Political Punch

To put it in a nutshell, I fell that Obama is a TOTALLY inexperienced windbag that is totally out of touch with reallity and the COMMON working class people who are the ENTIRE BACKBONE of the United States of America. His talk is CHEAP with no real plan!

Obama is right when he states the frustration and bitterness that middle class experience. Why, there is no middle anymore. Either you are like the Clintons or McCain, who find ways of using people to make money-We have more crime not only from lower class people-we are trying to survive a breakdown of middle class-Our Interfaith organization in our local community is hurting. We have more and more people in need of food and they can not keep up with the demand. How can I value Clinton's 109 million dollar statement or McCains's Marrying into money statement. I bet Hillary and McCain have never experienced putting their heat off to safe money, splitting up a pound of hamburger and strechting it out for a week. Not going to the doctor because it cuts into the budget of feeding the kids or putting gas in the car. They have no room to speak about Obama being elitist-At least Obama was in the throes of working with humanity WAY before his political career. I see a man of Grace, whereas I see McCain and Hillary as great actors. Maybe they should go to Hollywood and pursue their acting careers!

I am from a small town that has suffered ups and downs with its economy based solely on the oil field, and, although I am not from Pennsylvania, I am very offended by these remarks from Obama. Our town would have many he considers to "cling" to faith. I don't know anyone who does so because they lost their job. If anything, it would be the other way around. A good many people here own guns. In a rural area, you need them. We get rabid coyotes, foxes, skunks, etc. Nobody here said they started liking guns when the bottom fell out of the oil field ten, twenty, and thirty years ago. And some people here hold on to prejudices. Agriculture and industry around here would not function without many of our friends from south of the border. The prejudices I see are slowly dying as these immigrants have made good lives for themselves and their families here and are contributing to the community.

My point is that when Obama speaks against small town Pennsylvania, he speaks about all of us. How can Obama hope to help the people he doesn't understand? How can any elitist liberals, although well intentioned, help people they look down on? If someone needs food and you give them a car, you are not really helping them.

While I feel that the economy is a issue that should be at the forefront of any politician's remarks concerning their platform. It becomes apparent to me as an individual that the "elitism" is not in the fact that indiviuals are upset or seeking answers from their govenrmet. However it is in the fact that he can apply a broad spectrum to various issues that are complex in their own right;such as gun legislation, illegal imigration, and health care. And imply that these issues are secondary to economical policy. People vote for many issues on the basis of their belief system regardless of the economic situation of the nation. To clarify this statement, a liberal or a conservative will vote for their platforms/policies irrespective of economic downturn or upswing in our country's economy. I therefore do believe the comment was ellitist, not toward "Small Town Americans", but rather toward all Americans. Because it doesn't ridicule just one issue but categorizes the level of complexity that exists for many issues.

How dare you take down my genuine, honest and trau comments, and leave comments like Bill's up. Well, now I know you're a bunch of lying, disingenuous, conservative pricks, and you de3serve the candidate you've got.

Everything I said was factually true. Entirely relevant. and entirely against everything oyu believe in.

Lets get real here for a minute!! Do you people deep down inside really believe that Hillary or John McCain will really make this country better? I served in the U.S. Army. McCain served his country and I applaud him for that. But this does not make me ready to be President of the United States. This war has been a “strategic blunder” from the beginning and John McCain is going to continue to make it blunder. The REAL reason that you people in Ohio and Pennsylvania lost your jobs is because of NAFTA. Hillary’s husband helped to bring this into existence.

The news media is keeping Americans who have been affected by this and other IMPORTANT issues on an emotional roller coaster with the Rev. Wright crap, Obama’s wife Michelle, and now these comments. You people had better wake up and realize you are being FOOLISH if you keep paying attention to this crap that has nothing to do with your current situation. Keep running off of your emotions and making emotional decisions instead of intelligent ones, and you are going to be in the same position you are in now, which is regret.

People regret now voting for Bush and they are paying for it in SO MANY WAYS!!! If you vote for McCain because you won’t vote for Obama in the general election that is an emotional, dumb, stupid, idiotic decision. You better pay attention to the issues and what will be best for your family long term. McCain is certainly not your answer. But vote for him because you don’t like Obama and you deserve whatever you get. You better REALLY think about your decision. Make and intelligent vote and not an emotional vote. Emotions come and go but these issues you will have to live with.

Barack's consistant message has been that Middle Class, and working class America have been left behind. His consistant message has been that Washington has turned its back on small town America. His consistant message has been that he wants to keep jobs here and improve our economy. I want a damn job! I want affordable healthcare! I want to be able to put my kids through college and I want them to have better than I had, and the way things are going, they aren't getting better. They are getting worse. I live in a small town in Idaho, and you can bet your blue suede shoes that I'm bitter. I'm bitter because I can't afford to put food on the table and have to go through the humiliating process of going to the food bank and getting food stamps. I am bitter and I'm worried, and I'm concerned.

