Obama Slams Critics on Middle-Class Comments

[dutch508]

jefferson_dem  (1000+ posts)       Fri Apr-11-08 11:02 PM
Original message http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3265287
Obama Slams Critics on Middle-Class Comments
 Advertisements [?]Source: NYT

Obama Slams Critics on Middle-Class Comments
By Jeff Zeleny

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Senator Barack Obama forcefully criticized his rivals here Friday evening for suggesting he was out-of-touch with the American middle-class, after Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain accused Mr. Obama of belittling voters by calling them “bitter.”

A fresh controversy over electability emerged from comments Mr. Obama had made at a private fundraiser in California on Sunday. Mr. Obama outlined challenges facing his presidential candidacy in the upcoming primaries of Pennsylvania and Indiana, particularly winning over white working-class voters who have fallen through the cracks of the last two presidential administrations.

“So it’s not surprising then that 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,” Mr. Obama said, according to a transcript that appeared Friday on the Hufington Post Web site.

The remarks touched off a torrent of criticism from Mrs. Clinton, Mr. McCain and a string of Republican activists and party officials, all of whom accused Mr. Obama of elitism and belittling the working class. At a rally here Friday evening, Mr. Obama drawing a standing ovation in a crowded gymnasium as he rebutted those charges and painted both of his rivals as entrenched Washington insiders.

“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.”

Read more: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/11/obama-sla... /

 

BUT- let the democratic destruction continue:

Jackpine Radical  (1000+ posts)       Sat Apr-12-08 10:32 AM
Response to Reply #17
41. Know them by the company they keep, I'd say:
 "...Mrs. Clinton, Mr. McCain and a string of Republican activists and party officials, all of whom accused Mr. Obama of elitism and belittling the working class."

The Repuboican Clinton-McCain campaign attacks Obama

WillYourVoteBCounted (1000+ posts)       Sat Apr-12-08 01:07 PM
Response to Reply #17
65. to Hill: You might be in the wrong political party IF: 
 You constantly line up with the republican candidate and the "vast right wing conspiracy"
to attack a fellow democrat.

Oliver Willis has it right here:

Q: Why is Hillary Clinton losing the Democratic nomination?
Published April 12, 2008

A: Because of headlines like this one: “Opponents Call Obama ‘Out of Touch’” When you and the conservative Republican nominee regularly line up on the same side rhetorically, it’s a sign that you may not be the one the Democratic party is looking for.

http://www.oliverwillis.com/index.php/2008/04/12/q-why-...

 

FatDave  (1000+ posts)       Sat Apr-12-08 08:22 AM
Response to Reply #11
29. It's just like Kerry's botched joke.
 They know damn well what he was saying, but found a way to spin his words negative. It must be hard constantly trying to ensure that there's no way your words can be misused by your over-eager opposition.

Eagle_Eye (1000+ posts)      Sat Apr-12-08 07:48 AM
Response to Original message
24. Obama hands Hillary Pennsylvania by insulting the rural voters.
 That is the way to get elected. He labels the voters he need to vote for him as pissed off, gun hugging, religious zealots who are incapable of finding a job.

We don't need a President that insults his constituents.

I welcome Hillary's coming victory in Pennsylvania.

bettyellen (1000+ posts)      Sat Apr-12-08 03:41 PM
Response to Reply #33
89. acknowledged how they cling to racist xenophobia? how they tote guns to church? LOL! 
 skinner ir right y'all . the man ****ed up.
keep putting lipstick on that pig. whatever

lark (400 posts)      Sat Apr-12-08 02:31 PM
Response to Reply #26
78. Thank you for getting it
 All these Obama supporters spin him as for the average person, not a corporatist, but I really don't think that's who he is. They are painting him with their wishful thinking colors, not seeing what's behind the usually pretty words. While slamming the down-trodden for turning to religion adn guns, he's also slamming them for being anti-trade, same sentence same thought. I thought his follow-up was absolutely spot on, but this original stinks of hypocrisy. Who is he, what will he do? I still don't know because he says one thing and votes differently. He's supposedly anti-NAFTA, yet seems pro free-trade in his first speech. I really don't trust him anymore than HRC, although his campaign staff is certainly better, more organized. At least she and her husband did something for America, they brought us prosperity, fiscal sanity, FMLA, protection of open spaces - what has he done for my family or yours - sadly, nothing that I can see.

 

NewHampster  (1000+ posts)       Sat Apr-12-08 10:56 AM
Response to Original message
44. Words, Just Words

Had not seen that image before.

JChan (5 posts)     Sat Apr-12-08 01:57 PM
Response to Original message
73. Well I guess Im in my own minority
 the guy needs to pick his words more wisely

"they cling to guns or religion "

So I guess I can now confirm that Obama is strongly anti-gun beucase he seems to think gun owners now

clutch and sleep with their weapons.

And I guess having faith and turning to Church during hard times is also something that only the poor do.

You guys can say what you want the interp. of the WAY he made is statement is very negative toward those

issues and spirituality.

  FREEPER TROLL ALERT!!!

[Bondai]

What average Joe American is tired of is the government spending more time meddling in our affairs and not enough time dealing with illegals, trade issues and the other things that government should be tending to.
Obama is a race baiting hate monger who has about as much in common with the American middle class as Stalin did....

Obama is a flaming idiot....

[miskie]

Above - Hillary gains an endorsement from the Anal Fister's Union.
(+1)

[Bondai]

Above - Hillary gains an endorsement from the Anal Fister's Union.
(+1)

 

[mamacags]

Dearest Obama,

Ummm uh I wood haf a ansur butt im to bizy klingin to reelijun guns an my klan robes.
 

                                         Hugs and kisses,
                                             A small town PA retard.

[Chris_]

FatDave  (1000+ posts)       Sat Apr-12-08 08:22 AM
Response to Reply #11
29. It's just like Kerry's botched joke.
 They know damn well what he was saying, but found a way to spin his words negative. It must be hard constantly trying to ensure that there's no way your words can be misused by your over-eager opposition

No, you ****tard, Kerry said something stupid and couldn't take being called out on it.

[Airwolf]

Did I just hear the sounds of the Titanic hitting the iceberg? I mean really could The Barackstar be any more stupid then to piss off the majority of the population?

[Carl]

It shows Obama for what he is,a political empty suit that has parlayed his youth and racial appeal to the head of the class.

Dems are looking at him as an untouchable symbol much as they thought Kerry would deflect the view that dems are anti military.
Rather then do that Kerry proved the point and in keeping Obama is also proving that he is not a candidate of "Hope" but one of bitter,inane,leftist dogma with a contempt for all that don`t bow to his messianic ambitions.

[VivisMom]

Above - Hillary gains an endorsement from the Anal Fister's Union.
(+1)

Thank you for making me think of Ben Burch and Hillary. Prepare to be bitchslapped.

[mondonico]