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Bill Clinton's Message to Rural America
May 10, 2008 2:43 PM
As Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., avoids any real campaigning in West Virginia, the former president of the United States is out there ginning up resentments.
Bill Clinton has the right to say whatever he wants, of course. But he's a smart man. Brilliant, even.
He can do the math. He must know that it's quite improbable that his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., will be the Democratic presidential nominee.
So what purpose does it serve for him to barnstorm a state like West Virginia and tell rural voters that Obama and his elitist political/media cabal allies are mocking Appalachia?
He's using the kind of language Democrats typically use against Republicans -- as in, stuff you say when you don't want voters to vote for the other guy under any circumstance.
This is tough stuff to walk back from.
Per ABC News' Sarah Amos, this is what the 42nd president of the United States said Friday in Ripley, W.Va.:
"Hillary is in this race because of people like you and places like this and no matter what they say," Clinton said. "And no matter how much fun they make of your support of her and the fact that working people all over America have stuck with her, she thinks you're as smart as they are. She thinks you've got as much right to have your say as anybody else. And, you know, they make a lot of fun of me because I like to campaign in places like this, they say I have been exiled to rural America, as if that was a problem. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be here than listening to that stuff I have to hear on television, I'd rather be with you. There is a simple reason: You need a president a lot more than those people telling you not to vote for her."
In Madison, W.Va.:
"It is very interesting, from the very beginning of this race there has been a sharp divide in the vote -- the people who need a president, who need to turn the economy around, who need to restore the middle class, who need to give poor people a chance to work their way into the middle class, who need to give our children a better future, who need to restore our standing in the world and the war in Iraq, but do it in a way that rebuilds our military and stands up for America's security and standing around the world -- they have been for her from the get-go."
And on and on... Ginning up the resentments and the class divide (and maybe other divisions). ... His message to these voters: Obama and the media are laughing at you and think you're stupid!!!
Obama has a clear problem with white working class voters. This kind of rhetoric exacerbates it. Clinton knows that -- he's trying to drive up turnout to maximize his wife's popular vote argument to superdelegates. He has every right to do so -- the race is not over, no nominee exists yet.
But this is what keeps Howard Dean and Nancy Pelosi up at night.
- jpt
May 10, 2008 in 2008: Democrats | Permalink | Share | User Comments (650)
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Actually, the DNC gave the Clinton's enough rope...
Posted by: McPander | May 13, 2008 3:08:43 PM
Next time please submit your proof. Until you can it will stand that she said, "For the first time in my adult life, I am REALLY proud.
No wait. That's even better come to think of it. If Michelle says she's proud there's nothing more to really say. Therefore, if she says it once, twice or three times she says she's proud.
If you tell your child you are proud of them, and then you say I'm really proud it just means you are already proud now I'm just more proud than I was before.
Thanks.
Posted by: ginger | May 13, 2008 12:58:07 AM
Ginger says
"As for Michelle Obama, she said, "I am really proud. Meaning she was proud before but nows she's REALLY proud. And she's right. Some of you are turning a compliment into an evil, which is what the media wants.
Like Michelle for the first time in my adult life I feel REALLY proud of this country."
Sorry ginger, no dice.
Michelle said that "proud of my country" line several times.
The 1st time it was caught on video, the line did NOT contain that "really".
It was "for the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country".
In the later iterations, it was obvious she was tweaking the statement. She knew it was a mistake, but she can't help it. it's how she really feels. Ask Rev Wright.
Posted by: RoBoTech | May 12, 2008 10:47:03 PM
Here are some figures you might be interested in. Since the Clintons are entitled to Secret Services protection for life There mortgage payments hover at around $10,000 per month.but an extra residence had to be built with the acreage to house the SS agents. They (Clintons) only charge the Fed. Gov. $10,000 monthly rent for use of extra residence, equal to their mortgage. This means that we, the taxpayers are paying the Clinton's salary, mortgage, transportation, safety and security as well as the salaries for their 12 man staff and this is perfectly legal.
