Who's Really Out of Touch Here?

John McCain and Hillary Clinton are stunned and flabbergasted that Barack Obama would imply that Pennsylvanians are bitter over, say, thirty years of economic decline in their local communities. McCain and Clinton are deeply baffled and hurt by the following words Senator Obama spoke at a recent fundraiser:

I think it's fair to say that the places where we are going to have to do the most work are the places where people feel most cynical about government.... Because everybody just ascribes it to 'white working-class don't wanna work -- don't wanna vote for the black guy.' That's...there were intimations of that in an article in the Sunday New York Times today - kind of implies that it's sort of a race thing.

Here's how it is: in a lot of these communities in big industrial states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, people have been beaten down so long, and they feel so betrayed by government, and when they hear a pitch that is premised on not being cynical about government, then a part of them just doesn't buy it. And when it's delivered by -- it's true that when it's delivered by a 46-year-old black man named Barack Obama (laugher), then that adds another layer of skepticism (laughter)....

But the truth is ... our challenge is to get people persuaded that we can make progress when there's not evidence of that in their daily lives. You go into some of 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. So it's not surprising then that 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.

....[Y]ou can go in the toughest neighborhoods, you know working-class lunch-pail folks, you'll find Obama enthusiasts. And you can go into places where you think I'd be very strong and people will just be skeptical. The important thing is that you show up and you're doing what you're doing.

According to the Senator's critics, these statements are a sign that he is "elitist" and "out of touch." Senator Obama notes that he might have said things better. Maybe so. I leave it to others to determine the political consequences of this current dispute. However unpalatable some may find the Senator's comments, I do know one thing: What he said has considerable validity. My only quibble with his original remarks was that he made them in California. These should be presented straight-up to engage and challenge Pennsylvania voters.

I would love to see Obama get up and challenge people, to say:

Yes, many of you are getting screwed by economic changes over the past generation. We all know that. Many of you are bitter, and have good reason to be. Many of you have understandably lost faith in Washington.

I can't promise that I can reverse everything about the economy that has hammered this region. It goes a lot deeper than the fine print in some trade deal or who said what to some lobbyist--though these things do matter and I'll change some of that if I am elected President. We all know that, too. I have some ideas I believe will help you: to reduce your taxes, to prevent mortgage foreclosures, to make sure that you have the health care you need, to help your kid pay for college.

I promise to campaign hard across this state, to bowl badly, hunt with lower casualties than Dick Chaney, mispronounce the name of every Polish sausage. I owe you that sweat investment, to show that I will work for your vote and learn about your problems. But you have a choice to make. You can support a realistic progressive Democratic platform, or you can listen to a bunch of people who want you to write me off as an elitist based on a bunch of BS cultural issues that don't have much to do with what I will do as President, and which won't improve your lives or your families' lives.

Robert Kennedy said rather similar things four decades ago when he challenged many rural Indiana voters. As I recall, RFK did pretty well when the votes were counted.

The faux outrage expressed by Senators McCain and Clinton calls to mind the emotional torment suffered 16 years ago by then-Senator, now McCain backer, Al D'Amato. Ordinarily known for his salty demeaner, D'Amato pretended to cry when his hapless opponent Robert Abrams made a clumsy remark that could be construed as anti-Italian.

Here is what Barack Obama's actually said in response to recent criticisms. :

I was in San Francisco talking to a group at a fundraiser and somebody asked how're you going to get votes in Pennsylvania? What's going on there? We hear that's its hard for some working class people to get behind you're campaign. I said, "Well look, they're frustrated and for good reason. Because for the last 25 years they've seen jobs shipped overseas. They've seen their economies collapse. They have lost their jobs. They have lost their pensions. They have lost their healthcare.

