Obama disses seniors

[grasswire]

Remarks made Wednesday.

Obama defines the main "problem" his campaign has with older voters: they want their prescription drugs and pension security.

It's an outrageous and shallow denigration of the voting block that increasingly consists of the rock and roll generation and the Woodstock and 60s generation.

Calling them essentially self-centered and narrow isn't going to help his chances with them. Many of them have lived their lives in rebellion against narrow thinking.

Here's what he said:

"I have to say if you look at and I know my staff has talked about this: If you look at the numbers, our problem has less to do with white working class voters, the problem is, to the extent there is a problem is with older voters," Obama told reporters. "They are very loyal to Sen. Clinton. And I think part of that is they've got a track record of voting for not just Sen. Clinton but also her husband."

"We need to make sure on issues that are important to them — like prescription drugs or pension and retirement security — that I've got a strong track record on those issues and very specific plans to make sure that they are getting the kinds of help that they need," he also said. "And if we do that effectively, which you know we have tried to do it in all the states."

What about issues of global peace and prosperity? Does he not consider the possibility that many of the generation supporting Hillary Clinton would name peace as their first priority?

He's dangerously close to labeling seniors as "typical" in a way they aren't.

There is a way to win over the rock and roll and Woodstock generations. This isn't it.


http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/24/obama-i-have-a-problem-with-seniors/

[DJ13]

1. very specific plans to make sure that they are getting the kinds of help that they need

Oh, thats just a terrible dis on seniors!

:sarcasm:

:rofl:

[rainy]

2. Your analysis seems a little off. The numbers must be pointing to Hillary

getting the majority of the older votes. He simply reasoned that the issues that are important to that segment of our society must be something he pays attention to. How do you figure that is dissing seniors?

[grasswire]

5. he says their number one concern is selfish

That's how.

[Connie_Corleone]

18. Every voter's concern is selfish. It's not a bad thing.

[susankh4]

39. It's not a bad thing...

unless the politicians we are electing a flicking our concerns off his shoulder.... as he is in your photo here.

[Pirate Smile]

19. That is a load of Bull.

[scheming daemons]

21. Where? He never says anything like that at all

He says he has to do a better job addressing their concerns.


Not ONCE in the quote you gave did he belittle those concerns. In fact, he did the opposite.



You're actually taking a quote in which he is RESPECTING seniors and turning it on its head.


That makes you a loathsome individual.

[Windy]

29. You're truly nuts. Re-Read what he said. Its thoughtful and accurate. I have older relatives.

They are putting aside buying for so that they can buy their meds and vise versa. Their pensions are being taken away at a time when the economy is tanking and the cost of living is rising astronomically. Its not selfish, its survival!

Dissing seniors? I think you have done that by minimalizing and trivializing their concerns en masse!!!

[Cant trust em]

32. So are mine. I want out of this war.

I guess I'm selfish.

[murray hill farm]

41. Because we care about security and benefits,

we are selfish???????? Speaking as a senior, yes....we DO care about our pensions and medical coverage and our security. Why?????? Because we would like to keep on living. So, we can continue to do our part in standing up for social issues...which we do in huge numbers. BO says he will end soc security tax on seniors. Believe me, we do need that...us "seniors" Did Obama "dis" us seniors with that statement. Hell no! But did u dis us....grasswire. Yes, u did. You say that if we care about our own security...apparently at all....we are selfish. You twist his words...in such an unbelievable way....and then put us down yourself.

[GoesTo11]

55. You also didn't read Obama's quote, just read the OP's crap

Obama didn't say selfish. He said seniors care about pensions and medical coverage, and that he's got to do a better job on them (which is what you just said) -- this is endorsing those concerns as legitimate. OP is the one who said that this is essentially selfish. Obama did not dis u.

[murray hill farm]

62. huh????

Read mine again. I was refering (by name) to the OP.

[GoesTo11]

63. Sorry.

My mistake. Crap tolerance level has been a little low these days.

[NEOhiodemocrat]

46. I am not seeing where he is saying that

about the number one concern being selfish. I am a senior and what he has said he does not alienate me.

[anigbrowl]

49. No, you're saying that.

Obama's saying it's his responsibility to show voters he is mindful of those concerns. If he was arguing their concerns were selfish, he'd be calling on them to make sacrifices or (insert standard misleading argument for cutting earned entitlements).

[Sinistrous]

50. Please highlight the sentence

in which Sen. Obama refers to their concerns as "selfish".

If you cannot, you are being egregiously dishonest.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

64. No he didn't - you said it

[gcomeau]

15. He doesn't figure anything of the kind.

He just has no particular objection to saying something he knows isn't true if it helps his preferred candidate score a point.

(And yes, as a matter of fact, I am a psychic. Tremble before my awesome powers.)




(Or, I could just be seeing the obvious... it's a matter of perspective really)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. As a senior, I find your supposition that we're all stupid insulting.

[NV Whino]

4. Good gawd.

Is it November yet?

[Connie_Corleone]

6. Global peace from Hillary "Obliterate Iran" Clinton??

Prosperity from Hillary "I'm in $10 million debt" Clinton?

