See other (s)Elections Articles
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: 918
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/)
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Comments (1-31) not displayed.
.
.
.
#32. To: James Deffenbach (#22)
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
... and this means... absolutely nothing. He was never in want, and his confusion about who he 'was' led him to the commie left. Eff this fraud, and be done with him.
Barry Obama -- In your heart, you know he's wrong.
I see no evidence of it. It's your inflamed hatred that is puzzling and troubling.
Success is relative. It is what we can make of the mess we have made of things. T. S. Eliot
Not trying to be obtuse, but why did she move to Indonesia?
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
I think he is as mentally unbalanced as the cryptkeeper is. He has no core, no principles, no country, and worst of all, nothing he is proud enough to protect. He knew he would have to toss his 'church' long ago. Joining was a political calculation from the beginning. I learned today that if you wanted to become a mover in the Chicago machine, you had to become a member of a church, and THAT particular church had the more affluent members. They, were used. What Obama has had, is a ticket, a pass, a little luck, and a lot of wind at his back.
She married an Indonesian. Not trying to be obtuse, but what the hell difference does it make with respect to the election?
Success is relative. It is what we can make of the mess we have made of things. T. S. Eliot
I'm trying to determine the character of the household in which he was raised. For purely personal purposes, I assure you.
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
I forget almost all the details I read after a few days, but it all adds into this Big Picture notion I have.
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
Okay, let me say that whatever you are told about his 'family' bears scrutiny. I've yet to find one thing said about his 'upbringing' an accurate depiction of the truth. The digger you deep, the deeper you need to. ;) Just saying. See for yourowndangself. :)
I'm trying to determine the character of the household in which he was raised. Who was the last Presidential candidate for whom you did "household" inquiry? For purely personal purposes, I assure you. From all we know, he appears to be happily married. Good grief.
Success is relative. It is what we can make of the mess we have made of things. T. S. Eliot
George W Bush. Did you know his family is nazis?
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
As opposed to getting paid, you nit.
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
Hyperbole used to tweak O'philes. I have no life.
I found these links on her story. The second one is long, I didn't read it.
“President Bush has talked about our staying in Iraq for 50 years,” “Maybe a hundred ... ... that’d be fine with me,” McCain responds I make that assumption about all plutocrats until they're proven innocent. ;-)
Success is relative. It is what we can make of the mess we have made of things. T. S. Eliot
I'm easily tweaked. ;-)
Success is relative. It is what we can make of the mess we have made of things. T. S. Eliot
And what group would that be? I am sure we would all appreciate your insight and apparently endless wisdumb on the subject (whatever it is).
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Oh no! Old Fud, don't you know you are not supposed to point out the obvious? All of Obama's true believers will now denounce you as a racist. Oh the humanity!
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Oh no! Old Fud, don't you know you are not supposed to point out the obvious? All of Obama's true believers will now denounce you as a racist. Oh the humanity! “To avoid being mistaken for a sellout, I chose my friends carefully. The more politically active black students, the foreign students. The Chicanos. The Marxist professors and structural feminists and punk-rock performance poets.” Barack Hussein Obama, “Dreams From My Father” (emp. added) . “I FOUND A SOLACE IN NURSING A PERVASIVE SENSE OF GRIEVANCE AND ANIMOSITY AGAINST MY MOTHER'S RACE.” Barack Hussein Obama, “Dreams From My Father” (emp. added, caps. in original) . "The emotion between the races could never be pure..... the other race would always remain just that: menacing, alien, and apart." Barack Hussein Obama, “Dreams From My Father” (emp. added) . “That hate hadn’t gone away,” [Obama wrote, blaming] “white people— some cruel, some ignorant, sometimes a single face, sometimes just a faceless image of a system claiming power over our lives.” Barack Hussein Obama, “Dreams From My Father” (emp. added) . “I had grown accustomed, everywhere, to suspicions between the races.” Barack Hussein Obama, “Dreams From My Father” (emp. added) . “[The globe is a place] where white folks’ greed runs a world in need, apartheid in one hemisphere, apathy in another hemisphere.... That's the world! On which hope sits.” Barack Hussein Obama (quoting Wright), “Dreams From My Father” (emp. added) . “[Obama vowed that he would] never emulate white men and brown men whose fates didn’t speak to my own. It was into my father’s image, the black man, son of Africa, that I’d packed all the attributes I sought in myself, the attributes of Martin and Malcolm [Malcolm X], DuBois and Mandela.” Barack Hussein Obama, “Dreams From My Father” (emp. added) . “In Indonesia, I had spent two years at a Muslim school…. I studied the Koran….” Barack Hussein Obama, “Dreams From My Father” (emp. added) . “We are no longer just a Christian nation,” “We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.” Barack Hussein Obama, “Dreams From My Father” (emp. added) . “I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction.” Barack Hussein Obama, “The Audacity of Hope” (emp. added) . “Lolo [Obama's step father] followed a brand of Islam.... I looked to Lolo for guidance.” Barack Hussein Obama, “The Audacity of Hope” (emp. added) . “The person who made me proudest of all, though, was [half brother] Roy .. He converted to Islam.” Barack Hussein Obama, “Dreams From My Father” (emp. added) .
