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Title: Barack Obama turns to damage limitation after polls beating
Source:
Times Online (UK)
URL Source: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/ne ... s_elections/article3745785.ece
Published: Apr 14, 2008
Author: Tim Reid
Post Date: 2008-04-14 16:08:42 by nolu_chan
Keywords: None
Views: 411
Comments: 37
From Times Online Barack Obama turns to damage limitation after polls beating Tim Reid in Pittsburgh Barack Obama sought to turn the tables on Hillary Clinton today over his controversial remarks that small town Americans "cling" to guns and religion, amid signs that the issue has damaged him. In separate appearances before an audience of steelworkers in Pittsburgh, a week before Pennsylvania's primary, the Democratic rivals attacked each other aggressively, with one new poll showing Mrs Clinton opening up a formidable 20-point lead in the Keystone State. The American Research Group survey comes after a string of polls last week showed him pulling to within five points of Mrs Clinton in Pennsylvania. Yesterday's poll, taken since the "guns and religion" controversy erupted, puts Mrs Clinton ahead 57 per cent to 37, and leading among white voters 64 points to 29. The ARG polls can be unreliable and another survey, by Temple University in Philadelphia, gave Mrs Clinton a nine-point lead. Last week Mr Obama, at a fundraiser in San Francisco, tried to explain why he has trouble attracting white, working class voters, a large voting bloc in Pennsylvania. He said that frustrated with their economic plight, "it's not surprising 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." Mrs Clinton has spent the past three days calling Mr Obama "elitist" and "out of touch", and told the steelworkers audience that his remarks were "offensive". John McCain, in Washington, echoed that criticism. She has argued that such remarks could doom Mr Obama in a general election against Mr McCain and believes it has given her a genuine chance to reshape the Democratic race. Speaking to the steelworkers, Mr Obama accused Mrs Clinton of being a dishonest panderer. He conceded that the words he used in his "bitter" remarks were badly chosen, then rounded on his rival, questioning her opposition to free trade agreements fiercely opposed by his union audience. "Around election time, the candidates can't do enough for you. They'll promise you anything, give you a long list of proposals and even come around, with TV crews in tow, to throw back a shot and a beer," Mr Obama said to loud laughter. Mrs Clinton did just that in an Indiana bar on Saturday. Turning to the North American Free Trade Agreement, passed by her husband and which Mrs Clinton backed in 1993, but now opposes, Mr Obama said: "You can't spend the better part of two decades campaigning for NAFTA...and then come here to Pennsylvania, and tell the steelworkers you've been with them all along." At a union hall in Pennsylvania on Sunday night, Mr Obama said Mrs Clinton seemed a lot more interested in guns and hunting since he made his controversial remarks. "She is running around talking about how this is an insult to sportsmen ... she is talking like she is Annie Oakley," Mr Obama said, mockingly comparing her to a legendary American sharpshooter. James Bitonti, a retired steelworker, said Mr Obama's remarks "are going to hurt him big time." Yet most steelworkers spoken to by The Times said it was merely an irrelevant distraction. Indeed, in a part of Pennsylvannia and before an audience that should favour Mrs Clinton, Mr Obama's speech was far more warmly received.
April 14, 2008
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#8. To: nolu_chan (#0)
i find obama's accusation of xenophobia by small-towners (whites he means) much more troubling than the part about them clinging to guns and religion.
[christine] i find obama's accusation of xenophobia by small-towners (whites he means) much more troubling than the part about them clinging to guns and religion. What he said was that people in economic plight express the frustration or anger about their economic plight by "antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." That is just an observation of essential truth that has happened for centuries. In towns where half the former citizens have left, and others need a passport to visit their former jobs, anger and bitterness will not be all that difficult to find. Frustration and anger are often transferred or misdirected inappropriately - kicking the dog, beating the wife, or screaming in anger at an inanimate object. It happens. April 14, 2008 FROM CNN’s Jack Cafferty: * * * Here’s my question to you: How harmful will Barack Obama’s “bitter” remarks be to his candidacy? I think this another overblown and overhyped non-issue. The latest round of polls seems to indicate it has not had much effect.
The argument of
late has been about ILLEGAL immigrants, and when a politician, today, omits
the word ILLEGAL when discussing a immigrants, it's done intentionally. Not a
soul I know cares a thing about LEGAL immigration, it's ILLEGAL immigration
that has us taxed out of our homes and made us bitter. In his statement, Obama
seems to have intentionally blurred the immigrant line, as all pro ILLEGAL
immigrant advocates do.
None of the three are going to do a damn thing about restoring this country. Not a one will reverse Nafta, challenge illegal immigration or end the wars. None. The republic is dead. Voting is an exercise to keep the sheeple distracted.
I couldn't agree more. Whichever stooge is chosen at the end will be a straw man to the power behind the curtain - a custodian for the Agenda.
Here's something a bit more pertinent and I'd like your take on it. I read some of what polak at lf writes and he's shown a good bit of insight about these kinds of regimes. Specifically I want to know how one might protect a small farm from the onset of a program like this: EXCERPT: Today's word to learn for Americans is Holodomor. The scenario of this game is as follows: 1. Bolshevik Jews take over the capitol 2. Bolshevik Jews rule over all the country through terror and fear EXCEPT in the areas where people still can be self-sustaining through family farms 3. Destruction of family farms becomes key goal of the regime. The independent farmers aka Kulaks aka "Survivalists" are declared the enemies of the people, directly responsible for starving the good obedient sheep of the cities 4. An emergency program is instituted where bolshevik commissars sweep through kulak areas confiscating any and all food, including grain saved for planting the next year. 5. What used to be the world's premiere breadbasket is turned into a massive excersise in cannibalism. Bon Apetit!!!!! Long live Comrade Chertoff!!! Only he can save America from the evil Kulak Survivalists of the Flyover Country!!!
angle... I know, you dont agree with my pitiful offerings, boo hoo, but I want to laud you for this one. You need however to hit people aside the head with a 2x4 to get their attention.
I was shocked by Neil's comments yesterday. Not because they were said in any particularly vulgar or shocking way, but by what was conveyed in those posts. People think there's some difference in voting for one of the 3. I would like that to be the case, but it isn't. What to do now?
#16. To: angle (#15)
According to Ping... His use of language was INTENDED for shock effect. On personal character it had that effect, on content it was a total failure. Then trying to paper it over became embarrassing. Trying to justify to others voting for system candidate is asinine. Anyone that cares to vote for Obama is ones choice.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest"....antipathy to people who aren't like them, or anti-immigrant sentiment, or anti-trade sentiment,...."
#9. To: christine (#8)
[Article] He said that frustrated with their economic plight, "it's not surprising 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."
caffertyfile.blogs.cnn.co...emocratic-fight/#comments
Many interesting comments at the link on all sides of it.
“Bitter” Democratic fight
Posted: 01:56 PM ET
#10. To: nolu_chan (#9)
anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a
way to explain their frustrations." That is just an observation of essential
truth that has happened for centuries.
#11. To: Jethro Tull (#10)
#12. To: angle (#11)
Voting is an exercise to keep the sheeple distracted
#13. To: Jethro Tull (#12)
#14. To: angle (#13)
#15. To: Cynicom, piguinite (#14)
Replies to Comment # 15. Not because they were said in any particularly vulgar or shocking way, but by what was conveyed in those posts. People think there's some difference in voting for one of the 3. I would like that to be the case, but it isn't.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 15.