Bill Clinton Says Portland Pundits Are Wrong About Rural Oregon

[ellisonz]

Bill Clinton Says Portland Pundits Are Wrong About Rural Oregon

April 26, 2008 3:21 PM

ABC News' Sarah Amos reports: President Bill Clinton is excited to be courting rural votes across the state of Oregon today, even if the Portland pundits don’t think it will make a difference in the Oregon primary.

Beginning his day in Junction City, Ore. -- a small community just outside of Eugene -- the former president told the crowd how he had read an article this morning saying that Clinton's visit to rural areas wouldn't pay off in Oregon the way it had in other states like Pennsylvania.

"When Hillary's campaign announced that I was going to be speaking all over Oregon and in small towns and rural areas, I heard that some of the pundits in Portland thought I was nuts," he said. "And there's an article, I just read an article in the Associated Press that quotes a Reed College political science professor who says that my coming to see you won't work.

"Now listen," Clinton told a booing crowd. "He said that Hillary's decision to reach out to rural Oregon was -- quote –- 'old politics.'"

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/04/bill-clinton--3.html

Professor Gronke's response: http://www.blueoregon.com/2008/04/bill-clinton-wa.html

[BlueManDude]

1. more wedge politics from the Clintons.

[jackson_dem]

52. Obama disses working small town folks to rich urban folks: great! He was telling it like it is!

Clinton defends the importance of small towns from Portland critics: wedge politics! Oh the humanity!

[madrchsod]

56. really? he did`t diss me.....

[jackson_dem]

64. The "netroots" is not representative of the real world

Look at his performance in rural Pennsylvania counties...

[DerekJ]

57. "screw'em"

[roguevalley]

65. you don't know those small towns. Dems don't even identify themselves

to their friends. My aunt, from Bly, voted dem her entire life and her hubby repug. she didn't tell us she did this until the year she died and she was in her eighties. she was a rabid dem but EVERYONE thought she was pug. (Just in the voting, not in her views) that is what the rural areas of Oregon are like, especially in the west. Until you know the region, you shouldn't venture an opinion. I don't know penn and didn't have a view on the rural areas. You obviously don't know rural Oregon.

[leftofcool]

2. Go Bill! Oregon voters are as important as voters in other states.

[ellisonz]

4. Except the one's who live in Portland.

They don't count.

[Kittycat]

7. Exactly. Keep dividing the Dems like that, bill. And if Hill does get the nod

she'll have to accept public financing, because no one will fund her campaign. Oh wait, that's already happening. Keep up the good work.

[rodeodance]

19. you know Bill will woo them . ha ha

[Why Syzygy]

26. They were BOOOOing him. The once esteemed, President William Jefferson Clinton. boo'd

[depakid]

41. Where was that- and do you have a link?

[rodeodance]

44. poster was wrong. read my post.

[Why Syzygy]

60. I'm not wrong . They BOOO'd Bill

"Now listen," Clinton told a booing crowd. "He said that Hillary's decision to reach out to rural Oregon was -- quote –- 'old politics.'"

It's the first link in the OP.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/04/bill-clinton--3.html

[rodeodance]

43. read again. The boos are for the Prof saying rural oregon does not count.

[ellisonz]

48. Which of course is not what Gronke said at all.

Reed College political science Prof. Paul Gronke said he did not think the Pennsylvania small-town strategy would work as well in Oregon, where the demographics and economic issues are different -- ranches instead of farms, one major population center instead of several, and a continuing growth in population, instead of a loss.

"The old politics sells well in Pennsylvania, because it's an old state," Gronke said. "But Oregon is a young state," both in terms of its history and population.

He added that he expected race would be less of a factor in Oregon, than Pennsylvania. Despite a history of the Ku Klux Klan in the state, Oregon has a very small black population, making for less racial confrontation.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/04/clinton_campaign_focusing_on_s.html

[davidpdx]

59. Good catch Ellison, Prof Gronke is hardly a pundit

as Bill tried to do in order to write off his opinion. I've seen Gronke quoted in state papers and also read somethings he's written on Blue Oregon.

