Obama on Small-Town Pennsylvania...

[Democratic Hawk]

Essentially correct but an extremely dumb thing to say.  He should apologize.

Either that or clarify exactly what he meant because I'm sure it's not truly vindicative of any elitist liberal speak, on the part of Obama, that his critics suggest. It will be spun that way no doubt

The bottom-line is, however, that Obama should be trying to connect with small-town America, especially their socio-economic concerns, but comments along these lines don't exactly do him, or them, any justice ; especially, given where these comments were made (San Francisco) and to whom (wealthy donors)

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

This thread is very predictable. How dare he point out that there are wedge issues. Anyways, here's the full quote.

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Unfortunately, much of the media won't focus on what Obama said in its entirety, they'll just zoom in on this:

"And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

Now in much of small-town America, I'd guess it doesn't sound too good at all. Such comments, in the absence of the full context, could easily be taken the wrong way given the fact that it will be spun in such a way to convince small-town voters that Obama is just another out of touch liberal elitist.

Those who seek public office need to be careful what they say given that perception can be the "be all and end all" in politics; and spin can all too easily enhance and sustain it, whether it is favorable or unfavorable

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

CNN is hailing it a controversy...an "explosion" of comments made from Obama. They even have a poll on loudobbs.com asking: "Do you believe Senator Barack Obama's comments reveal his elitist attitude towards every hardworking American?"

Obviously, paid scat attention to what Obama said in its entirety. But that's the media, sensationalism is what drives them

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

Hilllary Rodham Clinton: "Pennsylvanians Don't Need A President Who Looks Down On Them"

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/obama_on_guns_and_religion_in.php

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

Hilllary Rodham Clinton: "Pennsylvanians Don't Need A President Who Looks Down On Them"

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/obama_on_guns_and_religion_in.php

Dave

Oh yeah? Why does Pennsylvania suddenly count now but not every other caucus/primary state doesnt? Shes the last person to talk about somebody looking down on other states.

Hillary Rodham Clinton disgusts me more and more with each and every passing day

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

Hilllary Rodham Clinton: "Pennsylvanians Don't Need A President Who Looks Down On Them"

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/obama_on_guns_and_religion_in.php

Dave

Oh yeah? Why does Pennsylvania suddenly count now but not every other caucus/primary state doesnt? Shes the last person to talk about somebody looking down on other states.

Hillary Rodham Clinton disgusts me more and more with each and every passing day

Dave

Lets hope for the sake of America that most Democrats who actually live in this country don't feel that they candidate who is not their first choice "disgusts them more and more with each and every passing day" for waging a campaign.

The time it's taking Democrats to settle on a presidential nominee, I'm beginning to wonder whether they want to win at all

The right will be making the most of this, I expect better from Clinton - a Democrat

Funny how this story breaks the day Rasmussen reports Obama leading McCain, handidly, in PA; while other pollsters have him snapping at Clinton's heels in PA Democratic primary

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

What a joke this whole manufactured controversy is.

Look at this comments in context, and they were basically the same as J.J.'s comments above.

Can we talk about the issues, the themes? No. The only thing interesting is the dirt. And how to spin it. This is how the future of great superpowers is decided.

When will Democrats learn that the media is controlled by the establishment and the same media that destroyed Gore and allowed Kerry to be swiftboated and then destroyed both Clintons is not going to give Obama a free pass?

Can't disagree with you there

[Democratic Hawk]

Uh, so I "cling to religion" because of loss of jobs etc.  Thanks for explaining that to me Senator.  And all along I thought it had to do with my faith.

I'm really starting to despise this arrogant elitist.  

Keep talking Senator.  The mask continues to slip.

Not as much as I have a deep disdain for Republicans, who talk like populists, but serve elite interests

Of the three potential presidents, Obama, in my humble opinion, is the most modest, assuming of them all. It's rare any politician connects with me on a personal level

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

Hilllary Rodham Clinton: "Pennsylvanians Don't Need A President Who Looks Down On Them"

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/obama_on_guns_and_religion_in.php

Dave

Oh yeah? Why does Pennsylvania suddenly count now but not every other caucus/primary state doesnt? Shes the last person to talk about somebody looking down on other states.

Hillary Rodham Clinton disgusts me more and more with each and every passing day

Dave

Lets hope for the sake of America that most Democrats who actually live in this country don't feel that they candidate who is not their first choice "disgusts them more and more with each and every passing day" for waging a campaign.

The time it's taking Democrats to settle on a presidential nominee, I'm beginning to wonder whether they want to win at all

The right will be making the most of this, I expect better from Clinton - a Democrat

Funny how this story breaks the day Rasmussen reports Obama leading McCain, handidly, in PA; while other pollsters have him snapping at Clinton's heels in PA Democratic primary

Dave

You're right. Now that I've become neutral in the primary, the danger is that people choose sides and then see things through tinted glasses- myself included at times- they become so entrenched in that side that they never come around. But you're right, I'm sorry for snapping at you.

[Democratic Hawk]

Just as those who continue to fan the flames of the Wright controversy are determined to reignite the wars of race that have divided America, those who seek to make political capital on Obama's small-town comments seek to perpetuate the divide along wedge cultural issues

Furthermore, I fail to see how Obama, who obviously is concerned by the economic blight that has scarred much of small-town America, is being particularly elitist, or out of touch, at all

Obama has a very uphill ahead of him; given the readiness of Americans to embrace fear over hope; decline over revival; a failing status quo over change; and so on

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

I'm now waiting for Obama to start referring to the people in these small towns as "them people."

