Obama Concedes Remarks Were Ill Chosen

[joeybee12]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Obama-Clinton.html

MUNCIE, Ind (AP) -- After a full throated response to criticism that he is condescending, Democrat Barack Obama on Saturday conceded that that comments he made about bitter working class voters who ''cling to guns or religion'' were ill chosen.

''I didn't say it as well as I should have,'' he said.

As Obama tried to quell the furor, presidential rival Hillary Rodham Clinton hit him with one of her lengthiest and most pointed criticisms to date.

_____________________________

Even BO sees that he didn't make a good case for what he "meant" to say...how much longer will the Bots here try to defend his ill-chosen remarks? yeah, we're angry and frustrated, but he didn't focus on the causes...like Bush and government in general..instead used pop psychology to focus on the people who were bitter (should have stuck with angry, because bitter conjures up a different impression of that person) and how they use that bitterness, like vote against gay marriage and bash immigrants. Foolish, foolish comments.

[anonymous171]

1. Actually politicians use that bitterness to make them get elected

They use the wedge issues like guns or gay marriage in order to get votes, then forget about the rural voters once they are elected.

[AlinPA]

18. The book "What's the Matter With Kansas" makes this point.

[joeybee12]

47. Yeah, but you can't write a book on the campaign trail...

...you could argue all you want whether he's right or wrong, but detailed arguments don't make their way onto the evening news...focus on the cause of the anger, not the people who are angry...that's where he went wrong...and I;m amazed people can't see that.

[AlinPA]

119. I have no problem with what you say; no matter what he says now it will be

hammered over and over again with the "key words". Most people will see it the way the broadcast media wants them to see it. His remarks are excellent Fox "News" material and can be used to form the opinions that they want.

[Ilithiad]

134. Fox news

Everyone knows fox news is biased towards the GOP. It dont matter if Hillary or Obama said those things they would attack either one.

[joeybee12]

135. It's not just Fox news, all MSM likes to try and get juicy controversial quotes

...Al Gore inventing the internet, Hilary baking chocolate chip cookies...like it or not, that's the way the MSM plays, and a presidential campaign is so high profile words have to be chosen very, very carefully.

[AlinPA]

139. That's right. "If thou thinkest twice, before thou speakest once, thou wilt speak thrice

the better for it" - William Penn

[joeybee12]

140. Yup! n/t

[Occam Bandage]

2. Nobody doubts the original arguments shouldn't have been said as they were.

Nobody ought doubt the original arguments were entirely correct.

[joeybee12]

17. Well, that's not what I'm seeing posted here...people saying it

was the TRUTH, etc.

[Window]

67. It was the truth.

"I just didn't say it as well as I should have."

A lie is when you say you're rushing from a plane and a welcoming ceremony has been cancelled due to all the sniper fire...WHEN THERE WAS NO SNIPER FIRE AND THE CEREMONY WAS NOT CANCELLED.

[joeybee12]

72. Why is everything BO does the truth?

It is truly frightening that people can't distinguish between opinion and truth.

[Ilithiad]

125. That is

all political talk is ...opinion not truth....Why doesn't Obama go to some small town PA folks who have lost their jobs and ask them "Sir or ma'am do you hate immigrants, cling to church, anti-trade, and carry guns because the goverment took away your jobs?"

[joeybee12]

142. That word--truth--is flung around here so often I'm getting dizzy! n/t

[rodeodance]

30. HA HA --CHECK the threads and posts on DU BHO fans defending him!! ha ha

[Life Long Dem]

57. The OP needs to get the story straight. No concession took place.

In fact Obama said this which is the oppsite of what the OP said. You have to watch these guys:

"Lately there has been a little typical sort of political flare up because I said something that everybody knows is true, which is that there are a whole bunch of folks in small towns in Pennsylvania, in towns right here in Indiana, in my hometown in Illinois who are bitter,'' Obama said Saturday morning at Ball State University. ''They are angry. They feel like they have been left behind. They feel like nobody is paying attention to what they're going through."

That's right Obama upped things and said they are ANGRY!! :rofl: :rofl: What do ya think of them they're apples?!!

