Outside the Beltway

Obama ‘Small Town’ Remarks Give Clinton Opening

James Joyner
11

Comments

Hillary Clinton is getting considerable mileage out of the flap over Barack Obama’s “small town” comments.

Obama

A political tempest over Barack Obama’s comments about bitter voters in small towns has given rival Hillary Rodham Clinton a new opening to court working class Democrats 10 days before Pennsylvanians hold a primary that she must win to keep her presidential campaign alive.

Obama tried to quell the furor Saturday, explaining his remarks while also conceding he had chosen his words poorly. “If I worded things in a way that made people offended, I deeply regret that,” Obama said in an interview with the Winston-Salem (N.C.) Journal.

But the Clinton campaign fueled the controversy in every place and every way it could, hoping charges that Obama is elitist and arrogant will resonate with the swing voters the candidates are vying for not only in Pennsylvania, but in upcoming primaries in Indiana and North Carolina as well.

Political insiders differed on whether Obama’s comments, which came to light Friday, would become a full-blown political disaster that could prompt party leaders to try to steer the nomination to Clinton even though Obama has more pledged delegates. Clinton supporters were eagerly hoping so.

Could anything be more ironic than Hillary Clinton campaigning on the premise that her opponent is elitist and arrogant?

Photo credit: Comment Central

Categories

,

Tags

, , , , , , ,

11 responses to “Obama ‘Small Town’ Remarks Give Clinton Opening”

  1. Hal Avatar
    Hal

    Could anything be more ironic than Hillary Clinton campaigning on the premise that her opponent is elitist and arrogant?

    Well, bloggers who are every bit as elite lecturing people on being elitist seems to come second only to someone who owns eight houses and married a zillionaire after divorcing his first wife lecturing people on being elitist.

  2. Dave Schuler Avatar
    Dave Schuler

    If she’s very lucky no one will notice.

  3. floyd Avatar
    floyd

    And now this weeks caption contest winner!…
    ” That was an empty field moments before, Then Jubilation T. Cornpone appeared on the scene!”

  4. floyd Avatar
    floyd

    Nothing like a little “Photoshopping” to prove you care about rural America![lol][lol]
    ………

    As pictured…. he’d “feel” for us, but he can’t quite reach us![lol]
    ………

    Don’t get too close Obama, The “Children of the Corn” [AKA small town America] will get you![lol]
    ……….

    I’ve fixed the crops with a wave of my hand, now… elect me and I’ll solve all your problems with just one finger![lol]

  5. Jerry from Oregon Avatar
    Jerry from Oregon

    through the controversy created by Senator Obama’s ‘small town’ observations. Yes, ‘observations’; Barack Obama wasn’t proposing judgements.

    Anyway, has anyone else observed that he did not claim to mis-speak, or even having been, ‘taken out of context’. But rather he stood by his comments and merely said ‘he should have been clearer’ as he went on to explain more fully his statements.

    This is a politician who says what he means and means what he says.

    Clinton harps on it because she has no choice; she can’t win; but she can ensure that Barack Obama can’t either. giving her an easier road in 2012.

  6. jainphx Avatar
    jainphx

    In this whole campaign Oshama has not uttered one word that he actually meant. He’s nothing but a politician, and black separatist.

  7. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Anyway, has anyone else observed that he did not claim to mis-speak, or even having been, ‘taken out of context’. But rather he stood by his comments and merely said ‘he should have been clearer’ as he went on to explain more fully his statements.

    That was my first thought on his reaction: “This guy sucks at politics”.

  8. Michael Lewis Avatar
    Michael Lewis

    When I graduated high school in 1965 America was the richest and most powerful nation on the face of the planet. It was a time when most citizens worshiped a Christian God, the U.S. practiced Fair Trade not Free Trade, the US Dollar was the strongest currency in the world and it was understood the basis of the 2nd Amendment was government should fear the people and not the other way around.

    It was a time when U.S. Corporations employed U.S. workers and were loyal to America its people and ideals. It was a time when GE Appliance Park, Kentucky, a manufacturing city, housed 25,000 blue collar American workers, who enjoyed a middle class life style.

    Obama, not everyone can be a college graduate. Surely you understand that a nation also needs a strong back and the ability to manufacture what is needed is a nation’s backbone.

    Sovereignty/nationhood/borders mean Government and publically chartered corporations should work for the best interest and betterment of citizens within. Instead Free Trade, One World Ideals and International Corporations have allowed entire American industries to be destroyed by subsidized foreign competitors. “American” companies have built their manufacturing facilities overseas to take advantage of cheaper labor and now are off shoring the lower paying customer service and service economy jobs.

    Bottom line Obama: What has been off shored is America’s wealth, ideals, lifestyle, hopes and dreams. In my lifetime “leaders” like you who mock the “old ways” have made America the world’s biggest debtor nation. A nation that begged allies for war plane parts during the first Gulf War because they are no longer manufactured in the US but sends troops overseas to protect corporations that fail to repatriate international profits in order to avoid paying American taxes and that exhibit no loyalty to American families or soldiers.

    Soon the world will cease to accept constantly devaluing US fiat dollars as the international currency for oil trade and America will be left utterly bankrupt. You and the other leaders who followed the “new wisdom” will be brought down to those you have already destroyed. Perhaps then you can rediscover a lost faith and an appreciation for the 2nd Amendment.

    http://amendment10.tripod.com/

  9. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    What has been off shored is America’s wealth, ideals, lifestyle, hopes and dreams. In my lifetime “leaders” like you who mock the “old ways” have made America the world’s biggest debtor nation.

    You almost sound bitter.

  10. floyd Avatar
    floyd

    Mr. Lewis;
    Thank you for your thoughtful commentary.Although it surely was heard by the choir,It can only be HOPED that a few followers of the “new wisdom” would get the message as well.

Latest Posts