Steve Lopez: A God and Guns America

Speaking as a former resident of Pennsylvania, and as Time magazine's American Scene columnist -- a job that took me to nearly every state in the country -- I feel compelled to say that Sen. Barack Obama's so-called controversial comments about life, fears and anger in small towns are essentially fair and accurate.

Was it a generalization to say that people find comfort in religion and ammunition, and grow suspicious of people unlike themselves in difficult times? Yes. But there is much truth in what he said. It really is a God and Guns America, and it's easy to find five minutes outside of Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and San Francisco, and even in those big cities to a lesser degree.

It might not have been politically smart for Obama to say what he said, but that's what's wrong with the campaign trail. It's a place where speaking your mind is not only discouraged, it's attacked by opponents who reduce politics to pablum, and we all suffer in the end.

Read Steve Lopez's recent columns.

Comments

[Sylvia]

HRC did a grave diservice to women and young girls alike this past weekened.

She sent them a loud and clear message that the only way to advance as POUS is to act like a man by toting guns and drinking whisky and beer.

This is exactly the type of bad behavior and misperceptions that women have been fighting to as part of there quest for equality in the workplace.

I have absolutely nothing against owning guns, hunting, or drinking. I do however think it is a travesty to use those activities as examples of what it takes women to succeed.

It is a sad day in American that not a single newswriter, blogger, or political pundent made these observations.

[dick bohanon]

politics isnt about right or wrong. its about getting elected to help your financial supporters.
obama's candid assessment reminds people that all politics is
about self-interest and they dont want to be reminded of that fact.
the country is bitter and rightly so.
in a profit before people scenario that we live in, those that dont
offer the powers that be some tangible return are soon forgotten.
obama's sin was not dumbing down his opinions just to get elected
(like mcbush or clinton)

[economics]

No one likes ideas, opinions and discourse in America anymore. I would not care if Berack were muslem, if he knew he was American first. I do not care that he has issues with religion and guns or abortion, as long as the people have thier rights. In fact, I do not care if people have guns, they have five to every person in Canada and not even near the crime. But then you can buy codiene and other drugs legally. Americans can not handle the truth about themselves and thier own ambiguity. It is, we are, an immature people. Maturity is voting for who will best serve us as a whole not every little group who "Needs thier feelings never to be hurt" wa wa. I do not expect he will pass the equel rights amendment upon entering office and Hilary would, oh well. Women seem pretty used to it. He is fine, Hilary is fine. No one can move the mountain of our Oil, Heath Care, Pharmacy owned government. No one. It should be interesting to watch him try.

[Jim]

Obama also made it clear that in times of bitterness we cling to what we believe in, therefore it is not at all a slight toward religion or guns to say what he did. Voting on issues like God and guns have substituted for rallies for jobs and economic stimuli, therefore people never get anywhere because they've given up on the government helping them on anything else.

This is a Rohrschach Test: those who wish to turn it against Obama will (and Hillary's support base being mostly people with high school education or less falls right into the trap) and those smart enough and educated enough to tolerate nuances beyond sound bites will see what Obama is talking about.

Not the best POLITICAL move, but like race another topic that we need to discuss and deal with before this country can improve. Clearly some like Hillary and McCain just want to be elected, a campaign with no goal for any improvement for the masses but just to get the candidate the office, so they'll steer clear and mock Obama for speaking what everyone in politics already knows.

Hillary drinking beer and talking like she's a CLOSET REDNECK, just to woo a few more votes, is the saddest sight in politics right now.

[Jim]

One more thing: of course the bitter people don't like to be reminded that they are indeed bitter and pessimistic about things. It hurts to hear the truth sometimes.

[Rex Markel]

"..and those smart enough and educated enough to tolerate nuances beyond sound bites will see what Obama is talking about."

Well said. Unfortunately, the dumbing down of our masses is where the real issues lie. Funding for education is continually reduced; is it any wonder then that the uneducated and uninformed elect our politicians?

Sounds like a underlying scheme to me.

[Come on, BO stepped in it]

genius. no one disputes that voters are concerned with "God and guns"
the issue is BO's implication that people are too stupid to know their economic interest and bc of that stupidity vote based on something else, such as guns and god. thats what he said, whether you accept that or not is another matter.

