Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
Guns, religion and racism.
"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," Obama said. "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."
Link
Hillary's response:
“I saw in the media it’s being reported that my opponent said that the people of Pennsylvania who faced hard times are bitter. Well, that’s not my experience.
“As I travel around Pennsylvania, I meet people who are resilient, who are optimistic, who are positive, who are rolling up their sleeves. They are working hard everyday for a better future, for themselves and their children.
“Pennsylvanians don’t need a president who looks down on them, they need a president who stands up for them, who fights for them, who works hard for your futures, your jobs, your families.”
The right-wing blags are calling this "Obama's Macaca Moment."
What is Hillary on? Obama is right on the money.
"The right-wing blags are calling this "Obama's Macaca Moment.""
The same people that refer to pennsylvania as "Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between." PA is a rough state and has seen some really hard times.
Macaca moment? LOL
...they cling to guns or religion...
Ouch. He happens to be talking about people who love their guns and love their religion and don't like to be told they "cling" to them.
You can add ten points to Hillary's wins in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Indiana.
And you can shave off a few points from Obama's wins in North Carolina, Oregon, Montana, and South Dakota.
Obama is right on the money
Oy, papi. Your elitism is showing.
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"If this is the description of small towns in the Midwest that Sen. Obama is telling people in San Francisco, he clearly hasn't spent enough time in Indiana," said the former speaker of Indiana's House, John Gregg in a statement.
"Those of us who live in small towns across Indiana are hardworking Americans who love and fight for our country, and live where we do because we believe it's the best place to raise our kids and call home," Gregg said.
"Sen. Obama should focus his campaign on offering plans to help struggling Hoosiers create a better life and not mock them for their small town values and religious beliefs."
"Oy, papi. Your elitism is showing. "
Please, I grew in PA have family there, many friends and will probably own a home there someday. Obama struck a really interesting balance with that speech. A lot of people PA can't seem to find political footing in PA, that's why it swings so. Many hate the current governor but fear another Ridge. People there certainly love their "guns' but I don't think the religion as much. It's certainly not the bible belt. He's speaking truth to power. Gotta love it.
"You can add ten points to Hillary's wins in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Indiana.
And you can shave off a few points from Obama's wins in North Carolina, Oregon, Montana, and South Dakota."
Right. We will see soon enough.
PJ are you Gotham's sock puppet? You've really become rather bitter and sad lately over this Clinton losing business.
life is tough for a chinese adherent of mohammed in the keystone state. even one who buffs operas between fistfulls of twinkies.
Republicans are spontaneously ejaculating over Obama's tin-eared gaffe:
McCain spokesman Steve Schmidt had this to say on Obama's remarks:
"It shows an elitism and condescension towards hardworking Americans that is nothing short of breathtaking," Schmidt said. "It is hard to imagine someone running for president who is more out of touch with average Americans."
Grover Norquist told ABC News: "That sentence will lose him the election. He just announced to rural America: 'I don't like you.'"
Republican strategist Ed Rollins was asked by Lou Dobbs: "On a scale of 1 to 10, how damaging is this?"
Rollins said: "Ten."
Broadway Star Joined: 2/6/08
Regardless of how damaging this is, it's 100% accurate.
And that is how Democrats lose elections.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
I live in a small midwestern town. People cling to religion and guns and are frustrated.
Oh, I live in Alabama. . and he's right. . .VERY VERY right. Of course, brutal honestly isn't the best policy in a campagin.
He's great with prepared speeches but when he makes off-the-cuff remarks he seems arrogant and supercilious.
He's got to stop sticking those size 11 1/2's in his mouth.
It wasn't an appropriate thing to say but it's kind of true. It's one of those things that you think about but never really say.
In recent weeks I've done a 180 on Obama. I like his "tell it like it is" approach. It's refreshing. He's finally stopped his cliched pep-talks. (for the most part) Others are still stuck there.
I'm glad he's saying the things that the others won't say, or haven't even figured out yet. It isn't derogatory. It's a truthful observation with empathy. And in an era filled with B.S. politicians who only speak when it serves them, flatters them, or to sling crap at another politician, I like his assessment of things.
He's telling us what we need to hear, not what we want to hear.
Very interesting. And very risky. But ESSENTIAL in order to see exactly where we are and move forward. He's definitely winning me over.
It's so ridiculous that this is even a scandal. From the way it has been hyped, I thought his comment would have been much more insulting and infuriating...
Instead, it's pretty minor.
Some people just try to find scandal everywhere they look...
Doxy---That's because this is a big "contest" with a lot at stake, so everything is about SPINNING, not about content.
Make the people hear what you want them to hear! Write lots of articles, blogs and commentaries. Overshadow the actual statements. Look at nothing objectively. Try to take away the public's ears and their judgment, and replace it with your own focused, unyielding agenda.
For many, I guess it works. Which is depressing. For others, like me, it's tiresome... or even infuriating.
Either way, it sucks.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
All small town people rely on religion, guns and are racist.
All gays have AIDS and are pedophiles.
All blacks are lazy and shiftless.
Obviously Obama doesn't understand that he's made sweeping generalizations. It's a dangerous place to be.
Additionally, he said this before a group of rich liberals.
Link
Oh, finally, FINALLY a defining moment. It's almost a relief, this illuminating gaffe. Because it's revealed who this man Obama is, and why he is so terribly, terribly wrong for the party and our great nation. He's finished, kaput, sooo over. Hillary now triumphs deservedly, moving forward with her 48 negative, grasp of the nuances of insomnia-driven decision making, love of white trash culture, Elton John endorsements, command of the world stage. Bring on the Pennsylvannia vote, let the great day of reckoning be upon us. I don't think I'll sleep a wink til then.
"All small town people rely on religion, guns and are racist.
All gays have AIDS and are pedophiles.
All blacks are lazy and shiftless.
Obviously Obama doesn't understand that he's made sweeping generalizations. It's a dangerous place to be."
Wow, that SPIN made me dizzy. You ought to work the rides at the carnival, Gothampc. You could make a lot of people throw up their popcorn with comments like this.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
"Wow, that SPIN made me dizzy."
You don't think what he said was a huge generalization?
No, that's because I read it.
I didn't try to USE it or spin it. Or tailor it to my needs.
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