[joeybee12]

82. Um, he made the one line calrification after the speech at Ball State...

...I wasn't arguing that people aren't angry, but to focus on their actions because of that anger was foolish.

I guess your Obama love inhibits your reading comprhension skills...go ahead and keep laughing, laugh all the way to a McCain presidency.

[Life Long Dem]

93. He never conceded. Change your title, it is a lie. Don't argue with me.

Change it or it will be alerted and locked. I'll alert the mod. Don't piss me off.

[joeybee12]

101. Go to the link...it's the title of the NY Times article...

...go run to the mods...take your ball and go home.

[Willo]

94. The OP is referring to his speech this morning.

Which still won't make his point.

[Life Long Dem]

98. He never conceded.

[Willo]

115. I agree he didn't concede yesterday nor this morning

[Ilithiad]

126. The problem with what

Clinton and McCain said in response to Obama's words were not the word Bitter they should have responded to.. It was the words of church clinging, gun toting xenophobe words they really should have said something about. But you know I dont suspect Obamabots to let that slide since their god like devotion to him wont let them.

[2rth2pwr]

117. LOL! There are countless posts here attesting to the brilliance of

Obama and what he said in SF.

[joeybee12]

141. Yup, in his presence, s**t turns into gold...

...will the people here realize that not everyone sees things like they do???? Ever?

[backscatter712]

3. Christ. Now, the Hill-Shrills will never shut up...

Don't they have something better to complain about, like McCain calling his wife a "trollop" and a ****?

[Occam Bandage]

5. Anything to keep people distracted from her incapability of winning the nomination.

[backscatter712]

7. Hammer. Nail. Head.

You got it.

I'm almost tempted to head to HillaryIs44 and hillaryclintonforum to see them catapulting their propaganda before the pots and pans brigade hits here...

[Nitrogenica]

20. BINGO!! We have a winner.

[joeybee12]

And to focus on his unelectability....n/t

[joeybee12]

16. Well, when you Bots can't admit someone misspoke, then maybe

this would not have needed to be posted...look at all the crap defending what he "meant"...he needs to say things better.

[joeybee12]

21. Sexist twit...why are hundreds of Bot comments refusing to see

that he could have said this better...god, you people are delusional.

[angie_love]

4. he misspoke, can you calm the fuck down now?

Everyone misspeaks even you now and then.

[Evergreen Emerald]

12. Backwards and in high heels.

I have to laugh. The hypocracy is so funny.

When Clinton misspeaks you all shout from the rooftops and peeinfauxoutrage.

When Obama misspeaks, "he is only human."

Clinton has to be perfect or she is vilifed. Backwards and in high heels.

[angie_love]

15. Excuse me, find a post where I teased Hillary for misspeaking?

You can't find any, so you can go shutup too.

[Evergreen Emerald]

22. Are you kidding me? DU is filled with outrage over

Bosnia, the hosptial story, Bill Clinton's speechs. All misspeaks that were blown completely out of proportion in an attempt to vilify and attack Clinton.

You only have to look at the main GDP page to see them.

[angie_love]

25. No are you kidding me?? Just b/c some people tease her doesn't mean you should

Lump all Obama supporterse in one category. How stupid.

[Evergreen Emerald]

43. I missed your posts telling the other Clinton attackers that Clinton

was only human and that misspeaks are normal. I missed your posts where you told those Obama supporters that they were making mountains out of molehills and being unfair to Clinton for misspeaks that were only human.

If you could show me those I would appreciate it.

[Window]

56. There is a huge difference in misspeaking and outright lying.

Or even phrasing something in a different way than out-and-out lying.

[Evergreen Emerald]

64. There is no difference between what happened to Clinton and what

happened to Obama: except that the media is not hard on Obama and will shut this down by the end of the day. Had it been Clinton, it would go on for another week or two until some other story that they don't investigate comes up.

[Ilithiad]

113. I wish you people

would get over the Bosnia thing....She did not lie...she just did not remember the situation correctly...How many of you can remember to ever detail about something that happen to you 12 years ago? I cant remember what I did yesterday let alone 12 years ago.

