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Title: Obama on small-town PA: Clinging to religion, guns, xenophobia
Source: [None]
URL Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mayhi ... -surprise-that-ha_b_96188.html
Published: Apr 11, 2008
Author: Ben Smith
Post Date: 2008-04-11 19:39:50 by christine
Keywords: None
Views: 5578
Comments: 263

Obama on small-town PA: Clinging to religion, guns, xenophobia

Huffpo's Mayhill Fowler has more from Obama's remarks at a San Francisco fundraiser Sunday, and they include an attempt to explain the resentment in small-town Pennsylvania that won't be appreciated by some of the people whose votes Obama's seeking:

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 toward people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations. That's a pretty broad list of things to explain with job loss.

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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 201.

#3. To: christine (#0) (Edited)

This is the furore du jour on Lou Dobbs' show and, I suspect on other shows.

Hillary says that it's not true. She only saw pumped up people, full of enthusiasm and ready to roll sleeves. The McCain says that it's unbelievable to say the truth about people being bitter. I mean... don't we all love it?

My view: he proves, again, that he is a thinking man, capable of facing reality. I believe that the essence of what he said is true. What's missing, and maybe this thing is all out of context, is how he things this is going to develop. Is there a happy end? I'm curious of what his views are on where we are going.

On the other hand, I don't know what these bitter people are going to do when they hear Hillary claiming that everyone is cheerful and full of enthusiasms.

Interestingly, on Lou Dobbs' poll...

Do you believe that Senator Barack Obama's comments reveal his elitist attitude toward every hardworking American?
Yes 46% 4158
No 54% 4786
Total Votes: 8944

Dobbsy usually gets 99.5% supporting what he wants to be supported. This time the majority is with the Obamer. Very interesting, while the punditry are screaming political Obamicide.

a vast rightwing conspirator  posted on  2008-04-11   19:51:42 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#108. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#3)

I believe that the essence of what he said is true.

That they suupport gun rights, don't support illegal immigration or are anti- NAFTA becasue they're bitter they don't have jobs? WTF is wrong with you?

angle  posted on  2008-04-12   12:45:52 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#145. To: angle (#108)

That they suupport gun rights, don't support illegal immigration or are anti- NAFTA becasue they're bitter they don't have jobs? WTF is wrong with you?

Absolutely.

Most of the opposition to immigration and trade comes from those who are affected by it or whose lifestyles or survival is threatened by them. Did you think it was different.

As for people going to church more often when they are insecure - this is not news to you, or it shouldn't be.

And anyone feeling angry and discouraged and caring more about their little shooters under such circumstances... of course they do and of course they are.

You don't believe that it is so?

a vast rightwing conspirator  posted on  2008-04-12   15:38:58 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#160. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#145) (Edited)

You don't believe that it is so?

Therefore, those who support the constitution are bitter about the constitution being violated? One does not necessarily follow from the other.

People go to church to worship God.

People who want weapons on hand are realists.

People who want the laws follwed in the country regarding immigration and are alarmed at how illegal immigrants destroy the economies through their stealing of the tax benefits intended for citizens are educated.

The disparaging remarks regarding these folks being motivated by bitterness and fear are part and parcel of the neocon propaganda to paint U.S. Nationals as fringe malcontents.

McWar, Rodham and Obama. Their choice, not ours.

angle  posted on  2008-04-12   17:25:37 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#183. To: angle (#160)

Therefore, those who support the constitution are bitter about the constitution being violated? One does not necessarily follow from the other.

People go to church to worship God.

People who want weapons on hand are realists.

People who want the laws follwed in the country regarding immigration and are alarmed at how illegal immigrants destroy the economies through their stealing of the tax benefits intended for citizens are educated.

These, of course, are your theories.

However, it is known that people are more likely to go to church during hard times. Hard times also makes people more likely to volunteer for a revolution or some armed rebellion. This is also known. If you have a steady, well-paying job and live in a safe neighborhood you may not notice the presence of illegals or, if you do, you might appreciate their willingness to provide you services for less that the natives would charge. You may also support your government 'open trade' initiatives because they bring in cheap goods.

As for the constitution, it's always open for interpretation and the worse off you are the less happy you are likely to be with the current constitutional views.

