Obama is Right. People are Angry.

Right-wing ABC radio talkshow host John Batchelor has filled my in box in these last 18 hours with e-mails dissecting and skewering what Obama meant when he said at a private April 6 fundraiser that small-town voters in economically distressed areas of Pennsylvania are "bitter." Batchelor and Laura Ingraham and Monica Crowley and Sean Hannity and Rush and O'Reilly are ready and rearing to go, quick to their guns to paint Obama as an elitist. {Read the excerpt from Nation columnist Eric Alterman's "Why We're Liberals" in the April 14th issue of The Nation to understand the cynicism and hypocrisy at the root of the conservative cabal's forty-year campaign.}

The Right has its reasons to play this cynical card. It is the Clinton campaign's rapid-fire, right-wing populist response to Obama's remarks that I find so troubling and cynical, and sure to hurt the party and the country in the general election.

Strip down what Obama was saying: He addressed the trouble his campaign of hope and change was having in "places where people feel most cynical about government." While he has tried to speak concretely about the conditions of peoples' lives, his campaign continues to have trouble making inroads among white working class voters, and "old economy" voters whose idea of change isn't hope but rather losing a job or a pension. Yet he is narrowing the margins.

In Muncie, Indiana Saturday morning, Obama was counterpunching, as he should be-- explaining and expanding on his remarks:

The problem is our politics doesn't let the American people get heard. People know that it's not easy solving some of these problems but they want to feel like at least someone is fighting for them.

It's interesting. Lately there has been a little typical sort of political flare up because I said something that everybody knows is true which is that there are a whole bunch of folks in small towns in Pennsylvania, in towns right here in Indiana, in my hometown in Illinois who are bitter.

They are angry.

They feel like they have been left behind. They feel like nobody is paying attention to what they're going through.

So I said well you know when you're bitter you turn to what you can count on. So people they vote about guns, or they take comfort from their faith and their family and their community.

And they get mad about illegal immigrants who are coming over to this country or they get frustrated about how things are changing.

That's a natural response.

And now I didn't say it as well as I should have because you know the truth is that these traditions that are passed on from generation to generation those are important. That's what sustains us

But what is absolutely true is that people don't feel like they are being listened to. And so they pray and they count on each other and they count on their families. You know this in your own lives. What we need is a government that is actually paying attention. A government that is fighting for working people day in and day out making sure that we are trying to allow them to live out the American dream. And that's what this campaign is about. ******** I can't think of much truer in our politics today than what Obama is saying about how "people don't feel they are being listened to...What we need is a government that is actually paying attention... fighting for working people day in and day out ..."

At a time when 81% of the country thinks we're heading in the wrong direction (aren't these people bitter?) , isn't it pretty clear that our economy has not performed well for most people for at least a generation, and is now heading into what everyone sentient would agree are likely to be some very tough times. Recovery from this recession is also likely to be even slower than the essentially jobless recovery from the last. The traditional means of jump-starting the economy -- dropping interest rates, or boosting consumer spending -- have been substantially exhausted, and their pell-mell unregulated pursuit is a large part of what got us into our current mess.

The political discontent is obvious--and Obama is trying to speak to that. Americans are fed up with government's failure to do anything much for them, or that they're proud of being part of. " Here's how it is," he said in his April 6 remarks. " In a lot of these communities in big industrial states like Ohio and Pennsylvania people have been beaten down for so long. They feel so betrayed by government that when they hear a pitch that is premised on not being cynical about government, then a part of them just doesn't buy it." Here's where the Right's generation-long attack on government has done real damage to citizen confidence in government. We see it all around us everyday. But. surely the other critical source of citizen doubt is that government has in fact done little recently to measurably improve their lives and give them a sense of national purpose. After all, Bill Clinton, long considered the master politician of his age, was basically in the business of lowering expectations of government even faster than they were disappointed. Obama is trying to amp up expectations which the Right and Clintonism have tamped down.

The right wing is clearly desperate. ready to seize on anything to change the subject and hide how out of touch they are with an America in financial pain. But how cynical of the Clinton campaign to claim Obama was condescending to the people of Pennsylvania.

Comments (203)

1. some one dares to speak the truth......

   Posted by frosty zoom at 04/12/2008 @ 11:45pm

2. Yes Obama is correct and most of us are bitter that the wealthy receive big tax breaks while we get $1,200. The Clintons ssved $6million in taxes under Bush's tax breaks. Any American making under $100,000 should be bitter.

   Posted by AngMorg at 04/12/2008 @ 11:58pm

3. Katrina,

   Many thanks for the address that you gave recently in honor of the 10th anniversary of the New Labor Forum. Fantastic stuff.

   Central point:

   The political discontent is obvious. Americans are fed up with government's failure to do anything much for them, or much of anything that they're proud of. People would very much like a more honest politics that delivered some semblance of shared prosperity, shared sacrifice, common purpose, and common sense.

   Who can argue with that? I'm tempted to believe that even our local "Babbit", the curmudgeonly and occasionally grotesquely hideous Johnny 'the Monsta' Maasch would have to agree on that basic point.

   The issue that we face today in its most overarching form is broken government.

   Perhaps that will be the true legacy of the Bush-Cheney neocon cabal --that they pushed the American empire over the edge and forced us put Humpty back together again.

   Hopefully in a much more rational fashion.

   P.S.

   Hi Frosty.

   Posted by b_kool_66 at 04/13/2008 @ 12:24am

4. Posted by JOMAMMA 04/13/2008 @ 12:06am

   oh my God! I think I have to agree with that. Did I say That?

   Posted by FRANKGRITS 04/13/2008 @ 12:12am

   It's now official MASK, FRANK is a neo-con.

   Obama gets crucified for not giving a sound bite candidacy, so they make them up for him then go negative with implications that have little to nothing to do with their context. It's simple old politics. The good part is that he learns from every supposed gaffe and gets stronger and stronger, much to the consternation of FRANK et cetera.

   Posted by yutsano at 04/13/2008 @ 12:35am

5. Thanks again for not leaving me thinking that I was the only angry bitter person out here. "Bitter" was the nicest word Sen. Obama could have used to explain why people were not voting for him. The Clinton administration did help unbolt machines from the factory floor and ship them to China. there isn't a greeter at Walmart that makes as much as a General Motors factory worker. And what else except religion and prayer do we have left.

   Posted by julien38 at 04/13/2008 @ 12:46am

6. Muslim, untested, liberal extremist, racist, uppity snob... The only one that's working for Obata must be CULT PHENOM. Don't think it's his middle name.

   Posted by winyahn at 04/13/2008 @ 12:47am

7. Okay everyone stop and breath deeply. Lately people seem ready to believe the worst and also hope for the worst. While the comment was made I believe the question he was responding to makes this more interesting. That is and I paraphase, if people would not vote for him because of his race. Which is interesting since he is biracial. He chose to see the positive by saying that people are angry and bitter. He is right!!!! I am angry and bitter because the harder I work the less money I have.

   And I have a problem with people like McCain and Clinton telling me that he is wrong. If they are so concerned, why after all these years in politics have they not done anything to help the middle class. All of these ideas now, with experience is just like McCain now apologizing because he did not vote for MLK holiday in Arizona. Completly irrelevant.

   Stop all the name calling, and pay attention...your life just may depend on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   Posted by qjh48901 at 04/13/2008 @ 12:52am

8. Posted by JOMAMMA 04/13/2008 @ 12:06am

   See this is the problem with your view of the tax code. The reason rich people pay more isn't because a higher percentage of their money is taken. It's because they are getting charge a percentage of their total income. Therefore if you make a lot of money you get taxed more because you can afford it. Why should someone who is making 40k a year pay as much as someone making 20 million. If you are going to implement tax code the rich shouldn't get breaks they should pay the same percentage of their income as everyone else. If you use our country, I stress OUR, to become very wealthy I am happy for you and you are expected to contribute with the same percentage as everyone else. Right now percentage-wise the rich pay a much smaller percent of their total earnings than anyone else. While the middle class gets bent over.

   Posted by Cccomfo1 at 04/13/2008 @ 12:55am

9. Posted by FRANKGRITS 04/13/2008 @ 12:12am

   I think you are the neo-con operative you keep ranting about franky.

   Posted by Cccomfo1 at 04/13/2008 @ 01:00am

10. And I think you know I'm right.

    Posted by FRANKGRITS 04/12/2008 @ 11:48pm | ignore this person

    Yeah, Frank, just like your new-found pals Maasch and Marky-Mark. You're definitely (to the) right. But you're not correct. Just a curiosity question, Frank - are you working for the Clintons? Thought I'd ask that based on your continued insistence that Mask works for the Nation and your continued sense that your candidate is entitled.

    Posted by jmusolino at 04/13/2008 @ 01:09am

11. Wait until the Demoncrats start heavily taxing the RICH whom they believe is ANYONE making over the $75,000.

    Posted by RIO BRAVO 04/13/2008 @ 12:36am | ignore this person

    Care to provide some proof of the $75,000 figure, Rio? Or did you conveniently leave out some trailing zeros? Come to think of it, I'd have to say an apt description of Bush's followers would be "trailing zeros".

    Posted by jmusolino at 04/13/2008 @ 01:13am

12. Remember the 90's & the multinational takeover of the 4th estate? The fact is Hillary and Bill got steamrolled with even worse insanity than Obama's faced so far, but that's going to change eventually. Recall fascist 'Hitlery', killer of Vince Foster, and many others, blah blah... I mention this only to underscore a working hypothesis, as follows.

    The stock market's dive Friday on bad news from the combo corp (megamedia & defense contractor/war profiteer): GE http://www.thenation.com/special/bigten.html should give us all pause. The writing may very be on the wall when the ultimately connected start faltering.

    Posted by winyahn at 04/13/2008 @ 01:20am

13. When K street ultra insiders who are mega defense contractors and who own mega chunks of the 4th estate, whose windfalls equate to massive chunks of the national debt, start wobbling... house of cards?

    Posted by winyahn at 04/13/2008 @ 01:32am

14. The very basic proposal of the right the last 30 years is that all government is bad, taxes are bad, we have too much rules, and that "you can do things by yourself better than the government." It turns out that they have hold government at least twice as much as Dems and made government worse promoting military interventions, imperialism and extreme eoonomic deficits and stratospheric national debt reinforcing in the people the intuitive idea that all government is "bad on its roots".

    I think this is in the core of Obama's words. The faith of the people is shaken. Take a genuine right thinker citizen. He/she must be discouraged about Bush's spending. About the lack of respect to human life in Iraq. About the lack of compassionate action in New Orleans. So what is his natural response? Take refuge in his/her beliefs, in God and in their local traditions.

    And that's fine, that should always be the case, to consult our consciences intimately. BUT, still we live in a huge and complicated society. The very nature of a political society is to discuss things "towards the common good". Statistics show that still the participation of the people in the political process is -depending on the race- at the most 70%. So one third of Americans don't have a say on the political process.

    The right as always pretends to look as defending the "little guy" over government or those "liberal ellitists". And that is as false as compassionate conservatism. Because their aim is on other issue, the one thing the right will not accept is that people unite to defend their rights. They want people alone, each on their own struggle, they want an anonimous society each "minding their own business" because that is the way no one will leverage enough power to contest the "big fishes" that they protect. That is why they disregard any social creed. People's issues are private they say, and that is true regarding religious beliefs but is not true about social issues as for example justice, the environment and health care. Those are things the people themselves need to address and solve with government in their side. And that is what Obama meant, and what the right dreads because their hold of power would be compromised.

    There is no greater measure of the failure of a system as when people are cynical and mistrusting about that system.

    Posted by Frank42 at 04/13/2008 @ 01:35am

15. last week, bill, hillary and barack came to butte. butte! this is nothing short of amazing. i still don't know how this happened. i am still, now, rather shocked.

    first bill came and spoke in the high school gym. then a few days later, barack and hillary gave speeches in the civic center at the mansfield-metcalfe dinner. i got to see them all up close.

    bill was an incredible speaker. when he first got up to speak, he locked into my eyes with a very intense gaze. he would not look away. i was rather taken aback by this. the moment seemed to last forever. i became uncomfortable with this staredown as i hate to look away first in these situations. finally i couldn't take it anymore. it was weird, surreal even. i looked down.

    then i watched him as he did this with everyone. most people reacted with big surprised smiles. they loved this special attention. i watched every calculated movement of his hands and body and eyes. i thought to myself, this is a purely polished machine. how eerie.

    he did not say anything new or different. so i decided to try to make the secret service guy smile. every time he looked at me i flashed a big exaggerated goofy smile at him. his ability to maintain a poker face was quite impressive. but after an hour of taunting him with this smile, he almost cracked. i swear i saw a hint of a smile cross his face.

    i could have stayed to hear the end of the speech and meet bill, even get a photo with him if i wanted. my friends did this. but the kids still had homework and it was late.

    then the mansfield metcalfe dinner came and i was one of the very lucky ones who had a ticket on the floor instead of in the stands. envy came at me from all directions in the days before the dinner.

    when i looked around the stands, all i saw was a bunch of hillary signs. not many for barack. so i was surprised when barack got way more applause. i later found out barack's campaign ran out of signs very early on.

    hillary was the same speaker as bill except even better. she was smooth and polished. leaving, i heard people saying her speech won them over. her speech frightened me. just like bill's did. they feel like automatons to me. barack does not at all feel like an automaton. he feels very real. he had twitches in his face when he spoke. he did things with his hands and eyes and face that humans do. when he held both my hands in both his hands i could feel his energy. it is very good energy. he is real and he is sweet. i crossed over into obama cultist land that night.

    i'm very proud of the butte crowd's reaction to the speeches. the line that drew the biggest applause was when he talked about getting out of iraq. butte is a white, notoriously rough working class town. butte is hurting because of the economy. when both of the candidates spoke of the economy there was lots of applause. but the biggest applause of the night was when obama talked about getting out of iraq. people screamed and jumped to their feet. they starting chanting, "end the war now." i am so proud of butte for that.

    thanks kvh for this article.

    Posted by loveloki at 04/13/2008 @ 01:43am

16. Loveloki,

    Very interesting story. I just happened to attend a recent Hitchens versus Hitchens debate event in Michigan that was also quite fascinating in its own way as well.

    The debate was centered on two larger themes, the justifiability of the Iraq War and the legitimacy of the God idea.

    I had a superb seat in the wrap around balcony that put me just above the stage and gave me a great view of the floor crowd as well.

    The entertaining thrust and parry of the evening had Chris Hitchens defending the Iraq invasion and removal of Saddam, and later, debunking the God idea as deeply dangerous while his brother Peter took the opposing views.

    What made the evening so enjoyable was the feeling of electricity in the crowd that rebuked the war (cheering for Peter), and that sympathized warmly with the eloquent arguments of Christopher against the virus of religion --which all too conspicuously seems to flare up epidemically in tight synchronization with the worst atrocities of human history.

    I told my good friend that attended the event with me that I couldn't help but sense that so much of the energy of the evening was the direct result of repulsion for over seven years of Bush misadventures and misery.

    Obama has thus far been a masterful surfer of that massive wave.

    P.S. I have very fine memories of a trip to SW Montana years ago as a Geology undergrad. I had the great fortune to work on a mapping project for a couple of weeks with one of my professors in the area West of Dillon and East of Twin Bridges if I recall correctly. It was a fantastic time and beautiful country. I remember being in a tiny town bar (Glen?) where I sat at the counter with some locals, and I put some tunes on the jukebox including "The Old Man is Down the Road" by John Fogerty. So now, if I hear that song it fondly reminds me of that time and place.

    Posted by b_kool_66 at 04/13/2008 @ 02:43am

17. I mean, really. That "people are angry" isn't all of what Obama said, Katrina. He said that their religious beliefs and their opinions on illegal immigrants can be attributed to frustrations about their economic lives, implying that these beliefs have no validity in and of themselves. And I wouldn't have any trouble imagining that you'd share that point of view, actually. But lets call such a vision precisely what it is: Elitist, arrogant, condescending. With time, we're coming to learn a bit more about Obama than we'd like to, namely, that with affirmative action, you really can take the ghetto out of an African American. A few years at Harvard Law and in a pew at some Riverside Church look alike and you can turn what otherwise might have been a garden variety Baptist into someone with a hyphenated last name. Believe me, I'm no Hitlery or McCain fan and I wouldn't vote for either, but if Obama is the best that "progressive" America can manage, then you ought to pack it in. You're as utterly clueless as he is.

    Posted by john lowell at 04/13/2008 @ 02:51am

18. Billary behaving similarly to rightwingers?

    Shocking, shocking.

    What else is new?

    Posted by sloper at 04/13/2008 @ 03:10am

19. Posted by John Lowell @ 02:51am

    Whoa, dude.

    Take a seat on the couch. You've got issues.

    Posted by b_kool_66 at 04/13/2008 @ 03:11am

20. Loveloki,

    I found the correct location I was referring to above. Our mapping site was about midway between Melrose and Twin Bridges. The bar I recalled was maybe a couple hundred yards down the road from a little roadside motel in Melrose I think.

    Anyway, its right down the road from Butte. Fond memories.

    Posted by b_kool_66 at 04/13/2008 @ 03:53am

21. One thing's for sure, Obama is using class warfare against himself. Of course, most politicians despise poor (white) people and have nothing but contempt for them in private. But how is it that somebody allegedly as smart as "Professor" O would actually say such a stupid thing in public? Unbderneath the relaxed post-partisan facade, the real O-Man is clearly a liberal elitist snot--even worse, he's too inexperienced or too dumb to hide the fact from all the yokels.

    Posted by feinfein at 04/13/2008 @ 05:08am

22. Add Michiganders to that list of Midwesterners - not Bitter, But Pissed. we barely peeked our heads out of the last recession of the '70's thanks to the Auto, Oil & banking Incs who infiltrated our Public Offices.We have been the Canary in the coalmine for Decades.WE've ahd smoke blown up our asses by Repugs & Dems who have worked hand & hand with these Corrupt industries. These Elitist have 'Smiling Faces' while screwing Us for the Inc's for far too long. We figured out the Con quite some time ago- why do you think our Primary was Rigged to be an Ace up Hillary's sleeve. She did not win this state- it was Stolen for her!These Inc's and their Operatives in Office (al levels) work for the 'Royals' of the UAE, mainly the Saudi's- now they've contracted out our military as Hired hitmen for their Oil rich Land Grab in the ME. We have nothing to fear from Iran (as we did not from Iraq or Afghanistan), But these Inc's agreed to supply the means and slave labor to fight their Business generated Wars. The only reason we 'cling to our Guns & god ' is because they are the only Two rights and Freedoms they have not been able to pry out of our cold Dead hands.

    Posted by Purple girl at 04/13/2008 @ 07:27am

23. it is not just the Clinton campaign. most disappointing are our liberal steadfast democraps who will jump boat if Clinton doesnt get in. they want change from Bush/ Chaney, but no real change to the system. "If you are happy with your current health care plan, then you wont have to change" What type of gutless leadership is that? Look, i find Mrs Clinton better choice than her husband, but they are the PAST. McCain is the PAST. WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD and OBAMA is choice for a new day in the USA.

    Posted by ojai44 at 04/13/2008 @ 07:28am

24. How about this. given a choice between a; dithering old man, a blond pathological liar and an extremely intelligent, but condescending and elitist black man, I'll go with the black guy almost every time, thank you.