What the Clintons recognized too late is that Obama has a pretty good network of people set up throughout the state. Now that both campaigns are "on the ground" in Oregon, Clinton is going to have to play catch up. This is the same scenario that has played out in other states that Clinton had trouble winning.

[roguevalley]

66. Oregon is going obama big.

[Why Syzygy]

61. They BOOOOO'd President Clinton

It's in the link. I don't know why RD is flapping about. It plainly says the crowd was BOOOOOing.

[Why Syzygy]

62. No one boo'd the Professor.

Show me that quote, oh wrong one. Get your spectacles.

[cali]

5. hill won't win Oregon. no matter what Bill does.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. More pandering to the right from the Clintons.

[rodeodance]

27. What is to the right? what example do you have -related to the op??

[RichardRay]

50. The reference to 'Reed College' is an Oregon dog-whistle.

If you've never lived there you have no idea just what a shot that is.

[ellisonz]

54. Yep.

What I don't get is why Bill said he'd be glad to come visit Reed. I'm sure Reed (well the students) would love Bill to come visit next weekend: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reed_college#Renn_Fayre

The real irony is that Gronke is a straight-laced family man and not the least bit elitist besides knowing a metric fuckton about politics.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

58. Have you ever visited eastern Oregon? It's as red as Idaho.

The only way that they'd vote for a Democrat is if he/she had an (R) after their name. A position that the Clinton's have not quite assumed..yet.

[boppers]

6. They have to play this line out on the national stage.

Actual Oregonians know how red rural Oregon is, and they know who's votes are being courted.

A hint: this isn't courting the party base. It isn't even courting the party's margins.

[movonne]

8. He was here 30 miles from where I live...there would have be a day

that I would have done all I could to go see him....not anymore..I stayed home..down in the neck of the woods is very right wing and ron paul signs everywhere, I have seen no other..and if there is anyone they hate more than bill it is hillary...good thing that we have Portland and Eugene which are very liberal and that is the why we keep Oregon liberal..

[featherman]

9. Wrong "rural voters", I'm afraid. Hillary Clinton is not particularly

popular in the rural West... not her demographic... just saying.

[kentuck]

10. Has Hillary given up on North Carolina..?

They are pushing Oregon mighty strong. Is Oregon the next escape route if she lose NC or IN and NC both? They can then move on to Oregon? Is that the plan?? I would think if she loses NC and IN, it will just about be at the pitiful end...?

[MattNC]

13. They'll both be here

tomorrow. Bill is visiting 11 NC cities over the next two days I think.

[rodeodance]

18. of course not. she made several stops there this week--

[pdxmom]

11. Oregon will not deal kindly with the Clintons. N/T

[GarbagemanLB]

12. Hillary will lose the Willamette Valley, and as a result will lose Oregon.

[cliffordu]

14. DING DING DING We have a winner!!!

Best overview of the clintons in Oregon

She's TOAST!

[depakid]

15. Since when are university professors "pundits?"

There is something of an urban rural divide (more like an east/west divide), but as prof said- comparing Oregon to Pennsylvania is like comparing apples to rutabegas. Completely different type of politics.

[rodeodance]

21. people who go around opining about politics are pundits

[depakid]

30. Political Science professors are a bit different than the likes of David Brooks, et al

Don't you think?

One set of folks are rational, they do honest research, and know what they're talking about.

The other set is comprised of rationalizers who are largely dishonest, intellectually lazy and dishonest (not to mention, overpaid).

[rodeodance]

34. sure there are differences, i never said there were not. But pundits they are.

[depakid]

40. Hardly!

though I suppose one could make that rationalization if they don't like what they're hearing.

