First thoughts: Take a deep breath

Posted: Monday, April 14, 2008 9:14 AM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
*** Time to take a deep breath? In the span of 72 hours, Obama’s controversial “bitter” remarks traveled from the Huffington Post (which published the original story) and the blogs that picked it up, to the campaign trail and cable TV, and then to the Sunday morning shows and last night’s Compassion discussion. And it will likely reappear at today’s manufacturing forum in Pittsburgh (which Obama addresses at 8:45 am ET and Clinton at 11:00 am), and also at Wednesday’s debate in Philly. The story clearly is a problem for the Obama campaign, but how big of one is anybody’s guess until we begin to see some good polls or until after the Pennsylvania, Indiana, and North Carolina contests. Perhaps being cynical, what primary voter that was already with him will now leave him over this? So far, Obama has had an uncanny ability to turn lemons into lemonade -- whether it was over the “unsavory world leaders” brouhaha last July, the “Republicans were the party of ideas” debate in January, or the recent Wright controversy. Will he do it again this time? If so, he may very well be this cycle’s Teflon Man, a characteristic that might not be lost on Democratic superdelegates. If not, we could once again have a real Dem race on our hands. But beware of anyone -- especially the fairly elite political operatives and pundits from DC and New York -- who thinks they have answer. It's always amusing to watch folks (be they candidates or pundits) who haven't lived in a small town ever or in over 20 years try to claim they actually know how small-town America thinks.

VIDEO: NBC Political Director Chuck Todd gives an overview of the weekend's political news, touching on the "bitter" battle and the upcoming Pennsylvania primary.

*** Does Lee Atwater live? No one knows for sure whether these controversial comments have done damage. But the assumption is that they did. Why? It's the lesson many in the media and in the Democratic Party learned from Lee Atwater and Roger Ailes in the 1988 presidential race. The guy who could really take advantage of a comment like this is Bill (Astroturf in his El Camino) Clinton, and he isn't running. Neither Hillary nor John McCain seems like someone who can easily relate to the folks both campaigns are claiming Obama alienated (more on that below). There's no question Obama is struggling to connect, but are the other two only connecting a tad more because Obama can't? It is very reminiscent of '88, when two fairly elite candidates, George H.W. Bush and Michael Dukakis, were the choices, and Atwater/Ailes turned the more ethnic candidate – Dukakis -- into the Yankee and somehow made the Yalie Bush into the down-home candidate (mmm, pork rinds).

*** Slighting Gore and Kerry? At last night's compassion forum, Clinton surprisingly took a direct shot at Gore and Kerry in trying to make the point as to why Obama's comment was so damaging. Here's what she said: “We had two very good men and men of faith run for president in 2000 and 2004. But large segments of the electorate concluded that they did not really understand or relate to or frankly respect their ways of life.'' So did SHE believe they didn't respect their ways of life? Clinton going right after the Gore-Kerry comparison was a risky strategy, but it may be her only chance of trying to sell this as an issue to Dem primary voters who may not believe Obama said anything that bad. Clinton HAD to make the connection to electability to potentially move Dem primary voters (or more importantly, superdelegates). But it's risky because in order to draw the link, she has to sell a negative message about Kerry and Gore -- something that certainly won't sit well with either former Dem nominee (and it was something Obama subtlely seized upon at last night’s forum). Still, the average Dem superdelegate does believe that, ultimately, the reason why Gore and Kerry lost was because they were out of touch. So while Dem activists won't be swayed by this argument, the cold, calculating superdelegate just might.

*** The Potential to backfire? That said, it’s also worth pointing out that this controversy could end up backfiring on Clinton and (to a lesser extent) McCain. Both campaigns have been fanning the flames with glee, and there is a real sense that the Clinton camp sees this as a game-changing moment. But in a change election, when polls show that 81% think the nation is on the wrong track, there is a danger of not recognizing voters’ anger or bitterness; you don’t want to get caught up defending the status quo. In addition, do Clinton and McCain really want to fight over God and guns -- issues that aren’t particularly strengths for either candidate? They just appear less out-of-touch than Obama. Indeed, Obama struck back yesterday at Clinton, “She's talkin like she's Annie Oakley! Hillary Clinton's out there like she's on the duck blind every Sunday.” McCain, meanwhile, didn’t even show up to last night’s Compassion forum. And it’s probably not lost on voters that both Clinton’s and McCain’s families have millions upon millions of dollars. Sometimes when you try to fan the flames, you can get burned.