And for 25, 30 years Democrats and Republicans have come before them and said we're going to make your community better. We're going to make it right and nothing ever happens. And of course they're bitter. Of course they're frustrated. You would be too. In fact many of you are. Because the same thing has happened here in Indiana. The same thing happened across the border in Decatur. The same thing has happened all across the country. Nobody is looking out for you. Nobody is thinking about you. And so people end up- they don't vote on economic issues because they don't expect anybody's going to help them. So people end up, you know, voting on issues like guns, and are they going to have the right to bear arms. They vote on issues like gay marriage. And they take refuge in their faith and their community and their families and things they can count on. But they don't believe they can count on Washington. So I made this statement-- so, here's what rich. Senator Clinton says 'No, I don't think that people are bitter in Pennsylvania. You know, I think Barack's being condescending.' John McCain says, 'Oh, how could he say that? How could he say people are bitter? You know, he's obviously out of touch with people.'

Out of touch? Out of touch? I mean, John McCain--it took him three tries to finally figure out that the home foreclosure crisis was a problem and to come up with a plan for it, and he's saying I'm out of touch? Senator Clinton voted for a credit card-sponsored bankruptcy bill that made it harder for people to get out of debt after taking money from the financial services companies, and she says I'm out of touch? No, I'm in touch. I know exactly what's going on. I know what's going on in Pennsylvania. I know what's going on in Indiana. I know what's going on in Illinois. People are fed-up. They're angry and they're frustrated and they're bitter. And they want to see a change in Washington and that's why I'm running for President of the United States of America.

Unlike (Hillary) Clinton and John McCain, Barack Obama is a man who came out of nowhere, from very modest means, to challenge for our nation's highest office. He is not a centimillionaire like his two principal opponents. He's experienced many of the problems rural Pennsylvanians are up against. Hard-pressed voters may not agree with everything Obama says. I think many will respect the long road he has taken and his candor in addressing a few elephants in the room operating in the current primary.

Readers can decide who the real "out of touch" politicians are here.

Comments

[95flhtcu]

Who's out of touch indeed. "Barack Obama is a man who came out of nowhere, from very modest means, to challenge for our nation's highest office".

Most of the people that I know of "very modest means" didnt' get sent to the best prep school in Hawaii,Then to a private college in California then to Colombia then to Harvard. I'm really getting tired of this false impression that barack actually lived This single parent, struggled to survive life. He didn't. It was noble, that he didn't go to wall street or straight to washigton with his newly minted harvard law degree. He certainly could have. Of course, if you intend to go into politics, you do exaclty what he did.

I'm really tired of all this bitching and moaning about how much money the clintons made. believe me, by the time Barack is Bill Clintons age, he will have passed the 100 million mark. What is wrong with writing books and getting paid to speak?

BTW, Can someone point me to a resouce that shows Barack's calendar while he was in the Illinois legislature? everone was so concerned with Hillary's calander, but no one seems to be concerned with the missing Barack calendar.

[mamak]

You believe what you want to believe...you see what you want to see. But I'm sure your view definitely do not represent a majority....for that I'm relieved.

[jfor]

Your right of course this election is about prep schools, madrassa schools, ivy league schools and calenders it actually has nothing to do with two out of the three candidates continue to support the war and one of them doesn't.

See above.

[JAJ2007]

Ever hear of student loans, scholarships? Obama and his wife Michelle recently finished paying off their student loans.

[jbd]

Clintons daughter is making a six figure salary working on wall street shipping our jobs to China. McCain is trumpeting the reward of the new Air Force Tanker contract to AirBus. Hershey is shipping 250 jobs to Mexico. I am bitter and disgusted with the way things are.

[indie17]

Yes, if you pass the knowledge and intelligence tests, and show your hard work and aptitude, schools want you to come, and loans and grants are available. Actually, these days, it's much harder to get the grants, but Barack's policy changes will improve the education fiasco (more Pell grants, government subsidies for college, etc.)

Obama did live the 'single parent, struggled to survive' life as a child, and it's your impression that is false.

The issue with the Clinton's money is mostly about how they made it. Bill's CAFTA deals, his Khazhakstan role, his relationship with Burkle, and now his anti-Tibet relationship result in money for him, even though Hillary opposes what Bill makes money from. Can you say conflict of interest? Bill is going to be first lady, remember?