I know that HRC could care less about me. I know that she has her million oh nine and they will never know what its like to struggle. Hillary has leaped upon some perceived remark and tagged it elitist? Obama elitist? That's the funniest damn piece of fantasy I've heard come out of her mouth, and she can sure tell a whopper! Fish tales and lies. They *The media* characterized Clinton's Bosnia tale as a misspeak. They characterize Obama's misspeak, or rather poor choice of words as Elitist? What's next? Characterizing all Obama supporters as stupid? I aint stupid. I can tell when someone's drowning in their own stupidity and trying like hell to change the subject. Hillary Clinton is employing the Scorched Earth Policy. If she can't win no democrat can win. Its pathetic and I for one am NOT going to fall for her hijinks.

"All of you are quite aware that whate he said was factually true and you all know it. He was not confining anyone to their bitterness, he was just bringing it into the conversation becaus ehe means to address ti in a positive way."

----------------------------------------
Anyone who thinks this is as ignorant as Obama is. No, small-town people do not "cling" to religion and guns because of economic worries. Religion and guns are PART OF THEIR LIVES.

In this speech, Obama was revealing his Marxist roots, reducing everything to economics and treating religion as the "opiate of the masses."

Obama supporters are all angry, bitter and extreme individuals. I'm glad Clinton will win the nominee and the Presidency.

Those who lose everything seek comfort in the familiar. If you are not angry and bitter regarding the following information then your lying to yourself.

Hershey Foods Corp. (NYSE: HSY) will shut down its Reading plant, which
makes York Peppermint Patties and 5th Avenue bars. Production will be moved
to Monterrey, Mexico, by year end. The company has already shut down five
plants and plans to cut 1,500 more U.S. jobs in the next three years.

"These so-called trade deals are killing American jobs," Hoffa said.
"They aren't about trade, they're about helping companies move their
factories to countries with cheaper labor.

"The last thing American workers need is a trade deal with Colombia,
one of the most anti-union countries in the world," Hoffa said.

Pennsylvania has been especially hard hit by foreign trade. More than
44,000 jobs were lost due to NAFTA since it took effect in 1994. Another
78,000 Pennsylvania jobs were lost to China since 2001.

"Sen. Barack Obama's proposal to give tax breaks to companies that stay
in America and treat their workers well is one reason he's the most
qualified person to be president of the United States," Hoffa said.

And here we are again full circle, with the spin and the lies.

All of you are quite aware that whate he said was factually true and you all know it. He was not confining anyone to their bitterness, he was just bringing it into the conversation becaus ehe means to address ti in a positive way.

And that EITHER Hillary Clinton or John McCain are calling him elitist or out of touch is just more examples of how they [and by extention some of you] are elitist and out of touch. Just more of the pot calling the kettle black.

That's bologna and oyu know it. john McCain once stood in front of a bunch of AFL-CIO Union leaders and offered them $50 p/hr, and then told them they wouldn't take it because, in essence, they were just lazy and privileged, and couldn't do the jobs that Illegals, in his mind I guess, could do better. John McCain is in no great rush to get out of Iraq, qhile at the same time, he claims, he detests war, and still thinks the war in Iraq is somehow justified. Hillary Clinton as well tells nifty lil anecdotes about how she went to her prom after-party, and how she can relate, and how she is going to break the glass ceiling of "the boys club" as if Congress is just a bad rerun of a lil rascals episode, and as if all men are the same, and all men are ruining the world, and no girls allowed. Riiiight. Like she's got room to talk.

Senator Obama didn't say anything we weren't already thinking. He was just the one to think of it before they were, and they can't have him being intelligent when they're trying to paint him as just lucky to be black.

Arrogance, elitism, superiority, and classicism itself is the driving force of our religious institutions, economy, and culture. Imagine an America where everyone was well off. Well, your not thinking of America. You are not even thinking of some place on earth. It is foolish to believe that the president of the United States can make us all well off. The best they can do is make us all better off. Obama is right. He slipped up but spoke the truth. Many Americans transfer the reality of their problems and life in general into a small mindful of views, issues, beliefs, and actions. It is mental laziness and generational selfishness on their behave. So their lives are suffocated with fake problems, pathetic solutions, weak logic, poor facts, and great illusions. The only way he can appeal to the them is through grand rhetoric. They call actual problems conspiracy theories or matters of opinion, real solutions time consuming and confusing fancy language, and reality a negative and condescending outlook on life. Have it every occur to them that maybe a good education and/or ready open mind is necessary to face what they don't understand? McCain is from the old school of exercising good common sense and calling it clever and insightful. Hillary fully understands this as well but is rightfully so running a campaign and should capitalize on the stupid American public. The key in all of this is that America doesn't want to be stupid anymore so they are making a statement with Clinton and Obama. Although the America public has made some strides they will not entirely come out of being stupid anytime soon, nevertheless small town America has to at least start living in the new millennium. Just as a chain is only has strong as its weakest link so are we. We are entirely engaged in a world economic, cultural, and political scene that is rapidly consuming us.