    Posted by julien38 at 04/13/2008 @ 07:39am

25. One thing's for sure, Obama is using class warfare against himself. Of course, most politicians despise poor (white) people and have nothing but contempt for them in private. But how is it that somebody allegedly as smart as "Professor" O would actually say such a stupid thing in public? Unbderneath the relaxed post-partisan facade, the real O-Man is clearly a liberal elitist snot--even worse, he's too inexperienced or too dumb to hide the fact from all the yokels.

    ~Feinfein @ 05:08am

    Like a pigsty for a bedroom it's difficult to know where to begin the cleanup.

    I'll try.

    1)One thing's for sure, Obama is using class warfare against himself.

    If one thing is for sure, it is that Obama was speaking to a small audience of donors in San Francisco and apparently attempted to speak to them in what he perceived was their language. That his comments later materialized at the Huffington Post, and were subsequently blasted all over the so-called mainstream media reflects the ever present danger of politics universally --that messages meant for a specific audience can be rebroadcast to another audience to detrimental effect.

    Mr. Obama has admitted that he spoke clumsily --enough said.

    2)Of course, most politicians despise poor (white) people and have nothing but contempt for them in private.

    That phrase is like creating a thumbnail sketch with a paint roller --it speaks volumes about the writer and nothing about his subject.

    3)But how is it that somebody allegedly as smart as "Professor" O would actually say such a stupid thing in public?

    Use of the allegedly is an attempt to patronize the "Professor". It's quite obvious that Barack Obama is not allegedly smart, but in fact highly intelligent, as is Hillary Clinton. What he said was not stupid, but simply too blunt --bluntness that many of us actually find refreshing and reassuring in a politician rather than reprehensible. In any case, it beats outright baldfaced lies about running across runways under sniper fire (for example).

    4)Underneath the relaxed post-partisan facade, the real O-Man is clearly a liberal elitist snot--even worse, he's too inexperienced or too dumb to hide the fact from all the yokels.

    Yeah, clearly. He just oozes "liberal elitist snob".

    The only yokel I detect is the writer who seems to either A) be just another imbecilic poster of the day on The Nation's weblog threads, or B) one of Hillary's multitude of puerile plants who publish pusillanimous pablum in a vain attempt to boost her sadly sagging fortunes.

    Let's cut to the chase, dickweed. Obama is at least an order of magnitude better candidate than Hillary the corporate drone.

    In the final analysis, this country is paralyzed by problems that may be prove to be insurmountable to even the most perfect politician. We are a nation wracked by bureaucratic and institutional dysfunction as best reflected by our rabidly out of control military industrial complex.

    Carping about the clumsy phrasing of obviously accurate statements is just another symptom of a nation that is just one false step away from landing in a pile of pigshit deep enough to smear the smug faces of even the highest flying corporate fatcat.

    -Good day.

    Posted by b_kool_66 at 04/13/2008 @ 07:40am

26. Posted by YUTSANO 04/13/2008 @ 12:35am

    Look for more of this.

    Eventually if Obama wins the nom, and especially if he wins in November....FRANK will start sounding like RIO BRAVO!

    Posted by Mask at 04/13/2008 @ 07:47am

27. Something happen to Obama in PA. He became invigorated by what he saw being done to these people. Remember this is the kind of economic demographic that Obama has spent his life fighting for. Which is why I find this elitist label the dumbest crap ever and it just proves to me that the media needs serious revamping they need to get back to their way of doing things when they actually do research rather than just believe opinion and try to pass it off as facts. If you are going to get behind tagging a label on someone define the label and see if they fit. Elitist? I'm more inclined to believe its the total opposite. Obama tied what is going on in these people's lives to the ECONOMY. They've been let down over and over again by the govermnent who promise them economic revitalization but never delivered. They are frustrated and angry and as a result they blame other people like immigrants and minorities and they develop anti trade sentiments. They cling to religion thats why poverty and religion go together they are trying to find something to get them through their economic devastation. I find it laughable that people are up in arms as if Obama made a brand new conclusion thats never been found before. Umm Nope he hasnt. Then to say he is elitist. NOPE he is the voice for the poor and disenfranchised. If he was elitist he would be blaming them for their situation he is blaming the govermnent economic policies that have drained these communities of a chance to move up the economic ladder. After PA they've been a change in him he's become more passionate and a little angrier at how these communities and people have been left behind. No wonder they are sceptical they dont trust politician to deliver economically so they cling to narrower issues like guns, and religious issues like abortion and gay marriage. They dont have any control over their ecominic lives and this may be one area they can control and politicans particularly republicans manipulate that in order to get their vote.

    I dont live in PA or a small town. I live in NY and my economic sitatuion is stable but I"m ANGRY and BITTER particularly about the war in Iraq so dont tell me that these people who are in worse economic situation are not angry and bitter. Furthermore 81% of the country thinks we are moving in the wrong direction and you dont think there is anger and bitterness in people. Hilary is living in a fantasy but what can you expect when you make 50 million dollars a year.

    Carol

    Posted by harriscrl3 at 04/13/2008 @ 08:24am

28. What has been playing in the media and has been put forward by the Clinton campaign is at best a misinterpretation (at worst, a distortion) of what Senator Obama was saying in California. People are interpreting Obama's comments as saying "People are frustrated and bitter because of the economic hardships they are experiencing and therefore turn to guns and religion" In fact, what he was saying that people turn to VOTING on the issues of guns and religion and faith-based issues because they are angry and frustrated with government over the failure to help them economically. What he was trying to explain was the reason Republicans have been able to attract the small town voters -- because they don't VOTE on economic issues and instead vote on faith, guns, immigration, etc. This becomes even more apparent when you watch Obama's appearance on Charlie Rose in 2004. I think that it is essential for the Obama campaign, and the media, to clarify this distinction.

    Posted by nwagle at 04/13/2008 @ 10:43am

29. How can this trivial stuff be 'news'? Is there nothing that is more worthwhile covering?

    Posted by mikecope at 04/13/2008 @ 11:03am

30. Ok the repubs and the Clintons are speaking to very elite that they're criticizing Barack of being. They're saying people don't 'cling' to those things that are traditional when they're down-- that people 'enjoy' and 'proud' of their traditions not belittledly 'clinging'... When in actuality those that are 'enjoying' their 'prideful' traditions rather than seeking 'comfort' from them, (religion, hunting, etc.) -- are the very elitist that aren't hurting. I do believe that Barack can use this to expose the far right and the Billary for what they are-- corporate elitist cronies.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 04/13/2008 @ 11:29am

31. er, ...are speaking to 'the' very elite that...

    Posted by hsuBfools at 04/13/2008 @ 11:32am

32. Posted by ZERO 04/13/2008

    Zero, I am never bothered by Frank - the ignore button took care of him ages ago.

    Posted by mikecope at 04/13/2008 @ 11:41am

33. Posted by JOMAMMA 04/13/2008 @ 12:06am

    Well said. The belief that the government in fact is entitled to the fruits of our labor is most strongly held by two groups. One group sells the idea that the poor are poor because the rich are rich, the other buys it. The former are politicians who promise government program after program (Got a problem? You need a program) and the latter in the dependent class (You owe me!)

    Posted by Next Door at 04/13/2008 @ 11:46am

34. The problem is eradicating the 1/1000th who think the poor deserve to be poor (haven't kept pace with the rapacious greed and avarice of republican doctrine). I.E. If you're a sociopathic neocon you shouldn't have to share your ill-gotten filthy lucre. That's the slogan of tyranical pigs, evident in some of these comments. The solution is to launch the super-rich off toward their tax shelter islands on rapidly melting ice flows. One way or another the exploitation freaks must die.

    Posted by Tim Hollis at 04/13/2008 @ 11:57am

35. Billary and the new con repubs seizing on the word 'bitter' reminds me of ‘Beavis and Butthead' going to town every time someone says 'depends'... And should be seen as such. Those here also seizing on the term are just as intelligent and hoping to inspire those on the same level. I am 'hoping' that those of the very same ilk haven't damaged our educational system to the point that they increased their minions of stupidity to the point it matters a great deal as evolution, another term they tend to wince from, will solve this problem before they have their chance to enrapture the entire world in their own extinction.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 04/13/2008 @ 12:23pm

36. I hope when Hillary becomes President she will be able to put the country on the sound financial footing that Bill left it.---Posted by FRANKGRITS 04/13/2008 @ 12:07pm

    But if she CAN'T become President (aka not win the Dem nomination)...

    FRANK's concern for the financial footing of the country EVAPORATES...and he votes for McCain who wants to make the Bush tax cuts permanent.

    Again...he's a liar.

    Posted by Mask at 04/13/2008 @ 1:00pm

37. the true American Hero

    Posted by FRANKGRITS 04/13/2008 @ 10:48am

    mccain?

    hahaha....

    Posted by frosty zoom at 04/13/2008 @ 1:17pm

38. OBAMA HAS SECRET PLANS TO TURN THE WHITE HOUSE INTO A PIMP'N'HO CRACK HOUSE!!!!

    Posted by frosty zoom at 04/13/2008 @ 1:28pm

39. Some people simply resist education.

    Posted by FRANKGRITS 04/13/2008 @ 12:03pm

    the nile is the longest river in africa........

    Posted by frosty zoom at 04/13/2008 @ 1:31pm

40. Posted by JOMAMMA 04/13/2008 @ 1:27pm

    attacking vietnam has benefited me?

    Posted by frosty zoom at 04/13/2008 @ 1:32pm

41. Most work hard, provide jobs and taxes for others..but filthy?

    Posted by JOMAMMA

    jobs for whom? slaves in china or in vietnam?

    taxes? hahahaha......

    Posted by frosty zoom at 04/13/2008 @ 1:33pm

42. You are correct here, but it is THEIR own mismanagement, not the govt or "rich people."

    Posted by JOMAMMA

    ever been hungry for a week? a month?

    Posted by frosty zoom at 04/13/2008 @ 1:34pm

43. Posted by MASK 04/13/2008 @ 1:00pm

    clinton's seltzer economy.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 04/13/2008 @ 1:45pm

44. that I see no concievable way that Obama gets to the WH so any discussion of what his economic policy for me is a moot point. I think that John McCain on the other hand will have a hard time forwarding any of Bush's policies while at the same time serving with a democratic Congress.

    You're simply projecting your own racism. If you don't think Obama can win the White House, it's because you're overindulging your paranoid rant about how Republicans are somehow gaming the Democratic primaries so they can face Obama. Incidentally, it will be far easier for the Bush tax cuts to not be made permanent if there isn't a President who supports them.

    Posted by brunowe at 04/13/2008 @ 1:50pm

45. sure thing, john.

    china's about to be buried under the garbage our inflation hiding greed is creating.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 04/13/2008 @ 1:56pm

46. I am quite bitter as an American citizen that has had his pay check eroded to the point of no return. I have had it with the tax cuts for the wealthy and the corporations that supposedly supply us with good paying jobs. Obama is correct in what he says, we are bitter and disenfranchised about our American dream being flushed down the toilet with these Free Trade Agreements and and corporate greed.As progressive democrat Obama in my eyes is not an elitist at all he is an intelligent and forthright person who wants right the wrongs of Bushco and his compatriots and is not running to be the first women president like Hillary or become another WARMONGER like McCain, I don`t look at him and see him running as the first black president either. Given time he will get the U.S. out of Iraq and Afgahnistan and will get us back on track.

    Posted by ams@50 at 04/13/2008 @ 2:03pm

47. Posted by FRANKGRITS 04/13/2008 @ 1:12pm

    Again, you don't care about policy....Obama would do just as valid a job as Hillary for "putting the country on the sound financial footing" as Hillary.

    And McCain is promising to make the tax cuts permanent.

    But he'll run against the "Usurper" (Obama) and that's ALL you care about now.

    Posted by Mask at 04/13/2008 @ 2:10pm

48. Posted by FROSTY ZOOM 04/13/2008 @ 1:45pm

    FZ, ignore anything "progressive" FRANK says about policy....he doesn't care and he's lying.

    McCain can promise to do the EXACT OPPOSITE of what FG "says" he believes in...and he'll vote for him.

    It's about "Her" and "avenging" her by opposing the "Usurper"!

    Posted by Mask at 04/13/2008 @ 2:13pm

49. Okay; yeah, he's right. We are angry or frustrated or disappointed.. BUT, to say that we angry "small town folk" have turned to "guns and religion" was extremely condescending. I know he feels he has it in the bag, but, it ain't over til it's over. He continued on to state that "his" pledge delegates can't be lost now, so I suppose he felt comfortable in showing his true colors. And it was NOT pretty!

    Posted by AnneB at 04/13/2008 @ 2:19pm

50. Katrina, All I really want to know is this: How many struggling middle class people do you really know? You and Obama are as out of touch with our lives as President Bush. You're just looking at us from different directions. You are patronizing and demeaning while Bush is oblivious.

    Posted by pffxv at 04/13/2008 @ 2:42pm

51. Hillary believes in all of "US", including those of us in small towns. Obama is an elitist jerk. How can Americans even give him a glance? Go Hillary and the rest of "US" left to vote, "we can do this together". I feel the small towns and big towns too, rising to the support of the American President who represents us all. Now, that has finally become obvious to us all- Obama "we in small towns are bitter"!!! Get a life and go back to your rookie senate position & leave America to Hillary. She is being outspent by at least three to one. Remember, the money for Obama's campaign didn't all come from small donors as he tries to make us think. Instead, at least half of his 230 million plus dollars has come from rich multimillionaires and 27,000 plus maximum amount $2300.00 donors. Ergo, his elistist comments and beliefs stated in San Francisco are shining through. Now these "bitter" comments bring [W]right up again too, and correctly so, I think! Why does everything Obama wrongly says that clearly shows how he really stands gets spun around as we, the electorate, are taking it out of contest or he's sorry but...? Hillary has the only "shot" now for Democrats in November. She really identifies with and cares about what happens to the ones of "US" left who are barely surviving here in the middle and lower class. She, of course, is rich but, she can still identify with we the "working class Americans. Obama, clearly cannot. Hillary will win in November against McCain or more of the same McBushIII. Obama cannot win, particularly now. Sure looks like to me that Obama is showing himself for the far left latte drinker that he has been since the start. Remember, divide and conquer in Europe by taking advantage of the youth and minority races? Starting to rack them up and the republicans will have a field day in November i.e. monster, NAFTAgate, his real plans for his Irag withdrawal revealed, small town slam and oh yeah, [W]right!!!! Obama's latest truly revealing small small town slam calling "US" bitter, etc., finally shows him for the elitist rat that he has been from the start and has managed to hide thus far. Wake up America! He doesn't care a thing about promoting anybody but himself. We need Hillary Clinton. We can still save the nominating process and the Democratic Party, if we do the right thing in the primaries left to come. Let's not let the rest of America down. Decisive wins for Hillary in all remaining primaries will put Obama back in his rightful place- a rookie senator. We can still do this and I know the rest of "US" is counting on us. One last thing, where are the ranting raves by the MSM on this issue and why aren't they running this over and over and over again? He will lose the nomination because he is finally identified as the inferior candidate. We have to beat McCain in the fall Americans. Vote Hillary for a victory for the Democrats in November, otherwise we're doomed. PA, you can do it, bring her on to the rest of "US" and save the Presidency for the Democrats. Vote Hillary! Thank you from KY.

    Posted by moblou at 04/13/2008 @ 2:44pm

52. "Why did Hillary jump on it"? Well, b/c her campaign manufactured the controversy in the first place. I mean, look at who reported it. And then there's those reports of stickers ready to go at a Clinton campaign rally *the very next day* that said "I'm not bitter." Coinkidink? I think not.

    Posted by kfd313 at 04/13/2008 @ 3:34pm

53. Frank,

    Anyone who reads the Nation seriously is not going to vote Republican, no matter who the Democratic nominee is or who it endorses. If you;ve read the Nation seriously, you'd know that it is more in line with Obama than Hilary anyways--especially now that she's sharing talking points with John McSame. To state otherwise makes you look uninformed.

    Posted by RPCVlawson at 04/13/2008 @ 3:59pm

54. Posted by HAPPY2 04/13/2008 @ 3:35pm

    HAPP, of COURSE, you don't care about the deficit. We know that and we know you're more than HAPPY to keep piling it on for your grandkids to pay off.

    Posted by Mask at 04/13/2008 @ 4:08pm

55. Posted by LVLIBERTY1 04/13/2008 @ 3:45pm

    And yet as angry as he is and as much as McCain will "sell you out" as well...still got to vote for McCain, right, LVLIB?

    So, ultimately, you're as pragmatic as the Left about your politicians.

    Posted by Mask at 04/13/2008 @ 4:09pm

56. Posted by LVLIBERTY1 04/13/2008 @ 3:45pm | ignore this person

    You are angry that your delusional take isn't shared by more people.

    You are angry that fewer and fewer people are drinking the Kool-Aid regarding Iraq being anything other than a quagmire.

    You are angry that people see that it is the right wing that has done the dividing...from the race-baiting that constituted its southern strategy to the claims of victiminzation to the culture-war wants of the religious right.

    You are angry that when you try to pass off creationism as science, to discriminate against homosexuals on the basis of your religious beliefs, that people see the same type of narrow zealotry inherent in jihadis.

    You are angry that programs such as the New Deal and the Great Society aren't regarded as Marxist by anyone who has the foggiest idea what the term means.

    And no, you don't love the Constitution, you love your self-serving fiction of what you'd like it to be.

    Posted by brunowe at 04/13/2008 @ 4:12pm

57. Obama is ignorant and should be ashamed of himself. Here he goes again ... and now trying to backpetrack!

    Shame on you Obama!

    Posted by Iraq_Vet at 04/13/2008 @ 4:16pm

58. What's so cyncial about the Right pointing out that a wealthy Ivy League educated lawyer clearly is out-of-touch with some of the working classes? He a product of a sheltered Chicago lifestyle has shown he is arrogant, aloof and ignorant of the virtues of small town & rural America as well as informed of some of their deficiencies.

    After all, approximately 25% of Americans choose to live in small town & rural enviroments. Plainly, those lifestyles have attractions for many people regardless people trapped in unnatural urban environments may not appreciate those attractions.

    Man or something close to modern man has been on this earth for upwards of a million and a quarter years, but some of his numbers have chosen to live in the hivelike environment of cities for fewer than 10,000 of those million and a quarter years.

    Contrary to the conventional wisdom that towns began as trading centers, the latest theory is they began as products of goverrnment; the power elites packed their inferiors in close quarters because that way it was easier to keep an eye on them & to keep them in line.

    Granted, it is a bit cyncial & hypocritical of Hillary to make the same point as the Right that Obama's an aloof elitist, because she also is an aloof wealthy lawyer & elitiest. Could it be something to do with the fact she's a parasite who's lived most of her life on the government's, that is to say on the taxpayer's, dole? Until recently, neither of the Clintons had in their adult lives lived in anything other than government provided housing. It's no wonder they're big fans of big gov't.

    Posted by Banshee5 at 04/13/2008 @ 4:25pm

59. Did Obama really say, "...what we need is a government that is actually paying attention...fighting for working people day in and day out...?"

    Nonsense! Contrary to Obama's Stalinist vision Ronald Reagan had it correct when he said that "the ten most terrifying words in the English language are "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you."

