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Title: Obama says he grew up less privileged than rivals
Source:
http://www.reuters.com/
URL Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0143937020080501
Published: May 1, 2008
Author: Andy Sullivan
Post Date: 2008-05-01 11:27:17 by robin
Keywords: None
Views: 905
Comments: 71
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama on Thursday said he had grown up in less privileged circumstances than his rivals as he fought a perception among some voters that he is "elitist." In an interview on NBC's "Today Show," Obama sought to explain a series of missteps that have dogged his candidacy over the past month and led some voters to conclude that he is out of touch. "The irony is, I think it is fair to say that both Michelle and I grew up in much less privileged circumstances than either of my two potential opponents," Obama said in an interview with his wife, Michelle, at his side. Obama's Kenyan father was largely absent from his life as a child, and his mother raised him with the help of his grandparents. His rival for the Democratic nomination, Hillary Clinton, grew up in an affluent suburb of Chicago as the daughter of a small-business owner. The Republican candidate for the November presidential election, John McCain, is the son and grandson of Navy admirals. Obama's front-runner status for the Democratic nomination has eroded in recent weeks amid a firestorm over racially charged remarks by his former pastor and his own comments at a San Francisco fund-raiser that small-town voters are "bitter" and "cling" to guns and religion. "The comments I made in San Francisco at the end of a very long day were very poorly phrased," Obama said. "I should have said 'angry and frustrated' instead of 'bitter.' I should have said, people 'rely on' their religious faith during these times of trouble, instead of 'cling to.'" Obama said he did not immediately denounce his former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, when his incendiary comments were first made public because of his personal ties to the man who presided over his marriage and the baptism of his two children. "I thought it was important to give him the benefit of the doubt because if I had wanted to be politically expedient I would have distanced myself and denounced him right away," Obama said. Obama said the criticism is inevitable, given his international background and status as the first black who has a good chance of winning the White House. "Let's be honest, here I am an African American named Barack Obama who's running for president. I mean, that's a leap for folks," he said. (Editing by Jackie Frank) (To read more about the U.S. political campaign, visit Reuters "Tales from the Trail: 2008" online at blogs.reuters.com/trail08/)
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#1. To: robin, *Obama Reality Check* (#0)
I smell a book here; poor black boy, trapped in Hawaii, twitters away his youth at a private school (Punahou), only to be saddled with more grief at Columbia and Harvard.
His rival for the Democratic nomination, Hillary Clinton, grew up in an affluent suburb of Chicago as the daughter of a small-business owner. The Republican candidate for the November presidential election, John McCain, is the son and grandson of Navy admirals. You disagree with any of this?
“President Bush has talked about our staying in Iraq for 50 years,” “Maybe a hundred ... ... that’d be fine with me,” McCain responds There's nothing new about a black father leaving a child in the lurch. I'd give you the actual stats, but I'm certain you'd rationalize them. No, Obama wasn't poor. I was, and countless others on this forum were. Somehow, sans a large central government, we survived and even prospered. I only wish I took the same kind of hard knocks he took as a kid.
But Obama has been saddled with the label "elitist". His childhood was not among the elite, unlike McCain's childhood or even Hillary's.
“President Bush has talked about our staying in Iraq for 50 years,” “Maybe a hundred ... ... that’d be fine with me,” McCain responds See his "bitter" comment to the San Fran, white wine and Brie crowd of political lefties.
was watching MSNBC (Matthews) and his commentators talking about Obama's and his Mrs' denial of elitism last night. one of them said, they're all elitists as are each of us talking about it right now. so accurate. ;)
I don't know of any elite childhood that required a mother to have her middle-class grandparents from the Mid-West help raise her child. If one is elite because of being very well-educated and having a professional career, then that would make a great many elites. McCain is the son and grandson of admirals married to a multi-millionaire or billionaire. Hillary grew up in an affluent neighborhood. If they are all to be labeled elite, so be it, but only one is being called that in a negative way.