[Kber]

74. The difference

Obama spoke the truth inelegantly.

Clinton told a falsehood well.

[Evergreen Emerald]

78. No. There is no difference.

In fact, it was proven in the hospital story that it was made up. But that does not stop the press, or Obama supporters bent on dehumanizing Clinton for every little misspeak.

After all Obama is human and can make misstakes. Clinton must be superhuman "backwards and in high heels."

[thewiseguy]

23. Where was your "outrage" when Hillary lied?

[joeybee12]

32. What the f**k are you talking about? This is simply about BO

not making a good argument...and the Bots can't even admit he should have spoken better. It highlights how delusional his supporters are.

[thewiseguy]

35. and I asked where was your outrage when Hillary lied?

Is this a one way street for you?

[joeybee12]

45. Sorry, but I'm not outraged by his comments, I'm totally miffed by

people trying to defend them...just admit he made a mistake and move on...is is possible to do that or is the Obama-love so powerful he can do no wrong????

Yeah, Hilary screwed up, but I'm not outraged over that either.

[thewiseguy]

49. I do not think he should have drawn a connection between people's values and their resentment

[joeybee12]

69. That's my point...because that is a judgement call that people will

take offense with...focus on the cause, but I am truly frightened by the blind acceptance of everything he says and does. Learn from your mistakes, but people act as if he's a God who couldn't possibly have made a mistake.

[thewiseguy]

90. Same thing happens on both sides

This primary has gotten ugly and candidates hitting one another every chance they get.

[joeybee12]

106. Happens every 4 years...why is is suddenly out of bounds

when anything BO does is questioned?

[Ilithiad]

131. Joybee...

They have been captured by good rhetoric and that is all...their love of him cannot even be based upon a credible record in Congress...He voted against the war but voted funding for it? If your going to take stand take it all the way not something half ass. He could have voted no on funding the war and of course the vote for funding would have passed any way. Voting is about taking a stand for your convictions. How could he vote against the war but vote for funding it? Doing so did not give legitimacy to his arguement.

[joeybee12]

136. Quite frankly, I see all the flaws Hilary has, and I still support her...

...because I think she's the toughest to get us out of this mess of the last 8 years. If you can't see your candidate as human, then you're in for a big shock down the road. There's some good stuff about BO, but I think his negatives outweigh that, and nothing he has done convinces me he's up to getting things done in office.

[Evergreen Emerald]

51. You see. That is the point

She did not lie. It was a blown up distortion....just like they are doing to Obama.

You joined in the party when everyone was unfairly attacking Clinton. Yet, you suggest that Obama is only human. Everyone misspeaks.

hypocrites.

[cliffordu]

27. Yeah, it's all about the sexism. after all she's just a girl, Right??

She says so
Bill says so
Her supporters say so.

That's why she should be President.

Cause she's just a girl.


Why would you vilify your candidate by reducing her to a specific gender??

I thought you wanted her to be President cause she is worthy of the office.

I was wrong.

[joeybee12]

29. Amen...God, they bed over backwards to defend ANYTHING he

says or does...can't even admit he made a mistake.

[Ilithiad]

40. Obamabots....

abound...ya know this crazed ferverent following of Obama reminds me of another person in history who had the power to sway people with words and keep people ignorant of his real character...Hitler....no I am not compairing Obama to Hitler so stop right there...I am merely stating that blind devition to a good talker who has obvious flaws as a person is inherently dangerous to good sound judgement.

[backscatter712]

48. Thread Godwined.

Ilithiad, you are truly clueless.

You want someone who resembles Hitler, try Bush.

[Ilithiad]

55. Excuse me?

I come from a small town and that small town is religious and they dont cling to guns or antipathy or anti-immigratio sentiment or anti-trade sentiment because they lost jobs and I am clueless? Since I come from a small town I am infinitely qualified to state my opinion of the wrongness of what Obama said. Keep your insults to yourself if you dont agree with me. I did not attack you....keep the debate clean...unlike our Democrat hopefuls for the presidency.

[backscatter712]

66. No, you're clueless for comparing Obama to Hitler. That's just plain idiotic.

[joeybee12]

76. He didn't...even mentioned he didn't...and I'd compare this Obama love to Bush....

...after 9-11 when many people attacked those who questioned Bush.

