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04.14.2008 12:00 pm

Web Watch: Bitter Battle

The warning shot of all of this came across my desk Friday afternoon: A press release from Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign repeating Sen. Barack Obama’s characterization of some blue collar folks in Pennsylvania.

Most of us have heard this by now, but I’ll set the stage: At a private fundraiser on Thursday, Obama said some of those people were “bitter” over repeated job cuts and tough times; hence, they “cling” to guns or their faith or their antipathy at outsiders or their anti-immigrant fears. Everything started to heat up late over the weekend.

One newspaper wrote that Clinton activated her entire campaign apparatus to make sure everyone got the message. The controversy over those words and audio captured and posted — originally by the Huffington Post — is now burning up the blogosphere. 

Obama’s people have to be afraid of how this will play in people in Pennsylvania, when they vote in eight days. Consider that he was speaking to a private fundraiser in California (think West Coast elite). When pulled out in soundbyte, his words could easily sound like slams on those voters; he’s dismissing them and talking down to them.

Both Clinton and Obama got the chance to addressed the matter last night at a forum at Messiah College. Sen. John McCain has used to to take aim at Obama as an elitist. The story has generated enough back-and-forth that WashPo’s The Fix dedicated repeated posts to it. 

Obama spent the weekend, including last night, trying to defuse. “That was in no way a demeaning of a faith that I myself embrace,” Obama said. “When economic hardship hits, they have faith, they have family, they have traditions that have been passed on from generation to generation. Those are not bad things. Those are the things that are left.”

He has actually gotten praise and defense from the liberal intelligentsia (check HuffPo’s commentators, for example) and even from Fox News’ centrist Alan Colmes.

So you understand just how this one is kicking around: An 11:33 a.m. e-mail this morning from Clinton’s campaign contains a link to a YouTube clip of Clinton responding again today at a rally in PA. This story is now likely to last through and color Wednesday night’s debate on ABC.

Below, I’m posting first Obama’s take on this blowup from Sunday. The clip is in the Top 10 most watched on YouTube right now.  

Next I’ve got Clinton’s own words, in brand-new video, from this morning’s event referenced above.

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35 comments

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“When pulled out in soundbyte, his words could easily sound like slams on those voters; he’s dismissing them and talking down to them.”

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! That’s funny!

— Star20
1:14 pm April 14th, 2008

Just goes to show how left of center the Post is, when you say “centrist Alan Colmes.” He is the liberal half of “Hannity and Colmes.” He has published one book, “Red, White & Liberal: How Left is Right and Right is Wrong.” And this is what passes for centrist at the Post. Unbelievable.

— Nick Kasoff
2:23 pm April 14th, 2008

Something that I noticed about his ongoing clarification for his true feelings being expressed, when he discusses guns, he only mentions hunters, not those who keep guns for self defense. If he is elected, he is coming for your guns.

— Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum
2:46 pm April 14th, 2008

I would suggest looking at the gun law voting record of both Clinton and Obama. They are identical in most respects, that is to say: mostly anti-gun. In regards to concealed carry, semi automatics, overturning townwide gun bannings, one gun per month buying restrictions, requiring lock up of safety trigger locks, lawsuits against gun dealers, restricting interstate gun sales and repealing the gun ban in DC, on those issues both Clinton and Obama are both equally “Anti-Gun”.

Its interesting where they differ though,

Clinton voted to allow confiscation of guns during national emergencies.
Obama voted against confiscation of guns during national emergencies.

A lot of hubbub from Clinton when she voted to take away guns when you most need them, when there is direct threat to your property or loved ones in dire emergency. A lot of hot air if you ask me.

— M. Del Branson
10:18 pm April 14th, 2008

Obama’s only mistake was in using the word “bitter”. How would one describe those of us who work at hourly wage or “salaried” jobs with diminished benefits, longer hours, less purchasing power, increased food and gas prices, etc? Frustrated? Angry? Depressed? Discouraged? Left out? Tired?

Hmm, all of these taken together do sound somewhat “bitter”, don’t they?

As for Clinton running around calling Obama an “elitist”, I recall an ancient childhood retort (and this is the level of discourse here) “It takes one to know one”. Although, Hillary’s mansion is definitely bigger than Barack’s

— RHarnack
12:51 pm April 15th, 2008

RHarnack,

I’d say “losers.”

— Star20
1:40 pm April 15th, 2008

RHarnack,

After thinking about it; “losers” is kind of harsh. I meant to say “Democrats.”

— Star20
3:04 pm April 15th, 2008

Great example of Clinton’s “maternalism.” Given a choice between a president who stands up “for me” and one who gives me a means to effectively stand up for myself while acknowledging how demoralizing everything from the price of milk to ever-shortening periods before credit card late fees kick in, it’s no contest.

Clinton’s an old liberal from the ever helpful mommy/daddy mold– an inherently patronizing position (which Bush/Rove recognized & used to bite Kerry in the butt). Obama’s the smart, frank cousin/brother/neighbor/co-worker who sometimes misspeaks & knows how to apologize.

Who can’t tell when someone’s said something that ’s easy to misinterpret & backpedaled and when someone’s talked down to them?

(Btw, I’m a white, old school feminist babyboomer who’s older than Obama.)

— SuEllen H
4:06 pm April 15th, 2008

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