Obama: "I am amused about this notion of elitist"

[sabra]

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/04/obama_on_elitism_silly_season.html

Barack Obama, addressing an audience of veterans in Pennsylvania today, faced a man who rose and asked -- with an obvious sense of indignation about the current battle over the senator's words about the working class and campaign complaints that Obama is elitist and out-of-touch -- if there isn't some racial element to this controversy.

"I don’t think there are racial overtones to the attacks going on right now,'' Obama replied. "It’s politics.''

Obama, saying that “the American people are looking for politics that are not about tearing each down but lifting the country up,'' said: "These kind of political attacks, they don’t solve the V.A . problem… What we really need to do right now is focus on solving problems.

"It is true,'' Obama added, "I am amused about this notion of eltitist,'' given that he was raised by a single mother who for a time relied on food stamps and married a woman of humble means as well. "We both had to finance our entire law school educations borrowing money, and we paid off our student loans about five years ago, six years ago…

"We lived for the first 13 years in our marriage, up until three years ago, in a one-bedroom condo without a garage,'' Obama said, "which means, if you live in Chicago, you are scraping ice from your windshield'' in the morning.

“That’s when you know we’re in political silly season.’’

[DJ13]

1. Is "el tit ist" a love of spanish boobs?

:)

K&R anyway, good post!

[sabra]

3. LOL - made the edit in OP - looks like the bloggers over at the Trib might need the same heads up

:hi:

[DJ13]

15. That was the Trib's headline?!

:rofl:


:hi:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. good way for Obama to approach this accusation, I think

take the high road.

[slinkerwink]

8. yeah

[LisaM]

4. OK, I watch House Hunters all the time and in Chicago it's not unusual

For a condo not to have a garage. I don't have a garage.

[cali]

6. he didn't say whether it was usual ore unusual

he simply said he didn't have a garage.

[beachmom]

7. You're not going to deny that that means ice scraping, are you?

Edit: I like those kinds of shows, too. I also like "You're House is Worth What?" and the ones about designing your home to sell. I actually think those shows are going to become more interesting with the housing market collapse. I already saw one where a Las Vegas couple's home was an ARM and was going to convert to a very high payment. If they didn't sell their home they would be foreclosed on. Well, the mother and daughter team told them what they needed to do to stage their house to sell, and they did NOTHING, because deep down, they didn't want to move. Very poignant story.

[LisaM]

28. I just meant that having to scrape ice off your car does not mean you're needy

It's just not that compelling an example. I've had to scrape ice off my car hundreds of times. I don't see it as a sign of poverty. Many people just out of college have to live in rentals (not condos) and they don't always get covered parking.

Note that they also had a car. I'm not saying he was living a big old rich lifestyle. He was moving up economically. He owned a condo. He had a car. Having to scrape ice off your car - big deal.

[qanda]

36. I didn't realize he was trying to prove himself needy

Perhaps I missed the point and you can help me understand. BTW, I would think that living in a one bedroom apartment with two kids was not the most convenient condition to live in.

[scheming daemons]

42. He didn't say or imply he was needy.... just a normal middle-class guy...

....

[LisaM]

43. I think the shows are much more interesting in a depressed market

I agree with you.

[grace0418]

11. It's not unusual, but it's hardly luxury.

Most of the high-end condos in the city have indoor parking or garages. I worked on the advertising for many of them.

[TheDoorbellRang]

13. What?

What's your point about garages?

[City Lights]

17. What?

He didn't say it was unusual.

[RaleighNCDUer]

22. The point is, the elites DO all have garages.

You won't find anyone who you can define as an 'elite' who does NOT have a garage.

(Which isn't to say that since getting a house with a garage, that Obama has automatically become an elitist - there ARE other qualifiers.)

And when was the last time you were accused of being of the elite?

[Political Heretic]

23. umm... cool. Thanks for making his point.

That is not unusual, and not elitist :hi:

[Tatiana]

29. The middle-to-high end condos in Chicago have indoor or covered parking.

Or the refurbs usally have numbered "gangway" or alleyway garages.

[qanda]

35. I thought that was his point

Only the higher end condos would have that type of luxury. Don't tell me we're getting ready to start condo-gate. I just can't take any more.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

45. Do you live with spouse/SO and 2 kids in 1 bedroom home ?

n/t

[krkaufman]

47. It sure as heck isn't "elite"

The Republican framing of "elite" would require at least a garage, if not valet parking.

[cali]

5. he's so good at this

and unlike hillary, he doesn't jump at every opportunity to bash her. he's presidential. she's anything but.

[americanstranger]

12. Yep. the word is 'presidential.'

He's so collected and calm about things, and seems willing to take a longer view of things.

He makes his opponents look more and more irrational every time they try to slime him.

- as

[SeaLyons]

9. Elitist doesn't mean having money...

it's about an attitude.

[slinkerwink]

10. what attitude does he have? Is it 'uppity?'

[SoonerPride]

21. Did ignore say something else hateful and racist?

Frankly, I'm shocked

[NOLALady]

27. Nailed it!

[Lerkfish]

can you back that up, this "attitude" of elitism by Obama?

cite examples, please.

[thereismore]

14. Ah, I see. I happen to think that the Clintons always are what they accuse others of. nt

[Lerkfish]

16. btw, what kind of attitude does this list represent?

http://www2.nysun.com/article/5152

Top Donors to the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation

The Annenberg foundation? the Dubai Foundation? these are NOT elitist organizations?

do tell.


:popcorn:

[poplockndropit]

18. I am amused he is amused.

[scheming daemons]

24. I'm NOT amused that you're amused he is amused.....

...isn't that amusing?

[poplockndropit]

32. quite.

[Political Heretic]

19. Not only is he right. But he's simply better at this than she is. Comments show electability

[Bonobo]

20. He shouldn't have used the word "amused". It sounds elitist to me.

Just kiddin'!

:sarcasm:

[scheming daemons]

25. A "man of the people" would have said "tickled"

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

31. He should have said "It cracks me the fuck up." instead. That's what real every day working people

like Clinton or McCain would say.

[Bonobo]

34. Bingo!

[Coexist]

26. "We lived for the first 13 years in our marriage, up until three years ago, in a one-bedroom condo"

the SNOB!

We had NO bedrooms, and FIRST we had to go GET the ice BAREFOOT to PUT on our windshields before we could scrape it off.

Walk a mile, Barack, walk a mile.

:P

[On the Road]

30. Barefoot?

You mean you had feet?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

33. Back in my day feet were a luxury. n/t

[Coexist]

41. lol

[rug]

37. I use the defroster.

[scheming daemons]

39. Only elitists like you could afford a car with a defroster... we just had my brother breathe on the

...window.

[rug]

40. When the defroster is broken, I scrape my cat across the windshield.

Those claws do a great job but I could do without the yowling.

[ladywnch]

44. finally a pratical use for a cat!!!!!

just kidding....please don't flame me.....I don't hate cats......or cat owners.

[RiverStone]

38. His answer worked because he is simply telling the truth.

Damn, he's gonna rock as our next president!

[RememberWellstone]

46. Glad he's amused

He's just like the rest of us. Just a normal, everyday Joe.

[nemo137]

48. Friend, can you picture Hillary scraping ice of a windshield?

I mean, granted, she's been driven around since 1978, but can you see her out there with a scraper in -15 windchill?