*** The narratives are set: What this controversy has done, however, is cement the opposition narrative for Obama should he become the Dem nominee -- that he is an elitist, out-of-touch snob. In addition to this, they will point to his Ivy League degrees, his wondering about the cost of arugula at Whole Foods, and his surprise that folks in Iowa cared what was going on in Burma/Myanmar, and even his now-famous bowling excursion. And they will add a dash of the patriotism card (flag lapel pins, Rev. Wright, that Michelle Obama comment). That narrative matches up against Clinton’s (suspicions about trustworthiness/willingness to say or do anything to win/ Bill Clinton back in the White House) and McCain’s (fine with the US being in Iraq for 100 years/doesn’t know much about the economy/tied to George W. Bush). What does this mean for Clinton's hopes of stopping Obama? Well, right now, the campaign can make the case he's no longer more electable than Clinton. And they NOW believe this small-town remark means they have a case to make that he's LESS electable than she is. BUT is even LESS electable enough, or does he have to become completely UNELECTABLE until Supers move en masse to Clinton?

*** Bill's ties to China? While all the attention is on Obama’s “bitter” remarks, could the man who was the focus of Friday’s news before the controversy erupted -- Bill Clinton -- be a bigger concern for Democratic superdelegates? Yesterday, the Los Angeles Times reported that a Chinese firm, which has generously given to the Clinton Foundation, has collaborated with the Chinese government in its crackdown of Tibetan activists. Why is this story significant? Because Hillary is out in front of the issue of asking Bush to boycott the opening Olympics ceremony in Beijing due in part to China’s actions here, and she repeated her call at last night’s forum. How many other potential conflicts of interest concerning Bill are out there?

*** The delegate count: Obama picked up a superdelegate over the weekend, Rep. Nancy Larson, a DNC member from Minnesota. Larson had been a Clinton endorser, who went uncommitted and now is supporting Obama. The superdelegate count: Clinton 259, Obama 231. In the overall count, Obama leads by 136 (1,647-1,511). He has a 164 pledged-delegate lead (1,416-1,252).

*** On the trail: Elsewhere today, Clinton attends the Philadelphia Democratic Dinner and then holds an evening rally in Bristol, PA; McCain attends the AP annual meeting in DC and then heads to a Pittsburgh fundraiser; and Obama also attends the AP annual meeting in DC before heading to the Philadelphia Democratic Dinner. In addition, Bill Clinton campaigns in Indiana, while Ted Kennedy stumps for Obama in Erie, PA.

Countdown to Pennsylvania: 8 days
Countdown to North Carolina, Indiana: 22 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 204 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 281 days

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Comments

perhaps the Clinton's need to refresh their memories with a review of Bill Clinton's 1991 remarks. Perhaps the MEDIA should remind them of their own "elitist" comments. Perhaps the MEDIA should stop allowing politicians like Clinton and McCain create tempests in teapots and make them respond to the issues. In case you've forgotten what Bill Clinton said..here it is:

"You know, he [Bush] wants to divide us over race. I'm from the South. I understand this. This quota deal they're gonna pull in the next election is the same old scam they've been pulling on us for decade after decade after decade. When their economic policies fail, when the country's coming apart rather than coming together, what do they do? They find the most economically insecure white men and scare the living daylights out of them. They know if they can keep us looking at each other across a racial divide, if I can look at Bobby Rush and think, Bobby wants my job, my promotion, then neither of us can look at George Bush and say, 'What happened to everybody's job? What happened to everybody's income? What ... have ... you ... done ... to ... our ... country?'"

A. Romanovsky, Summit, NJ (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:24 AM)

****BITTER DOES NOT EVEN COME CLOSE !!!

Obama taking a stance on McCain on who is "More In Touch" with America?? That’s a JOKE !!

As a typical white person who happens to be a PA voter who "clings to my religion and guns" --I am indeed bitter and frustrated that we have a Presidential candidate who --by his own words, seems to enjoy degrading his fellow American, as if we are somehow 'beneath' him !!

