Here We Go Again

You know, I just spent seven and a half years disagreeing with the administration that has given us an unprecedented military and economic mess. I saw it coming, it came, and in some ways it was worse, and promises to get worse, than I foresaw. I the course of these seven years, I have had my patriotism questioned and demeaned fairly often. I was even put in a book, as one of a hundred people who were hurting America. When I got into this book, my relatives worried that I would get shot by some rightwing nut, even though several of them were and are rightwing nuts themselves (and they carry guns). All this time, though, I considered myself a patriot and a loyal American because I was able to see the destruction that was being wreaked upon the nation, and in particular, upon the middle and working classes, by the Republican liars and war criminals and job outsourcers and health care destroyers and army wreckers and infrastructure ignorers and media whores and agriculture blackmailers (see this month's Vanity
Fair).

So now, Barack Obama tells the truth about conditions as we know them--that the countryside and the small towns are dying in many places in our country, and that the corporatocracy doesn't care enough to do a thing about it. He points out that immigrant-baiting, gay-baiting, gun-baiting, and religious pandering have helped to destroy those towns and that countryside, that those being destroyed have been cynically enlisted by their very own destroyers to provide the votes that help accomplish the destruction. And this is what Senator Hillary Clinton says about it: "Senator Obama's remarks were elitist and out of touch. They are not reflective of the values and beliefs of Americans."

From Senator Clinton's remarks, I infer that to actually see what has gone on in the US in the last 20 years is unAmerican. It doesn't matter who you are, where you were born, what you pay in taxes, what else you might have contributed to the culture, how you vote, who you support. If you don't support fundamentalist religion, job outsourcing, and free access to guns, then you are not even American.

I cannot believe how angry this makes me. I cannot believe that after the last seven and a half years, I can even get this angry. Yes, I know she is pandering to her audience. Yes, I know she will do anything to get elected. Yes, I know that she and Bill Clinton are corrupt to the core, and that I should have never expected anything better of her. But, please, any of you angry white women who still support this craven shill, don't mention it to me. Do me the following favor -- apologize to your children for not stopping the war that HIllary voted for, the war that is going to impoverish them. Then apologize to them for the effects of global warming that are going to make their lives hell. Then apologize to them for the school shooting they may someday see, the one where the kid gets the guns out of his father's gun case, or buys at a gunshow. Apologize to them for the meaningless wars they are going to fight and pay for. Then tell them that "American values" killed their hopes and maybe killed them. And ask them if they think it's going to be worth it.

Comments

[rudiy]

Hillary got pilloried by Obama and his people for saying the truth that Martin Luther King needed LBJ to pass The Civil Rights Act. Now when Obama says something, worded badly but with a little truth, his people cannot admit he made a mistatement and again anyone who criticizes is a racist.

[indie17]

Are you pretending that Obama got on stage and called Hillary's remarks "elitist and out of touch"?

[jkantor]

This will backfire on Hillary. By attacking Obama in this way, she will force him to articulate a message for the desparate smaller communities that are watching their futures erode away. These are families that - today - can't afford to get ill, have schools can no longer compete against the best and brightest, for whom only army recruiters offer their children a way out. Hillary is handing is handing Barack Obama an opportunity to inspire and lead. My only hope is that he does so before 'bitter' turns to genuine anger.

Even to this baby boomer, the longer this campaign goes on the more evident it is that Hillary doesn't grasp that world has changed. It's time for a new generation of leadership to emerge.

[netgecko99]

The other side of the story from someone who was there to hear the comments firsthand:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-coleman/i-was-there-what-obama-re_b_96553.html

[SickOfSpin]

netgeck099--Thanks so much for this link--I had missed this post and it is refreshing to hear what led up to Senator Obama's statement, but also what transpired afterward.­..GREAT information!!!

[darcy]

Powerful, Jane Smiley! I'm as angry as you, and, like you, saw the destruction of America coming and could do nothing to stop it. Even now, the guys I work with - intelligent men, every one - are leaning toward voting for McCain.

