ummm sorry Fox News but Allentown isn’t exactly small town Pennsylvania. in fact it’s probably one of the bigger, more populous towns in PA (excluding the Pittsburgh/Philly urban areas)

Had a discussion with a group of my friends yesterday - some are Democrats and some Republicans plus a couple of Independents. Ages from 45 to 60 - some better off financially than others. We pay our taxes and do whatever it takes to make ends meet. We all agree times are tough - each of us have been down and out during our lifetimes sometimes several times. But you know what? - we all worked our fannies off and got back on our feet again.
Your Reporter seems to be locked into the word “Bitter” in her question. I am not “Bitter” but all of my friends and I are “Very Disappointed and Disgusted” in the treatment , policies and actions of our goverment over the past several decades.
Obama keeps stating “Change” in his well written speeches but if you have an IQ greater than your shoe size - you know words are cheap especially politians’ words. Personally, I wouldn’t buy a used car from the guy.
Criticize him or his buddy Wright and you’re a bigot - object to illegal immigration and you’re a bigot - disagree with welfare policies and you’re a bigot. Support our troops and we’re idiot hicks, believe in
the Bill of Rights as they were written and we’re behind the times, practice our religious beliefs and we’re “clinging” to false hope, believe that laws should be enforced equally without the race factor being brought into it and we’re inhumane.
“Bitter” - NO ! Lost faith in our goverment - YES.
Question is - Can we ever again have the United States that “Once Was”?

Sam, perhaps you believe he was not being condescending. A lot of other folks do not feel the same way. Calling someone bitter and frustrated and accusing them of being intolerant are two entirely different things.

We are bitter. Just these posts proves the point. Some people are all pissed because he used the word cling. People do cling to faith and other values when times hit hard. We embrace it when times are good but we cling to it during the bad times. If a white candidate had said the same thing, no one would be even this upset. If he was talking about inner city neighborhoods this wouldn’t even make news. But a black man tries to empathies with a community he is familiar with because he was raised in a similar community and represents such communities in Illinois, and all of sudden he’s stabbed us in the back. I hate to throw out the race card but this is ridiculous. Yeah the words could’ve been phrased better but at the end of the day we all know he was not trying to be condescending. You guys sound like minorities getting mad when a white person says something out of mis phrase and not true intentions.

Ralph P : you are dead spot on. The House and Senate need a good hosing out. I am tired of watching the presidency taking all of the heat and all of the blame. Congress has been the real problem for many years now.

Hater revealed, again. If I were from IL. I’d be thinking recall. Maybe they have no shame.

I think Obama is right. People are bitter. There are no jobs and they become one issue voters. People must have their basic needs met before they can move on. The problem is in the generalizing that all people are bitter.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6oGF3cyHE7M&feature=bz301

This is very important video. I live in “small town America.” When one of the largest employers of our area, Phillips, an electronic manufacturing plant, relocated to Mexico people became bitter and frustrated, they turned to their faith and those rights they could protect. Many opted for early retirement, sacrificing their level of retirement pay in order to keep their health insurance. Any presidential nominee that says people in small town America are not bitter and clinging to the things that bring them comfort have not spoken to these retirees who ended up losing their health insurance anyway. To say that these people are not bitter demonstrates a candidate’s lack of empathy for small town Americans.

This “scandal” being egged on by Mrs. Clinton is showing how out of touch she is.

People are bitter because our lifestyles, homes, and communities are under attack.

Some have turned to marriage, immigration, and gun laws to protect ourselves and what’s left of our dignity.

But immigrants, gays, and guns aren’t the problem — it’s Clinton’s and Bush’s economic policies that are killing us.

People who get to boss others around get richer. They get to buy Lexuses and fancy groceries. They get to leave work early to be with their friends and families. They get health care where ever and whenever they want it. But people who have to actually do stuff — nurses, teachers, cops, secretaries, clerks, most women — we get poorer and have to work longer, and we have to do it with less flexibility. Everything we do is watched and controlled, thanks in no small part to Clinton-backed laws like No Child Left Behind. Jobs are shipped overseas so that management has to worry less about giving back to the people who give them everything, or with even treating us like people. Meanwhile, the government dumps billions of dollars in Iraq. To live with any kind of self respect, you can’t care for others for a living.

Clinton better bet her behind that I for one am bitter. If she were serious about changing things, she’d stop pushing scandals that don’t exist and instead start giving more than a little bit back to the people who look after them. Why does college education cost so much? Why are teachers paid so little?
Clinton still hasn’t paid huge bills for catering that were due in January. But she’s lecturing Obama about being out of touch?