[rodeodance]

47. lets just agree to disagree. Have a good day

[rodeodance]

16. You go Bill. Set em straight.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

17. Nice touch quoting one of those "elitist professors" Bill.

Didn't you benefit from all that college learnin' you got?

[rodeodance]

35. read both articles. Both said they can work together.

[Hansel]

20. Clinton has no chance in Oregon

I don't think Hillary helped herself with her dismissal of democratic activists in February. Oregon is one of, if not the most progressive states in the union. The 1st thing I thought when I heard her recording dissing democratic activists is that she just lost Oregon.

And now Bill seems to have just come down on the wrong side of the voting bloc divides in Oregon by insulting a professor from one its most liberal colleges. When I lived there in the 90s, in every election some so-called "reformed gay" right-wing idiot would put some asinine anti-gay measure on the ballot which always guaranteed a big voter turnout (rather mail in) in Portland to defeat it. I don't think trying to activate a wedge between rural Oregon and Portland is a smart idea since the rural side always loses.

And then there is Eugene, a big college town full of old hippies and the place where Animal House was filmed and they're proud of it. I'm guessing they are going to side with the Reed College prof.

Oh, and Monica Lewinsky went to Lewis & Clark College in Portland. That can't help.

[rodeodance]

23. ha ha. why do you assume that the Prof is such a wimp that he can't take

some criticism??

most folks are not like Obama fans here on DU who cry about everything.

Go BILL.

[ellisonz]

51. I know Prof. Gronke

I've taken Gronke's classes and I assure you he can take criticism, in fact, he actually invites it. What I'm sure creates a sly grin of puzzlement on Paul's face is that the Clinton's are so desperate to win they are distorting what he said.

Furthermore, Gronke is very much an academic political scientist, he barely even said a bad word about Bush in our class time. Bill just resents being told plainly that he's playing "the old politics" when it's clear as day that is what they've been doing.

[roguevalley]

67. if someone in the dem party could understand the poverty in

eastern oregon and do something about it, they would get those votes. there is huge poverty and no one's kids can stay there. no work. my aunt in Lakeview used to be a bill collector and headed the welfare department. Our family is from eastern oregon and I grew up in the Rogue Valley in Central Point. There is good opportunity for dems if they work to build an infrastructure and figure out the issues better. Dean is doing that.

[BlueIdaho]

22. One of the problems with a primary season going this long

Candidates having to compete in states they don't really understand. This is where Obama's 50 state ground strategy shines. Local knowledge is critical - especially in a state like Oregon since its more like two states really. I hope Bill spends LOTS of time in rural Oregon its a great way to keep him out of mischief.

[rodeodance]

25. Voters are tuned in and eager to listen to the candidates--that is good for democracy

[depakid]

33. Hillary has actually shown more in terms of knowledge about state and local issues

than Obama has.

That sort of surprised me- she'd obviously done her homework.

[BlueIdaho]

36. Spent much time in Oregon?

I can't wait to see how Bill plays in Pendleton, or Umatilla or Bend or... Grants Pass, or Roseburg or...

I'd love to see how that works out for him - really I would.

[depakid]

38. People may recall the Northwest Forests Plan

For good and ill (the salvage rider was definitely ill) at least he paid attention and made state issues a priority....

That means more to people in the cities you mentioned (where, outside of Bend almost no one ever shows up) than you might guess....

[Why Syzygy]

63. They were already BOOOO'ing him. First link of the OP.

[rodeodance]

49. She knows specifics --and is a policy wonk. I have listened and read many of her speeches

[roguevalley]

68. sending bill to rural oregon would be a huge mistake. they hate

him there with the fire of a thousand suns. the clintons don't know shit about oregon. their behavior thus far proves it.

[rodeodance]

24. Bill told them Hillary would never ignore rural oregon.

Clinton clearly took offense to the quote. But he also saw it as an opportunity, using the statement to rally the crowd around the idea that "old politics" meant ignoring rural America -- something he said Hillary Clinton would never do as president.