Hillary's calendar was of special import due to her '35 years of experience' argument. Sorry if that upsets you -- most of us think believe in transparency.

[granamica]

What frustrates me is that all politicians need the dumb vote whether it's rednecks for the repubs or blue collar workers for the dems. These are electorates that listen to sound bites and take offense that there are people who finished college. America, invest in your educational system. The rest of the world will be so grateful.

[sparkandy]

Well, maybe people without college educations shouldn't be allowed to vote. I'D get to vote, because I have a degree. My daughter has three. Maybe she could vote three times. In fact, we should just take away the rights of blue collar workers and rednecks altogether. Of course, they might stage a rebellion. Then who would stock your groceries and check them out for you? Who would cut your hair or wash your dog? Who would drive long hours to deliver the consumer goods all us college educated people are entitled to? Who'd fix that Happy Meal for your little darlings? These people are the heart and soul of this country and without them we'd lose everything. ANYONE who does an honest day's work is worthy of respect, regardless of education, regardless of political opinion, regardless of positions on abortion, gun control, religion.

[jfor]

Sparky if you actually went to college then you would know that those jobs would be held by english majors and psychology majors.
jeesh.

[AngryAfricanOnTheLoose]

I know. Many of you will tell me, as you have, that this election has nothing to do with us foreigners. That it is all about America. The American choice. The American future. And you are (mostly) right. This is your choice. This is about the American future. This is about America. But it does have something to do with us Johnny Foreigners. We do have a stake in this. Why? Because most level-headed people in this world still look to America for direction. We still look up to America. We look for guidance. We look to America for leadership in this crazy little sphere of ours. Question is, can America still provide it? And who offers that hope? http://angryafrican.net/2008/04/12/note-to-america-the-world-is-watching/

[b2008]

And that's a shame that we have to show our DIRTY MEDIA garbage to the world like this. Pray tell what they must think of us. And we're supposed to be leaders. I wouldn't want any of these MEDIA SH*THEADS LEADING ME that's for sure. Please forgive us for being so ignorant during this election process. We, the people, ARE BETTER THAN THIS!

[tikiri]

It truly is time that honesty was welcome on the political platform. thank you obama for you candor and commitment to do your prt in bringing about much needed change - yes, to the millions of bitter folks. ok bitter is an unplatable word is it? sunstitute it with your own choice. but, be honest. like obama is.

[BuckeyeMike]

Bill was going around 16 years ago with his "I feel your pain" speeches and now 16 years later much of that pain has turned into the bitterness Senator Obama has seen. Anyways, I looked up this YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ta_SFvgbrlY) of Bill from the '92 campaign. Funny how so little has changed, no wonder people are bitter. Now, Hillary seems to be implying that it's not real by handing out "I'm not bitter" stickers. What's next flip-flops? I think it also plays back to the Rev. Wright thing where they were basically denying the legitimacy of black anger as well.

[unsolved999]

Damn! Whatever happened to that guy? It's sad what $109 million will do to someone...

[unscum]

Why is Obama always in a three piece suite? Let's have some more images on the PA airwaves as a community organizer in Chicago. Hillary Clinton is a pathologic lier and a very wealthy political opportunist. Colombia, Mark Penn, Sniper fire in Tusla, NAFTA are just few examples. The Obama team can turn these comments around to work in his favor, just like his race speech after the Wright youtube clips.

[HAP]

These are good points.

[b2008]

You're so right. I just hate to think that some people believe the crap being said without checking it for themselves. The Clintons will say anthing, that's for sure, but when you have the MEDIA feeding the fire with more fuel, it only gets bigger and bigger for no reason at all.

[RobertAndropolis]

The senator from Illinois never wears three-piece suits (it's "suits", not "suites"; "suites" is a rich name for hotel room or office). He wears simple two-piece black suits, with or without a tie. Your assertion that Senator Obama's group will turn this around are correct. As usual, the senator has opened up a dialog that is a hot-potato political subject his opponents fear, and he will guide the discourse forward with another exceptional, self-written speech (opposed to Senator Clinton's phoney sounding, opportunistic speeches).

