Small Town Stew
On a scale of one to nuclear, how bad is this Barack Obama flap?
Well ...
It's united in sentiment and spin the unlikeliest of people, Hillary Clinton and Grover Norquist.
It's distracted from two dominant news stories that Clinton hasn't been able to shake -- the Bosnia flap and Bill Clinton's penchant for roaming off script.
It's given the chattering class the opportunity to question anew Obama's compassion for and understanding of the white working class.
It's especially loaded when coupled with the Rev. Jeremiah Wright brouhaha.
And it could halt dead Obama's surge in PA, a contest that Clinton must win by double digits to have a shot at the nom.
In case you're living under a rock this fine Friday eve, here's what Obama said at a San Fran fundraiser, first reported by Mayhill Fowler, correspondent for HuffPost's OffTheBus:
"You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them," Obama said. "And they fell through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate, and they have not. 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."
Bitter is a loaded word. No doubt. But I'm guessing Obama meant to say that he has compassion for members of the middle class, who are watching their jobs get shipped overseas and their communities struggle. He could've said there's no place in America for blame, however. Immigrants are not the problem. Isolationism is not the answer. And God, while great, isn't going to solve our nation's economic ills.
That might've been more palatable, no? Instead, Obama stirred up a boiling cauldron of religion and guns and hate, and he pointed a finger at the good voters of PA for clinging to the wrong stuff.
The GOP and the Clinton folks sent reporters a barrage of email this evening chastising Obama for "looking down on" the working class instead of fighting for it.
John McCain spokesman Steve Schmidt: "This statement demonstrates that he will have great difficulty connecting to [swing state voters] because he holds the people he's describing with some measure of contempt. The condescension and elitism inherent in the statement is remarkable. The notion that because people are in a tough economy that's why they go to church, that's why they have guns, that's why they're anti-immigrant - it is a remarkable series of condescensions to the heart and soul of this country, the people who live in small town America. And I think people will resent it and be very angry about it because that is not how most Americans view themselves and that's not how most Americans view their lives in terms of practicing their faith or exercising their Second Ammendment rights of having a desire to secure the borders of the country. What Senator Obama doesn't understand is you don't give hope to people by looking down on them."
Here's Hillary Clinton's react:
PA GOP Chairman Robert A. Gleason: "As a Pennsylvanian, I find Barack Obama’s comments incredibly insulting, and believe many others in the Keystone State will as well. In light of this most recent statement, I believe Americans are going to have even more questions about his values. Not only do these comments reveal a condescending elitism, Obama illustrates to us just how out of touch he is with middle-class America. The vast majority of Pennsylvanians believe wholeheartedly in their Constitutional right to bear arms, have a strong devotion to their faith, and believe that our government should be actively looking for a solution to the illegal immigration crisis, and Barack Obama managed to offend every single one of us with this one statement. With a diverse population, many with immigrant backgrounds, it is sad Obama wants to paint the Keystone State with this broad brush of ignorance.”
And here's Norquist: "That sentence will lose him the election," Norquist told ABC News. "He just announced to rural America: 'I don't like you.’"
Obama's camp attempted a prompt and rather effective damage control. The candidate's full statement -- offered in Terre Haute, IN -- after the jump.
Readers ... Your turn to weigh in.
(JENNIFER SKALKA)
Obama: “When I go around and I talk to people there is frustration and there is anger and there is bitterness. And what’s worse is when people are expressing their anger then politicians try to say what are you angry about? This just happened – I want to make a point here today.
“I was in San Francisco talking to a group at a fundraiser and somebody asked how’re you going to get votes in Pennsylvania? What’s going on there? We hear that’s its hard for some working class people to get behind you’re campaign. I said, “Well look, they’re frustrated and for good reason. Because for the last 25 years they’ve seen jobs shipped overseas. They’ve seen their economies collapse. They have lost their jobs. They have lost their pensions. They have lost their healthcare.
