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End of Saturday Notes: Somewhere, Wayne LaPierre Is Laughing…

April 12, 2008 6:25 PM

Even before the Winston-Salem (N.C.) Journal has had time to post its interview with Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., the Obama campaign has circulated his semi-contrite remarks.

"Obviously, if I worded things in a way that made people offended, I deeply regret that," he said, per ABC News' Sunlen Miller. "The underlying truth of what I said remains, which is simply that people who have seen their way of life upended because of economic distress are frustrated and rightfully so.

"And I hear it all the time when I visit these communities. People say they feel like no one is paying attention or listening to them and that is something – that is one of the reasons I am running for president. I saw this when I first started off as a community organizer and the steel plants had closed. I was working with churches in communities that had fallen on hard times. They felt angry and frustrated."

***

Sen. Clinton, meanwhile, has unleashed the proverbial hounds.

Surrogate after surrogate is bemoaning Obama's comments, the elitism they supposedly illustrate, and the damage they might do electorally to the Democratic party should he be the nominee.

Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind. , is just one example; the Clinton campaign held a conference call in which allies of the woman who once was derided as an elitist for saying "I'm not sitting here as some little woman 'standing by my man' like Tammy Wynette" and "I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas, but what I decided to do was fulfill my profession" went on the attack, including the mayors of Pennsylvania towns Scranton, Sharon, Bethlehem, Wilkes-Barre, and Harrisburg.

You can listen to that call HERE.

***

Before Democratic hunters and sportsmen begin scheduling Skeet Shoots for Clinton -- with her new "I understand Second Amendment enthusiasts" rhetoric -- the NRA might want you to remember that she hasn’t always sounded so understanding of the needs of hunters and sportsmen.

"There are many, many millions of American voters and citizens who will stand behind political leaders who are brave enough to buck the gun lobby, wherever that may take us, so that they will vote for the measures that we know will save lives," she said in 1999 as first lady.

During her Senate run in 2000 she called for licensing and registration, although she has since backed off that stance.

During the NRA's 2006 push to demand that police chiefs and mayors pledge to never confiscate weapons from law-abiding citizens in the wake of disasters such as hurricanes or terrorist attacks, actually, it was Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, who supported an amendment from Sen. David Vitter, R-La., to bar homeland security funds for gun confiscation. Clinton voted against the Vitter amendment.

That's not to say that Obama and Chuck Heston (R.I.P.) would have seen eye-to-eye on this issue.

(Though Obama referred to small towners "cling"ing to their guns and Heston said the government could take his gun when they pried it from his cold, dead hands…So I guess they could agree on the notion of the verb, at least, if not the motivation behind said tight grip.)

- jpt

April 12, 2008 in 2008: Democrats | Permalink | Share | User Comments (103)

User Comments

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simple things are clear. like the fact that obama got caught making fun of regular people when he was talking to his rich friends. he had made sure no media were allowed so he thought it would be safe to express his real feelings about the regular people. but someone recorded him and he was caught.

so now he and his trolls are working overtime at damage control.

it's really very simple, and very clear. all the rest is just words.

Posted by: so saddened | Apr 14, 2008 3:40:45 AM

jgaw,
seah:

Keep it up! You're terrific.

Give 'em Hell, Hillary!

Posted by: eyes open | Apr 13, 2008 3:43:29 PM

Obama has defended his "bitter" comment; he has apologized for it; and he has said he could have said it better. How many positions is he going to take?? If he is flip flopping on whether he should have used "bitter" or not how can we trust him not to flip flop on more important issues?

Posted by: Eric | Apr 13, 2008 1:21:08 PM

independent in nc
thank you for comments
and on your last paragraph
after sen. obama reads it.
if you give him a chance-
and let him be clear
he will make a speech to you telling you he will be just what you said you want.
(he is good at coming back and making speeches about what the american people want)
thank you for you comments
independent in nc.

Posted by: jgaw | Apr 13, 2008 10:06:43 AM

maybe obama could address why some people are not only bitter but fearful of the way so many in the media are intent on doing everything they can to get obama elected? since he is so astute at determining the typical american is the very unhappy american because of his prejudice and bitterness. he/she/we are the problem because if we don't see the awfulness of ourselves and this country in it's current state we are just not enlightened. does no one see and question why chris wallace calls his own station out because they are being too hard on him. does anyone see and wonder why a journalist (king-cnn) keeps trying to get a governor to agree - shouldn't we just let this go - obama answered, said he could have said it better, isn't that enough. in time the media's favorite son will appear on time with his mother. cute child, cute photo. but how much more proud could the media be than they keep showing they are of obama. and who has ever seen anybody go to such great length in the media for clinton? keep changing the channels you just wont find it. but if it's because she is a monster, why do so many of us keep believing in her and keep supporting her?

Posted by: abe | Apr 13, 2008 10:03:16 AM

Well, If cspan continues as it has this am, Hillary is doomed-I must state up front, I am a black and a hillary supporter. and the black guy (not pedro)
is diffinitly for obama-I will call cpan in the am and tell them in the am.
the black guy is letting obama supporter in on the rep. line. and he is clearly campaigning for obama today.

