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Obama Reacts to 'Bitter' Controversy
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ShareApril 14, 2008 4:02 PM
ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: During a speech Monday at the Associated Press' annual luncheon, Sen. Barack Obama held firm to the sentiment of his now controversial "bitter" remarks, but for the first time said they "may have been a mistake."
Obama opened up with a joke before the press heavy crowd, "I kept a lot of you guys busy this weekend with the comments I made last week. Some of you might even be a little bitter about that."
Watch the VIDEO HERE.
At a private fundraiser last week the Illinois senator said economic problems had led voters in some small towns to become "bitter" and "cling to guns or religion" -- remarks that have sparked controversy and intense rebukes from Obama's opponents Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. John McCain.
Obama said he regrets the words he chose saying it may have been a mistake, “partly because the way that these remarks have been interpreted have offended some people and partly because they have served as one more distraction from the critical debate that we must have in this election season.”
The senator did not back away from the sentiment of the message yet again defending himself, “contrary to what my poor word choices may have implied or my opponents may have suggested, I’ve never believed that these traditions or peoples' faith has anything to do with how much money they have. But I will never walk away from the larger point that I was trying to make and made in the past.”
Obama criticized McCain, who just hours before had stood on the same stage.
"Senator McCain and the Republicans in Washington are already looking ahead to the fall and have decided that they plan on using my comments to argue that I’m out of touch with what’s going on in the lives of working Americans," Obama said.
"I don’t blame them for this -- that’s the nature of our political culture, and if I had to carry the banner for eight years of George Bush’s failures, I’d be looking for something else to talk about too.”
The first question asked of Obama during the question and answer session was if is possible for a Democrat to talk about guns, gods and immigration without getting in trouble.
"I actually think it’s possible and not only is it possible, but it’s necessary,” Obama responded.
The most intriguing question of the day, which made Obama furl his nose toward the questioner, was if he believes that Clinton should step aside in the nomination contest.
“I suspect that she will have a response for that tomorrow,” Obama quipped back, as his Democratic opponent is slated to appear before the group on Tuesday morning.
Obama then gave Clinton a backhanded compliment for staying in the race. “This has been a hard fought contest partly because Sen. Clinton has been a formidable candidate. You know there aren’t very many figure in American politics that can sustain eleven straight losses and hang into a race, and raise $35 million dollars and in that sense she’s unique.”
Obama said that comparatively, McCain being the presumed Republican nominee, has an advantage, while the Democrats battle it out.
“The fact that our contest is still going on means that John McCain comes in here, he’s feeling pretty good. You know, I suspect he’s getting more sleep than either Sen Clinton or myself are getting. And he can be a little more deliberate and pace himself and that probably explains the close in the polls,” Obama said of the national polls which show McCain’s numbers improving.
Obama said his frontrunner standing in the contest has allowed him to remain, in his eyes, more above the fray than Clinton – and said that her criticisms have made him tougher.
"I have tried to figure out how to show restraint and make sure that during this primary contest without damaging each other so badly that its hard for us to run in November. Obviously its a little easier for me to say that since I lead in delegates, in states, and in popular vote," Obama said. "Sen. Clinton may not feel that she can afford to be as constrained but I’m sure that Senator Clinton feels like she’s doing me a great favor because she’s been deploying most of the arguments that the Republican party will be using against me in November and so it's toughening me up.”
April 14, 2008 in Bush, George W., Kucinich, Dennis, Tancredo, Tom | Permalink | User Comments (128)
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He's still not admitting that he made a mistake. How arrogant.
At least the public understands. Almost 60% of Americans polled disagree with his contention that country folk can't think for themselves.
Posted by: S | Apr 14, 2008 4:10:47 PM
Funny, how Obama just acts like he's the nominee... regardless of the glaring fact he hasn't won a single large populous state except Illinois. Yeah, that's a winning formula in the fall. He's so arrogant. Ha.
Posted by: A reader in Georgia | Apr 14, 2008 4:11:53 PM
If Obama is not being an elitist in SF, then he must just be social climbing throwing small town folks under the bus to get into the elite circle and their purses.
Posted by: Rita | Apr 14, 2008 4:12:00 PM
His comments about Hillary certainly aren't in sync with his speeches about bringing a NEW KIND OF POLITICS.
Posted by: catherine in nm | Apr 14, 2008 4:12:22 PM
obama is a wordsmith; he knew exactly what he was telling folk in san francisco; he did not, however, know he was being recorded.
he got caught; now he is trying every whichaway to wiggle out of his words.
it is pathetic.
Posted by: ron | Apr 14, 2008 4:14:00 PM
obama is a wordsmith; he knew exactly what he was telling folk in san francisco; he did not, however, know he was being recorded.
he got caught; now he is trying every whichaway to wiggle out of his words.
it is pathetic.
Posted by: ron | Apr 14, 2008 4:14:01 PM
Obama is so full of himself it's not funny!!! Elitist according to the dictionary, has nothing to do with how much money you earn. It is defined as-"the belief that some people or things are inherently superior to others and deserve preeminence, preferential treatment, or higher rewards because of their superiority." Obama the Elitist!!
