Pat Buchanan Misquotes Barack Obama's "Bitter" Line

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Huffington Post   |   April 14, 2008 10:53 PM

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Speaking on Dan Abrams' Verdict on MSNBC tonight, Pat Buchanan misquoted Sen. Barack Obama's now infamous "bitter" line from a closed-door San Francisco fundraiser. Buchanan said that Obama told his audience that small-town Pennsylvanians "cling to their bibles, and guns and bigotries."

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- NewtC See Profile I'm a Fan of NewtC

Rightwing pundits are just trying to bolster Clinton's campaign so the GOP can run their "Anyone but Hillary" campaign. She"s the Republicans" best Get Out The Vote strategy, even more so than their anti-gay and anti-choice strategies that have spurred their followers to vote in the past. Conservatives don"t just dislike her, they actively despise her! Next year there is more at stake than just the presidency. We have a potentially historic opportunity to fire all the Bush-policy rubber-stamping & obstructionist Republicans in the U.S. Senate and replace them with Democrats who can get us out of Iraq, enact true election reform, and get big business out of our government. Unless anti-Hillary hatred brings out conservatives. Obama inspires new voters and might even result in conservatives sitting out the election. That"s got to terrify people like Pat Buchanon.

We"re fed up with Washington and the status quo. Bush and McSame want us to stay in a war that keeps Iraq oil production low so Bush"s Saudi buddies can artificially raise prices. Meanwhile, hard working Americans are falling out of the middle class. Clinton"s NAFTA have wrecked their jobs and worsened the housing bubble bust. Our politicians take our money and votes while lying to us about Iraq and future trade agreements with Columbia The Yes We Can movement is as much about the rest of us wanting to take back our government as it is about Obama. That"s what really scares Clinton backers and GOP.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:41 PM on 04/16/2008
- Christopher1 See Profile I'm a Fan of Christopher1

Obama is a bigot with all his black haters against the whites. Can we say Wright, Sharpton. Jackson..........

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:24 PM on 04/15/2008
- meltingpot101 See Profile I'm a Fan of meltingpot101

You are so deep in ignorance that you will just sink it . What are you going to do when Obama is YOUR NEXT PRESIDENT??

Obama's mother and grandparents who helped to raise him are white, have you forgotten??
If what you say were true Obama would be guilty of self-hatred and people selfloathe are anything but succesful. Forget about being on the brink of the Democratic Nominee.

I ask you to call on your basic knowledge of human nature, your theory doesn't add up.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:03 AM on 04/16/2008
- TommyHollis See Profile I'm a Fan of TommyHollis

Misquote, but not a misrepresentaton.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:48 PM on 04/15/2008
- themightychris See Profile I'm a Fan of themightychris

His misquote may have preserved the representation of the quote, but that quote itself misrepresented his point.

If you take the effort to look beyond the sound bite, and actually read for yourself the sentences before and after the bite instead of relying on the talking heads to tell you what to make of it, you'd feel pretty silly for going along with the angle Clinton and McCain have been pushing. What he said was perfectly reasonable, his only crime was dropping his guard and letting himself put a string of words together that could sound bad if chopped off at just the right points and repeated over and over and over.

He was explaining to a campaigner what campaign points would be effective in rural Pennsylvania.

He DID NOT say that people cling to religion or guns because they are bitter.

Rather, he said that people cling to the POLITICAL ISSUES(there's that pesky context thing!) of guns and religion over economic issues, because they have a bitterness towards the issue because past politics that have promised and promised on that end and never delivered for them.

The point was to inform the campaigner that economic issues would be a hard sell.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:22 PM on 04/16/2008
- STParker See Profile I'm a Fan of STParker

I forgot to add, what the hell is hillary doing pandering to these people?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:17 PM on 04/15/2008
- donnajane See Profile I'm a Fan of donnajane

ever since reading his 'brief to whitey', I find myself oddly fascinated when I see him and hear him speak...fascinated in the way you would be if you met a talking dog, or a talking horse....

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:59 PM on 04/15/2008
- morbie5 See Profile I'm a Fan of morbie5

You should have been fascinated about how true everything in "brief to whitey" was.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:55 PM on 04/15/2008
- donnajane See Profile I'm a Fan of donnajane

....or a talking toad....talking insect....praying mantis, maybe....

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:09 PM on 04/15/2008
- STParker See Profile I'm a Fan of STParker

Buchanan is doing is employing time-honored Republicans, when a Democrat says that Republican leaders are liars they say that you are calling their voters easy to decieve. When you say that they foster divisiveness and insecurities with their policies they say you are calling their voters bigots. When you say that the rhetoric bouncing in their echo chamber is unsound factually they say you are calling their voters stupid.