    Posted by Banshee5 at 04/13/2008 @ 4:35pm

60. Obama needs to drop out now! he has proven he cannot win in general election. I've firmly changed my vote to Clinton! and urge ALL dems to do the same!

    Posted by rozz62 at 04/13/2008 @ 4:38pm

61. OBAMA LIES AGAIN AND MAINSTREAM MEDIA LIKE CNN HIDES IT! VOTERS RE SICK OF THE MEDIA EXCUSING OBAMA NO MATTER WHO HE OFFENDS!!!!

    Sen. Obama referres to himself as 'a constitutional law professor on the campaign trail. TRUTH: He never held any such title! Obama changed website bio to reflect that he was a 'lecturer' rather than 'professor. Chicago Daily Herald

    Obama gets 4 Pinocchio's for 100 Years War-Wondered why the national media won't call out Obama for his serial distortions on McCain's Iraq comments, the Globe tried to help Obama rationalize it. Michael Dobbs scolded Obama in today's Fact Checker

    MSNBC-OBAMA: ANOTHER SUPER, EXAGGERATION Washington Post caught Obama in a lie about the Kennedy family role. The WashigntonPost Fact Check- Senator Obama CAUGHT LYING about Kennedy Role in Helping His Father Contrary to Obama's claims in speeches Kennedy family did not provide the funding for a September 1959 airlift of 81 Kenyan students to the United States that included Obama's father. According to historical records and interviews with participants, the Kennedys were approached for support for the program a year later, July 1960. family responded with a $100,000 donation, which went to pay for a second airlift in September 1960.

    Judicial Watch: By Klaus Marre-Obama ‘intended to leave no paper trail' OBAMA REFUSES to cooperate in releasing 8 years of his state senate records. One main reason REZKO!

    Politico reports, "During his first run for elected office, Barack Obama played a greater role than he acknowledges in crafting liberal stands on gun control, the death penalty and abortion– positions that appear at odds with the more moderate image he's projected during his presidential campaign. The evidence comes from an amended version of an Illinois voter group's detailed questionnaire, filed under his name during his bid for a state Senate. In response to a Politico story, Obama's answers he never saw questioaire?

    NBC- Aswini Anburajan OBAMA LIES IN PENNSYLVANIA AD It's unfortunate that Senator Obama is using false advertising to explain why he can be trusted to do something about energy prices. In his ad, Obama says, I'm Barack Obama, and I don't take money from oil companies or lobbyists, and I won't let them block change any more. Obama has been the recipient of more than $220,000 from the oil and gas industry just since as of Feb/08. Two of Obama's campaign bundlers are also CEOs for oil and gas companies, per his campaign Web site? Obama needs to answer to VOTERS about his dealings with one of his largest contributors Exelon, a big nuclear power company that he cut deals behind closed doors protecting them from full disclosure in the nuclear industry. Exxon, Shell, and others are among his biggest donors

    Obamas record shows he infact did support the war when he got to the senate, voted twice against bringing America's troops back home. He voted for war appropriations giving our money to Halliburton and Blackwater where Texas woman, was gang-raped by her co-workers at a Halliburton/KBR camp in Baghdad, His latest bit of posturing S 433 allows the Bush Administration to suspend any troop withdrawal, if not suspended, keeps the troops in Iraq for a long time to come

    Obama said he goofed on votes angered fellow Democrats in the Senate when he voted to strip millions of dollars from a child welfare office on Chicago's West Side. But Obama had a ready explanation: He goofed! Also announced he had fumbled an election-reform vote the day before, on a measure that passed 51 to 6. The next day, he acknowledged voting "present" on a key telecommunications vote. He stood on March 11, 1999, to take back his vote against legislation to end good-behavior credits for certain felons in county jails. "I pressed the wrong button on that," he said. Obama was the lone dissenter on Feb. 24, 2000, against 57 yeas for a ban on human cloning. "I pressed the wrong button by accident," he said. But two of Obama's bumbles came on more-sensitive topics, he backed legislation to permit riverboat casinos to operate even when the boats were dockside. The measure, pushed by the gambling industry and fought by church groups whose support Obama was seeking, passed with two "yeas" to spare -- including Obama's. Moments after its passage he rose to say, explaining that he had mistakenly voted for it.

    Obama would later develop a reputation as a critic of the gambling industry, and he voted against a similar measure two years later. But he was clearly confused about how to handle the issue at the time of his first vote, telling a church group that he was "undecided" about whether he backed an expansion of riverboat gambling. And, months earlier, he had voted in favor of a version of the bill.

    Posted by rozz62 at 04/13/2008 @ 4:47pm

62. Remarkably, the same people who are bitter about the disastrous state of the nation are the ones who will elect McCain to continue the disastrous policies of Bush and Cheney.

    Obama, who ranked first at Harvard, is a threat to the embittered small-town folks who retreat into guns and church to forget their mortgage.

    McCain, who ranked near the very bottom at the Naval Academy and whose beliefs are much more prominent that his knowledge is irresistible to the average Joe. It is the average Joe who decides who runs the country.

    Posted by Goethe at 04/13/2008 @ 4:48pm

63. The more the repubs and Billary tear Obama down the more Al Gore will come into the picture. Along with Obama, Al can/will rip the new con repubs another hole. And the country will be totally behind Gore/Obama doing so to the new con corporate McCave/Billary losers.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 04/13/2008 @ 4:54pm

64. I'm a college student leaning democratic (barely at this point) in the upcoming election.

    I think the author is correct in that many voters are bitter, but largely missed the point about why Obama's comments were offensive. He focuses on the word "bitter", and never mentions the word "cling"

    What I found offensive is exactly the point the author is trying to make. Basically "People turn to their friends, families, and cherished traditions/institutions when the federal government is ineffective"

    Since when was that bad? The inverse would read "With an attentive and active federal government, people will not need/depend their friends, families, or traditions any more"

    This may be true, and if this is the position Obama 'attempted' to make with his "cling to XYZ" remark then so be it, but to me this is not a compelling vision of America or what I want for our future.

    Posted by benmunda at 04/13/2008 @ 4:55pm

65. Well maybe 'obsess' is a more oppropriate word to that of 'cling'?

    Posted by hsuBfools at 04/13/2008 @ 4:57pm

66. I read more than post here, but I'm learning to use the ignore button too. As an Obama supporter I think this may turn out to be the best thing that could have happened for him going into Pa. Katrina is right that you don't have to be poor or living in a small town in Pa. to know Obama is right and to feel angry and distrust government, but I think it will resonate with them and help them see that O is on their side and Hills isn't. That she went after this the way she did speaks volumes. How she thinks she can pull it off, especially in this week's debate, is a mystery. The Clintons made nearly 110 million in eight years, she's had a security detail for the past twenty, and she's calling someone, anyone, elitist? Republicans are salivating to get her as the nominee now, that's obvious.

    Posted by mij at 04/13/2008 @ 5:01pm

67. Katrina, your're just silly to compare Hillary's attack on Obama as if she's a right-wing stalking horse. First of all, wake up and look at your candidate, look at the inner man he revealed by his comments. He is not going to connect with white working class voters no matter how hard he tries, because he looks down on them, and he doesn't even know he does. Obama is no FDR and not even a JFK (which would hardly be a compliment, frankly). Outside of his rock-star type rallies, he's an uneven politician at best.

    Hillary is hitting him hard because this is the way politics works. When you say something stupid--and he did say something stupid--you're going to get hit for it.

    At some point, it may dawn on some of the liberals like yourself that support this guy that he has run a misogynistic campaign, that he's the one who played the race card (see Sean Wilentz's piece the The Atlantic). If he's nominated, he'll be demolished in November.

    Posted by dgutting at 04/13/2008 @ 5:06pm

68. Nonsense! Contrary to Obama's Stalinist vision Ronald Reagan had it correct when he said that "the ten most terrifying words in the English language are "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you."

    Posted by BANSHEE5 04/13/2008 @ 4:35pm | ignore this person

    try this for some real fright:

    "I'm from the private sector and I'm here to help you."

    Posted by emile duBois at 04/13/2008 @ 5:14pm

69. People are angry, sure. But the way Obama was making his point was not in a empathetic way but more disdainful. Everyone knows why the poor and out of work are angry. This is nothing new. Hillary has been talking about this forever. It was his depiction of the people he puts into this pool and his characterization of them. They may be angry, but this is not why they don't want to vote for him. He is not relating to them because he is elitist and smug.He can't relate to someone who enjoys hunting and living a life that is more simple. They want to have their guns because they enjoy it. They want to have religion because they live it. They may have antipathy toward others, but most everyone does for one reason or another. It's human nature. He is now stating the obvious that people are angry, but he is not the one to pull them out of their anger. He feels if he can't get through to them it can't be that they don't like him it must be something else. He is smug and listened to Rev. Wright for too many years. He has been through the corrupt Chicago political scenery and has been given lots of money from large corporations who want him in office. Don't think he really understands or cares for the "lower class". He is angry and his wife is angry and it's scary to think of him and his cronies who got him where he is in the White House. He said exactly what he feels.

    Posted by adastra05 at 04/13/2008 @ 5:14pm

70. I see Obama in the 'White House' as president or vp. Not Billary.

    The idea both the far right new con corporate cronies and racists fear for some reason...

    Posted by hsuBfools at 04/13/2008 @ 5:32pm

71. Katrina you are so way off here it's not even funny. The way that the Nation has stood by Obama 100 percent no matter what he's done or said has driven me away from your mag. How can you defend his quote when he himself admitted it was a mistake? The right wing attack machine has every right to go after him on this one- he just slapped every person of faith in America in the face. Wake up.

    Posted by badtimmay at 04/13/2008 @ 5:49pm

72. I don't see Obama getting to the WH because I've done the analyzation and the math. If it were another republican besides McCain, maybe. But there is just no way, after you look at the demographics and the records that Obama can win. Hillary on the other hand will have a fighting chance.

    Please, you've made stuff up about the chances of the candidate you've referred to as "mulatto" and "boy". You've made up the idea that the head-to-head polls are somehow being games. You've cavalierly dismissed the youth vote as hip-hoppers. Please don't try to pass that off as analysis (btw, "analyzation" isn't even a word).

    Posted by brunowe at 04/13/2008 @ 5:50pm

73. America is bitter. Millions just want a job. Obama is correct. The Clintins take 100 million and don't even give a detail of it. No one crys foul. Wall Street has financially raped America with their excessive pay, unrestricted stock options and sending jobs overseas. Investors with one million of assets to invest control 50 trillion dollars expected to grow to 75 trillion in 5 years. This is the worse type of greed because it was stolen from those who just barely make ends meet. Wall Street has bought are politicians. and the conservative talk show hosts want to keep the status quo as long as they can. If you are not for Obama, you are a closet racist or Jewish or super rich who wants to keep the status quo to further enrich themselves at Americas expense by not relinquishing power. Unfortunately, I will not live to see the day when the streets are burning and our building are reduced to rubble burying the ashes of those that have stolen from the america people for good.

    Posted by jimmydee at 04/13/2008 @ 6:12pm

74. Katrina, what Obama said is that people in small-town Pennsylvannia "cling" to guns or religion or become prejudiced because they are "bitter" due to economic hardship. Evidently, a false and prejudicial cause-effect proposition!

    Please ask yourself, Do people own guns or are religious or become prejudiced because they are "bitter" when facing economic hardship? (I hope your answer is "no")

    You may say, well.. he didn't really mean that. So, I would reply, Obama is very educated and extremelly articulate. He made a political gaffe (that's when a politician tells what he/she really means.) Now, he and his campaign are just doing damage control.

    Voters who are not Obama fans will not give him pass here! And, you can be absolutely certain the GOP will not give him a pass on this one or any other skeletons coming out of Obama's closet that are bound to surface if he becomes the Dems nominee.

    Katrina, I know you are a faithful Obama fan. I know you mean well. But, let's be realistic... Obama has no chance against McCain in November. If you want change (from Bush II), it will have to be Hillary. If Obama is the nominee, we'll get Bush III.

    Posted by Eusebius at 04/13/2008 @ 6:15pm

75. As a person who no doubt has been subjected to stereotypes, Obama stereotyped ordinary people. Lets deal with some stereotypes. My early childhood was spent in the segregated South, and, even as a child I felt something was wrong with it. When my family moved to California, I soon found out what was wrong with it in the 6th grade. I have been into Civil rights since that time. One of the first classes took in college was a course in Black History. The instructor was white, but had been involved in Civil Right activities. One time he made a comment that implied Red Necks were too lazy to work. I ask him how do you think they got a red neck if they are so lazy? He recognized that he was reflecting a stereotypical viewpoint about a broad class of people who worked very hard. Lets look at another stereotype! I am from the South, but I am a city boy. I lived in Mobile and New Orleans. I have lived most of my life in Southern California. I went to L.A. city schools, Los Angeles Community College, Cal-State Univ. Los Angeles, and U.S.C. I worked for L.A. County as a Librarian for 23 years. I am big on affirmative action and the Bill of Right is the holy Grail. I have not made a lot of money, but enough to be called Middle Classed. I have also been called a Liberal, and I am definitely a Progressive. I have no reason personally to be bitter! But, Like those people in Pennsylvania I am bitter and very angry about what is happening to this country. I don't hunt, fish, carry a gun, and find religion too violent for my taste, but I agree with them on trade issues. I regard anyone who supports Free Trade" as an Idiot or in the pay of Multinational Corporations. The biggest slip Obama made was the implication that their approach to trade policy betrayed their ignorance. His stereotypical remarks only reflected his own ignorance.

    Posted by P. J. Casey at 04/13/2008 @ 6:33pm

76. I don't think she gives two hoots about November. She is so intent on being the nominee that she is willing to make even her own candidacy worthless if she finally gets it.

    Posted by midnight04 at 04/13/2008 @ 6:56pm

77. Yes, some people have lost their jobs, are facing hard economic time and they are angry, upset at the government because they feel not enough is being done to help them. No one has an issue with that. I lost my own job due to outsourcing so I understand the anger. The question is....What in heck does feeling angry have to do with guns and religion? I don't even understand what Obama was trying to say.

    I really don't. Like if you have a good job with a good income, you won't feel the need to cling to religion or guns? Or that because these people feel that no one listens to them and their feelings/vote have no impact on the economic matters, they will vote for candidates who are against gun control or against abortion because by God, that vote does matter. Or was he saying that politicians try to trick these people in voting on issues involving guns and religion because these people are dim-witted and easily manipulated?

    If someone can explain what he was trying to say, I'd be most appreciative.

    Posted by Rune at 04/13/2008 @ 7:01pm

78. Obama did say a sentence that may well lose him the nomination, if not the election, because of the doubtless 24/7/365 condescending "explanation" to us by the talking heads of how condescending and elitist the statement was. And yes it did come out that way. It sounded like he was too tired to give the nuanced and subtle statement that he no doubt would have been raked over the coals for as well for talking over the rubes' heads. What he said, as I read it, is not untrue, but he did say it awkwardly: People in rural areas are frustrated at the way their predicament doesn't get any better when they vote as they habitually have. (The subtle explanation is that the Republican Party, which used to be about lower taxes, smaller government, fiscal responsibility, etc. turns out to borrow and spend more money than every Democratic administration in history put together, conducts endless aggressive war, cuts taxes on the top .01% at the Federal level, passing on all the costs to the State and Local governments for a net tax increase for everybody else, etc. etc. etc.) Because of the frustration, they look for a scapegoat; if it isn't those goddamned fags that are ruining America, or the promiscuous brown people using abortion as birth control, it's the welfare mothers in Cadillacs, or the Liberal gun-control freaks who want to take away my 2nd amendment rights...They miss the point entirely that the rest of their rights are being taken away from them from the very people they voted for to protect them. So Obama implied they're too fucking stupid to vote for their own best interest because they're blinded by religion. I haven't heard anything closer to the unvarnished truth since the movie Bulworth, with Warren Beatty. But, again - you can't say anything bad about religion (except Islam) or you're done.

    Posted by lenzorizzo at 04/13/2008 @ 7:02pm

79. Many of those bitter white working class folks have voted Republican in large numbers since Nixon made the south and race the focus of the strategy to revive their party. The Republicans benefited from legitimate white working class anger by linking to their "culture" and lifestyle preferences. They've argued that the Dems haven't delivered is because they care more about black people (welfare queens and Willie Horton) than they do about religion and guns. That they care more about gay people and the arts than about marraige and the 4th amendment (culture wars and gay bashing). And it has worked well enough to win most of the presidential elections since the 1970s. It isn't God or guns that the bitter cling to. It is Republicans and cynicism! (Of course, many of these bitter folks don't vote at all.) Perhaps the greatest irony of this situation is that Clinton is trying to take advantage of it. Clinton One adopted much of the Republican playbook as his own, triangulating and shifting right to "end welfare as we know it", balance the budget, get tough on crime, etc. His administration promised much to the white working class and delivered relatively little. Its mediocre record set the table for Bush Two, enabled W to position himself as a champion of the white working class, defeat Clinton's VP, and then the "elitist" Kerry.

    Posted by nickbarkin at 04/13/2008 @ 7:02pm

80. Richard Nixon used to call this the 'silent majority'.

    Posted by FRANKGRITS 04/13/2008 @ 6:49pm

    Hillary=Nixon? Okay, FRANK, whatever you say!

    heheh

    Posted by Mask at 04/13/2008 @ 7:18pm

81. Lenzorizzo said:

    So Obama implied they're too fucking stupid to vote for their own best interest because they're blinded by religion. I haven't heard anything closer to the unvarnished truth since the movie Bulworth, with Warren Beatty. But, again - you can't say anything bad about religion (except Islam) or you're done.

    LOL, talk about an elitist attitude;-) I tend to agree with you, but it's (as you said) a hell of a self-destructive thing to say to a demographic when you're trying to get their vote.

    Posted by Rune at 04/13/2008 @ 7:28pm

82. FRANKGRITS, your mentality is reflective of why I could never vote for someone like Hillary.

    Posted by Dessalines at 04/13/2008 @ 7:46pm

83. Here's the long term problem with Team HRC's response to the "bitter" comment. It implies that an insufficient people feel they've been "jobbed" by the current economic rules of the game, and in fact they can bear even more of the inequality that results from the current and very few winners gaming the system.

    Let's just hope HRC doesn't have to go into alcohol rehab as she attempts to prove she is not an "elitist."

    Posted by Egalitare at 04/13/2008 @ 7:55pm

84. Obama is right that many people are unhappy, but it has nothing to do with guns or religion. He made it sound as if people were anti-gun atheists until they losts their jobs, and then they suddenly got religion and signed up for the NRA. Or was he saying that if they got good jobs they would become atheists and give up their guns? I'm not sure. Either way, it's a daffy thing to say. How about just say they're unhappy and leave it at that?

    There seems to be a strange disconnect with Obama. Most of my Jewish friends have turned against him in the past few weeks. Not because they think he is anti-Semetic, but because they don't buy the all the after-the-fact explanantions about Wright and, particularly, Farrahkan. How can you continue to belong to a church that gives an award to a man who calls Judaism "a gutter religion" and refers to Jews as "bloodsuckers"? If my Church gave an award to a man who preached hatred against Jews (or any other group), I'd be out of there in a heartbeat. I voted for Obama in the California primary. I doubt that I will vote for him in November.