Posted by: wilhelmina78 | May 12, 2008 8:41:13 PM
I guess they buried the story of the BO advisor that resigned this weekend, because HE HAD BEEN TALKING TO HAMAS. I think we should be concerned that 9 out of 10 terrorist wants BO to be our President. We have no idea what he and the mean misses has instore for US. Pray and God Bless Us.
Posted by: Carol in Alabama` | May 12, 2008 7:59:04 PM
I guess they buried the story of the BO advisor that resigned this weekend, because HE HAD BEEN TALKING TO HAMAS. I think we should be concerned that 9 out of 10 terrorist wants BO to be our President. We have no idea what he and the mean misses has instore for US. Pray and God Bless Us.
Posted by: Carol in Alabama` | May 12, 2008 7:58:51 PM
The Clintons are doing what they can to make sure that Obama has an even harder road to November. And are trying there best to make sure he's loses so she can run again in 2012.
I dont blame her I guess. She must be embarrassed at how mismanaged her campaign has been. She knows that she has lost this nomination due to her poor planning and lack of knowledge regarding her parties rules. Her constant changing of strategy and persona should have showed allot of people she wasn't as ready as she thought to be this countries 1st woman president.
I personally think they are damaging there legacy and her future in politics. Even if she does run in 2012. She will get nowhere if she doesn't gain the support of black voters. Her sending her attack dog Bill to go out and tell the white people of America, its us against them will only hurt her in the future.
But oh well. hopefully all Dem voters will unite so that we can try to get this country back on track, but as these elections have shown. RACE is still an ugly issue in America. For a lot of voters Race trumps any real issues this country is facing. I cringe at the thought of another 4 years under the republicans.
Posted by: Are you really a Clinton Supporters. | May 12, 2008 6:59:11 PM
Obama is a fraud, and his wife needs therapy, she has an inferiority complex. They both are racists. What more do we need to know? We don't have time to find out right now. NOBAMA 08
Posted by: shirl | May 12, 2008 5:41:29 PM
Mrs. Clinton will not quit until she has destroyed Obama's chances this November. Watch as she now stirs the racist pot, in W. Virginia and elsewhere, repeating that it is impossible for a black man to win white Americans' votes. Instead of appealing to the country's better angels and working for the historical importance for us as a nation to turn the page toward a more perfect union, Hillary is demonizing the entire nation and smearing all of us, especially white Americans, by saying that white Americans will not vote for a black candidate. This is a blatant lie, as proven in Obama's victories in Iowa, Wisconsin, and all across the nation. It is way beyond time for the Democratic Party elders to STOP this madness before she destroys the party, the republic and all our best hopes for the future. No deluded, vicious, power-crazed politician should be given a free pass, even if her name is Clinton and she believes she is entitled to dynastic keys to the White House.
Posted by: shirl | May 12, 2008 4:20:02 PM
Do you guys really think that a guy with such a pedigree does not know the number of states that are in the US.
This is the bases for his thoughts...
There are 50 STATES in the US....
Six US TERRITORIES.
1. Puerto Rico
2. Virgin Islands
3. American Samoa
4. Guam
5. Northern Mariana Islands
6. Minor Outlying Islands (Wake Island and Johnston Island)
And one US-Administered REGION:
1. Guantanamo Bay
If you do the maths, the US A president is in charge of these 57 states, territories or regions...you know this from civil classes and before one becomes a USA constitutional lawyer or in charge of Harvard Law review, he will know this and more..
Posted by: bb | May 12, 2008 3:26:02 PM
Barack will lose the GE... so stop wasting your time. I honestly can't wait to see the egg on his face, and the end of his career
Posted by: radarmel | May 12, 2008 12:20:08 PM
Even if they are campaigning for a shot in 2012, do you think people will forget the dirty campaign tactics from this year?
I know for me it won't matter what year she tries to get elected in, she lost my vote a long time ago.
There are a lot of other just as qualified, if not more qualified, women that could run for President without bringing all the old baggage the Clintons have with them.
