"Bitter-gate" or Obama's rope a dope strategy?

[stratomagi]

Thats the question, I keep thinking to myself maybe Obama knew that his opponents would pounce on this and give him an opening to shift his rhetoric to something more populist and angry. I mean it would seem a little odd if he just shifted on that topic without Hillary and McCain falling into this trap. Up until now the Obama campaign has been like a cute cuddly kitten talking about hope, change, and being above things. If this is strategic and Obama is going to shift to a more bold, "were not going to take it anymore" populist rhetoric, then I tell you its friggin' brilliant!

[existentialist]

1. I don't really think that he planned it, but

1) Essentially he was telling the truth. Anyone attacking that is trying to take a cheap political shot of the kind that has cheapened American political rhetoric at least since Nixon.

2) He has forthrightly stood by his statement, perhaps apologized for its tone a little bit, and defended its substance. He may have had no other option, but I think he has played it well, albeit, perhaps because he had no real choice but to try to play it that way.

3) It just might work to his advantage. We'll see. I hope so.

4) My support for him is more solid than ever. True, if Hilary should win the primary I would still vote for her as against McCain, but said support continues to grow more reluctant.

[hedgehog]

2. What you said.

[stratomagi]

3. Okay maybe it wasn't planned as such

but this a real opportunity to make a distinction between the politics of just pandering to a group and truly understanding them.

[existentialist]

6. I'm glad to see someone

from Pennsylvania has taken his comments well.

How do you feel it's playing there among the polity as a whole?

[stratomagi]

11. Really I haven't seen or heard anyone react yet.

Obama is doing good in Pittsburgh, not so much outside the city...but being that I used to reach out to swing voters and republicans for a living we know exactly what he's talking about. As a canvasser for a union affiliated group We went to the Gods, Guns, and Gays crowd direct and talked about Jobs and Healthcare. That was 2 years ago and it helped get Casey and Altmire in to Washington.

[existentialist]

18. I read one article that said that

Obama was expected to do very well in Philadelphia, and not so well in western Pennsylvania. It did not specifically address Pittsburgh, but I'm glad to hear that he is doing well at least in the city.

Thank you for your efforts.

[uponit7771]

4. My conspiracy theory is Hillary knows it's a done deal and they're working together against McSame

...in red states by bringing up race and small town issues before the GE.

Just look at what Hillary has done in the last month?

- Just when Wright was going to go on for weeks here comes Bosnia.
- When Obama needs to register more dems in rural America here comes bittergate
- there's something else real stupid they did to take away negative attention from him but I forget

[sendero]

9. Any theory that involves HRC..

.... "doing the right thing" is one I'll have a hard time buying.

[uponit7771]

14. Me too, but I always had a REALLY hard time breaking away from women who aren't good for me

[stratomagi]

10. Mark Penn?

Nahh I think thats more falling on her own sword. The Wright thing is apparently what Hillary brings up to SD's to convince them Obama can't win the GE...as you can see it ain't working that well. I was listening to Rachel Maddow and she was talking about a Clinton staffer who wrote a piece in the Op-Ed column of the WSJ about why Obama can't be president because of Wright.

[uponit7771]

15. ...shoot, k, I'm...tryin to save a little light for her but it aint workin. She's starting to look.

..."bitter" in her responses to Obama

[BlueStateGirl]

5. How could he have known that when the event was meant to be

private and off limits to press?

If it was part of some grand plan, I thinkhe would have said it in a much more public venue.

[stratomagi]

12. Probably, but then again someone else

posted a video of him being interviewed by Charlie Rose saying the same thing a few years back. Its a distinction I think that will bring hypocrites on this issue on the attack like moths to a flame.

[stratomagi]

13. Here's the link in fact.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5475351&mesg_id=5475351

[Adelante]

7. I dunno

He's said all this stuff before.

[rug]

8. More dope than rope a dope strategy.

[uponit7771]

16. If he didn't plan this nor the robo calls then he has an UNCANNY way of turning shit like this...

...around on people.

The PA robo calls is going to stump a mud hole in Hillarys ass.

[stratomagi]

17. Ew...just plain ew!

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