[Ilithiad]

84. Thank you for

reading the entire post...shows how much those obama bots cannot see past their own blind deviton that they will just pick out the things they want to talk about instead of the entire statement. Backscater proves my point!

[joeybee12]

88. Obama-love inhibits reading comprehension skills n/t

[Ilithiad]

104. Right on!

Most of the votes he is getting are from college students who do not have clue to how the real political system works...So what if he becomes president. He wont accomplish much if we have a republican controlled congress. This proved true during the clinton administration which stopped Hillary's medical plan cold. This proved true again during Bush,s second term when democrats took back control of Congress. Obama as president is not the real prize it is democrat control of Congress that is the real deal. They control the purse. They are the ones who vote on laws and pass them. The president's only real power is his role as commander of the armed forces. Today the average american is just as dissatisfied with a democrat controlled congress as they were a republican on. If obama wins as president count on voters limiting his scope by returning control of congress to republicans. I have been saying it all along. A good talk does not equate to achievable deeds.

[backscatter712]

86. He claims he didn't make the comparison after he just did.

"Obama reminds me of Hitler, blah blah blah, no I'm not comparing him to Hilter."

Just because you say you didn't doesn't mean you didn't.

[Ilithiad]

107. Uhm what is your reading

comprehension level? I compared the blind devotion to Obama as the same blind devotion to Hitler. I did not say Obama's character is the same as hitler...In the 4th grade I was reading Homer, dude...My english comprehension is so far beyond yours you shrink to insignifigance.

[Catherina]

58. He was in high heels when he did it. Gotcha. Acting LIKE a draq queen

makes it all ok in your book?

I feel so much better being shat upon knowing the shitter was wearing high heels.

[tbyg52]

63. Uh, when Hillary says she "misspoke" it means she lied

or maybe was having a senior moment, if you listen to Bill.

What Obama said was the simple truth, but could have been stated in a more "politically correct" way. There's a difference.

[Evergreen Emerald]

71. BS. The only difference is that it is your candidate whose statement

is the butt of the attacks.

That is the only difference.

[tbyg52]

83. OK, everyone is entitled to his/her opinion. nt

[Berry Cool]

75. "Backwards and in high heels" is bullshit.

This has nothing to do with Clinton being a woman. It has to do with how rottenly she's run her campaign.

[Evergreen Emerald]

79. No. It has to do with the baseless attacks and the making of mountains

out of molehills by her opponents or the media. Why? Political reasons? Or because she threatens the power structure that has been in place 200 years.

[joeybee12]

24. Um, I'm not seeing anyone admiitting that until now...

...hundreds of posts about how he was 100% correct...can't you read those????

[angie_love]

42. Yeah b/c what he said was true, any liberal would know that

The ones getting their panties in a bunch are repugs and Hillary supporters. This is hysterical...you don't think that when a person can't find a job their not bitter? Horseshit!! Are we really to believe Hillary when she says that the jobless folks are happy and merry and life is perfect? I hate when politicians talk to people like they're babies, like they can't handle the truth. Its a FACT that poor whites are bitter and they are angry and that leads alot of them to take their anger out on other things, be it racism, guns, etc. Just like poor blacks are angry too because they are faced with economic hardship. And its the govt's fault b/c they ignore it and what happens? poor whites and blacks take it out on each other when they really should be taking it out on the govt. Its a fucking fact, what are you people 15? What world are you living in?

[joeybee12]

65. I'm so glad you're here to speak the truth...you're as condescending

as BO is...painting all people with such a broad brush is what a person of 13 would do...and if you read my post, I didn't say that people weren't angry, but that he should have focused on the cause...sorry that your love for all thigs Obama inhibits your reading comprehension skills.

[angie_love]

87. You're so in denial. And I wish you'd open your eyes

The narrowmindedness of some of you astounds me. I'm from MA and it is the poor whites and poor blacks who are frustrated, they are upset, and rightly so, but they can't do anything about it b/c the govt doesn't do SHIT for them. And so what happens? They take it out on each other. God how old are you?