[TXfemmom]

Obama is out of touch. His comments dismissed the deprivations of the largely white, blue collar workers of Pennsylvania, and the country for that matter, as being sadly their fault, and snidely said that their response to their problems was to either turn to their church or their guns. THAT IS RACIST and smug, and elitist and displayed how Obama really feels. He is not the populist visionary who is going to unite white and black, rich and poor, and make this country great. He dismisses the very real problems of these people, with a dismissive rap.

Then, in one video I saw in which he was reading from his book, he spoke so wistfully of a father whom he clearly depicted as a visionary to be admired, when the man abandoned he and Barack's mother and never looked back. I don't think that is the sort of father anyone should idolize, whatever their color or ethnic background.

[HAP]

I read his comments differently. It is not people's attachment to God or to their guns that is at issue. It is the elevation of these issues into deciding issues in a presidential contest that reflects people's dispair that Washington can address their problems. Where did you get the insinuation that economic decline "as being sadly their fault?" That runs counter to everything Obama has said this entire campaign.

On the father front--re-read Obama's book. He is only too aware that his childhood idolization was not matched by the human reality he eventually confronts when he finds out more about his father's life.

[moda31]

you took the words right out of my mouth.

[DietrichMoody]

What is this, the game "Telephone" that by the time a phrase gets to you, you completely forget what was ORIGINALLY SAID. Obama said, "Many of you are bitter, and have good reason to be"
people are frustrated and for good reason" I don't see this as saying its sadly their fault.

[MACinCHI]

Hazelton, PA passes a law that bans landlords from renting to illegal immigrants and bans employers from hiring them. Was there that much of a influx of illegals to this town? More likely it was the knee jerk reaction of the community that didn't like the Latinos from New York settling in their town even though they brought a revitalization to a dying town.

Obama isn't the one who is out of touch. He's just the one that is pointing out the ugly reality of this country. And people like yourself can't accept it.

[Daly]

excellent point!

[RogerHWerner]

Your dreaming....

[b2008]

Better being a dreamer than not!

[jstock]

He was blaming Washington for all the bogus trade deals, etc. But you obviously don't WANT to give him the benefit of the doubt. This is your right, but do NOT "paraphrase" what he said. That's called slander. If you are a Democrat, please be a rational and intelligent one. BTW, why do so many critics keep inferring anything about race? People of ALL colors and ethnicities have been adversely effected by NAFTA and Permanent Trade Status with China (both, courtesy of Billary). Any outrage expressed by McInsane's and Hillary's campaigns is pure theater. And they are both bad actors.

[dtd]

"Unlike (Hillary) Clinton and John McCain, Barack Obama is a man who came out of nowhere, from very modest means, to challenge for our nation's highest office. He is not a centimillionaire like his two principal opponents. He's experienced many of the problems rural Pennsylvanians are up against. Hard-pressed voters may not agree with everything Obama says. I think many will respect the long road he has taken and his candor in addressing a few elephants in the room operating in the current primary."

For the life of me, I can not figure out why his campaign has not focused more on his modest upbringing rather than have folks believe his bio started in Indonesia then Harvard.

[vernonbc]

I agree dtd. I'd like to see the campaign focus on it more too. Michelle is an extremely effective speaker and she goes into Barack's background in much more detail and it goes over very very well with audiences. Oh well, I guess there are only so many hours in a day and so many speeches he can give and he has to get his focal point of change out there too.

[mrqcguy]

Is anyone asking the question why Hillary is so desperate that she is having her trolls follow Obama to PRIVATE fundraisers? This woman is disgusting.

[HAP]

That's life in the big city.