“President Bush has talked about our staying in Iraq for 50 years,” “Maybe a hundred ... ... that’d be fine with me,” McCain responds You can see them nodding their heads like bobble dolls with the upper crust curl of the lip.
And when he was criticizing bitter, religious people who had an antipathy for people unlike them, he wasn't talking about Reverend Wright.
Obama said the criticism is inevitable, given his international background and status as the first black who has a good chance of winning the White House. We just need a stronger international candidate I guess.
I smell a book here; poor black boy, trapped in Hawaii, twitters away his youth at a private school (Punahou), only to be saddled with more grief at Columbia and Harvard. Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. A kid pretty much raised by his middle class grandparents who obviously had to make some sacrifices to send him to a good school (in which he did well) somehow becomes defined as an elitist? You must think you could sell ice cubes to Eskimos.
Success is relative. It is what we can make of the mess we have made of things. T. S. Eliot
Is your reading comprehension really all that poor? Another poster made a comment that I thought was funny and I posted some laughing smiley faces.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. ; _
White guilt? Yeah, sad, ain't it?
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. They make me physically ill...
btw it's good to see you up and taking nutrition...sunny side up as itwere. ;)
His grandmother was a "typical white person" (read, racist) It's no wonder the man hates America.
Thank you kindly. Always good to see you too.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Anyone paying attention can see that OMarx got setup in The Party® before the 2004 'breakout' convention. He's made millions since...look it up, the OMarxist racist liberation theology students have made millions and stand to make tens of millions more. Wright gets his payday, they all pass around paydays among themselves in the cabal...race pimping effs.
What's funny is that some folks will fall--and I mean EVERY TIME--for the race baiting poverty pimps. It would be funny if it weren't so predictable and so sad.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. www.wherethemoneygoes.com /newSearch.php? SearchString=Obama&Submit=Search+WTMG
What's funny is that some folks will fall--and I mean EVERY TIME--for the race baiting poverty pimps. It would be funny if it weren't so predictable and so sad. It's makes me Senator Obama wants Wal-Mart to be a good corporate citizen. We want his wife's hospital to be a good corporate citizen. Description: Senator Obama speaks to the UFCW union. Published: November 17, 2006 We reported yesterday that as part of his unannounced campaign for President, that Il. Senator Barack Obama was scheduled to do a conference call with members of the United Food and Commercial Workers, as part of their effort to force Wal-Mart to unionize. Here's in part, what the Associated Press reported. "U.S. Sen. Barack Obama praised a union-led campaign to change working conditions at Wal-Mart, telling activists Wednesday that their efforts were part of a needed, broader debate about jobs and economic opportunity in America. "The Illinois senator, weighing in on the increasingly politicized debate over Wal-Mart, told a conference call with the union-backed group WakeUpWalMart.com there was a 'moral responsibility to stand up and fight' for a better economic future with adequate wages, health care and retirement benefits. "This is a much broader issue than Wal-Mart but I think the battle to engage Wal-Mart and force them to examine their own corporate values and what their policies and approaches are to their workers and how they are going to be good corporate citizens, I think, is absolutely vital,' Obama said." As I predicted he did not talk about the fact that his wife recently was promoted to a $300,000 a year plus position as a Vice-President of supposed not- for-profit The University of Chicago Hospitals. She became the 13th Vice-President, all who make more than $300,000 a year. He did not talk about the fact, that his wife's hospital spent $5 million on collection agencies last year, in an attempt to force people to pay trumped up bills. He did not talk about the fact that his wife's hospital marks up their actual cost of drugs by 538%. He did not explain why how his wife's hospital, which is supposed to be a not- for-profit was able to make almost $100 MILLION in profit last year. He did not discuss whether these and other facts would allow his wife's hospital to be considered a good corporate citizen. Now did he discuss an item I wrote about a few months ago that bears repeating. According to their latest 990 Federal Tax Form of The University of Chicago Hospitals where they list the "5 highest paid employees other than officers, directors and trustees" you will find one medical professional listed. (Doctors usually never appear as they are independent contractors.) Gwendolyn Moton, an operating room nurse received $227,817 in total compensation for her work in helping to save lives. That's $89,145 less than Michelle Obama-gets for helping save their profits, but then again, Gwendolyn is not married to a U.S. Senator. Why don't the fawning newspapers cover this hypocrisy?
