Posted by: Lauren | April 12, 2008, 11:07 pm 11:07 pm
Hillary, who thinks this is her big opeing, will overstay her welcome and try to make an issue when there is none. People are bitter, $4.00 gas, nafta, foreclosures, outsourcing, BUSH/CLINTON…..NO MORE…I TOO BITTER
Posted by: Gail | April 12, 2008, 11:07 pm 11:07 pm
BY THE WAY ANYONE WHO KNOWS ANYTHING KNOWS THAT MEN FROM PA ARE MORE LIKELY THAN NOT TO HUNT AND GO TO CHURCH THATS NOT A SLAM!
Posted by: melissa | April 12, 2008, 11:09 pm 11:09 pm
Lauren, hillary is ruining things for Obama? Well when his bubble burst it will take down Kennedy and Kerry with him. You see the three of them could never close a sale. They pitch and pitch but end up empty.In the Mass. primary they couldn’t get it done. In the presidential races they couldn’t get it done. The Democratic will lose without Hillary. Just make sure your not the one that drives off the bridge with Obama. Sorry that was Ted. Your in bad company kid!
Posted by: Kenny from CT. | April 12, 2008, 11:10 pm 11:10 pm
BILL IS A LOBBYIST. HE DOES NOT CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE WHO WOULD LOSE THEIR JOBS IF COLUMBIA TRADE DEAL GOES THROUGH.
HIS WIFE SAYS SHE IS AGAINST IT.
BUT THERE IS 800,000.00 REASONS TO CHANGE HER MIND.
DO PEOPLE BELIEVE IN A LADY THAT CAN LIE THREW HER TEETH…NO NO
NO MORE FACTORIES AND JOBS BEING SHIPPED ELSE WHERE.
Posted by: Lauren | April 12, 2008, 11:11 pm 11:11 pm
tonight cnn reported that obama ‘regrets’ what he said. last night he was arrogantly sticking to his guns and defending what he said. earlier today he said something about ‘poor choice of words’ tonight he says ‘he regrets it’. another bone headed decision, poor judgement, lie which is it?
Posted by: sonia trevino | April 12, 2008, 11:12 pm 11:12 pm
HOW IS HILARY GOING TO WIN? SHE TOLD PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR MCCAIN! YOU THINK HE ISNT GOING TO BRING THAT UP? YOU DONT THINK THAT EVERYTHING SHE USES AGAINST HIM WILL ONLY MAKE HER LOOK BAD?
Posted by: melissa | April 12, 2008, 11:12 pm 11:12 pm
HE REGRETS IT BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE OFFENDED ALTHOUGH I HAVE NO IDEA WHY!!
Posted by: melissa | April 12, 2008, 11:14 pm 11:14 pm
THEY HAVE LOST BECAUSE OF HILLARY. DIVIDE AND CONQUER, WIN AT ANY COST EVEN TO THE PARTY.
SELL OUT AMERICAN JOBS HILLARY
DUCK AND RUN FOR COVER HILLARY
SINBAD JUST A COMIEDEAN LIAR
CHELSEA MADE TO CARRY ON MOMMYS LIE
BILL COMES OUT AND DEFENDS THE LIE THEN ADDS HIS OWN TO IT.
MARK PENN SELLS OUT AMERICANS
HAROLD ICKES PUNISHES FLORIDA AND MICH. BUT HILL DOES NOT TELL HER SUPPORTERS THAT
SHE SCREAMS FLA. AND MICH SHOULD COUNT WHY DID SHE NOT SAY THAT TO HER SENIOR ADVISOR HAROLD ICKES, BEFORE HE VOTED TO PUNISH THEM?
Posted by: Lauren | April 12, 2008, 11:17 pm 11:17 pm
Hillary Clinton supported NAFTA
Hillary and Bill profits from Columbian trade deals that hillry supposedly doesn’t support.
Obama 08!
Yes We Can!
Posted by: merle7 | April 12, 2008, 11:19 pm 11:19 pm
WELL LET ME FIND IT CAUSE SHE SURE ENOUGH DID SAY SOMETHING TO THE FACT THAT IF YOU WONT VOTE FOR ME THEN VOTE MCCAIN!!
Posted by: melissa | April 12, 2008, 11:22 pm 11:22 pm
Hey I am making “I AM Bitter and I want CHANGE” stickers to hand out at the next Obama rally. I think its a great message, turning the hate into love. Lets all do it! Peace, and OBAMA 08!
Posted by: Mitch | April 12, 2008, 11:22 pm 11:22 pm
WELL ITS LATE . AND BY NOW HILLARY ACCORDING TO BILL GETS CONFUSED AFTER 11:00 PM SO THERE IS NO SENSE BLOGGING ANYMORE TONIGHT.
I WANT TO BE CLEAR HEADED IF I GET A 3AM PHONE CALL.
GOOD NIGHT ALL AND GOD BLESS OBAMA
AND MAY GOD HELP HILLARY GET SOME EMPATHY FOR OTHERS.
Posted by: Lauren | April 12, 2008, 11:23 pm 11:23 pm
Lauren, tonight I pronounce you Queen of the Obama Zombies. It;s not to late to catch SNL. Hang loose with the rest of your zombie friends and maybe we all can get a good laugh at Obama’s expense!
Posted by: Kenny from CT. | April 12, 2008, 11:26 pm 11:26 pm
TO THE OBAMA SUPPORTERS GOOD JOB KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND MAY PEACE COME TO ALL.
GOD BLESS AMERICA
OBAMA08
Posted by: Lauren | April 12, 2008, 11:26 pm 11:26 pm
Clinton or McCain 2008 !!!!!
NEVER OBAMA………
Posted by: kris | April 12, 2008, 11:27 pm 11:27 pm
its just getting tiring …. all the Hilary sh*t. all she seems to be doing now days is trying to figure out what “corner” she is going to work.
i mean seriously… she didn’t eve write her own book!
its just getting so TIRING. her waiting… for ANYTHING… to jump on. its all the lowest of the lowest….
i hope we have taken the time this election cycle to wake up and know a used car sales”person” when we see one.
if not… god save us all
Posted by: drzoon | April 12, 2008, 11:29 pm 11:29 pm
kris:
thats just stupid. i’m sorry.. but that just plain stupid.
i have two words for you: Supreme Court
idiots…. its just getting impossible.
Posted by: drzoon | April 12, 2008, 11:31 pm 11:31 pm
melissa you may be remembering the way it was spun-big difference from what she actually said. again can you please find the citation where she actually told people to vote for her and if not then mccain.
Posted by: sonia trevino | April 12, 2008, 11:35 pm 11:35 pm
seah:
you don’t get it. he put US on a pedestal.
this is OUR election. we don’t need to just elect the next one in line. we can make a difference.. we can be better than we have been as a country.
think about it. Hilary hasn’t asked you to do ANYTHING.. except vote for HER.