You know, I have absolutely no idea why it is the rest of America cannot seem to see though his apparent distain for his fellow man! For the last several months... I cannot even tell you how many times I have heard Sen. Obama say the words "he deeply regrets hurting any feelings"

Jesus people --Wake up and see the reality on the wall...

PA Voter (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:25 AM)

You know Chuck, I am so amused by the fact that Hillary seems to pluck ANYTHING Obama and his supporters say, because she is so desperate to survive politically. I don't even comment much on stuff like this because I already know what kind of person she is and that her supporters are simply too out of touch with realities in America and too prejudiced or ignorant to think clearly.
Instead of commenting, I have been reading how much effort Hillary has made to try to force anything she says down idiotic voters' throats so that they will believe her and vote accordingly. This strategy has apparently succeeded to some extent, but there are plenty of informed voters who are able to see through her deceptive campaign strategies and her chronic lies that they have been turned off.
Shameon her! Calling him elitist as he tries to understand the difficulties of small town Americans under difficult circumstances (remember he was a community organizer) while she makes millions of dollars is totally laughable and even does not warrant being posted on First Read.

Jerry S. Oakland, CA (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:26 AM)

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com/
Kerry out of touch? You mean the guy who left millions without unemployment checks because he was to lazy to fly back to Washington and cast the deciding vote back in 04. And Gore, this guy flies around the world and lives in a mansion while he tells us to park our cars. Yes they are out of touch and phonies to boot.

twocanpete (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:28 AM)

Sen. Obama mis-spoke, period. A lot of you who were offended, were not going to vote for him anyway, but just for argument's sake, how can you label him an elitest when he himself came from a broken home, raised by a single "white" mom, along with the help of his grandparents??? As Roland Martin stated on CNN last night, Sen. Obama definitely was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

This is AGAIN, another distraction that is being magnified by Clinton.

KJ, Dallas, TX (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:28 AM)

I had quite a few laugh out loud moments over the weekend. All the elitists all over the air waves calling Barack Obama an elitist. Typical.

Hillary Clinton - Barack has given you a gift. He does not go after you and your husband on issues that any other candidate would do in a second. It’s what you both deserve. You are both phonies and full of it.

Barack Obama is not condescending. He is brilliant. And he is bringing up subjects that need to be brought up. That’s part of his “change” message.

I for one wouldn’t know how to go after you and your husband. So many lies. He would need to lower the bar in an extraordinary way if he was to go after you both.

So go and drink your shots of whiskey and mugs of beer if that’s what it takes for you to connect with working class folks.

I’ll take Barack’s graciousness and honesty any day over both you and your husband’s behavior.

After all, our next president will not only be representing working class folks. He will have to represent the United States of America over the world.

And I for one happen to like presidents who have class and dignity.

Pat, Boston, MA (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:29 AM)

Obama can never win the GE.
Obama is unelectable.
His 15 minutes of fame has expired.
Go away Barry your bitter end is here wright now.

HP Boston (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:31 AM)

Obama can never win the GE.
Obama is unelectable.
His 15 minutes of fame has expired.
Go away Barry your bitter end is here wright now.

HP Boston (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:32 AM)

*** Bill's ties to China? While all the attention is on Obama’s “bitter” remarks, could the man who was the focus of Friday’s news before the controversy erupted -- Bill Clinton -- be a bigger concern for Democratic superdelegates? Yesterday, the Los Angeles Times reported that a Chinese firm, which has generously given to the Clinton Foundation, has collaborated with the Chinese government in its crackdown of Tibetan activists. Why is this story significant? Because Hillary is out in front of the issue of asking Bush to boycott the opening Olympics ceremony in Beijing due in part to China’s actions here, and she repeated her call at last night’s forum. How many other potential conflicts of interest concerning Bill are out there?

-----------------------------------------------

Oh, you sillies! This is just another of the many points where Bill and I disagree just like any other couple!

And no matter how much I disagree with a lot of what he did as President we did a lot of good!

H. Rodham Clinton - Chappaqua, NY (A "Small Town" For The Wealthy In Westchester County, NY) (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:33 AM)

What in the world is a "Compassion Forum"?!? And why do bitter people like Obama and Clinton go to such a thing?

