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Obama Spin Level of Difficulty: 9.7
April 14, 2008 9:08 AM
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, is trying to explain his comments about small-town Pennsylvanians to the San Francisco crowd as a clumsily-worded compliment.
Obama told the Winston-Salem Journal "If I worded things in a way that made people offended, I deeply regret that. ... What I meant was something that I don’t think any of us can argue with, which is that people feel abandoned after 20 or 25 years of plants closing, jobs not coming back. People feel like Washington’s not listening to them, and as a consequence, they find that they can only rely on the traditions and the things that have been important to them for generation after generation. Faith. Family. Traditions like hunting. And they get frustrated.”
Ah, yes. Those wonderful traditions.
Faith.
Family.
Bigotry.
Xenophobia.
Because, let us recall, Obama said that, small towners, faced with economic hardship and a dismissive Washington, DC, "get bitter" and "cling to guns or religion, or antipathy to people who aren't like them, or anti-immigrant sentiment, or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
The proud traditions of small town America.
- jpt
April 14, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (173)
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Hey...I'm a conservative from a small town, NRA member.
I'm also self aware that I am bitter about off shoring, I am bitter about race being used in college admissions, I am bitter about being treated as an idiot because I have faith in a surpreme being, and I am bitter about NAFTA.
Oh yeah, and I AM bitter about a woman running for commanger in chief who lies with her husband about being under fire while we have soldiers dying in a foreign land.
Posted by: Alex, from Texas | Apr 14, 2008 3:56:40 PM
I'm actually happy that the media and the people of this country are starting to come out and realize about Obama. How can you support a leader who put his own people down like that. Obama has been making alot of mistakes in his speeches, especially the hatred that are coming out from his heart.
HE HAS BEEN STEREOTYPING THIS WHOLE RACE.
Posted by: Sammie | Apr 14, 2008 3:48:32 PM
The troubling thing about obama is his constant stream of misstatements. Just think of him as president and he is at a summit meeting with the Russians, Chinese of anyone else and he goes in a group of misstatements. think of the mess that that coult create. His judgement is suspect. It took him 20 yrs and a run for the presidency to tell Babs Walters that if his racist minister didn't retire, he'd leave the church. What a crock. If we're attacked he has to act immediately, not take 20 yrs. He's a product of the corrupt Chicago Daly political machine. When John Kennedy ran for president and lost Ill. mayor daly found some extra votes that were missed, and when counted, brought Ill. in the Kennedy win column. Later, when checked, these votes were by dead people. they were gotten from the cemetary. check your history books.
the republicans must be salavating waiting for him to run. He's supplying all the ammo they anyone can need.I hear that Chris Matthews bought himself a blue dress and some cigars.
Posted by: Russ | Apr 14, 2008 3:36:33 PM
"almost time to see what wolf, cafferty and co. have in store"
Have Matthews and Olbermann (and mewling mascot Jonathan Alter) taken to their sick-beds yet?
Posted by: Belle Starr | Apr 14, 2008 3:32:37 PM
"Astroturfing," a reference to manufacturing grassroots support.
One gets the impression, interestingly enough, that astroturfing for the "post-partisan" candidate's made use of the bi-partisan (everybody from the Cheney girls to the uber-left) "gay-rights" network.
Posted by: Belle Starr | Apr 14, 2008 3:26:52 PM
almost time to see what wolf, cafferty and co. have in store for Sen. Clinton this evening.
I just know they are all going to get to the bottom of the obama remarks and figure out a way to blame her.
I know his handlers are trying to come up with a way to just keep him quiet until after the primaries.
I know now why the dnc want to get sen.
clinton to step aside.
only because-they cannot keep spinning this guy as the real deal for long.
Posted by: jgaw | Apr 14, 2008 3:26:06 PM
Morningside - and add this to the Axelrod factor: His internet campaign manager is Chris Hughes, one of the original founders of Facebook, which explains the viral internet campaign, that has children believing they are "involved" in Obama's campaign, by becoming a "buddy" of his on sites like MySpace and Facebook. This is a whole new type of predator on the Internet.....
