Obama defends comments about bitterness in small towns

The Chicago Tribune ^ | April 11, 2008 | John McCormick

[2ndDivisionVet]

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. - Sen. Barack Obama was criticized Friday by his two fellow presidential candidates for statements he made recently at a San Francisco fundraiser that could be viewed as derogatory toward rural America.

"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 Sunday, according to the Huffington Post web site.

"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," Obama reportedly continued. "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."

Obama does not allow reporters into fundraisers held at private residences, so they were not reported at the time.

The comments could fuel suggestions that Obama can be arrogant. They began circulating on the Internet Friday and drew rapid responses from both Sen. Hillary Clinton, his rival for the Democratic nomination, and Sen. John McCain, the likely Republican nominee.

"It's a remarkable statement and extremely revealing," McCain adviser Steve Schmidt said in a statement. "It shows an elitism and condescension towards hardworking Americans that is nothing short of breathtaking, it is hard to imagine someone running for president who is more out of touch with average Americans."

Clinton, campaigning in Pennsylvania, also suggested Obama sounded like an elitist.

[TeleStraightShooter]

Well, BHO’s hit team DID rip open the sealed messy divorce papers of his primary & general election opponents to win that seat.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

Honest...I am not a Limbaugh fan. I just didn't want BHO walking away w/the nomination (I wanted a fight in Denver...w/the fall out helping McCain). I even reconsidered my changing of registration (should I stay home on the 22nd...nah!!!) Never thought I would say this...but...

Can't wait to vote for Hillary on April 22.

Ed Rendell...run with quote!!!

[PackerBronco]

(B) will try to paint McCain as a far right extremist with support from racist-sexist-warmongering-zealous-greedy-homophobes. “You know the type”.

He'll try it and they've already tried to position McCain as a warmonger on at least two different occasions; but neither one has worked. McCain's a known factor so he can't be positioned anew at this last date. The only thing that Obama can do in that area is try to work on a perception that already exists and enlarge it somehow. This could be such things as:

• McCain is old and out-of-touch (like Dole "was" and notice how Dole's own campaign pitch actually re-inforced the Clinton's negative meme against him.)
• McCain is unstable and flies off the handle

I think those are perceptions that people kind of have already with McCain and that's where Obama could do some damage.

[TeleStraightShooter]

broken glass DINO -lol

McCain's spokesman said it best: "Only an elitist would say that people vote their values only out of frustration. ... You can't be more out of touch than that."

[red state girl]

Wow! What an ignorant comment to make. He’s basically stereotyping white people from small towns as hicks.

[eyedigress]

Good for you! (and me) Limbaugh endorsement isn’t required but objective of turmoil amongst the bats is fun. :^)

[2ndClassCitizen]

I guess that makes Hussein Obama just a typical black person.

[2ndDivisionVet]

"Wow! What an ignorant comment to make. He's basically stereotyping white people from small towns as hicks."

Yeah, about half the voters in this country! What a maroon!

[SunkenCiv]

Gosh, who would have guessed that he’s a racist?!? ;’)

[jayef]

Hey Barry . . . you gonna pass that joint, or are you gonna just stand there holding it?

[ishmac]

People are fed up, they’re angry, frustrated and they’re bitter and they want to see a change in Washington.

Damn, so that's what this hope talk amounted to--an angry fist.

"Hope" was just a big hustle.

[Once-Ler]

It looks like Osama feels he can squeeze a couple more votes from the atheist gun banning open-border vote. He’s not so good at campaigning. He’s barely got support of half his party. Looks like Bill Clinton’s not so good at campaigning either. What great fodder for the weekend exhibitions.

[Enchante]

"Wow! What an ignorant comment to make. He’s basically stereotyping white people from small towns as hicks.

Sorry, you must be some "typical white person" who just doesn't grasp that Snob-ama is sooooo much more sophisticated (not to mention more sensitive) than you!

[denydenydeny]

"...each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not,"

BHO has made the same promises. But of course under his energy policies, these small Pennsylvania towns will get even worse when all coal mining is essentially banned.

[combat_boots]

prozaic?

Isn’t that one of them thar anty-dee-preseants?

[combat_boots]

I’s a Klingin? Like in Star Trek?

[combat_boots]

“Obama To Rural Pennsylvanians:

Vote For Me, You Corncob-Smokin’, Banjo-Strokin’, Chicken-Chokin’, Cousin-Pokin’, Inbred, Hillbilly Racist Morons”

Here I thought “Deliverance” was a W. Va movie/documentary. ;>

[pieceofthepuzzle]

Keeping the Clintons alive politically is very risky business. Please reconsider.

[ApplegateRanch]

was going to use “prosaic” language for the folks in Pennsylvania

dats an insult.

everyone done knows prosaic is a town in jersey. he thinks he can talk that jersey crap to pennsylvanians and get away with it he gots another think coming!

[elhombrelibre]

Isn't it “antipathy” for him to stereotype all rural people that way? And look at the religion he clings to. Where does he get off criticizing anyone as a rube when he's going to a KKK-like church for 20 years.