Campaign season, as we all know, is a time to try to make hay out of any little gaffe that happens. And even though I’m not his biggest fan, that’s what happened with Obama’s latest comments about Pennsylvanians. He said what I’ve been saying for a while, albeit in a slightly less sensitive way: our politics are informed by our economic history.
These qualities of hospitality, patriotism and endurance are exactly what Californians need to hear about Pennsylvanians. And when he spoke to a group of his wealthier Golden State backers at a San Francisco fund-raiser last Sunday, Barack Obama took a shot at explaining the yawning cultural gap that separates a Turkeyfoot from a Marin County. “You go into some of 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.”Obama made a problematic judgment call in trying to explain working class culture to a much wealthier audience. He described blue collar Pennsylvanians with a series of what in the eyes of creamy Californians might be considered pure negatives: guns, clinging to religion, antipathy, xenophobia.
on target
I think Obama expressed my sentiment exactly. It was unfair of Hillary and McCain to pull out a phrase and run with it without reading the entire comment. This is how Obama responded and quite correctly.
“No, I’m in touch. I know exactly what’s going on. I know what’s going on in Pennsylvania, I know what’s going on in Indiana, I know what’s going on in Illinois,” Mr. Obama said, his voice rising. “People are fed up, they’re angry, they’re frustrated, they’re bitter and they want to see a change in Washington. That’s why I’m running for president of the United States of America.”
agree...
I am bitter and I am part of the gun toting culture and I do vote in regards to religion and guns know why? Cause I’ve given up on government doing anything about jobs or taxes.. my family still hears Daddy Bush saying “No new taxes… read my lips.” We’ve not forgotten THAT either but when a candidate says how they stand on abortion or guns – well now, we can hold them accountable for that. Everything else just seems too complicated for them to back up.
I was undecided. After 20+ years of voting Republican (well except for Bush, I just didn’t vote then) – I’m voting for Obama. If you want to tell me that he insulted me in front of his California friends you go RIGHT ahead. Instead, I think I realize that he knows where we’re coming from – you want to call him elitist? Well he was poorer than I not so long ago.
As to the contrast – McCain is making too many slips of the tongue and either he’s losing his mind OR he’s trying to make me think that Al Quaeda and Iran are the same thing.. I heard that song from our ‘current President’.
And Hillary? She’s got some HUGE cajones saying that Obama is elitist. Her Healthcare Plan – the flagship of her campaign – is mandated. Why? Well when she’s asked she says people won’t get it otherwise. Ummmm… thank you Mommy? I don’t have enough sense to figure out what to do with my money and my life?
I can deal with Obama – at least he KNOWS I’m bitter and he KNOWS why – Hillary wants to tell me that I’m happy and she’s gonna save me. Thanks – no thanks.
At last the truth
It’s about time somebody told the truth — that Washington hasn’t cared about middle class, working Americans for a long, long time. They haven’t done squat about the economy in PA, or MI, or OH.
Obama has my vote.
Obama in Terre Haute, Indiana
My husband and I went to see Sen. Obama last night. The High School Gym was packed with all sorts of people. We waited for nearly 2 hours after we were seated.
I have been to rock concerts played by people I love. But I think all people are equal, and I do not put myself above others or others above myself. We are all cut from the same cloth. But, I believe there are those among us who can, though their actions and right thinking, achieve greatness.
I have never felt the presence of greatness, in my life. I did last night. It is an intangible. You may not feel as I do. But for me it was one of the most uplifting and faith restoring speeches I have ever seen.
He is not stiff, he does not speak with false power, pounding on tables, yelling in emphasis. He is composed, solid, secure in his statements, ready to educate on his positions. He is personable, likable, has an easiness about the way he carries himself that shows in someone who is comfortable in his own skin. He does not profess to be perfect, does not expect to be all thing to all people but, says he will know who his boss is. The American People. I believe him. He says he will be working for us everyday. I believe him.
He had my vote before. My husband is a tough sell, thinks all politicians are liars. He was skeptical, planned to vote for him but as in any other election, had reservations about whether Obama would or could follow through with what he says. Most of the time, both of us vote against someone, not for someone. Lesser of two evils. Neither speaking to us, our needs, dreams, worries.As we walked out he said, “Well, I’ll have no trouble pulling the lever for him.”
I firmly believe, this guy is the real deal. He cares, he’s smart, he has common sense approaches to the serious problems we face. He is a public servant for the right reasons. He wants what we want for his children, our children.
With all due respect to the my fellow democrats who are Clinton supporters, it is Sen. Obama’s time. We need him. I have never, in my life, had a politician speak, what I feel, about so many subjects. I have always loved Bill, but I never agreed with him on everything. I WANT to vote for Obama. Not have to, not will…instead of…I WANT to vote for Obama. To me after all these years, that is such a JOY.
I encourage my fellow hoosiers and Pennsylvanians, to see him if you can, watch him speak on T.V. Listen for yourself. He is a true leader and we certainly need a strong leader. We have an opportunity to put an exceptional statesman in the White house. A leader, the likes of which we rarely see. I’m not going to compare him to past leaders, it wouldn’t be fair. Too many expectations, but I feel sure, if he is elected we will see better days. It will be a statement to the world that the worst is over, America is back, renewed, a new sense of purpose, and with our old love of liberty and law. We can take back OUR country.
I will do everything I can to make him the next president.
We can have peace. I have hope.
Peace to you all,
Marsha
Obama has it exactly right...
Finally! Finally! Someone tells it like it is. Clinton and McCain are so full of baloney it’s laughable.
McCain — the guy who gave us the Savings and Loan scandal — cares about the middle class? Hillary and her Columbian trade partners? It makes me laugh.
