Punished for the Truth

Here are the controversial comments Barack Obama uttered in San Francisco. "You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them...And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it's not surprising then they 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."

Inartful. That is the only fair criticism of this analysis. Let's ask the voters in Pennsylvania these questions. If the 'distracting' issues of guns, gay marriage and abortion were all resolved to their liking, would their economic lives change? How about immigration? If all illegal aliens were to disappear, would those rust belt jobs return? For so many years, such issues have been used to corral blue collar workers into a party and political philosophy that serves the elites in this country. When someone speaks the truth and acknowledges that this sector of our society has been royally deceived, that issues they rally around have little to do with their ultimate welfare, it is time to banish such a person from the campaign trail.

Heaven forbid we should suggest that bitterness might exist in this country of such optimism or that this emotion might be an appropriate and effective reaction to current circumstances. Hillary Clinton countered with this statement. "Well, that is not my experience," she said. "As I travel around Pennsylvania I meet people who are resilient, optimistic, positive...If we start acting like Americans," she said, "and role up our sleeves, we can make sure that America's best years are ahead of us." McCain's spokesman chimed in. "It shows an elitism and condescension towards hardworking Americans that is nothing short of breathtaking...It is hard to imagine someone running for president who is more out of touch with average Americans."

Are you kidding me? Pulling the curtain back on a very effective political trick, the old bait and switch, is far from elitist. Americans are working harder than ever. Two job families are the norm. Yet the poor and middle class are falling further behind. What is breathtakingly condescending is watching two candidates stroke this group with platitudes about their being tough and resilient. What exactly has that gotten them? Nada. The real stereotype Clinton and McCain are playing on is that blue collar workers are easily manipulated and will 'stay down' if you just tell them they are hardworking, patriotic, value-driven Americans.

It is time for these people to get mad. Illusion may make us feel better, but it simply serves to keep us tilting at the wrong windmills. It is time to embrace the truth and turn that anger, yes bitterness, on those who created such conditions. The alternative is to pat ourselves on the back for our optimism and 'can-do' attitudes while politicians in Washington laugh at such naivite and continue on their destructive course.

Comments

[photo6six]

Hillary's Mississippi comments

By Jonathan Martin, Politico

October 25, 2007


I've been a little surpised that more GOP presidential candidates haven't jumped on the comments Hillary made to David Yepsen the other day in discussing her candidacy in Iowa.

In case you missed it, the third graf is key:
"I was shocked when I learned Iowa and Mississippi have never elected a woman governor, senator or member of Congress. There has got to be something at work here," she said, theorizing it may be the risk-averse nature of a state built around agriculture.

"I think not only do I have to bring people to me, I have to maybe reassure people here maybe more than I do in New Hampshire, which has had a woman governor," she said.

"I think Iowa poses a special burden, or a special obstacle to me because when you look at the numbers, how can Iowa be ranked with Mississippi? That's not what I see. That's not the quality. That's not the communitarianism, that's not the openness I see in Iowa."

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/1007/Hillarys_Mississippi_comments.html

[WordManMI]

Barack IS an Elitist!!! Certainly a very bitter man, too! Just read his autobiography. He complains about nearly everything in "Dreams Of My Father". You folks need to realize that any REAL CHANGE or improvement in our nation is NOT going to originate in Washington, D.C., BUT in Middle America. That is where the real people who do the real work are. Their drive comes less from attending church or owning firearms as it does with a natural desire to give their children a better life than they had.

As for this argument about the Clintons and McCains being rich, I have to wonder how rich the Obamas will be when they reach the same age? They seem to be doing a heck of a lot better these days ever since Barack hit the national scene. His wife certainly got herself a big raise right after he won his U.S. Senate seat, jumping from $115,000 a year to more than $300,000 a year. Not a bad windfall! Makes me wonder about how many corporations she'll get boardroom seats on over the next decade or two? I'm sure Barack will see a big increase in his speaking fees down the road, too!

[cbatwins]

Valid point. However he is not an elitist right now. Now I know the the Clintons and McCains have enough money to buy a crystal ball, but nothing in Obamas past has pointed to an elitist philosphy.