Mitty, it's not a question of Obama's discipline; he really believes this stuff.

It's not out of the ordinary to hypothesise that I could be a man, of deep faith who likes his guns, living in a depressed small town; yet, far from being offended, I'd be reassured to hear Obama addressing my socio-economic anxieties

In fact, there would be no doubt in my mind that Obama does care about my well-being

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

Uh oh! The Republicans and Hillary Hacks have the bulldozers out! They must be trying to make another mountain out of a molehill!

I can't believe you of all people are so anxious about towing the line for this guy.  He's a fraud.  The hope he claims to offer is a fraud.  His whole "search for self" is a fraud.  His claims to be able to unify the country and about how he loves and respects everyone are a fraud.  It's all fake.  How can you buy into it?

I don't do frauds . Nor do I have an investment in America's continued decline, which is why I've endorsed Obama

[Democratic Hawk]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

This one is a little more than "regret."  It tells us something of his ideology.

What would that be, pragmatic progressivism?

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

After this I would advise any Obama supporter to think good and hard about supporting Hillary in November.  This is a coordinated attack with the Republicans in order to knock him out of the race.  Just look at the NRCC attacks on Democrats trying to pry SD's away from Obama and towards Hillary.  http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/04/nrcc-continues.html

If Obama fails to win the Democratic nomination, I've no candidate . If he wins the Democratic nomination but loses the general because of Democrats voting for McCain, I've no party . That's how I'd feel were I American

I'm not sure I could even identify with the Democratic Party any more. In fact, November 4 could mark a turning point in my life in that it could be the day the avowed Americophile that has been Dave Hawk stops caring

The state of American and British politics, right now, really is appalling. The pits

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

American towns (built after 1820 or so) have purely capitalist functions if they are not a county seat. And every region of the country has seen its small towns not connected with a more dynamic economy shrink.

All the more reason to invest in and regenerate local town economies then. Bring a bit more opportunity to the people. Whether this is accomplished through public or private investment or a combination of both, does it really matter as long as it works in that the net benefits outweigh the costs

Even I acknowledge you can't solve problems just by throwing money at it

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

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Ah...I see Hillary still has her lips firmly pressed against America's ass.

That's news to me. Clinton just says things to suit her at any particular point in time

[Democratic Hawk]

And most of Pennsylvania outside the southeast lost population in 2000-2006. Obama didn't say anything about "hordes of unemployed" or local jobs vs. non-local jobs; he didn't classify teaching as a service job vs. professional job. He didn't say it didn't start in the 1970s. The fact is that these areas having been economically depressed and losing population for a long time, and these trends have deeply shaped how the political process needs to respond to address the needs of these communities. J.J.'s attempt to paint Obama as "out of touch", Obama's not out of touch, he's accurately describing how people who lose hope on economic issues (or aren't offered clear contrasts on economic issues) can turn to social issues.

There's something profoundly wrong when a presidential candidate seeks to address to the economic concerns of small town communities only be vilified and smeared for being some out of touch elitist. Obama is campaigning in Pennsylvania and other states meeting, talking with and listening to voters and their concerns after all

Now my great hope come November would be for pragmatic progressives be they of a liberal or populist hue, be they Democrats, Independents or even Republicans, unite to take America forward on a change of course from what is a failing status quo

I've often wondered who the apathetic non-voter really is. Are they those who are happily content enough in their lives that it makes no difference who is in power or are they those who are so disconnected that they feel that no party truly represents them?

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

Obama is a bigger elitist than Kerry ever was during this campaign. I am really getting tired of this crap. I am tempted just to support Obama so he can get in the White House and screw up and watch all the blame go to former President Bush. We let the Democrats take control of Congress and they have been abysmal.

What makes you so sure a President Obama would screw up?

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

For what it's worth here's a hypothetical white, male, working class, small town, Christian, gun-owner who would be voting for Obama because I know he cares about the socio-economic well being of people like me

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

This thread is turning into a Biblical epic. I hope the good lad emerges triumphant [Notice I've said lad, rather than wife or Coffin Dodger]

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

Obama talks with people not to them or at them. There is some irony that he stands charged with being elitist; yet he, of the three prospective presidents, may well be the one who serves, or is beholden to, the interests of the elite least

Still, he could have explained the point he was trying to make much better than he did. He could have done so without even bringing guns and religion into it

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

Lead story NBC and CBS.

What still

[Democratic Hawk]

Can't be just me who's finding it audacious that Clinton and McCain are accusing Obama of being an elitist?

Perhaps, it's to deflect from the fact that they would be more beholden to elite interests than Obama and if Obama's deft enough he can use this to turn the tables. Now that would be justice [even if I'm not, right now, holding out much hope of that]

Dave

[Democratic Hawk]

If anyone thinks Obama voters will be turned off by this media blitzkrieg and droolfest over this.........fuggetaboutit.  They will not vote for the Beast cause of this.

There is no doubt in my mind that he'd make a very good president; he won't be pursuing a 51% - and to hell with the rest - strategy if elected and do you know why? It's because it won't be all about him. Clinton's ego and McCain's vanity are not attractive qualities

Obama has the potential to make a lasting difference - domestically and internationally - for the better

Just because there are those who want to continually ignite racial and cultural wedge issues, for their own selfish political gain, it doesn't follow that Obama does

Gotta move on

Dave