Obama Spin Level of Difficulty: 9.7

Obama’s condescending and mocking response to the issue is a revealing indicator of his elitist and condescending attitude toward not only toward small towns, the poor and working class, but also women when he invokes the classic male response to a woman’s criticism that hits the mark, a mocking put down. It is generally a sign of a sure shot as the stinging truth hits the bulls eye, when a guy comes back with laughing at his female accuser. This attempt to mock Hillary rather than answer accusations attempts to deflect attention from his mistake, his flaw by gathering the “guys” to attack Hillary and defend him because this “woman” can’t possibly know about guns. He mocks Hillary with the image of “Annie Oakley” dismissing her as if she was not a real woman. This response speaks volumes about how he views women generally and this woman specifically. His attempts to belittle her, once again attempts to deflect the attention from him and the seriousness of the real issue, “what he thinks and how he thinks, or not”. Once again, he can avoid answering the question or facing the issue by laughing it off, making a joke, not taking it seriously, mocking anyone who questions the messiah. These comments are reflective of how he views most of the population of this country, from his presumed throne. He may try to use Annie Oakley to mock Hillary, but Hillary is a sure shot and she seems to have hit an elitist bull’s eye.

SOSDD
Obama’s still an empty suit. Assertions intended to divide. No solutions! Same Same Same!

He doth protest too much. He meant it as a compliment? Yeah, right!

LOL — this is great stuff. The so-called Obama Generation proclaimed that their candidate would not be divisive, that he was “politics as usual,” and that he would “bring the nation together.” What happened? Oh — Hillary Clinton caused him to be bitter and he clinged to “spin-doctoring.” Wow. That’s so said. He cannot attract poor voters because they view him as the candidate of coastal elites and immature college students, and he blames Bush and Clinton for this. What a deflector he is.

The question posed to Obama was about VOTING and NOT what happen when people are frustrated with their economics condition.
You tell me why Al Gore lost to GW Bush in West Virginia during the prospeous time of the Clinton administration. Democrats lost congress in 1994 until 2006.

Dead-on accurate, Jake. That statement if full of grenades. They will continue to blow up.
Obama’s just revealed how he views much of America, and we’re glad to learn it now, while there’s still time to nominate Clinton.

Cindy — I agree with you. Besides he has been all over the map with gun conrol as well. Robert Novac wrote an article on this last week. Plus there are other pieces online. Basically he is trying to appear moderate on guns in Pa, just like he did in Idaho and Montana — yet he goes after Clinton for an innocent commercial describing her childhood. I think he is angry that SHE can actually claim a greater connection with rural and middle-class individuals than he can. I guess living in Hawaii and racing off the Columbia and Harvard and to Chicago did not give him the opportunity to make connections with poor people. “Organizing” people to vote for you is very different from living and interracting with them. Obama didn’t even have credibility among poor blacks until he won Iowa and his surrogates fabricated charges of racism in New Hampshire.

@ crazy but not for hillary
Hillary is running for President, NOT BILL.

What I find infuriating his his lumping the economic success of the Clinton administration with the failures of the Bush administration in the same sentence. Just because Preident Bill is Hillary’s husband is no reason to lie. Democrats aren’t all as stupid as Obama appears to believe we are.

Really, his comments go beyond ‘bitterness’ over factory closings to equating religious faith, gun ownership and rural culture to ignorance and racism and these ‘traditions’ that are handed down through generations. That’s the rub. Not just economic change of fortune but overall ‘wrong headedness’ of small town culture. Typical condescending liberal out to ‘educate’ the unwashed on the err of their ways. It’s the failed logic that if the government gives people back their factory jobs and they’ll stop going to church and give up their guns as if this is an ideal. Brutal.

