why bittergate won't hurt Obama: The "non-bitter" voters were hardly in play anyways

[Levgreee]

do you think the people who are really big into gun rights, immigration, and antipathy towards certain groups(liberals, activists, immigrants, whatever) were voting for Hillary and Obama, en masse?

NO! The bitter ones are the ones being picked up by the Democrats. Democrats, Democrat-leaning independents, or bitter disenfranchised Republicans.

Oh no! Obama hurt his chances with conservatives who take these issues very personally, and therefore get offended over a poorly worded, but true, statement.


Last time I checked the Democrats weren't running an election to cater and draw in the conservative vote. The majority of people turned off by this statement are conservatives, who get emotional very quick, and therefore don't hear the actual content of the message.



Although he should avoid it, Obama shouldn't be so scared of offending those conservative voters. Being pro-choice, and for universal healthcare, already does so. Bittergate is a paper tiger.

[leftofcool]

1. Of course, half the country who is not bitter doesn't count

Take note, happy contented Democrats, you don't matter. Obama does not care about your vote nor does he want it

[Forkboy]

2. Honestly, are you happy and content with things right now?

[leftofcool]

4. With the government, no, with my situation in life, you bet

[Forkboy]

14. Many can barely afford to eat. Many can't pay for healthcare.

Many have sons, daughters, mothers and fathers in a warzone. Many are in the process of losing their homes and their jobs. Poverty is rampant. One has to go back to the Reagan years to find a higher rate of people using food stamps.

I don't think I'm going out on a limb when I say that most of these people will not share your rosy outlook.

[leftofcool]

21. And this of course makes all of them bitter?

As opposed to hard working and resiliant?

[Forkboy]

23. Why can't they be both?

Many people are bitter precisely because they're hard working, and they're still getting nowhere anyways. This isn't the black/white, either/or equation you want to make it.

[ima_sinnic]

19. so you wouldn't be voting for Obama anyway

those who are "content" love the status quo, and they love the DLC.

sorry to burst your contented little bubble, but most of We The People are not so "content" and do want things to change and are tired of the Bush and Clinton crony bullshit business-as-usual.

Since it is now mathematically impossible for Clinton to win the nomination, and since we all know that the superdelegates are not going to be cajoled, bribed, or threatened into going for Clinton, your choices are basically McCain and Obama. I think we all know which one you're going to choose.

[leftofcool]

25. So, let me get this straight.........

Because we have worked our asses off for 45 years to be able to own two homes that are paid for, put 4 kids through college, battle cancer and survive it, put back money for retirement and can say we are happy and content with what we have, that makes us love Bush, love the DLC, and love McCain? Back up your claim in knowing who I would vote for of STFU!

[ima_sinnic]

39. why are you taking it so personally, then, when Obama characterizes

people as "bitter" in an offhanded remark? You'd think he went on and on about it for an hour, making it a major point. You don't think it might have even a slight ring of truth to it? If you're going to vote for Obama, why are you so huffy about it?

I'm doing okay for now, but I'm pissed as hell at the repukes and the complicit, greedy, sneaky "democrats" like Hillary who have shipped jobs overseas and given the wealthy tax breaks so we little people are left holding the bag. I don't know if I'd call myself "bitter," but I'm certainly not going to crucify Obama over it. He's just describing a general situation. Why get so twisted about what Obama said?

By doing so, you imply that there is nothing for anybody to be bitter about--just because YOU have succeeded in fulfilling your dreams--and therefore, nothing should change in this country and THEREFORE, you'd prefer someone who isn't going to "rock the boat"--like McCain or a DINO like Clinton.

[leftofcool]

42. Not crucifying Obama

just the OP in question

[Levgreee]

3. You think we should be catering to the 35%+ who are staunch Republicans/conservatives, who support

McCain wholeheartedly?

Well, I guess it makes sense, being a Hillary supporter and all.

a month ago some Hillary supporters were blasting Obama for "catering to the Republican vote". Now they do the EXACT OPPOSITE. You trolls will spin an attack no matter what is said.

[leftofcool]

5. Shouldn't your candidate be trying to attract all voters

you know, unity and all that?

[Levgreee]

6. "Unity" does not mean you cater to or agree with everyone. Obama's goal is a working majority, 60%+

hopefully 60%+, that is.

The other people can join in if they want, but Obama isn't going to sacrifice his Democratic values in the sake of the brand of unity you speak of, unity which is impossible.

[leftofcool]

12. "unity which is impossible. "

So that means he won't be "reaching across the aisle to repukes" as he claims?

[Levgreee]

17. He'll be reaching across to the "Obamacans", not the staunch-republicans. He reaches across, but it

is up to them to make the move to actually come across.

[TwilightGardener]

7. I thought Bill Clinton said that Obama supporters were happy and content

and only wanted a "feeling", not a President. I thought the Hillary line was to mock the "hope" message as naive and too optimistic. She made fun of me with the "celestial choirs will be singing" thing. She was even saying "Get Real" for a little while. Now she's latched on to whatever message seems to suit the day, apparently--it's Hillary the Hope-Filled Naive Optimist vs. Obama the gritty realist! She's so full of shit, I can't believe she can still fit into her pantsuits.

[JVS]

8. What democrats have been happy and contented over the last 8 years?

[Labors of Hercules]

13. It's an oxymoron. If you are really a Democrat...

there's no way in hell you can have been happy and content over the past 8 years.