Obama didn't diss seniors. He's trying to reach seniors.

[ClayZ]

7. He could start a speech by singing one line....

And it's one...two....three....What are we fighting for?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0jxHB3E710&feature=related

[Vinca]

8. What's the dissing seniors part if he wants to be sure he has programs

that address their needs? What a horrible, horrible man to want granny to have her medicine as prescribed. You've really got to spend a few minutes reading things before you post them with skewed commentary.

[bluethruandthru]

9. What's the dis?

I'm not a senior but I still want prescription drug coverage (and universal, single payer health care!) and pension security... who doesn't? Why is that dissing seniors?

[countingbluecars]

What's the problem?

I see nothing wrong in what he said.

[Ned_Devine]

10. Exaggeration factor 9.5

"It's an outrageous and shallow denigration of the voting block that increasingly consists of the rock and roll generation and the Woodstock and 60s generation."

I highly doubt this generation is included in the senior department. I work with real seniors three days a week. These folks are in their late 70's, 80's and early 90's. The dems among them do want Hillary because she's a known quantity and for the women, their last chance to see a female pres. in their life time.
However, this sounds to me like another misconstrued statement from Sen. Obama that you have pounced on and done the RNC's work. Thanks!

[Pirate Smile]

11. He didn't dis them. You managed to infer a lot of extra crap from exactly what he said.

[scheming daemons]

12. Obama: "I've got to work harder on attracting seniors".... that's a dis? are you stoned?

[lazer47]

37. Old people don't get "stoned", we get "high"

[yellerpup]

59. Speak for yourself, geezer!

:hi:

[barack the house]

13. He is speaking to their direct needs for their generation not unversal needs.

[barack the house]

17. This is ludicrous spin what he is saying is nice and very encouraging.

[oviedodem]

14. Yes and Hillary disses:

African Americans
Small States
Activists
Young people & college students
People that tell the truth
People that speak their own mind
Green people (I point to the Iranian comments on Earth day)
People that have lost their jobs due to NAFTA


Wow that is a good chunk of America!

[Cali_Democrat]

16. I fail to see how he "dissed" seniors

:shrug:

[izzybeans]

20. Yeah what a horrible thing to say.

:sarcasm:

[SoCalDem]

22. grasping for

[lazer47]

23. Where does it end?? First I'm a Racist if I don't vote for Obama

or better yet I'm sexist if I don't vote for Hillary, now I am not only old, I'm stupid..

[endarkenment]

24. OH NOES OBAMER HATES OLD PEOPLE

Lots of gas on this one and something might get going?

How did you get from:
"We need to make sure on issues that are important to them — like prescription drugs or pension and retirement security — that I've got a strong track record on those issues and very specific plans to make sure that they are getting the kinds of help that they need," he also said. "And if we do that effectively, which you know we have tried to do it in all the states."

To:
"Obama defines the main "problem" his campaign has with older voters: they want their prescription drugs and pension security."

And:
"obama disses seniors"

Oh, wait, I got it.

You Just Made Shit Up

[Bad Thoughts]

25. Apparently Obama disses everyone about whom he speaks

He isn't saying "yes'm" like he's supposed to.

[LSK]

26. are you assuming most retirees are millionaires who dont need SS???

:wtf:

[RainDog]

27. What a crock

Did you read the article you posted? He said it was seniors' familiarity with the "Clinton" brand name... they know of the Clintons, not that Obama sees seniors as a problem.

Too bad the weekly world news is out of biz. You could've had a lucrative career spinning b.s.

sort of like this:

[backscatter712]

28. Everything's perceived as an insult these days.

They parse the candidates' remarks and say "He threw this group under the bus!" or "She offended that group!"

Outside of the world of politics, who acts like that?

[Cleita]

30. I'm a senior and I don't feel dissed.

Yes, I am concerned about my SS and prescription drugs. One of my medications costs retail $22.50 per pill. Yes, I can't afford that pill alone without some drug benefit. Yes, I'm concerned. However, I believe that taking PHRMA by the horns will be necessary in the future for seniors to get them to get their pricing down to earth. That same pill costs 75% less in other countries and it will take a progressive President and Congress to bring these issues under control after the big prescription giveaway to the PHRMA industry in the Bush administration. I do believe Obama will do this in a more progressive way than Clinton.

[speedoo]

31. Your spin is pathetic and desperate.

You actually think people will accept your interpretation?

I'm a senior and I'm not stupid, neither are other seniors.

[zulchzulu]

33. You have seriously got to be kidding...

I guess you're implying that "the rock and roll and Woodstock generations" care more about world peace than prescription drugs and pension security?

How dare he not mention world peace before prescription drugs and pension security when it comes to seniors?

Whuh?

First of all, they are completely DIFFERENT issues. Secondly, seniors, (older boomers on up agewise) ARE concerned about retirement benefits AND decent, affordable healthcare.

The OP is a complete waste of pixels.

[Pawel K]

52. Yup. A total waste of pixels. Yet it is already on the greatest page

great job Clinton supporters. I guess they have nothing else to recommend today.

[jefferson_dem]

34. Obama says it's important to address issues that are important to seniors = a "dis"

Y'right.