How can Hillary give her endless parade of small-town America anecdotes about families work, pensions, or homes and then think people aren't angry about their situations? Of course they are, that's the whole point! And when Obama brings up the wedge issues that divide people - guns and gay marriage - and says these things distract us from realities like the economy, he's being elitist and it will be his downfall?

McCain and Clinton live in a dreamland if they don't think people are angry and are tired of distractions. Obama will ride their finger-in-the-wind politicking all the way to January.

Obama has run on the "Audacity of Hope" for the primary season.

It seems he is settling on the "Audacity of Despair" for the general election.

Between the Rev. Wright controversy and the typical white person comment, and the bitter middle class-- I humbly cannot perceive Obama as President. A President must uplift their country and the citizens and NOT tear them down. Obama has now lost any chance at getting my vote.

Why was this a gaffe? What he said was a honest criticism, NOT of working class Americans, but of the major political parties. Only if you take the last part of the statement and remove from the first do you even get close to something that might turn off some voters. Actually he sounds a bit like Edwards when he says people a fed up and angry.

The truth is Obama's statements are being spun by Clinton and McCain because they show he is more in touch with ordinary peoples lives than they are. It was Bush then Clinton then Bush that handed more and more power to big business. McCain and HRC voted for and supported those policies. Never were policies like deregulation or NAFTA written is a way that benefited Wall ST. and Main St. equally.

So of course people are pissed. And why would working people vote their economic interests? Bill Clinton exploited the feeling or poor, working class and black people and then once in power served Walmart's interests over theirs. So yeah Obama is right people turn to other things, things close to them.

Why is that a gaffe? He didn't make a gaffe, McCain and Clinton are doing spin!

Clinton needs to run her own campaign and stop hurting the other DEM. If she's the best choice show us. Only reason Obama isn't being praised as insightful for this comment is because he is fighting a two front war. And if anyone wonders if he's politically tough enough...he's fighting both McCain and Clinton and holding his own.

"This video is exactly how Obama should have raised the issue: In the environment these voters live and with an appropriate anger. Rural working class voters have gotten the shaft. They have every right to be frustrated and even bitter about what's happened to them.

Obama now finds himself having to address the issue defensively, Unfortunately, the issue will now likely be obscured by the hysterical anti-Obama rants by the Clintons and McCains. Obama gave them that gift when he spoke in San Francisco last weekend."

So we have yet another Obama "Freudian Slip" When are we going to learn the lessons of history. Barack Obama is a VERY DANGEROUS MAN whose main talent is to sense and say exactly what people want to hear while hiding his true feelings. Well... almost hide, hence all his clearly far left leaning "Fruedian Slips"

There is a venue where the truth IN Obama's statement would be better recognized. A stump speach is not that venue. I would think that Obama would recognize that. He absolutely doesn't understand why there are so many people who believe in Hillary Clinton. I am not going to try to explain it to him. I had a lot more respect for Mr Obama before he used the term "They" to describe a large group of diverse people. As a president of a very large democracy, Mr. Obama would have to understand the valid concerns of "Them". He would have to understand that "They" have the same rights to their opinions, even if he considers them un-enlightened.

There is a venue where the truth IN Obama's statement would be better recognized. A stump speach is not that venue. I would think that Obama would recognize that. He absolutely doesn't understand why there are so many people who believe in Hillary Clinton. I am not going to try to explain it to him. I had a lot more respect for Mr Obama before he used the term "They" to describe a large group of diverse people. As a president of a very large democracy, Mr. Obama would have to understand the valid concerns of "Them". He would have to understand that "They" have the same rights to their opinions, even if he considers them un-enlightened.