Hillary = More of the Same.

All best wishes, Susan

I’m resentful of Obama’s statement: “they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”

I’m from Johnstown, Pa and I definately don’t appretiate some like him telling me that my religiousness is because of my frustration. I didn’t like Obama before I read this article and now that I have, I like him even less and I’m going to make sure this statement is heard and read to as many people as I can get it out to at home so others won’t vote for such a poor presidential canidate.

Obama just mispoke like Hill often does:)

” maybe Hillary has shared her $109 million with you??? Sorry dear, you are definitely out of touch.”

Funny that Hillary give 10 MILLION dollars to charity while the obama’s together only gave 1% of their considerable income to charity…and a great portion of that being to their church that preaches racism among other things!

Having been a recepiant of charity…I’m sure I received some of Hillary’s TEN MILLION that she donated but I doubt I’ve received ANY of the meager 1% that the obama’s donated.

As one poster posted…the interviewer asked the wrong question. I didn’t take offense that Obama said I, who live in a small town, was bitter. I took offense that he said I cling to my guns and religion…and he said it like it was something offenseive or bad that I do so!

Am I bitter? Yes I am. I’m bitter that the WIFE of a politician makes a little over $100,000 at her job but once her husband is elected her SALARY goes up to over $300,000!!!! I’m bitter that people who are making at least a HALF a million dollars a YEAR only give 1% to charity and that the charity who received most of that 1% is a church that speaks about racism and hating America! I’m bitter that the same politician can speak about me like I’m a second class citizen because I don’t earn enough money.

Bitter? You bet I am!! But it’s not because I cling to my religion or want to own a gun! It’s because high class politicians come out of nowhere and INSULT me and my intelligence!

Helen
Medina(a very small town)
New York

i live in pa. and obama hit the nail on the head!the truth hurts but it’s still the truth!how can any of us be happy with our government? blue and red alike! you people who think he is putting down your faith listen carefully as that is not what he said..that is what the hill said..she attacks like a viscious pit bull! did anyone hear obama attack the clintons last week for their lies??no! this is a man of honor and if we do not elect him as our next prez we will all suffer!!so get over the stupid stuff and go look at the substance and intellect that obama can offer us! how about nafta??how hard has it hit you and yours and who ya gonna put in the white house??

I worked in the hotel/restaurant industry for over 20 years. I no longer do. Now I work with my husband in his small business. It costs me too much money to go to work. That’s right. I can’t afford to go to work! What effects one of us effects all of us. If people don’t make money, they don’t spend money. Main Street looks like some tumbleweed town out of the old west. Empty store-front after empty store-front. Yeah…I am bitter. My government has sold my country down the river.

The folks in rural America love their churches and their guns, and that’s fine. How is it condescending to say they should ALSO be able to expect good paying jobs, a secure retirement, affordable health care, diplomacy instead of warmongering, and a President that doesn’t lie to us? Of course people are bitter! Vote for change in 2008. Go Obama!

His statement needed a little more tact and polish but it didn’t lack truth.
We are bitter. Through Reagan/Bush/Clinton/Bush, American policy has been built around big business and corporations. We regular people have been getting the shaft for three decades. I can’t see voting for another four years of this via McCain or Clinton. I’m sick of watching the American Dream become an American Nighmare.

We need a fresh face in Washington.

To begin with wanted to tell everyone that I am a democrat first and clinton supporter second. Sen. Obama no doubt gets my respect. He ran a different campaign and truly inspired many in the run for which he deserves all the credit. I had supported him with all the recent controversies but this recent incident has made him lose a lot of that respect. It is not at all to do with the comment or the word ‘bitter’ though I agree the choice of words were wrong. Everyone needs to listen to the sound clip or read the transcript in its entirety and then blog. Half knowledge is worse than no knowledge.

1. There is resentment, frustration(bitterness towards the government) among people but they don’t resort to violence or antipathy. A very small percentage(social outlaws) might but most of AMERICA is resilient and have deep rooted faith and beliefs. You cannot unite the country by making such misleading statements.

2. This occurred at a private fundraiser in california among some rich donors to the campaign, an event where the media wasn’t invited, if we didn’t have the lady from HP record the talk, it would remain unknown. If he meant to be honest he should have raised it in a small town in PA or any other part of the country and addressed the issue head on. Seems to me like same old politics which unfortunately back fired.

3. As a hard core dem I personally took offence(in the same way when HRC implied she and mc cain are ready but obama ? ) when he blamed the clinton administration for the lack of jobs when facts state that unemployment decreased from in PA 7.2% to 4.6% during those years. Again within closed doors to please some of his own fundraisers.

