McCain Said It, Before He Attacked It

John McCain's campaign is attacking Barack Obama for Obama's rather indisputable comments about the rise of anti-immigrant fervor in small town America. Obama said that the rise of such fervor has a lot to do with bitterness.

But wait - didn't John McCain say something similar in December to The New Yorker?

Anti-immigrant passion also owes much to the disproportionate influence of a few small states in the nominating process. National polls show that, as an issue, immigration is far behind the Iraq war, terrorism, the economy, and health care as a concern to most Americans; a recent Pew poll shows that, nationally, only six per cent of voters offer immigration as the most important issue facing the country. But in Iowa and South Carolina, two of the three most important early states, it is a top concern for the Republicans who are most likely to vote.

"It's the influx of illegals into places where they've never seen a Hispanic influence before," McCain told me. "You probably see more emotion in Iowa than you do in Arizona on this issue. I was in a town in Iowa, and twenty years ago there were no Hispanics in the town. Then a meatpacking facility was opened up. Now twenty per cent of their population is Hispanic. There were senior citizens there who were--'concerned' is not the word. They see this as an assault on their culture, what they view as an impact on what have been their traditions in Iowa, in the small towns in Iowa. So you get questions like 'Why do I have to punch 1 for English?' 'Why can't they speak English?' It's become larger than just the fact that we need to enforce our borders."

Sure, it's not exactly the same, but it's pretty darn similar. In fact, McCain seems to be saying something far more controversial. While Obama is saying economic hardship breeds anti-immigrant feelings, McCain is saying lots of rural people just hate Hispanics. That may or may not be true - but the fact that McCain's campaign is feigning outrage over Obama's truisms when their own candidate has made thematically similar statements strikes me as...what's the word...oh yeah - dishonest.

Comments

[plooger]

Yeah, as I was reading your brief comment, I wasn't seeing McCain's comments as the same as Obama's, just as your suggest at the end. McCain is blaming anti-immigrant attitudes on the immigrants, and is justifying the antipathy that locals feel due to the influx of the "others."

[Dendera]

Yeah, but point is, people are still "bitter" or angry about things that they feel are out of their control and they turn into one-issue voters because of it.

They were both making the same, blindingly obvious point.

[margi]

Don't be fouled by CNN and others , the extensive coverage of Obama's comment will not drive Blue collar workers away from him. They realized that he is speaking the truth.
HRC and MCsame don't want blue collar to find out what they have been up to for so many years, NAFTA , now Colombia trade deal, ..... They underestimate the intelligence of Blue collar workers, they might not have gone to university for some , but they know the difference between a dishonest person a genuine leader.
HRC say i'm against the colombian trade deal , her husband takes $800K from Colombia. HRC say lets boycott the Olympic opening, but Bill is being funded by a chinese firm cracking down on Tibetans
I don't think she will win Pennsylvania , in 2008 people have their eyes opened. No one will foul them.

[JennieB]

Great read David. McCain is completely out of touch. In fact, he's almost boobish when it comes to pretty much everything including Iraq. And Hillary would say or do absolutely anything do get her sorry self elected. How she can call anyone an elistist with a straight face, is beyond me. I used to like the Clintons, now I can't stand the sight or the sound of them. The minute one of the pops up on TV, I trip over the dog in my rush to change the channel. Go away Hillary.

[harriscrl3]

Hilary said something similar too back in CA in the debates when she said that Latinos were taking jobs away from AA in the discussion about immigration and that is why there is this tension between the two groups.

Obama just flushed it out more and whats intersting this is nothing new. I dont know why people are acting like this is some new jwords of wisdom. Obama even touched on it in his race speech a few weeks ago. People's job disappear as a result of trade deals like Nafta and they develop Anti Trade sentiments Ya think? Its ludicrious to me that we just grossly simplify things and we dont look at the big picture which is the economic devastation of these communities and how to address it. Instead we are arguing about whether people are bitter? It just seems petty to me and a distraction from tackling real issues like rural poverty.

Carol

[Binea]

Ron Paul is not an elitest,but look what he said about illegal immigration.He in a debate also mentioned that our bad economy leads many to blame Illegals.