Posted by: drzoon | April 12, 2008, 11:36 pm 11:36 pm
WHY IS OBAMA’S ATTORNEY ANDRES LOPEZ BLASTING LARRY SINCLAIR ON PUERTO RICAN TELEVISION? WHY DOESN’T OBAMA JUST ANSWER THE SEX/DRUG ALLEGATIONS???
http://www.wapa.tv/superxclusivo/ NO DENIAL AT ALL!
Obama why don’t you answer?
We all know you were doing crack cocaine and getting a blow job by Larry Sinclair,when you were a state senator………..!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Kris | April 12, 2008, 11:37 pm 11:37 pm
sonia:
she said that only she and john mc cain were ready… and barack “gave a speech”
of course she also said… “as far as i know….” and…
“i’ll have to take his word…” (on being a muslim)
Posted by: drzoon | April 12, 2008, 11:38 pm 11:38 pm
When a successful black educated senator and his professional wife makes over a million dollars they are labled as elitist. But when an ex president and his senator wife becomes multimillionaires (109 mill)by no doubt questionable means; they are embraced by the working class america, and not considered to be in an elite class.Now who is sterotyped here
Posted by: merle7 | April 12, 2008, 11:40 pm 11:40 pm
kris:
actually…. this is to clinton supporters….
kris is what you have become.
Posted by: drzoon | April 12, 2008, 11:41 pm 11:41 pm
The word “Bitter” is such an odd choice for a person who is so committed to Hope and Unity that it gives me, as it did the horrified Obama supporter who gave this tape to the media, pause. When I put it together with the rest of the message and hear the tone of voice you deliver the comment in, I am afraid that my worst fears have come true. I’d hoped you were different, but you’re not. I’d hoped the Jeremiah Wright relationship was an aberration, but it was not , it clearly helped to form your own racist opinions of white Americans and our traditional values as well as distain for our Government. Bitterness is such an extremely negative way to describe frustration and disappointment. It takes it into the realm of anger without rational thought, and that is frankly arrogant of you and demeaning to us. I grew up in a small blue-collar town with it’s dwindling jobs and resilient citizens, surrounded by proud second generation working class Americans who lived their life with an attitude of gratitude…something that you,your affiliates and your Family seem unable to find. The thinly veiled distain you hold for our Country, and your deep-seated need to lecture us about how we need to be more responsive to your list of grievances and perceived injustices makes me think that perhaps you would not, after all be the person that could adequately represent me or my family’s needs as our next President. this was the “straw” for me. I am Sad to say that I will be voting instead for Senator Clinton and will encourage my friends to do the same.
Posted by: pam | April 12, 2008, 11:42 pm 11:42 pm
America is till the richest country in the world, and if Obama said “It is not surprising that they (rural America) get bitter and turn to guns or religion or antipathy.”
I don’t know what race and what group of people he was talking for. That is a very negative thinking, if someone has that through, he or she will be unsuccesful and on the bottom of the society.
Posted by: Kevin P | April 12, 2008, 11:43 pm 11:43 pm
pam .. your hiding. but we can see you
Posted by: drzoon | April 12, 2008, 11:44 pm 11:44 pm
drzoon:
Are you upset that Larry Sinclair done something with your golden boy that you wish you could of done ? Do You want to give him a blow job also,well go for it.
Posted by: kris | April 12, 2008, 11:47 pm 11:47 pm
pam thank you for your sincere, and eloquent declaration. i too had thought that perhaps if hillary did not win the nomination i may have given obama a study-however after this last insult absolutely not, not ever.
Posted by: sonia trevino | April 12, 2008, 11:48 pm 11:48 pm
Kris is just asking for Obama to Man Up! for a change and tell the truth, one way or the other. He is running for president and it is a serious allegation. If this story has made it from the gay blogs to the Puerto Rican news papers,then it is just a matter of time before it blows up stateside. People (including all of the candidates) are aware that the story is out there, waiting to explode. Just telling ya…
Rise, Hillary, Rise! ’08
Posted by: LeeLee07 | April 12, 2008, 11:51 pm 11:51 pm
Pam – your comments blew me away. I agree with you 100%.
Rise, Hillary, Rise!’08
Posted by: LeeLee07 | April 12, 2008, 11:54 pm 11:54 pm
Great post Pam!
Posted by: J | April 12, 2008, 11:54 pm 11:54 pm
Well, I’ve read all your comments, and I have one queston….how come it took two days for the HRC bunch to respond to Obama’s remarks? Maybe because they had to send it tothe spin doctors office to wreak havoc with first? HRC…YOUR lies have come home to roost, at least we have one candidate who tells the unvarnished truth and has empathy for allof us who ARE bitter. And we are not stupid, we knew exactly where he was coming from….the truth shall make you free…GO OBAMA!!!
Posted by: cris | April 12, 2008, 11:57 pm 11:57 pm
… So Lauren
who are you REALLY voting for?
As for me,,, I’m all the way
in EVERY way for HILLARY!!!!
GIVE ‘EM HELL, HILLARY!
Posted by: questioner | April 13, 2008, 12:20 am 12:20 am
Shameless smear – Hillary is so disgusting that she will never be my President or Senator. American people wise up please!
Posted by: hubbs | April 13, 2008, 12:21 am 12:21 am
Follow the money, who owns the Rezco lot that was purchased for Obama? See http://rezkowatch.blogspot.com/ for further info per below
“Yes, Rezko et.al. has transacted property illegally but the big bust still is ‘defrauding a federally insured lender,’ and conspiracy to do so. Since all these transactions are intentional smoke screens, everyone, Obama included, has conspired. This is FRAUD.
By law, they should ALL go to jail.”
Posted by: sallie | April 13, 2008, 12:24 am 12:24 am
It takes a brave individual to speak honestly and with intelligence about what the true “roots” of America’s evils are. It takes courage to say these things despite the fact that it may be politically damaging, unpopular, and unpalatable. In his analysis of the psyche of the good people of Pennsylvania and people in rural parts of other states, Barack Obama did just that! Greed and Lies; nothing more, and nothing less is what is ultimately responsible for the resentment, apathy, and yes… bitterness of small town, “blue collar” people! The greed of corporate America and of Wall street that places their “bottom line” ahead of the interests of decent, ordinary, hard working people. The greed that shipped honorable, well-paying manufacturing –and other trade– jobs overseas to take advantage of cheap foreign labor (often at the expense of the people whose governments have exploited and whose human rights they have violated). The greed (which will soon collapse upon itself) that would destroy the lives of families by taking away a worker’s dignity, honor, pride. Lies by politicians who have come before them promising better days, but in the end, only succumbing to the special interests of the wealthy, powerful, and well connected. And yes, “bitterness” may be a harsh word to use, but it is honest, real, and accurate!
We can only begin to help others when we understand the root of their pain and anguish. Barack Obama understands this pain and anguish and bitterness, for he has experienced it himself!
America –in fact, the world– needs his understanding, his honesty, his convictions, and his wisdom to help lift people out of their sorrow.
He *IS* the change we all desperately need.
May god bless America and Barack Obama.