“And for 25, 30 years Democrats and Republicans have come before them and said we’re going to make your community better. We’re going to make it right and nothing ever happens. And of course they’re bitter. Of course they’re frustrated. You would be too. In fact many of you are. Because the same thing has happened here in Indiana. The same thing happened across the border in Decatur. The same thing has happened all across the country. Nobody is looking out for you. Nobody is thinking about you. And so people end up- they don’t vote on economic issues because they don’t expect anybody’s going to help them. So people end up, you know, voting on issues like guns, and are they going to have the right to bear arms. They vote on issues like gay marriage. And they take refuge in their faith and their community and their families and things they can count on. But they don’t believe they can count on Washington. So I made this statement-- so, here’s what rich. Senator Clinton says ‘No, I don’t think that people are bitter in Pennsylvania. You know, I think Barack’s being condescending.’ John McCain says, ‘Oh, how could he say that? How could he say people are bitter? You know, he’s obviously out of touch with people.’
“Out of touch? Out of touch? I mean, John McCain—it took him three tries to finally figure out that the home foreclosure crisis was a problem and to come up with a plan for it, and he’s saying I’m out of touch? Senator Clinton voted for a credit card-sponsored bankruptcy bill that made it harder for people to get out of debt after taking money from the financial services companies, and she says I’m out of touch? No, I’m in touch. I know exactly what’s going on. I know what’s going on in Pennsylvania. I know what’s going on in Indiana. I know what’s going on in Illinois. People are fed-up. They’re angry and they’re frustrated and they’re bitter. And they want to see a change in Washington and that’s why I’m running for President of the United States of America.”
And here's the Obama campaign spin: "Senator Obama has said many times in this campaign that Americans are understandably upset with their leaders in Washington for saying anything to win elections while failing to stand up to the special interests and fight for an economic agenda that will bring jobs and opportunity back to struggling communities. And if John McCain wants a debate about who's out of touch with the American people, we can start by talking about the tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans that he once said offended his conscience but now wants to make permanent,” Obama campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor said.
Not for me. I am a south central Pennsylvanian and feel no anger toward Obama, I agree with him. I am bitter at Bush's lies and the federal government as a whole. In fact, I am more angry at the national media's handling of this. Am I bitter? Your damn right, and that is why I made up my mind to vote for Obama.
Mark, Shippensburg, PA
I think this is one of these things (like Wright) where the elites are going to get in a frenzy with how this is going to hurt him with small town people all the while the small town people will be like HELL YEAH I am bitter.
Just like Wright sounded horrible to elites until people who actually go to church chimed in to say they don't really always agree with their pastor so why saddle Obama with what his says ?
I think what we are seeing (and what Obama would rather us not see) is the REAL Barack Obama. He's going to go after the guns but, he'll have no problem with his family and himself being guarded by the Secret Service and fully auto weapons 24/7.
Remember....
Obama is right on. Only mistake he made here was telling the Gods honest truth about something. And man, you can't dare do that, can you?
Obama is right on. Only mistake he made here was telling the Gods honest truth about something. And man, you can't dare do that, can you?
Wow.
This is probably the biggest example of "gotcha" politics that we've seen yet this campaign season. I honestly see nothing wrong with what he said. Nothing. He was taken way out of context and the media and the Clinton camp are so desperate that they are jumping on this.
Can you find a single, objective person who has been offended by this? Not that I know of.
IMO you at National Journal are way misrepresenting this and trying to turn nothing into a negative for Obama. All I can say is you are making way too much about this. It won't affect the race at all.
The problem with so much attention on the primaries, and the extended gap between Texas/Ohio and Pennsylvania, is that statements that are pretty non-inflammatory become the story of the week because the media has to have something to report on. After all, why spend time educating voters on things like the multitude of parties involved in Iraq and which side they might be on at any given time, or go in depth on what each candidates health care system would look like if actualized and the potential benefits and downsides, when you can report on whether Obama insulted rural folk by saying that the collapse of their way of life made them a bit bitter and willing to blame something for their loss, or whether Hillary Clinton's advisors are able to work together without coming to fisticuffs?