Maley Jens (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:33 AM)

I THINK OBAMA WAS DEAD ON TARGET HILLARY IS NOT BEING HONEST SAYS ANYTHING TO GET VOTES. SHE 109 MILLIONS DOLLARS TO PROVE IT . SHE JUMP ON THIS STORY LIKE A CRACKHEAD JUMPS FOR CRACK AND THINKS THAT SHE IS RIGHT HILLARY AND BILL SHAME ON YOU REALLY!

SANDRA CHICAGO, ILL (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:34 AM)

Can anyone PLEASE tell me that the candidate who:

1. received welfare as a child;
2. was raised by a single mom;
3. was the president of the Harvard law review, but passed up clerking for the Supreme Court to work with churches in the southside (i.e., ghettoes) of Chicago;
4. campaiged heavily in the "small" states, while his opponent dismissed them as insignificant;
and 5. is currently the POOREST of all the candidates running for president

is now the ELITIST? The ESTABLISHMENT candidate?

WHAT???!!!???

Am i missing something? Does that make sense to anyone? Seriously, I would like someone to enlighten me.

Isn't it true that McCain is married to the Anheuser Busch distributor heiress and stands to inherit over $100 million, while the Clintons earned over $100 million in the past 8 years alone?

This is way way OVERBLOWN

Ciao,

Bob H., Miami, FL (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:35 AM)

Who is an elitist, the candidate who says elect me and I will solve all your problems or the candidate who says elect me and with your help WE will solve the problems? It seems one candidate doesn't have enough faith in the American people to enlist their help and the other says he can't do it without their help.

Noel, Hot Springs, AR (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:35 AM)

KJ Dallas --> Sen. Obama mis-spoke, period. <--

Obama sure "mis-speaks" a lot. Between all of his "mis-speaks", his association with criminals (Rezco) and terrorists (Ayers), his racist pastor (Wright) his hate sprewing wife ("people in this country are just mean"), I think we've got a pretty good picture of what Mr. Obama stands for.

Maley Jens (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:37 AM)

Is small town America the queen of intolerance? I don't understand why what Obama said (which is true) is a big deal when what the Hilliars and their Lady O Lies (Hillary) made the Bosnia remark, which is a lie. It seems Americans are extremely sensitive to many kinds of petty remarks a politician can make, or they are simply hypocrisy if they pay too much attention to such a comment Obama made while far lessattention is given to something more deserving the attention such as the Bosnia flap?
The world is looking down at us as overzealous idiots.

Jon, TX (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:37 AM)

Obama also said, "Now, I have to say that, you know, in reports subsequently, there's been this notion that he was, by various terms, my spiritual adviser or my spiritual mentor. You know, he's been my pastor," Obama said.

Adding: "And what that means is, is that, you know, the ministries that have been built in that church community have been very important to me

UTTER HOG WASH BARACK! THE STUTTER AND STAMMER OF A LYING SACK OF SCAT!

HP Boston (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:39 AM)

I think your first paragraph remarks (re. people who haven't lived in small town America) are more true for Clinton than for Obama. At least Obama spent time on the streets as a community organizer (not small town but similar issue) in down and out Chicago neighborhoods. Clinton has been in her bubble.

He is already making people aware of the truth he spoke and he has apologized for the inartful aspects of his remarks, indicating that clinging was not meant to put people down but really to show what people see as their "comfort food" and what helps bolster them up as their family traditions. The Clintons will, of course, show their utter desparation in "clinging" to this remark (irony intended) but I am of the belief that it doesn't show Clinton as any stronger of a candidate and that she would be better served focusing on her strengths. If we want to play the misstatement game, Obama wins, because he had actual misstatements whereas her misstatements are just lies. What person wants a pol. who lies.

Obama for America (that's all of us) 08

Lisa, in working class New Britain, CT (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:39 AM)

I would be bitter too if my state lost 200,000 jobs because of Clinton and Bush.

And by the way, does anyone else find it a bit ironic that Clinton is going after Obama for being "elitist"? Between the two of them, I think it is Clinton who has made well over $100,000,000 in the last few years.

Talk about out of touch.

