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McCain: Obama Guns, Religion Remark 'Elitist'

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April 14, 2008 12:15 PM

ABC News' Bret Hovell Reports: Senator John McCain responded Monday to comments made by rival Sen. Barack Obama in which Obama seemed to imply that it is out of economic uncertainty that many rural voters “cling to guns or religion.”

McCain, speaking at the annual meeting of the Associated Press in Washington, DC, described a group of people who fought in World War II, and whose economic output created “the wealthiest, strongest and most generous nation on earth.”

McCain said that fighting through challenges such as the Great Depression did not shake Americans’ confidence.

“Nor did they turn to their religious faith and cultural traditions out of resentment and a feeling of powerlessness to affect the course of government or pursue prosperity,” McCain said in prepared remarks before taking questions.

“Their faith had given generations of their families purpose and meaning, as it does today. Their appreciation of traditions like hunting was based in nothing other than their contribution to the enjoyment of their lives.”

Later, while being questioned by two AP reporters, McCain was asked if he thought that Obama, D-Il, was elitist.

Watch the VIDEO HERE.

“I think those comments are elitist.” McCain said. "I can only look at his remarks and say that those are certainly not the vision I have of America and its strength and greatness."

April 14, 2008 in Hunter, Duncan, Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (90)

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Just in case Barack Obama has forgotten what is in the Constitution, two or the basic freedoms guaranteed to every American are the right to worship freely and bear arms.

When these freedoms are freely exercised by anyone who dares oppose the Obama agenda, those who dare to speak are labeled as "bitter."

So, who really has the right or the audacity to hope in an Obama regime?

Posted by: Jayhawk | Apr 14, 2008 12:21:24 PM

Obama Says Some Voters Are Angry, Bitter
 
Do you consider Obama's remarks as "condescending" and "out of touch"?
 
 
http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=2082

.

Posted by: Jeff, Austin | Apr 14, 2008 12:29:12 PM

Obama just does not get it, it's not the bitter part, it's the clinging to guns and religion etc part. It is as if he's looking down on small towns that he's having trouble connecting to and calling them gun toting, God loving signle minded bigots. Now he can attack Sen Clinton all he wants to try to take the media off him but he still needs to explain himself. People do not turn to God because they're bitter, they embrace the message and word of Christ and their religion, was he bitter when he decided to join his church?

Posted by: Kardasia_Prime | Apr 14, 2008 12:32:51 PM

What is eltist is running for president with no domestic agenda and basically nothing to offer to move this country foward but more war and one liners on a sound bite he has no high ground on with his millions.

Posted by: leslie | Apr 14, 2008 12:39:01 PM

Face it: Obama stained the very fabric of the American electorate that is needed to win the presidency. By expressing his elitist, highly insensitive views to a group of San Francisco millionaires he proved he doesn’t have the poignancy, the IQ nor the continental compass to be president. He is out of touch. He catered to these rich people’s “hauteur” and imperialistic musings without flinching or thinking of the consequences. He got caught pressing the self-destructive buttons any politico 101 knows:
101: Don’t insult your voters.
101: God believing people believe in God, good times or bad.
101: Bearing guns is a constitutional right and has nothing to do with class.
101: Not all small town folks are bigots. Obama’s own mother was a small town girl who was not a racist.
In sum, one hopes that the eventual nominee is the president for all people, at the very least “the smartest guy in the room.” This last “bitter” remark issue in addition to the way he handled the “God Damn America” Rev. Wright controversy clearly proves that Obama is not that “guy”. Let’s face it; Hillary is and has always been—35 years ago & from day one.

Posted by: Floridian Lady | Apr 14, 2008 12:39:22 PM

Guys,

I am a concerned Dem. I know this article is long but worth reading. It is an articulate analysis of what dems are going to face in Nov. if Obama is the nominee. Mike Dukakis, John Kerry all over again. Check it out!

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/04/obamas_great_mistake_the_san_f.html

Posted by: mark | Apr 14, 2008 12:44:31 PM

I guess McCain didn't see Foxnews attempt to interview the "small towners" from PA...

they tried to grab people who would be pissed off at Obama...

Yeah all they came up with was people who appreciated he knew they hurting and angry Clinton supporters...

ya' gotta love it.

Posted by: dl | Apr 14, 2008 12:44:34 PM

have you seen the Charlie Rose interview with Obama...

same position as he had in San Fran...he has been consistent on this issue no matter where he is.

You all just want to make him out to be a church hating big city liberal...