I know this is a very passionate election year and If in any way my comments might have hurt others (that was definitely not the intent)- deep felt apologies are on the table!

Amen

I am very disappointed that Obama apparently views some small-town folks with such low esteem.

If memory serves me right, Bill Clinton back in 1991, was quoted in the LA Times as saying the economically insecure white people were scared to death. The article can be viewed on huffingtonpost.com. If Obama’s bitter comments were directed towards Inner City Voters, would the media be equally concerned?

Born in PA

People that have forgotten their old family values just don’t get where Obama is coming from when he made his “BITTER” statement. I grew up in a rural community in Illinois and hunting and fishing were part of our life. I do remember that when my family came on hard times financially, as people are now, we turned to hunting, fishing and gardening to lessen the burden. Wild game, home grown vegetables, and home canned fruits and vegetables supplemented our every meal. My older brother and I went out on our own, found jobs, worked and went to school, while helping keep our family afloat. We weren’t a religious family, so we didn’t turn to it for comfort and help. We did, however turn to our guns to supplement the food we needed and could not afford. To this day I, even though I don’t need them, I own guns and fishing gear. Was I bitter? No, because the values I had made me help when my family needed it. I did see in the faces of my parents the despair, anger, and yes bitterness they felt about their ecomonic situation. So are the people of rural Pennsylvania, BITTER, you bet! HOWEVER, like most rural people who also have an abundance of pride, they would rather not have the whole world know about their sorrows and woes. Making them public was Obama’s only mistake.

Hey D, I do not have money in the bank. I worry every week that I can afford to pay my bills. The way things are now, my husband and I will be living with our children(that is if they have a place to live). Our lives got finacially better with the Clinton Era and have gone down the drain with the Bush hell years. Hilary has the right ideas to get this country back to his glory. By the way my husband is a vet and we support the troops, but not Bush who sent our soldiers to die for his oil.

To be bitter, is a personal decision. It is a reflection of your heart and thoughts. Problems that exist in our government stem from electing people with little moral thread in their character. Sometimes you get what you asked for (or elected). PA citizens need to start with the overhauling of our own state government. WE have one of the largest, most ineffecient, overpayed, mob-infested state goverment of all history. Start there!

Obama was just trying to explain the reality for working class people. It just didn’t come out the right way, but I believe Obama has a good heart and is not elitist or condescending. I think McCain and Clinton are playing politics, which is completely their right to do. But many people are kind of sick and tired with these old political attack tactics, the gotcha politics, and the fake outrage. Especially when there is real outrage over the Iraq war and the poor economic condition in this country.

Perhaps Senator Obama forgot that he attend the most presitgious private and “elite” boarding school in Hawaii where was surrounded by the children of Hollywood and corporate elites. Or maybe when he was attending Harvard Law School and was editor of the highly regarded and prestigious Harvard Law Review, he felt the pain of the working class in America. How many small town Americans had the opportunities handed to them that Senator enjoyed and now claims was part of growing up “underpriviledged? Maybe he should walk in the shoes of the small town residents who he claims are bitter and cling to “red neck type” activities and come down from his educationally elite throne. Or maybe he’s been listening too long to his Princeton educated wife or his millionaire Pastor Wright who drives around in a Cadillac Escalade to know the difference between working class citizens and the “nouveau riche”.

Yes, people in PA are bitter, my whole family is from PA and they are really depressed. But people are bitter in small towns and big cities across our country.

Why can’t Hillary Clinton and John McCain see the bitterness? Because they are so rich they don’t have to worry about clipping coupons, returning bottles, hunting for deer to put meat on the table, saving on gas, paying off school loans, homes being foreclosed on…the list is a long one.

First they knock Barack Obama cause he tells us to have hope. Then they jump on him because he tells the truth about what real people are feeling.

They are the one’s talking down to us - cause they think we working people are so dumb we can’t tell when politicians are lying to us again.

I’m not bitter - I’m angry!!! But I’m not giving up hope that we can change things.

Oh btw - I’m in a small town upstate NY, still wondering where the money to revitalize us that Senator Clinton promised is. She needs to wake up and smell the coffee, cause next time she runs for office, upstate won’t be voting for her.

I really don’t understand why my posts aren’t making it into this blog, but I’m tired of writing only to see it never show up.

This is the last time I’m trying.

