Noteworthy Political Scientist Says Clinton Was For Characterization Of Working-Class Voters Before She Was Against It

Oh, noes! Would it crush anyone's beautiful velveteen pony to learn that Hillary Clinton hasn't always been a duck-hunting, beer-drankin', Senator-Saint who walked among the commoners and lived as they do? It's true, it's true, and apparently, there are witnesses!

Harvard University political scientist Theda Skocpol - also an elite, I guess! - provided Talking Points Memo with a following statement, which, in part, reads:

I have been in meetings with the Clintons and their advisors where very clinical things were said in a very-detached tone about unwillingness of working class voters to trust government -- and Bill Clinton -- and about their unfortunate (from a Clinton perspective) proclivity to vote on life-style rather than economic issues. To see Hillary going absolutely over the top to smash Obama for making clearly more humanly sympathetic observations in this vein, is just amazing. Even more so to see her pretending to be a gun-toting non-elite. Give us a break!...

This has to be one of the few times in U.S. political history when a multi-millionaire has accused a much less wealthy fellow public servant, a person of the same party and views who made much less lucrative career choices, of "elitism"! (I won't say the only time, because U.S. political history is full of absurdities of this sort.) In a way, it is funny -- and it may not be long before the jokes start.

Perhaps, however, it can be said that Pennsylvanians are not "bitter," at least, relative to their candidates.

[hat tip: to Isabel]

Comments

[GuyInNC]

What Obama said versus what he now claims he meant

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZDA5YTc3YmJjM2U2NTdhNDJhYTFhMDk1YmU3ZTIxOTI

[Braves71]

And as I've said, Sen. Obama made his remarks while believing
no one from the press was there. There was NOTHING condescending
or insulting said. Only empathy.

I'd love to get a trancript of those Clinton private meeting remarks
and compare!

[vsign]

I think Pennsylvania voters will decide whether the words communicated empathy or an elitist attitude.

Time to let the voters decide.

[GuyInNC]

if there was nothing insulting, why would he have to believe no one from the press was there? what difference would it make?

And, when he said the small town voters weren't responsive to hearing the message from a black man, why did the attendees laugh?

[IndependentPAVoter]

The National Review is a Republican slander machine stop posting that junk on here.

[GuyInNC]

you don't think this is exactlywhat the repugs would use in Nov if Obama is the nominee?

[Oregonobama]

Good unbiased media source there NC Guy. Bill Buckley is dead.

[graffen48]

I think what has happened here is HRC and her campaign has panicked, probably since the initial shock of Iowa, but as time has worn on, and the #'s haven't changed, she has gotten increasingly desperate. Instead of maintaining a steady campaign and focusing on her positives, she has allowed the campaign to degenerate into what it has. Richard Nixon was brilliant at the politics of paranoia, but it still brought him down in the end. This strategy might have worked for Clinton in the politics of the past, when we were lucky to get 40% of registered voters to actually vote, but this is a new generation of voters and of politics. Downing a shot of Crown Royale and going duck hunting is not going to get someone elected this time around , man or woman.

[GuyInNC]

YOu may have hit it right on the head here. In Hillary's desperation she somehow managed to make Obama say something completely stupid.

Even if you disreguard the current controversy, his comments show that he knows nothing about the people of PA. If he believes that the people of PA would not be concerned about their second ammendment rights if they had good jobs, he couldn't be more wrong.

PA has the highest per captia number of hunters in the country. They close the schools on the first day of deer hunting season just like it was a holiday because everyone goes hunting.

This isn't the first time he has shown his lack of understanding of working class people. When campaigning in Iowa he was listening to farmers talk about the state of farming and the lower prices for farm products. He asked if they had been to Whole Foods and seen the price of arugula. He asked about Whole Foods and arugula in Iowa farm country!

[dutchess2]

You know, we got Hillary supporters, McCain supporters and plain old racists trying to flog Obama with what he said.

Those of us who live in the rest belt knew exactly what he meant..

If you don't, you don't really qualify to comment...

[IndependentPAVoter]

Guy in NC what the hell do you know about small town PA.? Im here now and my kids go to school on the 1st day of hunting season. Wow dont talk if you dont know what your talking about. We do hunt but we are not idiots as for some reason ya'll tend to believe.

