Barack Obama suddenly doing some tough urban talk

Don't bring a knife to a gun fight, the old saying goes, but Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, has suddenly escalated his rhetoric this weekend.

Sounds like he's anticipating some tough political struggling with the Republicans in these next few months, or trying to create that impression anyway. Or he just watched a 21-year-old movie (see video below).

"If they bring a knife to the fight," Obama told a crowd in Philadelphia last night about his Republican opponents, "we bring a gun."

Say what? This is only June! For pete's sake.

Is this the new kind of politician full of hope who wants to change Washington's ways? He anticipates some kind of close-in fighting with his 71-year-old opponent, John McCain, and his gang of GOP suits with their own secret signs?

Obama was responding to a man in the Pennsylvania crowd who, as the freshman Illinois senator was describing the no-doubt nefarious tactics he expects from GOP opponents this fall, shouted out, "Don't give in!"

"From what I understand, folks in Philly like a good brawl," Obama went on, according to the pooled press report. "I've seen Eagles fans."

Set aside for a moment the dissonant sound of an urban lawmaker speaking lightly about guns.

Or how about the fact that he stole that line from Sean Connery in "The Untouchables," which is from Chicago too, come to think of it. See video below. For a little more on this story, go here.

--Andrew Malcolm

Photo Credit: AP

Comments

[lumakas]

Andrew:
It's becoming more and more obvious that you are biased. Weren't you caught walking out of the McCain office?

Please be fair-minded.

[tlsmith1963]

Unfortunately, this is what it's going to take. The Republicans play dirty, so what else can you do? I wish we didn't have to do it, but what choice does our side have? There is too much at stake. I don't want 4-8 more years of Republicans wrecking everything.

[audacity]

I am not surprised Obama said this. Here is another video of "The Dirty Politics That Started Obama’s Political Career"

http://www.audacityofhypocrisy.com/2008/06/09/the-dirty-politics-that-started-obamas-political-career/

[Joe Bento]

Skinny young man is tougher than people think and will display the toughness when necessary in foreign affairs. George W. bush has spent seven years of acting like a world bully and calling it the fight on terror. He has repeatedly spent money and blood on the wrong fights displaying American hubris. The rest of our planet is praying that Barack Obama is elected President so we can begin to display some diplomacy and intellect again.

Yes We Can Si Se Puede

Barack and Roll in 2008

[Karpy]

This is one scary dude. We call him "The Thing".

[Madcritter]

last of the three stogies, what type of talk is this, sounds like a babbling idiot to me.

[Jeff]

You wrote: "Sounds like he's anticipating some tough political struggling with the Republicans in these next few months, or trying to create that impression anyway."

So let me get this straight. Are you implying that Obama is somehow being unrealistic or dishonest by implying that he's "anticipating some tough political struggling?" When did you start covering politics? Let me rephrase that: Are you a moron? Of course he's in for a tough political struggle. This is a presidential election. Give me a break.

[Eve Ash]

It's not "stealing a line." It's called literary allusion.

[NOmoreBUllSHit]

DUH, ya think!!!?
After TOO MANY years of Repugnantcan repression, dirty tricks, lies and inuendos, we've ALL learned. Bring a knife, face a gun is FAIR!!!!!

[Mandelay]

Reports in the Jerusalem Post and in Israel Insider claim Obama's brother confirms Barack is a Muslim. Ho hum ... a "stop the smear" web site's work is never done:
Malik Obama confirms his half-brother Barack grew up a Muslim
By Israel Insider staff June 13, 2008

Apparently the Obamas of Kenya have been reading those scurrilous emails to which Barack likes to refer, because they have no doubt -- contrary to the claims of the Obama campaign, that the presidential candidate was raised a Moslem. They take that as a given.

As the Jerusalem Post reports, "Barack Obama's half brother Malik said Thursday that if elected his brother will be a good president for the Jewish people, despite his Muslim background. In an interview with Army Radio he expressed a special salutation from the Obamas of Kenya."

The Obama brothers' father, a senior economist for the Kenyan government who studied at Harvard University, died in car crash in 1982. He left six sons and a daughter. All of his children - except Malik -- live in Britain or the United States. Malik and Barack met in 1985.

