Barack Obama goes on the attack; zings Hillary Clinton on guns

In Barack Obama's mind and within his braintrust, there must have been some temptation for him to deliver another big speech in an attempt to defuse the uproar sparked by his now-notorious effort to interpret the frustrations of small-town folk for urbane San Franciscans.

That approach, after all, worked well for him last month after the intemperate comments by his ex-pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, came to light. In the current contretemps, however, Obama has adopted a much more (dare we say it?) Clintonian response.

Since the story broke Friday afternoon, he's made a nod toward his foul-up, acknowledging that he chose his words poorly in linking an embrace of guns and religion with the bitterness some of those who live off-the-beaten-track feel about their economic plight. But mainly, he's gone on the attack, standing by the essence of his point and, on Sunday, delivering a mocking riff about Hillary Clinton.

During an appearance in Pennsylvania -- the state that gets the first crack at showing how much damage Obama has inflicted on his presidential hopes -- Obama told an audience in the town of Steelon that the outraged reactions from Clinton and Republican John McCain's campaign to his discourse on small-town attitudes is a matter of "politics being played" (gee, that's a surprise).

Obama said he expected such from McCain. But he proclaimed himself "a little disappointed" in Clinton's response. We doubt that, but it set up a refrain he then used to punctuate his defense of himself: "She knows better; shame on her."

He really got rolling when he ridiculed her ...

 

as a sudden defender of the culture of sportsmen. With a smile on his face and to the amusement of his crowd, he characterized Clinton as "talking like Annie Oakley" and acting like "she's out in the duck blind every Sunday, packing a six-shooter."

He added, laughingly: "I want to see that picture of her out there in the duck blind."

As noted, it played well with partisans. But Obama and his top aides know that this furor is nowhere near cresting, that it will dominate Monday's morning shows, the cable news broadcasts (for untold hours to come) and will be a prime topic at Wednesday evening's debate between the two Democratic presidential contenders.

Clinton has been endlessly frustrated that, in her formulation, Obama has rocketed to prominence -- and into the lead in their contest -- on the basis of words, not actions. The irony that his words may now represent her best chance to dramatically recalibrate the race no doubt is not lost on her.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[frank]

Ckinton is scum. Obama is just Great, have you seen him? HELLO??? He killed the CNN "Compassion" Forum tonight.

[Me]

That Annie Oakley photo is hilarious with this blog post.

[Gaias Child]

I like that you considered what might be going on in that brain trust. No kidding. He did a good job with the refrain "there's some politics here," and lightly reciting various facts while offering the image of Annie Oakley. Great stuff. Political theater without that quality of shrill antagonism that we are getting out of her.

People don't like that kind of crazy assaultive denial. People just dont find that presidential!!

[Frank]

"...the state that gets the first crack at showing how much damage Obama has inflicted on his presidential hopes..."

Hey Don-- guess you were too busy trying to duck HRC's sniper fire to realize that the local Scranton paper, you know the town where her family grew up, endorsed Barack Obama in their Sunday editorial.

Zing to you.

[Tom Colton]

Obama knows the 2nd Amendment has nothing to do
with culture, hunting, nor sportmen and everything to
do with Americans being well armed enough at all times and places to resist government oppression and the
reinterpretation of any part of the Bill of Rights. The
Founders made it absolutely clear that the 2nd
Amendment was to protect us at all times from power
hungry politicians, bureaucrats, judges, lawyers,
generals and lawmen who wanted to disarm us in
order to enslave us like Hitler and Lenin did.

