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Bill Clinton on Obama's 'Bitter' Comment
April 13, 2008 3:36 PM
ABC News' Sarah Amos reports: When former President Bill Clinton took the stage in Bloomsburg, Pa., early this afternoon he wasted no time before mentioning Sen. Barack Obama's now infamous remarks about rural America.
"Folks, I was shaking hands and taking a few pictures backstage. This fellow looked at me and he said, 'I just want you to know, the people you're about to see are not bitter. They're proud,'" Clinton told an applauding audience.
"They just want this country to go in a different direction. They want to restore the middle class, reclaim the future for our kids, reform the government and take it away from the special interests, restore America's standing in the world, bring our troops home for Iraq, and take care of our veterans and our men and women in uniform. That's what Hillary offers," Clinton said.
It was the former president's first mention of the remark today, having earlier stayed away from the topic during an event at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa.
Clinton again shared the story with the crowd at his last event of the day, in the small town of Jim Thorpe, Pa.
"Folks, once in a great while something happens in a campaign which reveals what the choice is. And I have to tell you, right before I came out at my last event, a man came up to me and he said, 'Mr. President, I want you to know something about the working people of Pennsylvania. We're not bitter about anything. We're proud. But we do want a better deal for the people of our country and for our children," said Clinton, who went on to tell the young people in the crowd they did not need the be discouraged or in despair.
Clinton's message was clear and concise, but it was not the only Obama comment Clinton had on his mind today. Immediatley after sharing the backstage exchange with the Bloomsburg audience, Clinton moved on to another remark Obama has made -- one that has continually irked the former president since the Nevada primary.
"There's been a lot of hoopla about who said what and who shot John in the last couple of days. But one of the things that I thought was kind of overlooked in all this is that one more time, the campaigns opposite Hillary said, 'Well, there really wasn't any difference in the Clinton years and the Bush years. Rural Pennsylvania really didn't do very well.' Do you agree with that?" Clinton asked.
In response he received a loud "NO" from the audience.
Clinton chuckled a bit at the reaction, adding "I just thought I'd get a few witnesses here. You know I'm a, I'm a Baptist. On Sunday we look for witnesses."
April 13, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (193)
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Haha... Obama is such a newcomer...he said derogatory stuff about a group of potential voters. Let that be a lesson to youse. NEVER say derogatory stuff about potential voters (even when you know it's true). People don't like it.
Also: don't tell obvious lies, and please do your homework before talking about people... all three major candidates are quite gifted, but they all talk way too much and this leads to plenty of insertion of feet into mouths.
Posted by: Yunkie | Apr 13, 2008 4:24:56 PM
Matt..."core base of fruit loops"?
Love it!
Posted by: sue | Apr 13, 2008 4:25:37 PM
I agree with the person who said the ones who are bitter are the people at Obama's church. They go around blaming whites for the drug use of blacks, the imprisonment of blacks, the lack of education and job opportunities for blacks. The black community needs to take responsibility for its own actions. Obama needs to take responsibility for attending a black-centric church for 20 years. If a white politician attended a white-centric church, his or her career would be over--and rightfully so. It is not ok for blacks to be racist any more than it is ok for whites to be racist. Racists like Obama should have no place in public office.
Posted by: Robin VZB | Apr 13, 2008 4:27:12 PM
In the world of Obama elites, if one seeks Guns and Gods only if one is struggling. Faith and religion are not cultural values, rather, an infection, a disease caused by life's struggles.
Posted by: UM | Apr 13, 2008 4:27:22 PM
Carolyn Grace
Look around. Obama is splitting the country apart. And doing it intentionally!
Posted by: S | Apr 13, 2008 4:29:24 PM
@ Branden
That is why neither candidate was attacking NAFTA in Texas.
Texas cities and other parts of the country have benefited from NAFTA.
Posted by: Jayson | Apr 13, 2008 4:29:43 PM
Obama can say anything and his fanatics agree.