Hi Crazy but Not for Hillary! Try these lies:
1. Selma and the Kennedys brought my parents together and they got married and had me…OOOPs…well, they got married during the Civil Rights Movement and the Kennedys helped some people come from Africa….it was a cute story though.
2. My people did NOT meet with the Canadians (the Nafta-Gate defense). OOOOPSS…..well, we did, but we did not say what the reporter said that we said. OOOOPS….well, we didnt say that we were just pandering, but we will not “fundamentally alter” Nafta (so why all the outcry over Nafta in the first place?). I will not seek the repeal of Nafta, because this would cause Americans to lose jobs. Nafta has caused Americans to lose jobs. I endorse extending Nafta to include Peru. I voted for the US-Oman Free Trade Agreement. I am not into protectionism (this one makes you dizzy!!!!)
3. I have disclosed all of my activities with Rezko. OOOPS….Well, now, I am going to be completely forthcoming about Rezko to set the record straight.
4. If I win the nomination I will talk to my opponent so that we can agree to public financing. OOOOPS — private money let’s the people talk. I want the private money.
5. I will not take your guns away from you. I believe that gun possession is a constitutional right. I believe in reasonable restraints on gun possession. In the past I supported very heavy gun restraints. The NRA gives me an F.
6. I will begin an IMMEDIATE troop withdrawl. OOOPS, I will consult with the military to see what is feasible.
7. Poor folk do not vote for me because they are angry at Bush and Clinton – so they are voting for Clinton instead (huh?). Because of their bitterness, they cling to religion, guns, xenophobia and racism, and you know I’m a young black guy so……do the math. OOOOOPS — I was just realizing how strong these people are and how tough times are.

@ Geldo
“A hungry man is an angry man”
Because Obama is saying in front of “gluttonous” men (fatcats) that those “HUNGRY” MEN (blue collar workers) barely turn to their FAITH and GUNS when they are at their “hungriest” moment.

I’ve never posted here, but I’ve got to comment. All news, even of the most trite, uninformed, opinionated blog/rant variety out on the web usually has at least a stitch of new information in with the ocean of political spin and vitriol.
I’ve been reading your work, JT, for a while, but this post is the first one I’ve seen that has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO OFFER BUT SPIN.
Not one ounce of, what’s the word I’m looking for… Oh yeah, NEWS!!!
What you and your bosses should be concerned about here is that, since you’ve offered no news in your post, it can be misconstrued easily that your 100% pure opinion and spin might be FACT, instead of the unadulturated INTERPRETATION that it actually is.
That, in my opinion, should be the jobs of campaigns, surrogates, politicians, and posters like myself.
I beleive you should adress this, and soon. Not looking for a retraction, but a word to the wise that you’ve clearly and completely crossed the threshold from reporting to campaigning in this post.

Obama says he is not perfect but says his opponents are not perfect so they should not be president.

The comments from the pundits (and some of the folks posting here) make me laugh. It seems people are really clueless about voters in rural areas. My entire immediate and extended families fall into this category, and I can tell you they are bitter. And, they don’t believe the gov’t cares one bit about their struggles or will do anything to help them so guess what? Instead they vote on issue like religion, guns and immigration. If you asked them if this were true, none would deny it. Maybe people don’t want to hear this and maybe Obama should not have been so brutally honest, but that doesn’t make his statements any less true. To say his comments were condescending or elitist, shows complete ignorance.

LET’S GET THIS CLEAR OBAMA SUPPORTERS. THESE ARE THE OFFENSIVE COMMENTS THAT CAN’T BE SPINNED….
“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.”
ESPECIALLY THE WORD “CLING”.

What is so telling about how elite and out of touch Obama is can be seen in his defending his comments by saying that he is shocked by all the uproar over what he said! You see he doesn’t see what the big deal is, he thinks that he acurately stated how working people feel and how they live, so what’s all the fuss all about! You see in the final analysis he just does not get it and thats why working class people are not drawn to his campaign! All the republicans need to do know is show him wind surfing and sipping wine and the picture will be complete! Now Obama will see what happens when someone labels you in a way that you think is unfair or untrue! This will be a bitter pill for Democrats to swallow this fall!

Oh BT/IA – I grew up in a small town myself, and that’s rubbish. Of course people are bitter and of course this can impact political preference. This does not change the tone or impact of his comments. They were very condescending – and I think it is very telling that Obama didn’t make the comments in PA — but instead, in front of rich donors.

Let’s get someone who spent ZERO amount of time in Washington to be our next President.
Hmmmm….Governor of Texas….President Bush anyone?

Looks like it is time for another 30 min. lecture from Mr. Obama about the social and cultural behavior of small town america! Can’t wait!

The problem for Obama is how does he “spin” comments that he made in private, to his BILLIONAIRE supporters, when Obama assumed there was no media around to record his comments. Obama was explaining to his BILLIONAIRE supporters, why their money which is being used to outspend Hillary in PA 5 to 1, can’t buy Obama a win in PA! Obama explained exactly why he thinks small town Americans won’t vote for him – they don’t “get” him. The elite rich democrats want to cram Obama down our throats as the democratic nominee, and the media are buying into the packaging and marketing of Obama as well. Why can’t billionaires buy an election? Certainly Obama’s people are bullying and buying superdelegate votes. Maybe because we live in a democracy, and we can only hope that at the end of the day, each of our votes do really count.