[LAcarlito]

Ms Crier: You made the case PERFECTLY about how McLame and HRC have turned this whole "bitter" statement by Obama into a controversy that should reflect poorly on the two of them--if the MSM looks at what all three candidates are really saying. Their understanding of the middle class struggles by all three candidates are clear by the way they are responding to this "bitter" statement this weekend.

Now, let's hope the voters can respond with insight as clear as yours!

[globalcitizenlinda]

The media pundits are very riuch.

The McCains are very very rich.

The $ 109 Million Clitons are very very very rich.

It not therefore diffcult to see that they do not know any people who are bitter - please come to our states in the midwest that have lost jobs and their children in the Iraq war for a real interact with bitter people

[jrockbg]

There is a reason why his comments are getting so much press....THEY ARE ELITIST COMMENTS! If we're gonna be real let's do that. Had Hillary said the same thing you'd jump down her throat. Just because you're backing Obama doesn't make the comments not elitest.

That said Obama highlighted a weakness of his besides his inexperience: Connecting with small town voters in a general election. I know you'll say that this is a primay race still and that he won Iowa. But those are old laurels. Against a very moderate Republican Obama will need to step up his "small town" game.

[DLSteinhardt]

What's elitist about noticing that some people are really bitter?

And that when people are bitter, they dig there heels in too far about things that might otherwise be OK.

But with Sen. Obama condemning the bitter words of his own former pastor, he's clearly NOT speaking from above, but from within.

Or is it just too much fun to play with this scrap of meat until you've hurt the Democrats' chance to win in November some more?

[tea in the harbor]

81% of us think the country is headed the wrong way and the reaction of the Vice President is, and I quote,"So!" We are in an unending war, the economy is a shambles, we work longer hours for less pay every year, and you think nobody's bitter?' Do you think us sheep willingly going to slaughter? If you are not bitter you have either a very sheltered life or the passion of a houseplant!

[richardsgirl]

"Elitist" has now become another word to be tossed around without any regard to its meaning.

There is nothing "elitist" about someone acknowledging the economic struggles of "small town America," and the need for their problems to be addressed. It doesn't take a millionaire or a college graduate to recognize and empathize with the impact our economy has had on the real lives of real people in our country; in fact, it has been the elitists who have both orchestrated and ignored this problem for the last twenty years.

I don't believe that the reaction would have been the same if Hillary had made these comments, and I don't think it would have been perceived as damaging, because Senator Clinton is white, and people would have accepted such a comment from her as being able to identify with the people in rural Pennsylvania and their culture. But it would have been admirable of Senator Clinton to have responded to this controversey by acknowledging herself the problem of our struggling middle-class, rather than to simply use this controversey as political ammunition.

Senator Obama's "weakness," if one can call it that, is his honesty and his deep belief in the goodness of Americans, a "weakness" that is often challenged by the ignorance and political gaming that is inherent in our society and in our politics. But it is a "weakness" that has transformed time and again into his greatest strength, and this is why he will win in the general election.

[ddoston10]

The reason why no one would have made a big deal out of this story if Clinton had made this remarks has more to do with Obama. For better or worse, he refuses to hit her when she's down.

Can you imagine for a second if Michelle Obama had been paid 850K from a foreign corporation to help get a trade deal passed? Can you imagine if Obama's chief strategist had been paid 350K from the Columbia government to lobby for a trade deal?
Clinton would have been all over this. This would be a news story for a week.

Obama on the other hand says nothing with a story that should make Clinton unelectable. Well if Obama won't do it, the GOP will if she wins the nomination.

[abellofgrace]

Obama doesn't need your vote. Hillary have gotten away with so much during this primary that it's laughable. Fox news' Hannity spend the whole hour smashing Obama and one of her biggest supporters in Pa., Rendell, praises Fox news for being "fair and balanced". You know some people are not as stupid as HRC think they are. However, she's depending on, ( hate to say this, but I must), ignorant, racist people to help her get nominated. She actually disgust me and I cannot for the life of me listen to her or her husband anymore. She is a pathological liar and will say or do anything to win. The sad thing is, she is only doing this for HER. I remember her promising millions of job to upstate NY and gave us her a-- to kiss after she became senator.
Somebody, get her out of here, PLEASE!!!