TRUE religion does not and never will foster bitterness. If Obama feels that way then he doesn’t understand religion at all. Then again after listening to his so-called “pastor”, I can understand why he would think that religion equals bitterness.

by the way, i’m also bitter that the news media cares more about the word bitter than the issues that make me bitter!

Fox needs to do more of what they did in this blog, interview real people about their problems rather than just dictating to us about what we believe.

Tell it like it is, people of Pennsylvania! Great interviews.

McCain and Clinton very obviously the ones who are out of touch. Which is not a big surprise, given their money and the length of time they’ve been in Washington. Community organiser is the RIGHT experience for the job.

I’m a small town Pennsylvanian. Obama’s characterization of us as “clinging” to guns and religion, being anti-immigration, anti-trade, anti-people who are different, all under the umbrella of “bitterness’ over job losses is a slam to us, and to all rural Americans. Speaking these words to one of his mega-rich, no media allowed (now we know why) fundraisers on Millionaire’s Row in San Francisco, Obama slammed the door in the faces of thousands of Pennsylvanians who had greeted him just a week before on his six day bus trip through our state. As he traveled through PA, we saw much coverage of his many side trips: bowling, visiting sports bars, feeding cows at the Penn State cow barns, eating hot dogs in Altoona. Now, I see this all as a pretentious side-show, after which he went running right off to his millionaire donors and basically called PA small town voters a bunch of narrow-minded, prejudiced hicks. I am offended by this attitude from Obama, and by his later response of how much “in touch” he is. He is the one who is showing prejudice, looking at Pennsylvanians as stereotypes. This is unacceptable. He wants to be my president? I don’t think so. As a former John Edwards supporter, I have high standards for my president, and Obama just doesn’t cut it. I will be voting for Hillary on April 22 in PA.

I am not from PA but from a small town nonetheless and I am bitter, angry, and frustrated . I hope there is change that can be accomplished in my adult life but pray that change will happen so that my children may have opportunites in their lives that were overlooked the last three decades. You don’t have to be bitter to agree with Senator Obama’s statements if you have ever had to make a choice between heating your house or putting money into a college fund for your kids. If you don’t understand it then research it, look it up or even just read what people have to say on these blogs. The stories are out there for all the people that care to hear them- I would rather be labeled as bitter then to appear judgemental but saying there is no way this can be true. Those of you judging us and telling us to make the change ourselves, that this is somehow our fault for living where we do God help us all if your candidate manages to falsely represent themselves and stick it to us for four more years-I hope you enjoy it up on your soapbox now because soon enough when the economy crumbles you will know what being bitter is. My advice to all of you is to read the truth in Obama’s statements and don’t take them as personal attack on you and your family but as an attack on the government that has been taking our freedoms away one at a time until all we have left to vote on during the elections are guns and religion. Show them that we are smarter then they are giving us credit for. Vote on real issues this year and for the man that is willing to help us make these changes.

“Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people.” This quote by Karl Marx was immediately what came to my mind when I read the quotes of Mr. Obama.
I am from Pennsylvania, from a small town outside Pittsburgh, and was not particularly “bitter” until my beliefs were so rudely insulted. As a Conservative and a Republican, I have no intention to vote for either elitist but their Marxist stances still anger me.

What needs to be realized is that Obama wasn’t talking about clinging to guns and religon in everyday life. He was talking about people having a higher priority on those issues than that of their economic problems at the ballot box. That’s exactly what Reagon Democrats are. It’s true that people are bitter, and it’s also true that people do not believe politicians will follow through and fix their economic problems, so they will vote for the issues that they think politicians can change: gun control, gay marriage, illegal immigration. That is what Sen. Obama was trying to convey, but unfortunately, the media and the Republicans (including Hillary) have spun what he said and made it about something completely different. I’m from small town Georgia and what he said (and what he meant) is absolutely true.

Wake uo folks, Americans are quote bitter and angry. We are losing jobs, prices are rising, we have endless war in Iraq. America is hurting and these politicians who fail to notice this will lose. And the Washington DC media is the one OUT OF TOUCH!

I lived in a small town outside of Pittsburgh before moving to southern CA. Sure my neighbors there could get angry about the economy, but there was such a feeling of community, love of family, everyone went to church, and yes, they closed schools for the first day of hunting. People felt blessed for all they had and they were friendly toward all. People in my CA neighborhood here are a lot more bitter than anything I experienced in western PA.

What Obama was saying is that there are people in Small Town American who are angry and bitter about their lack of jobs and other life’s situations… That they are blaming their problems on illegal-immigrants and minorities rather than the corporations that are moving jobs overseas. And then they are voting on issues about guns and religion rather than the issues that can rally change their lives.