The fact is that there are people who vote for guns, god and, (a ban on) gays. If we start from that basic assumption than we have to look at why, and there are two reasons for that 1) economic security 2) sincere belief.

The people in category #1 care more about the economy than the people in category #2.

The people in category #2 will only come around when they feel the discomfort of the sincere disdain the rest of the world feels for the bigots.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:17 PM on 04/15/2008
- meltingpot101 See Profile I'm a Fan of meltingpot101

I like Dan Abrahms and watch the show regularly. But sometime he puts people like Tucker Carlson (who's show apparently got canceled and now they gave him some unofficial title and he makes his rounds on MSNBC shows) Anyway also people like Pat Buchanan on. Dan lets these guys mispeak and spew venom and ignorance.

Pat Buchanan also got told he was an "elitest" by some other guy. He told Pat that he had to get rid of his Mercedes when he ran for president and replace it with a lincoln navigator so that he drove something made in the USA. This guy went on to say that there were many elitist in Pat's family. Pat laughed cuz he knew it was true.

Pat is constantly spout out his "good ole boy" ideas and views. It's iritating sometimes but mostly I just figure he's old and has not evolved with most of america. He is not always wrong though. He's probably having a hard time wrapping his brain around the idea of Obama being our next president. Truth is he probably never thought he would see the day....

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:41 PM on 04/15/2008
- southafrica4obama See Profile I'm a Fan of southafrica4obama

this Bikenan Buchanan guy has just been a buffoon on TV. I don't know why they still give him airtime. He's the one bringing down their ratings. Pat and Lou should just leave TV and work in some government urgency in Arizona. I just don't understand why these two old folks hate Obama. Can someone tell me!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:15 PM on 04/15/2008
- morbie5 See Profile I'm a Fan of morbie5

Haha. Countdown aside, Buchanan is one of the only reasons MSNBC is still on the air. They don't hate Obama and just because someone doesn't have liberal white guilt does not mean they are a racist.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:45 PM on 04/15/2008
- Wildcatdiva See Profile I'm a Fan of Wildcatdiva

Bless his little heart...he's needs to be relevant soooooooo badly....
THAT OLD TIRED REDNECK BIGOT.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:08 PM on 04/15/2008
- Chandidevi See Profile I'm a Fan of Chandidevi

Who in God's name listens to Pat Buchanan. the old redneck from Alabama??? He needs to be put out to pasture. Bless you Pat, but it's time to roll over and let the young'uns have their say. Bye Bye!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:00 PM on 04/15/2008
- bamainatlanta See Profile I'm a Fan of bamainatlanta

Why do people like yourself think it is ok to call people from Alabama "rednecks"? And Pat is not from my state of Alabama, FYI. It is attitudes like yours which make some of us "down here" think you are elitist.

And FYI #2: What Buchanan said was correct. Obama was saying that working class white folks cling to feelings of antipathy to immigrants and and people unlike them. Check the quote, as Pat was very close to the original quote. And being against Illegal immigration does not make one anti immigrant!

I challenge any of you to respond to my comments. I am not a conservative. I loathe neoconservatism. But I am beginning to loathe Obamaism as well. Some of you are living in a fantasyland. He can not win in November with this elitist and arrogant attitude.

And one more thing. Where did he get off calling Hillary "Annie Oakley"? She simply mentioned a childhood memory. Obama is really showing his ass now.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:00 PM on 04/15/2008
- realpolitic See Profile I'm a Fan of realpolitic

If Obama said that working class whites cling to feelings of antipathy to immigrants and those unlike them because of economic uncertainties, then Buchanan would certainly agree with Obama. Buchanan has fashioned a career out of arguing that illegal immigration really hurts this country. Then you say you agree with Obama as well, and that being against illegal immigration does not make one against immigrants in general. Well, if you agree with him how then is Obama's statement elitist? He is saying people act on their economic uncertainites. You and Buchanan seem to agree. What is the big deal?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:21 PM on 04/15/2008
- bamainatlanta See Profile I'm a Fan of bamainatlanta

You just don't get it. Obama was not saying it is ok to be against illegal immigration. He purposely used the word Immigrants, and "those who look different from them" to associate bitterness with bigotry. Now I am sure that some people are anti immigrant out of racism, but Democratic Elitists will continue to lose if they continue to fail to understand how issues like illegal immigration and unfair trade are legitimate concerns of the working class, and that includes blacks.