[Viper]

You seem not to understand what he was saying instead trying to find a manying that fits your position for Hilary.

GUBs abd GOD are all they have left and they respond to those spocila issues becuase no one has in 30 years reversed the course/direction that has destrpoyed MFG in this country and made us the largest debtor nation in the world.

NC, you might want to talk the 10 or 20 remaining Textle workers in NC!

Regards

[ponds]

Mr. NC - You may be surprised to know that we hicks here in Iowa do indeed know what Whole Foods and arugula are. As a matter of fact we have arugula here in our local grocery store and we actually eat it. I would suggest you eat it too. Now perhaps they don't know these things in NC, but please keep you condescension to yourself.
- Burlington, IA

[gparks]

GuyInNC is ignorence contagious?

Did you read/ listen to the comments for yourself or did some commentator have to tell you what was said and meant??

Ignorence is not all bad ... however WILLFUL ignorence is just plain stupit!

[toni1920]

When Hillary came out at the Compassion Forum, they stood up and clapped

They are still cheering for Obama and he has already made it to the stage

[ann1]

Why is it okay for Clinton to be shown chug-a-lugging, but Prez Bush was taken to task and often accused of being a drunk. Now that's double standard. What you do in the privacy of your home is your business. This is very disturbing.

[Indedave]

For starters, shrub is an admitted alcoholic/cocaine addict who purports to be recovering. Also, you might want to look into the myriad planks in the GOP platform adopted to criminalize a lot of what people do in the privacy of their homes.

[ann1]

Like Prez Bush or not, calling him names is very disrespectful. Also the GOP platform adopted to criminalize what we do in the privacy of our homes may not be such a bad idea especially in cases of child pornography. Not to mention religious sects that sexually abuse children all in the name of GOD.

[Oregonobama]

HRC is a drunk. We don't need another one in the White House answering the phone at 3 am. She needs to be out there ahuntin with Dick Cheney. Maybe after they shoot a few (or try to), they could head for the watering hole and knock back a boilermaker and snack on a pizza. Good way to stay fit. The American workout.

[Viper]

Bill did not have a DUI conviction.

[patriotscholar]

Nah, but his cocaine snorting is legendary. He was even treated at a hospital for it.

[indie17]

George W. Bush is an admitted alcoholic, a 'black-out drunk' back when he used to drink. He quit drinking years before he ran for office. There have been stories that he is drinking again, but I have seen nothing conclusive.

[GuyInNC]

lighten up, Obama stopped in a sports bar in PA and had a beer with the locals too.

[abot]

LOL

HRC right now on CNN is taking of her statement for Dubya to boycott the olympics.

Wow I think there is another conflict of interest considering Alibaba in China who is a donor to the Clinton Foundation

First Penn and Wolfson in Columbia and now her hubby Bill:

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-clintonchina13apr13,0,499290.story

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has taken a strong public stance, calling for restraint in Tibet and urging President Bush to boycott the Olympics opening ceremonies in Beijing.

But her recent stern comments on China's internal crackdown collide with former President Bill Clinton's fundraising relationship with a Chinese Internet company accused of collaborating with the mainland government's censorship of the Web. Last month, the firm, Alibaba Inc., carried a government-issued "most wanted" posting on its Yahoo China homepage, urging viewers to provide information on Tibetan activists suspected of stirring recent riots.

[GuyInNC]

which just goes to prove that Bill and Hillary are TWO different people. And her positions on issues are not controlled by what Bill Clinton may think.

Hillary is the candidate, not Bill.

[NorVaGal]

The problem is, Guy, we get whiplash from trying to figure out when Hillary and Bill are congenital twins, and when they are siamese. On one hand (or issue), she tells us she is better qualified to be president because of all the experience she gained in the WH during her husband's presidency. He and she discussed "everything", she said, and she believes his policies were the best ones for the country.

However, whenever something reflects negatively on her own presidential bid, she says that SHE is the one calling the shots, and Bill has nothing to do with it. For instance, she says she disagreed w/ Bill on his Colombian trade promotions, but, the $800,000 in speaking fees went into their JOINT account, so she benefitted also. Bill actively supported and helped get NAFTA passed. Hill says she was against it. Yet, records exist that show she actullay promoted Nafta in several meetings. The China/ Tibet issue is only one more example. Either we get a two-fer presidency, as they have touted, or we don't. Which is it?

[indie17]

We have never had a 'first lady' that held so many conflicting interests with the President. Since bill will be 'first gentleman', his activities are our concern.

[Janney]

They are 2 peas in a pot! She just lies more masterfully.

[veteran1964]

PLEASEEEEE­EEEEEEEEEE­EEEE! Stop the madness. Get this primary over with! Get this woman out of our lives!!!!!­!!!!!!!!!!­!!!!!!!! I am sick of her wishy-washy attempt every day to find fault in other people and use lack of sleep for her stupid mistakes. Get this damn primary finished.......I don't want to see her bobble head bounce up and down at any more speeches..­...Hillary­! GO AWAY!

[SCharb]

This whole thing is ridiculous. Since when do people like Mayhill Fowler, Matt Drudge, Wolf Blitzer, or Chris Matthews know anything about the working class? All of those people are making over a million a year.

The Clintons have 109 million dollars. 7 million of that is pure taxpayer money in Former President's benefits, which they took even though they didn't need it. 25 million of it has come from corrupt business deals with Ron Burkle. They live in Chappaqua, New York, and haven't stepped outside a security detail in 20 years. Hillary Clinton's been a princess all her life.

John McCain was born into a family of Admirals and had military experience himself. Which isn't so bad, except for the fact that he thinks that it entitles him to look down his nose at people. His primary campaign was kept alive by a corrupt deal with rich bankers in September. He owns EIGHT HOUSES!

[abot]

HRC is on CNN right now on the Compassion forum.

She's lied so much I can't believe her anecdotes anymore.

I hope someone factchecks everything she says tonite.

[politicsnut]

I'm watching this and felt just the same. It's all lies and prepared notes for maximum gain. She is so fake, I can't believe any word she says and don't even believe she is religious.

[ChimpmasterDJ]

She's not religious... she belongs to a neo-nazi "prayer group" as a "networking tool".

[GuyInNC]

I'm waiting for the fact checking on Obama who just said that he has never referred to Rev Wright as his spiritual mentor or spiritual advisor. He said Rev Wright was just his pastor.

[abot]

Be on the lookout for

foreffecti­vegovernme­nt

I believe we have an HRC or GOP troll trying to interfere with our political discourse.

[foreffectivegovernment]

abot: Thank you for warning all of the Obamabots about me. I am truly an HRC supporter as opposed to a GOP troll. If you think the vile insults others of your ilk spew on this Blog against Hillary and Bill Clinton are political discourse, you must really be an Obama Robot.
I am sorry that your candidate got all of the hard questions on the "Compassion Forum" like "What is your name, Senator Obama" and "Do you need another pillow, Senator Obama."
I don't know which of my comments got you stired up, but I really hope some of you idol worshipers were open minded enough to follow these links to the truth instead of blindly accepting the Obama spin.

If I can be of further assistance, just let me know. I have an abundance of websites that expose Senator Obama for what he really is.

[indie17]

Hillary is on CNN right now, and she said she'll let Obama speak for himself about his PA statements. This after days of her calling him 'elitist' and 'divisive', calling every news outlet and ensuring the papers carried her BS, and giving out "I'm not bitter" buttons on the campaign trail.

I have never seen anyone this hypocritical and disingenuous in the Democratic party in all my life.

[deekay]

Just shut the f up! If all you are going to contribute is a slam on Clinton...why don't you just keep it to yourself. Obviously, you are all up in Obama but the rest of us, pretty want to throw up, on all this sap over Obama. Grow up...get real. Get a life.

[abot]

Hmmm a little History of deekay...

Looks like you are a troll perhaps???

"I have campaigned hard this year for the democratic party. I pledge today that if Hillary Clinton is not the nominee representing the democratic party, and Obama wins...I will do everything in my power to help McCain win the November election."

This isn't what a true democrate would say.

[graffen48]

Have another beer with the boys, give me a break!! She is a f ing fraud to use your language.