[MadFae]

Yeah, dishonest! Slipper, annoying, and self-consciously political! More of the same crap we've been listening to for years. Obama was just telling the truth, and I wish more people like you would stand up and say so. There's no shame in being bitter and angry when your life is seemingly disintegrating around you! It's time to stand up and make a change. We don't need people like Clinton and McCain telling us that we're not really angry or upset. WE ARE. We don't need more politicians putting on every mask in the book, only to get elected and suddenly transform into someone we don't know. Obama has been true to himself and his ideals from the beginning. You don't see him changing his message every other day. You don't see him telling people just the "nice" things they want to hear to FLATTER them into voting for him. We don't need flattery. We need honesty.

[kansasgal1]

yes and so has Bill Clinton. Jed Report had him saying almost exactly the same thing as Obama on the Charlie Rose Show.

[thegulliblecitizen]

That John McCain and Hillary Clinton care for the po folks is as big a crock as "we are going to Iraq to install democracy." These selfserving cruds are the very ones who have delivered this nation and its people to the misery of their present state. Their gluttonous egos are rivalled only by their affinity for every lobbyist that is not tied down.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

that sounds sorta commie buddie

[jkpcguru]

Hill and McSame just can't handle the truth. I'm a blue collared pennsylvanian worker and heard about this story from my buddy at the mill. We didn't feel offended by his comment. We appreciate that he told the folks of PA and Indiana the hard truth. Its true that folks from where i come from feel like that. Its a nice change from Bush, MCain and Clinton telling us what we want to hear on the campaign trail. I'm ready for a president I can trust.

[TheJibreelaMonsters]

Tell that to Fast Eddy Renell ... Obama dont need you

[noneIn2008]

A President you can trust? Are you in for a disappointment after Obama is elected. They are lying thieving crooks. It's in the job description.
A couple months after Obama is in office will you be making excuses on why we don't see results.
I remember a 2006 pitch, give us Congress and we will get us out of Iraq. That worked out well. Look at all the excuses, but no delivery of results.
You could already start to write Obama's speeches for just a few months after in office. Gee, I would have, but............blah blah..............their fault............if only.................blah blah..............unexpected developments in Iraq...........
There will be a large group of pundants helping make excuses for lack of delivery, instead of holding him accountable.

[noamjunior]

Are you Ralph Nader's Speechwriter?

[Binea]

Obama said the very first thing he will do is restore our constitutional rights that the neocons have managed to steal.He said he will by executive order reverse those executive orders which Bush and co took.Did any of you see that Keith Olberman episode they just played back last week ? The one where he shows how all our rights except one have been taken.He crosses them all out on a whiteboard to make the point.

[sheraz]

A smart person understands that having a 1 or 2 seat majority in Congress is not enough to end the war

[NelsonR]

Iraqi John reminds me of Hillary. Say what the people desire to hear and change and adapt to the wishful thinking of their followers. Saying, most Americans are bitter is an understatement. From globalization, corruption, lobbyist, corporate shenanigans, elitism in America, you bet I'm bitter about my corrupt government overseeing my life. Screw them. Obama speaks with the truth and he gets bashed since most illiterate Americans don't want to hear the truth. Why else did that lying Hillary and warmonger McCain jump on the accusation bandwagon? They know it's true but they haven't the cojones to say the truth to the public, rather they pander to the followers who haven't a brain to think for themselves while analyzing the candidates. Truth is not something people want to hear, it's B.S**T they desire.

[ljsfolly]

When considered just how many of the jobs lost in the mid west and the conntry as a whole when there was bushes and a clinton already in the white house one would think there might be anger and yes bitterness in those states heavy with the losses. If the local big businesses were shut down by the NAFTA and all of the out of country deals that sent all of the areas jobs to another country I would personally be very angry. Why should people support someone who has taken action and their spouse continues to support sending jobs overseas? I don't understand it. Hillary would never have my support knowing see was married and is counting the time married as experience, to the very man that sent my job and my whole towns livelyhood overseas. Bill Clinton signed NAFTA and he is supporting now sending jobs to Columbia and somehow his wife is being supported by these very same people whose life has been sent in down turn after down turn. Why? Am I not seeing something? I would be mad as hell at her and the word bitter would be a mild form of what I would feel as she represents the very same polices that will send more jobs packing if she has her way. After Hillary lying so very much about those things that might not matter in the long run she will lie to your face about the important things. Why?

