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N.C. Clinton Adviser Bashes Obama 'Small Town' Remarks While Introducing Bill
April 11, 2008 9:53 PM
ABC News' Sarah Amos reports that at North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, N.C., Clinton campaign North Carolina chieftain Tom Hendrickson, a former state party chair, made much hay out of the "small town" comments made by Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.
Hendrickson was introducing former President Bill Clinton.
"I normally just come and talk about President Clinton and Senator Clinton at these, but today Senator Obama was out at a fundraiser at I guess a brie and chardonnay crowd in San Francisco," Hendrickson said. "But his quote talking about small towns in Pennsylvania -- and which applies to small towns across eastern North Carolina -- which is why it is relevant to this tour we are doing today. And his quote is 'and it is not surprising that they cling to guns and religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them, or anti-immigrant or anti-trade as a way to explain their frustration.'
"I listened to that quote and I got mad," Hendrickson said, "and I wanted to reach out to Senator Obama and say senator, we are from the rural part of eastern North Carolina. We are very proud of our heritage, we are proud of who we are. We are not frustrated. We are not bitter. We turn to our faith because we believe, and we hunt and fish because it is part of our culture and we enjoy it.
"And we do that because that is who we are and I say that today because as this campaign goes on and on it is about choices, it is about change. We are going to hear the master in a little bit tell you what you, why, what you need to hear about his wife Hillary Clinton. But I wanted to take this time to mention this to you because you will hear more about this as time goes on and it is really time to really evaluate these candidates up close and personal."
Amos points out that, interestingly, the crowd had little reaction at all. They, in fact, seemed a tad bored.
- jpt
April 11, 2008 in 2008: Democrats | Permalink | Share | User Comments (229)
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Truth is Americans don't like to hear the truth. Fact is very many of us are bitter and struggling.
I'm struggling big time and I can connect to what Obama is saying. I'm tired of politicians trying to sell us false hopes.
The Clintons are such LIARS looking at the blue collars workers in the eye and lying to them.
Posted by: truth | Apr 12, 2008 1:21:47 PM
As a european i have a strong feeling that there is something wrong in the collective mindset of Americans:
1. You are getting poorer in absolute terms and very poor in relative terms comapred to europeans, japanese & fast growing economies like china, Korea,...
The leading economy at a great distance is just about to be overtaken by china or many others in just a decade or less time
2. You are getting less powerful everyday because you commited yourself to a wrong war: your armed forces are overstretched, you are sustaining the wrong war with chinese money you have to pay dearly for many years to come. Beside that the rest of the world like the russians and chinese are quietly working to overtake your influence.
3. You are viewed less favourably everywhere in the world even in Israel.
4. The so-called union is cracking because your original declarations like rights for Guns are obsolete & need an extensive overhaul. Guns never did any good.
With these and other alarming factors at hand, fighting for a comment that is in my view very precise is indicative of a downfall.
Wake up & see things globally and try to think rational.
Posted by: Samy | Apr 12, 2008 1:20:43 PM
See how a president answers a question.. he says yes I said it, this is what I am hearing, people are bitter, frustrated, and don't trust the govt'.
Unlike Clinton, he did not whine, point the blame at someone else, say he's human and misquoted. Unlike McCain he did not change his statement. Finally, someone is listening!!
I am bitter, he's right! I don't want or need to be talked to like a child by candidates trying to act as if they have my best insterest at heart, when they don't even know what I am saying.
How can Hillary fight for me, when she cannot even hear that I am bitter, frustrated, and getting tired of empty promises from the government. Say what you wil, but 24 years of Bush & Clinton is enough! We need change!
Posted by: Edith | Apr 12, 2008 1:13:43 PM
Obama does nothing but stereotype people. He keeps putting other races down, in hopes that he looks better.
Neither McCain nor Clinton would have gotten away with saying: “the black community” clings to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
As opposed to Medicaid, Food Stamps and Section 8, I'd prefer working, God, guns, trucks and church.
NO Barack Hussein Obama!
Posted by: 1VOTE | Apr 12, 2008 1:09:28 PM
Wonder why Billy is not surprosed guess who realesed this statement????YUP<<<< What goes around Billy comes around and I am a firm beliver in that statement Just hope I am here to see you and your wife fall flat on your faces ,People will smarten up when they see the monies from her BLIND TRUST and where it came from...LIARSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Posted by: honest | Apr 12, 2008 1:07:20 PM
Andrew Austin writes:
"It will be interesting to watch the corporate media - one part of which wants to purge its white guilt and the other part of which wants to hobble the Democrats in November - bail Obama out of this one."
Don't worry: Jonathan Alter and Chris Matthews will pout, and try to talk it to death on teevee.
Where's Obama's summer house, anyway? If he doesn't HAVE one, whose does he use?
Posted by: Edgar Cayce | Apr 12, 2008 1:02:49 PM
MUST READ: HILLARY SUPPORTS OUTSOURCING!
Los Angles, July 30, 2007
Gary Singh
In 2003, Tata Consultancy Services of India (TCS) opened a office in Buffalo with the help of Hillary Rodham Clinton and told a newspaper that it might hire as many as 200 people.
Tata has done more to undercut workers in upstate New York than it has helped
In 2003, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton helped the high-tech firm Tata Consultancy Services of India (TCS) to open a office in Buffalo, N.Y. by hoping that it would bring jobs to the area. Clinton later said the deal showed that outsourcing firms could create jobs both in their home countries and in the United States.
As a part of its program to expand its US presence, TCS will provide advanced IT training to new recruits. The training center is aptly named "Chrysalis", a word signifying the evolution of a larva into a butterfly. Company executives explained that the name alludes to the transformation of bright new talent into advanced IT professionals who would lead the technology industry in the future. The firm said it had already hired 20 new recruits, primarily from western New York, and had plans to triple that number by the middle of next year. But over that same period, Tata sought H-1B visa certifications to import nearly 500 foreign computer programmers and other specialists to upstate New York.
