Is This What Everybody Is Going Apeshit Over?

[Symarip]

I've been gone most of the weekend so I wasn't in the know when I logged into DU this evening. If you were wondering, I went to King's Dominion in Virginia with some of my transplanted friends from Southern California that live out here. Have you ever gone on the Volcano?!?!?!?! It's badass. I got a season pass for only ten dollars more than the full admission price and it's within an hour's drive from where I live... What was I talking about again?

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/04/11/obama_expands_on_bitter_pennsy.html

"Our challenge is to get people persuaded that we can make progress when there's not evidence of that in their daily lives," Obama told the group. "You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And 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."

Obama has pursued related themes in a variety of different public forums, including embedded in a speech on race relations that he delivered last month in Philadelphia. He often reminds crowds in his stump speech that he started out as a community organizer, helping Chicago residents to recover when a local steel plant closed. And his pledge to crack down on special interests is part of his pitch to bolster the little guy. "You don't have a lobbyist," he told the Terre Haute crowd.

Then Obama turned to the San Francisco imbroglio, quoting more or less directly and even expanding on his original remarks.

"That's what people understand about politics these days: the game is fixed. It's not working for ordinary Americans. When I go around and talk to people, there is frustration, and there is anger, and there is bitterness. And what's worse is when people are expressing their anger, and politicians try to say, what are you angry about?"
<snip>

Oh yeah, so this is what people are going nuclear over? I don't see what the issue is. I don't see how he's wrong on this issue. In fact, I think this a more direct narrative of what Howard Dean was trying to say with 'gun toting, truck driving Americans'. Can someone please elaborate why I should be outraged. Or is there more to the story I'm not seeing?

If you plan on being a shit chucking ape, please don't respond. I would prefer to get 3 informative responses than 150 in the gutter (no reference to bowling).

[MercutioATC]

1. Yes, this is what Clinton and McCain have themselves in a tizzy about.

Silly, isn't it?

[WillyToad]

29. The only tizzy I have seen...

Is from Obama and his supporters, who go nutty at the slightest critique

[Fridays Child]

2. I'm curious to know whether the media picked this up on their own or if...

...the Hillary campaign fed it to them. In either case, the media are derelict for running with it but I still wonder.

[Symarip]

5. I can't see this lasting more than 72 hours in a news cycle

And I don't see it being damaging. At least he wasn't dodging sniper fire on the Tarmac.

[AlinPA]

34. Clinton has an ad in PA that I just saw entirely about the "bitter" stuff.

[zalinda]

10. It was posted on the Huffington Post

by I believe an Obama supporter. Would you please stop blaming Clinton for everything.

Damn if she was that all powerful, she would have had the nomination all sewn up by now.

zalinda

[Fridays Child]

16. Hillary would NEVER spin Obama's comments and transmit her faux outrage to the media.

I'll bet she doesn't even have an oppo research team. :eyes:

[ima_sinnic]

11. A Hillary goon was planted in the audience and recorded Obama,

then released it "reluctantly" because she claimed to be an "Obama supporter" who "didn't want to destroy his candidacy" (paraphrasing)

google Mayhill Fowler (some are spelling it Flowers)

[PATRICK]

25. Think about it

RNC, Corporate media heads and editors, Clinton campaign. With that much establishment noise and dems NOT united to slap down the silly spin and sound bite alarms- which will continue unabated no matter what until corporate news is leashed by some semblance of its so-called service to the community the press and media "uproar" is as inevitable as the flue season.

It doesn't mean we all have to get the virus, but the wonks, which include most of us, base our temperature on the media headlines. Of course we know the public is moved by such blared tripe all the time. Of course we have reason for pessimism, realism and critiques of any Dem candidate. Of course this media error means something. It means they are sh*t.

Dems, by the "rules" of 2008 must have perfection and an assured victory or nothing. Guess who set those high standards? Crooks and Tyrants Inc. The media won't behave until punished, ignored or outworded and outshouted. They have influence beyond being a self-btrayed nuisance. Besides us the people are more than willing to take that away from them. If Obama doesn't say some combo of words convenient for fraudulent spin they will simply make them up. That shallow, seemingly important battle according to that same media, is one that Obama is uniquely is capable of outclassing and the people know it. However, I doubt that, without a massive dose of imminent fear, even God is going to get Americans to vote 70% for Obama.

[Kajsa]

3. Amazing, isn't it?

The man speaks the truth---

and it's distorted, twisted and spun into
a lot of different shapes that don't come
close to what he ACTUALLY SAID.

I've asked two posters to find the exact quote
where Obama said what they CLAIM he said in that speech.

No response yet- one was tombstoned.

[Symarip]

8. Is it getting spin on TV?

Again, I can't see it lasting. And weekend news is never as damaging as the first three days of the newsweek.

I don't have a TV where I'm at so I'm just curious.