Jake,
I think it too bad Obama didn’t stick with his comments about economic crisis being related to xenophobia or vice versa.
This is a universal phenomenon; but of course Americans tends to think that they are unique. It is a well-known fact that lot of Americans blame Mexicans for stealing their jobs. Do you remember the aftermath of Katrina when African-Americans and Latinos were fighting over jobs?
Few months ago, Switzerland had their elections. The right wing Nationalists made substantial gains on a platform of Xenophobia that blamed the Swiss social problems on immigrants from Africa and Eastern Europe.
Why is it that Americans cannot admit those facts to themselves? I think that would be a first step in dealing with some of those issues.

russell, Who pays for the tv time obama is given to make speeches at us trying to explain-what he really meant to say?
_________
and I think it is disgraceful
but somewhere, in some office cubicle
some reporters are sitting trying to dig up something on Sen. Clinton
instead of trying to vet this man more.
it will be how can we make sen. clinton look bad out of this.

Hillary is out there making every small thing bigger. She had better explain her relathionship with NAFTA.She first supported it and now she has changed her position saying that she opposed fron the start. SHE WILL CONTINUE LYING TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. SHE IS NOT HONEST TO US.I KNOW SHE WILL DO ANYTHING TO GET ELECTED. BUT I AM NOT SURE THAT WE WILL EVER TRUST HER.

The sadness is that you really want all of us hard working blue collared democrats to buy into all of your elitist whining c–p! Sounds like you’ve been listening to Rev. Wright for too long…or some other insightful elite thinker just like him…

Okay Jake, you’re spinning that a bit too far. He did not say those were traditions – he only referenced hunting as a tradition.
Also, it’s still the truth! People cling to *gasp* xenophobia and other negative emotions when they’re hard pressed economically.
It’s amazing how those in the media want to spin this to make it a story. I only wish you guys had been half as critical as the spin of George Bush.

Between the original post, the ensuing comments, and the media salivating over this so-called gaffe like somebody threw raw meat to a pack of rabid dogs, THIS is the kind of thing that makes me BITTER.

Saying people are BITTER is not the problem.
Saying Quote -
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.”
End Quote.
This is saying that these people only go to church, cling to there guns and do not trust other people who are not like them BECAUSE THEY ARE BITTER WITH THE GOVERNMENT. Who the hell gave him the right to judge anyone or speak for others!

how many times are we going to explain away what obama says as misstatements?
we do not know the guy, and eventually even you his supporters are going to hear something from this man-that you will not be able to explain away.
Why don’t you save yourselves-the worry of “I wonder what he is going to mistate next-that I will have to try and explain”
Many of you (really not knowing him)
voted against Sen. Clinton-more that you voted for him.
he is not electable-and he will not win in nov.-the rep are going to cream him’
he-is his own worst enemy right now.
and if he is creating this much of a problem for himself now-what will he do in the white house. I mean he has got everything going for him and he still keeps messing up. there has to be some accounting for that. eventually we are going to get to the lack of experience word. and it will start to sink in with everybody.

How come everything with Obama is a mis-speak!
He studied Marxism in College
He calls the Typical White person racist
He believes his mentors Anti-American rants
He worked with a Slum Lord to get his mansion on the backs of poor Blacks in Chicago
He has dinner and strategic political meetings with an admitted terrorist
He plays the Race Card
He plays the economic card
Now he calls middle class Americans Bitter because they supposedly cling to guns (which is used for hunting or protection) and because they cling to Religion.
He sounds like a Marxist of the worse kind, his true colors are showing.
He is for the middleclass and the poor, wants to raise their taxes while he sits in a Mansion with billionaire Liberal elitists. What a Hypocrit!
If it sounds like a duck and walks like a duck it must be a Duck (Marxist)

OBAMA is one of the WASHINGTON INSIDER, what Obama has been done to help those small town bitter people. His voted mostly present.
Shame on you Obama!

Barack Obama has footage which I would like to know if Charlie Rose or ABC will uncover and rebroadcast. Here, he makes the same type of point in more detail. It’s from November 2004.
“If we don’t have plausible answers on the economic front, and if we appear to be condescending toward those traditions that are giving their lives some stability, then they’re going to opt for at least that party that seems to be speaking to the things that…provide them with something solid to stand on.”