    Posted by tomdavis at 04/13/2008 @ 8:05pm

85. Nixon's looking awfully good in retrospect (at least to those who can put our blinders aside, for a bit). On the other hand, for those of you who loved McGovern, you now have Obama.----Posted by EULER 04/13/2008 @ 7:31pm

    Gee, ANOTHER Hillary fan comparing her to Richard Nixon?

    Okay, EULER...whatever you say!

    heheh

    Posted by Mask at 04/13/2008 @ 8:10pm

86. 4. It doesn't make me angry about the supposed lack of recognition on the Marxist programs in this country like SS and Medicare.-----Posted by LVLIBERTY1 04/13/2008 @ 7:58pm

    BTW, LVLIB, can we assume that though you TALK big about SS and Medicare, when the time comes....you'll take the check and use the system?

    Posted by Mask at 04/13/2008 @ 8:11pm

87. Panama

    Posted by LVLIBERTY1 04/13/2008 @ 7:58pm

    hahahaha.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 04/13/2008 @ 8:27pm

88. Doesn't anyone else find it completely ironic that a woman who's husband made $109 million since he left the WHITE HOUSE and a man who's entire political career was bankrolled by the trophy beer heiress wife he divorced his first wife for are calling a man who's father herded goats an elitist?

    Posted by kevana at 04/13/2008 @ 8:29pm

89. Posted by LVLIBERTY1 04/13/2008 @ 7:58pm

    it's funny how people "here" talk about people "there" as being so horribly backwards.

    they forget that the nations of this continent were founded on genocide and that 150 years ago many people "here" lived in slavery.

    humans are so very forgetful.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 04/13/2008 @ 8:31pm

90. What trumps: prejudice or pocketbook? Joe Lunchbucket faces a choice, and needs to wake up -- soon. Sure, Barack Obama is a liberal and a member of the nation's elite. Duh!! But the great majority of our presidents have come from backgrounds of privilege. Obama has not. His elitism is intellectual, not inherited. Should he learn how to address the jury instead of maladroitly philosophizing about it behind its back? Certainly. But these are givens, and hardly get to the point.

    The question is whether the lower middle class has enough brains left after all the media manipulation to find its own wallet. Bush has ruined the country, and McCain is his disciple. So how can Obama and McCain be tied in the polls? Obama cannot be tied to our unfolding national tragedy. It's axiomatic that his road to the White House should be all downhill. Remember that the same thing happened with Kerry and Bush. In their infinite obtuseness, our blessed citizens rejected the elite Kerry in favor of a far greater elitist who was preferred simply because he couldn't put one syllable next to another. And so we got the worst president in American history. Update to 2008/9. Can we do it again? Can we be that retarded? As a nation we are well on our way to refuting democracy as a viable political form.

    If people will prefer to base their most important decision on image and spin rather than be guided by their own advantage, we are in a bad way and not likely to recover. Yes, McCain stands for recession, war, poverty, outsourcing, free trade, mortgage meltdown, stock market collapse and a host of minor ills, but wait! Obama is a "liberal"!! So let's embrace our doom and continue the great traditions of George Bush. If you like 2008, you'll LOVE 2010!

    Posted by sokrates at 04/13/2008 @ 8:33pm

91. Randy Rhodes was right. Hillary Clinton represents the very worst type of political opportunist. Obama's comments on the bitterness of the white working class were right on point, and Clinton's pandering is disgusting. My suspicion is she want to torpedo Obama's candidacy in the general election, priming herself for the next election. I have never voted for a Democrat before (always supporing third party candidacies) but I am enthused about Obama. If by chance he does not win the primary, I can once again return to Ralph Nader.

    Posted by dblake at 04/13/2008 @ 8:44pm

92. Posted by EULER 04/13/2008 @ 8:15pm

    Again, EULER, you want to compare Hillary to an "incompetent crook".....okey-doke.

    heheh

    Posted by Mask at 04/13/2008 @ 9:04pm

93. Posted by FRANKGRITS 04/13/2008 @ 8:35pm

    Which one was brought up a Republican and supported a Republican for President in 1964? And which ones weren't?

    (Hope it don't hurt you none to answer...heheh)

    Posted by Mask at 04/13/2008 @ 9:07pm

94. I'm pretty sure you must be black man with a chip on his shoulder a mile wide. No white person will have taken offense to my former comments and their explanations and put them out of context as often as you and dillweed do and we all know where he's coming from. So please give it a rest. You're coming across and unbalanced.

    Posted by FRANKGRITS 04/13/2008 @ 6:04pm | ignore this person

    That's about as likely as MASK being a Nation employee. Given your obvious paranoid, you really shouldn't be raising the question of who comes across as imbalanced. You should probably avoid the "angry black man" stereotype too.

    Posted by brunowe at 04/13/2008 @ 9:28pm

95. Much of this can be attributed to the "instant society" we now live in and past efforts like Gulf War 1 during Bush SR, Panama, and Kosovo.

    And much of this can be attributed to the fact that it was the neocons who promised a quick and easy process in Iraq. And much of it can be attributed to the fact that Bush et al. lied about WMD and al-Qaida links.

    2. Your second paragraph is just leftist ranting. There has been so much more twisting and culture war effort by the left, than any group on the right has engaged in. Race baiting is a Democratic Party specialty.

    Please, it is the right wing that uses phrases like "cultural elite", it's the right wing that tried to get mileage out of a TV character being a single mom.

    since I do not support having public schools and I encourage Christians to either home school or enter private schools. This removes any argument by leftists like yourself.

    Frankly, the idea that we shouldn't have public schools is even more frightening than creationism being taught as science.

    supposed lack of recognition on the Marxist programs in this country like SS and Medicare. The marxist/socialist teachers in the public school system have done such a great job of brainwashing children and failing to actually educate for decades that it is no wonder that people who consistently fail basic US government and history quizes, would lack the knowledge of the basis of these programs. They don't have the foggiest idea what is in the constitution.

    The fact that you haven't the foggiest idea of what "Marxism" and "socialism" entail is made obvious by your use of them to describe programs like Medicare. Neither of these programs involve government control of the means of production and neither involve the theory of history that is at the heart of Marxist theory.

    6. It is you who doesn't love the constitution. You want it re-interpreted to meet your agenda rather than even use the avenues it avails, such as amending the constitution

    Except it is your interpretations of it that have been ahistorical; from a ridiculously expansive view of the Commander-in-Chief powers to a view on the Federal government's spending power that would've been surprising to a generation of Founders who gave appropriations to subsidize the codfish industry and build an interstate road.

    A couple of points of agreement though. I think that if you could restate the laws so that all the legal privileges that marriage entails would apply to civil unions, that the state could get out of the marriage business all together, leaving it as a purely religious ceremony.

    Your point about your not being as bad as jihadis is a fair one. Although I would argue that it's the same close-mindedness and bigotry (you do, after all, regard homosexuals as perverts), the policies advocated by the religious right in this country aren't close to what happens elsewhere in the world.

    Posted by brunowe at 04/13/2008 @ 9:43pm

96. I'm a white guy, I'm bitter and I'm from Pittsburgh, and most of all Obama is right. I am bitter about our progressively more paternalistic government and the false pretentions of Identity Politics. And I do cling to the Bill of Rights, particularly the first and the second one with all my might. I honestly do think Pelosi, Reid, and Clinton marginalize me and reason itself. So yes, even I would seriously consider voting for Obama, and his intellectual honesty is why. Neither genitals nor skin color give anyone an upper hand determining what is true or false.

    Posted by jdcarmine at 04/13/2008 @ 9:49pm

97. ".... they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

    It's not the word "bitter" that's making trouble for Obama, it's the words that came afterwards.

    His other problem is that he shared this amateur psychobabble about blue collar voters with an audience of wealthy, San Francisco liberals, behind closed doors, where he thought others wouldn't hear it.

    Posted by WylieD at 04/13/2008 @ 10:01pm

98. As someone else here pointed out, one of the risks of Obama's campaign is that he's willing to present issues in their complexity rather than reducing them to sound bites. While this is the right move, the progressive move par excellence (after all, hasn't the right won again and again through their willingness to reduce every issue into a black and white choice?) it makes him a sitting duck for misrepresentation, and the mass media noise machine has been more than willing to perpetuate the misrepresentations of Obama offered up by conservative pundits and Senator Clinton's campaign (the de-contextualization of both Rev. Wright's comments and the "bitter" comment, for example).

    To the extent that America listens to what the man has to say - much of which isn't what she'd like to hear - Obama wins. But Obama does have a problem with those Americans who have a poor relationship with their native tongue (a visit to any political discussion board makes that abundantly clear). I don't know if that's something that can be overcome, but he doesn't have to overcome it to win this November.

    Anyone who would vote for McCain over either of our candidates is no liberal. Go ahead, we don't need you - but we won't turn you away when you've learned your lesson.

    Posted by Butler at 04/13/2008 @ 10:07pm

99. You're right, people are angry. Bill Clinton has said that. There is a difference, however, between saying people are angry and saying people are angry, bitter and clinging to guns and religion; that difference is made all the more clear, when the statement is made at a closed fundraiser in San Francisco.

    http://strictlyanecdotal.com

    Posted by LCSusan at 04/13/2008 @ 10:08pm

100. It's not that no liberal can vote for McCain, but no one who votes for McCain can claim to be liberal.

     Posted by Butler at 04/13/2008 @ 10:11pm

101. I'm glad to see that someone can see the common sense in Obamas comments.

     Posted by acetylyne at 04/13/2008 @ 10:15pm

102. MANY PEOPLE ARE DEFINITELY BITTER--IT IS TRUE. A LOT OF PEOPLE ALSO CLING TO RELIGION AND SOME OTHER THINGS AS A CONSOLATION. Since they can't trust Washington to come true on Economic issues and other serious matters, these wonderful people tend to place excessive concern on minor issues.

     Dear Americans: The worst mistake we will make is to let this good comment be twisted by Hillary and McCain, making we bvoters think we are stupid not to know what the man Obama said. We know very well that he is not condescending one second. He is very concerned and worried about millions of Americans in small towns who have been treated like trash by former campaigners and governments. He is deeply concerned about their well-being and seriously desired to do something about it. We better not let the desperation of Hillary deceive our minds by turns and twists. In fact, Hillary ONLY dances the tunes that the voters sing in oerder to please instead of analyzing, saying, and doing the right thing--RIGHT THING!!! She can jump into a ditch if doing so will get her a vote! She can jump out of the same pit or ditch if doing so will get her a vote. IT IS NOT ABOUT THE VOTERS OR THE WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE. To Hillary, it is clearly patronize any way you can to get any vote she can regardless of people's lives. She is EXACTLY LIKE THOSE PEOPLE AND PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT WHO LEFT THOSE SMALL TOWNS IN THE DUST!!! Observe the following ratings of McCain, Hillary, and Obama so you can be wise in casting your vote: MANAGING THE NATION== McCain 45%, Hillary 55%, Obama 95% PATRIOTISM == McCain 100%, Hillary 100%, Obama 100% NATIONAL SECURITY== McCain 60%, Hillary 60%, Obama 98% LOVE OF ISRAEL== McCain 100%, Hillary 100%, Obama 100% ABILITY TO MAKE AMERICA BETTER OVERALL== McCain 45%, Hillary 65%, Obama 98% BEING IN-TOUCH WITH AVERAGE AMERICA'S FEELINGS/HURTS McCain = 49%, Hillary = 55%, Obama = 98%. [Feel free to call me for explanation]

     Obama is by far the better manager or will be a better manager of this nation than both Hillary and McCain. In fact, Obama is the one who is MUCH READY TO BE PRESIDENT ON DAY ONE than McCain or Clinton. McCain is not a manager and he will find it difficult to acquire the needed skills quickly. Both McCain and Hillary (but more so for McCain) are more likely to commit management and national security blunders than Obama. Three of them are equally patriotic, but Obama is much more IN-TOUCH with the average America than former First Lady and Senator McCain. They can't even touch Obama in this In-Touch index--Obama 98% to Hillar 56% and McCain 49%. Both Hillary and McCain are much more likely to behave like the previous campaigners in these small towns who told the people what to hear but never showed up to help!!! Obama will come back to help!! He can't even help it! He is not a typical politician at all. He speaks from his belly and heart and truly feel for these people in small towns and everywhere who have suffered a lot and have been betrayed by past administration and campaigners.Voters, be careful no to be deceived by politicians' twists of the truth!--Dr. Festus S. A. O. "Strongblood"

     Posted by strongblood at 04/13/2008 @ 10:17pm

103. New bumper sticker/t-shirt: "I'm Bitter. And I vote for Obama."

     Posted by Uniquack at 04/13/2008 @ 10:22pm

104. Doesn't anyone else find it completely ironic that a woman who's husband made $109 million since he left the WHITE HOUSE and a man who's entire political career was bankrolled by the trophy beer heiress wife he divorced his first wife for are calling a man who's father herded goats an elitist?

     Not at all. There are the culturally elite, the financially elite, the intellectually elite, etc. Elitism isn't just about having lots of money. Snobbery is sometimes used as a synonym for elite and there are some pretty snobbish intellectuals out there who look down their noses at those who like to drink beer and cherish their guns (or use velveeta cheese).

     Posted by Rune at 04/13/2008 @ 10:26pm

105. In the remarks in question, Obama clearly tee-tee'd on his Guccis. It is a political gaffe on a par with "Read my lips." Why is Katrina defending this blunder? We can't win if we try to gloss over blunders that piss off the Reagan Democrats. Katrina must have missed her weekly enema.

     Posted by Ralphie at 04/13/2008 @ 10:29pm

106. MANY PEOPLE ARE DEFINITELY BITTER--IT IS TRUE. A LOT OF PEOPLE ALSO CLING TO RELIGION AND SOME OTHER THINGS AS A CONSOLATION. Since they can't trust Washington to come true on Economic issues and other serious matters, these wonderful people tend to place excessive concern on minor issues.

     Dear Americans: The worst mistake we will make is to let this good comment be twisted by Hillary and McCain, making we bvoters think we are stupid not to know what the man Obama said. We know very well that he is not condescending one second. He is very concerned and worried about millions of Americans in small towns who have been treated like trash by former campaigners and governments. He is deeply concerned about their well-being and seriously desired to do something about it. We better not let the desperation of Hillary deceive our minds by turns and twists. In fact, Hillary ONLY dances the tunes that the voters sing in oerder to please instead of analyzing, saying, and doing the right thing--RIGHT THING!!! She can jump into a ditch if doing so will get her a vote! She can jump out of the same pit or ditch if doing so will get her a vote. IT IS NOT ABOUT THE VOTERS OR THE WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE. To Hillary, it is clearly patronize any way you can to get any vote she can regardless of people's lives. She is EXACTLY LIKE THOSE PEOPLE AND PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT WHO LEFT THOSE SMALL TOWNS IN THE DUST!!! Observe the following ratings of McCain, Hillary, and Obama so you can be wise in casting your vote: MANAGING THE NATION== McCain 45%, Hillary 55%, Obama 95% PATRIOTISM == McCain 100%, Hillary 100%, Obama 100% NATIONAL SECURITY== McCain 60%, Hillary 60%, Obama 98% LOVE OF ISRAEL== McCain 100%, Hillary 100%, Obama 100% ABILITY TO MAKE AMERICA BETTER OVERALL== McCain 45%, Hillary 65%, Obama 98% BEING IN-TOUCH WITH AVERAGE AMERICA'S FEELINGS/HURTS McCain = 49%, Hillary = 55%, Obama = 98%. [Feel free to call me for explanation]

     Obama is by far the better manager or will be a better manager of this nation than both Hillary and McCain. In fact, Obama is the one who is MUCH READY TO BE PRESIDENT ON DAY ONE than McCain or Clinton. McCain is not a manager and he will find it difficult to acquire the needed skills quickly. Both McCain and Hillary (but more so for McCain) are more likely to commit management and national security blunders than Obama. Three of them are equally patriotic, but Obama is much more IN-TOUCH with the average America than former First Lady and Senator McCain. They can't even touch Obama in this In-Touch index--Obama 98% to Hillar 56% and McCain 49%. Both Hillary and McCain are much more likely to behave like the previous campaigners in these small towns who told the people what to hear but never showed up to help!!! Obama will come back to help!! He can't even help it! He is not a typical politician at all. He speaks from his belly and heart and truly feel for these people in small towns and everywhere who have suffered a lot and have been betrayed by past administration and campaigners.Voters, be careful no to be deceived by politicians' twists of the truth!--Dr. Festus S. A. O. "Strongblood"

     Posted by strongblood at 04/13/2008 @ 10:30pm

107. MANY PEOPLE ARE DEFINITELY BITTER--IT IS TRUE. A LOT OF PEOPLE ALSO CLING TO RELIGION AND SOME OTHER THINGS AS A CONSOLATION. Since they can't trust Washington to come true on Economic issues and other serious matters, these wonderful people tend to place excessive concern on minor issues. I wish people will actually see and read between the lines concerning who really care for this nation among the three candidates. We actually need to see that Obama is actually lamenting within himself about what the government has done to the beautiful people he met in the small towns. The man has soul. In fact, he is not a typical politician AT ALL!!! I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS part of him (the compassion and feeling) will cause millions of true Americans to vote him into office to begin to rescue and help people as it is TRULY IN HIS HEART!! This man has a soul in-deed, and may God help us not to miss this opportunity!

