'Bitter' Sweet Symphony, Day 4
Posted: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 9:19 AM by Mark Murray
Obama told the Philly Inquirer that people find stability in their traditions and are vulnerable to politicians exploiting wedge issues. “‘As a wise old woman who was talking to me the other day said, “You misspoke, but you didn’t lie,”’” he said.”
The Washington Post checks in with two undecided superdelegates to get their reaction to Obama's comments. “Looking for any possible edge, the Clinton campaign has pressed uncommitted superdelegates to view Obama's remarks as a major debacle that could harm him in November. But as of yesterday evening, there was little evidence that the electability argument is resonating. “Rep. Mike Doyle (D), an undecided superdelegate who represents Pittsburgh and surrounding towns in the Monongahela Valley, said yesterday that he was not particularly troubled by Obama's comments. ‘I don't disagree with a lot of what he said. My dad was a mill worker. My grandfather was a steel mill worker, and when the steel industry collapsed, nobody's family was hurt more than mine,’ Doyle said. ‘It's not inaccurate to say a lot of politicians have come through these towns, made a lot of promises and failed to deliver. I thought he was spot-on when he said how people feel.’”
“He added that Obama's unexpected endorsement yesterday by Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney ‘carries a hell of a lot more weight’ than the blowup over his comments about small-town residents. Rep. David E. Price, an uncommitted Democrat from North Carolina, which holds its primary May 6, said his frustrations are with Clinton, for the potential damage she has inflicted. ‘Senator Obama could have chosen better words, but it seems to me that he's stating the obvious,’ Price said. ‘People are feeling a great deal of economic stress, anxiety, and there is a certain amount of anger out there… I think it's most unfortunate that opponents simply pounce, particularly opponents in his own party.’”
The LA Times: "Obama … struck back at his rivals Monday by saying that voters were tired of politicians who fanned ‘fake controversies" for their own advantage.’” More: "Obama said Monday that he would ‘never walk away from the larger point’ he was trying to make.”
“Obama argued that politicians had fostered a legacy of cynicism by continually pledging to address what he called ‘the downside of globalization’ and then going back to Washington to fight ‘over the latest distraction of the week.’”
The Boston Globe notes the irony in Obama getting caught up in the “elitist” controversy. “The irony of Obama playing into those very suspicions is that he often argues forcefully that the Democratic Party must broaden its appeal ideologically and expand its base of support beyond the coasts to build a ‘governing majority’ and bring true change to the country. Obama, who wants to prove in Pennsylvania he can draw working-class votes key to winning swing states in November, often cites his primary and caucus wins in rural red states as proof he can lead the party in that direction.”
The liberal intelligentsia (a.k.a, America's op-ed writers) seems to side with Obama. Bob Herbert: "But there is something perverse in the effort to portray Senator Obama — who has tried hard to promote a message of unity and healing — as some kind of divisive figure. He has spoken with great insight and empathy, most notably in his race speech in Philadelphia, about the anxiety and frustration of middle- and working-class Americans. In his San Francisco comments, Senator Obama fouled up when he linked frustration and bitterness over economic hard times with America’s romance with guns and embrace of religion. But, please, let’s get a grip. What we ought to be worked up about is the racism that still prevents some people from giving a candidate a fair chance because of his skin color."
The L.A. Times profiles the citizen-journalist who taped Obama at the San Fran fundraiser and wrote about it.
The San Francisco Chronicle wonders if Obama's remarks are getting more negative traction because he uttered them in liberal bastion San Francisco.