Posted by: Danny | April 13, 2008, 12:25 am 12:25 am
Danny, I use to bless Barack Obama until he started saying people only cling to me because they’re bitter.
Now he no longer receives my blessings.
Posted by: God | April 13, 2008, 12:33 am 12:33 am
Gosh I’m so glad Obama explained to me why I go to church. I never did understand it till now.
And as soon as Obama gets me a job, I’m never going to church again!
Posted by: Average Joe | April 13, 2008, 12:35 am 12:35 am
WHAT’S ALL THIS “G-D” BLESS BARACKA STUFF?
Isn’t his pastor, the “wronged” Mr. Wright, the one who said “G-D DAMN” the United States of America?
Isn’t this the pastor whose Outrage with G-D was so magnificently defended by the sweet talking obama, the same one who was given a $10,000,000 pension and a $1,600,000 new home for his timely departure from B O’s church?
How much are you guys laying away for YOUR Minister?
How come the economy only hurts us?
And when it comes to politics, let’s keep G-d out of it;
He/She has more important things to do.
Posted by: questioner | April 13, 2008, 12:38 am 12:38 am
Let me get this straight. It’s okay to “cling” to a racist, America hating, nutjob bigot like Rev. Wright and his crazy church, but all the rest of us who cling to our religion only do so out of anger. Ooooookay.
Posted by: Jo | April 13, 2008, 12:38 am 12:38 am
Billy,
I love your comment – Hillary will do anything to win. Can you believe that she went so far as to hire a ventriloquist to infiltrate the Obama campaign and to say words out of Obama’s mouth that would cause him such grief. Evil Hillary, evil.
========================================
Obama has turned into Howdy Doody (the little wooden guy voiced by Buffalo Bob, during the 1950s)
It’s Howdy Doody time!
========================================
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | April 13, 2008, 12:39 am 12:39 am
Barack Obama is the best thing to ever happen to us.
Posted by: Republican Party | April 13, 2008, 12:40 am 12:40 am
Lauren,
I see you are now into quadruple overtime trying to clean up Obama’s spilled milk. Also, you are back to shouting once again.
========================================
IT’S HOWDY DOODY TIME!
MR. OBAMA IS HOWDY DOODY!
========================================
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | April 13, 2008, 12:41 am 12:41 am
Obama’s mouth. The gift that keeps on giving.
Posted by: Republican Party | April 13, 2008, 12:42 am 12:42 am
wcm
lauren won’t acknowledge that she’s a paid performer…..
Posted by: questioner | April 13, 2008, 12:44 am 12:44 am
It’s always interesting to see what elitest liberals say to other elitest liberals…..
when they think no one else is listening…
Posted by: Jo | April 13, 2008, 12:45 am 12:45 am
obama’s nose….
it’ll soon begin a-growing ;-)
Posted by: questioner | April 13, 2008, 12:47 am 12:47 am
I see several problems with this so called latest controversy.
1) Those that are offended by “bitter” don’t truly know the meaning of the word. Bitter can also mean resentful or cynical and that was how it was used by Obama. When his statement is in context and properly comprehended, it is the truth.
2)It is absurd to accuse him of being an elitist. He was raised by a single parent, took out loans to go to Columbia and Harvard. Worked 3 years as a community organizer making $12,000 a year. I think he understands and is in touch with poor and middle class Americans because he has been there. The same can’t be said for Hillary or McCain
Obama’s net worth is less than $2million mostly from his book publications. McCain is worth more than $20million and Hillary is worth more than $60million. The Clintons earned $109 million the last 7 years. So who is really the elitist of the 3?
3) what should be more troubling for democrats is Hillary’s campaign tactics. Obama didn’t comment on her Bosina lie and said little about Penn but Hillary has no sense of decency or fair play especially for a fellow democrat. The reality is she will not win but she is so self-centered she is willing to take the democratic party down as well. If she really cares about the average folks will she be intentionally damaging the party in her bid to high-jack the nomination? A John McCain victory will be 4 more years of misgovernment: Iraq war, possible Iran war that will put us further in debt, higher gas prices and continued economic woes.
Posted by: Afrobaby | April 13, 2008, 12:48 am 12:48 am
Afrobaby:
I hate to say that about a fellow democrat (and I still would support Hillary over McCain were she to be the nominee), but I agree completely with what you just wrote. It’s what I was eluding to in my earlier thoughts.
Posted by: Danny | April 13, 2008, 12:52 am 12:52 am
afrobaby
get the facts:
Hillary and Bill were the poorest occupants of the White House in aeons!
They were NOT the elite. But both of them were/are brilliant.
Bill’s tenure was a time of tremendous prosperity and hope….. and despite the dumb personal stuff that he pulled, he will go down in history for the fantastic President that he was!
Kennedy and Roosevelt were equally promiscuous (sp)…. but neither Eleanor nor Jacqui were EVER treated with the disdain and disrespect that Hillary has received.
Obama doesn’t even respect Afro Americans! In Chicago, under his watch, he W A T C H E D as they froze in Rezco’s unheated tenements while taking money supposedly intended for the heating bills!
He didn’t even have the decency to show up at Martin Luther King’s Birthday or Memorial Services because he was too busy campaigning!
When was the last time he showed up at his senate office!
And where as he hidden the un-proud Michelle?
Enquiring minds want to know.
give ‘em hell. hillary!!!!!
s
Posted by: questioner | April 13, 2008, 12:58 am 12:58 am
Hello Mr. Penn…Where are you? Clintons need you!!
NAFTA was not enough to ship American jobs overseas, they need Mark and Billy’s Backer Colombian trade deal to close the deal to ship more jobs to Overseas!!
Wait, lobbyists are not good enough to break American Middle class dream, lets make millions of dollars in speeches and support the Groups who support Colombian trade deals so when in WH we can make more money than 109 millions and return them their true favor who gave Bill 800k for speeches!!
American Middle class, that was just a Speech!! To Make millions!! Yeah we care about American Middle class/ working class (Hilly-Billy!!)
OBAMA08!! TRUE LEADER!! YES WE CAN!!
Posted by: RC | April 13, 2008, 1:01 am 1:01 am
SEAH
I think you’re wonderful ;-)
GIVE ‘EM HELL, HILLARY!!!!
Posted by: questioner | April 13, 2008, 1:03 am 1:03 am
Hillary has my trust. She is above board and competing. She is making case for her candidacy and sending out alerts as to why Obama should be looked upon as a journeyman politician and why this is her turn and not Obama’s. I see a very courageous candidate taking on single-handedly these biased Democrats who seem to be shamelessly ganging up on her. She should fight on and I hope, she gets the nomination. Go Hillary Go!
Posted by: IJ for Clinton | April 13, 2008, 1:03 am 1:03 am
Hello Mr. Penn…Where are you? Clintons need you!!
NAFTA was not enough to ship American jobs overseas, they need Mark and Billy’s Backer Colombian trade deal to close the deal to ship more jobs to Overseas!!
Wait, lobbyists are not good enough to break American Middle class dream, lets make millions of dollars in speeches and support the Groups who support Colombian trade deals so when in WH we can make more money than 109 millions and return them their true favor who gave Bill 800k for speeches!!