     Dear Americans: The worst mistake we will make is to let this good comment be twisted by Hillary and McCain, making we bvoters think we are stupid not to know what the man Obama said. We know very well that he is not condescending one second. He is very concerned and worried about millions of Americans in small towns who have been treated like trash by former campaigners and governments. He is deeply concerned about their well-being and seriously desired to do something about it. We better not let the desperation of Hillary deceive our minds by turns and twists. In fact, Hillary ONLY dances the tunes that the voters sing in oerder to please instead of analyzing, saying, and doing the right thing--RIGHT THING!!! She can jump into a ditch if doing so will get her a vote! She can jump out of the same pit or ditch if doing so will get her a vote. IT IS NOT ABOUT THE VOTERS OR THE WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE. To Hillary, it is clearly patronize any way you can to get any vote she can regardless of people's lives. She is EXACTLY LIKE THOSE PEOPLE AND PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT WHO LEFT THOSE SMALL TOWNS IN THE DUST!!! Observe the following ratings of McCain, Hillary, and Obama so you can be wise in casting your vote: MANAGING THE NATION== McCain 45%, Hillary 55%, Obama 95% PATRIOTISM == McCain 100%, Hillary 100%, Obama 100% NATIONAL SECURITY== McCain 60%, Hillary 60%, Obama 98% LOVE OF ISRAEL== McCain 100%, Hillary 100%, Obama 100% ABILITY TO MAKE AMERICA BETTER OVERALL== McCain 45%, Hillary 65%, Obama 98% BEING IN-TOUCH WITH AVERAGE AMERICA'S FEELINGS/HURTS McCain = 49%, Hillary = 55%, Obama = 98%. [Feel free to call me for explanation]

     Obama is by far the better manager or will be a better manager of this nation than both Hillary and McCain. In fact, Obama is the one who is MUCH READY TO BE PRESIDENT ON DAY ONE than McCain or Clinton. McCain is not a manager and he will find it difficult to acquire the needed skills quickly. Both McCain and Hillary (but more so for McCain) are more likely to commit management and national security blunders than Obama. Three of them are equally patriotic, but Obama is much more IN-TOUCH with the average America than former First Lady and Senator McCain. They can't even touch Obama in this In-Touch index--Obama 98% to Hillar 56% and McCain 49%. Both Hillary and McCain are much more likely to behave like the previous campaigners in these small towns who told the people what to hear but never showed up to help!!! Obama will come back to help!! He can't even help it! He is not a typical politician at all. He speaks from his belly and heart and truly feel for these people in small towns and everywhere who have suffered a lot and have been betrayed by past administration and campaigners.Voters, be careful no to be deceived by politicians' twists of the truth!--Dr. Festus S. A. O. "Strongblood"

     Something happen to Obama in PA. He became invigorated by what he saw being done to these people. Remember this is the kind of economic demographic that Obama has spent his life fighting for. Which is why I find this elitist label the dumbest crap ever and it just proves to me that the media needs serious revamping they need to get back to their way of doing things when they actually do research rather than just believe opinion and try to pass it off as facts. If you are going to get behind tagging a label on someone define the label and see if they fit. Elitist? I'm more inclined to believe its the total opposite. Obama tied what is going on in these people's lives to the ECONOMY. They've been let down over and over again by the govermnent who promise them economic revitalization but never delivered. They are frustrated and angry and as a result they blame other people like immigrants and minorities and they develop anti trade sentiments. They cling to religion thats why poverty and religion go together they are trying to find something to get them through their economic devastation. I find it laughable that people are up in arms as if Obama made a brand new conclusion thats never been found before. Umm Nope he hasnt. Then to say he is elitist. NOPE he is the voice for the poor and disenfranchised. If he was elitist he would be blaming them for their situation he is blaming the govermnent economic policies that have drained these communities of a chance to move up the economic ladder. After PA they've been a change in him he's become more passionate and a little angrier at how these communities and people have been left behind. No wonder they are sceptical they dont trust politician to deliver economically so they cling to narrower issues like guns, and religious issues like abortion and gay marriage. They dont have any control over their ecominic lives and this may be one area they can control and politicans particularly republicans manipulate that in order to get their vote. I dont live in PA or a small town. I live in NY and my economic sitatuion is stable but I"m ANGRY and BITTER particularly about the war in Iraq so dont tell me that these people who are in worse economic situation are not angry and bitter. Furthermore 81% of the country thinks we are moving in the wrong direction and you dont think there is anger and bitterness in people. Hilary is living in a fantasy but what can you expect when you make 50 million dollars a year.

     Posted by strongblood at 04/13/2008 @ 10:36pm

108. I have no problem with voting for a genuine American hero and a moderate at that over the likes of the neophyte obama.

     McCain is not a moderate. First, his defense of the surge and willingness to move militarily against Iran aren't moderate. There is his post-2000 crawling to the religious right. There is his lifetime rating of 82/100 from the American Conservative Union. There is his advocacy of making the Bush tax cuts permanent. There is his anti-choice position on reproduction.

     Times are way too perilous for an amature, especially after eight years of a dunce.

     Kind of hard to take you seriously when you spell like Dan Quayle. Makes you look like a real amateur.

     Posted by brunowe at 04/13/2008 @ 10:39pm

109. The Clintons referring to someone else as elitist? High praise.

     Posted by gillian at 04/13/2008 @ 10:39pm

110. MANY PEOPLE ARE DEFINITELY BITTER--IT IS TRUE. A LOT OF PEOPLE ALSO CLING TO RELIGION AND SOME OTHER THINGS AS A CONSOLATION. Since they can't trust Washington to come true on Economic issues and other serious matters, these wonderful people tend to place excessive concern on minor issues. I wish people will actually see and read between the lines concerning who really care for this nation among the three candidates. We actually need to see that Obama is actually lamenting within himself about what the government has done to the beautiful people he met in the small towns. The man has soul. In fact, he is not a typical politician AT ALL!!! I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS part of him (the compassion and feeling) will cause millions of true Americans to vote him into office to begin to rescue and help people as it is TRULY IN HIS HEART!! This man has a soul in-deed, and may God help us not to miss this opportunity!

     Dear Americans: The worst mistake we will make is to let this good comment be twisted by Hillary and McCain, making we bvoters think we are stupid not to know what the man Obama said. We know very well that he is not condescending one second. He is very concerned and worried about millions of Americans in small towns who have been treated like trash by former campaigners and governments. He is deeply concerned about their well-being and seriously desired to do something about it. We better not let the desperation of Hillary deceive our minds by turns and twists. In fact, Hillary ONLY dances the tunes that the voters sing in oerder to please instead of analyzing, saying, and doing the right thing--RIGHT THING!!! She can jump into a ditch if doing so will get her a vote! She can jump out of the same pit or ditch if doing so will get her a vote. IT IS NOT ABOUT THE VOTERS OR THE WELL-BEING OF PEOPLE. To Hillary, it is clearly patronize any way you can to get any vote she can regardless of people's lives. She is EXACTLY LIKE THOSE PEOPLE AND PREVIOUS GOVERNMENT WHO LEFT THOSE SMALL TOWNS IN THE DUST!!! Observe the following ratings of McCain, Hillary, and Obama so you can be wise in casting your vote: MANAGING THE NATION== McCain 45%, Hillary 55%, Obama 95% PATRIOTISM == McCain 100%, Hillary 100%, Obama 100% NATIONAL SECURITY== McCain 60%, Hillary 60%, Obama 98% LOVE OF ISRAEL== McCain 100%, Hillary 100%, Obama 100% ABILITY TO MAKE AMERICA BETTER OVERALL== McCain 45%, Hillary 65%, Obama 98% BEING IN-TOUCH WITH AVERAGE AMERICA'S FEELINGS/HURTS McCain = 49%, Hillary = 55%, Obama = 98%. [Feel free to call me for explanation]

     Obama is by far the better manager or will be a better manager of this nation than both Hillary and McCain. In fact, Obama is the one who is MUCH READY TO BE PRESIDENT ON DAY ONE than McCain or Clinton. McCain is not a manager and he will find it difficult to acquire the needed skills quickly. Both McCain and Hillary (but more so for McCain) are more likely to commit management and national security blunders than Obama. Three of them are equally patriotic, but Obama is much more IN-TOUCH with the average America than former First Lady and Senator McCain. They can't even touch Obama in this In-Touch index--Obama 98% to Hillar 56% and McCain 49%. Both Hillary and McCain are much more likely to behave like the previous campaigners in these small towns who told the people what to hear but never showed up to help!!! Obama will come back to help!! He can't even help it! He is not a typical politician at all. He speaks from his belly and heart and truly feel for these people in small towns and everywhere who have suffered a lot and have been betrayed by past administration and campaigners.Voters, be careful no to be deceived by politicians' twists of the truth!--Dr. Festus S. A. O. "Strongblood"

     Something happen to Obama in PA. He became invigorated by what he saw being done to these people. Remember this is the kind of economic demographic that Obama has spent his life fighting for. Which is why I find this elitist label the dumbest crap ever and it just proves to me that the media needs serious revamping they need to get back to their way of doing things when they actually do research rather than just believe opinion and try to pass it off as facts. If you are going to get behind tagging a label on someone define the label and see if they fit. Elitist? I'm more inclined to believe its the total opposite. Obama tied what is going on in these people's lives to the ECONOMY. They've been let down over and over again by the govermnent who promise them economic revitalization but never delivered. They are frustrated and angry and as a result they blame other people like immigrants and minorities and they develop anti trade sentiments. They cling to religion thats why poverty and religion go together they are trying to find something to get them through their economic devastation. I find it laughable that people are up in arms as if Obama made a brand new conclusion thats never been found before. Umm Nope he hasnt. Then to say he is elitist. NOPE he is the voice for the poor and disenfranchised. If he was elitist he would be blaming them for their situation he is blaming the govermnent economic policies that have drained these communities of a chance to move up the economic ladder. After PA they've been a change in him he's become more passionate and a little angrier at how these communities and people have been left behind. No wonder they are sceptical they dont trust politician to deliver economically so they cling to narrower issues like guns, and religious issues like abortion and gay marriage. They dont have any control over their ecominic lives and this may be one area they can control and politicans particularly republicans manipulate that in order to get their vote. I dont live in PA or a small town. I live in NY and my economic sitatuion is stable but I"m ANGRY and BITTER particularly about the war in Iraq so dont tell me that these people who are in worse economic situation are not angry and bitter. Furthermore 81% of the country thinks we are moving in the wrong direction and you dont think there is anger and bitterness in people. Hilary is living in a fantasy but what can you expect when you make 50 million dollars a year. [Dr. Strongblood]

     Posted by strongblood at 04/13/2008 @ 10:41pm

111. It takes political tunnel vision to call McCain a "moderate." Check out his prospective cabinet (the Nation ran a good article on this recently).

     And while I liked the guy for his willingness to tell the religious right off, while it lasted, his "maverick" label just means that he takes more time, and makes more noise, in the process of coming around to the conservative positions his party demands (his roll-reversal on the Bush tax cuts, or capitulation on torture, for example, although apparently it's not torture if you call it "waterboarding").

     The GOP has been actively purging "moderates" for years, and it is hurting them - all signs indicate that Republicans will be very marginalized in Congress after the next round of elections. But they're not foolhardy enough to market themselves as anything other than the "moderate" choice, the party for middle America. Conservatives have done a beautiful job of moving further and further to the right while continuing to market their position as centrist.

     But now we have an opportunity to ruin their game by refusing to play along and re-framing our national discourse with Barack Obama. Of course, as I said previously, the game is still being played the GOP's way: the corporate media, big business, everything-is-a-sound-bite-or-slogan way, and this leaves him vulnerable to misrepresentation. (I'm vulnerable to misrepresentation myself, as is anyone who puts his two cents in).

     Something else: military service, for everything that it can teach about discipline and sacrifice, doesn't automatically qualify someone to serve in the highest office of the land. I'm sure everyone here knows vets they wouldn't let make big decisions for them, so we can dispense with the "war hero" argument for Senator McCain's readiness to command (he can't seem to distinguish between Sunnis and Shi'ites, and that's frightening given the complexity of the 7-layer burrito of strife we've ordered for ourselves in Iraq).

     The success of Obama's campaign is a testament to his managerial prowess. What's stunning is that Clinton's is in such rough shape. Then again, Bill's repeated gaffes show us that the Clinton brand of politics hasn't moved beyond the 90s and realized that the game is different in the post-YouTube world.

     A last thought on McCain: I'm not saying that he isn't a patriot or a war hero, and I'm preparing myself for the possibility of his being president. What I am saying is that he's far from being a liberal, which places him a good distance from being a moderate as well.

     Posted by Butler at 04/13/2008 @ 10:52pm

112. What Obama said was 100% true. It ain't rocket science.

     Posted by pizzmoe at 04/13/2008 @ 10:57pm

113. the 7-layer burrito of strife

     Posted by BUTLER 04/13/2008 @ 10:52pm

     straight from taco hell.

     Posted by frosty zoom at 04/13/2008 @ 10:59pm

114. What Obama said was 100% true.

     Posted by PIZZMOE 04/13/2008 @ 10:57pm

     how dare he!?!?!?!

     Posted by frosty zoom at 04/13/2008 @ 11:00pm

115. Eventually the B.O. cultists are going to have to admit that Barry is all bullshit and no substance. He talks a good game but thats really all there is. WHERE'S THE BEEF?

     Posted by FRANKGRITS 04/13/2008

     Frank, now you're copying me......

     Posted by TransitDave at 04/13/2008 @ 11:14pm

116. I'll be happy when Obama is elected so I can be angry at him as well!

     Posted by bleedingheart at 04/13/2008 @ 11:17pm

117. "He talks a good game"

     Precisely, for politics is a game, a game with extremely high stakes. And now we have our Bobby Fischer.

     Posted by Butler at 04/13/2008 @ 11:22pm

118. now it's when obama has to show us the audacity of his courage, if he has any. he must repudiate two things:

     i) he has to repudiate what he said about "bitter people believing strange things about free trade". he has to say that the bitter simpletons are right and that he was dead wrong, that free trade has ruined the usa, has made the rich even richer and even more arrogant, and has enslaved and rendered hopeless and helpless everybody else. he has to apologize about that and say that the bitter people are right, that their losing their jobs has everything to do with imported goods produced by 50c/hr chinese workers, everything to do with the huge profits investors make by producing overseas and selling in the american market, everything to do with american workers' inability to negotiate anything with their employer when he/she tells them that the factory will move to bangladesh unless they accept triple overtime, etc, etc, everything to do with goods produced in american sweat shops, be it by docile immigrants and resigned natives.

     ii) equally important, he must distance himself from the plutocratic wing of the dems, those like hillary who enjoy vacationing among the trillionaires in cape cod, those like "willie the slick"TM who get paid (back!) 100k/hr by zillionaires for telling them vapid common places about leadership, etc [sic], the wing that sold the party's soul for a few bribes from and soirees with big investors and financiers, turning the party into a brazenly demented entity that asks for people's votes before and after telling them that trade is good for the country even if they are losing their jobs and their communities are being devastated, into a derangedly venal cesspool that insults its voters by telling them a-la-kerry that it "cannot do anything to give you back your job" [but i'll give you more training so you learn to survive with 30c/hr and can beat the chinese at their game; how shrewd ! thank you !]. in other words, he must tell the workers the truth and that he will work hard to change that.

     and he has to be humble in acknowledging that they were right and he was dead wrong. this time he should really apologize, if he has any respect for himself and for the hard working people of this country.

     Posted by erplus at 04/13/2008 @ 11:48pm

119. It's usually funny to hear liberals talk about the far-right as hyprocrites, liars, and generally the source of all evil. But this political season has by far been a hoot! The campaigns of Barry (or now Barack) Obama and the schiester Clinton has been like Comedy central! Hey Barak, why not simply call all of the 'whites' a bunch of honky redneck gun lovers! Oh wait, you already did! Seriously though, we've been waiting for our black knight to save us from our despair. I'm certain when you're president, you'll solve all our problems so we won't want or need our faith - we'll have faith in you Barak Obama - our hero!

     Posted by ElGibor at 04/13/2008 @ 11:52pm

120. Hillary's in the bathroom stall, tapping her foot, and wow look at these Neocons climbing all over themselves. With her it's 4 more years either way. Four more years to kill, marginalize brown people and laugh about it. That's your job herd. Always has been. You keep seizing grotesquely, breaking up facts and dissembling. When one lie gives way, launch denial. When denial thins, justify. When this can't be sustained blame. When you grow confused and need new program patches, you download from big corporate media democracy vampires- O'Reilly, Sewage, Rush, Fux. You swallow whole your homo-erotic daddies. You take their beatings and thank them for not having to think for yourselves and gleefully dress up as them and spew out what they filled you up with. Hollow highs and lies are all you can imagine, all you live out. "If we don't fight 'em there, they'll come back again and fight us here." Historical corpses, once died championing slavery, once resisting sufferage, turning a blind eye to lynching, delighting at assymetrical "war"fare, rationalizing the pain at the Superdome, and here and now do so in silly cyber tantrums. Grow a set, depart the herd. If not now, how about within 10 years? When you're finally able, check under your bed, there's no racist, no Muslim, no antisemite, no socialist, no elitist there, only your mind playing tricks taught to you by sources you should, figuratively, kill.

     Posted by winyahn at 04/13/2008 @ 11:58pm

121. It's amazing to me how much liberalism has perverted the reasoning behind much of the logic of our founding fathers. If guns are so evil, as most liberals purport, than how about free speech? Through free speech, hate rhetoric, political subversion, malice, abuse, and all other types of slander bring ruin to multiplied millions each day. In fact, one could argue that freedom of speech is the main reason for contention in the world and therefore is the source of rage and wrath which leads to murder. Maybe we can start here with this blog????

     At some point, maybe Obama and other liberals will grow up and realize that there remain a remnant of people in the world, not only America, who still cherish their faith and are willing to die for it. You will never change us, you will never get rid of us, and we will always be in your face with who we are and why immorality is the true culprit behind this country's woe's. And as it relates to guns, what business is it of a politician as to why anyone choose's to own a gun? Last I checked, it is legal and as much of as right as freedom of speech. Obama is an elitist snob and he will loose regardless of whether all the demoncrats in the world support his worthless oratorical veneer.

     Posted by ElGibor at 04/13/2008 @ 11:59pm

122. hey b kool66, your story of the audience reaction to the hitchens' debate is very heartening. i think the bar you are remembering is the blue moon saloon. it could also be thompson's corner, the dewey bar or the wise river club. beautiful area you speak of.

     perhaps obama felt rural people cling to their guns because he had just spent a significant amount of time in montana. almost every single one of us, even those of us on the far left, do cling to our guns. and we are definitely angry and bitter over the bush administration.

     Posted by loveloki at 04/14/2008 @ 12:01am

123. brunowe, i agree with you that frank's past comments were racist.

     Posted by loveloki at 04/14/2008 @ 12:02am

124. i found obama to be the furthest thing from an elitist snob. i felt very comfortable around him. he is down to earth and genuine.

     Posted by loveloki at 04/14/2008 @ 12:07am

125. Katrina,

     Your editorail, again, misses the mark to this "Small town Pennsylvanian." Both you and Senator Obama are cultural elitists; you look down your nose at any person who is a cultural conservative; cannot fathom anyone who disagrees with you, newsflash, rural Americans are Democrats too! Your vitriolic spin, and Senator Obama's recent comments have convinced me to vote for Hillary in the primary, and McCain in the general, if Hillary is not the nominee. Obama is Kerry redux; you have fallen in line, and cannot see it. Cannot wait to see you bloviating on MSNBC, when we lose the election; again, you never saw it coming.

     Posted by sydney77 at 04/14/2008 @ 12:14am

126. LOVELOKI Hillary's 100 million $ ultra-non-elitism and dealmakers like Penn say you're wrong. They know you best. You've ready to believe Obama's socialist. No? How about dangerously inexperienced. No? Oh not that, how about Muslim? No? How about racist? No? How about elitist? They're not giving up! Convincing you is nothing compared to their greatest of all time snowjob:

     How about...1. War on terror (Saddam had no connections to Al Qaeda) 2. Prevention of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (No WMDs either) 3. Lack of inspections 4. Removal of the Hussein regime 5. Saddam Hussein is evil 6. Liberation of the Iraqi people (If by "liberation" you mean subjugation) 7. Broken promises 8. Imminent threat (A lie) 9. Because we can (So far the best reason) 10. Unfinished business 11. Disarmament 12. Connection to al Qaeda (A lie) 13. Safety of the world 14. Revenge 15. War for oil (True) 16. Threat to the region (Doubtful) 17. For the sake of history 18. Preservation of peace 19. Threat to freedom 20. The uniqueness of Iraq 21. The relevance of the U.N. 22. Commitment to the children (See photo above) 23. Gaining favor with the Middle East (Oops!) 24. Stimulation of the economy (If by "economy" you mean Halliburton revenues) 25. Setting Iraq as an example 26. Because Saddam Hussein hates the U.S. 27. Iraq's violation of international law (Ironic considering the torture scandal)

     Posted by winyahn at 04/14/2008 @ 12:18am

127. Posted by B_KOOL_66 04/13/2008 @ 07:40am | ignore this person

     excellent post!