Posted by: CD | Apr 14, 2008 4:15:17 PM
The Obama campaign has given up the uniter or the 'new politics' angle. They cant support it anymore.
They are just going along with the 'he is the inevitable nominee' rhetoric now.
Obama is definitely a better politician than he was 3 months ago.
But he is also a FAR WORSE nominee than he was in mid febuary. He will continue to get worse as this goes on. His whole campaign relied on the fact he was squeeky clean and could appeal to everyone.
That is impossible now.
He is unelectable.
Posted by: tomdavie | Apr 14, 2008 4:15:42 PM
Obama thinks it was funny when he was making fun of Annie Oakley and Hillary. I found it offensive and not far from being racist!
Posted by: CD | Apr 14, 2008 4:18:11 PM
Wait till the Chicago Sun-Times Bombshell is reported nationwide. I'll give you a hint....it ain't good for Obama. Hello Tony Resko!
Posted by: Kenny from CT. | Apr 14, 2008 4:19:17 PM
You know there aren’t very many figure in American politics that can sustain eleven straight losses and hang into a race, and raise $35 million dollars and in that sense she’s unique.”
How utterly condesending of Obama.
Posted by: geevill | Apr 14, 2008 4:21:23 PM
geevill-we'll see how he hangs in there after he loses big in Pennsylvania!
Posted by: CD | Apr 14, 2008 4:23:01 PM
Kenny from CT.
Tell us more!!
Posted by: S | Apr 14, 2008 4:24:24 PM
THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN OBAMA'S MODUS OPERANDUM. (MO)
WHENEVER YOU MAKE A mistake blame it on HILLARY CLINTON. IF IT DOES NOT WORK FOR OBAMA -HE WILL GET HIS MEDIA MOGULS TO DO IT.
THIS GUY IS A WHINING LITTLE BOY.
HILLARY CLINTON IS NOT OBAMA'S MOTHER.
OBAMA MADE A MISTAKE-HE SHOULD BE APOLOGIZING TO THE PEOPLE.
HILLARY SHOULD KNOW WHAT OBAMA MEANT???
EXCUSE ME??
ANYTIME HE MAKES A MISTAKE-HE TURNS INTO A BULLY
APOLOGIZE, OBAMA, APOLOGIZE FOR ONCE!!!
THE OVER-PRICED SHIP IS SINKING...
Posted by: TJ | Apr 14, 2008 4:24:59 PM
THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN OBAMA'S MODUS OPERANDUM. (MO)
WHENEVER YOU MAKE A mistake blame it on HILLARY CLINTON. IF IT DOES NOT WORK FOR OBAMA -HE WILL GET HIS MEDIA MOGULS TO DO IT.
THIS GUY IS A WHINING LITTLE BOY.
HILLARY CLINTON IS NOT OBAMA'S MOTHER.
OBAMA MADE A MISTAKE-HE SHOULD BE APOLOGIZING TO THE PEOPLE.
HILLARY SHOULD KNOW WHAT OBAMA MEANT???
EXCUSE ME??
ANYTIME HE MAKES A MISTAKE-HE TURNS INTO A BULLY
APOLOGIZE, OBAMA, APOLOGIZE FOR ONCE!!!
THE OVER-PRICED SHIP IS SINKING...
Posted by: TJ | Apr 14, 2008 4:25:06 PM
Yes Kenny-tell us more!
Posted by: CD | Apr 14, 2008 4:26:59 PM
Sure...everything Obama says is racist!
All black people are racist.....well, because they're black!
Now the US K K K of A is much more understandable now, isn't it?!
Posted by: LA in Indiana | Apr 14, 2008 4:27:45 PM
For those who say he manufactured those words for just the San francisco crowd you obviously have not seen the video of his Charlie Rose interview from 2004...where he said pretty much the same things about people turning to their religion and "guns" but didn't use the word "cling" ...which I think is a total created controversy from the people who wanted Clinton and the people who are afraid of a dem in the white house...and want Hillary against McCain in the GE... now that's a no brainer... Americans don't vote for candidates they don't like... and they want a change candidate numero uno. McCain beats her on both. Obama beats him on both (even with Hillary and her supporters doing their best to try to trash him every other day lol)
Posted by: dl | Apr 14, 2008 4:29:02 PM
LA in Indiana,
I firmly do not believe Obama is a rascist. I do think you are, though. I give Senator Obama the benefit of the doubt.
Instead, I think he's an elitist, backed by wealthy liberals from the two coasts.
========================================
Obama, appealing to the bi-coastal elites!
========================================
Posted by: WestCoastMessenger | Apr 14, 2008 4:32:01 PM
If she gets the nomination from distorting his words, I will enjoy watching the republicans tear her down just as she has done Obama.
Apparently, there is no honor, no integrity, no honesty in politics. They forgot to tell Barack.
Posted by: LA in Indiana | Apr 14, 2008 4:32:29 PM
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