I think Obama should stay on the offensive about voters being "bitter" at Washington

[Quixote1818]

I think he could turn a lemon into lemonade and make Hillary and McCain look like the ones who are out of touch with the people. If he keeps saying this from now until November he can put the other candidates on the defensive because what he can successfully do, is say Hillary and McCain are OK with the status quo in Washington and OK with Bush's disastrous policies and War. If he can paint them in that light then they will look way out of touch and they will wish they never started this fight. It could end up being a blessing in disguise for Obama if he continues to play his cards right.

Obama should put it this way in PA:

So, Hillary and McCain think you shouldn't be bitter about Bush's war and the thousands of lives lost? Why are they so out of touch?

So, Hillary and McCain think you shouldn't be bitter about our economy that is on the brink of disaster? Why are they so out of touch?

Etc. Etc.

[MadBadger]

1. Completely agree...He should channel the passion he had from last night

That should be in all his campaign stops

btw, Hillary's people in NC were handing out "We're not bitter" stickers. Completely ridiculous.

[Quixote1818]

3. "We're not bitter" stickers???? So they are cool with Bush/Cheney?

:wtf:

[VolcanoJen]

17. Are you for real!???

"We're Not Bitter" stickers? OMG! That is, like, the lamest thing I have ever heard of!

For some reason, I'm picturing this:



Edit: I love the "Hitler" button photoshop. ;-)

[goclark]

2. I've noticed that the MSM is doing the Clip Dance with his words

They only play one sentence and they say that's why Clinton and Mc were so negative about it.

Knowing Obama, he'll find a way to weave it into the debate.

[2rth2pwr]

32. Playing it in context doesn't change the meaning.

[goclark]

48. Sorry to differ with you but the video had the crowd

loving it. They understand clearly what he means and so will millions of others.

Believe me now or believe me later when the next Rally cheers him in PA or anywhere else.

[2rth2pwr]

50. The video of him at the rally aren't the words that are at issue.

"Don't tell me words don't matter!"

[goclark]

51. Words do matter and he has made it extremely clear

Millions of Americans hear him and some don't.

On to PA!

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Reality is that people are bitter at DC and it does not matter which party

when both McCain and Clinton said that he was out of touch... I had to chuckle.

After all I don't expect ANY politico to be in touch... not when they make millions while the rest of us are lucky to makw 50K if we are lucky

[Saturday]

5. Do you know the difference between "offensive" and "defensive"?nt

[leftofcool]

6. Yes, he should continue to tell voters they are bitter angry people

[MadBadger]

7. Well that is what you are...arent you?

You sound quite bitter and angry.

[leftofcool]

30. Nope always happy and never bitter, even with cancer

but thank you for your concern

[azmouse]

9. You always sound very, very bitter.

[leftofcool]

31. Not me

[VolcanoJen]

20. Voters are bitter, angry people.

Seven years into the Bush Disaster, are you going to argue that people aren't pissed off?

[wndycty]

He should also point out that his words are not much different than what he said . . .

. . .during the "More Perfect Union" speech.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5468610

[Life Long Dem]

8. If you watch Fox News they are really piling it on.

But when they had someone asking people on the street and cafes in PA, most everyone said they are bitter. Ad the ones who didn't said they were not offended. So I think no matter what the media says, this isn't hurting Obama as of now.

[goclark]

49. Good for PA ~ I'm bitter and I live in CA

[Life Long Dem]

10. Self delete

self delete

[SunsetDreams]

11. I totally agree...

the status quo messed up trying to bring this issue into the forefront.

[Enrique]

12. I disagree

his "bitter" idea is now associated with the insulting stereotypes of small-town people. His opponents would be best off trying to remind people of this, and he is best off trying to get people to forget what he said.

[Life Long Dem]

14. Very few are insulted and most say they are bitter. n/t

[Enrique]

25. I don't know how many people are insulted

how would I?

What I do know is that Obama revealed a condescending attitude toward small-town folks, and I'm sure he wishes he'd not let that slip.

[tokenlib]

19. No way, he should embrace the bitterness and respond to it...

..by offering his campaign message of hope. He can seize the "fighter" mantle from Hillary--it doesn't fit her right anyhow.

[VolcanoJen]

21. Only types attracted to the Hillary "Victimhood" campaign would feel insulted.

Hence, well.... :-)

[Enrique]

27. I don't know if anyone feels insulted

but his stereotypes were insulting and he won't want people to remember he said it.