CitizenJ (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:42 AM)

What type of Whiskey did Hillary drink in Indiana? Hillary, thanks for supporting NAFTA by drinking Canadian Whiskey. You might want to try whiskey made in USA.

Bill's presidential years were covered in scandals. Including dozens of Chinese lobbyists staying at the white house and contributing to Bill's 2nd election fund. It's about time the media point out that the Clintons made millions by supporting China.

Why did Hillary say the last time she attended church services was none of our business? A president should know Commandments like "Thou shalt not lie".

Dan (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:42 AM)

I threw up just a little bit the other day when I saw Clinton taking a shot of whiskey (Canadian whiskey at that... irony anyone?). Could a politician be ANY more calculating and manipulative? I really do have faith in the voters of Pennsylvania and the other states to not be seriously swayed by this whole distraction.

As is usually the case, any negative story resonates well within the media because the media just loves a good fight. When the media gives up buying into Clinton and McCain's twisted versions of what Obama actually meant - that government hasn't been working for these people, that the Clinton administration and the Bush administration have done ZERO to bring new jobs and new opportunities into these areas - I really think the voters will come out with a more positive view of Obama.

Ron, TX (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:43 AM)

PA Voter,

Give me a break. You wouldn't vote for Obama if he worked in the cubicle next to you either. This is just the excuse you needed to say so. Be honest about it at least. I don't want Hillary because she lies, is involved in shady business deals, her husband is a lobbyist for the Columbian government, they have 109 million dollars (who's an elitist???), they have an ongoing court case that hasn't been made public yet, of which, they say will make Watergate, look like Disney World, and she's got too much baggage for me to want a repeat for 4 more years. See? Honesty is easy. Go Obama '08

Diane from Illinois (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:44 AM)

Hundred mill' Hill' has NO idea what hornets nest she has just prodded.
Small town folks, Mid sized town folks, big city folks, we are all together on this one. We are keeping our guns clean, our powder dry and in prayer just in case Dubya, McCain or the Clinton's send the grim reaper of globalization and outsourcing to our town or company.
This is the unifying message of the cycle. The republicans and by extension Hillary think they have THE hot wedge issue here. I suggest that they use it with gusto.
Just makes the rest of the campaign that much easier.

Tom, Tennessee (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:45 AM)

Jeesh PA Voter .... are you serious?? Speaking about realities Obama has my respect for calling things as they are and because of that it proves to me that he knows what they are. Now, perhaps he could have used words that didn't hit directly to the core, but he didn't. He calls it like it is and he is sorry if anyone's reality offends them. If you really want to be bitter vote for Hillary and watch how nothing will come your way ..... PA Voter who????

garyd, amherst, nh (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:45 AM)

I, as an Obama supporter, agree that he could have thought at least twice before he said what he said, the way he said it. (His clarification of his statements were MUCH MUCH BETTER) but exactly who does Hillary and Bill think they are? Do they know that they are worth more money than Barack Obama at least 100 times over???

My question is: When you compare $1M net wort to $109M net worth people should be wondering who's the REAL elitist?

Boy is she and McCain AFRAID of Obama! Pure opportunism at it's best. Politics. Politics. Politics.

Obama '08.

Vicki, Pensacola FL (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:45 AM)

I think the SDs (re. her comments last night about Gore and Kerry) should not only think about Hillary's electibility (both down ballot and up top) but also about how she can be portrayed as out of touch (and just how much time has she spent living in small town America as an adult, let's dissect the choices she's made). They have a lot to think about with Hillary, the high negatives, the lack of truth, the lack of being ready to run a decent campaign on Day One, the lack of clarity on foreign policy experience, the lack of bringing people together on domestic party experience. Lots to think about.

Let's think about how she is so desparate to win that she throws our esteemed prior candidates (which LOTS OF US voted for) under the bus. Let's focus on the fact how Gore didn't win when he should have been the President but for the Supreme Court, let's just look at how she is throwing the whole Dem. party under the bus. And we're supposed to vote for her in Nov. Let the superDs think about that.

Then think of all of Barack's new voters (not to mention his whole broad base of support) and how many years ahead of them they have to be disenchanted with the Dem. party. Yup lots of things for the SuperDs to think about. I'm about to buy stock in Advil, just thinking about the headaches that will ensue :).