[joeybee12]

97. Grow up sweetie...and stop acting like you have the answers to

everything and take some reading comprehension classes...why do you think telling people they bash immigrants or vote against gay marriage because they're unemployed and need to take it out on other people wins them over? This whole issue needs to be discussed in a different format than a presidential campaign because it is way too involved...and to think that you can just make a three-line post that explains everything is the height or arrogance and narrow-mindedness.

[angie_love]

105. you said that already...

and its still stupid the second time around.

[joeybee12]

108. Last response...

...you really need to grow up. yeah, I'm saying it again in the hopes it'll stick.

[Ilithiad]

77. Your statemens are so baseless and groundless...

and utterly wrong...people who make racist remarks or do racist actions have always been that way and to blame government for their beliefs is riduculous. People are who they are and you make it sound like "Oh the government shittied on me so now I am going to hate blacks or latinos or go to church or cary a gun to vent my frustration...." That is such unintelligent bullshit and another propagation of the psycho-babble psychology I am not responsible for my actions because some one fucked me over. You are blaming racism on the government. It is not the goverment's fault people are racist. That quality is a deep seated character flaw that has nothing to do with what the goverment did or did not do.

[Ilithiad]

50. No one is saying

he is incorrect...Those who have adversions to his comments are not saying they are not true...they are saying the substance of what he said and the way he said it was offensive....4 out of 4 analyst on CNN said it as a mistake on a magnitude of 10 on a scale of 1 to 10 and one said an 11. These people are skilled political analyst and four out of four who are apalled is not good odds for Obama. Neither one of those said he was incorrect. They said it was a mistake. I agree with them. It was offensive and I will never vote for him if he wins the nomination. Hillary 08 till the end.

[tbyg52]

73. Sigh.... I get so tired of hearing "I won't vote for the Democratic nominee"

on a DEMOCRATIC board. Silly me. Well, if Hillary is the nominee (I'd prefer she wasn't), I'm voting for her.

[Ilithiad]

116. Yes this is a democratic board

and I did not say I will not vote for the democratic nominee. I said I will not vote for Obama. He is not the nominee YET! See? More blind arrogance Obama-love inhibits reading comprehension skills n/t

[tbyg52]

120. Ah - I'm assuming this means the primary has not taken place in your state

and you will not be voting for him in the primary (which I could infer... ;) ), but that you will vote for whomever is the nominee? Just curious, sort of.

[Ilithiad]

123. I am in chicago

and I did vote in my state's primary. I voted for Hillary. What I am referring to is the GE which if Obama wins the democratic nomination I will not vote for him. Neither will I vote for McSame. Both candidates are distatsteful to me.

[tbyg52]

124. Really....?

>>and I did not say I will not vote for the democratic nominee.

OK.....

[Ilithiad]

127. Let me rephrase....

I will not vote for the democratic nominee if its Obama..some times my own mouth runs away without thinking things through...I will vote for the democratic nominee if its Hillary.

[tbyg52]

129. Got it. If Obama is the Democratic nominee, you will not vote for the Democratic nominee.

That's what I thought you said. Hope you enjoy the Supreme Court nominees.....

[Ilithiad]

132. Ugh that is a scary thought

Well that is something I did not think of...If we get Mccain we get more conservative judges...If we get Obama, which is likely even though I's rather it not be we will get liberal judges....you know this brings up a thought...I think the supreme court judges terms should end with the president who chose them...Life long service in the Supreme Court gives too much power to liberals and convervatives...Life long service ensures an ideological agenda difficult to overcome. Thier terms should be limited to limit the power of one party's political ideology. Everyone knows Supreme court justices legislate on their benches. That should be stopped. I believe it should be mandatory in Supreme Court Justice selection it be even in liberals and conservatives to prevent the each other from ramming political agenda down our throats whethere we want it or not. I am a liberal democrat but there are some things I lean conservative on because it makes sense. For instance: I believe in equal rights for gays and lesbians but I do not believe a law should be made to allow them marriage...the constitution does not say one way or another That is not the perogative of the goverment that is between man man woman woman man woman and the one who marries them. I believe there should be an equal balance on social issues and a strong military. I believe in socialized medicine. I believe that corporations should not be allowed to run roughshod over their workers nor should workers run roughshod over the corporation. I believe in a flat tax end all those loophole deductions in the tax code. I think there should be and end to lawsuits because of stupidity(Remeber the one where someone sued Macdonalds because their coffee burned them and the cup did not say caution hot.). I believe there should be a national tax on items made over seas and sold here..End nafta and cafta and all these trade treaties...tax penalties on those who use sweat shops in foreign countries to sell their items here...We shouuld look out for number on..numbero uno...America first and always first. Everybody else second.