[Redneck? Come on, self proclaimed enlightened people]

Jim

So anyone who doesn't think like you on economics and social issues is a red neck?
good to know you are so very tolerant. so i guess its ok when others stereotype a liberal such as yourself as some homophobic slur or call you an elitist, the tag fits and isn't in anyway inappropriate?

of course not. obviously that nuance you claim to have doesn't allow you to critique your own value system.

[Wilbur Varela]

there is an old chinese saying, "if you want to lead, you must first put yourself below the people." Yes, let us hear the candidates, free to speak their mind, but in a campaign where every word is political, this little slip speaks volumes about his true feelings. If he had served in office for many years, he maybe could voice such feelings. But Obama is an unknown. HIs record is thin. The voters don't know him, and vice versa. A first timer, running for president, voicing such comments, especially about blue collar working stiffs, makes him sound superior and arrogant. Are Hillary, Obama and MaCain really the best leaders America can produce? mediocre comes to mind.

[Jay C. Benson]

Obama was eventually going to bury himself. This is the beginning and anyone who is running for president and really does have such contempt and views for many parts of America is unelectable in my opinion. What a sap this guy is - so much for hope.

[andrew boyd]

Mr. Lopez, as a respected columnist i am glad to see you taking what i consider the side of the fence that should be stood on. I think it's a bunch of political bull that is being banded about concerning Obama's comments, because as you agree they are essentially fair and accurate. Yes, i do too feel that more than most of America hides behind ones own ignorant fears. Obvious as a country we elected the Bush family to a total of 12 years to do the damage to the entire world that that family has done. Let's see....Neil and the savings & loan debacle. Daddy Bush and Iran-Contra and now let's see, son W. and his crackpot strategy on the war on terrorism. Yes, my fellow Americans we do need a severe wake-up call. Also, believe this....a lot of us won't be waking up from our fears before we die, so change amongst the people is along way off and change does come from the people, so if we want true change....WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!

[Ariel Climer]

I heartily agree with you. Obama needs to realize though that in such brief speeches, he cannot begin to address the meanings and roots of the fear and subsequent pride taken in guns and 'god' (whatever god it is out there who believes in killing- not the God I learn from). I fully agree with him, but I can also see how his failure to respond to the truth with a more thought out response, one that is truly from a compassionate heart that wants to work out the lies and speak truths into the situation, would get him into trouble. Rarely do people change the way they think from a few quotes against them. It takes someone more than a presidential candidate to change a village's mind. It takes a village to raise a child and it takes another village to help the children unlearn what they have been taught.

[Pachecosita]

Of course Americans are bitter. Look at where our economy is and where our economy is heading. It hurts to see our country treated like nothing while politicians in Washington are having a blast. I want to change that. I think we need a different approach to take care of business. We need to elect that person that will bring new ideas. I honestly think OBAMA has a better chance to bring some change, and to dialog about what is the next thing we need to move forward. For ourselves and our kids.

[Jayne]

Yeah, so? What's your point Steve? Oh, and it should be the comments 'are' accurate, not 'is' accurate. Gotta love the LA Times.

[John]

HRC better watch-out. Scolding someone for telling the truth suggests that she is afraid of truth. Just another example pointing to her lack of leadership. I wonder why her genius focus groups didn't tell her that if she can't advance an argument, she's better-off keeping her mouth shut.

[Franklin Hall]

Of Course what he alluded to was true. The blue collar families are very bitter, and they seek comfort in familiar icons, because they are scared too. Truth. Why does the media and HRC & McBush try to disparage a truthful observance? Because they are the problem, not him.

[Veronique]

Thanks, Jayne, for the heads-up about the is/are disagreement. Fixed now.

Veronique

[Ben]

Obama was right that for the past 30 years or so there's been a trend toward voting outside one's interests. However, he didn't say it was because they're "too stupid" to look out for themselves. There are many complicated reasons why cultural wedge issues resonate so strongly in this country. "Stupidity" is not one of them.