Posted by: Sandy in PA | Apr 14, 2008 3:22:54 PM
Be watchful about how Obama and Axelrod his media svengali try to spin this story and attempt to revise public opinion.
"The following is an excerpt from BusinessWeek about a relatively secret venture that Axelrod operates while he oversees Obama's campaign:
From the same River North address, Axelrod operates a second business, ASK Public Strategies, that discreetly plots strategy and advertising campaigns for corporate clients to tilt public opinion their way. He and his partners consider virtually everything about ASK to be top secret, from its client roster and revenue to even the number of its employees. But customers and public records confirm that it has quarterbacked campaigns for the Chicago Children's Museum, ComEd, Cablevision, and AT&T.
ASK's predilection for operating in the shadows shows up in its work. On behalf of ComEd and Comcast, the firm helped set up front organizations that were listed as sponsors of public-issue ads. Industry insiders call such practices "Astroturfing," a reference to manufacturing grassroots support. Alderman Brendan Reilly of the 42nd Ward, who has been battling the Children's Museum's relocation plans, describes ASK as "the gold standard in Astroturf organizing. This is an emerging industry, and ASK has made a name for itself in shaping public opinion and manufacturing public support"
People, are we going to allow this guy Axelrod to get inside our head and tell us what to think?
Posted by: morningside | Apr 14, 2008 3:11:22 PM
"That this man has gotten so far into the Democratic nomination process is a travesty. When will the DNC finally admit its mistake and ask OBAMA to step aside???"
They'll have to make it LOOK good, though: best would be for both Obama AND Clinton to withdraw -- after some enterprising Democrat (perhaps Howard Dean) stuffs pompous saboteur John Kerry into a large game bag -- and nominate John Edwards.
Posted by: Belle Starr | Apr 14, 2008 3:10:15 PM
Yes...OBAMA --- as your words convey---
These folks CLING on to guns and religion ---------as-------- YOU CLING on to your REV. WRIGHT and his teaching s from James Cone.
You have judged your potential supporters...... with this word
You used the word CLING.
And as you try to CLING onto some support you have in PA......
enough bloggers have downloaded the AUDIO from your FundRaising Party.....
including
" When people tell me they’ve all stressed about racial discord, well, you know, try slavery for a while"
talk about getting the last word in a conversation.....
Posted by: carpenter.nyc | Apr 14, 2008 3:07:45 PM
"This occurred at a private fundraiser in california among some rich donors to the campaign, an event where the media wasn't invited, if we didn't have the lady from HP record the talk, it would remain unknown."
That is a very important point. Barry felt safe among maxed-out donors, safe enough to reveal his true condescending and elitist core.
Who doesn't think he would have LIED about the comments if they emerged but were not on tape?
That's what he tried to do when his adviser told Canada he didn't mean what he said on the stump about NAFTA.
He was forced to cop to it when the memo emerged.
Fundamentally dishonest campaign.
Posted by: Saul | Apr 14, 2008 3:01:43 PM
You city-folk don't have a clue about us no-counting small-town people, we do hold our traditions in high regard, and the fact that you assume that anyone that comes from a small town just HAS to be a ignorant racist screams, well, prejudice. Prejudice that has made our voice unheard in America because we couldn't possibly have a place in law-making, we should just shut up and let our betters make those decisions for us simple-folk, right? Cause ya'll been doing such a good job up till now. I wasn't offended by Obama's comments, he's right after all.
Posted by: southernbell | Apr 14, 2008 3:00:30 PM
We know exactly what NObama meant by his remarks. The more he tries to spin it and remove his foot from his mouth, the bigger the foot gets! If you have to constantly explain what you said then perhaps public speaking is not his forte. And everytime he attempts to explain what he really meant to say, he winds up condesending to the very people he insulted in the first place. That this man has gotten so far into the Democratic nomination process is a travesty. When will the DNC finally admit its mistake and ask OBAMA to step aside???