HE is the one that went and fought for those communities on the street when factories closed... he is the one who just finished paying off his student loans... he is the one that walked those streets organizing for the community... who has never lived with a silver spoon in his mouth...the other two canidates have had silver spoons for too long

so Clinton supporters ...get you candidate to put her money where your moths are.

Posted by: dl | Apr 14, 2008 12:51:10 PM

Giving tax breaks to the wealthy and committing billions of our tax dollars to a needless war is completely out-of-touch with hard working Americans. John McCain would further Bush's policies that are destroying the middle class in America.

Posted by: Enrique, Chicago | Apr 14, 2008 12:55:10 PM

Elitist vs. ignorant, hummn... tough call. Anybody for "None of the Above!!!"

Posted by: Ned | Apr 14, 2008 12:55:40 PM

Clinton has 108 million, was on the head board of Walmart, was married to a President of the United Sates, and her father was a well-off textiles wholesaler. Obama is half-black, grew up without a father, and got a job as a community organizer. Clinton lies about running from Sniper fire, and nobody cares. Obama tells the truth that people are bitter about the state of the nation and the economy, and turn to the only thing that they know they can depend on, guns and religion. Yet, somehow Clinton is just like a smalltown rural girl, and Obama is elitist. The whole thing is laughable.

Posted by: Sally | Apr 14, 2008 1:00:26 PM

Jayhawk: Your comments represent well what Obama was trying to say in San Francisco. Too funny.

Posted by: Susan | Apr 14, 2008 1:00:57 PM

Hi Jay, Austin...I'm in Austin too and I must say, the link you sent is WAY TOO FUNNY! It goes to show you U.S. voters aren't as dumb as the real elitists politicians like Clinton and McCain would have us believe.

Posted by: Susan | Apr 14, 2008 1:03:22 PM

I listened to the comments that were made and understood what Obama was talking about (maybe I'm the only one)- he was saying that in bad times, people look at personal voting issues to be able to identify with the person. It was not elitest in any way- what a slimey snake of a comment from Clinton to try to 'twist the words around'. It seems that she doesn't care who she destroys to get what she wants (now that is elitest- how dare he challenge me). He never said anything bad about religion or guns in a negative fashion, just that is all that people have left since Bill Clinton shipped all their jobs off to NAFTA. You have to look deeper folks...

Posted by: GL | Apr 14, 2008 1:03:23 PM

Timewarp McCain, get a clue and in touch. This country was highly segregated during the great depression. Also the same freedoms African Americans were dying for in WWII they did not have when coming home.

Posted by: jAYjAY | Apr 14, 2008 1:04:39 PM

The Democrats, on the verge of what should be a cake walk to the presidency, are about to send themselves into the political wilderness once again!

The inmates have taken over the Democratic Party asylum.

Posted by: Dan Tana | Apr 14, 2008 1:05:24 PM

Only idi:ts can be led to believe that rich people sitting on 100s of millions (e.g.Hillary & McCain) or more are "MORE IN TOUCH"........

..that should be easy enough to decide who is idi?t and who is not.

Posted by: moeen | Apr 14, 2008 1:07:42 PM

If the latest poll is an indicator of more to come, Obama is in trouble. ARG poll for PA now predicts Clinton 57% Obama 37% per RCP latest polls.

Posted by: mixed-american | Apr 14, 2008 1:10:59 PM

ace it: Obama stained the very fabric of the American electorate that is needed to win the presidency. By expressing his elitist, highly insensitive views to a group of San Francisco millionaires he proved he doesn’t have the poignancy, the IQ nor the continental compass to be president. He is out of touch. He catered to these rich people’s “hauteur” and imperialistic musings without flinching or thinking of the consequences. He got caught pressing the self-destructive buttons any politico 101 knows:
101: Don’t insult your voters.
101: God believing people believe in God, good times or bad.
101: Bearing guns is a constitutional right and has nothing to do with class.
101: Not all small town folks are bigots. Obama’s own mother was a small town girl who was not a racist.
In sum, one hopes that the eventual nominee is the president for all people, at the very least “the smartest guy in the room.” This last “bitter” remark issue in addition to the way he handled the “God Damn America” Rev. Wright controversy clearly proves that Obama is not that “guy”. Let’s face it; Hillary is and has always been—35 years ago & from day one.

Posted by: ashley | Apr 14, 2008 1:12:29 PM

Obama is DANGEROUSLY out of touch with
reality.

Posted by: rupert | Apr 14, 2008 1:13:21 PM

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