Yeah, actually, he did offend me. Because I am anti-illegal immigration and am tired of being tarred and feathered with that "anti-immigration" brush.
Obama's response in video form:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc9PepjyDow
Well CJ. Were you even considering voting for him in the first place? If not then I wouldn't consider you "objective"
Jeremiah Wright brouhaha? His poll numbers have either increased or remained the same since Rev. Wright's sermon soundbytes starting airing non-stop.
In addition, calling the voters bitter because they lost their jobs and livelihoods, and twenty years of politicians haven't done anything for them wasn't a bad political statement. Hillary should have let the Republicans go after Obama on this one. She ended up attacking the wrong part of his statement, since she couldn't get much of a political advantage from referring to Obama as a liberal elite. She comes across as out of touch – bitter people don't appreciate being told they aren't bitter.
Furthermore, the appearance of the Republicans united with Hillary is not necessarily a good thing for her, especially in a Democratic Primary. When McCain and Hillary are shown parroting the same argument that doesn't help her case. It hurts it.
Also, how come every Jessica Skalka post is pro-Hillary?
Seems to me that if a candidate said something, and people actually got offended and spoke out about it, you would have a story to report. Instead, "analysts" pick out stray snippets and try to create an uproar. It's just not working anymore. This country has serious issues that must be addressed and the media outlets need to be constructive. Obama is being honest and honorable in the way he addresses the public.
I just find it amazing that the media will go out of its way to "explain" to all of us what Obama "meant" by this comment.
Do you do that much time and space for every candidates when they have a gaffe, or just the one you have a crush on?
Then there's the usual follow-up blasts from the Obamaniacs, many of whom have never voted in their lives, assuring us that this is no big deal for the general election.
If you can't see already that Barack Obama is not electable in the general election over the poisonous and personal political comments of Jeremiah Wright, then perhaps you will at least take one moment to witness this tendency of Barack Obama to put his own stereotypical ideas about "typical" white people into terms that never come close to the truth.
I don't think people in rural areas are bitter, and I don't think they are going to like being pidgeon-holed that way. We'll see on April 22.
Just Obama sharing how he views the "typical white person." These statements offers a good glimpse into the thinking of a candidate who we really don't know well. His campaign rhetoric of hope is increasingly in direct opposition to the reality of how he lives his life (attending a church for 20 years focused on a black value system, having a spiritaul advisor who openly shares his disdain for America, being in league with political makers like Rezko). Look beyond the words. Search for evidence of action, and a much clearer picture of what Obama is and represents takes shape. It's not a very pretty or hopeful picture.
Just Obama sharing how he views the "typical white person." These statements offers a good glimpse into the thinking of a candidate who we really don't know well. His campaign rhetoric of hope is increasingly in direct opposition to the reality of how he lives his life (attending a church for 20 years focused on a black value system, having a spiritaul advisor who openly shares his disdain for America, being in league with political makers like Rezko). Look beyond the words. Search for evidence of action, and a much clearer picture of what Obama is and represents takes shape. It's not a very pretty or hopeful picture.
HA HA HA HA HA! Are you going to tell me that people who have seen their communities and opportunities shrink in the past 30 years aren't bitter about it? Or that they don't think Washington or Harrisburg are going to help them economically? Or that they vote on emotional hot button issues -- guns, gays, etc. -- because that's the only thing they think the government can do for them?
There was not one word of what Obama said that was not true, and the reason why others are harping on it is BECAUSE it's true.
For 30 years the Republican party has hammered home that the only economic help the government will give you is lower taxes, while at the same time shipping jobs overseas and running appalling deficits guaranteeing that there will be no help from the government. Then the Republicans scream about gays and guns and how the immigrants are out to get you, and so that's why people are angry about gays and guns and immigrants when they should be angry that their leaders stole the middle class right out of our country.
So, yeah, Obama was right and the right wingers like Norquist and his friends are afraid they're going to be found out.