[tbyg52]

122. Err.... "Reading comprehension skills"....?

>>I will never vote for him if he wins the nomination.

(I made my previous post before rereading your original, working on the assumption that what you told me you said was in fact what you said. Oh well.....)

[Ilithiad]

128. I apologize...

got caught up in what I was trying to say that I made an error.

[tbyg52]

130. No problem.

Welcome to DU, BTW. :hi:

Edited to reiterate that I am voting/donating/working for the Democratic nominee, whomever s/he may be.

I'm also out of GDP (not that I think anyone particularly cares.... ;) ) - it's much more peaceful around here with it hidden, and I don't think I'll miss much, if anything, that's substantive.

[Ilithiad]

133. Thanks

Ya know I am a hillary supporter and my only real complaint is that she should apologize for her vote on the Iraq war....her lies or misspokes...I can look past all that because all politicans exaggerate and lie...its her vote on Iraq she should apologize for. If she did that at the very beginning of her campaign and reiterate in throughout her campaign she would be much better off in the primaries.

[PBS Poll-435]

34. Even Hillary.

;)

[countingbluecars]

6. He will be fine.

People who really listen will understand what he was saying.

[mmonk]

8. Because he did not mean them the way it has been portrayed.

If that makes me a bot than so be it.

[DemGa]

9. Obama keeps spinning -- and looking even weaker for it

I do believe this could spell disaster for Barack Obama.

"So I said, well you know, when you're bitter you turn to what you can count on. So people, they vote about guns, or they take comfort from their faith and their family and their community. And they get mad about illegal immigrants who are coming over to this country or they get frustrated about you know how things are changing."

[ShortnFiery]

10. Unlike HRC (and her husband) and McCain, Obama realizes when he hasn't been clear and will readily

admit when he misspeaks. I respect him for that.

This dust-up reminds me of the last debate when HRC was "going in for the kill" by DEMANDING that he both "refute and denounce" the support of Louis Farrakhan. RIGHT ON THE SPOT Obama "gave into" HRC's theatrical demand.

It's the mark of a Great Leader to QUICKLY take responsibility for his/her mistakes.

[joeybee12]

37. Wrong and wronger! He defened the remarks until he realized

it was a losing battle. If he had admitted a mistake quickly, he'd be fine, but he didn't, and to say that he did is really quite delusional.

[SunsetDreams]

11. I am not a Bot...

neither are my fellow Obama supporters.

After that term, you pretty much lost the argument.

If you would like to retract the Bot out of your post, you might get better replies.

[lumberjack_jeff]

13. He can fix this. He can recover.

I want him to.

Solve the problem, Barack. Drop the psychoanalysis.

[tbyg52]

96. I don't think there's much to "fix" or "recover" from, myself

I think (hope) that the only people who are getting outraged about this are the people who would never have voted for him anyway. What he said is the simple truth, but could have been better put. So he'll learn from it, but the idea behind what he said was spot on.

[lumberjack_jeff]

137. I live in a rural area.

If the idea behind it was that working class people are becoming disillusioned because the political process doesn't serve their interests, then I fully agree that it's spot on.

If the idea behind it was trying to explain to his San Fransisco audience why us rural folks are so backwards, I don't.

His intent wasn't clear to me and I'm a Hillary supporter who will vote for the Democratic nominee regardless. There are undoubtedly voters who are undecided for whom it was unclear too.

