"I regret some of the words I chose, partly because the way that these remarks have been interpreted have offended some people and partly because they've served as one more distraction from the critical debate that we must have in this election."
Why can't celebrities and politicians just say: "I'm sorry. It was wrong of me to say that"?
Obama Delivers Remarks at the Associated Press Annual Meeting
"Why can't celebrities and politicians just say: "I'm sorry. It was wrong of me to say that"?
I know. Good question.
I loved how Hillary's explanation of the Bosnia lie evolved from, "I was tired," through several stages until it became, "Allright! I misspoke! I'm human, though some people may find that to be a revelation." I'm still waiting for it to be, "I'm sorry. I lied."
(we won't even bring Bill's versions into it)
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
"Why can't celebrities and politicians just say: "I'm sorry. It was wrong of me to say that"?
Because most of the time they aren't sorry that they said it.
Obama is getting mad because the mask slipped and people began to see him for what he is: an elitist that wants to do away with religion and only the rich to own guns.
This whole "bitter" thing is sooooooooo 2004.
Without having to read the whole article, can someone give me the Cliffs Notes version of what he said and why he's sorry?
Amazing how Obama supporters co-opted their entire anti-Hillary playbook from the Republicans, down to the BUT-BUT-BUT-CLINTON! deflecting defense.
Talking to an Obama supporter about Obama's failings is like talking to GothamPC about Bush's: "But-but-but-CLINTON DID IT TOO/FIRST/MORE/WORSE!"
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
"Cliff Notes" version: Obama said that people in Pennsylvania are bitter because they don't live in New York. Pretty much makes him look like a douche bag to say something so stupid, so he's apologizing.
That isn't what he said, Joe.
Here is what he said:
"You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them.And they fell through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not."
"And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they 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."
Since then, he's been trying to backtrack from the wording that some people found offensive, while justifying that the statement is based on truth.
WBAF, You probably won't get an objective answer to that quest here, even from me. So, I'd recommend that you read the transcript of the "controversial" statements and judge for yourself. He made this statement at a fund raiser in response to a question as to why small town blue collar workers were not supporting him. The fourth paragraph is the one that was posted and is the cause of the uproar.
His opponents say this shows that he is elitist and condescending for analyzing these people and claiming that the only reason they have faith or guns is because of economic problems.
He says that he spoke the truth but worded it badly. He says that what he meant is that the reason poor people vote against their own economic interests (the reason they vote republican even though republicans screw them) is because they feel abandoned economically, by the government. And since they don't feel it matters who promises to help them economically, they end up voting for the party that will make a difference in the other issues that matter to them, gun laws, immigration, etc. And that they look to religion for comfort in hard times, but not only in hard times or because of hard times as his opponents are claiming.
TRANSCRIPT
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
Oh Sorry, I wasn't really paying attention. I must have gotten it confused with something else. Thanks for clearing it up.
"BUT-BUT-BUT-CLINTON! deflecting defense."
Oh please, every thread on either side is filled with that.
Here's where I learned how to do it...
Just to even the news a little
wbaf:
bammy went to sf and on the arguably richest block in the world chose to make a poorly phrased comment about rural voters. many people here and elsewhere agree with the sentiment behind it, seeing rural voters as something just above cave men but below taxi drivers. however, for a guy who's already losing the white vote and the poor vote it was a particularly stupid thing to say.
WBAF--the key word was "cling"--when he said that working-class voters "cling" to religion and guns and xenophobia, he was demeaning their spirituality as something less than his, demeaning their strong feelings about the 2nd Amendment (which, personally, I'm completely and elitely demeaning of--but I'm not running for president) and he was demeaning their intense feelings about immigration.
It threatens him in the upcoming Pennsylvania and Indiana primaries and pretty much dooms him in the General Election.
Here's an article I posted before from politico.com that explains the fallout:
12 reasons 'bitter' is bad for Obama
If it's McCain vs Hillary, the debate is about experience, which Hillary can't win.
If it's McCain vs Obama, the debate is about change, which McCain can't win.
Clinton's current Republican-like effort to kick Obama until he's out of her way only serves to push McCain into office, since she probably can't win the nomination. And even if she does, she can't beat McCain. She knows this, but wants McCain to win so she can try again in four years. She knows that if Obama wins, she'll never be POTUS.
DAY 4
If it's Mccain vs. Obama you better believe that Mccain will make it about experience.
Hillary can beat McCain; Obama cannot.
I disagree. I think it's a tough battle for either of them based on the current climate. Much will depend on the VP choices and who can dictate the focus of the debate. If the Dems can truly heal their wounds and unite, they can still win this. If they continue down their current path, it may be difficult to unite.
Clinton/Obama '08
Clinton/Obama '12
Obama/Feingold '16
Obama/Feingold '20
Feingold/? '24...
"If it's Mccain vs. Obama you better believe that Mccain will make it about experience."
You're right, Taz. But in this election, 'change', as an issue, trumps 'experience', as an issue, particularly when McCain falls out of synch with the majority of people on both war and economy.
I think madbrian is correct. A lot will depend on VP choices, which at this point, are an unknown.
I'd actually like to take back my statement that anyone "can't" win. I'd like to change that to "won't" win, which is different than "can't" win. Can't win implies there is something intrinsic about the candidate, regardless of events, that prohibits their winning, like race or sex. I don't want to imply that I don't think Hillary can win because she is a woman.
"Why can't celebrities and politicians just say: "I'm sorry. It was wrong of me to say that"?"
I don't know but I've always wished Hillary would apologize for the war vote.
"[she]wants McCain to win so she can try again in four years. She knows that if Obama wins, she'll never be POTUS"
Daily Double!
Her motives are painfully transparent but there's little Obama can do to stop her at this point imo. While I don't think she'd be an effective POTUS, I do believe that the woman was born to head the DNC.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
Clinton/Obama '08 The Socialist States of America
Clinton/Obama '12 The Socialist States of America
Obama/Feingold '16 The Islamic Republic of America
Her "motives"? Her MOTIVES? Now you people think you know her MOTIVES?!?
What are you--mind-readers?
You're just indulging in more creepy Hillary Hatred.
"Obama/Feingold '16 The Islamic Republic of America"
Obama is not a Muslim and is fully supported by AIPAC.
Russ Feingold (the very handsome) is not Muslim, is Jewish and fully supported by AIPAC.
How would they make an Islamic Republic?
Videos