American Middle class, that was just a Speech!! To Make millions!! Yeah we care about American Middle class/ working class (Hilly-Billy!!)
OBAMA08!! TRUE LEADER!! YES WE CAN!!
Posted by: RC | April 13, 2008, 1:05 am 1:05 am
Just because politicians are pulling apart every word that the other utters does not mean that we, the sane voting public, have to do the same thing. — Really folks, aren’t we more grown up than that? — This stuff is getting downright silly. — Pickin’ ain’t gonna make it pop, so quit it.
Posted by: Marie Zarankevich | April 13, 2008, 1:20 am 1:20 am
enough is enough! more and more take back their vote form Obama!
Posted by: ITakeBackMyVote.com
———————————–
Hye Can Americans do the same for 1992 to 2004 too?
Stop dreaming you Day Dreamer!!
OBAMA08!! YES WE CAN!!
Posted by: RC | April 13, 2008, 1:22 am 1:22 am
Hello Mr. Penn…Where are you? Clintons need you!!
NAFTA was not enough to ship American jobs overseas, they need Mark and Billy’s Backer Colombian trade deal to close the deal to ship more jobs to Overseas!!
Wait, lobbyists are not good enough to break American Middle class dream, lets make millions of dollars in speeches and support the Groups who support Colombian trade deals so when in WH we can make more money than 109 millions and return them their true favor who gave Bill 800k for speeches!!
American Middle class, that was just a Speech!! To Make millions!! Yeah we care about American Middle class/ working class (Hilly-Billy!!)
OBAMA08!! TRUE LEADER!! YES WE CAN!!
Posted by: RC | April 13, 2008, 1:37 am 1:37 am
The people wearing the stickers were Clintonites anyway. OBAMA will win North Carolina. My family is there and they said the African Americans who are strong in North Carolina are upset with Hillary and still support Obama.
Posted by: voice of reason | April 13, 2008, 1:40 am 1:40 am
Was Barack (Change you cannot Believe) and Michelle (I’m not proud to be an American) Obama bitter before joining Rev. Wright or while clinging to Rev. (Damn America) Wright for 20 years became bitter?
Posted by: Jake | April 13, 2008, 1:43 am 1:43 am
Come on, guys. This is getting ridiculous. Hillary and Obama are both great candidates. I wish that you all would go back and read your comments. Some of you ought to be embarrassed by how ironic this is. If anything has turned “bitter”, this forum has.
Let us not forget how strikingly similar their policies are. When it comes down to it, they both share a nearly identical political blueprint. Whether it’s a Clinton blip about Bosnia and Nafta (neither of which say anything about her policies) or an Obama flaw about a rhetorical mis-step (also irrelevant in perspective of the whole political scale), it’s outright fickle to linger on things like this.
So, to those of you being caustic, shame on you. The people and the press are perhaps becoming more venomous about this whole race than the candidates themselves.
Posted by: Corey Harvard | April 13, 2008, 1:49 am 1:49 am
For all you folkks who say Obama is not electable, and point to the polls that say 28% of Hillary supporters wont vote for Obama, well now it seems it is about equal with 30% of Hillary supporters and about 28% of Obama supporters unwilling to vote for the other candidate.
Beginning to look like the Democratic Party is going to Hell in hand basket.
Have fun smearing each other.
Posted by: Thinking | April 13, 2008, 1:55 am 1:55 am
Oh yes, how dare Obama speak truthfully about how many Americans feel, instead of pandering to them like McBush and Hillary. Hey, I’m one of those “bitter Pennsylvanians”. My highest salary was 12 years ago, I’ve had 3 jobs in that time, all gone cause of cutbacks or sale/closing of companies. Income has gone down and healthcare coverage is gone. Savings half eaten up already. So I know exactly of what he speaks, and appreciate that he sees it too. Bush and the repubs (and the NAFTA Clintons) have been screwing us for years, but expect us to buck up and be sunny! You know, people always squawk about what liars politicians are and how they wish they could find one that will be honest with them. If that is true then Obama’s poll numbers should shoot right up! But, if this is something that loses the nomination for Obama, it will prove that most Americans are as full of crap as the politicians they vote for. Remember that American voters get the government they deserve. How else can you explain Bush winning a second term?
Posted by: Kepps | April 13, 2008, 1:56 am 1:56 am
BO will say anything to fool you. Words matter, words regreted, words not matter, as long as you less intelligent bunch have not gotten to figure out what it means. BO meant whatever you wanted to hear. that’s what he means.
Posted by: words | April 13, 2008, 2:06 am 2:06 am
WHEN THE TRUTH IS BEEN SAID PEOPLE GET ANGRY AND EVEN MAD.WHAT OBAMA SAID IS THE REALITY.EVERYBODY KNOWS IT IS TRUE BUT SOME PEOPLE HATE SOMEONE WHO ALWAYS SAYS THE TRUTH.
Posted by: I.A.T. Smith | April 13, 2008, 2:43 am 2:43 am
another example of
…classic TWISTING OF TRUTH BY THE STRAIGHT FACED PATHOLOGICAL LIER (4 pinnochio general Hillary)….
We don’t need testimonial of who is bitter and who is not from such a pathetic lier.
Posted by: moeen | April 13, 2008, 2:43 am 2:43 am
obama should say his is sorry and say what he want to do for our small towns.
btw, hillary left her so called small town a long time ago and never looked back until she needs our votes.
i don’t support hillary because her backgroud is a big corporate lawyer and she was on wal-mart’s board, she did nothing for wal-mart’s employees and the advancements of wal-mart’s female works, she has always being making money for big corps and herself, she is for nafta and lied in ohio and now in pa, she lied on bosina and northern irland, it is like she was standing on their graves and lied. hillary will never change for us and she will say big lies. she can’t be trusted as president and she will be as bad as bush, she will cook-up numbers and hide the truth like the current chinese officials. she did work on nixon’s case and learned a lesson on how not to get caught. mccain may change his view for us and he won’t hide the truth.
Posted by: JDD | April 13, 2008, 3:02 am 3:02 am
Its funny how rural white voters are bitter but big city Rev Wright is not?
Posted by: Phillydemocrat | April 13, 2008, 3:07 am 3:07 am
Obama lovers are 20 year olds and radicals. They want some kind of MAGICAL WHOLESALE CHANGES .
They want a MAGIC WAND that doesnt exist. They think someone can come along and CONTROL the economy. World leaders, Al Queda , China or Russia.
They completely overestimate the power of the president in a global sense. The overestimate America in general. They think America is the land of EVERYTHING on a silver platter.
Obama lovers are people who simply HATE everyone in power. HATE the goverment. HATE the military. HATE the majority. HATE anyone who doesnt see life the way they do.
They are just as bad as NEO CONS.
It cracks me up that it never dawns on the Obama lovers that their far left BS is the same pile of bs as the far right NEO CONS .
Both groups dont know it though . They are the same malcontents, who just spew different rhetoric to accomplish the same goals.