Posted by: Don | Apr 13, 2008 4:32:33 PM
Throughout many rural areas in the country these views are prevalent; for many these views will not change anytime soon. Equally, folks in these regions are not as out of touch or as ill informed as some may suggest.
Politically, I suspect many in these regions recognize their dilemma, and are not fazed by Clinton or McCain's attempt to gains points. Given Obama's reception in the rural West, I do not see any reason to believe his campaign will be harmed.
The overwhelming fact is rural America is in need of a great deal of attention. Albeit not much, Obama is the only candidate who seriously addressed issues faced by rural and small town America.
In regions once called border or Mason-Dixie states select issues( broadly, the values issues) are detrimental but these shall remain as well; their impact on the overall should be minimum, and will not change anything for Clinton.
Posted by: TJ | Apr 13, 2008 4:41:43 PM
Only in America can you profit from your husband making millions of dollars supporting something his wife says she disagrees with. All reported in a joint income tax return. Hillary gets the votes and the money!
Posted by: Tom | Apr 13, 2008 4:44:23 PM
Emily, I don't find much "original thought" in your post - just rudeness and things you would probably not say to a person if they were standing in front of you, but you will hide behind a faceles, nameless BLOG. Your not doing Hillary any favors.
Posted by: Claire | Apr 13, 2008 4:45:52 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: Emily is stupid | Apr 13, 2008 4:47:51 PM
Did Bill say special interest groups whe he made 111 million, 15 milion we know for sure was a crooked deal. What does Bill mean by "going a different directio", and his middle class comment he doesn't care about the poor? Thatas a lot coming from someone who was almost impeached. The main amercia is blind to even considerate someone as low as hillary, her motto its me or I'll try an dmake us lose, that want even work Bye B
Posted by: mike dee | Apr 13, 2008 4:48:18 PM
@ Emily is stupid
What's really amusing is that you just keep insulting my Airedale Terrier. She's Emily. What's even funnier is that she is exponentially smarter than you are. She's also a Hillary supporter.
Posted by: Emily | Apr 13, 2008 4:52:01 PM
tom -- i profit from things i dont agree with all the time. i work, and i certainly do not endorse everything my company does. oh well, life goes on. notice how michelle obama resigned from treehouse foods once obama's campaign started the anti-walmart thing. i guess she suddenly "agreed" with him over walmart.
Posted by: tony | Apr 13, 2008 4:52:25 PM
I'm not sure WHO is running for president Bill or Hillary....
Now, I'm hearing that Sen. Clinton is positioning herself to run for Governor of NY. What is going on with this campaign?
I'm confused. What is the strategy here - trash the democratic front runner while losing the primary, then run for Governor of NY. It just seems a bit irresponsible and self-serving and not showing a real concern for the party.
Posted by: ed | Apr 13, 2008 4:53:23 PM
I hope Obama doesn't fart anytime in public cause I can see what that stinky HIibill would say, these two have become comics there is no way this Btch will win drinking in a bar and Chelese is being PIMPED by her parents going to lunch and hugging young supers delegates for a vote what is that,
Posted by: mike dee | Apr 13, 2008 4:53:40 PM
I'm bitter that Hillary is a sellout when it comes to womens rights!
Sen. Hillary Clinton has declined to return $170,000 in campaign contributions from individuals at a company accused of widespread sexual harassment, and whose CEO is a disbarred lawyer with a criminal record, federal campaign records show.
FULL ARTICLE
http://deepbackground.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/02/29/718285.aspx
Posted by: TJ | Apr 13, 2008 4:54:20 PM
New Yorker did you forget Bush stole the election the clinton years were good aood for most.
Posted by: Bishop | Apr 13, 2008 4:55:07 PM
Obama feeds false hope to people, Clinton feeds fear..
BOTH SUCK
Posted by: Hmm... | Apr 13, 2008 4:55:31 PM
TJ,
I'm sure the savior Obama can take your squirrel haul, and turn it into enough squirrel meat to feed a mighty band of a thousand there is western Pennsylvania.
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Obama will say and do anything to make sure he doesn't win the election!
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Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Apr 13, 2008 5:03:41 PM
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