     Posted by loveloki at 04/14/2008 @ 12:26am

128. hello mr. maasch, i have to ask, how does a plumber set up a sub chapter-s corp? don't you have to have share holders for that? i don't know many plumbers with shareholders. i ask because maybe i have a misunderstanding about sub chapter-s corps.

     Posted by loveloki at 04/14/2008 @ 12:34am

129. There are some pretty good labels you can apply to John McCain, hero, patriot, veteran, congressman, senator and maybe soon, President.

     Posted by FRANKGRITS 04/13/2008 @ 10:15pm

     Please leave my party. Take old James "Judas" Carville with you and others of the DLC ilk, its about good and damn time that we take this party back.

     Posted by Tzimisce at 04/14/2008 @ 12:41am

130. Honestly I can see this as a sort of on purpose gaff. It worked last time, to some extent, with Wright. Let St. John the Maverick and Clinton jump, over-react and then give their same trite hamfisted responses that do nothing about any substantive issue. I mean for fucks sake John McCain says Obama is out of touch, Mr. Homeowners fend for yourself, flip flop on torture McSame, has the audacity to call someone else out of touch?

     Hillary would have my vote if she actually tried to run a campaign that made me proud to vote for her. I have said in the past that I would give her a shot, but fuck that, she will get my vote from my cold dead hands.

     Posted by Tzimisce at 04/14/2008 @ 12:47am

131. Yes, people are angry. Just remember that the God, Guns & Guts crowd vote overwhelmingly Rebublican. Obama is not stating that he'll confiscate their guns & prayer books. Honesty will only solidify his support, even if it ires his opponents!

     Posted by Sorelish at 04/14/2008 @ 12:54am

132. I'm bitter. Anybody who's given a crap over the past 12 years should be bitter. When we start getting upset over someone calling a spade a spade, that's when you know the country is on the wrong track and in need of hope.

     Posted by mpeng at 04/14/2008 @ 02:07am

133. Oh, God FrankGrits. You must be from the Clinton campaign, making Obama into a divider...

     This whole campaign he has tracks and tracks of unifying and bringing people together, 30 States.

     Clinton's campaign would have you look in concern at the ones he didn't get.... but then she continues to slam and slander him. I think the concern is someone who has been in public eye for 20 years is losing to a first term senator. That should be the base of our concern, the 30 states she didn't get.

     Obama has been forced into running from his comments because of this insane surge on his words. People do get bitter and turn to negative aspects. Everything (religion, gun control, civil rights) has balance of good as bad aspects- people who will take the stuff to the negative or positive. We're talking fanaticism (people using religion as an excuse to hurt others), or guns (recent shootings popping up in the news all the time). He's spoken more truth in his campaign than George W or Hillary or Bill or the original George combined and they keep attacking him.

     If your not bitter because of people who make more than 100 million dollars in 8 years, while the economy is in the crapper, then get a tax break on their donations to their own foundations. Its fishy play.

     But this campaign Clinton has drowned.

     Posted by briandalgerii at 04/14/2008 @ 02:09am

134. Johanna, The Clintons did not work for what they had. They deceived, They hurt others, and they've set this country back in many regards. No one seems to recall the Nanny they had the Governor's house in Arkansas pay for with tax payer dollars when they were in top 3% of income in the United States. They fired a guy from the travel agency in the white house to make profit from the department. She personally attacked accusers of her husband using IRS and exmarines to keep them silent. They accepted over 650,000 from Chinese Business men beginning her senate run. She had Peter Paul pay the piper for her demand of 100,000 stocks transfered to her. She got into the New York Senate through a very deceptive favor, having FALN terrorist released from prison who killed over 40 Americans in a serious of bombings in late 70's/early 80's. All to get good in favor of the latino/hispanic vote because the man who put her up to it had a renown standing among them in New York.

     People keep asking about Barack when if they look very carefully, will see he had the right answers. However, the prophecy does remain 100 years of great wars ending with us trusting the wrong leader. Clinton is the wrong leader. She will just be a part of the wheel of disaster occurring with the leadership of our country.

     The key to Barack is in part of what scares people. Islam. Islam, to be understood, is not a religion that believes in persecution. However, they also will protect their rights. Our surge has not been that, so we need a very detailed diplomatic surge to promote peace in the middle east: not McCain's war on Oil and Islam compared to Clinton's betrayal would devastate the Middle East and lead to the last World War. Barack knows the cultural aspects of what we are facing, better then Clinton (who pulled out and created more enemies in their last dynasty leg). He is NOT Muslim, but that doesn't mean he should identify with all types of people to promote universal peace and transcendental knowledge.

     Posted by briandalgerii at 04/14/2008 @ 02:25am

135. Obama – Black is Wright

     Obama attracts thugs and bullies to his campaign and personal life and is able to do so with impunity. If Obama where Caucasian, he would have been bulldozed by the media long ago.

     Look at Obama's affiliations:

     - Senator Meeks who openly hates whites and gays and is listed prominently on Obama's campaign website as a major Obama supporter and backer and is one of Obama;s super-delegate. Mr. Meeks has been integral in Obama success in politics.

     - Mr. Ayers of the Weather Underground, a group that killed police and tried to bomb the US Capitol, served with Obama on the board of the leftist foundation called the Woods Fund.

     - Robert Malley a close senior adviser to Obama who advocates negotiations with Hamas and providing international assistance to the terrorist group.

     - Larry Sinclair alleges in 1999 Senator Obama's arranged to meet him in a limousine, sold Senator Obama cocaine and then gave Senator Obama oral sex. Larry then claims that he and Obama went to a hotel and preformed oral sex again. Mr. Sinclair is testifying in court under oath that these allegations are true.

     - Mr. Auchi is an Iraqi billionaire and major financial sponsor and closely connected to Obama's rise to power. While working with Saddam Hussein, Auchi made his fortune through the selling of arms in Iraq and the funneling off of money from the Oil for Food program.

     - Mr. Rezko an Iraqi citizen and Obama's and Auchi's long time friend of 17 years and a major mob figure. Rezko is NOT known for his civic sense of duty and does not do favors without asking something in return. Coincidently the Chicago Times reported yesterday that Rezko was negotiating to purchase rehab buildings in Obama's district.

     - Mr. Wright a racist who hates America and whites (and Italians?). Mr. Wright has been Mr. Obama's spiritual mentor for over 20 years. Before the media exposed Mr. Wright, he was Obama's chief religious advisor on Obama's campaign staff. Mr. Wright and Mr. Meeks are ideologically closer to Karl Marx and Black Nationalism, than to Christianity.

     - Rashid Khalidi a fundraiser for Obama and is one of Obama's close friends. Khalidis claim Israel as a "catastrophe", and supports Palestinian terrorist groups.

     - Mr. McPeaks is Obama's military adviser and national campaign co-chairman who publicly states that American Jews are the "problem." and "Christian Zionists were driving America's policy in Iraq to benefit Israel."

     - Michelle Obama trumpets Obama as "the second coming of the messiah," and also states that she "has NEVER been proud to be an American in her adult life".

     The list goes on…

     How can Obama's bad judgment to choose to affiliate with criminals and fanatics be justified?

     Hey everybody - am I missing something here?

     Are we so in love with the color black that we forget to see the man?

     Posted by olandug at 04/14/2008 @ 02:28am

136. OLANDUG, Now do that same study on Clinton. It gets A LOT worse. Very scary. Lets not look at Cheney, Bush, and McCain. We prolly couldn't take that. 4 like Clinton's, I think people have grown bitter and turned to corruption.

     Posted by briandalgerii at 04/14/2008 @ 02:32am

137. Cut and paste the candidate... advertise the snippet

     Twist the words and then berate... and in to shape you'll whip it

     Everyone knows, it's on TV... brains to brawn beholden

     A cut and paste eternity... with pundits to embolden

     Cyberspace is filling fast... 'bout comments made in passing

     They 'hope' Viagra's built to last... predominately sassing

     But when Barrak addresses crowds... informal are his speeches

     He speaks his mind his thoughts avowed... for honesty he reaches

     Others tell rehearse'd statements... synching lips unthought

     With vested interests' secret agents... proud to have been bought

     Beware the kettle says the cat... duplicitous in nature

     Ingenuous is 'where it's at'... to build a sturdy state sure

     Posted by ttr at 04/14/2008 @ 02:52am

138. ~Posted by TTR @ 02:52am

     Amen, brother. Nicely done.

     Posted by b_kool_66 at 04/14/2008 @ 03:21am

139. Thanks for kindly words in reply, LoveLoki.

     :-)

     Posted by b_kool_66 at 04/14/2008 @ 03:22am

140. RE: "Bitter"

     In Obama you have the snartest guy not in the room, but in the entire American politics. Abram Lincohn? Nope. Poor word choice, pastor fault, etc, .. Where do we come from here?

     ---------------

     Obama acknowledges poor word choice By Jim Snyder 04/12/08 04:31 PM [ET]

     Supporters of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) sought to keep alive the controversy surrounding Sen. Barack Obama's (Ill.) comments at a San Francisco fundraiser as her rival for the Democratic nomination acknowledged that his words were poorly chosen.

     Posted by HelenDAO at 04/14/2008 @ 03:48am

141. Dear Frankgrits, I am no fan of Rush Limbaugh. He is a biased idiot...and you are to. Reading your posts is a fx,87ing waste of time. You are on ignore so do not reply to this post.

     Posted by JJASON at 04/14/2008 @ 05:03am

142. Bitter media followers, hate radio regurgitaters: just because you can say reality is not reality doesn't change reality. Thinking it does is word magic. Pre-logic fantasy. Your words have no power because they hold no truth. Obama loves his country, is very sincere, smarter than you and your beloved bittercasters, not a Muslim, happily married, has normal, honest, close friends from all walks of life. And he has the knowledge and wisdom and skills to lead. He'll restore pride and credibility to the office of POTUS. You'll still have 4 more years of bitterness and paranoid fantasy as is your wont.

     Posted by winyahn at 04/14/2008 @ 06:44am

143. How I detest the Clintons. What will it take to rid ourselves of their pox upon our house? You just knew they were gonna pull out some harmless tidbit and build a mountain of mud to sling their feces everywhere just prior to the PA primary. Did I say how much I detest the Clintons? I know we are being instructed that Obama uttered some shocking offense, but I don't see what he said was so wrong--but I was always aware of the similar way they took a figment out of Rev Wright's speech and played it in a Dean-scream loop to portray it as the sum of the man. In fact, and this may reveal myself to be some sort of "elitist", but I thought Obama's remarks were an accurate assessment--nothing I haven't heard a million times before about folks voting against their economic interests--(the "what's the matter with Kansas" issue), and reflected sensitivity and insight into the consequences of want. Here is the part that distresses me----I understand the woman who deliberately publicized these things--viewed it as poison, and portrayed it as poison. It is my understanding that she was a Huffington Post citizen reporter--apparently covering the Obama campaign as a booster. I have to wonder at her agenda--I heard her say she hestitated for fear it would "bring down the campaign"-- and just days before the PA primary--molded a controversy costume made for newly-minted working class hero, Clinton, downing a shot and a beer and swagger like she was carrying heat. This citizen reporter may have demonstrated poor judgement, but it stinks to me--it stinks to me of infiltrating sabotage.

     Posted by Lil at 04/14/2008 @ 07:41am

144. Yes, I'm among those who are "bitter". In fact, I'm among many other "bitter" people in Southwestern Ohio. We're living in a social and economic landscape ravaged by offshore outsourcing and the widespread use of illegal immigrant labor and legal "business visa" workers (mostly from India). You see, it's not just "NAFTA". It's the whole panoply of business visa programs, free trade agreements and indifferent non-enforcement of immigration laws which have decimated the industrial/manufacturing jobs, sliced through the white collar "back office" jobs and even made service jobs unattainable for Americans.

     I would ask Senators Obama and Clinton what THEY have actually done to (1) stop the OFFSHORE OUTSOURCING of American jobs and (2) why THEY have voted for so-called "free trade" agreements , (3) why they have voted for expansion of so-called "business visa" programs (H-1b & L-1) which are used to facilitate offshore outsourcing and permenently replace Americans with imported non-American workers in the USA and (3) why they refuse to acknowledge that illegal immigrants are used to replace American workers and are used in preference to Americans.

     Yes, many of us are "bitter" in the Midwest and many other parts of American. It is up to Senator Obama to PROVE that he is doing more than just engagine in political theatre.

     Empty public empathy for Americans in economic despair is of no significance. The fact that Senator Obama, like Clinton and McCain, refused to even use the term "offshore outsourcing" shows a lack of real candor in the view of many of us living in the hell that free trade has created.

     Sorry, Sen. Obama, softball terms like "global economy" does not well illustrate the situation which you, Clinton and McCain have helped forge.

     Though the Obama campaign wants to claim it is "different" and represents "change" on economic issues, Obama is very short on specifics. It's not as if he has denounced free trade when he won't even discuss "offshore outsourcing" and prefers eupehmisms more comfortable for those in the business lobbies like "global economy".

     If it's perceived that there's no real difference between Obama and McCain on economic issues like offshore outsourcing, then people will make their decisions on other issues.

     It's really up to Obama to make the case that he is different on economic issues. So far, he's not off to a good start when he can't even differentiate himself from Sen. Clinton whose enthusiasm for offshore outsourcing, free trade and expansion of "guest worker"/"business visa" programs has been notorious among anti-outsourcing activists.

     Posted by info_tech_guy at 04/14/2008 @ 07:43am

145. Answer: Triangulation. That is what Hillary is doing and why she and Bill need to be given the boot. They triangulated everything away for themselves--"What is a man profited if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" Since Hillary is so devout, maybe she should study it.

     Posted by Lil at 04/14/2008 @ 07:53am

146. Posted by INFO_TECH_GUY 04/14/2008 @ 07:43am

     Good morning. One of Obama's basic economic concepts is slightly higher upper class tax and with the income to stabilize the deficit, strengthen the dollar and institute universal healthcare. For small businesses and families, this will be a huge shot in the arm, will go a long way to rebooting the middle class.

     Posted by winyahn at 04/14/2008 @ 08:25am

147. The silly season is done and we are now firmly in the naked distortion season with CNN leading the charge..Hill and Bill know this. The loop of the Dean scream was the equivalent in 2004. Apparently Americans must put on the Hillary mask now and no matter what we really feel, we cannot be honest about what we feel..it's so low-rent to express your frustration with NAFTA. This IS the elitism when poor people pretend that they are not because of a negative social stigma attached to it.

     Posted by hrayovac at 04/14/2008 @ 09:27am

148. As a person who lives in PA, Sen. Obama is RIGHT! Do any of you who are posting live here?! Jobs are hard to find! At least good-paying jobs! There have been lay-offs left and right and people who use to make enough money to support their families can barely get by now. SO, yes, there are those of us in PA who feel BITTER! Stop actin like everything here is so great because it's not! Hillary and McCain are the ones who are OUT OF TOUCH!

     Posted by bbdmartin at 04/14/2008 @ 10:40am

149. I live in small-town Pennsylvania. I have peers who are very well off who work in banking and pharmaceuticals. I also have peers who are just as educated and hard-working who work in retirement homes or in retail or on farms who struggle to provide for their families.

     One of my banker friends recently remarked with a sneer, "I can't believe there's an OBAMA office here." As if he had no right to campaign here. And...as if he had no supporters here. And...as if one of his supporters (me!) wasn't standing right next to her. Now that's audacity, and not in a good way.

     Why do people who make a comfortable living get so up in arms over the idea that people who work just as hard or harder but are still struggling might want to hope for a better life and a government they can count on? Why is hope such a scary thing?

     Posted by jillers at 04/14/2008 @ 10:52am

150. I think a bunch of people here missed Obama's point. He is talking about people losing faith in government. After about 30 years of bad policies and outright greed, starting with the Reagan administration through Bush 1, through Clinton and now Bush 2 its no wonder. People are "bitter", beyond bitter. Millions of jobs shipped overseas, horrible trade policies, punishing national debt, the selling of Americas infrastructure, an illegal war, trashing of the constitution, criminals in the White House, and the list goes on and on. I think the word "bitter" is an understatement...

     Posted by chaoszen at 04/14/2008 @ 11:01am

151. It's a good question: why did Hillary join in? She is just as liberal and elitist as Obama.

     Posted by abell12ct at 04/14/2008 @ 11:05am

152. From the reading of the text of Barak and most of the postings here is this forum, it finally occurs to me the reason why this is an issue and will turn out to be more of an issue than any silly Rev. Wright comments etc.

     There are consistent laments in this publication, on these forums, from the chattering class throughout the past elections and to now about how confused and concerned you all are that people would vote "against their economic interests and vote 'God, guns, etc.'"

     There is a very simple reason for this. "Economic interests" are not the most important things in life. For many many people, their faith and their family and the overall culture of the country will ALWAYS outrank money as the driving factor in their decisions. Many people find worshipping the god of money, or the god of career, or the god of politics completely at odds with their faith.

     You may believe these people are ignorant, or backward, or naive.....but you know something.....they also don't care what you think, and will continue deciding on their belief system, not yours.

     Let the savagery begin on how "neo-con" and stupid I am.

     Posted by Chilly Willy at 04/14/2008 @ 11:09am

153. thanks darin. i get it now.

     Posted by loveloki at 04/14/2008 @ 11:10am

154. excellent, ttr!

     :)

     Posted by loveloki at 04/14/2008 @ 11:13am

155. Economic interests is not love of money--but a question of survival, CHILLY WILLY. So, you might be right--but it is also stupid.

     Posted by Lil at 04/14/2008 @ 11:14am

156. I have read the word "elitist" used here over and over by right wing corporate elitist facist morons. It's typical of these types to point their craggly blackened and corrupt digit at someone else in a pitifull attempt at transferring their guilt, shame and self hate at another who speaks truth... disgusting.

     Posted by chaoszen at 04/14/2008 @ 11:17am

157. I have read the word "elitist" used here over and over by right wing corporate elitist facist morons. It's typical of these types to point their craggly blackened and corrupt digit at someone else in a pitifull attempt at transferring their guilt, shame and self hate at another who speaks truth... disgusting.

     Posted by CHAOSZEN

     Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black!

     Posted by abell12ct at 04/14/2008 @ 11:36am

158. There is a simple solution to the challenges and attacks confronting Barack Obama from the other candidates and from the media.

     He should hold a full-fledged press conference. In that venue, Mr. Obama will have the opportunity to answer any and all questions thrown at him. He can clarify and can expand his views on any and all things relevant to this most important historic moment in our history. He can also use that very same opportunity to show the depth of his knowledge and experience and prove to us voters why he is truly qualified to be the next President of the United States.

     In fact, until he is willing to do that, his campaign is full of sound-bites and fluff, signifying nothing.

     Posted by Sandralsw at 04/14/2008 @ 11:36am

159. Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black!

     Posted by ABELL12CT

     No, it's just the pot revealing the true nature of the kettle.

     Posted by chaoszen at 04/14/2008 @ 11:54am

160. Dear Frankgrits, I am no fan of Rush Limbaugh. He is a biased idiot...and you are to. Reading your posts is a fx,87ing waste of time. You are on ignore so do not reply to this post.