[timinhi]

What I like is how people like this post's author are totally rewriting Obama's personal history and completely getting away with it. Where does he get off saying that Obama came from "very modest means?" We in Hawaii, where Obama was born and grew up, know the truth. Obama's parents were both PhDs. While his mom for much of the time was a single mother (married/divorced twice), she was financially an average middle class woman, raising her two children with the help of her middle/upper middle class parents. Obama's grandmother, with whom he lived, was a very well-paid corporate bank vicepresident. He attended the most exclusive and prestigeous private prep school in Hawaii, albeit supposedly "on scholarship." According to teachers at Punahou School who were there and knew him, he was a "'B' student." He was accepted and spent 2 years at a small exclusive private college in L.A. (Occidental) before transferring to Ivy League Columbia University and subsequently graduating from Harvard Law School (The best, most exclusive--again private--Law School in the WORLD). Sure, he's an intelligent guy (although one wonders how a "'B' student" gets into the Ivy League) and a good politician, but it's not necessary to make his origins more humble than they actually were. Hillary's upbringing was similarly middle class--Are Obama's supporters trying to "out-humble" her? Is it because he's African American? Should we expect to soon read that he was a poor sharecropper's son?

[HAP]

I stand by my account. An African-American kid living in Indonesia with a single mom is not on the usual route to the American presidency.

[HAP]

You write "Sure, he's an intelligent guy (although one wonders how a "'B' student" gets into the Ivy League..." Watch the guy or read his memoir, and it's no mystery. Several of his Harvard professors report that he was one of the most outstanding intellects they had taught.

[mlaiuppa]

Dad left Mom to go get PhD, they divorced and he never paid a cent of child support.

Mom didn't get PhD until later.

Obama lived with Gramma and Grampa. You saying *they* had PhDs? You saying PhDs automatically make good money?

Obama worked for everything he has. He studied hard in school and he worked hard when he got out. The only reason he and his wife are out of debt is he wrote two best selling books. Without those they'd still be paying off student loans and would not own a home.

[b2008]

Then how in the world did a "C" student become president? You shouldn't even go there. And to bring up Hillary's upbringing is a definite "no no". I know you don't want to go there.

Why are you so anxious to vote for a KNOWN AND VERIFIED LIAR that has a husband with a ravenous appetite for young women and swears HE NEVER HAD SEX WITH THOSE WOMEN, who was known to be into drugs quite heavily but swore HE DIDN'T INHALE?

Are you a sadist or what?

[b2008]

She is showing us how politics is played in Washington the OLD WAY. That is why Obama wants to change the way we do politics to a new way where we are not bashing one another, lying on one another, cheating on one another, and skewing the picture to look like what IT IS NOT.

That's the only way she knows how to play. And if you've noticed, since Carl Rove came into her picture, she has changed her personality once again! Now at least, she's not acting like a raving maniac like she was before.

[Lazyeye]

"It is better to light a torch than to curse the darkness" old chinese saying. Means it is better to do something about your current situation, than to sit back and curse it. Which means, we need to get behind and stay behind Barack Obama, and change things in our country. We can at least go against the republican machine which is reving up against Obama, right about now.

[HAP]

Now is that really Chinese? If Spaghetti is, I guess many other things are, too. I agree with you.

[bluevillage]

Obama was reflecting facts written up in the NYT last weekend about what kinds of obstacles he might face in Pennsylvania, and his comments were made in response to a question from organizers working for him in PA. His comments also reflect the phenomenon that people who aren't doing well economically vote against their own economic interests (to support cultural issues instead) -- the subject of the book that came out and was widely read during Kerry's run for president in 2004: WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH KANSAS?

[vernonbc]

Obama's problem is that he speaks adult grown up language and assumes that his listeners are intelligent enough to understand his trains of thought without him having to get out the crayolas and draw them a picture. Fortunately, to date, more millions of people and voters and delegates are in fact intelligent enough to understand what he's saying. It's scary to read some of the posts from people who have such trouble figuring out nuanced thinking and speaking but I guess that's why Hillary's still hanging on in this contest if only by the slenderest of threads.

[indie17]

"Gallup has more fascinating data on the "education gap" between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. As I inferred yesterday, this is something that carries on quite profoundly to the general election. Hillary performs fully 11 points better against McCain than Obama does among voters with a high school education or less. But Obama performs 6 points better than Hillary among adults with some college, 10 points better among college graduates, and 13 points better among those with postgraduate educations."