See it our way or the highway.
We moderates arent ‘bitter’. We have hope for the future. We love america. We want change to move forward. But REALISTIC change.
Its only the far left liberals and neo cons who are BITTER.
Posted by: tomdavie | April 13, 2008, 3:46 am 3:46 am
The vaste majority of Americans who declare bankruptcy do so after a severe medical disability or long term job loss. In spite of record profits of credit card companies, Hillary voted with the credit card industry to limit protections for people. Then she takes money from them. Yes, that makes me bitter.
Posted by: Brent | April 13, 2008, 5:04 am 5:04 am
ABC wants to downplay the effect that Obama’s insult to small town America has. Thuth is Obama is divisive and snubbish and he thinks that if you “don’t get him” you are ignorant. well most Americans don’t get him.
Posted by: libre | April 13, 2008, 5:05 am 5:05 am
It is time to fully embrace derision and contempt for this, the Bush “Administration”. Time to heal our conscience with the tacit acknowledgement that some choices result in malignant blights that do not fare well on our historical record. Time to lay bare our desire to follow in the footsteps of those worthy of monuments by trampling upon the gravel of unworthy path makers.
By now it is more than clear that the policies espoused and carried forth by this chorus of reliable sycophants, in deference to their self-idealized, autocratic ruler, have little to do with the public interest, and more to do with the ultimate obfuscation of western thought.
Where ethics and morality and justice were once hallmarks of a nation respected amongst the civilized and burgeoning world, deceit and hubris and psychological imprisonment have come to define this nation – reborn to instill fear, inspire suspicion, deliver cause, echo resentment and abandon responsibility.
The safety and security of the American people have been exponentially compromised, sacrificed by a willingness to cede power to the overt braggadocio of inept deciders. This band of cavalier pretenders, whose abject failure has done more to diminish this nation’s standing than one could have possibly imagined less than a decade ago, have usurped power so completely as to avoid any semblance of reproach.
It is time to forsake the debilitating shackles of decorum and dissent with the zealous enmity of a people being led to ruin. To further acquiesce is to succumb to an impending historical judgment whose echo shall not be silenced by acrimonious complicity or indolent rebellion.
Bitter?
Yes.
Bitter, indeed.
Posted by: H. Aslan Aslani-Far | April 13, 2008, 5:07 am 5:07 am
The message is not “bitter”. Obama was pandering for campaign money and his message was that he can not convert small town Americans to him because he thinks regular people can not understand the important issues. That is the insult, that is what Barack and Michelle think.
Posted by: libre | April 13, 2008, 5:08 am 5:08 am
I SUFFER FROM XENOPHOBIA AND GUN-TOTTING ONLY TWO DAYS IN A WEEK.
IS THAT GOOD OR BAD IN OBAMA’S EYES?
Posted by: TJ | April 13, 2008, 5:08 am 5:08 am
wow!!!! Hillary is making the bitter word a big deal LOL!!!! is that the only thing she can bring out as an issue against Barack soooooo pathetic only lizard brain will throw their support for Hillary if that is the only she can bring out. The real issues are jobs, economy and war in Iraq or should we take cover for we have imported SNIPERS FROM BOSNIA. Ohio folk were fooled and Pennsylvanians will not be this time, this time Hillary will harvest the wrath of the pennsylvanians on the PENN-BILL CLINTON_COLUMBIA WINK WINK TRADE DEAL!!!!!!!!
Posted by: alexis compton | April 13, 2008, 5:16 am 5:16 am
Yes, poor, working-class, and lower-middle class Americans are bitter and tired and angry. Obama speaks the truth where that’s concerned. But we’re also hopeful and optimistic that things will look up in the not too far distant future. Clinton speaks the truth where that’s concerned.
Speaking the truth is always difficult for a politician. But Obama doesn’t have as much experience lying, exaggerating, or misspeaking as Clinton does. And Clinton doesn’t have any more experience in running the country than Obama has, no matter what she says.
Posted by: Kaelinda | April 13, 2008, 5:37 am 5:37 am
Obama has already come out and said he deeply regrets if he offended anyone and that he could chose a poor selection of words. Obama didn’t use the whole Bosnia flap when Hillary said she mispoke,….I wouldn’t think Hillary supporters would be so upset over Barack when he mispoke,…that’s why so many democrats are saying this is dividing the party. Hillary and Barack should each be fighting McCain and not each other to boost their candidacy,….
Posted by: Othello | April 13, 2008, 7:34 am 7:34 am
Come on fellow Dems, don’t get too caught up in this battle between our two top candidates. Both candidates have misspoken and both can and should be supported by all if they win the nomination.
Hillary supporters should not forget that she blatantly lied about her trip to Bosnia. Also remember that she is and has been a strong advocate for NAFTA and gun control. Remember when she asked congress to “buck the gun lobby” as first lady? Now she’s talkiing like a gun toting member of NRA? She is willing to say whatever it takes to win. It’s just who she is.
Obama supporters should not forget that campaigning is a full contact sport and Obama has thrown a few elbows and exaggerations of his own out there. He like Clinton is a politician and says what he needs to say to get votes. Don’t be naive and think he does not stretch the truth a bit for votes. Also do not forget that the tactics Hillary uses is how Bill won the election in `92. I don’t remember anyone complaining then.
The number one goal is to get rid of the mentality we have dealt with over the past eight years in the White House. Clinton and Obama line up together on most key issues and would both be a better answer than McCain.
Repeat after me…McCain is not the answer in any circumstance. McCain is not the answer in any circumstance. McCain is not the answer in any circumstance. McCain is not the answer in any circumstance…
Keep repeating it until you remember we happen to have two great Democratic candidates at the same time and it is vital we do not get too caught up in the nomination so that is hurts us in November.
Posted by: Oeno | April 13, 2008, 8:22 am 8:22 am
Nobody knows better than the so called Reagan Dems. of PA how to cut their noses despite their faces. They have proven it. But this time it’s going to be different the food bank shelves will be empty.
Posted by: Julian | April 13, 2008, 10:35 am 10:35 am
Can someone explain how this is a gaffe? The American people are bitter and angry. The economy is in a recession, gas prices are out of control, unemployment is rising, and we’re waging 2 wars with no sign of an end. Furthermore, none of this is new.. It’s all been brewing for years.
How is it being out of touch or elitist to point to the obvious temperature of the electorate? Is HRC even talking to her voters?
Posted by: Jane | April 13, 2008, 11:33 am 11:33 am
I don’t know about the rest of you but this morning when it cost me 3.59 a gallon to put gas in my car…I WAS BITTER!
When I drove to the neighborhood grocer because I couldn’t spare the gas to drive to my favorite grocer and had to spend $2.99 for 1 dozen of eggs…I WAS BITTER!
When I had to tell my daughter that she had to catch the bus because I simply couldn’t spare the gas to drive her across town to the job that she’s afraid she’s next in line to be laid off at because of cutbacks…I WAS BITTER!
