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Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Is 'bitter' sticking in North Carolina?

Posted: Saturday, April 12, 2008 4:16 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann
GOLDSBORO, NC -- As is evident from political journalists' email boxes today, the Clinton campaign appears to believe it's found a silver bullet -- served with a side of brie and chardonnay -- in Obama's recent controversial comments.

On the same day that Obama's opponents keep their eyes peeled for outrage from small-town America, Bill Clinton is doing a marathon six-stop campaign day in rural eastern North Carolina, a swing billed by one supporter as a "Barbeque Tour."

But the issue doesn't seem to be sticking. Clinton himself has been silent on the issue. But at the first two events of the day, the campaign has sent one of Carolina's hometown boys out to push the issue before Clinton takes the stage. Tom Hendrickson, a Clinton supporter and former Democratic Party chairman, included a reading of Obama's comments in his introduction of Clinton.

"Senator Obama, don't pity us and think that we're bitter and frustrated," he said in Winterville this morning. "We are hard-working family folks who are smart, and we get it. We don't need pundits to tell us what to think."

Hendrickson repeated the sentiment at a later stop in Winston, but dropped the direct mention of Obama as the source of the quote.

In both instances, Hendrickson's speech evidenced little reaction from the crowd, which had been waiting for the main event for over an hour, and appeared to have little tolerance for a parade of surrogates.

By the third stop of the day in Goldsboro, Hendrickson did not even take the stage.

In Goldsboro, close observers noticed a (light) smattering of stickers being worn by attendees. "I'm not bitter!" read the simple rectangular label on the lapels of a couple dozen in the crowd. The campaign says that the stickers are evidence of outrage at the grassroots level.

Yet it's unclear how spontaneous the sentiment was. A boxful of the stickers was spotted at Clinton's first event of the day -- being whisked backstage.

*** UPDATE *** The Clinton campaign in NC takes responsibility for the stickers, per a campaign aide, but says that the idea originally came from a volunteer.

Stickers have been distributed by volunteers -- given a "green light" by staff -- at four of Bill Clinton's events yesterday.

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Comments

Hmmmm, I wonder how attempting to exploit Senator Obama's statement helps small town Americans . . . seems like a tactic to divert attention from the CAFTA debacle to me.
Clinton's should drop this so called "Silver Bullet." They are so out of touch with the middle class.  Yes the American people are hardworking, but that doesn't mean they aren't frustrated and upset that they have to work a lot harder for a lot less money with no pension because Mr. Clinton passed NAFTA and their good paying jobs of the pass are now overseas.  I doubt Mr. Obama would deny the American people are hardworking.  Obama worked as a community organizer helping layed off steel workers find work.  I don't think I could get myself up every morning to do taht kind of work even as rewarding it is.
If you think the American people aren't in some way bitter that the agenda in Washington does not involve them then you must be out of touch with "small Town" America.
They see their jobs being shipped overseas as well as conglomerates like Wal-Mart shut down the very essence of "small-town" life.  And one is to think the great American's who started their own "Mom and Pops" stores to help out their community and now see only jobs available that pay less and can never replace the dignity and pride once held by fulfilling the American Dream and becoming an entrepreneur are not bitter at all?  I believe even Mitt Romney said "Washington is Broken."
The spin the media has put on this is ridiculous.  I do agree that this may a little too honest to handle.  But "six-pack" Joe's moment of fame only lies in an election season.  That is when politicians care.  They want his vote, and unfortunately he gives it to them.  Politicians will say anything and do anything to get elected and many will do nothing for you when they are in office.  But this is the agenda in Washington.  Tell me how a great US President that did so much for the people can make over 110 million after leaving office and now talk about solutions for the economy.  I think the theme should be "Solutions to hoodwink a bitter America."
Obama just does not get it!  The middle-class and the less fortunate have many struggles in life, but their faith in God helps them to get through.  My mother use to tell me, you need to work hard for every thing good in your life, no one is going to hand it to you.  My faith and working hard gets this middle-class American,through every day of her life.  Some people have things handed to them , and I guess The Obama's are those kind of people!   Read , truly read his political history and his life story,  he has no real concept of the average American, regardless of race or gender.
this is what we call desperation. pathetic! americans know how much they are suffering and don't need any elitist multi-millionair telling them to eat cake if there is a shortage of bread. apparently, clinton and maccain are out of touch, indeed.
Senator Clinton, Senator McCain, and the media is out of touch if they REALLY believe that Americans aren't feeling some type of "bitter" about this nation.  For God sakes, 81% disapprove of where this nation is headed.  To believe that we can't voice our frustrations and we must create the perception of "strong" when we're not actually feeling strong is insane.