[zoots]

When people are losing their homes, they become bitter. When they lose their jobs, they become bitter. When the pay exorbitant prices fro gasoline while the oil companies rake in shameful profits, they become bitter because the know the people in Washington are not representing the people. Obama was correct. And they do turn to stable matters in their life they can count on. Both Clinton and McCain made their selves look silly by attempting to accuse Obama of an elitist when it is both of them who have acted the part of an elitist. Clinton is pandering in every way she can, using exaggerations, inferences and false accusations in her ongoing assault on Obame instead of trying to show the people why she would be a better president. Both her and Bill's immorality are being spotlighted by their words and actions. Her character is in the spotlight and what is being seen is "bitterness" toward Obama simply because he has and follows good and right principles. If Clintin can't run a campaign without all the problems with her staff; if Clintin can't think straught when se is tired, and "misspeaks" about being fired on; I don't want a person like this making decisions in the White House at 3:00am. If she responds to statements like Obama's with other people in politics or heads of state or foreign leaders, she is not fit for the presidency. Obama spoke the truth. People are bitter and fristrated and angry with what the people in Washington have been doing to the people. Which is why people are gahering behind Obama; they believe he is able and will make the right changes in America. Simply becasue he graduated from Harvard does not make him an elitist. He worked witht he poor out of love and empathy for his fellow mankind, instead of holding elitist positions like Hillary and Bill. The Clintons wear a robe of hypocricy as they judge in unrighteousness, while pretending to be "good "Christians." Their attacks on Obama are anything but Christian. They are anything but civil. They are anything but righteous. They are deceptive, misrepresentative and misleading.

Clinton has led an elitist's life. She has learned all the dirty tricks of a professional politician and uses them very effectively, giving the media their "hype" daily. She is an expert at playing the media and the media acts like the pied pipers followers. She effectively took the attention away from her lies about Bosnia and Ireland and other matters.Her display of lack of wisdom in bringing the troops home from Iraq show her desperation to say anything to appear "better" than Obama and his well thought out plans. Under her health plan she would be paying a fine if and when she pays for the past due premiums she owes for her staff's insurance. She is unorganized, incompetent, and unstable, as she has shown during this campaign so far. I dread the thought of this type of person being president of the USA. It is she who is all talk, not Obama. Obama speaks by principles, good principles, as she panders with what she thinks the people want to hear. Her stane changes day to day with whatever whims she conjures up. And who will know who is calling the shots with Bill in the White House again. After being paid $800,000 to fight for the free trade deal with Columbia and acting as a lobbyist, what will he be doing while in the White House again? What deals will he be working on, charging exorbitant fees to enrich his self instead of working to better the poeple of the USA? Free trade with NAFTA and now free trade with Columbia and other neighboring nations, shows a pattern. And what if Hillary names him as her running mate for vice pfresident? How much more damage can he do in this position. And how muc if what Hillary would do as president would be based on what he told her? If he is brazen enough to work on this deal with Columbia while she states she is against this deal; what kind of war will be going on between them in the White House? And guess what; if Hillary should become president and name Bill as VP, she could step down and Bill could become president again. Not by election but by promotion. Then he could give all the jobs of Americans away in his high paying deals.

Sorry, but the Clinton clan of elitists who are also the great deceivers are not what this naton needs in the White House as leaders of this nation. And if Bill pulls another Monica deal, they would be the laughing stock to all nations, making we the people look like idiots for placing them in the White House. My vote goes to Obama because of his principles, his morality, and his boldness to speak the truth instead of pandering.

[Louis Solnicki]

I think that Hillary, the McCain camp, the press et all are making a mountain out of a molehill about Obama's comments. So he said that the unemployed are bitter. So what? Why is that condescending or elitist? It's descriptive, not judgmental. What is really condescending is this reporting of every twitch that Obama or Hillary or McCain make and then globalizing the twitch and making stuff up about what it means. Obama is a straight shooter. He means what he says: no more, no less, but those with an agenda keep adding stuff, twisting his meaning. Hillary is very good at twisting meanings, exaggerating, making nice one day and going on the attack the next. Hillary is slippery and presents many different faces, but Obama presents one face. Obama is honest; Hillary is tricky

[Repugnit By Repundit...]