     Posted by JJASON 04/14/2008 @ 05:03am

     You know I try not to ignore someone unless they provide nothing to the discourse and only serve to royally piss me off, a troll. But I am starting to agree with you here, and I might just end up putting him on ignore. 1) He feels it necessary to condescend (elitism Zomg!) by stating he needs to educate us unwashed masses, because there just is no reason to vote for Obama unless you are a student or are black. 2) Hillary can do no wrong, when you start with the premise that your candidate or your party or your whatever can do no wrong, then you are doomed to look like an asshole. 3)When people that post here can write his posts for him, then you know they are offering very little to the discourse.

     You want to know why people WANT to vote for Obama? It's not because he is a fad, or because he is black, or we have white guilt or any host of idiotic demeaning reasons, it's because he tells the truth. Not like St. John the Maverick who never said anything about being in Iraq for 100 years (which he did, its only hedged by, "if we are not taking casualties." Meaning I still could see us having another protracted military obligation that further weakens our troop numbers and causes a potential sorespot in Western-Islam relations). But real truth. People are bitter, or angry or upset. 81% of the population think we are headed in the wrong direction, do you think they are glib, or ho-hum about it? Not I bet they are mad, riled up, etc etc... Do they move to guns and God for support? You bet. It's the only thing that they have control over, government has long since stood by as their jobs were shipped overseas, their schools crumbled and people fled from the community. If I placed stock in either I think I would be scared too, it really is help for those who find no help in their government, it's self-help.

     What Obama is saying is what has been true for years. People have been voting against the economic self interest, because government does not care to help them. So they turn to issues that they think government will protect or change, the wedge issues, Gods, Guns and Gays. Yet, I think many people are realizing that Republicans have not done anything to further that agenda. Sure there is the occasional abortion bill (that hits around the edges) or talk about an Amendment, but no action is seriously taken. What do you do when you lose those issues, what do you do when you "solve" them? You lose power and Republicans know this.

     Frank it may come as a surprise to you but I and many others I know were ready to vote for Obama to be president in 2004 when he gave the convention speech. I stood up and took notice of someone, finally stating my beliefs, to my disenchantment with a party that sold its soul to corporate interests, to status quo, to losing elections because we stood for absolutely nothing. I'm ready to move America into the 21st century, instead of refighting decades old battles. I'm ready to proudly vote for a Democrat that reflects my values, not one that tries to appease some group of "moderates" that have not voted for a Democrat in several cycles now, and why should they? Democrats stood idle as W. took us into a war against the wrong enemy and drained us of manpower and money. As Democrats stood idle as NAFTA and other trade deals offered no protections to our workers. I'm ready to move the country into a new era of debate.

     Look Republicans had some good ideas, fiscal responsibility is important, reforming how government works is also important. And you know there are a lot of conservatives out there that I'm sure are dying to get their party back to real issues and away from wedge issues.

     Posted by Tzimisce at 04/14/2008 @ 11:59am

161. Unfortunately, I am of the belief that it ain't over until it's over. I have not been "bowled" over by the packaging of Senator Obama. The APK Media machine and the ASK Public Strategies public opinion company run by David Axelrod are manufacturing a candidate. They've worked to package Obama as an outsider, a fresh face - however what lurks behind this packaging is quite disturbing. We never hear about how Obama rose like a meteor through the political corruption machine in Illinois. A machine which makes washington insiders look like children arguing over a toy. Axelrod is carefully orchestrating the rise of our next president. Even when you look at who is along for the ride, you have to wonder what's in it for them. The Kennedy's are the fading royalty in need of a coat tail, Tom Daschle, Advisory Board member for British Petroleum, and non-stop campaigner for Obama, the big donors from Hollywood, trial lawyers and Wall Street, newcomers such as young hedge fund executives, Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, Chicago-based developers and members of the black business elite. The list includes partners from 18 top law firms, 21 Wall Street executives and power brokers from Fortune 500 companies. The bundlers of more of his campaign donations are from California, the top source with 19 bundlers. Both Illinois and Washington, D.C., have six bundlers, and five bundlers from New York. With well over $190 million dollars from all these sources, some which go against what Obama is preaching. There is the billionaire casino developer who plans to put a slot parlor in Philadelphia; Obama has decried gambling for its steep "moral and social cost." And there is the director of General Dynamics, the military supplier that has seen profits soar since the onset of the Iraq war and that has benefited from at least one Obama earmark. What are we really going to get from an Obama Presidency!

     Posted by beready66 at 04/14/2008 @ 12:05pm

162. Katrina finally got it RIGHT. The Clintons have always been right-wing symphatizers and are going to keep throwing Molotov coktails at the Democrat party until it's in ruins if thats what it takes. But this is going to have lasting consequences. There will be a major realignment of these parties after this election and the Clintons are going to be freezed out. Just like a freeze out.

     Posted by jimijazz at 04/14/2008 @ 12:16pm

163. I don't think I can take anymore of this mud slinging! I'm ready to just skip voting entirely. We have so many problems in this country that need to be addressed and instead of talking about the real issues, the candidates are knit picking about every word in every speach. I used to like Hillary but I have to say that I have a problem with someone that appears to be trying to win the battle while ultimately losing the war. If Democrats keep this up, McCain will surely win. American's need to make common sense common again.

     Posted by nhdjlady at 04/14/2008 @ 12:16pm

164. No, it's just the pot revealing the true nature of the kettle.

     Posted by CHAOSZEN

     It also reveals the pot not caring that it has the same color.

     Posted by abell12ct at 04/14/2008 @ 12:17pm

165. Mr. Obamas political contributions are almost entirely provided by small online donors (under $200). So what the hell is BEREADY66 talking about? Bundlers this and bundlers that make no difference when ya got the stats...

     Posted by chaoszen at 04/14/2008 @ 12:19pm

166. Speech-act theory helps us understand Obama's claim that some people are bitter as at once true and infelicitous. Without a doubt, if we focus on what he said, it is right on the money. Further, it would be truly astonishing if it were not the case that some (perhaps many) are indeed bitter and angry. But Obama has violated what seems to be a cardinal rule of American politics, which is that a candidate who wishes to remain viable must not disclose unpleasant facts. I am sure that Obama is perfectly aware of the contribution that Jimmy Carter's malaise speech made to Ronald Reagan's electoral triumph. If we focus on the context in which Obama made an undeniably true factual assertion, we cannot but conclude that it was a faux pas that may prove to be very costly.

     Posted by ALPI at 04/14/2008 @ 12:29pm

167. posts by Jomamma: "Those who make under $ 100k should not feel bitter because those who make more than they do get a bigger tax break..they also pay more than everyone who makes under $100k"

     The bottom 80% of the country only owns 16% of the net worth in this country. So yeah...the top 20% does pay most of the taxes because they own 84% of all the wealth in the country. If you own most of the stuff that gets taxed...one would hope you'd pay most of the taxes.

     "The one who feels bitter is the one who busts his ass to work harder, smarter or whatever, earns more money, onlt to watch others who can't match him demand a bigger take of his efforts"

     Yes, because we all know that if you work hard and/or are smart you just automatically get rich. That's all you need in life to get a good degree, at a good college and land a great job or have a successful business. It doesn't matter who your parents are, or how much money they have or luck or anything like that. You just have to work hard and/or be smart and you too will make it to the to 20% in the country. Obviously 80% of the country is just lazy and/or dumb or they would have lots of money too.

     "The belief that the government in fact is entitled to the fruits of our labor is most strongly held by two groups. One group sells the idea that the poor are poor because the rich are rich, the other buys it."

     To some degree, the poor are poor because the rich are rich. Yeah, it's possible to create more wealth or through the free market legally get some of that wealth that already exists, but to be in the best position to do that, it really helps to have some wealth to start with. So...going back to the 20% of the country owning more than 80% of the wealth, if you already own lots of wealth, you are in the best position to do the things that make you wealthier, like get the best college degrees, invest, start new businesses, etc. If you have little or nothing to start out with, it's very hard to get a MBA from an Ivy League School, or play the stock market or create a successful business. Not impossible...but for most people, even if they are born smart and have a good work ethic, if you come from a poor family, you are probably going to be poor and so will your children and your children's children, and so on.

     So yeah, 80% of the country is bitter or jealous or whatever you want to call it because we have an economic/political system that works really well for 20% of the country and for the rest says, hey maybe if you work hard and/or smart, maybe, just maybe you can join us. If not...shut up and take what you can get. I'm not saying that using the government to redistribute the wealth is the answer...but I haven't heard about a better plan.

     Posted by metinker at 04/14/2008 @ 12:31pm

168. If Mr. Obama can manage to tell the truth in an election campaign and suffer the consequences as a bringer of bad news, then how much more likely is he to follow through on promises once elected? Even Franklin Roosevelt ran in the center, even right of center in his election campaign and look at all the great things he accomplished once elected. Mr. Obama is not afraid to speak the truth, even during a campaign. I look forward eagerly to what he may accomplish once elected.

     Posted by chaoszen at 04/14/2008 @ 12:41pm

169. What a shame that Katrina Vanden Heuvel would simply repeat Obama campaign rhetoric rather than examining his actual record and agenda. Where are the serious journalists when we need them?

     When it comes to Obama's campaign rhetoric, voters have a right to be cynical. First, he rarely says anything specific. All he does is spell out the issues and then mouth some empty generalization like "we need government to listen" or "we need change."

     He's very light on specifics, and for good reason. Obama is a free-trader. His longtime senior economic adviser, Austan Goolsbee, is a dyed-in-the-wool free-trader who got caught red-faced, privately assuring Canadian officials that Obama's pledge to Ohio voters to renegotiate NAFTA was just campaign rhetoric.

     Obama himself was one of the biggest supporters of last year's failed legislation to legalize corporate insourcing of low-wage replacement workers and forgive the penalties against employers of illegals provided by current law.

     When Obama had a chance to vote for legislation that would prevent future trade deals that allow "dumping" of products into the U.S. at prices below their cost of acquisition (the Dorgan Amendment to the 2005 Commerce Appropriations Bill) he voted against it.

     When Obama said that small-towners are bitter about being economically disadvantaged and that's why they embrace anti-trade and "anti-immigrant" sentiments, he is indeed signaling his contempt for their anger. Once in a while, his Reaganesque pro-business agenda leaks out on the campaign trail, and this was one of those times.

     Posted by Naturally at 04/14/2008 @ 12:55pm

170. TZIMISCE 04/14/2008 @ 11:59am

     'Just about the finest post I ever did see'...

     Thanks

     Posted by ttr at 04/14/2008 @ 1:07pm

171. What a shame that The Nation would simply repeat Obama campaign rhetoric rather than examining his actual record and agenda. Where are the serious journalists when we need them?

     When it comes to Obama's campaign rhetoric, voters have a right to be cynical. First, he rarely says anything specific. All he does is spell out the issues and then mouth some empty generalization like "we need government to listen" or "we need change."

     He's very light on specifics, and for good reason. Obama is a free-trader. His longtime senior economic adviser, Austan Goolsbee, is a dyed-in-the-wool free-trader who got caught red-faced, privately assuring Canadian officials that Obama's pledge to Ohio voters to renegotiate NAFTA was just campaign rhetoric.

     Obama himself was one of the biggest supporters of last year's failed legislation to legalize corporate insourcing of low-wage replacement workers and forgive the penalties against employers of illegals provided by current law.

     When Obama had a chance to vote for legislation that would prevent future trade deals that allow "dumping" of products into the U.S. at prices below their cost of acquisition (the Dorgan Amendment to the 2005 Commerce Appropriations Bill) he voted against it.

     When Obama said that small-towners are bitter about being economically disadvantaged and that's why they embrace anti-trade and "anti-immigrant" sentiments, he is indeed signaling his contempt for their anger. Once in a while, his Reaganesque pro-business agenda leaks out on the campaign trail, and this was one of those times.

     Posted by Naturally at 04/14/2008 @ 1:08pm

172. What a shame that Katrina Vanden Heuvel would simply repeat Obama campaign rhetoric rather than examining his actual record and agenda. Where are the serious journalists when we need them?

     When it comes to Obama's campaign rhetoric, voters have a right to be cynical. First, he rarely says anything specific. All he does is spell out the issues and then mouth some empty generalization like "we need government to listen" or "we need change."

     He's very light on specifics, and for good reason. Obama is a free-trader. His longtime senior economic adviser, Austan Goolsbee, is a dyed-in-the-wool free-trader who got caught red-faced, privately assuring Canadian officials that Obama's pledge to Ohio voters to renegotiate NAFTA was just campaign rhetoric.

     Obama himself was one of the biggest supporters of last year's failed legislation to legalize corporate insourcing of low-wage replacement workers and forgive the penalties against employers of illegals provided by current law.

     When Obama had a chance to vote for legislation that would prevent future trade deals that allow "dumping" of products into the U.S. at prices below their cost of acquisition (the Dorgan Amendment to the 2005 Commerce Appropriations Bill) he voted against it.

     When Obama said that small-towners are bitter about being economically disadvantaged and that's why they embrace anti-trade and "anti-immigrant" sentiments, he is indeed signaling his contempt for their anger. Once in a while, his Reaganesque pro-business agenda leaks out on the campaign trail, and this was one of those times.

     Posted by NATURALLY

     That "Canadian Official" story was debunked by the Canadian government itself. LOL. It is a sorry situation when the Anti-American facists have to resort to repeating lies and distortions hoping that their velcro B.S. will stick to somebodys wall. It is even more amusing when they attempt to use them in a forum of politically savy patriots. How lame can you get? Keep posting. Im busting a gut..

     Posted by chaoszen at 04/14/2008 @ 1:10pm

173. Does anyone else remember the 2004 Democratic Convention when Hillary and Chelsea were shown sipping champagne and laughing during the speech? Talk about elitist! I remember the commentator speculating that perhaps the Clintons did not really want Kerry to win so that she could run in four years....Hmm, how prophetic.

     Posted by Shel O at 04/14/2008 @ 1:24pm

174. HRC is the most two-faced, bitter, evil, disconnected, elitist politician in this country....I live in central NY State, which HRC visited three times running for Senate. Ever since then, she has forgotten us....her Presidential HQ is in Chappaqua, NY, an elitist Long Island community, where they treat "outsiders" like scum and pass laws to keep "the common element" out....look up how voters here were disenfranchised on Super Tuesday and "fell off" the rolls if you want to know elitist tactics...it was reported on NPR....the "oh so unfair to hill, boo-hoo" big media "failed" to report it.....

     Shame on HRC...I think they and their elitist big-shot politically connected PAC and lobbyists, their Saudi donors, their whiny big money contributors all are scum....they look down on everybody....and are very two-faced...

     I am glad Obama finally is fighting the evil Clinton machine...

     they are like Bush, Mugabe, and other dictators...they will never give in, and just lie until the "truth" favors thems, no matter how alienated and disenfranchised they would leave the country in their "scorched earth" tactics....

     Posted by jrs112 at 04/14/2008 @ 1:25pm

175. What is sad is that the Nation's readers have become so manipulated by three cynical stooges who will forget all about you by the first Wednesday in November.

     Posted by bagehot at 04/14/2008 @ 1:28pm

176. Yes, there are differences between the two Democrats, but they are obviously being exaggerated due to the election / primary. There is nothing wrong with passion for your candidate, but these clowns claiming to be Democrats, horrified by one of the candidates, to the point of voting against them in the general election- well this is ludicrous. John McCain is a dangerous man with GWs policies, but a brain capable of successfully enacting them. Any person that honestly would vote for McCain because their choice lost the Democratic primary is a pathetic buffoon who can do us all a favor and stay home on Election Day, or just grow up.

     Posted by phillymark at 04/14/2008 @ 1:29pm

177. "Obama is Right. People are Angry."

     For all of you saying that you are bitter or angry, please share with us what irrational behaviors or irrational modes of thought you cling to.

     Is it guns? Religion? Antipathy toward people who aren't like you? Anti-immigrant sentiment? Or anti-trade sentiment?

     Or do you see yourself as different from those sorry Pennsylvania goobers Obama was talking about; better educated and informed, more thoughtful, above that sort of thing.

     Begin to see the problem, now?

     Posted by WylieD at 04/14/2008 @ 1:30pm

178. The truth is 45 years ago the Clintons would have been considered Republican moderates, maybe even leaning a bit to the right of that. Hillary is a Democrat in name only by those standards. She has taken enormous amounts of PAC money. Mr. Obama has not. The Clinton campaign is currently using Republican tactics to attack Mr. Obama. She has said that only McBush and herself are qualified to be president and that Mr. Obama only had a speech. She is a traitor to the Democratic party. And now she is using the same Republican tactics again to criticize the Truth. How much more evidence does anyone need that a vote for Hillary Clinton is a vote for the Republican Party.

     Posted by chaoszen at 04/14/2008 @ 1:43pm

179. ANGMORG wrote on 04/12/2008 @ 11:58pm |

     "...and it is not bitterness you are feeling, it is jealouscy (sic) and shame on you..."

     I am plenty bitter, but I don't feel bitter about those who earn more than me. I and my family are financially secure, thank you. What I am bitter about is that I and many others in this country and around the world opposed the war in Iraq, and only a few in Washington paid attention, and that small amount of attention counted for nothing. I am bitter that our nation is so willing to spend trillions of dollars on an illegal war but bitches about illegal immigrants, low income households, etc. who are accused of wanting to benefit from higher wage earner's productivity. I am bitter that our government gleefully bails out banks but reluctantly and insufficiently comes to the aid of Katrina victims. I am bitter that our government subsidizes mercenary groups and at the same time our leaders chide that universal health care is socialized (ooh, the dreaded "s" word!) medicine and therefore must be kept off the table. Politicians want us to pay taxes to kill but express derision toward those who ask us to pay taxes to heal. What is wrong with this picture????

     I am comfortably well off and yet I am bitter and disgusted, and none of my bitterness or disgust stems from envy. I am sick to the teeth of leaders, both on the right and the left, who rush to speak of the strength their faith in God gives them (e.g. Clinton's and Obama's attendance of the silly and useless faith and compassion forum recently)instead of offering concrete solutions to our and the world's problems. I want rationality, not faith. I want to hear about reality, not optimism. I want to hear nothing of Clinton's, Obama's, McCain's, Bush's, or Bin Laden's God, only about their ideas and proposed solutions. The God of politicians and terrorists must reek of shit; these people tout how they so frequently commune with their God, and as we all know, these people never pull their heads out of their asses!

     Posted by raaustin at 04/14/2008 @ 1:45pm

180. "Batchelor and Laura Ingraham and Monica Crowley and Sean Hannity and Rush and O'Reilly are ready and rearing to go, quick to their guns to paint Obama as an elitist."

     Anyone else get a bellylaugh at this batch of elitists calling OBAMA an elitist? This is the same batch of wingnut ignorimuses who could very easily slip and use the word "uppity" instead of "elitist" to frame Obama.

     What are they going to say about McCain's "Songbird" nickname, the one the N Viet Namese gave him?

     http://www.youtube.com/user/VETSAGAINSTMCCAIN

     Posted by JEP at 04/14/2008 @ 1:46pm

181. For all of you saying that you are bitter or angry, please share with us what irrational behaviors or irrational modes of thought you cling to. Posted by WYLIED 04/14/2008 @ 1:30pm

     The hope for a better tomorrow? I don't think Obama or anyone else is suggesting that this is wrong behavior or even unjustified. Actually what irrational mode have i chosen? Many times just bury my head in the sand and give up on the whole thing.