"Now, Reed College is a great place," Clinton said. "I hope I get to visit there and tell them why they oughta vote for Hillary. But I think that it really matters what happens in rural America. It matters what happens in rural Oregon. And Hillary has offered to do two debates in Oregon -- one completely devoted to rural issues, and I'll explain why in a minute. But I think this is an important issue. Thirty three of your 36 counties are officially classified as rural. If that is old politics, who are we leaving behind in America? That's part of the problem, we've got a government now that's left too many people behind.

[roguevalley]

69. bill had eight years to help rural america. I don't recall anything

improving in Eastern Oregon. People are vying for prisons there, industry is to scarce. NAFTA will kill him there.

[rodeodance]

28. Good on Bill--This message will be good for Hillary:

Clinton clearly took offense to the quote. But he also saw it as an opportunity, using the statement to rally the crowd around the idea that "old politics" meant ignoring rural America -- something he said Hillary Clinton would never do as president.

"Now, Reed College is a great place," Clinton said. "I hope I get to visit there and tell them why they oughta vote for Hillary. But I think that it really matters what happens in rural America. It matters what happens in rural Oregon. And Hillary has offered to do two debates in Oregon -- one completely devoted to rural issues, and I'll explain why in a minute. But I think this is an important issue. Thirty three of your 36 counties are officially classified as rural. If that is old politics, who are we leaving behind in America? That's part of the problem, we've got a government now that's left too many people behind.

"We need to go forward together," Clinton told a cheering crowd. "I think that pretending people in small towns in rural America don't matter is old politics. And I think there's a more important point I'd like to make. This rural/urban/suburban divide in America is bad for our country. It's bad for our country. All these phony divides are bad for our country."

Clinton devoted a good portion of his speech to rural issues affecting Oregon, but also spoke to the crowd about the usual Hillary Clinton talking points, including health care and veteran's rights. Yet as he wrapped up his speech nearly an hour later, he found himself right back where he started -- talking about that same professor from Reed College.

"You can tell that nice fella up at Reed College that you don't resent him for having a nice job and a wonderful school," Clinton said, "but you think we can go forward together. And you know just as much and care just as much about a bright, clean-energy, wholesome future as he does. Let's do this together with Hillary's leadership."

[senseandsensibility]

29. Was he pronouncing it Ore-gone

as I heard him say it just a couple of weeks ago? I was shocked that he hadn't learned to pronounce the name of the state in his eight years in office, and I guarantee you that if he was pronouncing it that way to that crowd, he would be booed.

[depakid]

31. He got it right this time...

as did Hillary during her last couple of stops.

Few things annoy Oregonians more than having their state mispronounced by people who ought to know better.

[Hansel]

32. Does Obama pronounce it correctly?

Just pronouncing the state's name correctly should be good for a few votes.

[quakerboy]

37. Yeah

I doubt it. Every rural Oregonian I know lists Clinton in the list of words that would earn their children a trip to the bathroom and a bar of soap to wash their mouths.

[Mme. Defarge]

39. Lots of Obama signs in my N.E. Portland

neighborhood. ZERO Hillary signs. Just sayin' ...

[jackson_dem]

53. Yeah, just like Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Dallas

:thumbsup:

[sepdxdem]

55. my informal sign poll in SE Portland

puts Obama at about 75-1

[crankychatter]

42. Oregon, Washington and California are Red States in Rural Areas

Just saying

one MORE double standard from the the firm of Clinton and Clinton

[H2O Man]

45. Corvallis

My normal brother lives in Corvallis. He said that he thinks Obama has far more support in his area, than the other candidate.

[roguevalley]

70. the college should come out for him well in Corvallis. My dad attended

back in '49. :) I love my dad. :-D He hated the Ducks.

[ericgtr]

46. People here don't like him much in this primary

Though people are somewhat split between Hillary and Obama the one thing most of them say is that Bill should stay at home.