<p>Whether he’s correct or not this isn’t how you make your point. This is going to cost him votes in the rust belt. </p>
<p>Obama touched off the controversy with his remarks at a closed San Francisco fundraiser earlier in the week. The remarks became public on Friday.</p>
<p>He said jobs had been disappearing in small towns in Pennsylvania and across the Midwest for 25 years with nothing to replace them.</p>
<p>“It’s not surprising then 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,” he said.</p>
<p>This is what happens when you belong to a church that is anti-american and racist. You feel everyone is bitter like you. His statements does not surprise me at all given all the statements that his wife has said previously.</p>
<p>Religious people can’t possibly have any other reasons to belong to a religion other their frustrations with their economic situation.</p>
<p>Perhaps, those that attend Obama’s church are clinging on to the church out of bitterness. </p>
<p>My parents are very religious, and I don’t think they are religious because they are bitter. In fact, religion has been a very positive influence in their life. A lot of people accept God not because they are bitter about their economic situations, but because they believe in some higher being that looks out for their best interest.</p>
<p>And what exactly is happening in Detroit and Pittsburgh and Buffalo if it’s not people getting bitter over the loss of their jobs to international competition? People are just delighted that their kids have to move away to find good work? Tax revenues and housing prices are up because people are just dying to move there?</p>
<p>Thank you, dmd77; as someone who lives in MI, I can fully relate to Senator Obama’s comments. I don’t know that I would use the word “bitter” (and I do think he’s mentioned that he could have phrased this better), but I would use scared, despairing, angry, or frustrated to describe much of what I hear from others and have experienced directly. My husband of 26 years is living and working in another state (WA), because he was absolutely unable to find work in MI after 2+ years of un- or underemployment. At least he had an option; my auto-worker neighbors have far fewer options for employment. As a result, I do quite often hear comments about “them” (pick your choice of “others” to blame) and see a quest for some sort of certainty. I think that’s all that Senator Obama was trying to address, but of course, it will become yet another tempest in a teapot.</p>
<p>I predict that this entire election cycle will be about teapot tempests, and nothing really substantive, which is a damn shame. Front and center will be dueling YouTube videos, 527 smear jobs, and campaigns twisting the words and meanings of their opponents into pretzels. Integrity will have long left the building by November. Hey—it’s already gone.:rolleyes:</p>
<p>Yes people are frustrated about loosing their jobs, but to claim that they cling to their religion because of their frustration is just not correct.</p>
<p>People, especially, from south side Chicago are frustrated. Obama was a state senator in Illinois representing south side Chicago, this area is on the top list of places that need a lot of fixing. The area has one of the highest crime rate, murder rate, poverty rate etc in the entire country.</p>
<p>Shouldn’t he fix south side Chicago first before he starts to fix the whole country?</p>
<p>What solutions does he have to fix the problems of small town America that are loosing jobs. Did he introduce a bill in the senate to do something about it?</p>
<p>Don’t worry Obama has a plan! Heard that he is planning a major speaking tour with himself and his top two advisors - his wife (for the first time I’m proud of my country) Michele, and Rev. Wright. They’ll staighten us out in no time at all. With his speaking skills, diplomacy & good judgment, Obama is a natural for Secretary of State if he doesn’t win the presidency. In my opinion, Obama is nothing more than a politician. I am a bit scared though, because he is starting to make Bush & Cheney look good. If Hillary does not win the nomination, hopefully she will run as a third party candidate. I know that that is a dream–but it is better than a nightmare.</p>
<p>OK: is saying some people may be bitter condescending or understanding? I say understanding-BUT lets get back to the Clintons’ ridiculous , worrisome tall tales/confabulations/distortions. Frankly, those scare me! Neither of them seem grounded in reality. Are they trying to manipulate the “masses” or are they just whacky, demented, or under the influence? You tell me.</p>
<p>Post #9: Are you referring to the Clintons or to your post? I can’t wait to see the Democratic convention this year. It may well be the most watched televised event in history–especially if Rev. Wright is the key speaker. And followed by former President Bill Clinton.</p>
<p>Of course they’re bitter, don’t you see that nobody is disputing this fact? What are they supposed to be, happy they lost their jobs? It’s one thing to say people are mad, however it’s another thing to say that people cling to religion/guns and express animosity towards others because they lost their jobs. Especially when these are the voters that make up some of the most important swing states this election.</p>