[wyodemo]

Obama's mistake was failing to link these folks' support of the Republican party as the party that represents gun owners, church goers and believers in individual responsibility over the common good. If he had highlighted the way Republicans dupe people into focusing on liberals taking their guns, defaming their churches and demanding they help everyone else while they languish; instead of how Democratic policies strive to provide them with better opportunities in education, employment and medical care his "truism" would have actually been true.
These folks have been swayed by the Republican party and its bigoted b.s. about who is responsible for their lot in life. Democrats must represent these folks again, and Hillary Clinton is the one that has inspired their confidence.
Read a good book on the topic by Joe Bageant "Deer Hunting with Jesus."

[dawlishgal]

I don't understand the support here of Hillary either. It isn't just the jobs shipped out by NAFTA (although, by itself, that is bad enough). It is that the disemployed are without health insurance (thanks to Hillary and her crony-plotted secret plan), and we can't count on her to get any for us in the future either, given she takes so much lobbyists money from the same big healthcare corporations that lied about and killed her first plan.

And ---if being unemployed AND uninsured weren't enough....our workers have to compete in a world labor market that is unfairly stacked against them....they have to compete for jobs with other workers (namely EVERYBODY who isn't from here) who do have government-sponsored healthcare. Why would savy business executives decide to locate in a place where they will be either held responsible to provide (and pay for) worker insurance or be pressured to do so....when all they have to do to avoid that responsibility is to take the jobs somewhere else.

The Clintons could have said, "Healthcare first, then (maybe) NAFTA." Or, simply, "No Healthcare, no NAFTA." Surely, smart as they are, they knew that they were secrewing our workers 3 times over (and breaking their campaign promise to oppose NAFATA). So what does that tell us about the Clintons.

What is WRONG with the people here in PA that they have forgotten what happened a mere 15 or so years ago.

[MPeter]

CCNN, its third rate reporters and the lazy reporters of MSM are giving Hillary a pass. This is the story they should be reporting instead of going on TV and repeating foolish soundbites.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-schmeltzer/colombia-and-bill-the-una_b_96167.html

[madprogressive]

Again, kudos to you Mr. Sirota, along with the post by Catherine Crier, for pointing out the truth. We need more of this type of analysis in the mainstream media.

[pedrothemigrant]

weak

[ProfessorDuh]

As for Obama being elitist, he'll get a big dose of humility when he's president. All he'll have to do is remember that he holds a position last filled by George W. Bush.

[mgsorens]

I read and re-read the post. I can't find the part where McCain accuses small town people of being bitter, racist, gun owning, religious zealots!

[Madampotential]

According to his GOP colleagues McCain does it all the time...

http://hughhewitt.townhall.com/blog/g/9e163793-59da-4b2c-88ae-be7f8f4ec09d

[spiritualized]

good find.

[KimberlyKay]

Senator Obama did not call anyone "racist" or a "religious zealot." You did that. Senator Obama did say that during hard times people in rural America cling to their guns and God. Guess what? Everywhere in the world, during hard times people cling to their traditions and although you may not be aware of this, I am-- guns and religion are very much part of the tradition in the rural areas I know in Kansas, Colorado, Texas and Oklahoma.

Senator McCain accused Iowans of disliking Mexicans just for speaking Spanish and being culturally different. This is offensive stuff to Iowans.

Finally, I am bitter about the last 7+ years and I don't live in a neighborhood were the jobs have been eroding over the past 25 years, the population has been dropping and the tax base shrinking.

[LittleSanityLeft]

I have a hard time trying to determine if some Americans, like yourself mgsorens, really believe what they're saying or are hoping for an emotional reaction to fuel hate and distrust.

McCain's comments clearly point to a bitter electorate in Iowa who think that immigrants are stealing jobs and changing the dynamics of small town USA. Apparently despite your reading and re-reading the post you missed this part: "They see this as an assault on their culture, what they view as an impact on what have been their traditions in Iowa, in the small towns in Iowa. So you get questions like 'Why do I have to punch 1 for English?' 'Why can't they speak English?'"