Well we have Obama saying Hillary is acting like Annie Oakley, I wonder if Obama knows the story of Annie.
A poor woman that made something out of her self a small town gal, that use to hunt to support her sibling and her mother in hard times.
Maybe Obama needs to go and do a course in US History to understand what is the spirit of a true American.

A new poll just came out that had them tied a week ago in Penn. Clinton is up by 20 points now.
One of the reasons given is not the bitter gate controversy but an oversaturation of tv ads by Obama and a backlash against them.
I wondered if that would happen? Sometimes you can have too many tv ads.
A very interesting shift in public Opinion in Penn nonetheless.
20 point sin one week is stagerring.

To Elizabeth
You can try and spin Obama’s comments any way you want but they were RUDE and out of touch with people.
Who the hell gave Obama the right to speak for others and to say how they feel or why.
Obama is Rasict and a Liar!

and actually-annie oakley still has relatives living
he cannot win-no votes from
fl
mi
typical white person
Sen. Clinton supporters
Sen Clinton black supporters who refuse to drink anymore kool-aid
and annie oakley’ relatives

@fontapa
These are Obama’s words:
“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.”
Why is it that liberals can never see the forest for the trees? Putting guns and religion in the same enumeration as “anti-immigrant sentiment”, and “antipathy to people you aren’t like them” is exactly the kind of percieved attitude Democrats have been fighting for a long time. The line goes like this: Democrats think the only reason people have guns or go to church is because they are crazy. But now, whether Obama really feels that way are not, he has stepped into that pile, and is trying to wipe it off on Clinton.
I do, however, feel that this statement was a window into how Obama really feels about these voters. Just look at the statements he made just prior to this one. He states that one of the reasons people aren’t listening is because he is a 46 yo Black man, to the laughter of the crowd. He is blaming people’s bigotry for why his candidacy is having trouble there, and your contention that only the media used the word “bigotry” betrays your lack of reading comprehesion, or your unwillingness to admit the truth. Both “anti-immigrant sentiment”, and “antipathy to people you aren’t like them” are ways of saying bigot in this context.
You seem like a aeryodyte person. Start supporting Clinton or suffer 4 years of Republican rule.

Well too bad for Obama if he does not know the American experience he should if he want to be POTUS.
All he has tired to do is show Hillary in a bad light giving the impression that Annie Oakley was someone as Americans we should be in disdain of, it just shows how ignorant Obama is on the issues.
Either way as a leader what impression is Obama trying to give the younger one that may be following him about persons that are part of the history of America?

He speaks to the same monied interests that killed the thriving Jazz community in SF. The ‘urban renewal’ destroyed black owned businesses and jazz clubs on Fillmore St.
While laughing with them about what PA clings to.
Are you planning some ‘urban renewal’ for the poor folks….because history proves that never favors the poor folks but rather the monied interests. Like those on billionaire row.
Typical hypocritical Harvard elitist….going to help the poor with the same people who made them that way by stealing their businesses.

I think what really makes the working class voters mad is who he made his remarks to.

“making mistakes and apologizing”
Where is his apology for:
“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 tripped over his own feet.

When Hillary was speaking in Pittsburgh, this morning, all the networks went blank. Is this the sign we’ve been waiting for? Even the TV stations are tired of her rants and double speak.

And someone please explain this to me. Why is it Obama can make political hay with what Hillary says but when she does the same…it’s shame on her?
What a hypocrite!

I was born in small town Iowa. The Regan years took away the small farm and turned it into a corporate entity. Farmers were going into Savings and Loans and shooting bankers as they watched farms that had been in their families for generations taken in one fell swoop. Factories closed doors and left nothing much in the way of industry. Go to my small town during the Bush Sr. years, the Clinton years, and the Bush Jr. years and one would see that during all their terms what used to be attractive, middle class neighborhoods became dotted with Meth labs and burned out whites. The one black neighborhood filled with the children of Bloods and Crypts (gangs) that migrated from Chicago and other urban areas to build up a crack trade. The blacks ranging from the age of 50s to the teen years are on it, and many are unemployed and on it. It is sad to see a place that once provided so many with a nice, safe life has now gone to the dogs. And the sad reality is many were goaded into supporting Bush Jr., both black and white, because of Christian values and the gun laws. They ignorantly voted against their own economic security. I left there at the age of 23. I am now 54. I am bitter and hate what I see in regards to my own family that has remained there. Most are on drugs or alcohol, and many are in and out of the prison system.
If Barack were to tell the whole truth, he would have said they cling to guns, religion and alcohol and drugs. He has often said that sometimes he will tell us what we do not want to hear. Sad reality is often the truth hurts. I am bitter about that particular truth and so are my family members who grew up as devout Methodist and are now reduced to unemployed or underemployed drug addicts and alcoholics, many with federal drug convictions. I do have a beacon of hope though because Iowans are not getting duped anymore by policies that hold the guise of American values but really support a corporate raping.