AAAAAAAArp..............;P
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- President Barack Obama? Let's check in on Vice President Michelle Obama first. Description: The total compensation of Michelle Obama. Published: September 15, 2006 Shortly after her husband was sworn in as U.S. Senator, Michelle Obama was sworn in as a Vice President of The University of Chicago Hospitals. The President of not-for-profit The University of Chicago Hospitals announced her appointment as Vice President, Community and External Affairs, apparently a newly created position, as I could not find this position listed on their previous tax form. Michael Riordan the Pres/CEO said at the time, "We are excited to have her join the ranks of senior management. She brings to our team a new level of compassion, commitment and close connections to the community." "My goal in this position," Obama said in response "is to continue to broaden the Hospitals' relationships with our neighborhood and with our city." Vice President Obama became the 13th Vice President at The University of Chicago Hospitals, according to their latest 990 Federal Tax Form. While her total compensation through year end 6/30/05 is listed as $148,939 it's clear that is only for a part of the whole fiscal year, as the other 12 Vice Presidents all took home no less than $300,000 in total compensation for a full twelve months. Why would they pay her less, especially when they are so proud of her work, her picture actually appears twice in their 44 page annual report, more times it seems than any other VP. As for her outreach work, I wonder how she explains to the community that her hospital marks up their actual cost of drugs by 538%. That they mark up their actual cost for laboratory work by 597%. That they mark up their actual costs for anesthesiology by 928%. That if you are uninsured and make more than 200% of the federal poverty level, they expect you to pay the full amount charged. That even if you offer to pay cash, if you are uninsured they still have no policy to give you a discount. And if you don't pay the full price-gouged amount, they'll send a collection agency after you. As a matter of fact this not-for-profit hospital has spent well over $10 MILLION on collection agencies in the past 2 years. Price gouging uninsured minorities, using collection agencies, arbitrage, all these things helped this not-for-profit hospital make a profit last year of $96,424,000 according to the American Hospital Directory (AHD). In 2004, they made over $77 MILLION in profit, and in 2003 they made over $35 MILLION in profit, all without paying a single dime in taxes, to help other not- for-profit hospitals like the under funded John Stroger hospital, that doesn't mark up its costs by one penny (according to the AHD). Her husbands picture was once featured on the SEIU website with a quote that hospitals "terrorize" the uninsured. He could have and should have been talking about The University of Chicago Hospitals. Liberals, you got to love them. www.wherethemoneygoes.com /newSearch.php? SearchString=Obama&Submit=Search+WTMG If you thought Hillary care was a bad idea, imagine what Michelle care might look like............. imagine what it would be under government control......... Boo.
We never got a thermos..
Obama may not have been as privileged as Hillary or McCain, but he hardly grew up as underprivileged as most people I know, myself included. His mother sounds like the perfect example of a trust fund do-gooder, I'm guessing Catholic rather than full-bore Bolshevik. Ninety-nine percent of the people I grew up with couldn't afford extensive overseas travel, not without joining the military anyway, and that's hardly missionary work except for the truly deranged. I'm not denying that The Other Two are worthy of a hanging, they are, but it's a bit offputting when Obama tries to enlist my sympathy.
And they write innumerable books; being too vain and distracted for silence: seeking every one after his own elevation, and dodging his emptiness. - T. S. Eliot
It's a shame Obama can't run against Viagra Bob from 96 Campaign - now that would be some great material.