     Posted by Tzimisce at 04/14/2008 @ 1:47pm

182. I try very hard to find common ground among Democrats, even as this election should not even be close!!!

     Dem policies are VERY SIMILAR...it is "how that change would occur" that is different, in Obama's words...HRC is very shameful, she earned more just last year, as her recent tax returns indicated, than 99% of Americans will see in their lives.....and calls some other candidate elitist....

     McCain will continue our totally dysfunctional policies which are destroying our future and standing around the world....if you travel anywhere, with our gestapo guarding the airports, and building useless "walls" etc...you will know that we need to change, bush policies are a total distraction at best and avoidance of reality at worst, from iraq to ethanol to gitmo....our abuse of human rights has ruined our respect around the world...even for eighty percent of Americans who know bush is wrong...every time he opens his mouth, it is disaster....I live in NY, and I am very sad that clintons would use any means to destroy our own party, creating the worst reality possible, and almost unbelievable a few months ago, that of a McCain presidency....that we will have four years to gripe about it....AGAIN!!!!

     Posted by jrs112 at 04/14/2008 @ 1:49pm

183. Posted by LIL 04/14/2008 @ 11:14am

     This is meant with all respect, but why is it stupid?

     Posted by Chilly Willy at 04/14/2008 @ 1:50pm

184. 'Just about the finest post I ever did see'...

     Thanks

     Posted by TTR 04/14/2008 @ 1:07pm

     Thanks

     Posted by Tzimisce at 04/14/2008 @ 1:54pm

185. If we are to be true American Patriots we must stand ready to die for our country. We must each stand ready, to defend and protect the Constitution. The only enemy, is the enemy from within. No outside enemy can ever bring down this country. Only the enemy from within can accomplish this. The People are the army which must stand against tyranny. I am surprised that we are such cowards that we would not rise up and flock to the streets in defense. We have allowed the enemy from within to convince us that the threat lies outside of us. That is a tragic situation. Be prepared to lose our country if you are not willing to defend it from facism and tyranny. I truly wonder what you all will do if elections are suspended this November..

     Posted by chaoszen at 04/14/2008 @ 2:24pm

186. Conservatism has destroyed this country. Now, with nuclear bombs and ethnocentric religiosity guiding our every national decision, we can finally reap the same "benefits" onto the world. God help us all.

     Posted by chendri887 at 04/14/2008 @ 2:32pm

187. KVH for president! You are soooo right about the source of criticism for Obama's "bitter" remark. First: He was speaking the truth, nothing more. Second: Look who's accusing him of being elitist. What cynicism. Third: Folks, just read the remark in its context. I don't see how anyone looking at it honestly can conclude it's elitist.

     I suppose, on the other hand, that Obama might as well get used to fighting this sort of cheap smear. If he wins the nomination, we'll be seeing lots more of the same before Election Day.

     (P.S. Sorry to be such a fangirl, but honestly, I've been meaning to compliment your work for some time, finally got around to registering.)

     Posted by kelly1 at 04/14/2008 @ 2:56pm

188. OMG, You mean Obama is a multi-millionaire Chicago elitist liberal who doesn't connect with regular working folks??

     Where did the Democratic party ever find such a person?? LOL

     Watching these two rip each others heads off over the next few months will be more entertaining than watching drunk chicks fight on 'Rock of Love with Bret Michaels.'

     Posted by Scooter128 at 04/14/2008 @ 3:53pm

189. What Obama fails to understand is that many people love religion and guns and country in good times as well.

     His elitist assertion proves he has been going to private schools and living in Chicago high rises a little too long.

     Someone should ask him, 'what is the most expensive bottle of wine you have ever bought with your own money?' and if the answer is over $30, I think we know what kind of person he is.

     Posted by Scooter128 at 04/14/2008 @ 3:59pm

190. We on the left are angry and bitter and frustrated by our gov`t. And we are gun totin, god lovin and hate what Dubya has done to America. Barack or Hillary it make no difference to me because McCain means four more years of Dubya and his horse $hit and I don`t think this country can handle it anymore.

     Posted by ams@50 at 04/14/2008 @ 4:23pm

191. 25.) My Economics Bill Will Help America - LIAR, your 111 economic policies were just combined into a proposal which lost 99-0, and even YOU voted against your own bill. 26.) I Have Been A Bold Leader In Illinois - LIAR, even your own supporters claim to have not seen BOLD action on your part. 27.) I Passed 26 Of My Own Bills In One Year - LIAR, they were not YOUR bills, but rather handed to you, after their creation by a fellow Senator, to assist you in a future bid for higher office. 28.) No One Contacted Canada About NAFTA - LIAR, the Candian Government issued the names and a memo of the conversation your campaign had with them. 29.) I Am Tough On Terrorism - LIAR, you missed the Iran Resolution vote on terrorism and your good friend Ali Abunimah supports the destruction of Israel. 30.) I Am Not Acting As President Yet - LIAR, after the NAFTA Memo, a dead terrorist in the FARC, in Colombia, was found with a letter stating how you and he were working together on getting FARC recognized officially. 31.) I Didn't Run Ads In Florida - LIAR, you allowed national ads to run 8-12 times per day for two weeks - and you still lost. 32.) I Won Michigan - LIAR, no you didn't. 33.) I won Nevada - LIAR, no you did not. 34.) I Want All Votes To Count - LIAR, you said let the delegates decide. 35.) I Want Americans To Decide - LIAR, you prefer caucuses that limit the vote, confuse the voters, force a public vote, and only operate during small windows of time. 36.) I passed 900 Bills in the State Senate - LIAR, you passed 26, most of which you didn't write yourself. 37.) My Campaign Was Extorted By A Friend - LIAR, that friend is threatening to sue if you do not stop saying this. Obama has stopped saying this. 38.) I Believe In Fairness, Not Tactics - LIAR, you used tactics to eliminate Alice Palmer from running against you. 39.) I Don't Take PAC Money - LIAR, you take loads of it. 40.) I don't Have Lobbysists - LIAR, you have over 47 lobbyists, and counting. 41.) My Campaign Had Nothing To Do With The 1984 Ad - LIAR, your own campaign worker made the ad on his Apple in one afternoon. 42.) My Campaign Never Took Over MySpace - LIAR, Tom, who started MySpace issued a warning about this advertising to MySpace clients. 43.) I Inspire People With My Words - LIAR, you inspire people with other people's words. 44.) I Have Passed Bills In The U.S. Senate - LIAR, you have passed A BILL in the U.S. Senate - for Africa, which shows YOUR priorities. 45.) I Have Always Been Against Iraq - LIAR, you weren't in office to vote against it AND you have voted to fund it every single time, unlike Kucinich, who seems to be out gutting you Obama. You also seem to be stepping back from your departure date - AGAIN. 46.) I Have Always Supported Universal Health Care - LIAR, your plan leaves us all to pay the 15,000,000 who don't have to buy it. 47.) I Only Found Out About My Investment Conflicts Via Mail - LIAR, both companies you site as having sent you letters about this conflict have no record of any such letter ever being created or sent. 48.) I Am As Patriotic As Anyone - LIAR, you won't wear a flag pin and you don't put your hand over your heart during the Anthem. 49.) My Wife Didn't Mean What She Said About Pride In Country - LIAR, your wife's words follow lock-step in the vain of Wright and Farrahkan, in relation to their contempt and hatred of America. 50.) Wal-Mart Is A Company I Wouldn't Support - LIAR, your wife has received nearly a quater of a million dollars through Treehouse, which is connected to Wal-Mart. 51.) Treehouse Is A Small Company - LIAR, the CEO of Treehouse last year, made more than the CEO of Wal-Mart, according to public records. 52.) University Of Chicago Hospital Pay Is Fair - LIAR, your wife's pay raise was nearly 150% her already bloated rate and the hospital is a Non-Profit Hospital, which made $100,000,000 in the last 3 years. They overcharge blacks VS whites for services, and overcharge everyone in general by 538%! 53.)I Barely Know Rezko - Only 5 Billed Hours - LIAR, you have known him for 17 years, and decided to do a real estate deal with him during a time when he was proven to be under investigation. Despite this, you divided your property and had them take off $300K before the mortgage problems started. Then Rezko's wife buys the lot beside it that you can't afford, saving you $625,000. 54.) My Donations Have Been Checked Thoroughly - LIAR, you only gave back Hsu ($72K) and Rezko ($150K) their money when publically called on their involvement in your campaigns. 55.) My Church Is Like Any Other Christian Church - LIAR, your church is so extreme, the pastor who married you, Rev. Wright, just got done blaming the US for 9/11 and named Louis Farrahkan their person of the year. 56.) I Disagree With My Church All The Time - LIAR, you still have yet to repudiate Wright, who married you and your wife, and you still donate large sums of money to assist the church in furthering its message - hatred and revenge. You donated in 2006 alone, $22,500 to the church that you so terribly disagree with. That is nearly $500 PER WEEK - that sure is disagreement, Senator Obama. 57.) I Have Clean Connections Despite Rezko - LIAR, you are not only connected to Exelon and Rezko, you are also connected to Hillary PAC supporter Mr. Hsu, AND an Iraqi Billionaire of ill repute, Nadhmi Auchi, who ripped off people in the Food For Oil, Iraqi deal. Seems Mr. Auchi may have helped Obama buy his million dollar property long before Obama had millions of dollars. Wonder what favors Mr. Auchi expects, when Obama leaves Iraq free to be taken over by special interests such as him. 58.) I never heard sermons like Rev. Wright's, that have been in videos all day, You Tube - LIAR! 3 days later during your Mea Culpa BS speech you said "Did I hear controversial statements while sitting in the pew yes!"

     Posted by Iraq_Vet at 04/14/2008 @ 4:39pm

192. Give me a break!

     No other First Lady has been as active as Hillary on domestic affairs. While other First Ladies prior and since Clinton have been largely house wives, Clinton has been a crusader of change.

     She has a strong conviction who has worked tirelessly in creating affordable medicine to Americans. She has been involved in a variety of activities when in fact, she did not have to.

     Tell me, what has Laura Bush done in the past nearly 8 years in the White House? So, please stop with the negative campaign against Hillary. At the moment, she has many millions of Americans who are supporing her and she needs to figh for them.

     If you want to pick on real news, take a good looke at Obama who has a history of lies and deceitful practices. His involvement with the racit Rev. Wright is only the tip of the iceberg. Take a good look at his association with the disgraced Tony Rezko and his financial misdeeds.

     Oh, what about Obama's association with the self-proclaimed Pentagon terrorist William C. Ayers?

     So, Hillary has 10 times more experience than Obama! While she may not be Mother Theresa, she loves America and unlike Obama does not sit in church for 20 years listening to hate speech by the pastor.

     So, give me a break!

     Take a good look at: http://www.obamaunveiled.com

     url=http://www.obamaunveilde.comURL

     Mmm

     ************

     Posted by Iraq_Vet at 04/14/2008 @ 4:41pm

193. Give me a break!

     No other First Lady has been as active as Hillary on domestic affairs. While other First Ladies prior and since Clinton have been largely house wives, Clinton has been a crusader of change.

     She has a strong conviction who has worked tirelessly in creating affordable medicine to Americans. She has been involved in a variety of activities when in fact, she did not have to.

     Tell me, what has Laura Bush done in the past nearly 8 years in the White House? So, please stop with the negative campaign against Hillary. At the moment, she has many millions of Americans who are supporing her and she needs to figh for them.

     If you want to pick on real news, take a good looke at Obama who has a history of lies and deceitful practices. His involvement with the racit Rev. Wright is only the tip of the iceberg. Take a good look at his association with the disgraced Tony Rezko and his financial misdeeds.

     Oh, what about Obama's association with the self-proclaimed Pentagon terrorist William C. Ayers?

     So, Hillary has 10 times more experience than Obama! While she may not be Mother Theresa, she loves America and unlike Obama does not sit in church for 20 years listening to hate speech by the pastor.

     So, give me a break!

     Take a good look at: http://www.obamaunveiled.com

     Link: What Obama Clan do Not Want you to See! [obamaunveiled.com]

     Posted by Iraq_Vet at 04/14/2008 @ 4:42pm

194. I am not an Obama supporter but speaking the truth and the facts is exactly what this election needs. Since what part of this campaign was it better to be deluded and have the wool pulled over your eyes? Obama may have apologised but no apologies are necessary when average americans are getting SWINDLED every day and ARE feeling very bitter about it indeed. More power to Ralph Nader. Go Nader '08.

     Posted by jimijazz at 04/14/2008 @ 5:06pm

195. The repeated right wing rantings by a few people who post over and over (and seemingly have nothing more constructive to do), makes reading The Nation blogs nearly a complete waste of time.

     I suspect I'll be heckled or ignored for saying this, but I'd love to see The Nation's blogs be limited to those who have shelled out the few dollars for an annual subscription. It should be dirt simple to program this site site to require this. If people like FRANKGRITS are so in love with their own rantings that they are willing to support The Nation by subscribing, then that's great. The magazine can always benefit from more subscribers. But I'd bet 100 times my annual subscription as a gift to The Nation if more than 5 per cent of the Coulter wannabes here were subscribers.

     Sure, it's fun (and probably good practice) to read wonderful comebacks by people like B_KOOL_66. There are indeed a lot of very involved, smart and articulate people who post insightful and provocative comments here, but they are largely drowned out or drawn into the gutter. And I suspect that there are many more, who like me, feel it's a major waste of time to read or post here because the signal to noise ratio is so low. We are missing the opportunity to have some truly informed, and yes, progressive, discussion.

     If I were looking for right wing claptrap, I'd watch Fox or listen to Rush. But that's not why I subscribe to The Nation.

     So, Nation editors, perhaps you might consider such a suggestion.

     Posted by kanig at 04/14/2008 @ 5:27pm

196. Why all the name calling? This is America and we are all entitled to vote for whom we like. The world is global now. America is not the superpower it used to be, and if we dont get it together and band together voting for president will be the least of our worries!

     Posted by qjh48901 at 04/14/2008 @ 5:40pm

197. Sure I'm bitter...bitter about Clinton's millions, McCain's beer heiress trophy wife, Obama's boyish good looks and gift of gab.

     Then there's the bitterness I have about the billions CEO's have accumulated and spend on crazy luxuries life Lear jets, and 400 million dollar yachts, and Bush's insane war which will cost 3-5 trillion and, yes, I'm bitter because I can just about afford my cat food diet and now I worry that Purina might be bought out by some hedge fund. But don't mourn for me, organize."

     Heck, I'm bitterness incarnate. But, I decided to move on. I started a group supporting Obama for president. It's called "Bitter People for Obama." Bitter as I am, I think he would be the best president ever.

     Posted by hkaplan at 04/14/2008 @ 5:57pm

198. Maybe Clinton did get hit by sniper fire. To say Barack is an elistist when she sitting on 109 million, in her new Ad she talks about summer visits to the family cottage, reporters can't interview her grown daughter that's campaigning for her. Just maybe there was sniper fire.

     Posted by gal7764 at 04/14/2008 @ 5:58pm

199. Katrina vanden Heuvel is certainly on correct that Obama is right --- regardless of whether he expressed it perfectly.

     As Heuvel accurately notes, 81% of the American people are obviously frustrated that their country (or the country they thought was their's) is on the ‘wrong track'.

     Faced with this frustrating situation the American people complain that their "voices are not being heard", and then hear from their Vice Emperor, "SO?" ---- which would certainly make many people ‘bitter' --- and angry!

     And while people are digesting this ‘kick in the teeth' with no say in the deadly and frustrating Iraq imperialist oil-war and their own economic oppression at home, they may start to think, "what's the difference between this unresponsive government here and the virtual dictatorship, only posing as a democracy, in Zimbabwe?"

     Well, if you want to talk about frustration, ‘bitterness', anger, and even outright revolt, just wait until the average American ‘working class' and even middle class learns that the GINI coefficient of income INEQUALITY in the US is about as high as strongman, Mugabe's Zimbabwe -- which places the US inequality in with South American ‘banana republics', oily monarchies, and central Asian dictatorships --- as well as being above the level that ‘our own' CIA warns, "leads to civil unrest and revolt."

     Posted by amacd at 04/14/2008 @ 11:42pm

200. As I have continued to read the posts, it is appparent to me that most Democrats do not consider themselves wealthy; albeit, they make $100,000 per year or more. The average middle class family of four makes $62,500, 2004 data. Give me a break. Go FrankGrits! If some feel guilty about their income, pay more in taxes, or donate more to charity. I am the "typical white person" in "bitter" Pennsylvania. I do not "cling" to my religion because I am bitter, or out of work. I am religious, period. I gave 30% of my family income to charity last year, more than Obama or Clinton; believe me, I do not hold a candle to either of their incomes. As most of the secularists on this website cannot figure out, religion is not a refuge for the disenfranchised; I believe in God and Jesus, period. Shoot me, for my way out beliefs. This is what bothers me about our party; you are a redneck, or Jesus Freak if you go to church regularly. I am tired of being put down by the Democratic Party and bloviates, of being religious. Perhaps some of you should revisit the defininition of liberal.

     Posted by sydney78 at 04/15/2008 @ 12:05am

201. I am amazed that there is an eight hundred pound gorilla in the middle of the floor and it appears everyone is ignoring it. The gorilla is epitomized in the antipathy to others who are not like them comment of Obama. I believe the word "antipathy" suggests bias, maybe racist. How well is that going to play in PA and the GE? I certainly think the Reagan Democratics and independents are going to see the eight hundred pound gorilla in the middle of the floor and they will vote overwhelmingly for McBush in the GE if Obama win the Democratic nomination. I know we all liberal but not everyone else is. So let's not discount the number of people who have antipathy in deciding on the candidate to nominate.

     Posted by btjr at 04/15/2008 @ 08:52am

202. Please get over yourself SYDNEY78! Maybe you should revisit your Bible. There's no Heavenly or Earthly need for you to brag about your charitable donations. Your faith alone should be enough to help you during this time of party crisis. I know it seems like I'm mocking you, but seriously, I don't care about your beliefs or others' non-Christian beliefs. Keep your religion away from me and I'll do my best to stop others from belittling you and other pious Democrats.

     Posted by phillymark at 04/15/2008 @ 1:00pm

203. the issue is not if the comments by Obama were true or not or based on facts that ring true. It is agreed by all that there is real distress being felt by many in the country – there is widespread agreement crossing traditional party lines that we are in need of some real fundamental policy change and paradigm shifts from our government. This still does not change the fact that the problem with "bitter gate" is not the word "bitter" rather it is the word "clinging" - with that one word he managed to erase much of the hope many in this nation including a number of traditionally conservative voters who were energized and genuinely excited about a "new " post-partisan politician that had the capacity to bridge traditional party divides and be a real man of the people.

     This recipe was a magnet for independent and undecided voters – they were just begging for a candidate with little to no AB (anyone but ) measure attached to them. Most if not all of these issues with Obama – the pin – Rev Wright / wrong – Bitter Gate – others ... etc.. the point of all this is that none of them on their own would cause a Titanic - however He is no longer that Candidate with little AB - it is very tough for him to win with more and more folks starting to look at him as just another"liberal" "lefty" etc.... the more of these "issues" or clumsy moments that he has – the further away the white house is getting in the rear view mirror.

     Posted by zevster at 04/16/2008 @ 1:16pm