Bitter here in Flyoverland? You bet. Most people are bitter that out of 300+mililon people, these three dopes are the best we've got to show for ourselves. Obama typifies what passes for the effite, eilte natering nabobs of Chicago, the Hyde Park liberals who beleive they are smarter and more deserving than those on whose shoulders support this country. Obama, et al demand immigration laws be ignored but demand that gun laws be enforced and even made more onerous. Let me explain it to all you elite snobs on both sides of the aisle: Obama has zero chance of winning the general election. We may be upset about the way things are going, we may even be bitter about some things like the government surrendering our borders, but get this: insulting us outweighs bitterness every stinking time. If BHO can barely win in his own, out-of-touch, liberal party, he will be stomped in the general election by the middle here in flyoverland.
wow, you guys must be high if you think this will not hurt him. He didn't even apolgize. I know Obama has brought new people into the process so they don't know about how someone is elected ultimately by the electoral college. This is not a student body president race Obamabots. Obama may have shot himself in the foot. If the Supers give it to him and he loses...the Dems would look like Jackasses and people will leave the party.
My bet is that Obama just turned off a massive portion of the electorate, and is becoming the real life embodiment the GOP's "elitist liberal democrat" caricature. Is that what his version of Chairman Dean's "50 State strategy" is?
He has a 47 State strategy now? (IE: Michigan, Florida, and PA)
I think this will hurt him a great deal in the coming days leading up to Pennsylvania. This gaff, and not his poor bowling skills and obvious act he put on at that bowling alley will draw the final conclusion that he isn't that voice the average American voter is looking for. What good is change and hope, and a new kind of politics to a trucker or a waitress when you talk bad about them to your big money donors and affluent pals at banquets in San Francisco?
For the first time in my adult life, this bitter, clingy, typical white person wishes that the Obama's would just go away.
United the unlikeliest of people? Gimme a break. You can't tell the difference between Hillary and the Republicans. She loves Drudge, FOX and Scaiffe, and her talking points on this issue are pure Rove.
Republicans calling Democrats "elitist" is just a ridiculous distortion of the truth. I roll my eyes every time I hear that word. Why do you think all the labor unions support Democrats? Because Democrats are the party of the working class! Republicans are the party which looks after the economic interests of the wealthy (upper-end tax cuts, etc).This shouldn't be too hard to understand, but apparently to some people it is.
Well, if I were in Pa, I'd resent being pigeonholed like that.
Let me be clear. I don't mind that he purports that people are bitter. Lots of people are bitter about current economic conditions, etc.
I mind that he says that they are so shallow as to cling to religion, racism, and all the other things he listed because they are bitter. I'm sorry, but I don't know a single sincerely religious person who believes what they believe because they are bitter about economics.
I don't know a single person who feels "antipathy to people who aren’t like them" (in other words, racism) because they are bitter over economic conditions. That isn't why people become racist. In fact, I suspect there are dozens of reasons why people become racist, and I'd be willing to bet that general economic conditions isn't even on that list.
What we really saw (heard), imho, is that the Obama who speaks to a crowd of maxed-out contributors is an entirely different Obama from the one we see in front of those televised events. And he let it slip. Private Obama is not public Obama.
Elitist,
I don't think you understand what an "elitist" really is. An elitist is someone who thinks he's smarter than everyone else, someone who thinks he knows what's better for you than you do. Unions have historically been run by left wing "progressives" who were transplanted here from Europe in the 19th century, most were connected to the early socialists, not the "guilds" who were the craftsmen of their time. Unions have that as their heritage. Their growh strategy was "us versus them". Elitists today can generally be found in colleges and universities pontificating about everything and producing nothing. Most have never had a "real" job. Can you name me a real job Obama has held? Street Organizer? The elites want more control (since they know better) and the Republicans want less control, since they know controls contraindicate growth and production. Producers can exist without elites. Elites are societal parasites which feed on the fruits of producers. Obama is the epitome of an elite.
jb sed: """Also, how come every Jessica Skalka post is pro-Hillary?"""
