There's nothing the matter with Kansas

[2rth2pwr]

"The answer to `What's the matter with Kansas' is not that there's something the matter with Kansas," Garin argued. "There's something the matter with Democrats who

can't make a connection with voters whose economic interests are closely tied to what the Democratic Party stands for."


Hillary chief strategist Geoffrey Garin dramatically raised the stakes in the battle over Barack Obama's comments about small-town America, saying in an interview that

they would be "damaging" to him in a general election, could set back the Democratic Party's efforts to reach heartland voters, and should be something that

super-delegates consider when deciding whom to support.

"These are the kinds of attitudes that have created a gulf between Democrats and lots of small-town and heartland voters that we've been working very, very hard to bridge," Garin told me today in his first public comments about the flap.

"I saw Senator Obama's comments as a step backward to building those kinds of bridges," Garin continued, saying the following of the impact that the comments could have in a general election:

"They will be damaging. And they could be significantly so...I don't think that the kinds of attitudes that Senator Obama expressed are consistent with Democrats doing what we need to do to win a general election."

edited to add link- http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/04/hillary_chief_strategist_geoff.php

[cali]

1. LOL. Shocker, a hillshill trying to make hay

doubtful it will work with SDs. the more she lies and sleazes and slimes another dem, the less likely it becomes. She's fucking politically tone deaf. How many SD endorsements has she gotten since her big comeback? Is it 3 or 5?

[panader0]

2. Mark my words. This will backfire on Hillary

Anybody with a brain can understand what Obama said. Hillary's base is looking dumb.

[2rth2pwr]

4. Ok, I will mark them.

[opiate69]

3. What horseshit..

the real elitists and snobs are the jackasses who sit in their ivory towers, thinking that all is well with us lowly working-class types..

[MattBaggins]

5. On another note

we should discuss how Clinton followers intend to support Obama since he be the party nominee.

[2rth2pwr]

6. We can save that for when someone wins the nomination. As of now, it's up for grabs.

[MattBaggins]

9. No it is not

It is the same as going into the top of the ninth with the team coming up to bat winning. Rather pointless.

[CTyankee]

7. Garin has it exactly wrong.

IT is not heartland voters that Obama's remarks will not resonate with. It is the small band of RW fundies and hardline gunners that we will NEVER, EVER get the votes of. This is a smokescreen, pure and simple, by Garin.

The evidence is in that Obama is reaching more and more people in the heartland and elsewhere who are hurting and continue to hurt and will NOT want 4 more years of this torture. They understand what Obama is saying more than Garin or any of the talking heads could ever do.

Full disclosure: I voted for HRC in my primary. I am, however, dismayed by this distortion of what Obama was saying. Many, many people will love Obama more for what he said. His honesty and compassion will shine through.

P.S. I am not hating Hillary here, just strongly disagreeing.

[2rth2pwr]

8. Let's see how many of these rural voters in PA vote for Obama. My guess

is that it will be a very low percentage.

[CTyankee]

16. He would not get their votes anyway.

If they didn't understand his remarks, they are not true Democrats and probably have more sympathies with the Republicans on what is called "values" voting. Let's a least face the fact that these people are not and will never be our voters. Just won't.

[2rth2pwr]

17. We are talking about a Dem primary. And the Dems in rural PA will be offended

by Obama's words.

[CTyankee]

18. Yes, I understand it is a Democratic primary and I am telling you that

if they are Democrats they will understand what Obama is saying. I do not believe that they will automatically turn off their votes, the way Garin is suggesting. If they are "Reagan Democrats" (which I suspect they are) they will NOT VOTE FOR THE DEMS no matter what. They are lost to us long ago to the other side. They may "say" they are a Dem but they really are just looking for a reason to say they "can't" vote for the Dem ticket. I have the feeling these people starting voting Republican (at the top of the ticket) long ago and will not now stop.

Let's move on but of course hope that they will come around when they see the light, if they ever do...

[Telly Savalas]

10. Who won the Kansas caucus?

[jackson_dem]

14. That was then, this is now. Besides the Kansas caucus had 1.9% turnout

It is hardly a predictor of general election strength, probably not even Democratic strength since working folks, immigrants, seniors (all solid Hillary blocs) are disenfranchised by such a scheme. High turnout primaries like Florida have 34% turnout. Even that pales in comparison to general election turnout.

[azmouse]

11. Gobama!

[jackson_dem]

12. Exactly. Obama doesn't get it. Edwards did

Edwards pointed out gun ownership is a fundamental part of small town culture. He knew that because he is one of them. Obama, the Chicagoan by the way of Harvard, Columbia, and Hawaii, doesn't get it. We need to respect the cultures of all sectors of the society while hammering home the importance of economic issues. The problem with what O said is many small town folks will now shut him out before they even hear him speak. People will not vote for you if they think you look down upon them. Politics 101.

[taterguy]

13. The beaches in Kansas aren't very nice

Or so I've heard

[Garbo 2004]

15. I thought Kansas, one of those "little states," didn't matter to the Clinton campaign. n/t