Which has some truth to it, But… Can he get votes by tell people they need to vote for him because they are too ignorant to know how to vote!!!

David on a USNS Vessel in Singapore

There’s a big misunderstanding here. People should read the whole of Obama’s statement and watch this video which was done in 2004. He’s saying that given people’s economic problems they stick and take comfort in what is familiar (hunting, religion) and that politician who want to divide Americans play on those things to distract people from their economic problems. You just can’t listen to Clinton, McCain or Fox News to understand what’s going on!!

I think asking people if they are “bitter” will get a huge array of answers that have nothing to do with guns and religion. I too have lived in towns that once were thriving and now are really struggling. Usually it is one or two big companies that leave and when they do nothing new comes along right away to take the place. I would say to all these “bitter” folks to look directly at your local elected officials. Towns that rebound after losses are led by those with a vision and good economic policies. The federal government is way too far from the problem to really care. It is like if you had 12 children you are going to focus more attention on the few children with HUGE problems which unfortunately lets other smaller issues not get addressed. America needs to change from the bottom up. STOP looking for a leader with a halo around his/her head. Get involved locally in your government and learn how government works. Once you get involved and have a voice you will cease to be bitter. You might still be frustrated but you will then be engaged.

Barack didn’t make a mistake. He is saying to a group of rich SF voters why he is having trouble getting a certain group of voters interested in his campaign. He just wants their vote not their voice. For me to tie in “bitter” with guns and religion is really twisted. People don’t choose a church because they are bitter. People don’t hunt because they are bitter. There is no correlation between being bitter/frustrated and choosing to join organized religion for support.

Senator Obama said what he said in Marin County,which is a well know strong hold of Liberal elitist Democrats.I think that what the senator said about middle america and Pennsylvania is what he really and truly believes.That is that the average voter is to uneducated to see the big picture of what we need as a nation.I think that his comments are an insult to the average American.It seems as if he may have forotten who he will be working for if he is elected.

Scott
Northern California

When is a president going to see that one of the best ways to help the country is to stop the rising costs of everyting and push for wages to catch up. To do this they have to stop the rising costs of gas, food, and everything and not allow for them to go up until everyone in the country is making a wage that will allow for them to provide for their basic needs without having to choose what they will go without to survive, i.e., food, gas, medicine, insurance, place to live, clothing. Creating more jobs is not going to fix the problem, raising the wages and lowering the costs will help.

I resent the fact that he feels that he is in any position to single out small towns here in PA and in the Midwest and tell us how we feel. I also resent the fact that your one question is “Are you bitter”? Go to any major city anywhere in the US and ask the same question - you’ll get the same answer. Certainly the vast majority of people in this country are upset with the situation but to single out small town ethics and beliefs as he has done - I find insulting and demeaning. I personally feel our government has let us down in favor of the giant corpoerations and their lobbies and I think I speak for the silent majority when I say that even in this time of many difficulties - we’re Americans and proud of it . There’s such a thing as the Bill Of Rights and we respect them and live by them and we have laws that are meant to be obeyed - not just selectively.
No, I would never vote for Obama. I’m afraid that I’m just one of the small town hicks that wants America to be the America I grew up in and fought for.

Obama says he may have chosen the wrong words to say what he wanted to say. Obama said what he said the way he said it because he believes it and to try and back track now is not going to work. Obama is to green to be a president and will put this country in a bad situation that we will never recover. Obama is not the only person in this country that was raised by a single mother and has made something of themselves. There are many others that have been in that situation and do not pretend to be better than other people. As a president you do not get to keep saying things and keep apologizing for them. Eventually the apologies mean nothing and the country can not function on Ooop’s I chose the wrong words and I am sorry.

Beckie Sullivan
Surprise, Arizona

it’s remarkable that a man whose mother often relied on foodstamps to help provide for him and his sister when they were growing up is somehow the elitist candidate of the bunch. people in small towns all around the country have seen their jobs disappearing for decades, and are tired of politicians showing up every couple of years on the trail making all kinds of promises, only to forget about them as soon as they move on to the next town. wealthy politicians pit people against each other using issues that don’t really have a major impact on people’s day to day lives, getting them to vote against their own self interest. obama has a tough sell trying to get people to believe that they really do have the power to demand that their government serve their needs, deep down people do want to believe that things can be better and they try to push through the tough times, but yes they do indeed succumb to bitterness, and yes they cling to things that they feel they can depend on, like religion, and deep seeded resentments to offer some explanation for their situation, however limited it might be. the people that are so angry to have someone point out the painfully obvious, are the wealthy politicians who only stand to benefit from maintaining the status quo, if ordinary people don’t feel that they can force change, these politicians are free to close themselves off in their washington bubble and keep serving the wealthy elite that don’t really need their help. the fact that people are outraged that a presidential candidate would speak bluntly about the reality many people around the country are facing, is symptomatic of the problem that cripples the politics & future of our country. i’m sick and tired of politicians who think the biggest mistake they can make is telling the truth.

