Obama Slams Small Town America

[deep]

Again, I honestly don't see what is so wrong about the term bitter. I feel like there's a lot of truth to it.

You don't see talking down to people is wrong and can appear arrogant?

 

[2861U2]

Again, I honestly don't see what is so wrong about the term bitter. I feel like there's a lot of truth to it.

There isn't anything wrong with "bitter." There is something wrong with saying that people have guns and go to church because they are bitter. I go to church and am a Christian because it gives me purpose and passion, not because I'm bitter.

Obama has it backwards. People aren't bitter because they don't have enough big government in their lives. They are bitter because of government.

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

The "smart" thing to do
would have been just to say,


" I misspoke.

I was tired. People is small towns love this country. And we need to do a better job getting our message to them.

Hillary's message is better than McCains. We believe ours is the best.

Come November the people in small towns and big towns will realize our programs and policies are the change we all need to move this country forward."

I agree, and the use of the word bitter isn't the problem. He is an eloquent man and surely he realizes the power of words. Lesson learned, hopefully. He didn't say that their bitterness would prompt them into positive political action, if he had said that it would have been a unifying compliment. What he said could be interpreted by some to mean they turn into gun toting bigots-he did mention the guns and the antipathy and the immigration, there is no realistic way to deny that.

 

[U2democrat]

You don't see talking down to people is wrong and can appear arrogant?

I don't see what he said as talking down to people.


The clinging to guns and religion bit has some truth to it, but like any generalization, it's not entirely accurate.

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

I think stereotyping and making generalizations is talking down to people, and it just disappoints me because I believe he is so much better than that. Isn't his whole life about rising above stereotypes and getting past them?

 

[U2democrat]

Again, I refer back to the article I posted by the man who was actually at the speech.

If you look at the entire context, there is much more to it than the clinging to guns and religion piece. He realizes the situation is more complex than it is being portrayed, and I don't see why this 1 comment should overrule a lifetime of words and action that prove he is different.

 

[yolland]

Who's saying it should overrule that? Saying it was an unwise comment doesn't mean writing him off as a candidate. I'm certainly not.

 

[MrsSpringsteen]

I don't think anyone is suggesting at all that this one comment should override a lifetime of words and actions (I'm not), but running for President and facing Pennsylvania and other states, it will be taken out of the entire context and judged. It has been done to Sen Clinton and her husband and probably McCain too. That's just the way it is, fair or unfair.

If he said it the way he did on Charlie Rose I think he would have been much better off.

 

[U2democrat]

So, if it's just a simple misstatement and he's proved by example that he's better than that, why won't people lay off?

 

[deep]

Again, I refer back to the article I posted by the man who was actually at the speech.

If you look at the entire context, there is much more to it than the clinging to guns and religion piece. He realizes the situation is more complex than it is being portrayed, and I don't see why this 1 comment should overrule a lifetime of words and action that prove he is different.

I read that

what a waste

a tortured explanation

for a stupid remark

he should have just squashed it

this and remarks like "typical white people" will harm him with some voters


every candidate / politician misspeaks
it is only a question of how often, how much damage is done, and how they get passed it / put it behind them

 

[deep]

So, if it's just a simple misstatement and he's proved by example that he's better than that, why won't people lay off?

he did not do the "smart" thing

he tried to nuance it

instead of saying I misspoke.

 

[yolland]

And because that's campaign politics for you.

 

[U2democrat]

I know, my point is, once again something is being blown way out of proportion and we're just going in circles.

 

[deep]

how is this some interesting remarks during a campaign?

"McCain was a fighter pilot, who dropped laser-guided missiles from 35,000 feet. He was long gone when they hit.

"What happened when they [the missiles] get to the ground? He doesn't know. You have to care about the lives of people. McCain never gets into those issues."

 

[2861U2]

So, if it's just a simple misstatement and he's proved by example that he's better than that, why won't people lay off?

But that's the thing. Was it just a "misstatement?" Or was it a real look at what Barack Obama really believes, behind closed doors in San Francisco, of all places?

For a lot of people, the puzzle pieces might be coming together to see if this guy is actually some sort of radical: from his wife's comments to Rev Wright to "punished with a baby" and now this...