Obama is right on this one just as he was right about saying he will speak to allies and enemies alike and everyone tried to beat him up on it until the American people voted that we liked someone who would talk before bombing.
I'm beginning to get bitter that every comment on this subject from either campaign constitutes an entirely new article for First Read!  Enough is enough.  Let's move on for pete's sake.

Obama is right, people are bitter.  Hillary and McCain and their 10's of millions in the bank are out of touch and won't change a thing in Washington about the plights of the middle class.  Now can we just move on?

I live in Chicago and I'm bitter.  Yes bitter about the loss of over 4000 American lives, yes bitter that gas is reaching $4 a gallon, yes bitter how arrogant the current administration acts, yes bitter that we are no longer an Idustrialized country, yes bitter we are borrowing money from China, yes bitter over the loss of jobs.  The Clintons are so far out of touch with reality I wonder how they sleep at night.  Oh thats right they lay awake waiting for that 3 am call.

Bob, Chicago
no, jp, michigan, you don't get it.  are you middle class or struggling?  i thought not!
The Clintons have been condescending to rural and non-college-educated voters throughout this campaign.  This is only the latest.  She twists Obama's words and assumes that the people she's trying to appeal to are not smart enough to read and understand what he said.  It's the ultimate in elitism because it's saying, "I, Hillary Clinton, will interpret everything for you and you will not question what I say."
Seems to only be sticking to Clintonites and the media.

Voters are smarter and know who the best person for President is - Sen Obama, the ONLY honest uniter

unlike McHillary (The pathological Liar) or McBush (the OLD angry white war monger)

This is going to back fire on Sen McClinton, now he can use this whole situation to talk about the real issues like NAFTA, COLUMBIA TRADE, Penn and all the money SHE and Pres Clinton received from the Colombian government and filed JOINTLY on their tax returns.


Obama 08
jp you don't get it that's exactly what he meant, when hardships come you cling to what you have left, your faith, and those issues that you feel like you need to speak out on, that's what he was saying since the beginning
jp in Michigan - did you hear or see what Obama actually said?  What he said supports your point.  What he said indicates that he does get exactly what you are saying.  Maybe you should find the video and actually listen to it.
Way to go North Carolina. You are way to smart of the Clinton spin machine. We all know what Obama said and he is absolutely right. If people aren't what good is change. Just review the NAFTA debate with Mark Penn and see how the Clinton campaign is trying to get the attention on something else.  And thanks to the MEDIA it is happening. The MEDIA loves anything negative that they can run with regardless of how it can affect an outcome when you really need to be fair to both sides.
jp....That was the entire point that Obama made.  People don't trust politicians when it comes to improving economic conditions.  Therefore, they rely on their faith, their communities, and their rights (the 2nd Amendment) as opposed to voting on the issues that will enhance their economic conditions.  The Republicans have exploited this through "wedge issues."  Why do you think that marriage amendments, gun rights, and other amendments are attached to the vote in key states?  It's done in order to distract voters from asking questions about what politicians will really do.  
Spontaneous?  Can't be very "spontaneous" if there were already stickers made up indicating "I'm not bitter"!!  It appears that this video clip was made last week at a closed fundraiser, and was alluded to as "something big" coming by the Clinton camp ~ funny how it got released at the end of the day on Friday, and the stickers are all ready for distribution during the weekend stumps!!  The Clinton and McCain camps should be ashamed of themselves ~ they stoop to all depths!!  I'm white, I'm "old", I'm a woman, I'm a retired elementary school teacher, and I've never had the money to do the things that the Clintons and the McCains are privileged to do.  But I have strong moral values and personal integrity, and believe that Senator Obama speaks to me and for me.  PA, IN, NC:  Please think about what the Clinton and McCain camps are saying through their actions.  Demeaning?  Elitist?  That is NOT Senator Obama!
jp,

I'm afraid it is you who does not get it. The point you are making is the same point that Senator Obama made, people have lost faith in government so they depend on the things they can count on, like religion. At the end of the day, we can fight about words or we can make real change. The choice is yours.
jp, michigan

That was what Barack Obama was saying.  One of his points was that during these hard times small town America has turned to their faith.  