Posted by: Juli in PA | Apr 14, 2008 3:00:10 PM
Thank you Mr. Trapper for sharing the truth. It is good to hear someone finally remark on Barack Obama and tell it like it really IS. I appreciate your remarks so much. You are right on!
My family and I are under much stress. I am not bitter. I do not cling to my religion, guns, etc. My faith is a part of me. I love this country and know the true values that make us unlike any nation in the world. Barack Obama can only talk...he does not walk the walk. And now his talk has reflected what lies behind the mask. He does not see and know the America I know. A man behind a mask will not bring change to American. Infact, I believe he has done more to divide this country than anyone I have seen bring division for a long time. I pray he has not undone our progress since the 60's.
Posted by: Patricia GA | Apr 14, 2008 2:54:57 PM
" ... he's become embarassing even to Teddy."
That may have been written tongue-in-cheek, but is probably true. Except for the tender candidate's made-up baloney about how the Kennedys were responsible for his very conception, the bamboozled un-rich might have been spared the cheesy spectacle of THOSE endorsements.
Posted by: Belle Starr | Apr 14, 2008 2:52:41 PM
To begin with wanted to tell everyone that I am a democrat first and a clinton supporter second. Sen. Obama no doubt gets my respect. He ran a different campaign and truly inspired many in the run for which he deserves all the credit. I had supported him with all the recent controversies but this recent incident has made him lose a lot of that respect. It is not at all to do with the comment or the word "bitter" though I agree the choice of words were wrong. Please do take a minute to read through the entire transcript or listen to the audio clip. Half knowledge is worse than no knowledge.
1. There is resentment, frustration(bitterness towards the government) among people but they don't resort to violence or antipathy. A very small percentage might(social outlaws) but most of AMERICA is resilient and have deep rooted faith and beliefs.
2. This occurred at a private fundraiser in california among some rich donors to the campaign, an event where the media wasn't invited, if we didn't have the lady from HP record the talk, it would remain unknown. If he meant to be honest he should have raised it in a small town in PA and addressed the issue head on. Seems to me like same old politics which unfortunately back fired.
3. As a hard core dem I personally took offence(in the same way when HRC implied she and mc cain are ready but obama ?, in the same way when Mrs Obama said she would have to think twice before vitong for clinton ) when he blamed the clinton administration for the lack of jobs when facts state that unemployment decreased from in PA 7.2% to 4.6% during those years. Again within closed doors to please some of his own fundraisers.
I know this is a very passionate election year and If in any way my comments might have hurt others (that was definitely not the intent)- deep felt apologies are on the table!
Amen
Posted by: Charles | Apr 14, 2008 2:51:28 PM
This man's ego is surpassed by none. He can't back away from this. His one statement then excuse for it cancels out the other statement and excuse. He has effectively painted hisself into a corner this time. I just hope that the MSM will play or quote the statement in it's entirety. The MSM has had a problem with this of late.
We are seeing things that a lot of people have been seeing for a long time.
Thanks Jake, for having the courage to say it.
Posted by: Brenda P. | Apr 14, 2008 2:46:57 PM
Thanks Mr. Tapper. For telling it like it is. The real Obama just gave the public a glimps of who he really is when he thinks no one else is listening. Of course, we all suspected as much based on Rev. Wright and Michelle's statements. Now it's come directly from the "horses" mouth.
Game OVER!
Posted by: SadStateOfAffairs | Apr 14, 2008 2:42:01 PM
Hey Jake, you are one brave soul to call Obama out on his lies.
As time pass and we learn more about Obama, I have no doubt that he is proved to be an obnoxious ignorant fool.
Posted by: JoeSky | Apr 14, 2008 2:38:22 PM
What? Someone in the press actually said what *everyone* who isn't on Kool-aid already knows?
This is one brave journalist. I hope you don't lose your job for telling the truth.
--------------
Oh yeah!
Kool-aid here
making you smile
drink some more
smile for a while!
Posted by: Oh Yeah! | Apr 14, 2008 2:32:33 PM
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