In a nutshell, the repub party uses the testostero­ne-enhance­d gut response of males to enlist them in the destruction of their own country. It's always worked, and it continues to work.

[SickOfSpin]

I am a clinical social worker and I am about as bitter as I can possibly be...bitte­r that our government has continued to run roughshod over Americans who don't happen to be influential having hefty investments and bank accounts. But I'm even more bitter about Hillary Clinton's continuing displays of misrepresentation, "misstatements" and outright lies, as she bolsters John McCain in the process. If she can't win, then she would be in a better political position in 2012 if John McCain won in 2008...it'­s absolutely despicable. The animosity that I feel toward her now, is relatively new...I'm, now, almost embarrassed to admit that I was a Hillary, and Bill, supporter in the '90's. When this campaign began, I was unsure which candidate I would be supporting, but it didn't take much time to decide. When Hillary began her constant personal attacks against Senator Obama, initiated the 'kitchen sink' strategy, and then claimed her concern for the voters of Michigan being 'disenfranchised' (I live in Michigan), it was all that was necessary for me to begin sending contributions to Senator Obama's campaign. After Hillary's description (4x) of her experience in Bosnia, touting her 'credentials', and NOW her most recent, disgusting spin of Barack Obama's statement regarding Americans feeling bitter, have sent shivers up my spine...sh­e will do absolutely ANYTHING, and say absolutely ANYTHING to win the nomination­...She is an embarrassment to women...ev­erywhere.

[indie17]

Thanks for the great post, and your personal story. I agree 100%.

[SLS9]

Oh my gosh .... here is a woman running for President of the United States. Not one woman has gone down this road before and you are dogging her .... ludicrous ... politics is mean, dirty, vicious business ... how many women are heads of corporations? I worked for one who now makes about 4 million (war profiteer corporation) -- her life has been anything but typical ... sure it is the life she chose but it is a much harder road for women than men ... what Hillary is doing takes a courage and a commitment I dare say not many women or men have .... How can you attack her for running a sophisticated "in to win" campaign? You are not attacking the other candidates ... they are doing the same thing she is doing but not as well (she is such a delight to watch, hear and be around) .... she is not a George Bush in a pant suit, she is not an old biddy, she is not a witch, she is not a liar.... she is a talented, committed, brilliant woman working harder than you can imagine to win the Presidency of the United States. She is helping to eradicate the apathy this country has been experiencing for quite some time ... she is a fighter and she will win in 2008.

[Lazslo]

The American public, in general, reviles intelligence. They prefer stupidity.

[gloryoski]

Lazslo: Some really do revile intelligence. There are those in every society. It's a kind of sociopathology that often dovetails with many other kinds. Many more simply don't even know what intelligence looks like. How could they with what the public "conversation" (including our school SYSTEM) has become?
I will continue to disagree with comments like yours, although I understand where they come from. I think we should speak productively, to educate, not to insult. The only group of people that I count out entirely are those elites and aspiring elites who have made a clear and conscious decision to abandon and abuse their fellow people and the earth. I acknowledge that sometimes, as in 1,000 Acres, we discover that the latter "walk among us." I still choose to hope.
Jane Smiley: I admire you immensely. A committed creative artist and also deeply involved in political conversation. I wish we had many, many more like you. Kurt Vonnegut was another, at his best, but he's gone now.

[Knowledgeseeker]

some people just cant handle the truth.....
Obama sees the reality in America and want to do something about it.....
Clinton and Mccain need to stop playing political games and focus on the real issues, like the Economy

[snt]

This post and those like it are just what the Republicans need to defeat the Democrats in November. Good going Ms Smiley, with Democrats like you who needs enemies!! Of course your charges have no factual basis for the Clinton years were prosperous and peaceful that left us with a surplus and better living conditions for the middle class and less fortunate.

And guess what? Senator Clinton has been a great senator for us New Yorkers, hard working, intelligent and pragmatic. Shouyld the voters be looking at her record or the nonsense you're bringing up?