In a remarkable denial issued last November that still stands on the official campaign website, Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs issued a statement explaining that "Senator Obama has never been a Muslim, was not raised as a Muslim, and is a committed Christian."

Apparently Malik Obama, himself a Muslim, had not read the press release.

Melanie Phillips is the most recent commentator to draw attention to the massive body of evidence that leaves no doubt that Barak Hussein Obama was born a Muslim (Islam is patrilineal) and raised a Muslim (so registered in school, acknowledging attending Islamic classes, reported accompanying his step-father to the mosque, and able to recite the Koran in the original Arabic).

Reuven Koret, Aaron Klein and Daniel Pipes have previously pointed to the attempts by Obama and his campaign to conceal the candidate's Muslim background. The well documented evidence draws upon the on-the-ground interviews by researchers in Indonesia and Kenya, published quotations of Obama's childhood friends and his school records, as well as the candidate's own autobiography.

It is not clear whether Barack Obama will now disown his half-brother Malik, or throw him under the campaign bus, for acknowledging that shared family background. In any case, some one should notify "Fight the Smear" tout de suite. Perhaps they can get him with the program.

[Two jump]

How odd. Here is this champion of the left. One who favors the abolition of the second amendment, going "Ghetto" in an effort to pander to his known constituancy. Well, it's cheap.
Mr. Obama proves more by the day that he is an urbancentric elitist.
We in the rural west doubt very much if we will see him here. Rest assured, his kind of political double speak will not play well here. We prefer straight talk. Many here like God. We pretty much all like and need our guns. We are all bitter. Bitter because we are tired of political hacks, urban lice and oportunists like Obama and his corrupt lap dog Bill Richardson telling us how "Gumment" is our salvation.
We would much prefer a Govt. that went by the Constitution.
Freedom for the West!

[rachel]

What oh my goodness has obama turned into one of those bitter religous people clinging to guns?

[Hiroko]

Andrew, can't you find something to write of substance? Stop parsing every word coming out of the candidates. Focus on the issues otherwise you'll lose you diminishing audience altogether.

[ted in pdx]

The Bush administration has done more damage to this country in 8 years than is fully comprehensible by one mind. Now that Senator McCain has made it clear (to this Republican) that he intends to defend and extend the carnage, I hope Obama drops the consensus talk and spells out the line items, one after another.

For starters, this country is so far south of 'safe' as a consequence of President Bush's impulse play-calling and incompetent follow-through against terrorism, it's time to change course, win the battles we must win (such as the one in Afghanistan), and stop incinerating billions of dollars we've borrowed from China in Iraq. And $2-Trillion in tax cuts looks pretty phony alongside $5-Trillion in new debt. I suspect high-income tax payers would actually go along with higher taxes if it was honestly applied to getting our fiscal house in order.

Anyone who thinks Obama is another George McGovern or Jimmy Carter is in for a surprise. He just showed Hillary Clinton the door to the bleachers, and she's no shrinking violet.

[EddienTexas]

lets see..
first he is too black
then he is too white
then he had bad judgement about attacking al queda in pakistan
then he doesnt have experience in any business (like running the most successful politcal campaign in history while every other of the fantastic candidates all but went bankrupt)
then he was too mild mannered and would be pushed around
now he is too tough
I think i will vote for this guy!!! Obama '08

[ted in pdx]

Obama doesn't have to do anything dirty to sink McCain. All he has to do is lay out the facts with a little emphasis.

Note to the intelligentsia who insist Obama is a Muslim:

So what? Last I looked, being Muslim was legal in the United States. I'll bet you folks are "Proud to be an Americans...", so are you saying that Muslims don't qualify?

I'd like a nickel for every "Great American" out there ready to grab a rope and perform a media-lynching based on hearsay. It's okay, that's part of our tradition. It just doesn't have anything to do with making this country Great.

[Hannibal Silver]

I have noticed an intensifying anti-Obama bias in your reporting. Are you also own by Rupert Murdoch?