Oh no! Obama a racist? And in his own words too!?!?! Oh the humanity, I don't know if I can go on with this latest blow. I am shocked, shocked let me tell you!
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. LOL! You can't discount the possibility that Turtle used his brain to make those words come out of Obama's mouth against his will. ;)
You can't discount the possibility that Turtle used his brain to make those words come out of Obama's mouth against his will. ;) Ah, I had forgotten that! C'mon turtle, fess up you wily debil. Causin' Obummer to say all that and against his will too. Shame, shame!
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Never put anything beyond the brain of Turtle... He wears that shell to hide all kinds of secrets within, a very shady person. PLUS, never trust a bald headed Turtle.
LOL!
He wears that shell to hide all kinds of secrets within, a very shady person. PLUS, never trust a bald headed Turtle. Hehehehe...
it's Turtle's conspiracy!
LOL... I wonder if he'd entertain requests? ;)
Is that like a 'speed bump' ?
Heck no! LOL!
This Turtle has a 40 pound, beach-ball-sized brain that he kills people with. All have been warned!
#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.
#42. To: robin (#0)
Barack Obama on Thursday said he had grown up in less privileged circumstances than his rivals...
#43. To: Jethro Tull (#19)
It's no wonder the man hates America.
#44. To: robin (#36)
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.
#45. To: Old Fud (#42)
#46. To: Dakmar (#44)
Not trying to be obtuse, but why did she move to Indonesia?
#47. To: Dakmar (#44)
If your up to a boat load of reading and links and all that ... You can peel out the relative facts from the rhetoric. I wish people would only write down the pertinent things once in a while... fwiw
#48. To: iconoclast (#46)
Not trying to be obtuse, but what the hell difference does it make with respect to the election?
#49. To: Peppa (#47)
If your up to a boat load of reading and links and all that
#50. To: Dakmar (#49)
I forget almost all the details I read after a few days, but it all adds into this Big Picture notion I have.
#51. To: Dakmar (#48)
#52. To: iconoclast (#51)
Who was the last Presidential candidate for whom you did "household" inquiry?
#53. To: iconoclast (#51)
personal
#54. To: iconoclast (#43)
It's no wonder the man hates America
#55. To: Dakmar (#44)
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."
#56. To: Dakmar (#52)
George W Bush. Did you know his family is nazis?
#57. To: Jethro Tull (#54)
I have no life.
#58. To: iconoclast, Jethro Tull (#33)
Jethro's humor is pointed toward and appreciated by, shall we say, a select group.
Lord Acton
#59. To: Old Fud (#42)
... and this means... absolutely nothing. He was never in want, and his confusion about who he 'was' led him to the commie left. Eff this fraud, and be done with him.
Lord Acton
#60. To: James Deffenbach, Old Fud, *Obama Reality Check* (#59)
... and this means... absolutely nothing. He was never in want, and his confusion about who he 'was' led him to the commie left. Eff this fraud, and be done with him.
A poster at Politico, took the time to pull some excerpts from Obama's books and posted in the comments section of this piece: www.politico.com/new s/stories/0508/10031.html
#61. To: Peppa (#60)
Lord Acton
#62. To: James Deffenbach, turtle (#61)
Oh no! Obama a racist? And in his own words too!?!?! Oh the humanity, I don't know if I can go on with this latest blow. I am shocked, shocked let me tell you!
#63. To: Peppa, turtle (#62)
LOL!
Lord Acton
#64. To: Peppa, Yertle turtle (#62)
You can't discount the possibility that Turtle used his brain to make those words come out of Obama's mouth against his will. ;)
#65. To: James Deffenbach (#63)
Ah, I had forgotten that! C'mon turtle, fess up you wily debil. Causin' Obummer to say all that and against his will too. Shame, shame!
#66. To: Cynicom (#64)
You can't discount the possibility that Turtle used his brain to make those words come out of Obama's mouth against his will. ;) Never put anything beyond the brain of Turtle...
#67. To: Peppa, Turtle (#62)
#68. To: christine (#67)
it's Turtle's conspiracy!
#69. To: Peppa, Turtle, christine, James Deffenbach, Cynicom (#68)
Turtle bump
#70. To: FOH (#69)
Turtle bump Is that like a 'speed bump' ?
#71. To: Cynicom (#64)
Never put anything beyond the brain of Turtle...
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest