Clinton Heckled, Obama Cheered Over 'Bitter' Remarks

The Clinton and Obama campaigns clearly have one thing in common in the wake of Barack Obama's "bitter" remarks: both sides believe the incident provides their candidates with the means to go on the offensive, with Clinton working to paint Obama as "elitist" and Obama seeking to demonstrate that he is "in touch" with the needs of working-class America. It is, of course, too early to assess what lasting impact this story is going to have on the race, but the way the audience at the Alliance For American Manufacturing forum in Pittsburgh received the candidates, and reacted to the issue, will be heartening for the Obama camp. Obama, who greeted the crowd at 8:45am, raised the issue and received applause. Clinton, addressing the same crowd later in the morning, brought up the remarks and received mostly silence, with a few audible impatient jeers.

[WATCH.]

RELATED:
Clinton Met With Cries of 'No!' in Latest Bitter Speech [WaPo, "The Trail"]
Obama's Shot at Clinton's Shot [ABC News]

Comments

[DontvoteforBillary]

If Hillary really doesn't believe that people are bitter and do not turn to church and hunting, she need to visit the small town where I live.

[maxrebel]

All Barack has to do is replay that 2004 clip of his thoughtful interview
on the Charlie Rose PBS show which covers exactly the subject of the
current controversy. Obama clearly stated that many people were manipulated
polically by campaigns playing on cultural values against their economic interests.

Obama stated that the parties in previous years were condescending to lower income
people and that he wanted to venture on a better political path.

That 2004 video clip would show that McCain, Clinton are opportunists who themselves
are known for verbally shooting themselves in their feet. It would contrast the Barack position
of a better way versus the same cynical inside Washington hack politicians.

[toni1920]

Put this on his website

His campaign uses ideas from bloggers like you and me and lsitens to them

u can also call the center

[esaid]

I was thinking the same thing.

[toni1920]

Go post this on the blog on his website

The campaign listens to suggestions from the supporters

[pearbrandy]

Has anyone actually asked the people that Obama referred to if they think his comments are 'elitist'?

I think you'd find a significant number probably listened to what he said, understood where he was coming from , were glad that someone has acknowledged their sense of disenfranchisement and would tend to agree.

Or is the media just willing to accept that if Hillary and McCain - two parties themselves from an elite socio-economic group with a vested interest in distorting and manipulating Obama's statements - think they were 'elitist' then they must be.

It's called controlling the debate and it works via deliberate distortion that you then snowball into a huge, fat hysterical nothing. I would have thought that reporters at least would know the difference.

[Spontini]

"Has anyone actually asked the people that Obama referred to..." Well, let's see how many gun and religion-clinging xenophobes can we round up? Seriously, wouldn't what you're asking require that we poll pretty much the entire non-urban population of PA? How exactly would you propose to do that?

[Barbarossa03]

In his speech he said the people of PA, he made no distinction between urban or rural. This only goes to show how you Clintonelitistas like to distort the facts.

[ErikW65]

If they are as outraged as the Clintons say they must be, then you'd think we'd have heard about it from them directly.

But what's more likely is that they ARE BITTER, because they've been screwed by Washington for so long.

It would be elitist to suggest otherwise, or to deny their bitterness, ironically.

[KINOKO]

Shoot-A-DuckGate.

OBAMA 2008

[WebDeb]

In fact the Scranton, PA newspaper endorsed Obama yesterday or Saturday, while Hillary was speaking in Scranton, and reading the comments, many were grateful.

Its amazing distortion. I am sick of distortions, lies, mis-statements, and the rest of this accepted political practice. Why in the world would people vote FOR division?

Download a FREE bumper sticker that says TRUTH FOR A CHANGE! OBAMA '08
http://www.clickfindbuyersguide.com/grandlake/vote.html

[FreedomFriend]

"Has anyone actually asked the people that Obama referred to if they think his comments are 'elitist'?"

In fact, they have. This article was on the front page of The Patriot News of Harrisburg today. The town where these interviews were conducted, Steelton, is an old steel town south of Harrisburg that has been totally decimated by the collapse of Bethlehem Steel:
http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1208138120126620.xml&coll=1

Obama's supporters, and a random sampling of people in Steelton Sunday night, said they weren't too bothered by Obama's remarks.

"He told the truth," said Joyette Williams of Oberlin, while relaxing at the Jazz on Front bar. "I wasn't offended."

"It didn't offend me one bit," said Don Stepp of Lawnton. "I felt like I could relate to it."

"I don't think Pennsylvania is bitter," said Tom Drebot at the Steelton Fire Department headquarters. "I think the United States in general is frustrated­."

[esaid]

Funny, two complained about the media coverage, one said she was "bitter" about it being on TV all day.

[jeg]

Of course not. That would be journalism, and it's a mostly dead art who's carcass gets occasionally kicked as the media sprints from one sensational story to the next.

[ddc]

The AP did a story tonight. I wonder if the MSM will report on all the stories that reflect interviews from folks who say that they were not offended - and they are not just Obama supporters, they include HRC's people and McCain's folks. They need to not only talk about the AP story, but also those from USA Today, newspapers in PA, and the FOX News interview where the reporter talked to this old guy in PA who is voting for McCain who said that he agreed with Obama, they are bitter, and his comments didn't bother him.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PENNSYLVANIA_BITTER_VOTERS?SITE=DCTMS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

I guess the media needs something to talk about. If we're united what will that do to their ratings?

[JohnKemp]

This is a surprise?

Obama's followers are mostly college kids and guilt ridden Whites, both groups notoriously bad-mannered.

But, hey, so far so good, just wait for the convention; when Hillary secures the nomination, 1968 will look like child's play.

[Barbarossa03]

Sorry I'm neither description. Funny you left out the fact that Obama has a large number of African American supporters as well - which of the two do they fall under, college kids or guilt ridden whites? Wow, such ignorance!

[JohnKemp]

What? African Americans are a "given" voting bloc, the most dutiful of them all by far.

I just assumed that to be a known factor, sort of like the sun coming up.

[EvoMan]

Excuse me, the audience was not Obama supporters. It was a bunch of union workers.

Oh, since Senator Obama will end up with the most pledged delegates and the popular vote, by what method do you propose Senator Clinton procure the nomination?

[Nyland8]

A question I've been wondering about since March 30th.

8

[ajax2]

JohnKemp, known neo con racist.

[esaid]

and he just proved it below.

[LaurenST]

John
Thank you for the complement calling me a college kid. I haven't been a kid in 20 something years
Barack is the only hope for this great nation. Clinton's are the Elitists form of snobbery. She can not and will not understand what it feels like when your Job is shipped out ,and you end up working for peanuts Because of a choice others have made .
for all true Dem's I hope you are wrong.. But i have said it before Hillary cant stand to lose and she will implode the Dem Party. She is the Queen of Judas.

Obama 08

[jinjinpinti]

Lauren: Johnny kemp can't STAND IT that we have a candidate of the people, for the people, and by the people whose donations average 100 bucks each, meaning there are so many of us that he is kicking the Bushco twins', Hill and John, butts in campaign contributions without needing to sell out to special interests. He's scared that his smarmy little facist plans are going awry.

[FINTA]

oh, sorry I am not a college kid... I did go to college though... I am a graduate and now a teacher... so where do I fit in??

[Barbarossa03]

Another instance where Hilary goes negative and slings-mud (the best thing that she can do) and it backfires.

[Spontini]

Yes I guess she'd be leading by more than the 20pts she has over Obama in PA if it weren't for this. That's some backfire!

[debwarot]

Well, the votes have not yet been cast. I predict that the voters in PA will (1) see right through Senator Clinton's spins and feel indignant over her obvious attempt to do their thinking for them; (2) remember the major money her husband and 'former' chief strategist made supporting Columbia and CAFTA; (3) vote for Senator Obama!

[ErikW65]

"He started March down more than 20 points but in recent days had whittled down Clinton's lead to just 7.3%, according to an average of Pennsylvania polls by the non-partisan website Real Clear Politics. It remains to be seen whether the reaction to the statements will actually affect the polls or simply serve as fodder for the punditocra­cy."

JAY NEWTON-SMALL, in today's Time article ("Will Obama Pay for 'Bitter' Flap?)

[Nyland8]

Wake up!

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/pa/pennsylvania_democratic_primary-240.html

Currently, Rodham is falling in PA faster than Obama is. If the trend continues, she'll pass him on the way down before the primary.

[Barbarossa03]

I was referring to the moment at the press conference. If your referring to the 20 points on the shock poll on the Drudge Report, well consider your source.

[debwarot]

You are right on target. Doesn't she have anything else in her bag of political tricks? Oops - sorry - of course she doesn't.

[markkraft]

"Welcome to Hillary's! Can I take your order?"

"Yeah, I have a pain in my side. Can you help me?"

"I'm sorry. This is the line for lobbyists! You want the public line."

(Three weeks later...)

"Welcome to Hillary's!"

*groan* "I neeed... a doctor!"

"Did you mean a healthcare program?"

"Yeah...*g­asp!* Something that's likely to get passed soon."

"We have Hillarycare. I'll have to dust it off first... it could take awhile...

"How soon can I get it?"

"Well, it's been about sixteen years so far.... But I can't discuss healthcare right now."

"Well, what *can* you discuss?!"