And I repeat, what gives some of you the right to cry racism, as you spew anti Southern epithets like "redneck"? And what of all the ageist comments about McCain and Hillary being "old"? Look into your hearts Obamamaniacs, and ask yourself if you are a part of this meanness that Michelle Obama decries in America.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:29 PM on 04/15/2008
- realpolitic See Profile I'm a Fan of realpolitic

Conservative pundits seem to have a license on just making up whatever they like. They do it in excess and never have repercussions. Pat characterizes the Democratic party as elitist. At least, he is not making generalizations, as he accuses Obama. Republicans represent the interests of business elites while wrapping themselves in the flag and claiming to represent middle America. Middle, small town America would rather have access to health insurance and higher minimum wages, than Republican rhetoric on cuts in capital gain's taxes.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:57 PM on 04/15/2008
- Cedman See Profile I'm a Fan of Cedman

motto.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:05 PM on 04/15/2008
- Cedman See Profile I'm a Fan of Cedman

Pat has been selling hate for years. If you ain't white you aint right is his model.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:04 PM on 04/15/2008
- candybar See Profile I'm a Fan of candybar

well remember b.o. is half white so pat cant be all bad

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:50 PM on 04/15/2008
- donnajane See Profile I'm a Fan of donnajane

...and if you ain't white you should smile and say thank you for all that white america has done for you...'A Brief to Whitey'...

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:22 PM on 04/15/2008
- Daly See Profile I'm a Fan of Daly

yoy forgot christian; you gotta be white and christian

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:43 PM on 04/15/2008
- Richardini See Profile I'm a Fan of Richardini

Pat Buchanan is the most overrated speaker on TV. He is nothing but another Rush Limbaugh with a better vocabulary. His twisting of Obama's words surprises nobody. He is so catholic that the word religion mentioned by Obama probably set him off. There are speakers whose faces beg to be slapped and his is one of the best in that category. Joan Rivers once called him a Nazi and then she apologized with a joke saying that no, he wasn't a Nazi and that his parents were in a concentration camp. They died when they fell out of the watch tower. I never forgot that joke because it seemed so appropriate to describe this man. He is the epitomy of bigotry and it oozes out of all his pores when he talks. Obama can save this country and no matter what Pat Buchanan or the sick religious right says or does can avoid that. The Republicans have pulled out all stops to defeat this man because they know that if he is nominated, he will steamroll on to the presidency. Neither Hilary nor McCain can hold a candle to him.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:03 PM on 04/15/2008
- ron071 See Profile I'm a Fan of ron071

Richardini has it right about Buchanan'S " March to the sound of" the lock n load crowd. There's little reason to expect anything rational or fair from Buchanan. I've come to the conclusion that the main reason for change in the next administration is to avoid a repeat of the past 8 year disaster. Any who would vote for McSame simply aren't tuned in to their reality, or have some very strongly held Republican beliefs which are of benefit to them-individually as opposed to the vast majority of Americans. How on earth can one vote for the same people and expect a different result?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:10 PM on 04/15/2008
- DebofMD See Profile I'm a Fan of DebofMD

Absollutely agree.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:19 PM on 04/15/2008
- Madampotential See Profile I'm a Fan of Madampotential

Well pat Bchanan knows bigotry. Does he think McCain is also calling people bigots??

Rick Santorum on the Hugh Hewitt Show:

John McCain was the guy who was working with Ted Kennedy to drive it down our throats, and lectured us repeatedly about how xenophobic we were, lectured us, us being the Republican conference,...because having come from Arizona, knowing the strength of the Hispanic community, that we were going to be seen as racists,

Looks like McCain actually did call anti-immigrant republicans bigots!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:54 PM on 04/15/2008
- Vern58 See Profile I'm a Fan of Vern58

A typical Republican hack trying to win this primary for HRC, since Mc Same will have an easier time with her. Scarborough is hamming this up too. They seem no better than Lindbaugh at this. I am so sick of Republican meddling in our choices. Put them all on a boat in the middle of the Potomac for the duration.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:19 PM on 04/15/2008
- richdoll See Profile I'm a Fan of richdoll

i am so sick of pat buchanan he spews hate and bigotory he wants hillary to win so bad
he so afraid of a black pres he's having nightmares he's running to ans the phn at 3am
all aside i cannot tolerate hate msmbc needs to get their act together racheal called joe
yesterday she told like it was i jumping up and down because she told the truth. in the speech
obama "annie okley" called hillary out about nafta/ sneaky trade deals but they did not play that
because they don't want him to win PA.. but it's ok for her to go around whispering that he can't win
the only way to get true news is to surf sites like these all of them are BS... i like matthew he calls hilllary for who she even obama when he's wrong

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:14 PM on 04/15/2008
- DebofMD See Profile I'm a Fan of DebofMD