Plus, you have it all wrong about Barack Obama's upbringing.  He was raised by a single Mom who got up at 4AM to make sure he had done his English before she went to work.  When he graduated from law school he went back to Chicago when he could have had much more prestigious and high paying job.  I grew up in a small town in Tennessee & do not take offense at his remarks.  Instead I appreciate the fact that he appears to care about what small town America has been though and is trying to see what motivates their vote.  I would not be supporting him if I did not think that he more than any of the other candidates wants to make the lives of those people in small town America better.  We need to be more forgiving of his poor choice of words in this matter & look to how he will act and what he will do if elected President.
Yeah, Obama's kind of people....those that lobby for foriegn nations for tens of millions of dollars, take donations from and hob-nob with oil and telcom execs, and anyone with an open checkbook and willing pen.  Obama's kind of people...those who avoid paying taxes, flee the country, then brokers (buys) an eleventh houth pardon...Obama's kind of people.
Obama is pointing to the utter frustration of thousands of people and to the divisionary tactics used by both parties to keep the American people from being disgusted by the greed/corruption of big business and Washington. If Republicans and Democrats can get Americans focused on say "gay rights or guns" then they can continue to neglect the issues of our crumbling cities, corporate greed, abuse of the middle class and poverty, and a host of other issues that our destroying our country.  And heaven forbid you say ANYTHING remotely deemed unpatriotic like your ashamed of America.  Isn't the right to free speech one of the founding principals of this country???  
Bitter, disgusted, and ashamed in Pa.
That thar Obama feller is kyrect.Us peeple in pa. is frestr8ted. Why I git so mad I pack up the missus and the 8 kids and we go to church and pray them thar Mecksican illeagles dont come into pittsburgh and rape our white women ,dont younse know.Thats why I git my gun outta my pikup and go ahuntin them furryners and coloreds what ruin Amairica. Please Massah Obama save us. You er so smart and understans us rednecks. We jest typical whit people like your grammaw
Bill why not expalin your $800,000.00 windfall fro supporting CAFTA while Hillary was against it.  Words are cheap( to paraphrase a Clinton)but your actions speaks volumes.

All you are doing is supplying the Republicans talking apoints. Oh I forgot you ar such good friends with both Bush and McCain you and Hillary feels its your obligation to distort in hopes of getting them elected.
It’s clear that this Hawaii and Java raised, bi-coastally educated guy has some issues with certain groups.

He goes to a Black identity church with an America hating minister.  His wife wrote a thesis on racial isolation inflicted on Blacks by Whites, and is finally proud of America for the first time.

Now we get the truth that he thinks typical white people in Middle America are God drunk, gun crazy, xenophobic bigots because they’re bitter, frustrated losers.  Ok then…
Mr. Obama is finally showing his true colors and not a moment too soon. It is about time that we are getting some truth from someone who has the "audacity" to call middle-class Americans bitter and clingy to institutions that he has no respect for.
But that's exactly what Obama is saying; people turn to their faith to help them get through their frustration. Am I missing somthing here?????
I would be very careful if I were the Clinton folks on how they attempt to use this in North Carolina.  Its not the same type of crowd here as in Pennsylvania.  If they continue to attempt to make this a theme, I have no doubt the Obama campaign will invoke the heavy distrust of the Clintons here and start bringing back up the Marke Penn debacle, the Bonian lies, etc.  And remember, over 35% of our voters in the primary are African American, so I would tread lightly.  Obama may not have spoken as eloquently as he could have, but once folks start realizing just how true his remarks were, the use of this will start to backfire on them.
YOU ALL DO NOT GET THE POINT BUT THAT MUST BE BECAUSE YOU ARE MINDLESS ZOMBIES IN THE OBAMA PARADE BUT HERE IT IS. THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE BITTER, BUT HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT WE HUG OUR GUNS, GO TO CHURCH TO HIDE, BECOME RACIST, AND BLAME EVERYONE ELSE FOR OUR TROUBLES. HE IS A HORSES A AND IF HE EVER HAD ANY REAL EXPERIENCES WITH REAL LIFE HE WOULD HAVE NEVER SAID THESE DEGRADING THINGS. HE LIKES TO PRETEND THAT HE HAD A HARD LIFE ALL I ASK IS WHERE IT IS? I HAVE STARVED BEFORE AND SLEPT ON DIRT FLOORS HAS HE? ALL GENERATIONS OF MY FAMILY HAVE BEEN IN THE MILITARY FROM 1775. MY SON JUST GOT BACK FROM HIS 3RD TOUR IN IRAQ (MARINE) HAS ANY OF HIS FAMILY EVER? OBAMA DOESN’T HAVE THE B’’’S TO HAVE EVER JOINED. I WILL NOT VOTE FOR HIM   TO ME HE IS MOST OF THE SAME AND HAS LIED TO EVERYONE. JUST OPEN YOUR EARS AND START LISTENING TO WHAT HE SAYS OR BETTER YET DOESN’T SAY, TAKE YOUR LITTLE ADDING MACHINE OUT AND START ADDING UP THE COST OF ALL THESE NEW PROGRAMS THAT SHOULD SCARE YOU BECAUSE THERE IS A PRICE TAG AND WE ALL WILL BE PAYING IT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. DON’T YOU THINK IT IS FUNNY THAT TO OBAMA THAT EVERYTHING THAT A POTENTIAL VOTER ASKS FOR HE WILL DEVELOP A GOVERNMENT PROGRAM TO SAVE THEM AND PAY FOR IT TOO. HE IS AN EMPTY SUIT, A VERY GOOD SALESMAN THAT IS SELLING YOU A BOX OF S’’T AND YOU ARE COMING BACK FOR MORE.
This entire thing is crazy.  What is this nutty insistence of the McClinton campaigns that working class families either have to be smart survivors or bitter defeatists?  You can fight hard while also recognising that you've been left behind.  