Posted by: jgaw | Apr 13, 2008 8:19:55 AM

Suzi-If Hillary loses, it will be MacCain or I am writing Hillary's name in. I am really afraid of Obama. What a mess this election is in...

Rise, Hillary, Rise!'08

Posted by: LeeLee07 | Apr 13, 2008 2:34:44 AM

LeeLee07

Now, if I could just figure out which one is my candidate!

Don't like Hillary, Obama is worrying me, that leaves McCain. OY VEY!


Posted by: SuziQ | Apr 13, 2008 2:03:26 AM

No gun gets into Hillary's hands, per Philly mayor Mike Nutter. "Almost 232 years ago, a group of concerned Americans took matters in their own hands and did what they needed to do by declaring that the time had come for a change," Nutter said as he signed the bills in front of a table of confiscated weapons outside the police evidence room in City Hall. One of them will "allow removal of firearms from "persons posing a risk of imminent personal injury" to themselves or others." - Philadelphia Inquirer.

Posted by: kravitz | Apr 13, 2008 1:46:09 AM

You sound like a pretty nice person yourself. :D - Best of luck to you,too AND your candidate.

Rise, Hillary, Rise!'08

Posted by: LeeLee07 | Apr 13, 2008 1:45:17 AM

@LeoLoe07

You sound like a decent, reasonable person. I don't agree in your choice of candidates but - hey - it wouldn't be an election if we all agreed.

I wish you well.

SuziQ

Posted by: SuziQ | Apr 13, 2008 1:41:47 AM

Well, Suzi-at present, I don't need the government to take care of any of my needs. I have a good job and good health. But you never know what the future can bring. I feel that I have invested an awful lot of money in our government (along with everyone else) and I do not expect it to abandon me in my time of need which is what happened to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. I pray that I will always be self-sufficient, but if a human being has no where to go for help, they should not be made to feel ashamed to ask for help from their Government. The only shame in getting a hand-out or a hand-up is when you make the deliberate choice to make it a way of life when you can personally do better. I have served in the military and my husband has done 28 years in the Army. We believe in America and we think America should believe in us.

Rise, Hillary, Rise!'08

Posted by: LeeLee07 | Apr 13, 2008 1:34:56 AM

@LeeLee07

What does the government do for you that you can't do for yourself? Keep in mind that the "government" is your and your fellow citizens money that is marked up to cover the bureaucracy needed to handle it all.

Posted by: SuziQ | Apr 13, 2008 1:21:42 AM

One other thing, Suzi- Most of the complaints about the victims of Hurricane Katrina ARE true. I hope you and yours are never placed in the situation those people are currently in.

Rise, Hillary, Rise!'08

Posted by: LeeLee07 | Apr 13, 2008 1:20:50 AM

@Suzi-As our President, that is exactly what Hillary will do. I used the singular "you," you used the plural us". Each of us help to make up this country. Now, if you feel that you can go it alone, then by all means,do so. Me, I appreciate all that my government can offer me, after all, my taxes help to make what is available possible.

Rise, Hillary, Rise!'08

Posted by: LeeLee07 | Apr 13, 2008 1:17:16 AM

I am a Latina woman and i dont' want Hillary to do anything "for me". I do expect our President to protect us so we can go about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness in our lives. Notice that the word pursuit is used an not the word guarantee.

People are complaining that neither the Republicans or Democrats fixed their problems. Well, maybe they ought to try fixing their own problems.

I've heard so many complaints about Katrina. Probably some of them are valid but not all. There was a story about a young guy who took charge of a school bus and invited as many people on the bus as they could fit, and he drove it outta there. He wasn't waiting for the government to do something.

Neither am I.

Posted by: SuziQ | Apr 13, 2008 1:03:51 AM

All of this is silly. This November, I am voting for the DEMOCRAT no matter what.

Posted by: Joan | Apr 13, 2008 1:01:53 AM

@SuziQ-I am sure you already know what Hillary can do for you. This question has been answered for you night after night on these blogs, but you apparently do not want to acknowledge what is being told to you. I am not going to bother posting another link for you because your mind is already made up. I read these blogs just about every night, so I know. I can tell you that there is not one thing Obama can do for me or the rest of the Hillary supporters because we know he is a fraud, an empty suit that runs around accusing people of being racist, when in reality it is he who is the racist one. I am black, Suzi, and while I would love for a black man to be president, he is not the one. You need to look closely at this man before you make the leap. And even if you do make the leap - this man and his wife will never be the elected occupants of the White House. Good luck.

Rise, Hillary, Rise!'08

Posted by: LeeLee07 | Apr 13, 2008 12:52:52 AM

Jake,

You have rebutted Hillary better than Obama could ever have done.

Congratulations! Keep up the good work.

Posted by: Mary | Apr 13, 2008 12:37:50 AM

@LeeLee07

For some reason I have a hard time imagining that anyone would support Hillary without being bribed - either with tax dollars from fellow citizens or direct pay from her campaign.

To paraphrase one of the Hillary supporters here - "what I want to know is what is Hillary going to do for me?". What happened to "ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country".

Posted by: SuziQ | Apr 12, 2008 11:19:25 PM

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