The comments made by Obama illustrate the true man. Take the time to read "Dreams of my father" by him and "Audacity of Hope" to name a few, then you might not be so blind to the charms of someone who delivers a great speech. Obama writes BEFORE HE EVER BECAME A CANDIDATE "if the political winds turn, I will stand with the muslims!! Quote and unquote. He has written many phrases such as " I find a solace in nursing a pervasive sense of grievance & animosity against my mother's race".Scary!! Isn't his mother white?Do you really think he doesn't have that attitude anymore? Yet he gets in front of the world and talks about crossing over the bridge. And last but not least, let's really settle the issue by his own words about pastor Wright in his books BEFORE the candidate race "What I value most about Pastor wright is not his day-to-day political advice. He makes sure that I speak truthfully about what I believe and is my mentor.In other words, his beliefs are the same as the man who calls himself a man of God. Which God?
The more one reads his books the more one can see the prejudice he harbors but
hides so well.For those who think this is a man of change who is full of love for all Americans, YOU ARE BLIND. STUDY HIS BACKGROUND. THEN STUDY CLINTON'S BACKGROUND. AT LEAST, THERE ARE NO INFLAMMATORY AND RACIST REMARKS FROM HER SIDE before they were candidates. . And Hillary and McCain are right, give me one source of research that can prove how much Obama did for his "race' while he was a senator.I haven't found it yet. And now his groups are flooding the African Americans computers with emails that pressure them into voting for Obama or being a traitor to their race. I thought this was a country of Americans, not blacks, whites, hispanics, jewish, or whatever group wants to control and have power over the rest of us. Please spend some time researching these candidates backgrounds before you vote. Don't let the pundits of the news media do your thinking for you.

I am not Freud or mental health expert but Obama's behavior suggests he is a very angry and impulsive man! Please notice that every time he is up in the polls his arrogance will show up (look for the timing on his comments on Hillary look, refusal to shake her hands on Speaker's day, refusal to dismiss Wright and similar friends, and now the dismissal of rural poor). I don't know whether it is Napoleonic complex, alpha male behavior or what, but this gentleman's reasoning is highly flawed and has a temperament unsuitable for the presidency of United States of America. Is there a Nixonian problem here? I suspect he and wife were either humiliated or felt extremely humiliated when attending Ivy League Colleges. As a result, his subsequent conversion to Black church, etc was also a way to deal with some of the perceived racism. Note also that Obama has an urge to demonstrate he is very smart, that he deserved to go to the colleges, not by his race. In fact, he thinks himself as a Professor at U. of Chicago! I am afraid to say that anyone can make a case Obama is a complete basket case, with potentially worse results than GW Bush.

It is interesting, most of those upset with Obama are not the one's who have lost their job but are only looking for another way to condemn Obama.

One of the reasons that Pennsylvania has remained a place to grow up and leave is because so many citizens continue to vote with their eyes and not vote with their brains. Many union members when told that the reason they could not get ahead was because of the people on welfare etc. ran to vote Ronald Regan which resulted in many lost jobs,homes,families and the exit of citizens from the state which still goes on today. These people were bitter and their failure to realize what the real problem was made them their own worst enemy. The state of Pennsylvania has suffered every since because of this type of misplace blame. And I cannot lie there are many Pennsylvanians who refuse to vote for people who do not look like them. This I blame on the old Democratic Party of Pa.which hasn't done much to educate its base. So the state and its citizens have suffered with no jobs,low wages and a host of other problems that come when one would rather be in charge and poor than to be inclusive and prosper as a state.

This must be the joke of the day where the republicans claim someone else is out of touch with America. They support the war in Iraq when a vast majority of Americans are opposed to the war, they support more tax cuts to the wealthy when a vast majority of Americans are opposed to more tax cuts to the wealth, etc. etc.

First, the majority of Pennsylvanians---and citizens throughout the country as well---have NO problem with immigrants, it is the ILLEGALS that they have a problem with. So, Obama is INTENTIONALLY blurring the issue---in favor of illegals, over US citizens/tax payers.

Second, Obama says that their anti-trade sentiments are the result of frustration. Hmmmmmm....hasn't Obama been campaigning on anti-trade and keeping more jobs/companies in the US??? So, he is manipulating his speeches/words to match the groups of people he will be speaking with on any particular day. The words are different, depending on who he will be talking to!!!

Then, he says that religious people are actually religious cultists---using their religion and gun toting as an excuse/crutch, instead of helping themselves!!

I live in Pittsburgh and Mr. Obama's remarks were right on the money. Its something that should of been said a long time ago. Whats sad is that most of the Pennsylvania officials that have endorsed Hillary Clinton are some of the same politicians that have failed the citizens of Pennsylvania in their quest to have a better life. Yes we are bitter and angry.

It is not the bitter part in Obamas statement that is disturbing.
The clinging to guns and religion that implies that the PA people are using it as crutches.Then to go as far as stating that they don't accept anybody that is not like them.
Don't go placing these people in a bubble and generalize the behavior of all the residents there.
The " Uniter" once again proves himself to be a divider.

Cabrini-Green is an architectural insult.

"Condemnation" seems to be the game that political consultants love to play at this moment.

Is Ralph running?

Damn right I am BITTER! I am working my butt off and making less than last year. I got my IRA in the mail yesterday and it's on the way downhill. Our health insurance is out the roof and I just filled my tank and bought groceries and my pocketbook is empty.