[AlinPA]

14. After Clinton's response today (in that article) where she implies that Obama is

unpatriotic and anti-religion there is no way in hell that I could ever vote for her. She knew damn well what he meant but her stretching the point like that was totally slimy politics. She continues to piss off a lot of Obama supporters with statements like that.

[rodeodance]

19. whow--he is worried and he should be!

[Petrushka]

26. Thank you for the NYT link. And . . . thumbs-up to your comments. (eom)

[joeybee12]

38. Thanks...honeslty, this would not be a big deal if BO had admitted

ill chosen words earlier...it's blind acceptance of all things Bo that is troubling.

[NYCGirl]

28. And he should continue hitting Clinton and McCain on the fact that the

working class has been ignored for the past 2 decades.

[Ilithiad]

31. Garbage...

"I didn't say it as well as I should have..." Nice try...NOT! He should not have said it at all....Those kinds of remarks smacks or arrogance and out of touch with normal Americans...This is why Democrats lose elections...alienating the religious, which is a powerful voting block that tends to vote republican and attack gun owners....why dont democrats learn it is not guns that kill people it is people...the Brady Bill has not slowed down crime in our communities...a tougher stance on crime is needed...longer punishments and support for capital punishment.

[backscatter712]

36. Grab on to something! Here comes the tsunami of faux poutrage!!!

I told you so.

[EFerrari]

91. No, it doesn't. That's the RW spin.

He is a person of faith and his record on gun laws is just fine.

"Alienating the religious" is a Republican talking point that has no basis in fact.

[NJmaverick]

33. Hillary did her damage, the plus is that this is a weekend story

that will be dead by Monday. Obama is skilled enough not to be repuked as Kerry or Gore were.

[rodeodance]

41. BHO did it to himself. simple as that.

[NJmaverick]

44. Was it Senator Obama that sent the media repuke talking points???

If not you are full of what comes out of a cow's backside.

[Ilithiad]

61. You are half right...

He did it to himself and a bunch of small town voters who Hillary tends to get anyway.

[Willo]

39. LOL, I knew that little piece was going to get picked up

Obama said this:

''I didn't say it as well as I should have,'' he said.

The Times interpreted it as this:

...conceded that that comments he made about bitter working class voters who ''cling to guns or religion'' were ill chosen.

And, you read the above and got this:

Even BO sees that he didn't make a good case for what he "meant" to say...

I heard him and he didn't concede anything. Instead he added to his point and further clarified what was basically obvious.
So, he didn't think they were ill-chosen if he repeated the same thing with a few more words.

He certainly didn't retract any of it.

The video will be out soon I'm sure.

[gblady]

52. I didn't say it as well as I could have....

does not mean the content of what he said was incorrect...
he is only saying he could have said it in a different way.

[CakeGrrl]

62. Yep. But Hillary doesn't know when to leave well enough alone,

and a big hammer named NAFTA is waiting to hit her smack over the head. Keep piling on, Senator Clinton. It was never what you tried to whip it up to be with your stolen right-wing talking points.

[Willo]

81. No you are still sticking to "ill-chosen"

By his own expansion on the topic, he wasn't looking to say it "differently". As you suggest in your OP
Its a given there are many ways for anyone to say just about anything.
He didn't try to clean it up. He didn't concede
He expanded and clarified for those who didn't hear him firsthand or are listening to the "gotcha guys"

[joeybee12]

53. Too bad...because if he keeps on digging in, he;s screwing himself

over...he can't win, and to think he's right on this and that no one would be offended only makes him look more out of touch.

[Willo]

60. What part offended you?

[joeybee12]

85. I didn't say I was offended...but if he's going to say to people they're bitter

and because of this they bash immigrants, don't you think they might be offended????

[Willo]

111. But it's true.

If there were enough jobs, money, housing and security to go around.

Do you think most people would give a rat's ass about video showing Mexican men and women sneaking through holes in fences?
Do you honestly think there is ANYONE who can say ANYTHING that does offend SOMEBODY?
Do you not think the special interest aren't offended that he won't take their money and plans to get rid of them.


You said this:

over...he can't win, and to think he's right on this and that no one would be offended only makes him look more out of touch.