When I heard Hillary Clinton who has been living quite comfortably off of “OTHER PEOPLES MONEY” for decades now had the audacity to say that Obama is “out of touch” with small town America…I WAS REAL BITTER!!!
Posted by: Michigan Voter | April 13, 2008, 11:50 am 11:50 am
It isn’t what he said but where he said it. He’s the best thing since Abraham Lincoln and I’m sure we’ll get to vote for him in November, but he shouldn’t oughta go to SF and talk to rich people about poor people in PA. Just when I thought he had a chance at PA. I’m looking to see what Bob Casey will say.
Posted by: Gaias Child | April 13, 2008, 1:20 pm 1:20 pm
I’m so sick of Sen. Obama’s platitudes and ideological circumspection, his enlightening philosophy. Oprah and Dr. Phil can make us take a serious look at ourselves. I want someone who KNOWS how to DO the JOB. He has shown me nothing. His experience is lacking, and his character vague. He’s VAGUE.
Whether it’s truth is a matter of perspective. It’s not just the “bitter” part, of course. It’s the fact that he said this bitterness is why people cling to religion, guns, and their positions on undocumented workers and trade deals. I may not agree with everyone on those issues, but I certainly don’t assume they’re just bitter and ignorant, and I’m not even campaigning to be their president. THAT is what’s wrong with what he said.
Hey, he can say this kind of stuff all day long if he likes, but not if he expects the bitter, ignorant working class, small town lunch bucket democrats to vote for him. I wonder if Obama thinks his clinging to religion is born from some type of bitterness, or was it for political gain?
We don’t need a Psychologist in Chief. We don’t need him to proclaim our motives for things we “cling” to or believe in. It’s arrogant as hell coming from the man who wants to be our president.
These comments, like those of Rev. Wright, seem to focus on the motives of Americans, and find us people of hate, ignorance, and pettiness. That surly exists, but does it exist at the level these remarks seem to indicate? Is this why Michelle Obama is finally proud of her country? Because she has a distorted view of her country?
Seems like Obama is trying to apply some psycholigical motives to a lot of Americans that don’t ring true. I have my own views on religion, immigration, and gun control that are probably in line with Sen. Obama’s views, but my views don’t come from bitterness, and I take issue with his analysis of the small town America I come from.
Posted by: Teri B. | April 13, 2008, 1:41 pm 1:41 pm
When Obama appeals to his ilk, the elite in San Francisco, he concludes that middle class voters in PA are too obtuse to realize that our tanking economy is the problem. He says the rural middle class carry bitterness by clinging to guns, religion, and anti-immigration sentiments because they’re too unsophisticated to understand the complexities of our economy, which only the elite can accurately grasp. Then, in a vain attempt to spin his way out of his own words, he says he regrets using the wrong words. His candidacy has been run exclusively on his words, and it’s his words that will end it.
HILLARY “08
Posted by: Emily | April 13, 2008, 2:00 pm 2:00 pm
obama has it right!! just look at what happened in the 2004 pres election! all fear that was raised regarding gay marriage, etc!! it worked all the people that voted against this and ignored the day-to-day isseues that affect them, because we all know gay marriage will never be legal but just putting that out there is enough to scare folks. and when people are not as educated this is an easier tactic but is happens everywhere not just in small towns. alot of people are angry and bitter esp when you are not the ones getting the tax breaks or benefiting from “all the programs” of the republican party, because we all know who benefits!!! the truth is hard to swallow sometimes!!
Posted by: melissa | April 13, 2008, 3:05 pm 3:05 pm
When did it become a crime say the truth? Obama deserves praise for being willing to talk about the dark and dirty secrets of ordinary Americans, which aren’t really so secret at all. Yes, there is an anti-immigration sentiment among those who are most affected by it. Yes, there is a strong religious movement among those hardest hit by a frail economy. Yes, there are undertones of racial inequality at every level in our society. Obama is the only one willing to even mention the real side of public life, and he’s pegged as an elitist! I’ve never heard more naiveté among politicians than I’ve heard from the Clinton and McCain camps in the past several days. How dare they suppose that Americans aren’t angry about being left to the vultures! How dare they suggest that a man is an arrogant pomp by raising the real, yet dark side of public sentiment to a national level. The real elitists are those condemning Obama for speaking frankly and openly about what plagues our society! This ‘controversy’ has convinced me that Clinton and McCain are as foolish and arrogant as politicians come. Obama’s rise from nothing to the doorstep of the white house is a result of years of foolish, naive, and incompetent leadership. Thank you Clinton and McCain, Obama couldn’t have done it without you.
Posted by: john | April 13, 2008, 3:06 pm 3:06 pm
emily,
talk about unsophisticated!! hillary is the definition!!!! she made $109 million in 7 yrs not obama. she is the elitist not him. again she is projecting her issues onto someone else as she often does. and talk about someone spinning themselves out of their own words!! she is spun dry and people are tired of her!!enough is enough
Posted by: melissa | April 13, 2008, 3:11 pm 3:11 pm
Obama’s apologies only make matters worse.
It’s like his “typical white grandmother comment”. Remember how he compared his “white grandmother” to “Jeremiah Wright”, so he didn’t have to apologize for Wright’s radical remarks in a church of God?
Now he is comparing “BITTER” Pennsylvanians to his home state of IL. He is calling his home state of IL (and several others) “god fearing, gun, toting, racists” like he did with his “typical white grandmother”. Maybe he feels the people will forgive him if he throws his home state under the bus.
That big bang you just heard is the OBAMA BUSMOBILE crashing into the wall of “truth and honesty”.
HILLARY / EDWARDS 2008!
Posted by: RURAL AMERICAN | April 13, 2008, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm
hillary and bill have gone too far–there is plenty of news clippings of bill’s comments and hill’s comment and 110million reasons why they are out of touch-
Posted by: william | April 13, 2008, 4:24 pm 4:24 pm
I’ve lived most of my life in small towns… Barack Obama is 100% correct.
He speaks the TRUTH.
Posted by: PulSamsara | April 13, 2008, 7:17 pm 7:17 pm
omentum–give me a break do you actually believe what you write?? hillary is the least qualified!! she runs on the coat-tail of her husband and lies about that! obama is an intellect!!! as for mccain….yes he has military experience.. but as far as intelligent average at best. i want someone above average intelligence.
Posted by: melissa | April 13, 2008, 7:42 pm 7:42 pm
Simplicity itself, folks:
OBAMA says “[SMALL-TOWN AMERICANS] 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,”
First substitute BUSH, MCCAIN or CLINTON for OBAMA.
Next substitute “BLACK AMERICANS,” or “JEWISH AMERICANS” or “WOMEN” for “SMALL-TOWN AMERICANS.”
Finally, defend it as non-prejudicial. -As not bourgeoisie condescension observing the opiates of the masses. -And the opiates he ascribes them: Guns, Religion, Hate, Fear.
This ideology is dangerous problematic.
This is harmful to the Democratic Party.
This is helpful to the Republican Party.
Anyone who turns a blind eye to this perpetuates the harm.