Obama all the way in 08

Lisa, in working class New Britain, CT (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:46 AM)

********* IMPORTANT

Honestly folks.. I am really sick and tired of everyone (media especially) for making excuses or even excusing the simple fact that Sen. Obama says or indicates one thing to his voters while on the other side of it... his true colors stand out (by his own words !!).

Look, It does not matter if he were white, black, hispanic, asian, etc... Matters not in the least to me at all... what matters to me more is his seeming open and apparent condescending attitude to the middle class of this country and if fact, if he were a white man saying such derogatory thinks --he would be accused of being a raciest!

I am sick and tired of it and hope that the rest of America do their research and really find out what type of person he really is !! Sen. Obama is NOT the person everyone thinks he is (oh, make no mistake, he sure is a smoooooooth talker) but I urge you all to do your homework --as I know for sure the Republicans have and they are just waiting to pounce on him.. IF he is nominated to be our candidate !!

Look up William Ayers folks and why the hush... hush surrounding Sen. Obamas relations with Mr. Ayers
.

EeeZeeed (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:47 AM)

Gore and Kerry???? Hillary seems to have forgotten that she has taken the shots from Republicans and the gave them the ammo by dismissing stay-at-home moms by saying "I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies and had teas" Her hypicrisy is amazing.

Keith in PA (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:47 AM)

I think it's interesting that Chuck characterizes Hillary as 'taking a shot' at Gore and Kerry when in fact she complimented them for being terrific people who the public perceived were 'out of touch' enough, in Kerry's case, to elect Bush. I think Hillary was just pointing out an obvious truth and I think she's right - Obama is an out-of-touch elitist.

Carole, Fort Lauderdale, FL (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:47 AM)

Every day Hillary proves why she would be a lousy President. She is such a conventional thinker. The Big Book of politics says only up beat politicians win. She thinks small town Americans will be offended by being called bitter. Hello! 70% of Americans think the country is going in the wrong direction. The mood of the country is very bitter. I never even see an awareness of this reflected in the Sunday morning pundit shows. I think voters appreciate that Obama, at least, recognizes this feeling and addreses it.

Amy B Portland, ME (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:47 AM)

People toss around elitist because the campaigns said it. Do your jobs or just get out of the reporting business and let McCain and Hilary's paid people do the reporting. Very lazy work indeed.

God forbid we get someone that tells the truth about what is going on in rural America. Same things happen when someone like Cosby tells the truth about what is happening in black communities. People get outraged, rather than ingest the valid critisicm.

JD (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:48 AM)

Americans are not this dumb. Obama is the LEAST elite of the three candidates, for crying out loud. We ARE angry, bitter, frustrated, not just in PA but across the nation. Shame on Hillary and McCain for not recognizing our plight. They helped create this mess, that could explain their sudden disassociation on that point. Obama was intelligent enough to work hard, earn scholarships, garner for himself an Ivy League education after rising from a poor, single mother home. If he can improve his own circumstances to such a degree by his wits and labors, maybe he can improve our circumstances as well. He has earned the chance.

Rob CA (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:48 AM)

What the media should bring back up is Hillary Clinton's remarks back in 1992. Remember her saying, "Well I gues I could have stayed home and baked cookies"; and her Tammy Wynette comments and her belief that kids should divorce her parents. How quickly she forgets that she was branded an elitist back in 1992 - you don't think the Republicans won't do that to her again.

Paul, Washington DC (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:49 AM)

Bill Clinton said something very similar to what Barack said. It's on the the front page of the Huffington Post. It's interesting why this isn't mentioned in none of the articles. I know you quote from that site from time to time. It kills me how Hillary or John McCain can say something is a story and the whole media goes with them. This was a non-story from the beginning. The Media blew this up to crazy proportions for no good reason. Because Clinton said it was a big deal. The media wants a contest so bad that they will manufacture a controversy to make it seem like a closer fight than it is. Hillary has already lost. She will NEVER make up the ground necessary to overtake Obama. Quit paying attention to that crazy lady. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/13/bill-clinton-flashback-al_n_96433.html

Be Real, NY, NY (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:49 AM)

so much for the dems winning the white house...see ya in 2012!

ThisDemIsOuttaHere! (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:49 AM)

THANK YOU Rep. Nancy Larson, way to go...!!!!