If you're not the one who is offended. What were you talking about here? Are you saying he's out of touch because some people think no one is offended?

[joeybee12]

114. If we had 100% employment, there'd still be these issues...

...trying to explain everything away with such a braod statement is ignorant...and trying to explain your remarks during a presidential campaign is naive.

[Willo]

118. There you go again...Can you stick to your own topic to make your point

now you're saying he's trying to explain everything away with a broad statement.

Yes, that would be ignorant. But he didn't do that.

Oh I see, speaking out against the political norm is naive? Are you saying you're concerned now, he's lose votes?



I'll tell you what...you keep working on it until you can spin it just right.

[joeybee12]

138. Spin thyself, buddy. n/t

[Life Long Dem]

46. self delete

self delete

[Carni]

54. Gee, Really?

Oh hell! Who cares about a few million middle class *working class* white folk?

F em all -- that's how to win an election!

[book_worm]

59. he's right, his words were ill chosen, but anybody with a thinking mind understands his point

[backscatter712]

80. Exactly.

The fact is that millions of people across this country have been screwed, and yes, they're pissed off, and bitter.

[Willo]

92. LOL, what are quoting?

When you say "he's right"... The OP or Obama?

Only the NYTimes used the words "ill-chosen"

[joeybee12]

144. You're assuming everyone agrees with you that BO only has the purest

of intentions in everything he does...I don't, so your premise is flawed.

[1776Forever]

68. And goes on to say that he is the one that knows the pain & will do something abou it..............

April 11, 2008, 9:43 pm
Obama Slams Critics on Middle-Class Comments

By Jeff Zeleny

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/11/obama-slams-critics-on-middle-class-comments/

At a rally here Friday evening, Mr. Obama drawing a standing ovation in a crowded gymnasium as he rebutted those charges and painted both of his rivals as entrenched Washington insiders.

“No, I’m in touch. I know exactly what’s going on. I know what’s going on in Pennsylvania, I know what’s going on in Indiana, I know what’s going on in Illinois,” Mr. Obama said, his voice rising. “People are fed up, they’re angry, they’re frustrated, they’re bitter and they want to see a change in Washington. That’s why I’m running for president of the United States of America.”

:applause: :woohoo: :woohoo: :applause:

Finally a man that can tell the truth!!!!!!!!!

[kwenu]

70. BUT NOT UNTRUE! Note the difference.

[Evergreen Emerald]

89. Neither was hers. It was distorted and blown out of proportion

[Life Long Dem]

95. The title is a lie. He never conceded. The OP needs to change the title .

Or I will use the alert and they will lock it. I won't argue, so don't argue with me.

[joeybee12]

99. It's the title of the NY Times article...

...so go argue with yourself...just be sure to close the drapes.

[Life Long Dem]

102. You just pissed me off.

[joeybee12]

110. Sorry, got that impression I did that a few posts earlier n/t

[Willo]

121. Its not just the title because you added to it.

Even BO sees that he didn't make a good case for what he "meant" to say...how much longer will the Bots here try to defend his ill-chosen remarks? yeah, we're angry and frustrated, but he didn't focus on the causes...like Bush and government in general..instead used pop psychology to focus on the people who were bitter (should have stuck with angry, because bitter conjures up a different impression of that person) and how they use that bitterness, like vote against gay marriage and bash immigrants. Foolish, foolish comments.

[tbyg52]

103. Thank you for this point (I tend to miss stuff like that). nt

[Life Long Dem]

100. Look at post # 57

[Tom Rinaldo]

109. Anyone else see the irony in how this came about?

Obama is raising over a million a day on the internet and outspending Clinton up to 3 to 1 in TV adviertizing in critical upcoming states. By almost any standard he didn't need to be spending his personal time at a fundraiser with rich people on the West Coast.

[joeybee12]

112. Even McCain made sure to note he said this in san Francisco...

...which is offensive (by McCain) and uncalled for...but you can see where this is going.

[formernaderite]

143. I hadn't heard that he said this...good for him

and yes, some of his supporters are idiots when they defend blindly....as an Obama supporter I know I've prob made some callous remarks about Hillary...but I generally accept criticism of my candidate quite well.