Since 2003,"the reality is that it probably created many more jobs for workers overseas and displaced lots of American workers according to leading news papers.
NRI Sudesh Agnihotra from New York told our representative that NYC residence are very up-set that about 500 foreign computer programmers and other specialists were dumped in their State and they had no gain.
Clinton always said, the United States benefits by admitting high-tech workers from abroad. She backs proposals to increase the number of temporary visas for skilled foreigners.
This is also surprise to learn that when she addresses the union audiences and Democratic crowds, she does not mention her support for expanding foreign-worker visas
Most of the NRI supporters of Hillary Rodham Clinton are confused and up set of the out-come of Tata (TCS) deal.
How Hillary can claim to support American workers if she is also helping Indian outsourcing companies and proposing more worker visas.
Posted by: TRUTHPREVAILS | Apr 12, 2008 1:01:56 PM
That screeching sound is Obama's campaign veering off the tracks.
It's kind of like watching the bridge-blow-up scene at the end of "Bridge over the River Kwai." Can Democrats jump off in time to save themselves?
Posted by: SAM | Apr 12, 2008 1:00:24 PM
Lauren writes:
"WE NEED A PRESIDENT WHO WILL NOT SELL US OUT TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER"
That'd be John Edwards. The "diversity" twins are all ambition -- and instead of mobsters and black separatists, Clinton's saddled with Bill Clinton, whose post-presidential activities have been about raking in millions and running around in a top hat with George Bush I, who started Part I of the Iraq war.
If the Democrats don't nominate Edwards, they're going to lose the election to whoever's place barmy Senator McCain's holding.
Posted by: Edgar Cayce | Apr 12, 2008 12:57:12 PM
So is there a reason why you Clintonites are making the same post twice? Your candidate comes from the family of lies, racism, and the most crap that can come out of anyone's mouth. Sen. Obama spoke the truth and those who can't handle it, are Clinton supporters who live in a rose colored world. You guys make me sick. The good news is that Obama will be president even without your votes. Thank God for miracles!
Posted by: Joe | Apr 12, 2008 12:55:27 PM
It will be interesting to watch the corporate media - one part of which wants to purge its white guilt and the other part of which wants to hobble the Democrats in November - bail Obama out of this one.
Posted by: Andrew Austin | Apr 12, 2008 12:50:08 PM
At least he's consistent. He can acknowledge white discontent with affirmative action (i.e., govt-sanctioned racial penalties for being whites) and illegal immigration, but he refuses to allow that there can be sound, principled reasons for being opposed to them.
Posted by: Nietzschean | Apr 12, 2008 12:45:55 PM
Ron writes:
"obama seems to have forgotten his roots; acts more like a rich white man than a black man who knows the misery of poverty."
Obama's "roots" were rich white people and elite schools. He's never been poor: when he lacked any accoutrement of upper-class life -- a mansion, a couple of corporate salaries or best-sellers -- some mobster or corporation or university has stepped in to supply it.
Posted by: Edgar Cayce | Apr 12, 2008 12:42:14 PM
It is sad when truth becomes a dirty word.
Senator Obama is right on the money and he had my vote.
Just call me angry, bitter and frustrated in Houston, Texas.
Posted by: Deward Bowles | Apr 12, 2008 12:35:50 PM
Obama is a loser and obviously can't speak off the cuff. He's a disaster and the Dims leadership now know it. They have given another gift to the republicans. Thank you for that..
Posted by: Rich B | Apr 12, 2008 12:31:27 PM
the clintons had nothing before exiting the presidency. i for one am happy that they are finally making money after all the bull they put up with from republicans.
they know what it is like to be down.
obama seems to have forgotten his roots; acts more like a rich white man than a black man who knows the misery of poverty.
Posted by: ron | Apr 12, 2008 12:30:24 PM
"a brie and chardonnay crowd in San Francisco"
At more than $2000 a head for a Pelosi kind of crowd to hear the magic mulatto diss the lumps, the most amazing thing is that these remarks even made it OUT of the gathering.
Posted by: Edgar Cayce | Apr 12, 2008 12:28:18 PM
gore lost because his campaign leg by donna brazille sucked and because the republicans in florida and on the us supreme court stole the election: bush was selected, not elected.
and times were good during the clinton years. good jobs with good pay.
bush is probusiness and let them run nafta into the ground.
obama is not going to win the general: he cannot carry one southern state; he will not carry ohio, florida or pennsylvania. he loses. then what? 4 more years of bush.
the democrat's only hope is hillary: she is tough. she is vetted. her hide is thick and she works for the middle class.
Posted by: ron | Apr 12, 2008 12:16:01 PM
Senator Obama told one of those truths that people don't like to admit or hear especially the same ol politocos and pundits. The system is broken people and it desperatly needs someone with a fresh vision for the future. The way things have been working have caused this chasm that exists and some people just can't be heard any longer when they are down that far. The elite are the folks presently in control, Mr. Obama is as close as you're going to ever see that can relate to every day Americans. How can you believe Mrs. Clinton with her 109 million in the bank could ever relate to the average person or Mr. McCain with his wifes beer fortune? Let's get real people - Mr. Obama could have worded that sentence better but the message rings 100% true.
Posted by: Rob | Apr 12, 2008 12:15:45 PM
MUNCIE, Ind. - Democrat Barack Obama on Saturday conceded that comments he made about bitter working class voters who "cling to guns or religion" were ill chosen, as he tried to stem a burst of complaints that he is condescending.
Hmmm...backtracking again I see.
Posted by: J | Apr 12, 2008 12:06:55 PM
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