[TwilightGardener]

45. And if he DIDN'T address specific concerns, that would be a "dis" too.

Of course, Hillary NEVER panders to specific crowds' interests. Never. She assumes that the elderly have the ENVIRONMENT and the WAR at the top of their list of concerns.

[Occam Bandage]

35. Claiming he'll address issues important to a group is "dissing" them now?

:eyes:

[TwilightGardener]

42. He disses me as a Democratic military wife by assuming I might want the war to end

so that my husband doesn't have to fight and die in it--clearly, he's implying that I'm selfish to have such concerns at the top of my list.

[GarbagemanLB]

36. How about the 4 morons who recommended this post in here as to why specifically this is a 'dis'?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

38. Tip O'Neil said much the same thing, "All politics is local".

People will generally vote for what the perceive as their own best self interests.

The business of politics is to convince people that voting for a candidate is in their interest.

As a senior, and a member of the "woodstock" generation, I agree with Obama.

[TragedyandHope]

40. Obama is working to address the specific concerns of voters

This is a good thing. The article also notes that he improved his numbers 15% in this demographic against Clinton between Ohio and Pennsylvania.

[bowens43]

43. You forgot to include the part about 'dissing'

[UALRBSofL]

44. OP Axelrod said today that the blue collar voters typically vote republican

And that with the insurgence of young voters and progressive voters, and, the AA vote they really didn't need the blue collar vote. Andrea Mitchell ran an audio of him saying this. Then showed President Clinton telling voters in rural NC what Axelrod said and was asking them to support Hillary, etc.

[scheming daemons]

47. He's right... and that's why they're supporting her.... because she's become a Republican...

[Irishonly]

48. What Dis

He addresses his track record on helping the elderly and was talking about a specific issue. Where does he imply it's all the elderly care about? I am on medicare because of being disabled but to the young people getting involved with politics the first time I am probably one of those old people.:) I care about medicare but it's on a long list of my issues. I am real sure Senator Obama can multi task on many different issues just like I do.

[Pawel K]

51. More fake outrage. How is him wanting to help seniors a bad thing?

Part of getting people to vote for you is to make sure you are working to meet their needs. This is grasping at straws, why don't you stick to something more meaningful, such as why he doesn't wear a flag pin or if he loves america more than his pastor does.

[onenote]

53. its not, of course.

I've come to the conclusion in many cases the HRC supporters are not bad people, they're just very bad at spinning things. This is a good example.

[elmerdem]

54. Holy fuckin' Republican

bullshit batman, I believe grasswire has come unhinged!

[JBoy]

56. How fucking dare he identify and address concerns many seniors have!!

[RBInMaine]

57. WEAK AND SAD ATTEMPT AT SPIN. NOT ONE SINGLE BAD THING SAID HERE !!

[SeaLyons]

58. He makes me sick...

He's completely out of touch. He is an idiot!!! We have had 8 years of an idiot!!! Here comes another one. God Damnit!!

[haymakeragain]

69. Seriously, you really need to explain yourself.

Your posts are absolutely asinine. I mean, come on, are you kidding? do you have any, ANY facts that would reinforce your vitriol?

Damn.

[progressoid]

60. I think we need a rec. for Dumbest Thread of the Day.

This would win.

[Lerkfish]

61. step away from the wacky tobacky

one of the weirder posts of the day.

to say that seniors are concerned about issues that concern them is "dissing"?

erm...ok, dude, where's my car!??!!!

[livetohike]

65. Do you know many seniors?? Have you talked with them on issues?

My m-i-l is 81, her boyfriend is 84, all of her siblings (6) are 83 years old and older. My Mom is 77 and all her siblings and spouses are in their 70's.

Issue #1 is healthcare and prescription drug costs. I doubt my extended family's seniors are unique in that regard.

[TTUBatfan2008]

66. Ageism exists...

just as much among older voters as it does among younger voters. For instance, Obama would lose big against McCain amongst older voters and McCain would lose big against Obama amongst younger voters. Obama is new on the scene whereas Hillary is a more known commodity so undecided older voters, even if they don't absolutely love Hillary, will vote for her more often than not. The exit polling shows that undecided voters go to her in much bigger numbers and I think a lot of it has an element of the unsureness about such a young candidate (Obama) and there is also an element of identity politics going on as usual.

[uponit7771]

67. OBAMA ALSO PEES IN A TOILET!!!

[endarkenment]

71. AND HE SOMETIMES LEAVES THE SEAT UP!

OH NOES!

[PoliticalAmazon]

68. Climb down off the cross, honey. We're running out of nails....

ENOUGH with the faux persecution syndrome. I don't know why Hillary's supporters get off on this martyr bullshit, but you are humiliating the entire Democratic Party with thsi tactic.

[Raffi Ella]

70. ah ok

so all the disses on older voters/ senior citizens I'm seein' around GD P today came straight from Barack and have trickled down to his followers.

nice.

That Barack, he's sucha Uniter isn't he?

[Nia Zuri]

72. Here we go ....Geezer-gate!!!!!!

[GeorgeGist]

73. what planet are you from ...

the baby boomers, for the most part, sold-out long, long,long ago.