I AM BITTER. I live in a small town in New York State. I work hard everyday and I still struggle to get by. I voted for Hillary and I think it is a mistake. How dare someone worth 109 million dollars tell me I am not bitter. I am bitter and I want change! I want a real leader.

Hillary Clinton has no right to tell me to roll up my sleeves and work harder. Our government is failing its people… out economy is crashing… gas cost 4.00 dollars a gallon. I couldn’t even drive to see my family if I wanted to… and I am not suppose to be bitter? We are wasting all our money on a dumb war and I am not suppose to be bitter? I thought Hillary understood, but clearly all that money has gone to her head. You roll up your sleeves Hillary… I work hard everyday.

I live in a samll town and I’ve lived in a big town. I have a good life and I’m healthy and am able to pay my bills. I’m glad I live in America. But I’m bitter about how our legislators are so partison and can’t seem to compromise. I’m bitter that so many of our legislators are serving time in prison for dishonesty and are drawing huge pensions etc. I’m bitter that there hasn’t been a resolution to this war. Im bitter that Social Security benefits are so difficult to get for honest hard working people who have legitimate problems, and some folks who know how to play the system and aren’t honest hard working people get benefits. I’m bitter at income tax time when honest folks have to put in so much time and do so much figuring to pay taxes and those who can’t do all that are paying huge sums of money so they can be honest and pay their taxes. I’m bitter about the pork barrel expenses that politicians incur for stupid projects. I don’t let bitterness interfere with my life. But there are so many things in our government that just aren’t right. And that’s what I am bitter about.

Yes, the government has made me bitter. It sounds real good to say well get a job and stand on your own two feet until the gas prices go out of this world. Groceries go out of this world. And no matter how much you work you cannot get one foot ahead. So am I bitter, you bet. I am so tired of the Republicans and the Democrats fighting over who is going to be top dog and letting the average working person drown. The democrats gave us the line that as soon as they got into Congress they would do something well they have been there for quite a while now and they haven’t done anything. The Republicans are just as bad, the little guy gets it every time. I don’t really care at this point who gets elected but Obama at least will be the change that maybe we do need because the other ones have been around for a long time and nothing has been done. So for now Obama will get my vote. And how stupid in the first place to throw a candidate overboard because he didn’t word something right.

Whether people are bitter or not about jobs or anything does not mean they turn to guns, religion or become anti-immigrant. My wife her family and relatives are all from Pennsylvania and consider Obama’s remarks unforgivable. The people I have met in Pennsylvania love to hunt are religious and are very outgoing and friendly.
Is Obama’s religious affiliation an indication of his bitterness?

I tried to read all of the comments, however it soon became clear that this is not a forum for discussion because there is no bases for discussion. Each person has a concrete feeling toward Mr. Obama’s speech and no one is going to change, no matter how insightful the comments left by dozens of other people.
My parents have lived in the beautiful state of PA for 30+ years. They are not bitter nor resentful. They especially do not want the government to take care of them. What they want is for people to take responsibility for themselves.
We brought this on ourselves. We allowed the manufacturing jobs to go overseas because we decided that we wanted to frequent discount stores like Walmart or Dollar Tree. We decided that we wanted quantity over quality.
Now we decry the loss of the jobs that are gone because we wanted CHEAP. However, calling people bitter does not help. What is going to be done to solve the problem? So, go ahead and make all of generalized statements about a certain group of people, but what can be done about it? That’s too difficult a question. Real answers would be good. Change? Change to WHAT?
People, thankful, are forever hopefully and don’t give up easily; not bitter, looking for a handout.
One final comment. Elitist does not necessary mean that someone has money. It simply refers to an attitude that develops whereby someone thinks they are better than other people.

I agree with the 2nd guy on the video; I’ve lived in PA 31 years, first living in the Pittsburgh area. When I arrived a lot of the steel mills were closing, they, powers that be, never brought in any new industry for the small towns in that area. I looked for a job and ended up being an at home mom, until we relocated. Many people relocated because of low paying jobs. My husband, born & raised in PA, worked for 10 years for Volkswagen of America and that closed down as well. We had to relocate; yes, I think small towns in PA are bitter; economy has taken away their livelihood every where we’ve relocated. My husbands’ company this year closed after almost 20 years there, we are in small town USA now, to date we have not heard if anything will be replacing it’s location.