[Mr. Unite Us]

Now that Tim Russert is gone who can we count for real political news coverage. Apparently not the L.A. Times.

Homework assignment for the L.A. Times review the legislative record of both candidates.

[Roger Horn]

Every time a Democrat ease up he get blasted. Nixon - How pink is Helen Douglas - his first campaign for House. Last Presidential - quiet approval of the slam unpatriotic campaign against a genuine Viet Nam hero - Kerry. Why expect fairness now. Be ready for below the belt, beneath human dignity attacks. Racism for sure. Republicans have no honor, so all is fair. I don't think McCain will be personally responsible for much of it, but the effect will be the same. Of course, Obama must answer.

[nights]

I think as the campaign gets under way we will see the real Obama. The muslim Oboma will began to come forward. Had he been a white person of either party he would be long gone with his pastor. But claiming to be a black person with a white mother is catching up with him.
Obama shows strong signs of BI-Polar and i think this will also show up in comming weeks.
His zany wife is treading in political waters unknown to her and will find herself butt deep in political crap she herself creates. MIchele needs ot take some kind of personality course and clean her potty mouth.

[Randy]

Who cares anyway? About any of this political "he said - he said" garbage. Obama or McCain... no matter what, your mama will still act insane.

Let me lay it out for "all you disillusioned plantation residents". As long as the American people allow "corporations" and the "government agencies" that support them dictate your families life... "Your destined to live an existence much like a slave".

Our government no longer "represents the interests of its people". Unfortunately, Congress and the President support Corporations first and foremost and allow these same commerical entities to treat people like something that's so easily thrown away... much like toilet paper.

WHEN will America awake?

Let's hope she doesn't wake up with an "angry migraine"

[bobby]

I just cant wait until McCain and Obama square off for a debate. McCain will be so verballly beat down by the elegance of Obama's rhetoric that he might just start having flashbacks as a POW.

[issa]

to bobby. I like your comment.

[Malcolmhowdareu]

How dare u criticize Obama. Don't you know he is the Obamessiah? YOu will be shunned by his followers in the Obama Cult which includes the MSM. Thanks for shedding light on the thinness of this man who expects no criticism and when he gets it he suggest it is unwarranted. Thank you.. Keep it up.

[Willie]

You Go OBIE!!!!!That's right Obama doesn't have to put up with the filthy, lying, manipulative, Rove-Mugabe Republican Machine. This Time Obama is not going to let the GOP define us. The people who can't wait to change Washington. This time the people of this country are reclaiming their Constitution and their right to be govern by the ONE who will speak, and govern by us, not to us. The GOP has really wrecked this country in the past 8 years. We are so far in debt, we are about to even lose Busweiser to the Europeans, and more landmarks to countries in the Middle East. The Global Economy today, is more rich get richer, and the middle class poorer, not only in the states but worldwide. So much for Free Trade the Bush way. So, give them hell Obama, you, Michelle have been gifted with teflon by true Americans. The ones who work for a living and love this country, more than those who claim to be proud Americans and are ready to sell the Statue of Liberty to make a buck, like Dick Cheney and Karl Rove.

[EP 33]

It is truly embarrassing to hear McCain and Co.
do the constant crybaby over Obama defending and counterpunching. \
Obama said from day one he would not be swift boated.
Naturally he went easy during the primaries because of his deep respect,
admiration and common cause with his party rivals,
particularly the former president and first lady. He took like a man and turned the other cheek..
Obviously he has been building up a lot of energy and had to hold back.
Now he is ready and eager to do hard political battle with the forces that have bullied and intimidated average Americans and reformers for years.
It looks like he has a strong hit man with Sen. John Kerry, who also has so issue on this score. I mean can you believe how much McCain was whining,
These guys can't take a punch. And then there was Gen. Wesley Clark's assessment of McCain's weakness as a military leader, which resulted in more whining and standing on false privilege. 'How dare they question me given my heroism in Vietnam' basically huffs Mr. McCain.
There have been a whole lot of battlefield heroes since way back then. Given these kids sacrifice today, in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is really is a vain claim to tout such ancient service, after having lead such a charmed and privileged life, since then.
The smear masters better look out. Obama's team is going to fight back hard, real hard. Maybe they should fight fair.

