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Bill Clinton Keeps 'Bitter' Alive
April 14, 2008 4:21 PM
ABC News' Sarah Amos Reports: Former president Bill Clinton's campaign rally this morning at the junior high gym in Corydon, Indiana was a wealth of Hillary Clinton surrogates, among them many who had their own thoughts about Sen. Barack Obama's recent comments about small town voters.
The former president was introduced by Indiana's Former First Lady Judy O'Bannon, who spoke of rural pride and reminded the small town crowd it was not a sentiment shared by the all the presidential candidates.
"All over Indiana there are people in communities like ours, and we aren't just blind fools who live here because we don't know where the road is that goes out, are we?" Some candidates would imply that, wouldn't they? Read the newspapers and see what some candidates say about places like the hometown where you belong," said O'Bannon, after talking about how her husband Governor Frank O'Bannon was a Corydon local.
Citing concern over the economy, health care, and Iraq, O'Bannon passionately continued, "We're worried about that. And that is why we know that you just don't do the things that the other candidate implied - sit around and quake and cling. You get up and you do something about it."
President Clinton, Hillary's number one surrogate, then used O'Bannon's remarks as a springboard to share his own experiences of reactions to Obama's comments at a recent San Francisco fundraiser where he said small town voters were "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."
Over seven stops in North Carolina, Clinton said "Everywhere I go there are all these people with signs, saying I'm not bitter - I'm not bitter."
Clinton said during a stop in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania "this fellow said to me... "President Clinton, we are not bitter, we just want to turn the country around." Clinton said another supporter in North Carolina said "I hunt 'cause I like to and I go church 'cause I need to. And if I were a millionaire, I would still hunt and go to church.' He said what we need is to get this country together, get it on the road and go forward. So that is what this election is about. And we all gotta go forward together. We all have to go forward together."
The strong sentiments were appreciated by the crowd, but were not entirely accurate. During Clinton's seven stops in North Carolina on Saturday there were no "I'm not bitter" signs. There was a small assortment of people at his later events wearing stickers with the slogan, but many of those sporting the stickers weren't even sure what they meant. Clinton also was a bit confused about his encounter in Pennsylvania. The conversation actually took place at an earlier event in Bloomsburg, PA - or so Clinton told the crowd in Bloomsburg.
Despite the evolving anecdotes, the fact that the Clinton campaign needs this story to stay alive in Indiana and other rural states was crystal clear.
And just in case the reporters in the room weren't totally sure what the message of the day was, the Clinton campaign's Indiana co-chair, Joe Hogsett was ushered out to the press riser to talk with reporters before the rally began.
The former Indiana State Secretary told reporters "apparently Senator Obama believes that those of us in Indiana only practice our faith because we are mad at the government, or that we seek refuge in recreational activities because we are frustrated by our economic plight. Nothing could be further from the truth. As I said earlier, we pray because we love God. We hunt and fish because that is what we have been taught to do. Those are values that are time honored here in Indiana and values that apparently Senator Obama doesn't understand"
Hogsett also made it clear that he did not believe Senator Clinton has attacked Obama over these remarks. "Oh, it is not our attack, it is Senator Obama who attacked Senator Clinton this morning saying that she would say anything to get elected, even carrying news crews around behind her to take a shot and drink a beer, trying to suggest that she shares Hoosier values. When it is in fact Senator Obama himself who suggested in California last week that he is out of touch with Hoosier values," said Hogsett.
April 14, 2008 in Bush, George W. | Permalink | User Comments (137)
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Bill Clinton the congenital liar. This guy is just like an STD. Please just go away. We don't want our dicks leaking like busted pipes.
Posted by: Kevin | Apr 14, 2008 4:27:08 PM
I hope Obama didnt say anything about beer-drinking and hoops shooting when he paraded around Western PA bowling and drinking Yuengling. Come on now.
Posted by: tony | Apr 14, 2008 4:27:24 PM
I think the media, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and pundits have completely lost their marbles.
Posted by: tomdavie | Apr 14, 2008 4:29:11 PM
Of course he keeps it alive. This is what they do. Hillary has a blunder and the press jumps all over her and where in the hell is Obama? He is no where to be found. Now, when the shoe is on the other foot, she jumps all over it and so does her disgraced husband, supporters and everyone else.