Billary should look in mirror about calling Barack an elitist....name calling is so "last ditch effort"
to sound right....name calling doesn't make you sound any better...it only shows your own fears and short comings...see it for what it is..bad politics..

BJ, CA (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:49 AM)

Wow media, thank you for focusing on a COMPLETE non-issue. I can't believe that this is in the news this long. Clinton lies 4 times about the same thing, and the media treats it as a mis-speak. Obama tells the truth, and the media pounces on it like a hot potato, letting Hillary dictate the message.

Thanks media, keep up the good work and keep feeding the public trivial junk like this.

A Democrat will win the White House (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:50 AM)

Re. Obama's electibility...a lot of those issues you raise are seeing the light of day prominently because both McCain and three Clintons are regularly bringing them up. United we stand...a united Dem party as well as indys and Obama-leaning Republicans can stand together against the attacks. And as you say, we really haven't begun to hit McCain yet, we still have to put up with three Clintons. So you have to factor that in. All of those charges you mentioned are known and can readily be handled. No candidate doesn't come with any baggage...but right now Obama is being quadruple-teamed and I'd say he's handling it amazingly well.

Obama for President (we are just getting started)

Lisa, in working class New Britain, CT (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:50 AM)

Seeing Hillery taking shots in the pub makes me want to give up whiskey...

Barkeep give me a Bombay Saphire on the rocks...

Or is that an elitist drink? I'm so confused, maybe Bill and I can share a joint and a hooker...

Bitter? No thanks, just a lime (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:51 AM)

Elitist Bill Clinton .....

Gee, Hill is it OK for Bill to say this ?
But, NOT Obama ?

How will you demagouge this, Hillary ?

Is Bill an elitist ?
He made $109 Million for selling you out ...
Bill made money from alibaba.com which helps suppress
Tibet

'...Nico Pitney
The Huffington Post

Bill Clinton Flashback: "All These Economically
Insecure White People...Are Scared To Death"

As the rumination continues over Barack Obama's
comments about economically-depressed small town
voters, statements made by Bill Clinton on the same
topic -- uttered while he was running for president in
1991 -- have now surfaced.

"The reason (George H. W. Bush's tactic) works so well
now is that you have all these economically insecure
white people who are scared to death," Clinton was
quoted saying by the Los Angeles Times in September
1991.

A couple months later, Joe Klein, writing for the
Sunday Times, reported that Clinton made the following
remarks:

"You know, he [Bush] wants to divide us over race. I'm
from the South. I understand this. This quota deal
they're gonna pull in the next election is the same
old scam they've been pulling on us for decade after
decade after decade. When their economic policies
fail, when the country's coming apart rather than
coming together, what do they do? They find the most
economically insecure white men and scare the living
daylights out of them. They know if they can keep us
looking at each other across a racial divide, if I can
look at Bobby Rush and think, Bobby wants my job, my
promotion, then neither of us can look at George Bush
and say, 'What happened to everybody's job? What
happened to everybody's income? What ... have ... you
... done ... to ... our ... country?'"...'

MSierra, SF (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:51 AM)

Now we find Hillary is and has been gun-toting, how come she didn't return that sniper fire?

John Nehrich, Troy NY (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:51 AM)

Obama is sounding more and more like Pres. Bush. He sez what!s on his mind, then next day tries to correct himself. Look where the last 7 years got us. Picture him addressing the rest of the world. Scarey? (His wife does the same thing.)

Jim Tampa, FL (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:51 AM)

This will backfire on the Clintons:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-04-13-Obama_N.htm

End Game (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:54 AM)

GO HILLARY !!!
OBAMA IS ARROGANT!!!
So is his Wife & Campaign - think they have this all wrapped up - NOT!
We will see - let the Voters of PA decide!
Obama will not win due to his radical comments, radical preacher (see FOX NEWS)
his background & judgment are much too questionable to be the President of the UNITED States.

Molly (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:54 AM)

Dear Chuck,
You have a comment on these blogs from a Spec.Nixon. It was long and I almost didn't read it, but I did. His comments were real and heartfelt. I recommend his comments to all of you. It is under one of the bitter stories.