There is no logical link between being bitter and being some sort of hillbilly layabout.  I know plenty of bitter elitists, and optimistic bluecollar guys.  

The slightly hysterical effort of Clinton and McCain to shove every member of the electorate into a small box, then shrill "Obama said something bad about you, but I believe you're only made of puppies and rainbows!" is what's really repellant.  It's also incredibly insulting.  

I am smarter than that either/or gamesmanship, Mrs. Clinton.  So is much of the rest of the electorate.  So a little less of the deceptive, manic pandering, and a little more integrity, eh?
If Obama thinks people seek Religion because they are bitter, then is he bitter at America and that is why he attended his church for 20 years that is clearly racist and anti American.  Who exactly is Obama?  Does he just use people and religion for his own personal endeavors?
this isn't going to work Hillary and Bill (and McCain...hmmm funny how HRC is teaming up yet again with the GOP to attack Obama.  Is she looking to run as a republican VP this year since the dem nom is out of the question)

Americans ARE angry with the government for shipping jobs overseas...thanks to NAFTA which you and Bill supported!
I am glad that Clinton exploiting Obama's statements are not sticking. The reason is that Obama is speaking the truth. It is frustrating when politicans ignore the true problems of the middle class. Clinton is ignoring the underlying message of Obama which is people are angry and bitter about the lack of jobs or working hard for less. She is not listening to the middle class which is obvious since she championed NAFTA which outsourced our jobs.
Yes JP, Michigan, my three biracial children growing up in the middle of the country are finding just like Barak how easy they have it.  Life is just being handed to them because society is just yearning to reach out and give everything to black children with white mothers living in the middle of blue collar America! He had it even easier because his Mother was a single Mom.  Boy, people just really hand those people a simple life don't they. I'm sure it's why Barak  is so out of touch with people who struggle every day!

Get a grip!
I AM BITTER!

I'M BITTER BECAUSE OF $4 A GALLON FOR GAS THIS SUMMER!

I'M BITTER BECAUSE OF THE HOUSEING CRISIS!

I'M BITTER BECAUSE WE LOST 80K JOB IN THE MONTH OF MARCH ALONE!

I'M BITTER BECAUSE MY BROTHER IS ON HIS SECOND TOUR IN IRAQ, AND BUSH DOESN'T WANT TO BRING HIM HOME!

I HAVE ALOT TO BE BITTER ABOUT BECAUSE THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION HASN'T DONE ANYTHING FOR ME!

AND I WILL NOT BE PERSUADED BY THE SWIFT BOAT EXPRESS OF THE MCCAIN AND CLINTON CAMPS.

CLINTON AND MCCAIN SAY BARACK IS OUT OF TOUCH.... WELL I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT PLANET THEY ARE LIVING IN WHICH THEY THINK EVERYTHING IS OK!?!?
If Obama is speaking what he thinks is the truth, that we all know, that small town people are bitter for being ignored, why didn't he speak on it at his rallies? Like with his preacher, he waits until he is called out to express his tru thoughts.
Tom, you also don't need people with 109 million dollars and ties to drug-lords and union-busters to tell YOU how to feel.

This is condescending from the CLINTON campaign. At its worst. They're trying badly to distract from her lying about Bosnia, their tax releases, their ties with Ron Burkle and Dubai and Kazakhstan, and all this other crud.