He NEVER says anything - about anything - that involves her!! He better go back and dig up all the dirt and bad press she has had from the past 3 weeks and bathe her in it.
I am sick and tired of camp Hillary slamming him on every single thing. While he sits back and lets her skate by. The Bosnia, he didn't say anything. Bill's lie and interpretation of Bosnia he didn't say anything. The Mark Penn stuff he didn't say anything, etc. etc. etc.
He let someone who made over 100 million dollars in less than 7 years call him an elite member of society!.... He better wake up from whatever he thinks he is doing and go after that b//// once and for all.
Enough with the nice crap. If she can pounce on him, he should pounce on them. If she can twist his words, he better can in the game twist some of hers. He better be leading the charge to dig up some of Bill's comments and some of Hillary's as well.
Wake up Obama, these people are ghetto politicans, you better get dirty with them or get off the stage! People are sick of this nice guy crap. The Clinton's are flawed and disgusting people, why can't you focus on that?!
Posted by: E.L. | Apr 14, 2008 4:31:57 PM
Kevin - rush to CVS before it closes and renew the lithium prescription.
Posted by: tony | Apr 14, 2008 4:32:31 PM
If his claim to fame is his inspiring, sparkling rhetoric, he needs to be called to task when he puts his size 12 in his mouth. Yes, his opponents are having a hay-day with this but what if he puts his insensitive foot in his mouth on the world stage. He needs to go away and ferment for another decade.
Posted by: Jill Elliott | Apr 14, 2008 4:35:59 PM
Oh EL - lol. Obama does not have to scrutinize Clinton because the media are doing the work for him. Please, the man is apparently above any type of analysis. So much so - that his worshippers become enraged over a little heat. What: did you really expect he would cause the nation to fall down and honor and obey him, as his campaign suggested? This is what happens when college students control your message. "I, the Lord Obama, shall rid the USA of 'politics as usual' and usher in an Obama Generation of hope and change and civility. I will smite divisiveness in the world and cause a new era of cooperation. I the Lord Obama will reach across party lines and cause the Republicans who hate the Democrats to lay down their hatred and follow me." LOL - sorry, he cannot even unite his own party, how can he unite the nation.
QUESTION FOR OBAMADROIDS: His campaign has said it will be "above" politics as usual and that he will unite Republicans and Democrats. Then why is he describing McCain as Bush III and distorting his message on Iraq? Why is he going around doing the "Annie Oakley" instead of trying to really figure out why ALL poor voters, except for African Americans, have given him the cold shoulder. Could it be that poor folks have pick candidates whom they believe will deliver something concrete - unlike college students and wealthy white people who want soaring oratory and impossible, vague promises?
Posted by: tony | Apr 14, 2008 4:38:49 PM
Go Bill. Go!
Posted by: Aston | Apr 14, 2008 4:39:32 PM
If they (camp Clinton and McCain) want to keep this in the press, fine. He should use this to choke the life out of both of them. Both of them are MILLIONAIRES. He should focus on their money to explain some of their policy positions. If he were to do that, McCain would tank and Hillary wouldn't be to far behind.
There are tons of comments out there that have been said. Many of those comments by the Clinton's. The Obama camp would be damn stupid if they are not digging that stuff up right now to dump in her lap on national tv come Wednesday. I'm starting to have reservations about Obama. He isn't a fighter at all.
Hillary might fight dirty and she might do something as disgraceful and idiotic as go after another Democrat for her own gain but at least she is a fighter. She is a classless person and will never get my support but at least she attacks holes where she sees them EL, Obama doesn't do anything.
Posted by: Hannah | Apr 14, 2008 4:41:37 PM
And the press gives Clinton a free pass to pound Obama for saying that some people are bitter when Clinton said that "economically insecure white people are scared to death".
Posted by: UCLAdy04 | Apr 14, 2008 4:41:51 PM
"Wake up Obama, these people are ghetto politicans, you better get dirty with them or get off the stage! People are sick of this nice guy crap. The Clinton's are flawed and disgusting people, why can't you focus on that?!"
Perhaps because he has marketed himself as the Dali Bama. It would be weird seeing the Prince of Peace digging up dirt on people....LOl. Now politics as usual seems appropriate....why? Hint: because that's the name of the game. OOOPs, am I cynical? Maybe bitter is a better word. Yes, I'm bitter. But because I am well educated in live in a Northeastern "blue" community, I do not have a gun and only go to church for weddings and funerals.