About religion, everyone has their own beliefs; if anyone here in PA gets upset about that, maybe they need to look at themselves before they respond.

After all these years in PA; every election time, candidates say “oh, we’ll bring businesses to your area”; haven’t seen a one that has been successful yet!

Candidates that say their mind, shouldn’t get bashed when they state the truth! Maybe it’s because the other candidates themselves didn’t say it first!

I am not a political person by nature but had to state my piece because in Small Town, PA they are bitter!

I’m from south western PA and many of my relatives are bitter. My older relatives are angry that their children with a college degree had to move out of state to get jobs. Since the steel mills left many are bitter that they are stuck in low paying jobs. Two relatives hunt so they can put the deer meat on the table.
Obama got it exactly right. Some people are bitter that the government (in south western PA) has not helped new good jobs come into the area. Older people remember when they had those good steel mill jobs.

The sad thing is that the truth hurts and is uncomfortable. I am glad that many people on this blog are not bitter. Not everyone is my very large family is bitter, but, many are. Their bitterness goes up and down — they have happy times with the family and do the best they can to be happy day to day but when you really talk to them about their lives, the bitterness of government not caring about them bubbles up. The economy of the area has gone down since the 1980s.

Obama has done what no other politician in US history has done — bring diverse people together and inspired them to work for all of us in this great country.

The sad thing about my relatives is that the older ones are so defeated, have seen so many lying politicians, that they do not want to hope in Obama. They are afraid to be disappointed again. I am glad that all of my younger cousins are hopeful that Obama can really bring change to the area and to America. Well, he has already brought the best run campaign in recent memory. If he runs the White House like this, our country will really get on the right track.
I’m voting for Obama and my young cousins are.

I am another disgruntled West Virginian who takes exception with Obama’s comments. First let me say that I am not bitter because employment issues. I am bitter because the people we elected to
serve us are too busy taking care of their own agendas. We tell them we want the boarders secure and illegals prevented from coming into the country and yet nothing is done. They waste money on stupid projects such as the bridge to no where, Woodstock( drug fest ) museum, parking garages, and what ever else these irresponsible people decide would be a good way to waste more money.
Now to respond to Obama’s comments: people in small towns do not cling to their religion, (BIBLE THUMPERS), They have guns because it is their right, not because they are gun toters, they do not have antipathy (hate) towards people who are diffrent from them. (bigot) They are not against immigrants just illegals that are bankrupting our Country. They are not against trade, they want companies to come back to the United States and a fair trade agreement.
The Chineese garbage that is being shipped into this country has already killed a number of animals and yet we continue to allow their products to come in. Toys have been recalled as well as food products. We have let those people that we elected do this to us. We better wake up before it is too late.

I was very offended by what Obama said. Let me explain what his comments really mean.

Small town folks turn to guns = gun toting redneck

Turn to their religion = bible thumpers

Antipathy = hate those different from you = bigot

We do care about illegal immigrants because they are bankrupting our medical carfe system, educational system and they are costing too much for medicaid and other welfare programs.
If you stop the dole, they will go home.

Obama is a charasmatic speaker, but knows little about PA. I have lived in Pittsburgh my entire life, and am 48 years old. I don’t remeber Pittsburgh being a steel town, and the inly steel I recall is the Steelers. My point being that at least in Pittsburgh, industry has been a minimal part of our economy for a long time. Our largest employers are Universities, and the Healtcare Industry. we all have been following rany Pausch from CMU, and that University is in Pittsburgh. My work in the pharmaceutical industry leads me to the small towns Mr Obama refers to, and I have yet to see gun yielding zealots. Our small towns are not different than many across the country. There are hardworking people making their way, and I don’t see them all looking for our next president as the solution. What they want the government to help with is the rising fuel costs, affordable healthcare, and the opportunity for education. Tomorrow I’ll be in church praying that Obama’s charm doesn’t allow people to overlook this condesending statement. Pennyslvania will surely be overlooked by him if he makes his way to the White House.!

There is an element of truth in saying people are on hard times and bitter about jobs being scarce.

To suggest that we (Pennsylvanians) have turned to religion, guns, xenophobia, and immigrant hating over it is stupid and insulting.