It's funny how it's become a "Hit" for media pundits who are sorely biased slam Barack for actually "Misspeaking"...It makes me wonder to what standard the Media will hold an Obama Administration....One thing I know for sure.....GWB got a Media Cake walk while driving our country on the path to 3rd world status.....Could it be because he's White? Or Rich? Or Both?

[Hazel Diane Rasheeda Moore]

Hillary has all the right in the world to question Obama. When Obama spewed his condescending remarks to all those millionaires in San Francisco he directly accused the Clinton administration for "small town folks" clinging to religion and guns. If he accuses the Clinton years as the reason for their bitterness then why shouldn’t Hillary strike back? WHY? She kept quiet when the Wright controversy erupted. She made only comment. "Wright would not be my pastor." That was it. But this "bitter/clinging" issue is pure politics, it’s about policy, honesty. Its goes straight to the reason why democrats have lost the last two elections. It is fair to argue Obama’s condescension to the small town folk because it goes directly to issues like religion, xenophobia, gun ownership and culture.

[John B Sheffield]

Barack Obama comes out Fighting! in PA, but retains his Dignity - all the misleading statements and lies from Hillary are not going to FOOL VOTERS! - she is at the point now listening to her she does not no any longer when she is telling the Truth or LIES!

[Bill]

Funny -- Mr. Clinton said in this newspaper in 1991 basically what Obama is being tarred for now:
"The reason (George H. W. Bush's tactic) works so well now is that you have all these economically insecure white people who are scared to death."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/13/bill-clinton-flashback-al_n_96433.html

[mark australia]

From the prespective of a person in another country, Obama is your best bet to improve US image around the world. Clinton will stoop at nothing to try and bring him down. In Australia we speak English as well. Can someone please let Hilary know that there isn't such a word as "Misspoke". In Australia and the rest of the English speaking world we call it a "lie".

[BAHLEWIS]

OH MY GOD! DOES THIS GUY EVER OWN UP TO HIS MISTAKES. NOW HES TRYING TO DAMAGE CONTROL BY SAYING THAY HILARY IS FOR GUNS
LET ME ASK EVERYONE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMIERICA, WHO HASN'T FIRED A GUN OR HANDGUN ONCE IN THEIR LIVES. I EVEN BET MR BARAK
OBAMA HAS IF HE TELLS THE TRUTH. BUT THE TRUTH SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THIS GUY WONT TELL. LIKE MY FOREFATHERS HAVE SAID THIS MAN
SPEAKS WITH A FORKED TOUGUE. I NEVER SEEN ANYONE BACK PADDLE SO MUCH IN MY LIFE. HE SAID THIS FOLKS WHEN HE BELIEVED HE WASNT
BEING TAPED, THIS IS WHAT THIS MAN THINKS OF MIDDLE AMERICA AND WHAT IF HE COMPARES HILARY TO ANNIE OAKLEY SHE WAS ONE OF THE
BEST MARKSMAN IN THE WORLD IN BUFFALO BILLS WILD WEST SHOWS. THATS JUST WHAT THIS COUNTRY NEEDS THE LADY SPEAKS STRAIGHT AND\
OSBAMA CANT TAKE THE HEAT BUT OH BOY IF THE SHOE WAS ON THE OTHER FOOT THEY WOULD BE TAR AND FEATHERING HER OVER THE RACIST REMARKS HE MADE. PEOPLE GET A LIFE THIS MAN IS NOT A FAIR HAIRED BOY AND HES NOT EVEN TRUTHFUL, HES UNAMERICAN, A TRAITOR TO MIDDLE AMERICANS WHO ALSO HAS THE RIGHT TO VOTE. YOU MIGHT BE A REDNECK IF YOU MAKE A RACIST REMARK AND DECIDE TO ATTACK ANOTHER PERSON FOR POINTING OUT THE TRUTH AND THEN START SAYING BAD THINGS ABOUT THAT PERSON, IT JUST SHOWS HOW GUILTY YOU ARE
FOR MAKING SUCH STATEMENTS IN THE FIRST PLACE. FACE IT OSBAMA YOU GOT CAUGHT AND YOUR TRUE SNOBBISH, BETTER THAN THOU ATTITUDE SHOWED ITSELF.