But my problems are nothing in comparison to others; one of my friends lost her cousin to Iraq and 2 of my clients have just lost their jobs and they are older folks that aren't highly employable.

Am I bitter? Maybe frustrated and angry are better words for what I feel. And I tell you, I come from a small town with a lot of houses sitting on the market and a lot of people here are on a slow burn.

So, go hide your heads in the sand and say all is well in America. We need some help and fast and I will vote for the man who tells it like it is. Time for all of us to grow up and bite the bullet. OBAMA 08

Robin 47 yr old, middle class, small town typical white woman, who does not drink lattes or wear Birkenstocks.

Also, when are any of you going to turn the page on the Rev Wright story? I guess this was so traumatic. All I heard were two 30 second blurbs. So where are the rest of his racist and and anti-american comments out of the 30 years of preaching. Is that all anyone can find? People go to a particular church for other reasons than the minister.
Obama is racist against whom? His mother?

Bosnia: Turn the page on this one too.
She has explained herself. And the story could be true, she may have mixed it up with another situation. Stop calling her a liar.
*
I am just sick of this going back and forth..He is a racist, she's a liar. I am voting for McCain if Hillary is nominee or I am voting for McCain if Obama is the nominee. The Democrats are imploding before our very eyes. The Democratic party has TWO great candidates.
*
You are sounding like spoiled children.
Get a grip.

Of course CNN would blame Hillary first and then McCain. Somehow, these two are always at fault whenever Obama missteps. I have totally stopped watching The Obama Channel (MSNBC) and can only tolerate small increments of CNN who aren't quite so blatent, yet still obviously pro-Obama. The media has picked the "Chosen One" and are doing everything to make him look perfect and shove him down our throats. It will backfire, like Obama and his "small town" remarks, it will be the same with the media's tactics, no one likes to be talked down to, no one likes to be a puppet (except Obama). Has anyone figured out who really is pulling his strings?

Apparently words Do matter now according to Hillary. Interesting.

I think Political Punch is just clueless and just plain mean sometimes.
*
I read the whole exerpt and I understood it in its full context. This does not appear to be condescending language. When you lose your job, are you bitter?
When you lose your home to foreclosure are you bitter? When you see skyrocketing prices at the gas station aand grocery store, are you bitter?
When you hear about another US casuaty in IRAQ, are you bitter? When you see a government bailout of Bear Stearns and you are struggling to keep your home, are you bitter?
*
This is not just small town America; this is also big city America. I am in the clinging on to religion group and I am NOT ashame of it either.
*
I am just disgusted by the media that take two sentences out of context and just run with it. You would think he claimed it was the end of the world!
*
I don't support one candidate over the other. But this pouncing on 30 second blurbs by any of the candidates has gotten absurd and out of hand.

PS. A millionaire can not understand the bitterness I see everyday.

Which candidate has been most anti-trade in trying to get votes? Barack Obama. Which candidate keeps saying "I pray to Jesus" and uses religion to distract and deflect? Barack Obama. Obama mocked the small town religion, guns, their closeness that recognizes strangers and a desire to protect their own.

Does Obama want small town America to be Chicago? Where parents have to escort children to school because of racial gun violence? Where government corruption is an everyday practice? Where guns, gangs, crime, teen pregnancies is much more prevalent? Obama wants small town America to emulate Cabrini-Green?

Listen my adopted grandparents who owned a dairy farm in Pennsylvania accepted me as if I was one of their blood children. When Franklin was on the verge of dying Doris asked me to come "home" and see him . The one thing he always wanted was to see his "grandbabies". All their foster kids, their five children and I returned to see him.

I met them 30 years ago and continued that relationship until even Doris passed away. She passed away in 1990. She taught me so much that summer when I stayed with them. They were my Uncle Ward's best friends. Since he lived in the men's hotel in the town of Hallstead I stayed with Doris and Franklin.

We lived in a small town in Georgia. Our son was able to take care of himself by the time I went back to work full time. We had a family move in across the street from us. Their son however was a convicted felon from Florida. Our son at times could be impressionable. He shoplifted in the town store at the insistence of this boy. The owner told us what happened which the owner thought was strange because Justin always walking around money. Justin was made to apologize to the owner. When our daughter who lived with her dad in OK came home to visit, some of the new people in town had not met her. While her and my husband were walking through town people walked up to her and said I know who your mother is.

My husband and I were moving to Kansas with our son for a new job. We were just coming into a small town in Georgia near the border of Alabama. I needed to eat since I have diabetes.The only restaurant in town was just about to close up when they opened their doors to us.They fed the three of us.

Those are my memories of small town America. Friendly, giving, warm people. Accepting of newcomers and giving their all.