[Kajsa]

22. Oh yes it did!

In fact the exact same spin was giving on the network news programs,
at first.
Later, when Obama responded to the criticism it became necessary
to show the rest of his speech, which untangled the spin very quickly.

[thunder rising]

4. It's a matter of perspective ... from Billary's point of view it's demeaning everything they stand

for. It's become evident to me that Bill is going to cash in and Hill is going to deliver whatever pays the best. They just want to join the Bush family in that rich circle.

[smiley_glad_hands]

6. Thats the problem, Dean and BO don't tow the republican or DLC line.

They call it like they see it. People aren't suppose to be mad about getting screwed over?

[Symarip]

21. That's some of the feeling I'm getting after seeing all the BS

Posted on here today.

[MadHound]

7. That's what this whole tizzy is about? OMG!

I've been out of the loop for the past week, and got this "bitter" meme in passing a couple of days ago. I was wondering what the read story was, what the full quote was. Thanks for posting it.

This is the Clinton campaign once again going into kitchen sink mode, throwing anything and everything they can in order to remain in the race(notice, I didn't say win, it's pretty much a foregone conclusion that she's going to lose). This is just one more attempt by Clinton to drag Obama down, help McCain win in order that she can run again in 2012.

Sad and pathetic is what this is, and frankly just one more good reason for Hillary to drop out ASAP. When she starts playing on the Republican court, can you really say that she's a Democrat anymore?

[quantass]

9. You nailed it...It's crazy isn't it! The hillary and McSame camp are desperate and the media is

biting :crazy:

[housewolf]

12. Yep, that's it

There was a closed (no press) fundraiser in San Francisco about a week ago. A woman named Mayhill Fowler, someone who has had some pieces published on Huffington Post, attended and secretly audio-recorded the event. The piece in question was an answer to a question posed by someone who was going to PA to help canvass & campaign. She asked something about Obama's opinion as to who people would not want to vote for him.

And the Clinton's have turned it into a firestorm.

[childslibrarian]

13. I too only logged on today and

People need to get a grip. This is Democratic Underground. As a teacher, I do not care who is running. I care about a candidate getting rid of "No Child Left Behind" which McCain supports and wants to continue. People, get it together! It is the children of this country we are talking about. What are you doing? Is this helpful? I am sorry but I am going to give you my "overdue book" stare!!!!! GET A GRIP!!!!

[Symarip]

14. Tell me about it

This has got to be the biggest non-story 'story' I've seen so far.

[thoughtcrime1984]

15. I care about that and a heck of a lot more.

And I do care about the candidates, as they are not all created equal. Sen. Obama is the only one in my opinion, that can fundamentally change how gov't works, by mandating complete transparency for all elected officials, which in turn should greatly reduce or eliminate lobbyist influence. This vicious circle of quid pro quo in politics needs to be eliminated, or nothing will truly change. We finally have a candidate that is dedicated to at least try to do this.

[grantcart]

17. well actually most thoughtful people are going apeshit about this reaction

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-hbPmcMFxU

[Symarip]

19. Hm

Another case of feigned outrage. This is rather disappointing.

[GoesTo11]

18. I don't remember this much concern over whether to start the Iraq war

Certainly not from HRC!

But maybe Bitter is more important.

[grantcart]

20. great point

[Apollo11]

23. Generalizing and making assumptions about folks who live in small towns.

"And 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."

If Obama had said "it's not surprising if some folks get bitter" it would have been easier to justify the generalization.

[Symarip]

30. Ok, so his words were a little clumsy

But is it worth the tirades and talking points?

I just don't see the 'big story'. If he said, 'people in urban cities are bitter because they've watched crime raise and stability drop, so now they cling to violence and drugs and in general, distrust politicians'. I think I'd have to agree with him on that, as well. I don't see what the big deal is in expressing your feelings and intent, even if your words aren't perfect. His intent wasn't to hurt people or to lie, so why the outrage?

[1776Forever]

24. My question is this: Was this so called "supporter" who had wrote Obama was cocky planted???

Please read here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5493483&mesg_id=5493672

[ananda]

26. Oh dear..

.. why couldn't O have stopped with the
word "bitter." That would have said it
all.

He clearly said too much. Oh dear.

[Mooney]

27. The only people going apeshit over this are the most diehard HRC partisans.

This is about the 700th thing that's happened in the last two months that we're being told is the end of his campaign. By now, you'd think they would realize that simply repeating something over and over again doesn't make it true.

Don't sweat it. Obama got through the Wright "controversy," and he'll get through this. Besides, Hillary Clinton will probably say something phenomenally, catastrophically stupid in the next 48 hours, and everyone will focus their attention on it. That's guaranteed.

[Neshanic]

28. Sounds like you were gone in more ways than one. He apologized.

[Symarip]

32. I don't see why you have to make this a personal attack

I have yet to attack you personally for anything. Your class has been noted.

[tabasco]

31. The last gasps of the Clinton campaign.

[Symarip]

33. Great image

Pretty funny.