"Currently, we're offering fake outrage, spin, distortion­s..."

"No issues?"

"Oh... those. We lose when we discuss them."

"Whose stupid idea was this?!" *coughs up blood*

"I'm sorry, but we're not allowed to discuss Mark Penn anymore. Are you sure you wouldn't like Rev.Wright outrage? We're having a special, as it's not selling lately..."

"Nevermind. I'm going to Obama's!"

"*SECURITY! RED ALERT ON AISLE FOUR!*

"Who are you? Some kind of Judas?!"

"Out of my way, Mr. Carville!"

"He hates women!!"

"Get bent, Mrs. Ferraro. I'm leaving."

"You can't do that, my friend."

"Go away, McCain! I'm not voting for you!"

"But Hillary says I'm the only other credible candidate.­.."

"I'm outta here!" *storms out*

"We've got a bloodspill on aisle four. Can we get Lieberman with a mop and bucket?!"

[Nyland8]

Don't quit your day job.

8

[Gem4Obama]

Why isn't this news? Why hasn't this NOT been played out in the MSM like Obama's remarks???

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0408/Secrecy_and_propriety_in_Kentucky.html

"U.S. Rep. Geoff Davis, a Hebron Republican, compared Obama and his message for change similar to a "snake oil salesman" [at a Northern Kentucky Lincoln Day dinner].

He said in his remarks at the GOP dinner that he also recently participated in a "highly classified, national security simulation" with Obama.

"I'm going to tell you something: That boy's finger does not need to be on the button," Davis said. "He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country."

An aide to Davis, Jeremy Hughes, declined to comment on the remark, and didn't dispute the accuracy of the quote.

UPDATE: Davis apologizes­."

[patch61]

feel that even my family struggled through hard times we had food stamps and we need care but as a single mother who had 6 children who lived in ny and had to count on our family to help it was hard back then and hard now its even worse we as blue collar we need the best sen. hillary clinton who will bring us where we need to be vote for sen. hillary clinton for president.

[Vergadoce]

LOL. I guess you mean eight years from now, when Hitlery is almost 70. Because she's not winning the nomination or the presidency. Keep dreaming.

[BeeClone]

patch61,

Try using the shift key (for capital letters) at the beginning of a sentence and for proper names like Sen. Clinton it will make your posts easier to read.

[ddc]

How will she do that? Will she fund our country with her $109 million dollar fortune? Will she have her elite contributors contribute from the cottage on Martha's Vineyard that she vacationed at? Will Bill sell the US out to various foreign countries for $800,000 a pop? Please, do share?

[patch61]

the cnn rollin has always something to say about race when sorry it really has nothing to do with race creed or color or even male or female when it has something to do with the poor blue collar hard working people of america that does not want to be put down in anyway especially right now that we have to try to meet with our economic problems and just put food on our tables.vot­e for sen.hillar­y clinton.

[jinjinpinti]

Patch61: If you love the status quo in this country and everything is just hunky dory and peachy keen for you and yours then, by all means vote for Hillary...­or, even John McBush, as the current paradigm we endure is a product of years of their "service" in our employ. Sure, it's a little scary to allow some of that "hope" stuff into your heart, but, at least it could give us a chance to take our democracy back with Obama. Life is like a game....yo­u can't win if you don't play, so play, because "Life rewards the bold!"

[heal57]

patch61, get with it. Hillary is not going to be the Democratic nominee, and you should be happy about that cause she doesn't care about you and me. Obama will do much more for blue collar/pink collar/dog collar people!

[ddc]

Wow, Patch 61, you sound bitter.

[lincat]

I am glad that the audience reacted that way to Hillary. I hope that the people of PA don't allow themselves to be manipulated by her. I find her more and more repulsive.

[marc1antony]

Hillary wants to know what you think of how the race is going - anyone can respond to this poll

here is the link - let's tell her what we think:

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/action/ideas/?sc=1774&utm_source=1774&utm_medium=e

[Spontini]

There are so busy clinging to religion and guns and xenophobia, they probably don't realize what's going on. But of course I'm just "a typical white person" so maybe we should check with His Supreme Highness BO. He will tell us THE TRUTH THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS (and dare not question)! In any event, she is leading by 20 in PA and 16 in Indiana, so I don't think the majority of DEM voters in those states would agree with you on the "repulsive" attack.

[Vergadoce]

Oh please. You're still hung up on "typical white person." Are you not intelligent to understand that he was referring to the "typical white person" of the Civil Rights Era? It's a word called context, and I guess if you're one of those people who're looking to be offended, then congratulations, Mission Accomplished. But there were TYPICAL older white people of that era, women the age of Obama's grandmother -- afraid of ppl who don't look like them, afraid of change -- just as there were typical older black people -- afraid to rabble rouse and demand change unlike the black youth b/c these older ppl were stuck in the slave mentality. All that statement proves is that Obama is a straight shooter. I guess you're dumb enough to believe he actually not only hates whites, but his mother and grandmother. You'd clearly prefer a candidate to blow smoke up your ass, the kind that'll piss on your back and tell you it's raining, so you should definitely support Hillary.