Think about it. It kind of makes sense.

a vast rightwing conspirator  posted on  2008-04-12   19:36:24 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#191. To: a vast rightwing conspirator (#183)

As for the constitution, it's always open for interpretation and the worse off you are the less happy you are likely to be with the current constitutional views.

You may call them constitutional views, but calling a load of shit a chocolate pie doesn't make it so. Same with trying to whitewash Obama's views.

angle  posted on  2008-04-12   22:13:27 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#194. To: angle (#191)

You may call them constitutional views, but calling a load of shit a chocolate pie doesn't make it so. Same with trying to whitewash Obama's views.

Why would I want to whitewash Obama's views? I am pleased that there is a politician who, sometimes, expresses his thoughts for others to hear.

Compare Obama's relatively unrehearsed words with Clinton's claiming that all those victims of outsourcing, free trade, and competition from legal guest worers and illegal immigrants are all enthusiastic and energized to roll their sleeves and then do... what? Other than voting for Hillary, of course.

It seems to me that the expectation for politicians talking is that it is always done at the 'total moron' level and, every time someone dares elevate the discussion to, let's say, 'idiot' level, the total morons feel it's their duty to scream 'APOLOLGIZE!!!'

a vast rightwing conspirator  posted on  2008-04-13   8:45:10 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#196. To: a vast rightwing conspirator, Peppa, Jethro Tull, robin (#194)

Why would I want to whitewash Obama's views? I am pleased that there is a politician who, sometimes, expresses his thoughts for others to hear.

I happen to be one of the "small town" people that Obama was referring to.

I and all my friends took offense to his words, now mind you we are the subject of his remarks.

Does that mean that you not being one of us are telling thousands of us "small towners" that we do not understand?

Does that not make you a tad "elitist", a tad "condescending"? Granted we may not be as educated and intelligent as you, but we do seem to be of one mind on this.

Cynicom  posted on  2008-04-13   9:05:34 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


#201. To: Cynicom (#196) (Edited)

Okay, so Obama dared talked about people other than Niggers (which are 'his' people') in ways that some of them don't appreciate, especially after the media and Hillary told them that they should not appreciate it.

Like I said, if you appreciate Hillary's Potemkinistic talk about all these unemployed and beat up people and their readiness to roll up sleeves and vote for her, then you should vote for Hillary.

I live in PA myself, by the way and, you and I surely know that most PA's little towns look like shit. On my commute to work (in New Jersey) I pass by the ruins of the USX giant buildings - once the largest corporation in the world, now the maker of lighter flints and souvenirs. Oh... one of the ruins is to be used as the backdrop for some casino in Bethlehem - we're making progress. You want to buy a townhouse in Easton? Not a problem, you can have one for $30,000, maybe less if you shop around. You walk trough Allentown and you always feel like you need to watch your back and think about body armor as a wise investment. As for 'happy faces' and people eager to roll up their sleeves when prompted to do so by Hillary... I wish she did a TV spot on that with the MTV dancers in the background while Hillary's face does the happy talking. Remember, Obama claimed that these problems have been around for 20-30 years already and no politician did anything about it. Check Billy Joel's 'Allentown' - great video. Meanwhile, Hillary, when running for senator in New York, she asked the people in upstate NY to roll up their sleeves because, once elected, she would bring 300,000 jobs back. What happened, I heard, was that 90,000 more jobs left upstate New York since her election and all those sleeveless arms, got bitten by mosquitoes in the summer and froze in the winter, while waiting for Hillary's promised jobs.

a vast rightwing conspirator  posted on  2008-04-13   9:23:07 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


Replies to Comment # 201.

#205. To: a vast rightwing conspirator, Peppa (#201)

I live in PA myself,

OK...

And your problems on buying cheap houses is going to rectified by Obama how??????

Now I can understand your dislike of Paul. You want a gravy train and someone took took away your all day sucker, what a shame. Paul said openly YOU WOULD HAVE TO WORK, NO MORE GRAVY FROM WASHINGTON AND THAT SCARED THE HELL OUT OF YOU.

Now your fear of Paul is understandable, just another free loader looking for a check from Washington to take care of you.

With that in mind then we do understand your need to elect Obama and Clinton. Now your gimme hands are apparent.

Cynicom  posted on  2008-04-13 09:30:52 ET  Reply   Untrace   Trace   Private Reply  


End Trace Mode for Comment # 201.

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