Hoosier State Mayors Decry Senator Obama's Comments on Small Town America in an Open Letter

[rodeodance]

4/15/2008
Hoosier State Mayors Decry Senator Obama's Comments on Small Town America in an Open Letter

In response to comments made by Senator Obama last week at a fundraiser in San Francisco, mayors from across the Hoosier State lent their names to an open letter decrying his characterization of those living in small towns.

BACKGROUND: At a fundraiser in San Francisco last week, Senator Obama shared his views of Americans from small towns: "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."

The text of the open letter from Hoosier State mayors follows.

To Whom It May Concern:

We wish to express our sincere disappointment with comments made by Senator Obama at a San Francisco fundraiser last week--comments which demeaned the values of small Midwestern towns. These views are offensive to millions of hardworking Hoosiers who strive everyday to provide for our families, lift up our communities and strengthen our country.

We embrace our faith not out of frustration but as a foundation of the values that guide us - the values we inherit and the values we pass on. We have faced difficult times. However, Hoosiers are resilient, optimistic and unwavering in our commitment to our families and country. After seven years of a president who refused to talk to us, the last thing we need is a presidential candidate who talks down to us.

These remarks also serve to drive us further apart instead of uniting us around the great challenges we face together. We need good paying jobs. We need an end to this war. We need health care for every American. But to meet these challenges, we need a president who honors our values. We need a president who stands up and fights for us, and shares our can-do spirit. That is what Hoosiers will be looking for when we go to the polls on May 6.

Sincerely,

Mayor Mervyn Bostic of Rushville
Mayor Ann Bradshaw of Brazil
Mayor Charlie Coons of Crawfordsville
Mayor Michael Fincher of Logansport
Mayor Pam Hendrickson of Boonville
Mayor Tommy Jones of Linton
Mayor Tom McDermott of Hammond
Mayor George Pabey of East Chicago
Mayor Brian Snedecor of Hobart
Mayor Roy Terrell of Jasonville
Mayor Olga Velazquez of Portage

[ProSense]

1. Hillary is still losing, and her position is only getting worse. n/t

[JoFerret]

7. So why are you wasting your precious time sweetie?

.

[ProSense]

16. Pointing out that Hillary is losing is never a waste of time. n/t

[rodeodance]

12. your bitterness is showing

[ProSense]

17. No, that's denial clouding your perception. n/t

[rodeodance]

22. no perception from you with head in the sand

[anonymous171]

2. lol Clinton's already failed to remove her hand from this.

She can't make it look like a grassroots/local outrage.

[islandmkl]

3. oh, it's you, again...again

[rodeodance]

9. thank you for the kick

[panader0]

4. Oh Poop!!

[rodeodance]

20. bitter much

[jackson_dem]

5. Let's face it if O makes it to the general this will be a huge battering ram against him

[JoFerret]

8. Tidal wave

It will be sickening.


And it will provide me no satisfaction to say "Told you so."
Because we MUST defeat the GOP. And we must try - even with Obama.

[jackson_dem]

11. I agree. They are ignoring history. They think he will not suffer after the rethugs attack him

They think the "new" candidate who loses to McSame now will actually be stronger by the convention, even though he will drop, if 2000 and 2004 are indicators, 11 points (BOTH Bush in 00' and Kerry suffered 11 point declines). That means, given how Obama is tied with McSame nationally he will lose by 11...can he buck this? I expect him to decline. He could rebound but could he make up the entire 11?

[JoFerret]

14. Believe. Hope. change. Believe

And the damn tragedy of it all is - we all have to live with the consequences.

And - truly - I do understand the blind hope.

(The trashing of Hillary is another matter. THAT is shameful).

[NWHarkness]

6. So if I google these mayors

How many of them will I learn are Republicans?

[thevoiceofreason]

10. Even better -- the two smallest towns in the set have 2 and 5 African American residents

Respectively

Interesting.

BTW, how many towns in Indiana? At least when you get down to towns of 3000 or more?

[jackson_dem]

13. I thought Obama was the candidate who "won over" rethugs?

(even though he does no better than Clinton with rethugs against McSame in poll after poll)

[shadowknows69]

19. That's a complete lie and you know it

How do you even live in your own skin? I'd be afraid of lying to myself if I were you.

[thevoiceofreason]

25. Don't worry about Jackson. He's in news - never lets the truth get in the way

[Obamanaut]

15. No, not "Hoosier state mayors" because that implies the lot. What

you have is a small list of eleven. According to http://www.fallingrain.com/world/US/18/ there are over 3,400 cities and towns in Indiana, and you're telling me that ELEVEN of the mayors don't like Obama. That isn't all that bad, now, is it!

Think how impressive a heading of "Over 3400..." but, oh well, you have your 11. How's that working for you overall? Maybe editing to say something like "Some..." or "A very small percentage..." or even "Eleven of over 3,400..."

[AX10]

18. K & R Jackson Dem, K & R!

[AllentownJake]

21. This may sound Elitist

I spent 3 years in that state. Was engaged briefly to a beautiful girl who took me all around that beautiful state. I've never heard of one of those places.

[Buzz Clik]

23. Interesting. The mayors of Hammond and East Chicago crapping on Obama.

They will be seeking new employment after their next election.

[struggle4progress]

24. Four of these folk endorsed Clinton in late March:

... Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott ... Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor, East Chicago Mayor George Pabey, Portage Mayor Olga Velazquez ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5303831


McDERMOTT: I have great respect for Senator Obama. But I’m a Senator Bayh ally. Senator Evan Bayh has a possibility of getting picked up on this ticket and being the vice president. And if that’s the case, I’m on board. http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Content.aspx?audioID=20029

[struggle4progress]

26. And all the rest in early April:

Hillary Clinton-Organization, Indiana

... Boonville Mayor Pam Hendrickson
Brazil Mayor A. Ann Bradshaw ...
Crawfordsville Mayor Charlie Coons ...
Jasonville Mayor Roy Terrell ...
Linton Mayor Tommy Jones
Logansport Mayor Mike Fincher ...
Rushville Mayor Mervyn Bostic ...

http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2008/clinton/clintonorgin.html

[rodeodance]

27. and that is a problem??

[struggle4progress]

28. A handful of Senator C's supporters wrote a letter decrying Senator O

which apparently only the Moonie-owned UPI is carrying right now: that seems oddly appropriate, since breathless fake outrage is a specialty in Moonieville

Personally, I like both D candidate Senators, and I'll vote for either one -- but who needs this shit?

[rodeodance]

29. its called the primary. endorsements happen. Letters get written. ect ect. --on both sides.