Not sure what Hillary has to do with it. :shrug:

[VolcanoJen]

35. Well, considering Hillary now has her supporters wearing "I'm Not Bitter" stickers...

... and claiming the stickers were "evidence of grassroots outrage" even though they were busted unpacking the boxes of stickers, well, I'd say this has everything to do with Hillary.

Her lame response, ridiculed by most, is evidence that she drags herself into situations she really should just stay out of. She seriously sucks at campaigning.

[knixphan]

43. no stereotypes, just plain ole reality.

[Quixote1818]

23. Not if he is the one on the attack setting the focus of the comments

they way he wants to set them. If Obama plays up the part about people being bitter at "Washington" and saying Hillary and McCain don't think they are, then he has moved things away from the small-town thing to making Hillary and McCain look out of touch with the people. It's a brilliant move on his part but he needs to keep it up long enough that he puts Hillary and McCain on the defensive. He needs to continue on offense and control the way the message is perceived by the public.

[SunsetDreams]

26. you only hope he will

try to get people to forget what he said while his opponents "would be best off trying to remind people of this".

Of course you would say that, what are you afraid of? If he speaks up, they get knocked back down?

You want him to lie down and take it, well sorry NOT THIS TIME!

[Enrique]

28. I only wish him the best

I prefer Hillary, but I don't want Obama to hurt himself. I was glad when he modified his comments.

[SunsetDreams]

29. oh but you

are perfectly happy with them reminding voters of this, and him remaining silent.

Sorry that doesn't add up.

[Enrique]

34. the OP is speculating about strategy

OP predicts one thing, I predict the opposite. I'm not happy about it or unhappy about it, I'm just speculating about it.

[VolcanoJen]

37. Not This Time, indeed!

Watching Obama's response to Clinton and McCain's criticism only reinforced my support of him. He's an excellent candidate, he hits back, and he was on fire when delivering his comments.

GOBAMA!!!

[knixphan]

42. COUNTER-PUNCH!

GOBAMA!

[tokenlib]

13. He'll take an immediate hit in the polls, but by Thursday...

I say this because Barack appears to be going off the radar since this morning until tomorrow night. Probably in Chicago? Monday he'll come out aggresively, and the media will slowly get pulled out of their rut of hammering him for the God/guns angle by Tuesday. The delayed reaction in the polls will show damage until about Thursday. And then hopefully the issue being dealt with aggressively will launch an upswing to the 22nd.

Hope I'm right--I trust Barack to deal with it..

[VolcanoJen]

24. Isn't there a debate on Tuesday?

That could be fun. :-)

[Bensthename]

15. Yup, and that is what he did in this response. Talking heads are even wondering

why Hillary would take Obamas words out of context.

[rsmith6621]

16. Thankfully Hillary Has...

...Only two more weeks until she finally show that her campaign is about her and not the voters when she fails to recognize she is a menace to the process. Hillary is a tool being used by the REPUKES to divide the party...to a degree Hillary is a lot like her husbands Monica affair which cost a better man the opportunity to serve as president.

Hillary is a stain on the Democratic party.

[keep_it_real]

18. America's should be bitter at the 4,000 plus lives lost in Iraq

In a war that should have never been started. I agree he should stay on the offensive and try to turn this lemon in lemon aid.

[keep_it_real]

22. You are right; good analysis

[Zero Division]

33. Bitter from Hillary and McCain's typical "gotcha" politics...

I agree. Use this incident as a call for a deeper and honest dialogue on rural politics.

[PoliticalAmazon]

36. ITA. And they have plenty of reasons to be bitter, especially about Hillary...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5470049

[Peregrine Took]

38. He should never apolgize or try to retract his words - what he said is 100%

true.

[MADem]

39. Yeah...when you're in a hole, keep digging! That IS what he's doing.

Every time he tries to "explain" he makes it worse.

What's odd is the juxtaposition of his original "bitter" remarks with his explanations. The original remarks are in his speaking accent, the explanations are in his "MLK Speech" accent.

Listening to the two, they sound like two completely different people.

[Pavarotti]

40. stay on the offensive?

It seems to me that he's on the defensive at this point.

[knixphan]

41. Best Defense is a big 'O'!

[MadBadger]

44. Obama can turn this story around at the debate. This debate will be very important for both of them

[TML]

45. Ding!

If there was a Post of the Day, I'd nominate you for it. Would you settle for an old-fashioned K & R?

[knixphan]

46. Get ready for the NAFTA-Slam!

The Clintons have found a way to hand Obama just what he needs for THE NAFTA SLAM.

Roll cameras...

[quantass]

47. Totally agree. Obama et al are smart enuf to do that! n/t