Obama insulted me and my blue collar husband and kids. He insulted us on our gun ownership. I could never vote for this elitist, condescending arrogant man. I am that typical white, blue collar woman that grew up in small town America.

Interesting. One, it appears most of these posters here are commenting on the political opinion piece and not Senator Obama's words -- in context. Two, isn't anyone else amazed by how Hillary and McCain are seemingly in bed together? Could it be: McCain/Hillary 2008!

So let me get this straight.

Obama says that us working class folks can't get anything done in Washington to help us out on our lack of work, lack of health care, and our inability to hold politicians responsible for the promises of the big "rust-belt turnaround" we get every single election. So we turn our focus and fight tooth and nail for the things that matter morally to us and that we feel we have a say in, like gun control and gay marriage and religion, etc. We stick to what we know--our values, our freedoms, and our fundamental beliefs. Meanwhile the jobs don't come back. In fact more and more go away.

So my question is: What is wrong with what he's saying? How is this insulting? And WHERE is all this outrage coming from? People are using these statements as the final, conclusive evidence proving that Obama is everything from out of touch with the working class to a communist to a racist to a muslim! What is wrong with you people? Is it "elitist" to tell the truth all of the sudden? This guy comes from NOTHING. If you think he doesn't understand the working class you're not paying attention. It takes somebody who's been there to say the things he's said, and it takes an idiot to keep listening to the same crap we've been fed for 16 years.

Once. Just once I wish my fellow "hillbillys" (yet another thing he didn't call us) would act with their heads instead of the chips on their shoulders and realize it when somebody is trying to help give them back a little bit of class and power. But no. We'd rather listen to some 2 bit politician tell us more war stories that didn't happen, tell us how great everything's going to be because we're such proud, wonderful, hard working people, and let's just trust the nice lady (ignore that NAFTA stuff, she didn't really mean it--and while you're at it, ignore all that Colombia and lobbyist stuff too). God forbid we'd ever be able to take the truth--we'd rather get uppity about someone calling us "bitter", and get bent out of shape because we think someone thinks we're ignorant. He never said anything about "ignorant", nor did he imply it. He called it for what it is: People with little control over their source of income and future holding on tightly to fundamental things that they feel they can control.

Tell you what. I'm BEYOND bitter. I'm mad as hell, and I'm voting for this guy because he knows it. Vote how you want, but enough of this "I'm so offended" crap. I'm sick of the political games being played with my future and my job, and I'm sick of being LIED TO! I'd rather have somebody chafe me a little bit, but tell the truth.

He is right white people don't care about anything but their church and their guns.

Lets read into the Racist Obama comments a little further if you read between the lines in his small town comments he also means "The Typical White Person" make no mistake but he should realize that a majority folks of all races in big and small communities are proud of their religous beliefs,cherish the 2nd admendment, are sick and tired of their country being over ran by illegal aliens ,sick and tired of all their good paying jobs being destroyed and shipped out by free trade that favors cheap third world countries labor force

While Obama probably didn't mean to be condescending, that's exactly how he came off. Religion and values are very personal beliefs, and Obama is trivializing that by saying that those beliefs are based on bitterness over job loss. As if giving them jobs would allow them to discard their religion.

THAT is the problem, and it's a big one. It reveals not only Obama's views on PA people, but on religious people.

remember how the communists referred to religion as the "opiate of the masses" - looks like obama thinks the same thing.

So he is saying he's losing Pennsylvania because the folks in small towns are gun totin', bible thumpin' xenophobic hillbillies?
What stupid and pathetic things for him to say. He's saying he's
losing Pennsylvania because of hillbillies?
Well, look out Mr. Obama. Wait till you get to West Virginia and
Kentucky!

I'm a concerned Canadian. It is so depressing to watch the democratic party rip itself apart at the same time as your current president is getting away with illegar war, torture, basic human rights violations, economic devastation,etc. etc. Your planes are being grounded for Pete's sake, because of the corruption of your 'regulatory' systems. And the thing that gets you all worked up is that Obama dared to talk about middle and working class bitterness. From here, it is so obvious that Obama is right: you will all be manipulated again by 'gotcha' and dirty politics around non-issues, rather than vote in your own interests, and the interests of your children's future. It's a tragedy, or farce, but it really isn't funny.

So the Clintons, who felt they could bamboozle Tuzla by our ignant lil haids and obviously insulted our intelligence, decide to miss the point of Obama's comment and use a couple words. But the people don't have short attention spans in this election, and are checking out the whole quote and its meaning. Penna is not doing as well as Rendell would have us believe. And the Clintons, with the anti-Trade, anti-Union COLUMBIA deal, do not want to help the people Obama is addressing. McCain doesn't even understand their economy.