We can’t keep voting for the same people and expecting anything to change. Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton (or McSame) doesn’t equal change.
It’s time to rethink how we do things — and Obama understands this. We’ve got to elect that guy.
bitter?!
what a poor choice of words. unfortunately, senator obama sounds more like a republican by using such a value-laden descriptor…...............
as per usual, the folks at thepennsylvaniaprogressive.com offer a “spot on” analysis.
Obama responds to McCain and Hillary
Great video! If you haven’t seen the video of Obama’s response to McCain and Hillary, it’s worth checking out.
Click here to check it out.
You Bet We're Bitter!
Obama nailed it in his soeech to the Californians. But, he missed a lot of people in talking about who’s bitter (Ohio, Michigan, New York). I’m originally from Western New York which was once a thriving area, steel mills, auto plants, and a host of industry to support both. We made airplane engines during WW II. People were industrious, hard working and Buffalo was known as the city of good neighbors. Then came the government allowing cheap steel into the country. Pittsburgh, you can relate. Steel mills closed, thousands thrown out of work, pensions lost. The “free trade” agreements, ala the Clintons Nafta, killed most of the rest of industry in WNY. Few good paying jobs remain in my hometown area, and the people have gone a step beyond bitter – they are now depressed. People want to work. They want to take care of their families. When that is no longer possible, they get bitter, move away, or sink into depression. My experience is watching people gravitate to drinking, drugs, guns and/or religion. You lose your livelihood – you lose the good parts of yourself. Those who have grown up with no prospects don’t know what they’ve missed, but they share in hopelessness. Obama gets it and no matter the spin from Fox, CNN, Clinton and McCain, he is right again. A hard truth, but it is the truth. Clinton made 2 huge lies to the people of WNY when she first ran for Senator – she promised to bring back 100,00 jobs (still hemorraging jobs, nothing new coming in!) and she said she wanted to serve the good people of NY, that she was not running for senate as a stepping stone to the presidency. She must be stopped because she doesn’t care about the people – just the power.
Obama got it right!
After reading all the comments concerning Obama’s comment, it sure sounds like he got it right. There sure is bitterness oout there.
Sometimes the truth hurts!
Sometimes the truth is not always easy to hear, and at first blush, one wants to reject the truth as not being a part of how one feels. Sen. Obama has always said, that he will be honest, that he will listen, that folks may not always agree with him, and he with them, but there will always be a forum to have your opinions and voices heard!
Once again, this time by the “other politicians” have words been taken out of context. Not everyone can use the perfect words at the perfect time, no one is perfect, yet if you listen to the message itself it is not what the “pennsylvaniaprogressive” says that Pennsylvanians are going to rush out and buy guns and religion because they are in dire straits”, Sen. Obama’s message was that when one is in dire straits the tendency of human nature is to “cling” to what they are familiar with, what is engrained in their belief systems, and that is normal and understood. Sen. Obama’s message to Pennsylvanians is that he wants to change the culture of Washington to give PA’s once and for all an opportunity to really make a difference in peoples lives. I hope Pennsylvanians will take the time to digest and understand the truth behind the words, and listen to the truth in their hearts and make the right choice. Please do not be enflamed by the parsing and dicing of words by politicians only looking to divide and harm. Thank You!
Obama: Daring to tell the truth
Obama’s remark has spurred such response not because he is off the mark or elitist…but because he is damn right! The funny thing (not really…) is that everyone bays to the moon about wanting “honest politicians,” but the minute they dare voice the real, simple, unadulterated truth and not lard it up with a bunch of platitudes, they jump on them!
As to one poster who mentioned seeing Obama in person and noting his ease. I too have noticed this. I look at a lot of the footage of him meeting people in Altoona and his body language was quite something. None of that stiff, fake posturing you too often see with people who really don’t want to mix it up with the regular folks, but are forced to. Now, I don’t know that such an ability should necessarily be on the CV of someone running for President, but it does speak to Obama’s ability to connect with voters. We all have built in “BS-meters,” and I don’t think he sets them off :-)
Piltdown Man
It’s true he may not set
It’s true he may not set off the BS meters with voters, but it’s Congress that he will need to win over when he is elected. Being an inspiring speaking will get you the public vote, but it will not help you in Comgress. Congress is full of inspiring speakers and Congressmen are not swayed by the retoric of a change-all President. Obama has a terribly hard road ahead of him if he is elected President. Republicans and Democrats are not up for as much change as Obama is promising. Sure the public is up for a change to Washington politics, but Washington is not up for it. Obama is going to slam head first into a brick wall and it will take all the strength he can muster to overcome it.
JP
I'm from PA
I’m a small town Pennsylvanian. Obama’s characterization of us as “clinging” to guns and religion, being anti-immigration, anti-trade, anti-people who are different, all under the umbrella of “bitterness’ over job losses is a slam to us, and to all rural Americans. Speaking these words to one of his mega-rich, no media allowed (now we know why) fundraisers on Millionaire’s Row in San Francisco, Obama slammed the door in the faces of thousands of Pennsylvanians who had greeted him just a week before on his six day bus trip through our state. As he traveled through PA, we saw much coverage of his many side trips: bowling, visiting sports bars, feeding cows at the Penn State cow barns, eating hot dogs in Altoona. Now, I see this all as a pretentious side-show, after which he went running right off to his millionaire donors and basically called PA small town voters a bunch of narrow-minded, prejudiced hicks. I am offended by this attitude from Obama, and by his later response of how much “in touch” he is. He is the one who is showing prejudice, looking at Pennsylvanians as stereotypes. This is unacceptable. He wants to be my president? I don’t think so. As a former John Edwards supporter, I have high standards for my president, and Obama just doesn’t cut it. I will be voting for Hillary on April 22 in PA.