[jennifer potenciano]

i blog in a jiffy, so pardon whatver "mistakes" i make.

the obama faux pas @ san francisco was bound to happen. for how can obama escape from himself, his real self?

for a while, he was so adept at hiding his real self, like a chameleon in the forest, that the naifs thought he was their god-sent deliverer, in the mold of moses. he always minded to put the sheen to his political persona, so that it could shine anywhere, whether he was in san francisco or in pittsburgh.

only a few--a thinking few--saw the real barack, beyond his words and through his deeds (for one, his upside-down, reverse psychology resort to the "race card"; for another, his use of the "carrot-and-stick" & the "good-cop-bad-cop" dissimulation tactics when attacking hillary).

the hubris he sported, as he racked 11 wins (primaries & caucuses) in a row, was so disgusting, it made one puke.
but GOD in His ways & in His own time is really just & fair. as leo tolstoy put it in his short story title, "God sees everything, but waits." thus, He gave obama a lesson in humility, his "bitter" fiasco.

now people get not only a glimpse of the real obama, they get to see the machiavellian politician that is obama--who will use everything & everybody just to advance his political agenda: the end justifies the means.

so suddenly, his call for change sounds hallow now, as it reverberates in a soon-to-be cavernous hall that used to be his political playground, as he made mincemeat of gullible people so easily mesmerized by his words, so easily duped.

in a way, obama's call for change (the new political kid in town always resorts to the unfailingly effective shibboleth called 'change,' whatever that means, and for obama, it meant all things--and nothing) has taken a life of its own.

almost overnight, the american voters had a "change" of heart towards obama. now that they see him as "elitist" if not hopelessly conceited, a proud, vain politician who condescends to people just to get their votes.

the poise he struck, as an alleged agent of change, a unifier, savior, folk hero--all these were a sham, it was a facade he was able to put up with very successfully. but his "bitter" disparaging of the poor pennyslvanians showed to the american voters who barack obama really is. take note, voters of indiana, oregon, north carolina, montana--remember what obama did to the penn folks, and do not forget. NEVER AGAIN should you allow obama to put you down & impose his insufferable superiority complex, nay conceit, on you.

from the looks of it, by obama's misdeed, he made people realize that hillary is the "better" choice for democrats, even as he, barack, is now, ovenight, the "bittter' also-ran.

obama's classic putdown of the pennsylvanians is that "defining moment" that students of american politics have long been expecting to materialize. given the fish-in-a-bowl media treatment that he's been getting since skyrocketing to the dizzying heights of american politics, obama was bound to slip--and slip he did with his "bitter" remarks against the pennsylvanians.

obama was in character there; his spinmeisters can't say he just goofed, that this wasn't the real obama.

to paraphrase what boxing pugilists say of their chicken-hearted opponents in the ring, " obama can run, sure, but he can't hide from himself."

for being so ungallant, so ungentleman, so unpolitic, so unwise to practical politics, to zun tsu's & to confucius's & to plato's & socratic teachings, for being machiavellian to the core, we only have this honestly blunt remark for the "bitter" obama: serves you right, boy! ****

[A guy in PA]

I've lived here in Pittsburgh PA for the past few years after living in Washington DC for many years. I grew up in the Poconos. I have to say Mr Obama had it wrong about PA and people here are rightfully concerned, if not insulted.. PA, as a whole, is not acting out on any kind of desperation or bitterness. After 25 years of economic stagnation, the troubles all of America is now facing are hardly new here. The mindset has long been "Slow and steady wins the race," an understanding that life can be hard and requires perseverance. Keep your head down, work hard and God willing you will prevail in life. Church and hunting are part of the social fabric that holds rural communities together and have done so since the early years of our country. I believe it's also called tradition.