We need a president who sees us and not their 100million dollar friends. That person is Obama. We're already paying too much for Bill Clinton's pension as it is, while too many people have NONE at all.

Obama is...upsss...out of touch

The problem isn't what he said, it's who he said it to...a bunch of snobs in S.F., talking about small rural American towns. He was showing off for his stuck-up friends. I've never disliked a candidate as much as I dislike him (not even Bush) and that's pretty sad! If Hillary doesn't get the nomination, I'll vote for McCain or I won't vote...

I'd say that based on everything that I've seen from the church that he attends every Sunday the people he associates himself with are much more bitter than people from small-towns. He's belittling the beliefs of the people who just so happen to be those that keep this country going. There's more proof of bigotry in his own church than that of his deranged opinion of middle America.

This isn't about Obama's political views. I have no agenda towards or against him. His unbridled ignorance in these latest comments is very troubling. The more I learn about him, and listen to what he says, the more my respect and trust for him lessens; as a politician and a person.

The thing everyone, including myself, is upset about isn't him saying that people are bitter, I'm sure alot are. I'm offended at the total disregard for religion as something they're clinging to. Could it be that people have genuine faith that has nothing to do with their economic status? Obama is totally blind. How could he believe this? Their negative opinions about America's lax immigration policies means that they hold all immigrants in contempt. Totally ridiculous! Typical excuse for legitimate views that people hold that are contradicting to his agenda. Good point Obama. Let's just disregard their opinions as bigotry and be done with it. What a shmuck.

hmm..he says in reference to American small towns: they "cling to guns or religion", have "antipathy to people who aren't like them", have "anti-immigrant sentiment" and "anti-trade sentiment"

Sorry folks but that if you aren't aware this is Exactly the way it is in many small towns. I came from one, live in one now and know many people that live in them and have these views. Nothing wrong with it just the way it is.

Sometimes the truth isn't pretty when reflected and can be a bit "bitter" to swallow.

Either you people making a stink over what Obama said are frauds or you simply are not too bright . Obama said nothing demeaning , he was showing understanding of the plight of so many ( including myself ) is what he was doing . Obama spent his early career after graduation from Harvard representing and working with the inner city poor and disadvantaged when he could have been a corporate lawyer in some hot shot law firm getting rich . Clinton ? A member of the young Republicans and then six years in the corporate board room of Walmart ! And for those of you who don't know it , yes , it is the truth , look it up , google it . Obama is a very intelligent man , his is not Bush speak , seriously I think many don't have the intelligence to grasp what he says and do not understand what he meant . With Bush's command of the English language , that of an eight year old , no wonder he was such a hit , people could identify with him and understand him , no matter that he is a chronic BS artist and liar . Because you do not have the intelligence or the education to decipher what a man says , the man is an elitist and or must have said something demeaning ? Sheesh !God help us !

Well maybe people in small town PA aren't bitter and frustrated about where this cracked out govt has led us the past eight years but I know I sure as heck am. If you aren't what reality have you been living in the past decade?

Once again Obama sinks into the abyss of hate. Subliminal from Rev Wright

It is 3 p.m. the kids are in school, husband at work, a knock at the door.
McCain? Obama? or Hillary Clinton
Which one would you invite into your kitchen to have a cup of coffee,and discuss what you expect from the leader of the free world.
I know I would invite Hillary Clinton in and be overjoyed that she has the fortitude and strength to lead our Country.

All this adds up to is a more Obama and Clinton hating and a divided dem camp which means victory for the repubs in nov. Oh well, looks like four more years of the same...sigh..

Watch Sean Hannity on Fox tomorrow and Sunday night (8PM or 9PMEST)----he is going to expose the lies, corruption, etc. of Obama.

He is also going to expose his connections/associations with Farrakhan, Rezko, Reverand Wright, and William Ayers!!!

Bren,

What are you talking about? I don't understand what you're saying. Could you please elaborate.

Annagain:

Don't count on it!!! Some of the Obama supporters will make excuses for him (as they are now) and believe his coverup lies and spin!!! It is already happening.