The sound you hear is Obama flushing himself down the porcelain fixture.

Portray him as a Marxist if you like, but I’d be surprised if that has legs. The simple fact is he tried to talk one group of people up by putting another group down. That’s class baiting if you want the least incindiary term, but most people consider it a lack of class, or simpler, rude.
From the point that he put his hand on Edwards in the debate making the joke that no one was paying attention to the lone white guy, he showed his critical character flaw: condescencion. After that it was only a matter of time before it began to shine through like old bad paint under fresh new paint.
No amount of paint covers up character flaws.
America is finally getting to know Obama.

JGAW
I have read alot of what you have posted over the course of these last few weeks. You don’t represent yourself as a black person in other commentaries.
You come across as a republican, a conservative and a person who resents black people. Those traits may mean you are black, but I think they indicate you have conflicting posts.
If you are worried about black people not thinking, why would you post at political punch? Why not go to the Root or to black america web to influence those blacks you feel are pushing Obama over the top?
Perhaps you should use a different handle for the black comments and use jgaw for the conserve the status quo comments. When you use the same name for a varied number of ethnic references, it makes it difficult to believe you.
Otherwise you are doing some damage to your candidate Clinton or McCain. You don’t have to like Obama, but doing so along racial lines creates the wrong sort of message.

Obama sure does have this proclivity in which he thinks he can sweet talk his way out of everything.
He should ride around in a charter bus called “The Sweet Talk Express”.
Can anyone link to one story where Obama takes responsibility for his words (just words) or actions?

All I can say is the true Obama is slowly seeping out and Amazon Traveler truly hits it on the nail….!
Ann Bush
Columbus, Ohio

To hibbiejibbie
What the hell does MONEY Or PARTY have to do with this. You Obama supporters are unbelievable. When you know he is WRONG you attack others. I should not be surprised as this is exactly how Obama handles his mistakes to.(BY ATTACKING OTHERS)

What the Obama crowd has failed to recognize is the same mistake made by college students in their limited consideration of the world as a whole.
In short, the closed environment of the college campus may suggest that all one has to do is believe in change to make it a reality.
The truth lies in consideration of the real world and is not so simple as dorm life, morning classes, and cafeteria food.
In the general election, the reality of the electorate majority that will not be fooled by mantras and feel good politics dooms the Obama hype.

When people vote Republican because of wedge issues, you’re getting screwed economically because you get economic policies that favor the haves and have mores.
It’s about time we have a politician like Obama who speaks the truth.

To Hudson
KEEP DREAMING because that is all Obama and you can do now!

They have to go crazy spinning this thing.
Does not look good.

better check into who owns those newspapers before you get all happy.
newspapers,mag, tv, etc. are sometimes owned by the same outfit.
and if that is the case it could be they had to go with the company flow.

Elitism? Dismissiveness?
” Those of us who have tried to have a career, tried to have an independent life, certainly somebody like myself…you know, I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas but what I decided to do was fulfill my profession which I entered before my husband was in public life.”
– Hillary Clinton, 1992, dismissing stay-at-home moms

Handi
Obama wasn’t lying.
The only way corporations can donate is through PAC’s. Obama doesn’t accept PAC’s. Those donations you’re referring to are from individual donors that happen to work for corporations.
I hope that helps.

OK, Now I’m bitter. I’m bitter because every talking head I see and hear is trying to spin Obama’s comments in his favor. And as usual, they proceed to criticize Hillary for not defending Obama. Please help me understand this. Same thing with the muslim question on 60 minutes. Hillary answered that question, “No”, 3 times. That wasn’t good enough. Rachel Maddow was still mad at her for not settling this issue for Obama. Help!