PA's steadfast attitude also makes it's residents skeptical of someone selling "dreams" and running ads here that he doesn't want to "play the game" but put an end to it. This "game," our government, has evolved over a couple hundred years and there are many, MANY enormous practical matters that need immediate attention. Is now the time to reinvent the wheel, as appealing as it may be after 8 years of executive misconduct and neglect of domestic issues? A term is still 4 years right? Think about that and think about how many plates we have spinning as a country.

It's telling that Mr Obama spent time publicly expressing his frustration regarding his inability to easily connect with the PA mindset and its residents' reluctance to buy the hype. I wonder who's really bitter here.

[hotlanta]

Billary represents everything that I hate about politics. Deceit, lying, posturing, triangulating, exaggerating (Tuzla), closet deals (their library), arm-twisting (Richardson), mocking, playing the victim (don't pick on the girl!)... etc.

I cannot fathom why there are so many people in this country who see her as a leader, she's the opposite. Leaders unite. She's uses division and distortion to drive her message. She's never led a sizable organization of any kind (look it up).

I'm not saying Obama's perfect, but Billary is the devil is disguise. Oh yes she is, devil in disguise... EP

[DEMS WANT OBAMA OUT]

OBAMA IS JUST STUPID!Democrats NEED Clinton to stay in the race. OBAMA IS UNELECTABLE IN GENERAL ELECTION. NYT-

Reuters-Obama’s Support Softens in Poll, Suggesting a Peak Has Passed.

AP-52 % will not vote for Obama after Wright speech
Obama drops 11 pts on electability

Mainstream media needs to stop pushing Obama down voter’s throats and stop the stupid Clinton bashing. Where’s a true journalist? Obamas campaign pastor is not going away anytime soon Rev Wright says you don't have to wait for the afterlife for the mansion on the hilltop, he’s right! To shut him up Trinity United Church of Christ is building Rev. Wright a $1 mil house on a lot that was purchased for $345,000. According to his federal income tax return Obama gave the Trinity United church $22,500 in contributions. CBS Chicago has strangely not released video they have of Obama at Trinity United Church of Christ Service with Pastor Wright. According to a Chicago Tribune article, at the Service Obama spoke to the cheering congregation and the choir sang, “Hallelujah Barack”. After the service Wright and Obama sat together, laughing , talking and signing books. if ANY other candidate had this controversy swirling the footage would have found it’s way to the national and cable news networks by now! Obama who marched with Farrakhan Also Wright is OPRAHS Pastor; Slurs Italians in Latest Magazine (CNSNews.com) Wright continues his Obama supported attacks on non-blacks now slurring Italians in issue of Trumpet Newsmag. Wright states, Jesus enemies had their opinion, Italians looked down their garlic noses at the Galileans, and Jesus death on a cross was a public lynching Italian style! This government runs everything from the White House to the schoolhouse, from the Capitol to the KKKlan of white supremacy who is clearly in charge. Every issue published Wright's rant against white people in which he covers a world that is controlled by white supremacy, a country that’s on its way to h*ll in a hand basket because of lying politicians, in a culture that still thinks 'white is right!

[joe]

Wake Up America. Get for REAL !!!
What is the big deal with this so-called "Bitter" controversy ? It is media blogs and senseless propaganda as such, that make US appear to the rest of the world as bunch of easily controllable and brain-washed puppets. There is nothing said by Obama in San Fransico that is not the truth and not for REAL. There is nothing said jokingly or not ,by Barrack about Hillary Clinton that is not the truth and not for REAL.
Wake up people and get for REAL, before Hillary Clinton sells US out to the Chinese again and again. Focus more on the Connection between the Clintons and the Chinese, how they have sold US out to the Chinese, how Hillary is so HIPPOCRATICAL asking Bush to boycott the Olympics, yet her family has big ties with the Chinese.
LOOK, AT LAST.... The truth is finally re-surfacing... ALLELUJAH !!!
GOD's Intervention.