It's unclear what the supporters of Senator Clinton are looking for or waiting for her to do. The Emporer Has No Clothes. So when you go out to vote, please be informed, because the suggestion that Senator Clinton's service as First Lady somehow qualifies her as the person most ready to be President of the United States is a ludicrous assertion. Perhaps then she and Laura Bush should share a ticket, though it would, however, be difficult to determine who of the two has the most experience to be President. After all, Laura Bush has traveled around the world and given her opinion regarding many significant issues. However, I don't recall Laura Bush, (as first lady) blatantly lying about being shot at in Bosnia, risking a possible US invasion of that country! Or lying about her daughter being near the twin towers when they got hit, and spinning an outlandish tale of how she (Chelsea) had to run for her life, just to win a seat in the senate! The fact is Senator Clinton is a liar! She lied when she said she put pressure on Bill to intervene in Rwanda, and she lied to the voters in Ohio as she now lies to the voters in your state, when she says she fought against NAFTA. As the White House papers show, there was no attempt to pressure President Clinton to put an end to the genocide in Rwanda, nor was she pushing against the institution of NAFTA. In fact, she was a huge proponent of NAFTA. And what about her top adviser? Mark Penn is not just a heavy hitting PR person, he's an unscrupulous PR person, giving advice to clients such as the tobacco industry, instructing them on how to target inner city minorities via smokers rights groups! Blackwater on how to effectively respond to questions from the 911 commission, to cover up their indiscriminate killing and torturing of men, women and children in Iraq! Advising subprime lending groups on how to move forward with their illegal agendas and deflect fallout while ruthlessly leaving people homeless and bewildered! Not to mention the Colombian Free Trade Deal. While Senator Clinton appears to have "demoted" Penn from chief strategist, she fell quite short of removing him from her campaign altogether--he will serve as one of her top advisers. Senator Clinton's retention of Mark Penn, exposes her contempt for the millions of Americans that have lost their jobs to NAFTA, and stand to lose their jobs to CAFTA! She will say and do anything to win this nomination and she has completely fabricated her foreign relations experience!

During Bill Clinton's presidency Senator Clinton was not qualified to speak in any official capacity, nor was she in a position to sign peace treatise or broker deals. It's absolutely absurd and offensive to the intelligence of thinking individuals to suggest otherwise. She was however given the official position to head and be the chairwoman of the Task Force on National Health Care Reform. As usual she attempted to secretly draft the bill, botched the job, turned Democrats against her and effectively galvanized the Republican Party to work in unity against the Democrats! Needless to say, for the first time in twelve years, the Democratic Party lost their majority in Congress

Now fast forward to the Clinton's tax returns revealing 118m gross income, much of it earned through former President Clinton's speeches, and the not so subtle lobbying of the insurance company responsible for halting the 1993 health care reform plan of the Clinton Administration. Health Insurance Association of America (HIAA), now America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), paid President Clinton $150,000.00 dollars in June of 2005, to deliver a speech to their board. I believe it should raise a red flag to those supporting/endorsing Senator Clinton to recognize the problematic relationship created by this. The language that now crafts Senator Clinton’s health care plan, mirrors AHIP’s proposal in remarkably unsettling ways that warrant examination, particularly if these speeches point to the possible currying of future favors granted by Senator Clinton, "should" she become President. Robert Reich, Bill Clinton's secretary of labor and the head of Clinton's economic transition team has the following to say about the Health Care Proposal Debate:

Both of them are big advances over what we have now.

But in my view Obama's would insure more people, not fewer, than HRC's. That's because Obama's puts more money up front and contains sufficient subsidies to insure everyone who's likely to need help -- including all children and young adults up to 25 years old.

Hers requires that everyone insure themselves. Yet we know from experience with mandated auto insurance -- and we're learning from what's happening in Massachusetts where health insurance is now being mandated -- that mandates still leave out a lot of people at the lower end who can't afford to insure themselves even when they're required to do so.

Senator Obama has far more legislative experience than Senator Clinton. He served as an Illinois senator for 8 years and has only 2 less years of congressional experience than Senator Clinton. His honesty and integrity, coupled with his experience as a community organizer, civil rights attorney, Illinois State Senator and US Senator will enrich the position of President and bring about a positive change much needed in Washington.

Sincerely,

J. Taylor

Robert Reich Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-reich/why-is-hrc-stooping-so-lo_b_75191.htm

America's Health Insurance Plans: http://www.ahip.org/content/default.aspx...

Since the male dema
ocrat canidate is ashamed of his name and I dont want to be called a racist for saying his name I will just refer to him as canidate X. Mister X has just insulted all the people in this country, who go to work ever day put there shoulder to the wheel and keep this country moveing in the right direction. We have seen that in his church his paster and the people he preaches at are bitter and blame this great country for all the ill,s in the world. [Go away mister] XXXXXXXXXXX-O

Sean Hannity is one of the most polarizing figures in America. Wish we could get past this politics of division. Remember Compassionate Conservatism. WHAT A JOKE. Some of you need to get past your obvious sensitivities towards BO race. Remember he is a little of both.

Obama's comments make perfect sense. People are bitter about the impact of the economic policies of the Republicans. And they cling to things they love like guns and religion, because they are all that the Republicans have left them with. To distract the people from the impact of their polcies Republicans try and play upon people's fears that Democrat's will take away their guns or attack their religion.

As for Obama's comments implying the existence of xenophobia, just read the post referring to "Hussein Obama" and see if the shoe at least fits some feet.