[cathye]

Didn't she promise you 200,000 jobs and instead managed to lose you 30,000?

Some Senator she turned out to be!

[SickOfSpin]

snt--Was she being 'pragmatic' or was she being 'intelligent', when Hills shared her Bosnia experience­...on 4 separate occasions, at 4 different times of the day...?

[Rose52]

Tell the New Yorkers upstate who lost their jobs how great she is. She promised more jobs and instead 30,000 jobs were lost. Of course when she promised those jobs she thought Gore was going to be elected. But wait, how could he have been elected, she said he was an elitist too.
Obama 08

[caldog]

Point of clarification - the Clinton Years were not prosperous for everyone. Particularly not for the "less fortunate" as you phrase those in poverty. I'm no fan of the current administration, and agree that they have done plenty of damage, but some the damage was already in motion. Consider that the decrease in insured workers began in the 90s, prior to the Bush regime. Consider that Welfare reform knocked thousands if not hundreds of thousands of people from substandard living to outright abject poverty. Any gains the environmental movement had were limited, compromised and ultimately not enough to withstand the coming onslaught of a Republican regime.
I agree with Ms. Smiley - Barack Obama was stating fact, and perhaps he could have used better language, but he certainly didn't say anything that wasn't true, unlike his fellow candidates.

[vipersdad]

So you're saying that Ms. Smiley is "emboldening the enemy?" Dissent or differing opinions don't belong as part of this process?
Gee - where have i heard that before?

[oncesung]

I'm just about HillBilly's age. I'm a retired (female) attorney. That woman genuinely makes me ill. Thank God in heaven she won't be elected and evidently isn't going to succeed in preventing Obama from being. There's some hope left in this bleak country. And yes. I'm bitter.

[angryhumanist]

Very little but, you're right, some hope with Obama being elected (soon, soon I pray). My God, Hillary and Bill Clinton will stoop to anything and tell any lie to be elected. I'm a woman, too, hoping to make it to retirement.

[Rose52]

The problem with Hillary is that she jumped on a supposed Obama "gaffe" and condescended to the very voters she needs. I hope they see thru her and take his words in context and understand their meaning. And if she thinks they aren't bitter, then why would they vote for her? Might as well keep everything the same and vote for McCain so they can ensure another 4 years of the paradise they've been living in.
Obama 08

[pakean3]

It makes me angry that people like you do not see how insulting what Obama said is to the American people. I'm not going to say what he said is wrong, it is mostly how he said it. He worded it wrong, he didn't have someone their to transcribe his response to the inspiring way he wrote his book. BUT, he said it, he spoke from the heart, and that says alot about Obama.. Spin it anyway you want and have your angry moments.. Spinning it will not make it go away.

[FreedomLoverX]

It makes me angry that people like you refuse to acknowlege the truth. He was talking to a work group about how people vote. Spin it anyway YOU want, you troll. It won't go away overnight (yes-it will go away, it has already gone) because trolls like you come along, ignore the thorough debunking of the issue, and try to keep it alive with assinine comments, displaying only your incredible departure from reality.

Are you going to mention outrightLIES from Hillary? No - I thought not. Are you going to mention anything other than your absurd argument, that even though you know what he meant, what is really important is the poor choice of words. You are just another TROLL.

[JimR]

Very poor choice of words on his part, to be sure. But there's a lot of truth in what he said. Do you think people out there are NOT bitter after 7 and a half years of this administration? Are you suggesting there is no immigrant-baiting, gay-baiting, gun-baiting, and religious pandering out there designed to distract people from the war and the declining economy?

You can spin it into an angry moment all you want, but that will not make the truth go away.

[netgecko99]

Yeah, how dare he try to understand people. That's pretty low of him, isn't it? It's not like he's worked with poor folks his entire life. He couldn't *possibly* have a clue how they think.

I don't live in a small town any more, but I'm still bitter, and Obama's comments were spot on. If you listen to the context of that quote, you can see how it's a good thing, too.