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008_03_30_archive.html

[b2008]

..hehehehehehe...I totally agree :) -- well, they say there's always somebody who'll like anybody! Thanks for your well explained thoughts!

[gmcc]

Isn't anyone else tired or the media trying to tell us what Barack really meant.

MSM Talking Head: "I know what Senator Obama said, but what he really meant was..."

I have seen this about one dozen times now. Is Obama going to have a traveling press core to translate his speech for him wherever he goes. If this guy opens his mouth and says the wrong thing to the wrong person, someones going to launch a nuclear missile at us...

And he has openly said he is going to talk to our enemies, "Obviously, if I worded things in a way that made people offended, I deeply regret that." is going to become the new US foreign policy slogan...

heads up america.

[HAP]

I think the Senator speaks pretty well for himself. Most of my post are quotes from him.

[23000Days]

You've almost got it. "Obviously if the previous administration said and did things in a way that made people offended, I deeply regret that."

It must be stressfull to know that people are no longer listening to the MSM, or repugnant spin-meisters like yourself.

Your comments are like doggy poo on one's shoe: Unwelcome, stinky and easy to scrape off......

[HAP]

BTW--Our current president seems to never regret offending people. Not clear we get better results.

[SeriousBlack]

"talk to our enemies"

Proves you don't have a clue about what sensible and effective foreign policy involves.

[nomobull]

and not talking has gotten us what exactly

[jbd]

Unless a country has a leader with a Hitler complex who is willing to destroy his own people, no one is launching a nuclear missle at the USA. You can take the fear BS and cram it. Our biggest threat is China making everything we buy and owning our debt so our Army can exhaust itself in Iraq.

[b2008]

And look whose sleeping with the Chinese in business -- BILL CLINTON! What does that tell you?

[longhairrepublicansurfer]

So you won't mind when John McCain pulls out the "inner city folks are ill-educated, race-obsessed drug addicts who fail to raise their children in a culture of self-respect and respect for others. These rather stupid, poorly speaking inner-city folks are frustrated by their drug dependency, their out of wedlock births, their high drop-out and high crime rates; their ebonic idiot minstrelsy and dead-end grievance theater that has no chance of succeeding in today's America. They hate whitey, are too caught up in past wrongs and vote in an uninformed, unthinking monolithic block of over 90% - numbers not even dictators can draw." If Obama wants to call out middle-America then lets all out Middle and East 23rd. You'll be hard pressed to fine a denser collection of dense people than in America's inner-cities.

[23000Days]

Yup, that would be great indeed!

[HAP]

This gratuitously offensive posting saddens me. I would ask that you not leave another such posting in response to my writing again.

[keriheb]

With all of the anti-terrorism laws that are being passed, maybe we could add just one more that disallows anyone who has an IQ of less than 74 from owning a computer or from posting on the WWW.

Then maybe even marginal discourse could take place without being terrorized by the likes of surfer. He is like a man who shows up to a formal ball with clothing he has been wearing for the past year, after having relieved himself and barfed all over himself without ever changing his clothing or taking a bath. This man then walks over to the main dining table and sneezes and slobbers all over the food because he has the flu. Everyone wants to just go home.

Such is the feeling when you attempt to read a post by surfer. The question becomes what has he read and what is he talking about.

[longhairrepublicansurfer]

Of course it's offensive. That's the point - to turn the idiot-redneck yokel meme on its head. It's a gross generalization qua Jeremiah Wright's racist nonsense, Michelle Obama's repeated insistence that America is a mean place not to take pride in, and Mr. Obama's easy, inaccurate stereotyping of entire groups of people, something he's gotten away with repeatedly with his "typical white person" comments. Anyone who actually reads my profile and the posts therein can tell I'm no racist, which is always an implication from the left if you choose to sometimes speak with a hammer. Also, you'll probably discover more interesting ideas and a more engaging writing style than what our above other provides. What frustrates me about Obama, who I was initially voting for, was that he was supposed to transcend race, to get beyond the division, to frankly make the Sharptons and Jesse Jackson's of the world go away and retire and bring to the fore a black man of sincerity. Obama is no longer that transcendent figure, but increasingly an acolyte of the Wright's and Farrakhan’s - a latent resentment of much that is America - something his wife has seemingly bought into whole hog. Obama is less transcendent than he is increasingly transparent. That these many disingenuous missteps have drawn, not condemnation but ever-rising admiration from his supporters points to an earlier point - many of his supporters are not thinking - they're feeling.