Obama more than anyone else should never talk in any form about small town America, since Obama did nothing for small town Illinois or Iowa when Maytag closed their doors and shipped the jobs to Mexico!
I am sorry, Obama did give a speech to the workers and then went to see the Directors of Maytag, Lester and James Crown and Obama happily accepted money from them for his political gain and never brought up anything about the Maytag close-down!
Now he jokes about how mad small town Americans can become?
Senator Obama wake up and see, you have been exposed and it is going to now haunt you like the loss of those jobs you let move away due to Maytag while you basted in the money the Crown family gave you!
And a check of your national campaign finance commitee has one James Crown as a memeber of it, is Mr. Crown a replacement for your jailed former money man REZKO?
This isn’t about Clinton, but about Obama, so to say a thing that is off track towards Clintons proves just how phoney the Obamabots really are in the so called campaign of change and being above the expectations!

How about money from Rezko and Nadhimi Auchi and Iraqi born billionaire, that’s why Obama could buy his mansion.
He is a liar!

That’s why he said he mis-spoke. Putting positive things with negative things gave the impression he was putting them all down when he wasn’t. This is obvious enough unless you have a hatred of Obama or a reason to try and push this as a controversy.

I’m STUNNED that someone in the mainstream media gets it. This incident is separating the intelligent reporters from the IDIOTS who cannot analyze Obama’s comments logically and fall for the laughably LAME spin from the cynical Obama camp.
The Obama campaign is counting on STUPIDITY of voters and reporters for survival.

Looks like Obama’s financial advantage is HURTING HIM.
There could be a critical mass for Obama’s wall to wall ads in PA, if this poll is accurate.
ARG Poll:
23% of likely Democratic primary voters say that excessive exposure to Obama’s advertising is causing them to support Clinton.

I am baffled as to why people with Ivy League educations are in constant need of interpreters to explain what they mean. He has yet to open his mouth with anything remotely original and not need to rephrase himself. He should stick with the Hope and Change non-specifics that have gotten him this far. When he has to speak for himself his Kool-ade leaves an aftertaste.

Poor Barry Bittergate. He just digs his hole deeper, doesn’t he? He can’t talk his way out of this one. Perhaps his campaign will muzzle his free speech from now on and go have him back to the same stump speech that he has already delivered 1,000 + times. You know – the one that goes like this -”Hope, Change, Hope, Change, I have no real skills or experience, but back to my original point, Hope, Change, Hope, Change, Hope, Change, everybody clap and cheer, Hope, Change…..”
P.S. The Kennedys called and he’s become embarassing even to Teddy.
P.P.S Kerry called and said Barry IS out of touch, but said he’d comment again after he talked to Barry on their next windsurfing trip.

thank you jake for explaining these comments better than obama. now let’s sit and see how the MSM like CNN and MSNBC will spin this story to favor obama.

What? Someone in the press actually said what *everyone* who isn’t on Kool-aid already knows?
This is one brave journalist. I hope you don’t lose your job for telling the truth.
————–
Oh yeah!
Kool-aid here
making you smile
drink some more
smile for a while!

Thanks Mr. Tapper. For telling it like it is. The real Obama just gave the public a glimps of who he really is when he thinks no one else is listening. Of course, we all suspected as much based on Rev. Wright and Michelle’s statements. Now it’s come directly from the “horses” mouth.
Game OVER!

To begin with wanted to tell everyone that I am a democrat first and a clinton supporter second. Sen. Obama no doubt gets my respect. He ran a different campaign and truly inspired many in the run for which he deserves all the credit. I had supported him with all the recent controversies but this recent incident has made him lose a lot of that respect. It is not at all to do with the comment or the word “bitter” though I agree the choice of words were wrong. Please do take a minute to read through the entire transcript or listen to the audio clip. Half knowledge is worse than no knowledge.
1. There is resentment, frustration(bitterness towards the government) among people but they don’t resort to violence or antipathy. A very small percentage might(social outlaws) but most of AMERICA is resilient and have deep rooted faith and beliefs.
2. This occurred at a private fundraiser in california among some rich donors to the campaign, an event where the media wasn’t invited, if we didn’t have the lady from HP record the talk, it would remain unknown. If he meant to be honest he should have raised it in a small town in PA and addressed the issue head on. Seems to me like same old politics which unfortunately back fired.
3. As a hard core dem I personally took offence(in the same way when HRC implied she and mc cain are ready but obama ?, in the same way when Mrs Obama said she would have to think twice before vitong for clinton ) when he blamed the clinton administration for the lack of jobs when facts state that unemployment decreased from in PA 7.2% to 4.6% during those years. Again within closed doors to please some of his own fundraisers.
I know this is a very passionate election year and If in any way my comments might have hurt others (that was definitely not the intent)- deep felt apologies are on the table!
Amen