[SouthFloridaDem]

Frankly, if Hillary had said the same thing, I'd have fallen over in a faint. It would have meant that she really got it. And, really, she does get it. It's what her "fight fight fight" call is all about. She knows how angry people are, and yes, bitter. She tells them every day that she's going to fight for them. But if what Obama said is wrong, then what on earth is she going to be fighting for?

[nypoet22]

bingo! they may have different ways of addressing the reality (he talks about it straightforwardly, she says she'll fight hard against it), but there's no denying that the bitterness is out there. still, i'm not so sure it's a good idea to be so honest about that touchy a subject when (unlike racism) he's not really part of the community that owns that sentiment.

[Dadam]

Ms. Crier also spoke at the National Conference of Law Reviews last month.. Her speech was AMAZING and she made an ass out of Alberto G, who spoke two nights previous. This lady should be Olbermann's co-host.

[WaelFromStPaul]

It make me sick to hear Hillary describing Barack as an ELITIST.

Are you kidding me??????????????

Barack is an ELITIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here we have the Clintons making 109 millions. Bill gets paid 800.000 Dollars by Colombia to promote a trade agreement. They get 20 FAT CATS to call Nanci Pelosi to threaten her. They are working day and night to convince the Superdelegates to reverse the will of the people.

After all that. They dare to call barack an ELITIST!!!! The guy who stared his career as a community organizer in the streets of Chicago.

I'm really getting sick.

BARACK

[jbgnyc]

Hillary grew up with working class parents, went to public schools until winning a scholarship to Wellesley. Barak had private school education from elementary through Harvard. Hillary grew up close to people who view hunting and church going as part of their being. Barak had parents who were college professors and far more traveled and sophisticated. Yes, he worked on Chicago's South Side (after years at Harvard).

Guess why she won Ohio and will win PA. Duh. People relate to her.

I come from a working class background (an immigrant family that sent ALL its daughters to college.) Sorry, Huff and Puffers, BARAK IS ELITIST.

I worked my tail off for John Kerry and still cringe at the wind-surfing. Obama's remarks are dumb, dumb, dumb, no matter how well-meaning.

I'm tired of losing elections to the Republicans because my candidates can't honestly "get it" when it comes to reaching out to Reagan Democrats and independents. Get Real, Huff Post. You are all talking to the same Pro-Obama base.

[rhettab]

Hillary grew up in a privileged suburb of Chicago - anyone who knows Chicago knows it it an upper middle class neighborhood. She never had to worry about money and is now making millions and millions of dollars. Both Bill and Hillary always loved hanging around the rich and famous. McCain has 7 homes! Obama came from working class people (literally) and also received scholarships for all his schooling. He ALSO worked after graduation from both Columbia and Harvard ON THE STREETS with those same people who are bitter, disenfranchsed, intolerant and suspicious of other groups, and yes, turned to god as is their societal custom. He's far from an elitist. Clinton and McCain are jokes when they try and be "regular" folk. Hillary lies about NAFTA and she lies about her "experience". She has dispicable people on her staff and it's in disarray. No one can predict with wild Bill will say - maybe he's losing it a bit. What in God's name will the White House be like when she has no control over her campaign staff AND her spouse. She's not very good at keeping tabs on the campaign's financial woes and yes.............she will do ANYTHING to win. No change. Just look at how many former Clinton people are working for Obama - what does that tell you? We can't afford a dynasty.......Bush/Clinton/Bush/Clinton/on and on and on........God help our democracy.

[Zeje]

So why does Hillary consistly vote and promote policies that HURT working class Americans? NAFTA is only one.

[kaisgranny]

Bravo Catherine...well said. But then you always cater to those THINKING people!! Glad I found your blog!!

[nomobull]

i think you need to recheck some things

[newpantaloons]

No, ummm no, I think she got it about right. But don't worry, we all know the truth hurts sometimes.