Posted by: yael | April 13, 2008, 8:21 pm 8:21 pm
tell me the Clinton’s aren’t pinning all their white house hopes on one comment by Obama. Tell me that Hillary isn’t suggesting that one slip of the tongue should hang a candidate out to dry. Tell me that she doesn’t think the rest of us are so stupid as to actually believe her pandering hogwash about her daddy teaching her to hunt. We are all so sick of her and her disloyal co-conspirator/husband.
Posted by: Jack N | April 13, 2008, 8:56 pm 8:56 pm
Talking about life in small towns… Barack Obama is 100% lies.
He speaks everything but the TRUTH.
He is even afraid of the blue collar when he walks by himself. The only reason he gets the endorsement from Casey is because he wants to get even with Sen. Randel.
Living in his dream house, Obama cares less about the world. He claims to know everything essential. Everything he doesn’t understand is non-essential.
Small town rural American, guns, churches unfortunately fall into that category.
With 20 years of teaching of Rev. Wright, he can start a cult by himself. Maybe you can call him Rev Obama now; the way he runs his campaign.
Posted by: John_Lai | April 13, 2008, 9:30 pm 9:30 pm
Hillary Clint-con is one of us! Look she drank alcohol and says she fired a gun once. She’ll make a fine President. Not!
Go dodge some phony bullets! Or make up some new lies. We’re too dumb to see through the Clint-con!
Posted by: Dave | April 13, 2008, 9:39 pm 9:39 pm
who in the world would want to vote for a an anorexic chain smoking drug addict monkey, with a muslim background, a hypocrite who says he is a Christian but belongs to a racist all black church, and very limited experince in politics, a cardboard cutout full of hot air who came from nowhere, that no one heard about until a few months ago? I know who! A bunch of idiots, half the democratic party, just like half of the country that voted for Bush not once but twice!
Posted by: Dave | April 13, 2008, 9:43 pm 9:43 pm
Is it elitist to suggest that poverty leads to gun violence? Is it elitist to suggest that anger leads to angry forms of religion? Is it elitist to suggest that socio-economic marginalization leads to political apathy?
If it is elitism to speak the truth as you see it than call me an elitist too! Obama didn’t say that ONLY angry people believe in God or that ONLY angry people own guns. Obama is religious himself for crying out loud. Clinton is trying to twist this so that she can appear to be the poor man’s candidate. I don’t think her and Bill’s $109 million will make that a real possibility. But who knows…those who’ve been denied access to information/education do make bad decisions at times. (Is it elitist to say that too?)
Posted by: Jeremy | April 13, 2008, 10:39 pm 10:39 pm
It seems Obama’s latest remarks have disturbed some people, but not as many as they should have. Those who are true believers in Obama’s message of “hope” and “unity” remain so, while those who still retain the ability to think grapple with what are blatantly racist and class-based (a.k.a., elitist) remarks, a nice irony given Obama’s earlier claim to be a post-racial candidate.
The Obama camp has done what it usually does — deny, attack Clinton (and McCain), and then frame an “apology” that justifies Obama’s remarks and implies that those who object have misinterpreted what he said.
He did something similar with Wright’s remarks, first denying he ever heard anything negative in twenty years, then admitting he may have heard something, then giving a speech in which he compared the black nationalist pastor to his white grandmother and announced that while blacks had real grievances, white grievances were all perceived and had to do with their fear a black might take their job or their place in college. Finally, he said that he would have considered leaving TUCC had Wright not retired. Never once did he discuss the specific remarks by Wright that were being aired, which consisted of condemnations of America for everything from imperialism to foisting AIDS on black people, denunciations of “rich white people” for keeping down blacks, an attack on Clinton as a typical rich white person and an injunction to vote for Obama, a poor boy raised in a single-parent household (at best a misrepresentation, given Obama’s real history, which consists of a grandmother who was VP of the Bank of Hawaii, a degree from Hawaii’s most elite prep school, degrees from Columbia and Harvard, where it costs upward of $46,000 annually for tuition/room/board, about the average income of the average American family). Obama sought to equate reactions to affirmative action with black racism, to muddy the waters by calling for racial reconciliation while ignoring the specific remarks by his pastor and the problematic theology of the church to which he belongs (was Jesus really a black person crucified by white “European” Romans?), and to imply that any white criticism of blacks was racist while black resentment of whites (all whites) was perfectly understandable because from its inception the United States suffered from the “original sin” of slavery, not of expropriating and slaughtering the native Americans, not of indentured servitude of other whites, not of imperial expansion against its neighbors (Mexico, Canada), not of intolerance toward immigrants of other “races” who were not Anglo-Saxon (Irish, Italians, Slavs), not of blind belief in the free market (which Obama also embraces, if one can believe his proposals) – but only discrimination against blacks, who were the first and only victim of the country’s “rich whites” – the same audience Obama appears to have been addressing in San Francisco and the same people he went to prep school, college, and law school with. . . .
What Obama said in San Francisco is quite clear — working people (the kind that cannot afford Harvard and Columbia or elite prep schools, not lawyers, or professionals, or CEOs, or others who can) throughout the “industrial” Midwest (not just Pennsylvania) all lost their jobs 25 years ago, and they have been unable to work since then. He implied that only neither Bush helped to create jobs and that there was massive unemployment during Clinton’s eight years — the only relatively prosperous years (at least for the middle class) in the past thirty years. Yet, according to Obama, no jobs have been created throughout the Midwest for a quarter of a century, and so small town folks and even folks in (formerly) industrial cities became bitter (not frustrated, not disappointed, not depressed, not desperate — but “bitter”), and because of their bitterness they have been ‘clinging’ to religion, guns, and prejudice. According to Obama, it is their bitterness that makes them distrustful of others (just like typical white people, according to Obama, who are ‘bred’ to be suspicious of those unlike them) and of free trade (aka, NAFTA, which Obama publicly says he opposes too).
To focus on the word “bitter” is to spin Obama’s remarks and seek to ignore the bulk of what he said and implied. The comments in their entirety leave no doubt as to what Obama is saying, and they help to explain why his campaign quietly reassures foreign governments and the well-heeled that he will not harm their interests while he publicly panders to idealistic young people and those who really hope for a change he is unlikely to bring.
But these remarks, although made in a closed-door meeting and clearly not intended for public consumption, are not surprising. According to exit polls, Obama’s support comes from blacks (who vote for him as a bloc), the young (especially the 18 to 24 year olds, with increasingly softer support by decade, until after 50, he loses voters), the comfortable (families with incomes of more than $100,000/year), the well educated (especially those with advanced degrees). For these people, his message was spot-on, because that is how they see all those bitter white workers.
Nor is it surprising that Clinton seeks to exploit Obama’s comments, given that her support comes from whites, Hispanics, women, the less educated (less than an MA), and workers (households with incomes under $100,000).
