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Subject: Bitter and Obama
Dear Bart,
I read with interest your entry about the 12 reasons why Obama's discussion about bitter Americans is good for the Hillary campaign. I even actually linked to the original article so thanks for providing that access.
1. It lets Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) off the mat at a time when even some of her top supporters had begun to despair about her prospects. Clinton hit back hard on the campaign trail Saturday. And her campaign held a conference call where former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, a Pittsburgh native, described Obama's remarks as "condescending and disappointing" and "undercutting his message of hope."
As much as I'd like to support Obama during the primaries (I would do so if he is the Democratic nominee) I haven't heard much more out of him than the word "change". Unfortunately, right now, he reminds me of George W. Bush during his early campaign years when it was hard to decide what Bush actually stood for since he gave us no clue in his speeches. Unfortunately, what we learned too late was that he was clueless and pretty much an empty suit where actual thinking is concerned. Please don't think that I am assuming that Obama is also an empty suit, but it sure is hard for me to get what he stands for...
2. If you are going to say something that makes you sound like a clueless liberal, don't say it in San Francisco. Obama's views might have been received very differently if he had expressed them in public to Pennsylvania voters, saying he understood and could alleviate their frustrations.
Part of the complaint against Obama with these remarks must have been that he was talking behind the backs of the Pennsylvania voters in a private meeting in San Francisco. I guess it never pays to discuss anything behind someone's back. It must have felt like an insult, and rightfully so.
3. Some people actually use guns to hunt not to compensate for a salary that's less than a U.S. senator's.
You own guns. I may have one myself around the house here somewhere...and I'm not bitter.
4. Some people cling to religion not because they are bitter but because they believe it, and because faith in God gives them purpose and comfort.
I'm not particularly religious, but my parents were and they weren't bitter. They were conservative Democrats. They would have had a root canal rather than vote for a Republican.
5. Some hard-working Americans find it insulting when rich elites explain away things dear to their hearts as desperation. It would be like a white politician telling blacks they cling to charismatic churches to compensate for their plight. And it vindicates centrist Democrats who have been arguing for a decade that their party has allowed itself to look culturally out of touch with the American mainstream.
I'm sure it looks bad to be culturally out of touch with the American mainstream. But it's even worse to be TOTALLY out of touch with the American mainstream like George W. Bush seems to be. Can anyone say $4.00 gasoline???
6. It provides a handy excuse for people who were looking for a reason not to vote for Obama but don't want to think of themselves as bigoted. It hurts Obama especially with the former Reagan Democrats, the culturally conservative, blue-collar workers who could be a promising voter group for him. It also antagonizes people who were concerned about his minister but might have given him the benefit of the doubt after his eloquent speech on race.
Let's all just take a moment and repeat after me, "Nobody knows who you vote for...!!!" We still have a secret ballot in America... Instead of sitting around wondering who voted for whom, why don't we all work toward getting every Democrat voter in America to actually CAST THEIR VOTE!!! People died for this right. Can't you at least make an effort to get to the polls???
7. It gives the Clinton campaign new arguments for trying to recruit superdelegates, the Democratic elected officials and other insiders who get a vote on the nomination. A moderate politician from a swing district, for example, might not want to have to explain support for a candidate who is being hammered as a liberal. And Clinton's agents can claim that for all the talk of her being divisive, Obama has provided plenty of fodder to energize Republicans.
The superdelegates should vote for the candidate with the most experience, just like a job interview. Period.
8. It helps Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) frame a potential race against Obama, even though both of them have found support among independents. Now Republicans have a simple, easily repeated line of attack to use against Obama as an out-of-touch snob, as they had with Sen. John F. Kerry after he blundered by commenting about military funding, "I actually did vote for the $87 billion before I voted against it."
The Republicans have a lot of ammunition against both Hillary and Obama. Who will fight back? Honestly, which of the two Democrats will mount a defense and an offense that had the most substance? Everyone counted Hillary out when Bill got caught with Monica. Everybody said she should divorce Bill yada yada yada...but she fought for her marriage and she fought for her husband and that's good enough for me.
9. The comments play directly into an already-established narrative about his candidacy. Clinton supporters have been arguing that Obama has limited appeal beyond upscale Democrats the so-called latte liberals. You can't win red states if people there don't like you. "Elites need to understand that middle-class Americans view values and culture as more important than mere trickery," said Paul Begala, a Clinton backer. "Democrats have to respect their values and reflect their values, not condescend to them as if they were children who've been bamboozled."
Hillary is from Arkansas. She really "gets it" when campaigning in the southern states where folks seem to vote conservatively. Her political history is on her side and bodes well for turning the red states blue.
10. The timing is terrible. With the Pennsylvania primary nine days off, late-deciding voters are starting to tune in. Obama and Clinton are scheduled to appear separately on CNN on Sunday for a forum on, of all topics, faith and values. And ABC News is staging a Clinton-Obama debate in Philadelphia on Wednesday. So Clinton has the maximum opportunity to keep a spotlight on the issue. Besides sex, little drives the news and opinion industry more than race, religion, culture and class. So as far as chances the chattering-class will perpetuate the issue, Obama has hit the jackpot.
Once the heat is on under any circumstances, it's important for our leaders to be able to keep cool and calm and say and do the right things. If this is how Obama will react under pressure, then the Republicans will do their best to crush him under the weight of their constant and critical pressure. Sean Hannity must be frothing at the mouth by now just thinking about this possibility.
11. The story did not have its roots in right-wing or conservative circles. It was published and aggressively promoted by The Huffington Post, a liberally oriented organization that was Obama's outlet of choice when he wanted to release a personal statement distancing himself from some comments by the Rev. Wright.
What's with the Huffington Post anyway? No Comment...
12. It undermines Democratic congressional candidates who had thought that Obama would make a stronger top for the ticket than Clinton. Already, Republican House candidates are challenging their Democratic opponents to renounce or embrace Obama's remarks. Ken Spain, press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said: "There is a myth being perpetuated by Democrats and even some in the media that an Obama candidacy would somehow be better for their chances down ballot. But we don't believe that is the case."
Hillary knows about politics. I'm sure she
will work as hard as she can to help elect Democratic Senators and Representatives.
If I were Republican, I'd be running scared of Hillary.
Kathleen
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