[Josh]

I'm only 24 and voted for Kerry in my only vote but Obama seems like a powder keg. I know Chicago's a mess and his ties to Wright and then WEIRD comments like this gun thing are over the top.

Plus on his website he says he'll pull out of Iraq but STAY if Al Queda is present. Well isn't Al Queda present? Does that mean Obama says we're staying? His speech to that Israel PAC was scary. If they bomb you we'll bomb them. He either plays up to the Jews or he's lying and tells the Arabs something else. I already know there's that flap where he told a Jewish group he believes in a Jewish Jeruselum but then told some Palastineans he wants a divided city. I don't trust him. Change. Orwellian. Please emind me WHAT has he voted on before? Done? Flim flam man. I look at at this way. I could get drafted and I think it's less a chance with McCain. It's ALWAYS a Democrat talking up the draft. Rangle etal. My dad told me my granfather voted for Lynden Johnson because Goldwater wanted war and my dad was in Nam 2 years later! At least Kerry and Gore served.

[BobT]

Hey Bobby, I guess Obama will verbally "beat down" McCain the way he did Hillary, oops Hillary whipped him in their last debate in Philly so badly that Obama was MIA on any other debates since he avoided debating her the rest of the primary season. I forget Obama is new to this whole nationwide election campaign deal, what with his followers annointing him as the next big thing and all. What's with all Obama's talk about knives and guns (bitterness, religion and anti-immigrant sentiment not without standing)? I thought this guy supposedly spent time as an urban community organizer? Knives and guns are quite the problem in many predominantly black communities so I would think someone with common sense would avoid such topics, especially near Philly where murder and thug violence in the 'Hood has been a major problem for the past few years.

I doubt Obama could have lasted as a POW in Vietnam, talking tough isn't the same as actually exhibiting toughness when one is forced to endure conditions like McCain experienced as a POW. Obama had chances to join the military and fight for this country during his adult life yet chose not to so I hope he and his toadies have enough humility and respect to avoid impugning someone about answering his country's call to military duty and putting his life on the line when so many others did not. You Obama supporters are a real piece of work, how dare you claim to have the soldiers' back and best interests at heart then choose to insult someone who not only fought for his country but make jokes about his POW status being held by an enemy combatant. Real classy Obama-ites, is this part of the change y'all are always harping about? How is that a change from the way Bush/Cheney treated McCain's military veteran status in the 2000 election?

[Andrew]

I'm an Obama supporter, and have to agree that that's a pretty strong statement. I'd have to ask those braying that this is just "necessary tough talk" to remember when Huckabee made similar references--though in a failed attempt at jest--not too long ago. What were you arguing then?

Doesn't make me reconsider my vote, but I do roll my eyes when politicians turn to hyperbole.

[Shawn]

Excellent, Barack Obama is the only democratic presidential candidate in the last 30 years who doesn't sound like a wimp. It's time to take the fight to the GOP and bring a 'gun' to a knife fight. For the first time in a generation, the republicans will be shaking in their boots.

[Steve Rhodes]

That was nothing like what Huckabee said.

I think even the LA Times has reported that Obama is a big movie fan. So, no he didn't steal a line from the Untouchables.

When Reagan said, "Go ahead, make my day," Time called it echoing Dirty Harry

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,964091,00.html

[Cosmeta]

I find these recent statements by a potential President of the United States reprehensible. Doesn't anyone realize that a statement like this, even if by way of analogy would be construded by some as a message to bring *real* guns to a rally or to a townhall meeting as a way of doing battle against one's political opponent.

This man is not a peacemaker---he is a Chicago thug! IMO and we now know what CHANGE really means. Wake up people before it's too late.

Hillary Where Are You?

Please reopen your campaign!