[kathy001]

Twist it any way you like, what Obama said was not only true, it was insightful and inspiring. It is time was gave ideals and aspirations back to the people who have been disenfranchised by the current administration and by big, greedy corporations. If you can not or will not see that, then you really deserve another 4 years of Republican atrocities. But, I, frankkly, hope you do not get what you deserve.

[whimsicalpig]

WHAT OBAMA SAID WAS WRONG AND SNIDE.

People in small towns, as well as large cities, have turned to God for a lot longer that this outsourcing debacle,
they have also hunted, since they landed on the nation's shores.

His statement, while being rude an condescending, all the more underscores what I have felt all along.

he is a great orator without anything relevant to say. his plans for change are great rhetoric but are hopelessly unworkable. (He never really states just how he is going to accomplish this change.)

he just proved how removed he is from the crowd he is trying to use to vault to the presidency.

[FreedomLoverX]

Your comment underscores what I have felt all along. You have no ability to perceive reality. You have no ability for analytical thinking. No matter how often things are made plain for you, you ignore it, prefering old debunked lies instead.

You just proved how removed you are from reality and are trying to vault to troll-land instead. As always, this anything but whimsical pig, prefers distorion over truth, and is trying to sell it to those who are as incapable of thinking as he/she/it is. Rude and condescending. That is what trolls do. Without presenting any facts or anything of substance, they try to ellicit some kind of reaction, and then declare that the reaction goes further to prove their point - a point that made no sense to begin with.

[indie17]

So are you in agreement that Democrats should call fellow Democrats the Rush Limbaugh and Karl Rove 'elitist' word?

Time to make a stand against the Republicans and quit demeaning the Democratic front-runner. Or do you think that McCain's words and actions are more to your liking?

[jbatch]

How did hunting become the focus? Obama was talking about people getting swindled by gun rights, flag waving, homo-hating, immigrant-bashing faux patriots who -- after collecting the votes they get from dividing and scapegoating, proceed to screw the people that voted for them.

Hunting? Talk about spin.

And here's the deal. He was right. And if the yahoos and yokels who are getting taken to the cleaners by the faux patriots fall for it again, they'll be on the street corners selling pencils to each other, while the faux patriots construct massive gated communities containing castles.

Serf's up, dudes.

[darcy]

jbatch, you said it!!

[JimR]

"People in small towns, as well as large cities, have turned to God for a lot longer that this outsourcing debacle, they have also hunted, since they landed on the nation's shores."

This is true, but I think you're missing the point of what he was saying.

"His statement, while being rude an condescending, all the more underscores what I have felt all along."

Sorry you feel that way. I didn't interpret that way.

"his plans for change are great rhetoric but are hopelessly unworkable­."

Why do you say that?

" (He never really states just how he is going to accomplish this change.)"

Actually, he does, though the media never gives you that part of the speech. If you are really interested, you can find his "Blueprint for Change," which lists specific plans and proposals on a wide variety of issues at www.barackobama.com/issues

[moda31]

of course people don't become religious or take up hunting because of economic hardship, but the fact that people have been fooled into basing their votes on these issues which won't change their daily life in any significant way is the tragedy. there's nothing wrong with religion, or supporting the 2nd amendment, what is wrong is when you pick your president based on whether or not he/she thinks your gay neighbor should be able to get married (a promise they really can't deliver on) rather than real issues like whether or not their economic policy will make it more or less difficult for you to feed your family, or whether they are committed to getting you affordable health care. people's bitterness is being taken advantage of by politicians who obscure the fact that they serve the rich by encouraging the working class to blame their government enabled hardship on immigrants and gays, and ordinary people are getting nothing in return. if that kind of politics doesn't make you furious, then you deserve the ludicrously ineffective excuse for government that currently exists.