B/c she is a horrible horrible journalist.
flyover sed: """An elitist is someone who thinks he's smarter than everyone else, someone who thinks he knows what's better for you than you do"""
Let's see, how many people have run the Harvard Law Review? Guess what flyover, Obama IS smarter than 99% of the world INCLUDING YOU and INCLUDING ME. So why should he think otherwise? And why does that make him an ELITIST?
He is right on every single issue. Based on your multiple screeds on this one thread alone YOU are wrong on every single issue. Therefore, YES, he DOES know what's better for you than YOU do.
I don't know why I bothered typing this b/c based on your comments you are just another idiotic Republican who: thinks they know everything, have cheered Bush as he has mangled this country beyond recognition, and then turn around and point the finger at someone else (typically a minority or a woman).
Btw, very telling that you refer to Barack Obama as BHO. Just another GOP dittohead ass-kisser responsible for the worst state of affairs in this country since the Great Depression. Heckuva job.
mary sed: """I mind that he says that they are so shallow as to cling to religion, racism, and all the other things he listed because they are bitter"""
Did he SAY that "they are so shallow"? No. YOU said that. Be fair and judge him on what he said, not what you thought you heard VIA THE MEDIA.
Fact is, as many people here have noted, people in the USA are bitter about the government's inability to help the common person. And these same people tend to ignore the political issue du jour and instead vote on what they know best -- which, in rural America particularly, includes 2nd Amendment rights and issues promoted by their church.
It's not shallow. It's dead-on, bang-on, 'we have a winnah', 100% correct.
In fact, you are the one who labeled his comments shallow, so maybe you are the one who harbors animosity to these voters.
>>>Private Obama is not public Obama.
You obviously havent seen or heard his subsequent speeches where he not only explains what he meant in his statements, but does so with conviction.
The clip that I saw from Terra Haute, IN (hardly the 'maxed-out contributors' cadre you refer to) Obama not only responds effectively to Hillary's and McSame's insipid attacks, but he clearly hits a home run winning raucous applause and a standing ovation.
Watch:
talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/188566.php
He is the real deal. He is inspiring. He is thoughtful. He speaks truth to power AND the masses. But most importantly, he is correct on issue after issue on how to bring this country back from the gates of hell.
The only folks who don't seem to have a clue are the media. Telling everyone what "we" feel? That's patronizing. Obama is the only one who gets it. And Clinton revived? I don't see that. I see that she's made it more clear than ever that she'll do anything, get drunk, shoot ducks, anything, to win. Sorry, I have a feeling the media has this wrong, big time.
Hayu, Hay, You journalists who are HALF BAKe and MEdiocre, Stop wasting your Energy about Clinging on every letter and WORDS from Obama.
The American in Rural set ups KNOWS better than you Journalists and so STOP YOUR FLIPPING CRAPS and Untruthfulness and Gabbages from Hillary. Hillary does not believe in Whatever the Feelings of Small Towns people, hence she DISCOUINTED a lot about campaign in small cities which is out of Touch, then tell me How she will comperhend How the People in the Rural Pennsylvania will feel or Have being felt after shorting down their Factories and took job overseas.
Whichever way Obama must have said this, the Significant side of it is at LESAT, he had shared part of the FEElings of Rural Americans, caused by Incompetent Tenure of services rendered by Bush administration by catting away Jobs to Overseas countries and bring sadness to the peolpe. Why should Hillary be Answering Obama on this, it shows How less Inteligent she is, it was not her responsiblity to answer Obama at all. Wher on Earth this woman is from with all her Political Thinking and Way wardness, that do not help her, even less to be seen as someone to look after the interest of a commoner.
If you take my Livelhood out of me, Does that make me sad or JOY? The bitter truth is that I will be sad and I will be looking out for A Remedy from others or from the same government that took my means of Livelihood away. Sad again they had No Clue like most Leaders in THird World countries.
Hillary will never face the REALITY, but only GOOD at MISSPOKEN of a whoe LOT of a Story not even a SENTENCE, you are even wrong to take Obama on on this one.
To you Journalists You never going to be smarter on this one, as the one fooling others do not know better than the people in the Small Towns and states.