[Susan]

What Obama said referring to guns and knifes was totally inappropriate and is a great example of how his words and therefore his ideas change depending on who is in the audience.. It also seems to me, people have let their racism show more and more since Obama has been running for president. I don't see this leading in any productive direction. If Obama was truly a leader who was trying to build a bridge to understanding, this would not be happening. I think we all inherently know as evidenced by the Wright controversy that the point of Obama's campaign is not to bring up ALL people to the level they could obtain if any racism or sexism was not present.
My husband and myself will not be voting on election day. I told my husband we will start a new tradition and I encourage others to follow our lead. We will stay home and make love that day.

[Calcutta]

Some of the bigoted comments and most of this bigoted reporting makes me sick. His comment was "ghetto"?? Really, because he said what he said and he was black? When Sean Connery said the exact same thing was it "ghetto" then. If John McCain said it now would you think the comment was Ghetto what about HIllary Clinton? You people need to get a grip, your inner racist is showing.

[Tom Hilton]

Or how about the fact that he stole that line from Sean Connery in "The Untouchables,"

So quoting a movie line is now plagiarism? That is the dumbest line of a phenomally stupid post.

[Cheryll]

Obama ...the republicans will not bring a knife... They will bring a warhead! The warhead is they will use is to bring into light the truth of your racism, sexism and elitism. You're an ism..as I ism not voting for a Muslim! You are Muslim in thought no matter if you attended a Christian church or not. Your blanded mind followers can heap crap upon your name, but it still crap!

[Web Smith]

At first, Obamas message of change was hopeful. As time wore on and we failed to hear what his idea of change is, it became clear that it was just rhetoric.

What is also becoming increasingly clear is that he has a chip on his shoulders instead of a head. His justification of his wife's use of the term "whitey" lends evidence. By wanting to issue another $50 billion in worthless tax rebates also shows that he doesn't have a clue.

We have too much at stake right now to elect a President who does not understand and is not focussed on the consequential issues facing this country. This man should not be President.

But, then, neither should McCain. Perhaps things will be bad enough by the next election that people will stop their deranged denials and wake up.

Unfortunately, high gas and oil prices have created a window of opportunity that is probably going to turn the economy around and who ever is in office will take credit for it.

[bcraig]

Since the main stream media is refusing to do their job, it's up to us to remind our fellow citizen of the responsibilities of free thinking men and women. The MSM is bewitched by Obama and is doing everything in its power to elect their candidate, no questions asked; and while Obama moves crowds of naïve worshipper into fits of dissociated frenzy, the rest of us are left to fend for ourselves; so we seek out the truth about this man, Obama, who heals not by the laying on of hands like some charismatic televangelist exploiting the hopes of the desperate, ill and poor, but by bumping fist with his followers, a poor pathetic bunch longing for the days of their youth or the redemption of an adolescent American dream cut short by disillusion and reality. How often the media has failed us - no longer an objective institution of investigation, but rather the voice of commentary for a spoiled impetuous generation...

Hitler too was a passionate speaker – promising restored glory and honor to the desperate and tattered masses of post war Germany. Hitler’s rise to power began with a spark in history - a momentary blind furry uncontrolled by logic or reason in a dry waste land, where dead brittle leaves gathered round the fires... Sadly, I think of Martin Luther King Jr. tonight, and his dream of a nation where children are ‘judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character’ – what a strange ambivalence he might feel knowing that our nation may possibly elect the first black person in its history, not because of the content of his character, but because of some romantic adolescent illusion about the color of his skin.

[Kees]

The Jerusalem Post is a reputable newspaper. There is NO such story regarding Senator Obama's religion. This is just another pathetic lie trying to smear a fine person.

Nowadays, any fool can wander into a public library and spread hateful lies.

Senator McCain is much more likely to borrow his lines from Forrest Gump.

[RG]

B Craig
You confuse the reason you do not support Obama with the reason most educated people support him. I think based on his behavior George Bush rather than Obama would be more aptly compared to Hitler or at least Mao. The fact that eight years of Bush has not made you hungry to return to democracy tells me that you are dependent on an authoritarian leader.

Your arrogance that you think that many of the highly educated are duped and only you know what is the real Obama is tells me that you are projecting yourself on to Obama supporters.

I for one will be happy when I know that your kind of politics has desisted in this country for however short a time that may be.