MSNBC wake up! Get rid of Pat! There are other individuals who can offer an alternative view point without offending millions of people. I swear, MCNBC acts like they are scared of this man. The fact that Dan Abrams--who is weak anyway--didn't have Pat apologize when he told Kellie Goff to shut up, says so much about that network. Obviously Dan didn't have enough integrity to do the right thing, but the producers should have made him come back the next day and apologize for that incident. And people wonder why black people have issues with this country. And let's not even get on the fact that no African Americans or other people of color have shows on this network! If I'm wrong, please let me know.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:13 PM on 04/15/2008
- Eyetheenk See Profile I'm a Fan of Eyetheenk

You are quite correct. I'm sure if they wanted to maintained balanced viewpoints in their discussions of the issues they wouldn't have this moron [Pat Buchanan] on all of the time. I've learned to simply turn off the show whenever he is participating. He has always been a racist and never pretends to be anything else. He never has a good word for anyone black---not even Black Republicans (if you noticed some of his previous comments about Condelessa Rice and Michael Steele being possible VP choices for McCain). That's why someone doused him with Salad dressing a few weeks ago when he was speaking in Michigan. And, I agree it is time for someone black to host a news show during prime time.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:49 PM on 04/15/2008
- nanfitzking See Profile I'm a Fan of nanfitzking

No wonder the republicans don't get it.. If I had this guy speaking for my party I would hang my head in shame. He represents the insensitivey to the middle americans, especially the people of color. Keep talking Pat you just confirm to me everyday why I am a proud democrat.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:57 AM on 04/15/2008
- halgood See Profile I'm a Fan of halgood

What we need is two America's.
One "Old America" with Pat Bucchanan, Rev Wright, Geraldine Ferrarro, Louis Farrakan, Dick Cheney, Pat Robertson, Al Sarpton, Hillary Clinton...........in it. With John McCain as President, and Jesse Jackson as VP. They will either kill each other off or simply time is on our side. Eventually Mother nature will take over and it will be good for the environment.

And a New America with Barrack Obama as President, Clair McCasskill VP, Chuck Hagel, Robert Erlich, Al Gore,John Edwards,Mike Huckabee, Bill Richardson, Jim Web..........That's ready to lead the Planet Earth right now.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:49 PM on 04/15/2008
- IslandGyal See Profile I'm a Fan of IslandGyal

Mike Huckabee, wants to change the constitution to ban gay marriage. I don't want him having any rule over me, and I am not gay. But, if it's OK to discriminate White gays, I know he will be likely to discriminate against racial minorities, probably not overtly, but possibly by neglect of our issues and concerns.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:18 PM on 04/15/2008
- RhondaT See Profile I'm a Fan of RhondaT

Why is Buchanan even paid as a commentator on MSNBC. He has a history of repeatedly writing and speaking homophobic, sexist, xenophobic, racist, and anti-Semitic comments. It confounds me to see him on the air and I vote with my remote and turn him off. He is a caricature of a conservative, can't MSNBC get anyone better?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:46 AM on 04/15/2008
- Daly See Profile I'm a Fan of Daly

you answered your own question; better question is why they have an audience?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:46 PM on 04/15/2008
- hoodsist See Profile I'm a Fan of hoodsist

Get rid of this Bigot.......he is a hater....the world is better place without him in it........Dan Abram's is just as bad....as a matter of fact....msnbc is just one notch below Fox........except MSNBC is just a little more sophisticated about their racism......all of this negative reporting is happening because white people is afraid that a black man may rise to the highest public servant positon in the land.....US President.....and Hilliary Clinton is the worse case drama queen I have ever seen in my life.......she is a crook with slick willy...........to all of Hiliary fans.....check out Peter F. Paul vs. William Jefferson Clinton....case pending in the Los Angelos Superior court.....scheduled on April 25th....2 days after PA primary...for Fraud.....Clinton had agreed to become a rainmaker ( same as moneymaker) for this Hollywood producter...however...something went awry....and he got mad and filed a lawsuit against the Clinton's....now why isn't this story front page new??.......

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:33 AM on 04/15/2008
- scorpioleidy See Profile I'm a Fan of scorpioleidy

Has anyone noticed that whenever Pat Buchanan's or Joe Scarborough's mouths are moving, they're saying something derogatory about Barack Obama???? I watch MSNBC almost exclusively, but whenever either of these talking heads (or the other one, Tucker Carlson) appears on my TV, I immediately press the 'Mute' button.
Why oh why does MSNBC keep these three republicans on their network??? They ALL belong on Fox!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:22 AM on 04/15/2008