<p>If you take another look at the whole comment, he was making the point that the politicans use bait like ‘gun control’, ‘evil liberals are going to ban the Bible’ and ‘ooh, scary immigrants’ to get people to vote them into office. Then they do nothing about those hot-button issues except bring them up again at re-election time. </p>
<p>This is his response to McClinton and McCain. </p>
<p>I am so tired of all the “you can’t SAY that” hoopla in this campaign. Why exactly can’t the press ask Clinton why she chose to stay with a lying philanderer? (And I voted for him, too, but I wouldn’t have stayed with him.) Why can’t Obama address the frustration/bitterness/what have you/etc. of the rust belt? Why can’t someone say that Americans’ obsession with religion is a problem? Why can’t I say that McCain is old and that I’m worried he may have Alzheimer’s, like our last old president?</p>
<p>Because dmd, McCain cay start dropping racial slurts left/right, that doesn’t mean it would be best for him to do so. The point of this thread isn’t to question if what Obama said was right/wrong, it was to point out that whether it is right or wrong (I believe it was wrong) there are certain things you just don’t say in a Presidential election. McCain could say that he hates America, but I’m sure it wouldn’t go over very well…just like Obama can say w/e he wants, but things like this don’t go over too well especially w/ those in states like oh/in/mi/pa</p>
<p>“I am so tired of all the “you can’t SAY that” hoopla in this campaign. Why exactly can’t the press ask Clinton why she chose to stay with a lying philanderer? (And I voted for him, too, but I wouldn’t have stayed with him.) Why can’t Obama address the frustration/bitterness/what have you/etc. of the rust belt? Why can’t someone say that Americans’ obsession with religion is a problem? Why can’t I say that McCain is old and that I’m worried he may have Alzheimer’s, like our last old president?”</p>
<p>I think the press should also ask Obama why he is speaking out against his pastor now after sitting in that church and listening to that kind of garbage for the last 20 years.</p>
<p>This is why some black people are so behind in a lot of things. They listen to these people who are bitter with their life. Some blame the government for everything wrong with them, never willing to take any personal responsibility. Always bitter about every thing. Please get some help if you are bitter. Bitterness wont solve anything. </p>
<p>“Why can’t someone say that Americans’ obsession with religion is a problem?”</p>
<p>Everyone has the right to practice their religion. The fact that you have a problem with religion does not give you the right to question why people are religious IMHO. </p>
<p>This is what is wrong with the current democratic party, the left wingers are trying to highjack the party the same way the right wingers have highjacked the republican party.</p>
<p>The real issue is Senator Obama’s judgment. He had it won & is now jeopardizing his status as an unifying figure and as the near certain nominee. In fact, he has now become such a divisive figure that the Republicans hope Senator Obama becomes the nominee because his own words & associations will greatly harm him in the general election. I wonder if he will have difficulty finding a running mate? I bet good old boy Bill “Judas” Richardson bet that he kept neutral. Some of the big time Pennsylvania politicians that endorsed Senator Obama are wishing that they could turn back the clock.</p>
<p>Excellent point Tega! I never thought of it like that. He’s been a bit derelict in his duties as a U.S. Senator also (i.e. not convening or attending committee meetings).</p>
<p>After one has had the job of Senator/ Governor, etc. for awhile, and having well-performed the duties of the office to which one has been elected, then I think it is appropriate to run for higher office. First one should do the job one has been elected to do. </p>
<p>How has having Obama as their Senator benefitted the people of Illinois?</p>
<p>My interpretation of Senator Obama’s initial comments, aided by his comments in Indiana: When government has failed you economically for over 25 years, citizens tend to become cynical about their government. They tend to respond to hot-button issues, like gun control, “Christian” issues, anti-immigration topics, anti-trade rhetoric, etc. In other words, it’s not uncommon to become single-issue voters and respond to talking points alone. His comments appear to me to be an assessment of the sort of issues that he will have to address as a candidate; specifically, how to get beyond single-issue ideology. </p>
<p>The OP contends this will lose Senator Obama votes in the Rust Belt. I wonder about that; there are always going to be votes he won’t win, no matter what, but I think it’s refreshing to hear someone give nuanced explanations that aren’t always dumbed-down. Sadly, the traditional media hasn’t caught on that the average American is quite capable of actual thought, and this election cyle will probably be a never-ending stream of 10-20 second clips which lack context.</p>