[KarenZipdrive]

What Obama said was no big deal. It was poorly worded, but the observation was accurate.
Though I am a Hillary supporter, her camp pouncing on his statement and calling it "elitist" sounds more like something the neo-cons would say.
I believe both Obama and Hillary have pulled some shitty moves on each other, but the good news is, their ability to fight dirty will serve the winner well against the McCain shitstorm that will soon befall our candidate.
Still, I doubt Hillary's reaction to what Obama said will rise to the level of her being awarded the "Dick of the Week" prize given by The Daily Show. So far, Obama alone has won that distinction.

[keriheb]

Your observation is quite astute. It could be though, that between the two of them, he is the only person who has one. Hence the award!

[richardsgirl]

Thank you for your comment. You've given me hope that we can actually disagree on the fundamental issue, but still be rational about the truth, even when it hurts or helps our preferred candidate. I support Senator Obama, but I will still vote for Senator Clinton if she is the nominee; and I hope that there are other rational people out there will do the same, no matter who wins the nomination.

Our goal, as Democrats, must be the general election; and if we can't even get beyond the primary without cutting each other's throats, then we've already lost. Disagreeing and debate are healthy; but losing our grip on reality in the process is self-defeating, especially in an election that is so vital to the Democratic Party and to our country.

[rinpochet]

Obama won the "Dick of the Week" award for giving out free concert tickets at the time of a Bill Clinton speech. And you really think that's dirty? Jon Stewart has been openly a Hillary cheerleader for a long time. Nothing she has done or will do will be seen as anything but wonderful in his eyes.

Maybe you could vote for Obama. Sadly to say I couldn't hold anything long enough to vote for Hillary. She has shown herself to be a pathological liar, consistently.

BTW, I actually once supported Hillary. I find it so difficult to believe now that I was ever so gullible.

[larosademaria]

To call Obama an elitist is like saying that the people of Pennsylvania are incapable of reason. Actually, by Hillary saying that Obama is an elitist she is basically saying that Obama is intelligent and that the people of Pennsylvania are not. In essence Obama has shown them alot of respect. He understands their pain and the root of their pain. Sometimes it's hard to face the truth.He makes people really think and reflect about their predicament . He's attempting to take people a little deeper, and Hillary wants people to maintain a shallow understanding of the issues. She wants to take this comment into another level and distract people from the s#ithole they are already in. Who is really for the people? Who really wants the best for people?I think we know the answer.

[maggieb]

If I recall correct Obama has "clung" to his religion. Is he being bitter or disingenious? Why is it whenever Obama does/says something stupid, he is given a pass. Lordy, lordy Saint Obama is human he CAN be wrong!! Just wondering, has he ever done/said anything wrong during this campaign?

[Jjc2006]

No, the senator walks on water, and apparently never ever has said a thing wrong. It's all Hillary's fault anyone. Can you not feel the righteous indignation? Can you not sense the sanctity?
You can come to Huff and on any day find at least five or six bloggers (let's not call them elitist...I am sure they are as down to earth as us regular can expect from tv stars, rich people but they are smarter than us you know because they are on television) calling Senator Clinton a liar, or mocking her looks, her age or her "flabby arms and fat ankles." Has Ms Crier called out those people.
But oh, someone dare challenge the sainted one, the holier than thou one's words and egads she and we are evil.
Sigh.

[tea in the harbor]

Did somebody say "bitter?"

[nomobull]

projecting and repeating doesn't equal truth.

[timothe]

I'm sorry Catherine, but to say that illegal immigration has no bearing on the financial situation of working class families in Pennsylvania or any other state is ludicrous. The entire reason why we have 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants is because there are jobs for these people.

Jobs that would go to Americans if the borders were secure.
Jobs that would pay more if we cracked down on employers who hire illegal aliens.
Jobs that would raise not only the wages of non-skilled labor, but would also raise the wages of skilled labor as the job market would swing back in favor of the job seeker.

It astounds me how Democrats can say on the one hand that they want the little guy to get better wages and healthcare yet on the other hand, support an open borders policy which floods our great nation with unskilled and uneducated workers and families who drain on every part of our economic system.