Thank you Mr. Trapper for sharing the truth. It is good to hear someone finally remark on Barack Obama and tell it like it really IS. I appreciate your remarks so much. You are right on!
My family and I are under much stress. I am not bitter. I do not cling to my religion, guns, etc. My faith is a part of me. I love this country and know the true values that make us unlike any nation in the world. Barack Obama can only talk…he does not walk the walk. And now his talk has reflected what lies behind the mask. He does not see and know the America I know. A man behind a mask will not bring change to American. Infact, I believe he has done more to divide this country than anyone I have seen bring division for a long time. I pray he has not undone our progress since the 60′s.

You city-folk don’t have a clue about us no-counting small-town people, we do hold our traditions in high regard, and the fact that you assume that anyone that comes from a small town just HAS to be a ignorant racist screams, well, prejudice. Prejudice that has made our voice unheard in America because we couldn’t possibly have a place in law-making, we should just shut up and let our betters make those decisions for us simple-folk, right? Cause ya’ll been doing such a good job up till now. I wasn’t offended by Obama’s comments, he’s right after all.

Yes…OBAMA — as your words convey—
These folks CLING on to guns and religion ———as——– YOU CLING on to your REV. WRIGHT and his teaching s from James Cone.
You have judged your potential supporters…… with this word
You used the word CLING.
And as you try to CLING onto some support you have in PA……
enough bloggers have downloaded the AUDIO from your FundRaising Party…..
including
” When people tell me they’ve all stressed about racial discord, well, you know, try slavery for a while”
talk about getting the last word in a conversation…..

Be watchful about how Obama and Axelrod his media svengali try to spin this story and attempt to revise public opinion.
“The following is an excerpt from BusinessWeek about a relatively secret venture that Axelrod operates while he oversees Obama’s campaign:
From the same River North address, Axelrod operates a second business, ASK Public Strategies, that discreetly plots strategy and advertising campaigns for corporate clients to tilt public opinion their way. He and his partners consider virtually everything about ASK to be top secret, from its client roster and revenue to even the number of its employees. But customers and public records confirm that it has quarterbacked campaigns for the Chicago Children’s Museum, ComEd, Cablevision, and AT&T.
ASK’s predilection for operating in the shadows shows up in its work. On behalf of ComEd and Comcast, the firm helped set up front organizations that were listed as sponsors of public-issue ads. Industry insiders call such practices “Astroturfing,” a reference to manufacturing grassroots support. Alderman Brendan Reilly of the 42nd Ward, who has been battling the Children’s Museum’s relocation plans, describes ASK as “the gold standard in Astroturf organizing. This is an emerging industry, and ASK has made a name for itself in shaping public opinion and manufacturing public support”
People, are we going to allow this guy Axelrod to get inside our head and tell us what to think?

almost time to see what wolf, cafferty and co. have in store for Sen. Clinton this evening.
I just know they are all going to get to the bottom of the obama remarks and figure out a way to blame her.
I know his handlers are trying to come up with a way to just keep him quiet until after the primaries.
I know now why the dnc want to get sen.
clinton to step aside.
only because-they cannot keep spinning this guy as the real deal for long.

“almost time to see what wolf, cafferty and co. have in store”
Have Matthews and Olbermann (and mewling mascot Jonathan Alter) taken to their sick-beds yet?

I’m actually happy that the media and the people of this country are starting to come out and realize about Obama. How can you support a leader who put his own people down like that. Obama has been making alot of mistakes in his speeches, especially the hatred that are coming out from his heart.
HE HAS BEEN STEREOTYPING THIS WHOLE RACE.