I also find it interesting that some Obama supporters (not necessarily in this forum, but I've seen some) who simply cannot stand that people are discussing this. They can't stand hearing anything negative about Obama, and they think it's outrageous for this man to be investigated and challenged on the way to the presidency.

 

[U2democrat]

What does that have to do with what we're talking about now?


That wasn't even Obama.

 

[2861U2]

Also, Obama called the country anti-immigrant. I know I am certainly not anti-immigrant. I'm anti-illegal immigrant. He later went on to correct himself, but I don't buy it. It isn't what he said.

 

[deep]

Rockefeller Apologizes For Suggesting McCain Was Insensitive Warrior


Huffington Post | April 8, 2008 03:04 PM
Barack Obama Endorsements, Jay Rockefeller,


Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., has apologized for comments he made about Sen. McCain that were reported in the Charleston Gazette:

"McCain was a fighter pilot, who dropped laser-guided missiles from 35,000 feet. He was long gone when they hit.

"What happened when they [the missiles] get to the ground? He doesn't know. You have to care about the lives of people. McCain never gets into those issues."

Rockefeller called McCain to apologize, and released the following statement:

"I have deep respect for John McCain's honorable and noble service to our country. I made an inaccurate and wrong analogy and I have extended my sincere apology to him.... I regret my very poor choice of words."

The Obama camp has also distanced itself from these statements:

"Senator Obama has a deep respect for Senator McCain's service to this country and doesn't agree with what Senator Rockefeller said."

there is a lesson to be learned here

when Obama supported Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. misspoke

he immediately apologized


and it went away!!


he did not try and spin it.

 

[U2democrat]

I don't think anything Obama will say will appease you.


Just as nothing McCain will say will appease me.

 

[U2democrat]

there is a lesson to be learned here

when Obama supported Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va. misspoke

he immediately apologized


and it went away!!


he did not try and spin it.

Because there was no underlying truth to it.

 

[deep]

you believe there is underlying truth to Obama's stereotyping of small town people?

 

[deep]

Just as nothing McCain will say will appease me.

wanna bet?


President Obama

 

[2861U2]

you believe there is underlying truth to Obama's stereotyping of small town people?

Which is what is even more shocking. Most Obama supporters I've heard found nothing wrong with what he said.

 

[U2democrat]

I already said, there is some truth, but as with any generalization there will be exceptions.

Voting patterns in 2000 and 2004, not just by people in small towns but all across America tend to support what he was saying.

 

[martha]

molehill, meet mountain.

 

[U2democrat]

You're right martha.

I don't know why I'm expending my valuable time on this. I'm out.

 

[melon]

Which is what is even more shocking. Most Obama supporters I've heard found nothing wrong with what he said.

I guess Obama should have just called his wife a "cunt" instead, and we all could have gone on our merry ol' way.

 

[2861U2]

I guess Obama should have just called his wife a "cunt" instead, and we all could have gone on our merry ol' way.

Yeah, that's what I was implying.

How does this pertain to the topic?

 

[melon]

you believe there is underlying truth to Obama's stereotyping of small town people?

How many people here have lived in a small town? I have (and am currently).

How many people here have parents or relatives who fit the exact demographic that Obama would have been referring to? I do.

How many people would argue that true self-reflection and self-criticism is an inherent human trait? I don't.

And I think that there is definitely a nugget of truth to what he said.

Read this site sometime:

http://www.sullivan-county.com/

Make no mistake, I'm no liberal or socialist.

It's a very close look at one man's take on rural life in Tennessee. And I'd say that this look at Tennessee is probably a very extreme example of rural life gone awry, but I feel as though it is creeping all over rural America. It is a tale of increasing insecurity, desperation, and--as Obama less-than-tactfully related--scapegoating.

As people no longer trust that government can make their lives any better, they cling to the usual three issues:

God, Guns, & Gays

And all three are being exploited by those in power--who happen to be making their lives even worse.

Make no mistake about it. "Rural folk" might vote for McCain, because they hate Democrats and are now insulted by what Obama said here. But a vote for McCain will just be a vote to put another nail into their own coffins.

 

[deep]

I guess Obama should have just called his wife a "cunt" instead, and we all could have gone on our merry ol' way.

if that was an accusation by some annoymous source 16? years ago
it would not have any traction



Obama's "small town" speech, was in a room full of people this weekend
as was the Rep. Geoff Davis "Obama boy" speech