[Vivian]

I haven't trusted Bahama all along. I hope everybody wakes up and elects Hillary.

[david in WHFD]

I grew up in a real small town. There were 43 kids in my graduating class. But- We had a French club that went to Canada for a week, a Senior class that went to Washington DC for a week, we had boys and girls Jr. and Sr. varsity soccer, basketball and baseball. We had a drama club, a band, and a chorus. We published a yearbook. Over half my classmates went to college.

Then, a paper mill, a textile factory and a machine shop with a GM contract closed up shop.

Now every one of those school programs has been cut back or eliminated, we can't keep teachers because there not enough money, our dropout rates are up, and teen pregnancy is up. Clinton's NAFTA sent jobs away, the owners of those companies made fortunes and they pay "speaking fees" to politicians to thank them. My hometown has suffered and I'm smart enough to make the connection.

[NATIVEEYES]

Maybe Obama was referring to the people that Penn. Gov Ed Rendell said would NEVER vote for a black, regardless of how qualified he/she is. We seem to forget that there ARE 'bitter' people out there. I am even to think, using the word 'bitter' was putting it mildly. Didn't the media and pollsters say that Hillary was winning the 'Archer Bunker' vote? Well if that type of person wasn't bitter, he sure ain't peaches and cream.

Gov Rendell was basically calling the small town people bigots and not one white person battered an eye.

Hillary is vile and arrogant to think that real Americans don't see how she is the worse politician next to Bush..

[Alexander]

It seems to me you are a Clinton Fanatic. I am surprised she still finds money to pay people like you with all her financial problems

[Marilyn Sauls]

I cling to my Bible because in it is my eternal salvation, not because I am bitter. I sincerely hope you cling to it also.

[P J Evans]

It's very funny, and also very sad, that Clinton has to use the same tactics as the GOP - accusing opponents of elitism and being somehow out of touch with the real world - when she's been living in the extremely sheltered environment of DC for most of the last twenty years. She should know better (she isn't stupid, just ill-advised), but she's so bent on becoming President that she doesn't see what she's doing to herself and the party.
I may have to hold my nose to vote for Obama (he's more conservative than me), but I'd need a breather mask like Darth Vader's to vote for Clinton.

[08vote]

Let's hear from the Pennsylvanians themselves - are they cynical? Yes, are they bitter? Yes; are they angry at the govt? Yes; do they feel like they've been screwed over by NAFTA? Yes; does Clinton's tax returns and post presidential income at taxpayers' expense make them feel any better? Hell, no............divide and conquer, the oldest tactic in the book! Shame on Hillary and McCain, shame on them! By the way, WILL THE REAL ELITISTS STAND UP - Hillary (also) attended an Ivory league school - Yale and recently release hers & Bills income of over $100 million. How many taxpaying Americans can claim they went to Yale too and earned $100 million (and even more, off the backs of the taxpayers to support post-presidential functions of Bill Clinton?

[Victor Damien]

Are Gun toting bible thumping undocumented immigrant bashers really that naive to think Obama, or Hillary for that matter, is really one of Them?

[Bill rhodes]

Obama may regret his ill-chosen words about folks being "bitter" toward the government, but he certainly has not told any whoppers about being pinned down by sniper fire.

[Tiffany]

What you do speaks do loudly, I cannot hear a word you are saying. If the comments were an isolated incident, fine.

The deeper question is has Obama empathized with the voters in the comments? What has he done, beside speeches, for these voters?

Other questions such as: why did Obama not correct his comment immediately (did he just do a Hillary)?

[Wonderer]

Good, now Hillary and Cheney can go hunting together.

[Adventura]

Yo Barack,
Maybe gun owners in Pennsylvania are clinging to their guns because of 7 or 8 years of fear mongering and wire taps. It's always Pennsylvania just before North Carolina. "McCain Girls Exposed" there's an attention-getter! Dylan's got nothin' on this guy!