And they write innumerable books; being too vain and distracted for silence: seeking every one after his own elevation, and dodging his emptiness. - T. S. Eliot
Jethro's humor is pointed toward and appreciated by, shall we say, a select group.
Success is relative. It is what we can make of the mess we have made of things. T. S. Eliot
smootch!
And they write innumerable books; being too vain and distracted for silence: seeking every one after his own elevation, and dodging his emptiness. - T. S. Eliot
Just fyi.
He's not trying to enlist anyone's sympathy, nor is he trying to say he was underprivileged. He's trying to defend himself against the charge of being an elite, while two more qualified are sitting next to him. --------------------------------- Meet Barack Early Years Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4th, 1961. His father, Barack Obama Sr., was born and raised in a small village in Kenya, where he grew up herding goats with his own father, who was a domestic servant to the British. Barack's mother, Ann Dunham, grew up in small-town Kansas. Her father worked on oil rigs during the Depression, and then signed up for World War II after Pearl Harbor, where he marched across Europe in Patton's army. Her mother went to work on a bomber assembly line, and after the war, they studied on the G.I. Bill, bought a house through the Federal Housing Program, and moved west to Hawaii. It was there, at the University of Hawaii, where Barack's parents met. His mother was a student there, and his father had won a scholarship that allowed him to leave Kenya and pursue his dreams in America. Barack's father eventually returned to Kenya, and Barack grew up with his mother in Hawaii, and for a few years in Indonesia. Later, he moved to New York, where he graduated from Columbia University in 1983.
“President Bush has talked about our staying in Iraq for 50 years,” “Maybe a hundred ... ... that’d be fine with me,” McCain responds Poor baby. My mom and dad were depression immigrants from Ky and TN. Neither graduated from high school, but both were over-achievers. I had a couple of humiliating moments due to some southern dialect that I had inherited, but I never felt underprivileged ... even as I rejoiced in my twenty-five cent membership card to the Boy's Club. I took for granted that the "rich" kids went to the YMCA. I regarded my free library card as an unbelievable grant. I lived a rich and full life. That was before TV, of course.
Success is relative. It is what we can make of the mess we have made of things. T. S. Eliot
I almost want to give him points for exposing the utter bullshit that elections have come to symbolize and support. Almost.
And they write innumerable books; being too vain and distracted for silence: seeking every one after his own elevation, and dodging his emptiness. - T. S. Eliot
Stop it, you're tearing up my heart.
And they write innumerable books; being too vain and distracted for silence: seeking every one after his own elevation, and dodging his emptiness. - T. S. Eliot
He's not trying to enlist anyone's sympathy, nor is he trying to say he was underprivileged. He's trying to defend himself against the charge of being an elite, while two more qualified for the pejorative are sitting next to him. There. ;-)
Success is relative. It is what we can make of the mess we have made of things. T. S. Eliot
Apologies. The Dickens comes out in me from time to time. ;-)
Success is relative. It is what we can make of the mess we have made of things. T. S. Eliot
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#2. To: Jethro Tull (#1)
Obama's Kenyan father was largely absent from his life as a child, and his mother raised him with the help of his grandparents.
Hillary: "I want the Iranians to know that if I'm the president, we will attack Iran in the next 10 years, during which they might foolishly consider launching an attack on Israel, we would be able to totally obliterate them."
#3. To: robin (#2)
#4. To: Jethro Tull (#3)
Hillary: "I want the Iranians to know that if I'm the president, we will attack Iran in the next 10 years, during which they might foolishly consider launching an attack on Israel, we would be able to totally obliterate them."
#5. To: robin (#4)
But Obama has been saddled with the label "elitist".
#6. To: robin (#0)
#7. To: christine (#6)
Hillary: "I want the Iranians to know that if I'm the president, we will attack Iran in the next 10 years, during which they might foolishly consider launching an attack on Israel, we would be able to totally obliterate them."