[cuthbertallgood]

"He points out that immigrant-baiting, gay-baiting, gun-baiting, and religious pandering have helped to destroy those towns and that countryside, that those being destroyed have been cynically enlisted by their very own destroyers to provide the votes that help accomplish the destruction"
=========
But Jane, you seem to conveniently forget the Obama 'Faith and Family Tour' where he himself used religion and open gay bashing by Republican Evangelists to garner votes from religious bigots. He did not call them bitter. When asked to apologize for the nasty preaching, Obama said the homophobes were 'good, decent and moral people' and said he would always listen to them.
This is the very opposite of what he said about religion in poor communities in Pennsylvania. I wish he'd have said about the SC events what he said about Pennsylvania, but he did not. He praised the religion in that state, used it as part of his campaign. Obama ran the most religiously oriented campaign I have ever seen a Democrat run, and he hired a bunch of preachers and singers well known for both gay bashing and Bush praising to speak for him in South Carolina.
How do the two sets of events compare and contrast? Can Jane manage to see both events at once and draw some conclusions? Where is the consistancy? How can one tell when people are 'clinging to religion' as opposed to 'embracing Faith values'?

[FreedomLoverX]

Actually, there has not been any contradiction - you just twisted reality and completely made that up. Not even a good try - your fabricated argument is so transparent.

[Alessan]

Did you listen to the audio and then read what was said at the fundraiser, he wasn't talking to the small town people, he was talking to people who could afford to give big money to a candidate, who has already received over 253 million dollars for the campaign. He was talking about the
working class not to the working class,. Yes, they do pray, hunt and feel their jobs have been given to illegal immigrants or outsourced to other countries, and that's the truth. So what's up Obama, what do you plan to do about it, they don't believe you, because you are no different from
any other politican, yet you were trying to blame the Clintons and Bushes for the conditions the once middle class and now poor live. Still what are you going to do, HOPE, it gets better, get
get real Obama,. you are no better than GW Bush, and you have no plans and you will do nothing, as expected. Obama is a waste of time.

[indie17]

You say, "get real Obama,. you are no better than GW Bush, and you have no plans and you will do nothing, as expected. Obama is a waste of time."

This is a very false, uninformed statement, Alessan. Have you educated yourself on Obama's plans? And how do you feel about McCain's plans?

[JimR]

There was ONE controversial preacher/singer on that tour, Donnie McClurkin, who made remarks on homosexuals that were offensive to many. You make it sound like there was an endless parade of Donnie McClurkins. And Obama immediately distanced himself from those comments.

[cuthbertallgood]

Actually there were several. McClurkin who sang for Bush at GOP convention 04 was the host and MC, but also on the bill at various locations were Hezikiah Walker, another famous venom spouter, Kirbyjon Caldwell, known as GW Bush's 'persoanla spriitual advisor' and famous gay baiter, and a double act called Sister, Sister, as famous for equating gay people to murderers as any singing they ever did.
Those are the facts. And Obama did not address the comments for over a week and when he did he called the religious bigots 'good, decent, moral people' and did not apologize nor call the events a mistake. Also facts.
Not that a man who characterizes some people's faith as a symptom of illness would be any better off with just one preacher of intolerance, but he did in fact have several. I find the Faith and Family Tour and its slurs to be very much in opposition to what Obama said in SF.

[falgiano]

i agree with you 100% Jane. the desperation from the Clinton camp, and willingness to knee cap Obama by misrepresenting what he says is disheartening.

fortunately Obama is good at defending himself and exposing the game. The Annie Oakley comeback was priceless. He'll be ok - people will want his unusual candor when all is said and done.

[Alessan]

Obama is good at BS, period, teflon, says nothing and will do nothing as President. You people
must have all voted for GW, because I really see the same pattern as in 2004, nothing has changed and nothing will change. DON'T GET YOUR HOPES UP, WAKE UP.

[Jimbo62]

I said early on that this tactic wasn't going to work for the Clinton/McCain campaign. Barack has risen to the occasion and used the spotlight they have so brightly shined on him.......­.and he will gain even more support because it puts the spotlight on him where he seems to do just fine. Hillary in a duck blind, now that is an image for the ages......­..

[Jimbo62]

Go Jane......­..add to that the next war with Iran, which Hillary voted to give Bush the authority to wage.