[Outofnowhere]

Well Spontini, you may not be clinging to a gun, but you are clinging to that 20 points up poll. Hope it works for you next Tuesday, but if not, you may want to consider a gun. Just try not pointing it at Hillary - she's a little sensitive about sniper fire.

[jinjinpinti]

Uh, actually you're a typical butthead, which come in all colors. Go ahead, vote for HRC, or John McBush and stay in your nice, little rut with the same DC gang that has hijacked our democracy up to this sad point. If you think Hillary and Bill give a ratzazz about the working class or anything but their own power and wealth, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell ya.

[Redrover666]

I agree 100%. Obama just needs to get out front on this issue. I can't even imagine why typical, white, garlic nosed, bible thumping, gun loving, bigots would be offended by Obama's remarks. It's just the truth after all. And I think it is just reprehensible of Clinton to bring it up.

[JohnFromCensornati]

I'm not getting older.
I'm getting bitter.

[jinjinpinti]

BITTER AND PROUD OF IT!!

OBAMA 08!

[Redrover666]

ME TOO!!

McCAIN 08!

(thanks to Obama!!)

[patch61]

i feel that even my family struggled through hard times we had food stamps and we need care but as a single mother who had 6 children who lived in ny and had to count on our family to help it was hard back then and hard now its even worse we as blue collar we need the best sen. hillary clinton who will bring us where we need to be vote for sen. hillary clinton for president.

[patch61]

maybe all of you are obama supporters but the real problem at hand is that obama did not apologize to the blue collar people and i happen to be one but i do feel sen.hillar­y clinton can win and be the best person to go against mccain because we truly dont want mccain or now obama to be president i feel sen hillary clinton to be the next president of the united states of america.

[ErikW65]

You say you're blue collar, but you didn't say you were offended by Sen. Obama's remarks. And then you said that his lack of apology was a problem.

Why?

[partyofone]

I really have heard more than enough of both of the Clintons. Voters are not responding to Hillary, so she feels she must attack. And when the attacks don't work, the Clintons must create, distort, fabricate something to attack. So they twist and misrepresent what Obama says, coach the compliant media, and try to land a knockout punch. Enough of it. IF you don't have something positive and constructive to offer, Hillary, QUIT. If you do, please focus on that.

[foneric]

This is really beginning to make my head want to split. How could anyone take what Barack Obama said and turn it into an insult of rural PA/America. You have got to be kidding me. Seriously. If you think that these people aren't sick and tired of being screwed into the dirt by republican policies and DLC policies you are crazy. To turn that into an insult to the people who have been failed by these policies is to call them too stupid to know the difference. So who is really insulting these people and who is the real elitist. For the record I live in a small farming and coal mining town in central illinois. So I can guarantee you that I am not elitist.

[AERO]

Clintards can do it.

[MissT]

Remember Max Cleland and John Kerry? Both Viet Nam war heroes. Cleland is a triple amputee. Yet the chichen hawks of the republican party made both of them look like they were anti-American. This is the playbook from which Hillary plays. This really is light weight compared to what may happen if this doesn't work.

[Redrover666]

OK... let me splane it to you so your head doesn't split. This is what Obama said;

"It's not surprising [that people] 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,"

This load of elitist crap pisses regular folks off. Do you understand now?

If you don't understand, it's because you don't want to.

[esaid]

You need to replace [that people] with [that some people who no longer trust Washington].

Otherwise you addition is out of line.

[esaid]

btw, what possessed you to put 666 at the end of your screen name.

[LeftLeanWing]

What I do understand is that a lot of people have been voting or politically concentrating on gun issues, religious issues( anti-gay, anti stem cell, anti-abortion), anti-immigrant sentiment and anti-trade issue( they are taking our jobs ).

I do understand that Hillary is playing with the Republican playbook against another intra-party candidate.

I do understand that there exists people who react to trigger words like Elitist and run with it.

[SonofLiberty1]

Yeah, and it sounds like he really isn't against Outsourcing either!

You have to remember, this ISN'T your average Joe Blow around the corner at the bar!

It's a United States Senator, Running for President!

This goes to show that Obama HASN'T hired enough good people to "Review" his speeches..­.his Communications Director needs to be FIRED!

And he's having that much of a problem now?

What the heck will he be like on January 21, 2009?

Give me a break...th­e guy just doesn't have it together!