#8. To: Jethro Tull (#5)
See his "bitter" comment to the San Fran, white wine and Brie crowd of political lefties.
#9. To: angle (#8)
San Fran libs
#10. To: Jethro Tull (#1)
I smell a book here; poor black boy, trapped in Hawaii, twitters away his youth at a private school (Punahou), only to be saddled with more grief at Columbia and Harvard.
#11. To: robin (#0)
#12. To: Jethro Tull (#1)
Lord Acton
#13. To: James Deffenbach (#12)
I smell a book here; poor black boy, trapped in Hawaii, twitters away his youth at a private school (Punahou), only to be saddled with more grief at Columbia and Harvard.
#14. To: iconoclast (#13)
Lord Acton
#15. To: James Deffenbach (#14)
Is your reading comprehension really all that poor? Another poster made a comment that I thought was funny and I posted some laughing smiley faces.
#16. To: FOH (#15)
Lord Acton
#17. To: James Deffenbach (#16)
#18. To: James Deffenbach (#16)
#19. To: iconoclast (#13)
A kid pretty much raised by his middle class grandparents
#20. To: FOH (#18)
btw it's good to see you up and taking nutrition...sunny side up as it were. ;)
Lord Acton
#21. To: James Deffenbach (#20)
#22. To: FOH (#21)
Anyone paying attention can see that OMarx got setup in The Party® before the 2004 'breakout' convention. He's made millions since...look it up, the OMarxist racist liberation theology students have made millions and stand to make tens of millions more. Wright gets his payday, they all pass around paydays among themselves in the cabal...race pimping effs.
Lord Acton
#23. To: FOH (#21)
They are up to their elbows in 'healthcare'........................$
#24. To: James Deffenbach (#22)
Anyone paying attention can see that OMarx got setup in The Party® before the 2004 'breakout' convention. He's made millions since...look it up, the OMarxist racist liberation theology students have made millions and stand to make tens of millions more. Wright gets his payday, they all pass around paydays among themselves in the cabal...race pimping effs.
...
#25. To: Peppa (#23)
(Edited)
Communists suck...
#26. To: FOH (#25)
www.wherethemoneygoes.com/printArticle.php?id_art=2108
#27. To: Jethro Tull (#19)
It's no wonder the man hates America.
#28. To: FOH (#25)
#29. To: FOH (#25)
One more.......
#30. To: TwentyTwelve (#27)
#31. To: robin (#2)
#32. To: James Deffenbach (#22)
#33. To: James Deffenbach, Jethro Tull (#14)
Another poster made a comment that I thought was funny and I posted some laughing smiley faces.
#34. To: iconoclast (#33)
Jethro's humor is pointed toward and appreciated by, shall we say, a select group.
#35. To: All, *Obama Reality Check* (#29)
#36. To: Dakmar (#31)
(Edited)
Hillary: "I want the Iranians to know that if I'm the president, we will attack Iran in the next 10 years, during which they might foolishly consider launching an attack on Israel, we would be able to totally obliterate them."
#37. To: Dakmar (#31)
Obama may not have been as privileged as Hillary or McCain, but he hardly grew up as underprivileged as most people I know, myself included.
#38. To: robin (#36)
"The comments I made in San Francisco at the end of a very long day were very poorly phrased," Obama said. "I should have said 'angry and frustrated' instead of 'bitter.' I should have said, people 'rely on' their religious faith during these times of trouble, instead of 'cling to.'"
#39. To: iconoclast (#37)
(Edited)
I had a couple of humiliating moments due to some southern dialect that I had inherited,
#40. To: robin (#36)
He's not trying to enlist anyone's sympathy, nor is he trying to say he was underprivileged. He's trying to defend himself against the charge of being an elite, while two more qualified are sitting next to him.
#41. To: Dakmar (#39)
Stop it, you're tearing up my heart.
.
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