[mari2JJ]

Hmmmm, are you talking about the same McCain that is running for President. Remember, he is the one,along with Kennedy, who tried to push a bill that gives citizenship to thousands of those same illegal immigrants he is crabbing about now. Amazing how his tune changes now that he is sucked into the Bush "hate immigrant crowd" since he wants their vote. McCain, the "straight talk express" guy is just more of the same as Bush. Say just anything to get elected, abandon your principles and to heck with honesty. I used to be impressed with McCain but now have to face the fact he is just like any other devoted party politician. He changes his ideals when he needs more votes.

[Whatwasthatallabout]

American Heritage Dictionary - (bÄ­t'É"r)
adj.
Difficult or distasteful to accept, admit, or bear
Proceeding from or exhibiting strong animosity
Resulting from or expressive of severe grief, anguish, or disappointment
Marked by resentment or cynicism

Why does this word cause all of this commotion. If you are not a least a little bitter about the way the government has treated small town America, inner city America, and rural America, where have you been for the past 30 years?

[Barky]

You (and the dictionary) are correct. This last while I have been thinking "whatsthatallabout"!! ...to some of the discourse. These peeheads will jump on anything (abetted by Fox and CNN) to convolute a truism. Ok, so use "angry" or "frustrated". Good grief.

As for the poster above, existence with severe ideological blinders on the last few years will do it to you.

[BigBen]

I don't see any problem with Obama saying that people turn to religion from bitterness, at least no problem with the Rev.Wright's church. They are certainly bitter.He has been a member for years so he knows about bitter church goers. Maybe next he will explain the behavior of those who disagree with him.Are we just bitter to? So Black people are also bitter towards Mexicans ? Super Delegates take note.

[jumperpin]

As a known Obama supporter, and with very high standards for my candidate, his SF statement (yes, with full context) was indeed a multi-dimensional flub - if not insulting.

Working folx' concerns about competing w/ unfair trade or indentured illegals were dismissed as reactionary bitterness.

One wonders if he's EVER talked to his south side neighbors displaced from housekeeping and construction, manufacturing, etc. jobs.

[SoulSistah]

We don't know you're a "known Obama supporter." Why say that?

The Sillary and McCoo-Coo Hateration Crew is trying an intellegent approach to Obama bashinng but still they produce the same failing results.

[KimberlyKay]

Since Senator Obama was a community organizer for the neighbors of whom you speak, I don't think you need to wonder if he has spoken to them, it is obvious that he has.

I didn't find the comment offensive and my whole family comes from rural America. Most of us don't live there anymore, but the rural landscape was our point of origin. Most of us are bitter, angry, cynical, frustrated or just plain sad. And as I said, most of us don't live anymore in the areas devastated by NAFTA and MFN for China. I can only imagine how much harder the frustration is in the rust-belt. Senator Obama did not dismiss anything as "reactionary bitterness;" he neither used those words; nor implied their meaning. Do read his comments again, because I don't know how you could hear so entirely differently than I did (someone who could have been personally offended by his word choice) .

[kravitz]

Almost 10% of Pennsylvania is on food stamps!

Bill Clinton wants to send Pennsylvania's jobs to Columbia behind his wife's back. John McCain's lobbyists will take outsource the rest. And write off the tax break he'll give them. Their problem is, the more forcefully Obama defends the idea that people are angry about the mess the country is in, and how they need change, the stronger a candidate he becomes. How will Hillary improve the situation with Bill right next to her. It's not looking very promising. They've proved everyone is expendable as long as they win. They're willing to stand alone while others suffer. And McCain has admitted he needs to be shown what to do. Both are insiders from the old ways that gave us the mess we're currently in. Obama will certainly raise taxes on the limosine liberals he was talking to in SF and Muncie. But guess what, a lot of them want to pay their fair share of living in this country. Who would not. As long as the fare is fair.

[anika]

hehe ... nice try .... to explain the xenophobe part of obama's comment.

now explain away the anti-gun , anti-gay, bigotted