Posted by: tony | Apr 14, 2008 4:42:37 PM
Don't ever kid yourself. Mr. O's goal in life is to overcome his affirmative action education and join the group. Problem is, if he is this uppity now, can you imagine the arrogance if he has money and is president. The world leaders will chew him up and spit him out. He is such a child, such a babe in the woods.
Posted by: Mary Miles | Apr 14, 2008 4:44:44 PM
I'm tired of Washington telling me they fight for small towns. Every election, it's the same thing.
Washington politicians would sell their soul to get elected.
Bill Clinton has sold America.
He's taken money from China, Dubai, Colombia, Canada, and probably several more countries.
Posted by: Dan | Apr 14, 2008 4:44:48 PM
there are bitter people out there. Ones that have lost jobs overseas and homes to foreclosure, they have to chose between going to doctor and paying the rent. Their kids joined up so they could go to college but have seen their tours of duty extended and stop-lossed.Asumming they are still alive or uninjured.
Religions and radical groups routinely seek out the bitter and disenfranchised. So it is irrestponsible to say that there are no bitter Americans. It is irresponsible to say that these people seek out answers and support from any quarter and that there are those they would prey on them. Again, the Clintons attack because a truth has been told.
Posted by: Louis | Apr 14, 2008 4:46:41 PM
Tony,
He has been above it, I am like the Clinton's myself. If I were the Clinton's I would have wipped the floor with the Obama. Needless to say, Obama should polish the floor with Hillary. Even her supporters must know he hasn't gone after her in the manner she has after him? If you people can't admit that, you are stupid as people claim.
As far as race, are you one of those race idiots? What does race have to do with this? I was under the impresssion, what you people are looking for - insurance, jobs, whatever didn't have a color? The ignorace of some voters proves the elite may have been right when the limited ruling and authority to those of a certain class............
Greg
Posted by: Greg | Apr 14, 2008 4:46:54 PM
Oh Hannah - stop acting like you were born yesterday. Kerry said that Dean was unfit for the presidency. Ted Kennedy was so angry with Carter that he pushed for a convention fight and then refused to shake hands with him after he received the nomination. Gary Hart was a very competitive individual who raced to the convention - despite trailing in delegates - and said that Mondale and Carter were totally inept and that Reagan is delighted by the prospect of Mondale winning. All of these MEN are proud Obama supporters. They criticized other Democrats. Reality check: that's what people do when they seek the nomination. Obama has called Clinton "more of the same," said that she "lacks judgment," argued that the Republicans have a "dumptruck of dirt" on her, and said that she has a problem with the truth. I guess this is not an attack because it comes from the mouth of the Lord Obama. Do you guys see your own hypocrisy? It's absolutely stunning to me that Obama supporters pretend that he has been a choir boy in the election, when he has been just a strategic and conniving as any other politician out there. Wake up and let go of the kool-aid.
Posted by: tony | Apr 14, 2008 4:48:09 PM
Mary
you just proved his point you ignorant c//t.
Posted by: ChelseabillhillaryClinton | Apr 14, 2008 4:49:59 PM
"I'm tired of Washington telling me they fight for small towns. Every election, it's the same thing.
Washington politicians would sell their soul to get elected.
Bill Clinton has sold America.
He's taken money from China, Dubai, Colombia, Canada, and probably several more countries."
LOL - Obama has taken money from oil execs and Wall Street has given both Democratic candidates far more money than McCain. Democrats are so gullible. Really got to leave this pathetic excuse of a political party.
Posted by: tony | Apr 14, 2008 4:50:46 PM
"So it is irrestponsible to say that there are no bitter Americans."
You want to know what else is irresponsible: Not responding to the entire quote! It's not that Obama said that people are bitter that is the problem. It's him linking that to religion, gun control, opposition to same-sex marriage and trade which is the problem.
Query for Obamites: Obama said that he is opposed to same-sex marriage, that he is religious, and he blasted Clinton for supporting Nafta (althoug he has not said he would not have voted for it). Is he bitter too? Or is he just saying these things to get elected?
Posted by: tony | Apr 14, 2008 4:53:45 PM
MONICA LEWINSKI
Posted by: robby10001 | Apr 14, 2008 4:54:22 PM
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