Mary In AL (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:55 AM)

SPIN .... SPIN.. SPIN… SPIN… No matter how MSNBC, Mika and First Read try to HELP out the INEXPERIENCE barack obama with his RACIST Hate America Spiritual Mentor and Pastor Jeremiah Wright and now obama HATRED of small town America WILL NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT barack obama IS AN “ ARROGANT LYING ELITIST ”.

He said what he said about small town America in front of San Francisco Liberals because he was in his COMFORT zone. He only tried to slightly phrased it differently because he was caught on tape. Come April 22 the voters will show Chris Matthews and the obama loving pundit, that they are SMART and they know who the corrupt TV pundits are trying to put in the white house …….. So Hillary will land a double digit blowout against barack ? obama in PA….. remember TX, OH, CA, NH, MA ……

He turn lemons into lemonade because the praetorian media pundits ignore his REAL race baiting anti- American rants all the time while falling all over themselves trying to prop him up as a viable candidate.

When the JEREMIAH WRIGHT story broke msnbc, Mika and Matthews tried desperatly to help obama change the subject by quickly finding the bosnia story, so why when Hillary use a REAL issue about the " race baiter " obama to change the media driven bosnia story to his DISDAIN and CONDESCENDING attitude towards small town America, she's criticizes for it...

Gore and Kerry backing obama just prove to women and small town America that obama is align with the ELITES and MISOGYNISTS of the Democratic party.... so this can only be good for the next president Hillary Clinton.

I WILL CONTINUE TO PREDICT, HILLARY WILL WIN IN PA BY DOUBLE DIGITS.

........ MASTER CARD MOMENT .......
It's going to be " PRICELESS " to watch Chris Matthews and Olbermann tonight when they discuss the " BITTER " comment.

Finally ..... Finally ... the " SNOBAMA " candidacy is OVER.

Stewart, Bethesda, MD (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:57 AM)

"If so, he may very well be this cycle’s Teflon Man, a characteristic that might not be lost on Democratic superdelegates. "

No he isn't. That dubious honor goes to John McCain because the media let all the disturbing things he says and does slide right off him.

If Obama had done anything so stupid and pathological as singing about bombing another country, the media would be howling about it for months. The reason that Obama doesn't get damaged by these supposed controversies is because they are largely manufactured by the media and because he faces problems directly and boldly. He doesn't try to weasel out of difficulties by lying and flip-flopping the way McCain does.

Houston (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:57 AM)

it is wholly laughable that two of the country's most elite and powerful politicians are acusing an up-and-coming statesman of being out of touch. What a freaking joke!

Kerry, Toledo, OH (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:57 AM)

Thank you, Rep. Nancy Larson, a DNC member from Minnesota (and Superdelegate), for endorsing Senator Obama over the weekend! That is what's important, not this nonsense that Hillary is trying to pull with the whole "elitist" thing. Someone that makes $109 million dollars should be careful who she's calling an elitist, don't you think?

Diane from Illinois (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:58 AM)

All we've seen here is one more example of how Hillary's willing to do anything to the Democratic Party in order to win. She's going to trash its nominee and its previous two nominees -- anything it takes to get elected.

This is why, if she is the nominee, Democrats will lose seats in the House and Senate. Obama will have much longer coattails than Clinton and most everyone knows it.

Keep hitching your horse to McCain's and Bush's wagon, Hillary! See how far that'll get you.

chuck, richmond, tx (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:58 AM)

You don't have to be born with a silver spoon in your mouth to be an elitist. It's acquired and the Obamas have acquired it. Like it or not, it is what it is. The Obama's are elitist, snooty, condescending, arrogant by half, walk around with an air of superiority and are downright uppity. They act like they are entitled. Obama was mocking Hillary yesterday. How presidential is that?? Not very.

His comments regarding religion (he is a fine one to talk about that) and guns and bitter is what he meant them to be. He was showing off to his billionaire buddies and got caught and now he is trying to turn this on Hillary. Shame on you Obama. You meant it just like you said it and now you are tyring to weasel out of it.

Obama has a plan America and it does not have the best interest of this county in it. He is thinking global. Obama scares me to death.

Gob forbid there should ever be an Obama in the White House. (Sent Monday, April 14, 2008 9:58 AM)

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