[aure lambert]

i don't think being a magazine reporter,, (when?) and traveling around is any way to really know the average small town resident in one of the many places with huge job loss. you are as out of touch as Obama if you think people turn to guns and God in bad times, as a 'crutch' you are as condescending as Obama. He did not,by the way, grow up in any kind of deprivation. his single mother was divorced, with an advanced degree,and he attended internationally prestigious schools his entire academic career. he is an elitist and you don't know the difference between being poor and writing about the poor

[caroline]

Obama's describing gun ownership, religion and opposition to illegal immigration as the pathology of bitter and angry people jumps to the level of bizarre. People are bitter over playing by the rules and trying to earn a living, only to watch those who do not do the same reap the benefits at their expense. Does Obmam find this a sign of emotional illness?

[Kimberly]

i am from a small town, and now live in los angeles, and still say hello to complete strangers. there's as much of a social caste system at work in a tiny town as there is in big town USA, and those who are criticizing senator obama's comments are being nothing if not disingenuous, if NOT completely hypocritical.

i completely agreed with the context of his comments. unfortunately, he stepped in it when he suggested that gun ownership and self-righteous bible-thumping were confined to small towns ;-). seriously, small towns are far more impacted when a major employer departs, because they're so much intimate than their big city counterparts.

[cheryl]

It is amazing to me the spin people are putting on what Obama said.

These remarks were made in a setting where he did not expect them to be heard by the public, and he said exactly what he meant.
Now that it has reached the public, he is spinning it and changing the words and the meaning.
He said that, People cling to religion because they are bitter, that they believe in the right to bear arms because they are bitter.
Also, although no-one is talking about it, he said that the people who don't support him do so because of antipathy towards people who are different.
The truth is that there are people who don't support him because they do not believe he is the best candidate.

He should not try to psycho-analyze people and stereotype they based on his analysis.

He is the most hypocritical person I have ever seen.
He accuses others of racism, but attends a racist church.
He accuses Hillary of dirty politics but pracitices dirty politics non-stop.
He says he is the only one who doesn't take money from the oil companies, when of course that is not true.
He says all of his campaign donations come from small donors, when more than half of them come from very large donors.
He goes thru PA, bowling, feeding cows, and stopping in a bar to have a beer, and then makes fun of Hillary Clinton for drinking in a bar.

People who like Obama will vote for him no matter what, just as the media will defend him no matter what.
If he wins the nomination, McCain will win the general election because the Republican party will make sure he is put under the microscope and all of these problems will be put together for the American people.

Hillary Clinton is the best choice for the democratic nominee.
She has always worked for the American people and will continue to do so.
She believes in America and the American people.

[L.P.]

"the issue is BO's implication that people are too stupid to know their economic interest and bc of that stupidity vote based on something else, such as guns and god. thats what he said, whether you accept that or not is another matter."

Did you even read the speech? He didn't say or in any way imply that they are too stupid to know their economic interest. He said that after years of the government doing nothing about their economic problems, that they had given up on voting for economic interest, instead turning to cultural issues. You have to read past the soundbites.

[Chris]

I agree that candidates should feel free to speak their minds. Many people who support gun ownership rights wouldn't otherwise know that Obama believes their desire to retain those rights reflects "bitterness." Some voters prefer that politicians leave their guns alone. These voters should know that Obama does not agree. In addition to pointing out his opposition to the notion of gun rights, he's pointed out that he has a serious lack of respect for people who hold a contrary view to his own. This is quite helpful.

[Liz Wetzel]

RELIGION AND GUNS HAVE EXISTED LONG BEFORE THERE ARE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. BARACK THINKS EVERYONE IS BITTER LIKE JEREMIAH WRIGHT'S LEGION OF "POOR".

SHOULD EVERYONE SCREAM GOD DAMN AMERICA NOW? BARACK LIVES IN HIS OWN WORLD ( OR JEREMIAH'S) THINKING THAT THE SMALL TOWN AMERICA SHOULD RATHER SCREAM GOD DAMN AMERICA THAN DO SOMETHING USEFUL WITH THEIR LIVES.

REMEMBER THAT ASIAN GUY WHOSE MOTHER WAS KILLED BY LA RIOTERS?
HE WAS IN A VIDEO WITH A GUN DEFENDING HIMSELF.

HE WASNT BITTER BARACK, HE WAS DEFENDING HIMSELF AGAINST PEOPLE WHO WOULD RATHER LOOT AND BLAME SOMEONE ELSE THAN RUN A MOM AND POP STORE JUST LIKE HIS MOTHER DID.

SO SHUT UP BARACK. YOURE A LOON.