MSNBC, it's your choice to call it.

Tim Russert's a good guy. Chuck Todd's a good guy. Just call a joker a joker!
I actually think Obama's comment has a great deal of truth in it, and, of course, the truth is often very difficult to take in. Instead of trying to attack and exploit his comments for their own selfish political ambitions, perhaps Clinton and McCain would do well to examine the merit of the statements and forge an economic policy that would combat at the implicit bitterness felt by all of Middle America. Being a lower middle-class American myself, I am often tempted to project my plight onto others as a way to explain away why I am struggling economically, despite all of the hardwork and labor I engage in on a daily basis. Instead of projecting, I force myself to examine the policies of leaders like Bush, McCain, and Clinton and I then I see the real culprits in mine and others' unnecessary struggle for some sort of economic security. Both Clinton and McCain have been political leaders for quite some time and neither have made significant impacts on the economy. Targeting this single statement by Obama does deflect attention away from this fact of both Clinton and McCain.
Hillary hopes that this is a silver bullet (which it is not).  She hopes this because if she can get MSNBC, Fox and CNN talking about this then she want have to listen to the Bosnia story, the 15 million dollars that her husband has not explained about his income, Mark Penn and the Colombia flap and of course, her support of NAPTA.  I hope the media is smarter than the Clinton campaign.
Nope, not sticking. People are not as stupid as the McClintons make them out to be.  Bill is wasting his time there. OBAMA will take North Carolina BIG.
I cannot figure out why this is such a big deal. I am a 23 year old college graduate and I am bitter as hell. I have student loans coming out my eyes, I work or an investment firm and they are talking about layoffs because the stock market is going under. I can barely pay my bills and now I might lose my job? I have every right to be bitter. We all do. I do not think Obama should have apologized at all, he is speaking for the average American. How dare Clinton and Mc Cain say he was being insulting, he was being honest and Washington doesn't want to hear it. The truth will set you free Hillary but you still haven't learned that, have you?
It is obvious that Obama was not putting people down but rather bringing to the forefront that people ARE bitter over having a failed government and that there are specific ways in which this frustration becomes manifest. Obama made an observation...those who can't see that don't like the man to begin with and see the comment with a biased filter.
I agree Sen. Obama used a poor choice of words but over all the content is true and shows Sen. Obama is willing to discuss these issues and address them for the betterment of the country.  It is also evident, from the concerted effort of Hillary and the Republican Machine, that the entrenched corrupt corporate candidates fear such a presidency and want Sen. Obama silenced.  Hillary has mailed everyone in PA copies of the Republicans' response to Sen. Obama's statement and, for this, should be expelled from the Democratic Party as a Traitor.  Her actions against a fellow Democrat are despicable.  It appears to me Hillary is very desperate and one must question why.  Is it possible the Half Billion Dollars collected for the Clinton Library will have to be returned if she is not nominated?  And what becomes of the 32 Million Dollars donated to the Clinton Charity by the Columbian Trade Agreement promoters if Hillary loses.  Yes, Hillary is a “Fighter;” but one must wonder for whom.
It appears that now Obama is saying that Middle American White folks who are religious, or hunters, or are opposed to illegal immigration, carry these values as traditions that they dumbly accept from the past.  Can't think for themselves, apparrently.

See!  They can't help themselves!  They are bitter and rigid...
Hillary has no issues anymore to discuss, is now hanging on things that are true....shame on her...people who lost jobs, who cannot afford to pay thier bills, how can they be happy...they are frusrated, angry, mad and bitter...that is the truth
Senator Clinton spoke in North Carolina recently about working families.  Her comments related to working parents who could not become stay-at-home parents.  Unfortunately, many working parents do not even have this as an option.  Senator Clinton missed her opportunity and appeared out of touch on this issue.  Mrs. Obama, however, talked about helping working parents balance family and work.  This issue is as important today as it was in l982 when I presented my first workshop on Balancing Family and Work.  There is so much that can be done to help working families when this issue is addressed by people in positions of the Clintons and Obamas.  
Senator Clinton spoke in North Carolina recently about working families.  Her comments related to working parents who could not become stay-at-home parents.  Unfortunately, many working parents do not even have this as an option.  Senator Clinton missed her opportunity and appeared out of touch on this issue.  Mrs. Obama, however, talked about helping working parents balance family and work.  This issue is as important today as it was in l982 when I presented my first workshop on Balancing Family and Work.  There is so much that can be done to help working families when this issue is addressed by people in positions of the Clintons and Obamas.  


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