Obama's race is of virtually no concern to me but I think experiences he has had because of his race will help him to get down and dirty with your ilk. He has goals for this country and he is not going to allow the uncivilized behavior of the Bush-McCain Republican Party stop him.

[Patricia]

Hey Susan, after McSame gets into 'office", "making love" may be all you and your husband may be able to afford after McSame gets done wrecking this economy. So, keep your vote and accept whatever the outcome of this election. Sweet Nightmares.

[Dr.Banks]

Thanks, Andrew Malcom, for helping to keep equity in the electorate's mind. My liberal friends are responsible for "political correctness" in virtually every schoolroom in America. Were Mr. Obama ro make a comment about Democrats escalating their "fight" with Republicans by bringing a gun to a knife fight, he would be suspended from the 8th grade and given mandatory psyciatric evaluation. Perhaps while seeing the shrink he could work on that Messianic issue.

Here in NYC we have surprisingly little enmity toward Muslims, in general, though an understandable detestation of fanatical terrorists who killed our friends and nieghbors. We don't care if B.H. Obama was raised Muslim. We care if he lies about it. We cared in 2004 when Kerry assured us of his phony phantom mission to Cambodia during his 3 months in VietNam. History will chalk that up with Hillary's dodging bullets in Kosovo with Sinbad. We don't trust the liers and can't stomach or survive 4 years of Carter #2. No real Messiah would create stagflation, yet Obama's policies are identical to the last failed JC, Jimmy Carter.

[Oopali Operajits]

This is all about words. Politics is about what either of these leaders will actually do when they face the real world in the White House. It's about governance and diplomacy. The media does have a tendency to pounce on one isolated phrase or word and make a mountain out of it. Andrew, give Obama a break! Eight years of complete lunacy at the White House, and it's pretty evident that the US and the world are clamouring for change -- the kind of change that Obama represents.

[Andrew]

There's a good chance no one's reading this post anymore, but for what it's worth:

@Web Smith: Please produce the video -- not a blog post about some guy who swears he's seen it -- and I'd gladly change my vote:

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-onthemedia13-2008jun13,0,5042968.story

@Bcraig: Godwin's Law.

[Averroes]

"Barack Obama suddenly doing some tough urban talk."

Nice headline.
Do you really think you are intelligent Andrew? Do you really think that you are so smart that your smarmy little headline that drips of prejudice and bias won't be noticed and duly noted? The problem with you racists is that by definition you are ignorant. Which means that we all get to sit and laugh at the latest tripe written by a fool that doesn't realize that the tide has turned in this country. And your days are limited!! Have a nice day hack!

P.S. At some point the LA Times is going to realize that hacks like you are running the paper into the ground with your subpar writing. Hope you have a backup plan.

[Sam]

Stop pretending these words weren't meant figuratively. And speaking FIGURATIVELY, the Republicans believe in a literal interpretation of the 2nd amendment. They'll not only be bringing guns Sen. Obama, they'll have assault rifles and nukes. Thankfully Sen. McCain is an Olympic class flip flopper and panderer. He's got no chance no matter what he brings.

[SK]

Regarding the "Malik Obama" story noted above. Not only is the story sourced nonexistent, but in 2004, Malik says Obama is a Christian:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6333496

"Their paternal grandfather, Onyango Hussein Obama, was one of the first Muslim converts in Nyangoma-Kogelo, Malik said. However, not all of his descendants are Muslim, Malik added. Barack is Christian."

[Mark D.]

Nice call Calcutta,
Obama uses a quote from a movie featuring white actors, yet when he say's the same line it's called "ghetto". The only thing I find "ghetto" is the "trailer trash's" interpretation of his words. Andrew, (aka Trailer Trash), needs to spend more time trying to dig up dirt where and if it's warranted. Instead he chose to displsy his racist side in the hopes of swaying the election for Republicans. For the rest of you knuckleheads trying desperately to bring down Obama,..I hope you come up with real issues rather than resorting to ignorant, racist rhetoric. If that's all you got you might as well get ready to say, "Hail to the Chief,.....President Obama".