[maggieb]

Amen, surfer, amen.

[Trixie101]

I will pray for you and for everyone who agreed with your comment. God bless you.

[runswithscissors]

Judging by your response, I'm amazed you were even able to read the original post.

[unscum]

Another example of how the press hammers away at Obama because it's good for their rating but gives a pass for Clinton and McCain. Did Clinton or McCain ever work as a community organizer in slums of Chicago? Did they ever have to sacrifice to work with the poor. No, Clinton is worth 109 million dollars and they still wont release their 2007 tax returns and McCain is heir to a Beer empire, nice! Clinton is destroying the democratic changes of winning the presidency. Her lack of electability and abject hatred by the GOP means a nomination for her means sure defeat in November. She knows this. Rather than concede this fact, what does she do, she tries to bring down Obama by going negative. If I don't get the nomination, no one does kind of mentality. The problem with Obama is he's just not fighting back. Anyways, the way it looks is McCain will probably win in Nov which just goes to show that Americans are truely big supports of the Iraq war.

[HAP]

I am hoping that things will turn out better than you fear. Once the Dems lock things up, people will start to scrutinize McCain's record and discover its many flaws.

[POdVet]

Maybe you should look beyond the press release. If you did you would know that Senator Obama's self agrandized community organizer roll was a job where he did paid legal work for "non-profits" run by Antoin Rezko. He has never done any actual volunteer work, or even a single pro bono legal case. While Senator Clinton on the other hand has been doing volunteer work since she was in her teens. In fact it can fairly be stated that the closest Barack or his wife have come to volunteer work is being paid over $100k to make $100Million in profits for a "non-profit" hospital by over charging uninsured patients by 350% Those are facts but I know you wont look it up, in fact odds are this post will never be allowed to see the light of day as pretty much all posts pointing out the truth of Obama's record are never passed by the moderators here anymore. HuffPo has become more of a rag than Fox news...con­gratulatio­ns!

[HAP]

This is an extremely unfair posting. I agree that Hillary Clinton has certainly supported good causes over many years.

[cynubie]

What you are seeing is the necessary shift from supposedly partisan contestants to Beltway backers closing ranks. John (I love rich people, will get caught being corrupt) McCain and Hillary (I'm the chosen one) Clinton fully realize that if a contestant starts spewing the truth, they may have to pull all the guile out of their speeches as well--and how would that look. Having to explain a shift toward tax breaks for rich folks or the sudden shift away from free trade agreements gets down right impossible if one can not hint and wink an answer. There are very frustrated people in this country--and most of them own guns--and they will hold onto them with the same resolve that Chuck held onto his. These are the same people who will band together and either out right help or at least turn the other way when the fringe few start robbing banks and sticking it to "the man". Yes, this country is at a cross roads, and only one candidate is willing to address the reality of the situation by speaking the truth--it must be very lonely being the only one in the room being honest.

[DoninJoisey]

Your post says it better than I can.
Clinton and McCain are the old politics. Promise people what they want to hear. Gloss over the real problems. Both McCain and Hillary are funded and campaigns are run by lobbyists.

I hope there are enough of us who prefer to be treated as adults and want to deal with the truth.

My job was outsourced - I was "sold" to another company - and yeah, I'm bitter. Some lost their jobs, I'm sure they are even more bitter than I am.

I expected nothing from McCain or Clinton anyway, but they can't let Obama spoil the nice game they have going.

[HAP]

Best of luck to you and the others mentioned on the job front.