Posted on 04/11/2008 7:54:25 PM PDT by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
With any kind of luck, they'll KEEP flying over it, and stay OUT of it.
Xenolibphobia: One of many reasons I live in "Flyover Country".
I was doing a little reading and it is worse,they think he is right! too much.
I interpreted Obama’s remarks to mean that people in small town are so bitter that they refuse to become liberals.
Obama thinks small-towners are bitter?
Yet he sees no bitterness in the words of Rev Wright?
The funny thing is that leftists say guns and religion are unimportant ‘wedge issues’ which republicans use to fool working class people into voting for them. Well, if these issues are so unimportant to the Dems why do _they_ expend so much political capital into pushing the gun control and an anti-religion agendas? If I recall corretly, the vote on the renewal of the AWB was one of the few votes John Kerry made in 2004 during his Presidential race. Similarly, Obama has advocated a ban on all semi-automatic weapons. If these issues are ‘unimportant wedge issues’, the Dems should just drop them.
it might just be me...but ole barry don’t seem like he happy with middle class real americans.....he’s put his foot in his mouth to..
i been clingin to my religion for a long time now...and i really do think it’s done me a world a good....& on a daily basis as a matter of fack, barack
I heard he said these “typical whites” cling to their bowling leagues too. Mr Freakin’ 39!
Clue to campaign: If Obama speaks, use teleprompter.
Sounds Like Obama Just called all you people in Pennsylvania
McCacas!!!!
And I’ve seen the Promised welfare office Land. I may not get there with you but me and typical whitey will be in line for government cheese, grits and a good ear-whoopin’ from Rev. Wright...
Obuma is doing what he does best, “Insulting the typical white people” with his covert NOI rhetoric.
The JAN fails to understand that, “ God, Guns and Guts will keep Patriotic Americans Free from tyranny.”
LA LAW,
NSNR
Preach it.
Gotta brag on my “centrist” husband. He actually joined the NRA this week because he was having a conversation with a local liberal about how they’re ‘pro-gun’ but ‘just for hunting.’
Husband gave him MY standard speech on how The Second Amendment has nothing to do with ‘guns’ but everything to do with the PEOPLE arming themselves against the abuses of GOVERNMENT!
I’m so proud I could burst! (The “pillow talk” seems to be working, LOL!)
The smile you brought to my face...priceless!
http://www.talk2rusty.com/site/product?pid=18095
“Obama: A Campaign About Nothing.”
The man reminds me of Michael Richards with a tan.
“Obama’s probably going to deal with it this way: 1) The story’s gonna have legs over the next fews day and Barak will kind-of sort-of apologize for his poor choice of words, assuring us that he really loves the heartland; 2) the MSM will declare the matter resolved because there will be nothing left to say and it will appear that Barak has put it behind him; 3) Conservations will rail about how Barak got “away with it”. 4) Barak will start doing some more folksy things that rural people like to do.”
Yes, but you know - is this how he imagines the Presidency will be run? Tally up all the gaffes (and intentional misrepresentations), all the clarifications, all the comforting pats on the back and what do you have? Inexperience to deal with the simplest of matters. What about the big ones yet to come?
“it might just be me...but ole barry don’t seem like he happy with middle class real americans.....he’s put his foot in his mouth to..”
Well, isn’t that part of the Black Liberation Theology? Destruction of the middle class?
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