[leftofcool]

31. Really?

All of America's Dems are truly unhappy?

[Labors of Hercules]

45. Politically? absolutely. nt.

[leftofcool]

18. So you have nothing to be happy or contented about?

No Dem has been happy about Bush and Company but you imply that no Dem has anything to be happy about at all. I guess America is just a mean, bleak country filled with bitter angry people. This is what your candidate wants to portray to the rest of the world?

[Levgreee]

20. If someone is bitter, does that mean they have nothing to be happy about? You are spinning fast

[leftofcool]

27. Those were your words

[ima_sinnic]

22. talk about a desperate stretch!

but when the full impact of the economic meltdown happens, which is predicted to be worse, far worse, than the Great Depression, it won't matter WHAT Obama "portrays to the rest of the world," because America truly WILL be a "mean, bleak country filled with bitter angry people."

[leftofcool]

28. I don't live my life by predictions from the government

sorry that you do

[ima_sinnic]

40. what ARE you talking about? what "predicitons from government"?

you have turned a molehill into a mountain of shit.

the "government" in fact is "predicting" just the opposite, that everything is just going to be peachy keen and we should keep shopping, keep racking up credit card debt like there's no tomorrow, etc. etc.
Just because Obama says some people are bitter, your panties are in a wad. jeesh, try to get over it, okay? just feel glad that he's recognized that the problem DOES exist, which is more than Hillary, the lying DINO, is willing to do--I mean, she voted in favor of the Bankruptcy Bill, for which she was very well rewarded by the credit card companies. That's who SHE is working for. If you think she or McCain gives a rat's ass about you--you're delusional. At least Obama seems sincere in his concern for those who are getting shafted, unlike the other two.

[leftofcool]

44. Ah yes, the Lord Obama will solve all the problems

[JVS]

32. Politically speaking, there has been very little to be happy about over the last 8 years. The ...

economy is no great shakes either right now as food and gas prices are climbing steeply. Who wouldn't be annoyed by such shit?

The things in my life that have been pleasing surely aren't at all due to the bumbling of our federal government.

[Labors of Hercules]

9. Obama is a far more caring Democrat than Hillary or McCain...

So, if you want to continue being a happy and contented Democrat, you may want to rethink the reality of your bullshit assessment of the situation.

[MADem]

10. Lotta people talking about it though. You'd think they thought it mattered.

[anonymous171]

16. They're only talking about it because Hillary assaulted Obama with it.

They're covering Hillary's latest slime. Not the actual issue.

[2rth2pwr]

29. Hillary throws out lots of things, this resonated with voters

across the country.

[ima_sinnic]

43. yes, but not in the way that does Hillary any good--in fact, it reminds them

that SHE voted in FAVOR of the Bankruptcy Bill, and SHE is complicit in NAFTA, and in trade deals with right-wing death-squad fascist dictators, and in shipping jobs overseas, and in scoffing at the idea that they could possibly be "bitter."

yes, it's resonating all right, it's resonating with these Pennsylvanians and might actually help to put Obama in the driver's seat in PA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc9PepjyDow

[MADem]

36. Mmmmm, hmmmm. OK. NT

[KittyWampus]

11. Um, Obama isn't against 'gun rights' and said nothing untoward about gun-owners

[wndycty]

15. K&R

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x5468610

[BzaDem]

24. A 2-3% decrease in turnout among democrats like those who you describe will doom our chances.

Most of them may be republicans. The problem is that even a few percent will be very damaging.

[Levgreee]

26. do you realize how many people 2-3% is? Your estimate should be more in the scope of .1-.5%

[Lyric]

30. Apparently you've missed Obama's statements about this

Last time I checked the Democrats weren't running an election to cater and draw in the conservative vote.

Oh, but didn't you hear? We're supposed to talk to the right-wingers and bigots, let them "have a voice at the table".

:puke:

I'm tired of Democrats telling me how important it is to listen to the voices of right-wing bigots. If we let them have a voice in our policies, then the term "Democrat" practically ceases to mean anything anymore. Since when did it become a big no-no for Democrats to ACT like Democrats?

[crankychatter]

33. there goes the assault rifle toting, fundamentalist, xenophobe vote

If you believe in stereotypes

I don't think my man Obama does... and I don't believe my neighbors here in Kansas do either.

[bigtree]

34. only conservatives have an affinity for god and guns, or are concerned about immigration or trade

. . . right?

[leftofcool]

35. But Obama doesn't need the votes of these people

Did he send out a memo on this?

[Levgreee]

37. only they will get worked up enough that they will be too offended to hear Obama's response and know

the truth of what he was saying. Non-conservatives care about those issues, but they don't get so emotional over them that they are resilient against hearing the truth.


That is the difference between conservatives, and people who simply are concerned and care about these issues. The conservatives have the strong emotional investment, and get offended instead of being reasonable.

[OzarkDem]

38. When you're in a hole, you should stop digging

But feel free to dig deeper. It will end this primary much sooner.

[ima_sinnic]

41. dream on if you tnink this nonissue is going to "end this primary" in Hillary's favor!

mass delusion seems to be a hallmark of Hillary "supporters"--most of whom are just dittohead bots who do whatever Rush Limbaugh tells them to do to disrupt the Democratic Party and mess around with the democratic process.