Posted by: Tammy | May 12, 2008 12:18:18 PM
Easy to fix, Obama did not call you poor, uneducated, ignorant, blue collar, lower class, racist, etc. If you had been listening, Hillary and the media categorized you all like that. She has said on many occasions that Obama could not get the white, uneducated, blue collar vote. So do not flip the script and blame Obama.
Posted by: Bobjective | May 12, 2008 12:07:12 PM
THE CLINTON'S ARE DOING EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO SABATOGE OBAMA AND THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. THEIR TRUE COLORS ARE NOW COMING OUT AND THEY ARE BEGINNING TO MAKE THE BUSH FAMILY LOOK LIKE NICE, CARING PEOPLE. SHAME ON THE CLINTON'S. BILL RUINED AL GORE'S CHANCES WITH HIS LEWINSKY AFFAIR AND THEY ARE NOW TRYING TO RUIN BARACK'S. THEY ARE RUTHLESS, HATEFUL, DEVISIVE PEOPLE. WHY ARE THE DEMOCRATS ALLOWING THE CLINTON'S TO RUIN THE PARTY, WHICH IS JUST WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN THIS UGLY PROCESS. I STARTED OUT AS A BIG HILLARY SUPPORTER BUT THE MEANER SHE GOT, THAT NASTIER BILL BECAME, THE MORE LIES THEY TOLD, THE MORE DEVISIVE THEY TRIED TO MAKE THE COUNTRY, THE MORE I KNEW I COULD NOT SUPPORT THEM. I HOPE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY OPENS UP THEIR EYES TO THIS HATEFUL FAMILY.
Posted by: MARLENE | May 12, 2008 11:46:41 AM
it's not just Bill and Hillary throwing racial, gender, and just general 'dirt' - its their surrogates - Did anyone catch Lanny Davis on the Hannity show this weekend? They have all sunk to the lowest of levels. I have no respect for any of them.
Posted by: bernadette | May 12, 2008 11:28:48 AM
aint no one changed washington yet. although they say it EVERY ELECTION !
what makes anyone think obama can really deliver ?
Posted by: George M. | May 12, 2008 11:09:24 AM
"Hillary is in this race because of people like you and places like this and no matter what they say," Clinton said. "And no matter how much fun they make of your support of her and the fact that working people all over America have stuck with her, she thinks you're as smart as they are. She thinks you've got as much right to have your say as anybody else. And, you know, they make a lot of fun of me because I like to campaign in places like this, they say I have been exiled to rural America, as if that was a problem. I don't know about you, but I'd rather be here than listening to that stuff I have to hear on television, I'd rather be with you. There is a simple reason: You need a president a lot more than those people telling you not to vote for her."
One question: Who is they?
Posted by: ginger | May 12, 2008 10:56:27 AM
Bill Clinton is still on the "people like us" tour. He should skip the wink-wink comments and print up the "vote white" bumper stickers already.
Wouldn't it be funny, if people in November were found to be sicker of this kind of do-nothing politics than they are prejudiced?
Posted by: Voted for Bill | May 12, 2008 9:41:58 AM
easytofix
Personal ambition is a bad thing? Again... I dont get it.
And if you achieve your ambitions while making a positive contribution, is that a bad thing?
If you think having personal ambitions, particulary, personal ambitions that include running for President, perhaps we should become a monarchy?
Posted by: Gemma | May 12, 2008 9:39:27 AM
bill clinton is the worse speaker of the democrats party .
the only reason he made it has president
is because of the black vote.
thats why he is so anry because he can't get the black votes for his wife
thats why he and hillary dont like the
bblacks this time around because they
are voting for obama. and the clintons
are very upset about it but thats there
bad luck. and bill he is bleep speaker
with his red face and hillary is nuts
loud mouth with full of lies telling
democrats to vote against obama
vote against the nominee hillary and
bill both is putting damage on democrats
party and know it and dont care a bleep
just because her face is white she
wants everybody to think she is the one
hillary is playing the race card so is
bill she is wrong by telling the white
to vote for her ................
Posted by: dogs | May 12, 2008 9:35:18 AM
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