The media is trying to divert Americans attention by bringing up the Clinton’s wealth.
I am so tired that the media keeps saying that the Clinton’s are multi-millionaires. I am proud that they are the American dream. They came from very humble backgrounds and both were lawyers that took the route that helped the average American. The Senator from Illinois in the meantime defended a slumlord and past terrorists. He too is a multi-millionaire or was his $1.65 million dollar home somehow did not cost between one and two million dollars. Did the media miss math 101 in the same manner as the Senator from Illinois?
Hillary Clinton’s father worked in the Post Office and her mother worked all her life so that her brother and Sen. Clinton could go to college. Sen. Clinton worked to pay for her dorm and books through her college years. President Clinton’s mother was a nurse and his stepfather worked as well. Through academics, he excelled and this helped his political career. Now the Senator from Illinois is also a millionaire although he has not had the seven years like the Clinton’s to build his wealth.
It took the Clinton’s until they were in their 60s to become multi-millionaires. They earned their wealth by writing books and President Clinton’s speeches. There is nothing illegal about earning wealth this way regardless of the audience. Along the way, they served in the public sector for over 30 years and as far as I recall, they never owned a home until President Clinton retired as President.
Now Fox News reported that Sen. Barack Obama started opposing the Iraqi war one week before Sen. Hillary Clinton starting in 2002.
What I do not understand why Sen. Barack Obama refuses to make an apology for any mistake he makes. The fact remains that the media is the one that always makes excuses for Obama.
Finally, like myself, regardless of what the press says, Hillary people will go to McCain.

Wonder how much Hillary’s camp pays to have people talk her up on these blogs

Heck, I’d be happy if they’d just enforce the existing ones. And as far as anti-trade sentiment – what is it with all of this drive to clean up the environment, go green while all the while Americans are buying almost everything from China where they don’t care a hoot about the environment or for the labor force. Have you seen the rivers overflowing with plastic in China? I’d say buy American made products only but thanks to nafta, there just isn’t any.

Russ, you’re right about his constant stream of mistatements. Remember, this is the man who has promised to meet with America’s worst enemies without preconditions or negotiations. Do we really want this man representing us?

I hope that Mayhill Fowler isn’t being threatened or harrassed by Obama people. I wonder how many people are out there afraid to go up against Obama’s machine.

“I hope that Mayhill Fowler isn’t being threatened or harrassed by Obama people.”
Yes: we should all pray that Fowler doesn’t … fall under a bus, or something. Let’s hope she’s on vacation, under another name.

What Obama said is so true. Many of us who have lost our jobs, have no hralthcare, and haven’t beleived our government will do anything to help us with economic issues do indeed votre based on issues such as gun-control, religion(abortion and gay rights), immigration, terrorism and war. The politicians use these issues to distract and divide us while they spend our future in Iraq and sell Americans out to Mexico and China. Who wouldn’t be bitter?

Well Jake as far as the spin machine goes let’s see whe believes he was complimenting small town America and who believes the cropped quote that so many in the MSM are putting out.
First he denies…then he lies…next I expect Obama to attack full force…because he knows that the press has his back.
Perhaps this is like any other conflict and it started when his campaign started smearing the other candidates and innocent bystanders as racists…or maybe it started in the pulpit of Oabma’s church with profane and racist attacks.
The problem being if you excuse and reward and deny this type of behaviour for some and condemn it in others….the guy that has had it excused and rewarded is going to feel like it’s a campaign tactic that works…
I do not think Obama is an elitist…I think he feels like Wright has been excused and accepted and his campaign has profited from playing the race card…I think Obama feels entitiled and frustrated and even bitter,,,After all the MSM has been saying that the election is over and Hillary (who I’m sure he’s called every name in the book at similar fundraisers) is still running.
Not elitist just entitled and maybe a little bitter that he is losing in PA.

YEP….obama is a uniter!!
HE IS UNIFYING EVERYONE TO VOTE AGAINST HIM!!!

One thing that Obama forgot to mention was that “small town” and country “folk” have is COMMON SENSE, a quality he lacks. Just because we have strong family ties, are comfortable knowing our neighbors, enjoy hunting and eating the game, are regular church goers, does not mean that we are “sheep”. We judge people by their actions. Words without actions are viewed as someone who likes to hear their own voice. Thus the expression, “You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?”
Don’t tell me HOW I feel, because you have no idea. As a history buff, I know that the power of the people is stronger than the power of the government, as long as the government does not take away our right of speech, privacy, right to gather. Oh, wait — in a Democratic controlled Congress, government has done just that. The Patriot Act, FISA and others have limited those rights.
The time is ripe for a third party – a party of the people, for the people.
By the way, Annie Oakley would never take a “six shooter” out duck hunting. The duck would be blown up with one bullet. That’s why there are special guns and ammunition for bird hunting — they are called a “SHOTGUN and BIRD SHOT”. And, there are hunting seasons for ducks — not “every Sunday”.