Please. Someone tell me one time that the illegals actually add to the economy. I dare you to be so silly.

[springsm]

I am sorry Timothe....C Crier is exactly right. In my state...these immigrants illegal or not...had jobs that haven't been filled. Stats say that those folks getting much of the treatment in emergency rooms are those with money and insurance and the inability to wait for the slightest attention to a work day...when they could go to their doctor's office. I agree that illegal immigration is out of control..but the constant rant and persistance to spread more than the truth gets alittle tiresome. NOW..they do get jobs building houses and the hod carrying...hum.. Whatever..if one doesn't like someone, nobody will change his/her mind, right. I can't stand the illegal part, but the arguments lack maturity. And yes, I am ambivilent. Dang.

[RudyV]

Must be nice to live in your fantasyland, springsm. What color is the sky there?

Please excuse me, though, for having to point out the obvious, but illegals take crappy, dangerous, sub-minimum jobs because employers are not being punished adequately enough for downgrading perfectly decent jobs to that level. If they were forced to follow the letter of the law and make sure their jobs were safe, decent, and over the minimum wage, you would find plenty of legal Americans who would take them.

So the reason hard-working Americans keep hearing a sucking sound is because there are so many illegals below them digging the basement ever deeper, sending safety, pay, benefits, and leisure time collapsing into the morass.

By the way, how many jobs did you have to work today?

[SifSkade]

What sort of person is nothing but "positive, optimistic, resilient" when their job and their children have been sent overseas? Who are these folk Hillary Clinton's met who are perfectly content with their plights? I'd be bitter as hell if I were in the situation that some of these Pennsylvanians are in; I'd be pissed off, resentful, and ready for an end to the bullshit. Obama's primary crime was failure to use euphemisms to describe people who are legitimately angry. That doesn't mean he doesn't understand them.

[Rose52]

And just what does Hillary mean when she says, "if we act like Americans and roll up our sleeves,"
Is she implying that we haven't worked hard enough? Condescending is the word that comes to mind. I believe that Obama does understand the situation. I guess if you're too honest in this campaign you get jumped on. This is nuts!!
Obama 08

[Give Peace A Chance]

So my voting choices are::

1. Either of two candidates that voted for and were major supporters of the greatest military blunder in US history.

2. The candidate that was opposed the great military blinder in US history and who said small towns are bitter about corrupt politicians that sent their jobs overseas for Wall Street fat cats.

Wow, such a difficult choice.

The MSM outrage is pure BS.

[richardsgirl]

HuffPost's Pick

Finally, something that makes sense! The idealism that is wrapped around the word "patriotism" has overshadowed the very meaning of the word itself. "Patriotism" has become so over-used and so under-valued, that it is now no more than a political tool to make us feel better about our government's failures. And so, Senator Obama is "an elitist who hates America" because he points out a reality that our government, the true elitists, has ignored for the past two decades; and both Senator Clinton and Senator McCain use this, not as an opportunity to affirm the reality of the hardships that this community and our country is enduring, but as an opportunity to perpetuate the delusion for political gain. So they throw out words like, "patriotism" and "rolling up one's sleeves" and "hard-working Americans" and in so doing, tell us that there really isn't a problem, and that we too can continue to ignore it, just as they have. We are not prepared for the honesty and integrity of character that Senator Obama brought to this political landscape, but that doesn't mean that we should not embrace it.

[SifSkade]

AMEN!

[newpantaloons]

Very well put and should definately be a "Pick". Thanks.

[meanguy]

i'm still waiting for any sign of honesty and/or integrity from sen obama-what i have seen is: flip flopping on everything from iraq to gun control to nafta to keeping campaign finance pledges to the patriot act...coupled with a propensity for whining and conducting a campaign of innuendo and race-baiting...embracing crooks, hateful anti american bigots, and the occasional admitted terrorist bomber...and now, in frustration over not being able to get the middle class to fall into lock-step like the mesmerized far-left, denigrating them as nothing more than gun toting ,bible thumping,xenophobic bigots...it's just amazing that people fall for his line of bull