[NorVaGal]

Wow..... another poster had a great idea that you should try: Take a CHILL BILL HILL PILL. Sounds like you need it. See ya.

[tangolopez]

Sorry deekay, you are in the minority who has not woke up from the Hillary spell. May be you are also earning 15million a year? No wonder you embrace her and her phoniness. Some of us never see 1million least of all 100million in our life time.

[POINT84]

Hillary is a fraud, Im sorry. And if you can't look at her face and see it you have issues. Theres noone that can watch her and not queeze when she starts answering questions on faith.

Pander

Pander

Pander

[LondonTownNY]

Hillary Clinton is simply The Greatest American Political FRAUD in the history of the United States. That the mainstream media does not label her a FRAUD & LIAR says alot about how the state of our republic. No politician in the history of Presidential Politics has ever engaged the American public in such clear and outright deception and had their candidacy survive.

[Puller58]

There's an easy way to settle all this. See if you can Obama, Michelle, Hillary and Bill on........­..........­....THE JERRY SPRINGER SHOW!!! The audience is getting on them. They're talking and screaing over each other. Finally, Michelle rushes Hillary. They tumble over the chairs and start catfighting. (Hopefully, Hillary's clothes stay on.) Then from out of the audience, Huma flies up on stage to save her gal. Finally, Bill starts over to do...er, something. Obama awkwardly grabs hold of him and they start rasslin'. (Obama fights like he bowls.) Springer appeals for caution. The security detail moves in and the stage is in chaos. And the winner is....THE AUDIENCE! Best free tickets they ever had. Then Jerry does his final lecture and wishes that once the primaries are over, he can have the winners come back to appear with the McCains. (By then, Iseman should have been found to make a special appearance.) It'll be fantabulous!

[longislandlol]

If ever there was an uncivil campaign for a nomination -this is it-

[foreffectivegovernment]

I get so sick of reading the word "Lie" when it only applies to Hillary Clinton. In the interest of fair play, I want to submit this. Most of these come from his first book.

http://www.audacityofhypocrisy.com/

OBAMA LAUNDRY LIST OF LIES as of April 02, 2008

1.) Selma Got Me Born - LIAR, your parents felt safe enough to have you in 1961 - Selma had no effect on your birth, as Selma was in 1965.

2.) Father Was A Goat Herder - LIAR, he was a privileged, well educated youth, who went on to work with the Kenyan Government.

3.) Father Was A Proud Freedom Fighter - LIAR, he was part of one of the most corrupt and violent governments Kenya has ever had

4.) My Family Has Strong Ties To African Freedom - LIAR, your cousin Raila Odinga has created mass violence in attempting to overturn a legitimate election in 2007, in Kenya. It is the first widespread violence in decades.

5.) My (black) Grandmother Has Always Been A Christian - LIAR, she does her daily Salat prayers at 5am according to her own interviews. Not to mention, Christianity wouldn"t allow her to have been one of 14 wives to 1 man.

6.) My Name is African Swahili - LIAR, your name is Arabic and "Baraka" (from which Barack came) means "blessed" in that language. Hussein is also Arabic and so is Obama.

[NorVaGal]

Thanks for the litany. (Yawn) Why don't you run on out and help Hillary duck sniper bullets, now. But watch out, she's got a gun now and is taking hunting lessons from Uncle Dick.

[EyeWantOneNation]

WOW........you are SO out of touch with reality, and so full of misinformation, it's impossible to fully respond to your rant with anything but that !!!

You really should read more, and get better information there, bud!!!!

[OmahaDon]

do you want to hear somthing.... HRC IS A LIAR... put that in your pipe and smoke it :P

[FairyTale]

Oh! How terrible! You've open my eyes! Never, never again will I support Barack Obama!

From now on I will only support the duck hunter....

[abot]

I have seen thistroll posts before. I believe there are 68 of them.

Keep going you have only 6. You're an under-achiever.

Come on earn your money from HRC or the GOP. You're a slacker.

[highlyamused]

"I have been in meetings with the Clintons and their advisors where very clinical things were said in a very-detached tone about unwillingness of working class voters to trust government­".........

This rings very true to me. A family member interviewed with Hillary to work for her campaign. When I asked her what she was like.....her response was.........." short, and very robotic."