Will these comments wreck his chances in the DP primaries? Maybe. But they certainly disqualify him as a post-racial candidate and as a unifier who can bring “Reagan democrats” back into the fold. If anything, they confirm the impression that the Democratic Party has been hijacked by elites and groups with their own selfish interests and is no longer the party of FDR or HST or JFK or LBJ. Maybe all those “bitter” workers will vote for Obama if the DP nominates him, but somehow I suspect a lot will just go hunting, or go to church to pray for a better tomorrow – given his proposals, they will put more food on the table with a gun and more money in their pocket through prayer than they will by casting a vote for someone who thinks they are little more than ignorant rednecks.
Latte from Starbucks anybody?
Posted by: Joesson | April 14, 2008, 4:57 am 4:57 am
I see few articles denoucing Obama’s statement, and tons blaming Clinton for his troubles. You’d think she said it – no if she’d said it the media would crucify her and start demanding she quit again – is there any part of democracy the media plans to leave us?
Spin, spin, spin. Wish us good luck with this president the media is chosing for us. I sincerely hope it doesn’t come back to bite us in the butt like their sorry reporting leading up to the Iraq war. I guess democracy is over and we’ve got information filtered by a corrupt media, just like in N. Korea. Yippee!
I know ratings are all important, and there’s an influx of Obama followers who just discovered politics, but remember when they move on to their next hobby, the majority of lifelong democrats who supported Clinton or Edwards will not tune in anymore. I’m close to going PBS and NPR exclusively for my “news.”
Posted by: Teri B. | April 14, 2008, 10:35 am 10:35 am
Call me … bitter and ready for change!
Sounds to me like Obama was on the right track.
Posted by: Dan | April 14, 2008, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm
Obama hasn’t apologized. Just like he never apologized for Rev. Wright. He said he’s sorry if what was said OFFENDED us… not that anything was wrong with what was said.
Posted by: HoosierSue | April 14, 2008, 4:35 pm 4:35 pm
LAUREN, MELISSA, AND FELLOW OBAMABOTS —
PLEASE CONTINUE POSTING IN ALL CAPS IN AN ATTEMPT TO SHOUT US DOWN. IT MAKES IT MUCH EASIER TO SCROLL RIGHT PAST YOUR DRIVEL.
LAUREN, YOU REALLY SHOULD SEND OBAMA A BILL. HE CAN AFFORD IT. HE’S LAUGHING AT ALL YOU UNPAID YOUTH LABORERS. YOU CAN BANK ON IT.
Posted by: HoosierSue | April 14, 2008, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm
The McSame people must be celebrating! They knew they could beat Clinton, that’s why they were pushing for a Clinton victoy over Obama (viz. the Rush Chaos strategy.) Now with the Clintonistas distorting Obama’s remarks in order to discredit him, they are making it harder for him to win. So I guess it’s 4 more Bush years after all. What a shame! Thank you Hillary
Posted by: Bobby O | April 14, 2008, 5:12 pm 5:12 pm
If presidential credentials are established by the number of times you can distort your opponents words, by the cheap “I’m one of the guys” acts like tossing off a couple drinks in a bar; like falsifying your record about facing battlefield dangers, etc. etc. the HRC would make a great president. But if integrity is important, and honest even when it hurts is important, and empathy is important, then I think we need to stick with Obama.
Posted by: Bobby O | April 14, 2008, 5:24 pm 5:24 pm
If presidential credentials are established by the number of times you can distort your opponents words, by the cheap “I’m one of the guys” acts like tossing off a couple drinks in a bar; like falsifying your record about facing battlefield dangers, etc. etc. the HRC would make a great president. But if integrity is important, and honest even when it hurts is important, and empathy is important, then I think we need to stick with Obama.
Posted by: Bobby O | April 14, 2008, 5:24 pm 5:24 pm
I’m really pissed now. Obama didn’t pay me today, so I quit. Now my mom is threatening me to get a job so I’ll go up to McDonalds now to put in an app. See you later.
Posted by: Bobby O | April 14, 2008, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
I’m really pissed now. Obama didn’t pay me today, so I quit. Now my mom is threatening me to get a job so I’ll go up to McDonalds now to put in an app. See you later.
Posted by: Bobby O | April 14, 2008, 6:59 pm 6:59 pm
To the managers of this blog. I must respectfully request, no I insist, that you remove the forgery that immediately precedes this entry. I am not the author of this snide but unsuccessful piece of humor. I would suggest also that you remove this entry when you remove the preceding piece, since it will no longer be relevant.
Posted by: Bobby O | April 14, 2008, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm
I respectfully suggest that before going sny further with this inane accusation by the Clinton camp, that Obama is elitist, all of you read his book”Audacity of Hope” and then read Tom Brokaw’s book, “BOOM”. And then read Bill Cosby’s “Come On People”. Learn what it is that you’re afraid of, deal with it, and come out in favor of education, brilliance and empathy, which are all of the attributes of Senator Obama. Get some smarts people, look at the issues, not the little petty sound bytes that I prsy will sink Hillary’s White House hopes. She and McCain are the elitists in the race. She lies to her own advantage and McCain is ignorant. So, let’s get some intelligence in the White House. By intelligence I mean brains, not the “intelligence?” of spying and war-mongering. Thanks for letting me vent.
Posted by: Cris | April 14, 2008, 8:16 pm 8:16 pm
I respectfully suggest that before going sny further with this inane accusation by the Clinton camp, that Obama is elitist, all of you read his book”Audacity of Hope” and then read Tom Brokaw’s book, “BOOM”. And then read Bill Cosby’s “Come On People”. Learn what it is that you’re afraid of, deal with it, and come out in favor of education, brilliance and empathy, which are all of the attributes of Senator Obama. Get some smarts people, look at the issues, not the little petty sound bytes that I prsy will sink Hillary’s White House hopes. She and McCain are the elitists in the race. She lies to her own advantage and McCain is ignorant. So, let’s get some intelligence in the White House. By intelligence I mean brains, not the “intelligence?” of spying and war-mongering. Thanks for letting me vent.
Posted by: Cris | April 14, 2008, 8:16 pm 8:16 pm
Let’s face it. At heart, Obama doesn’t think he did anything wrong and its why his apologies are never apologies.
What simply amazes me are the number of pages that Obama has taken out of the Republican campaign tactics workbook.
Barack makes a big mistake exposing himself as the true elitist he is, and somehow its Hillary Clinton’s fault.
Obama associates for years with a racist minister and lectures the country about racism.
He never really apolgizes, just rambles on self-righteously…
I’m glad that hard-working Pennsylvania is not allowing the media to shove its baised dictates as to whom it believes the masses should vote for.
Posted by: nrthdude | April 14, 2008, 10:14 pm 10:14 pm
May I most respectfully suggest that the word “race” be eliminated from any campaign vocabulary, and be relegated only to oval tracks on which are run motorized vehicles and human kind, both of which are based on a true race, which is a verb not an adjective!!!!
Thank you.
Posted by: cris | April 15, 2008, 10:09 pm 10:09 pm
I am not bitter now but when I can’t hunt because I lose my guns I WILL BE!!
Posted by: Larry | April 16, 2008, 6:37 pm 6:37 pm