I don’t appreciate an elite Harvard educated city fellow psychoanalyzing me (does he have a degree in this?), especially to a bunch of rich San Franciscans at the Getty Estate. He sounds as if he is lecturing about an alien culture and its customs to a bunch of students.

He has no understanding of the working class, it’s dignity, hard work and resilience, as does Hillary.

OK…I am from North central Pa…we really are nice people here…and yes…we have guns….and yes we cling to our religion..don’t see anything wrong with that…and yes we are bitter….#1.somebody has to do something about the gas prices …..we are in the mountains here and we don’t have mass transportation…we have to drive a good distance to our jobs and this is costing so much …..but I don’t think we are much different then anyone else in the country….we care about the same issues .

We small town coal miner’s daughters and granddaughters are educated. The values we learned from our grandfathers are a reverence for education and honesty.

Unfortunately there is a lack of reverence for blue collar workers in the Democratic party. The unions made sure that the miners were well compensated in their dangerous work. The miners were also expected to follow the Dem party line. NO LONGER!

Obama is not alone in generalizing about a population. HILLARY IS THE BIGGEST HYPOCRIT> she said campaigning in Ohio was like campaigning in Arkansas and when she uses her “country” accent I find her particularly appalling!

We cling to our guns because the govt fails to protect us.

We have no hope for the future because the elite are stealing it from us with oppressive taxes that leech money from the working class and give it to illegal aliens and those UNWILLING to work.

Meanwhile, the govt is over paid and is full of people who have no need for any additional income. look at the Clinton’s - Bill raised presidential pay, but he makes 1Millon a speech. Why does he need 400K a year from US in his presidential pension (which was supposed to be eliminated due to his impeachment).

How about NO salaries until the trade deficit is fixed? That’s change I can believe in.

You need to spend a few million dollars to get elected - why not raise your salary via fundraising too? It’s naive to think paying these people a salary keeps them from playing favors once elected; their votes are bought before they ever cast them. Our representation is skewed and we’re dealing with the results of that. Big oil, big business, and a hosed working class. We’ll live under this oppression until a revolution, or the complete failure of this Republic.

Our government is serving itself - not us.

We can see clearly here in small town, rural America. The smog doesn’t get in our eyes. Small town rural Americans are independent, friendly, as self sufficient as they can be and do not rely on the government to bail us out. We believe in God no matter what has happened to us. We have guns because it takes the sheriff an hour to find his way here if he is in need and sometimes the critters do run amok. I am not bitter. Wouldn’t live anywhere else.

I am offended by Obama’s comments. I have grew up in a very small rural town in Indiana, bordering on “his” state of Illinois. If he is so concerned about small towns, how about the city of Danville IL which has lost its major industries, which provided thousands of jobs to the community since NAFTA was introduced. I never heard of his concern then or recently. What offended me is that he attacked individuals life style–most especially “their” religion–like that is not a central part of one’s life, regardless. If he knew anything about hard times, he would know that more than anything else, your faith can see you through. Men and women across this country enjoy hunting and as I recall the second amendment gives you the right to have a gun–and no I am not a gun owner or a hunter. Yes, people are upset because of the lost industry in this area, but to make it sound like everyone in a small town is “bitter” and then to refer to their religion, is way over the top!
That is why he seems to be arrogant to me. How can he condemn small towns when his Rev. Wright
has nothing good to say about white people or American?

Oh great: Sen. Obama gives a non-apology “apology” for his disparaging remarks. I don’t feel the love or the credibility, Senator. And for that, I am sorry.

I don’t think any of them are in touch with average americans, and it don’t matter what they say is wrong with america. because they can’t change anything, so I urge everyone to vote for the candidate that can cross party lines and get things done. whether it be McCain, Obama or clinton, go with who can get something done. That’s the only way things will change in america.

Dear Fox News:
I am from a very small town in PA, and I do not find Senator Obama’s comments at all offensive.
I do not consider Allentown a small town, but rather a small city in PA. Most people that live in small towns, have to drive 30 to 50 miles to go to work in places like Allentown, Johnstown, Meadville, or Franklin PA. Yes, we are bitter. The average blue collar starting wage in our small cities is minimum to $8.00 an hour. Driving 30 to 50 miles a day eats up a huge chunk of an already poor wage.
Pennsylvania has a lot of religious people and a lot of hunters. People always say things like “The Lord will provide” when they are confronted with hard times.
Even our small cities are filled with drugs and guns and a lot of theft goes on. But the people that hunt here are doing so because it is part of our culture, it provides food for the lower class, and it cuts down on automobile accidents.
I really think that Senator Obama was referring to people holding onto religion for hope, and there is nothing wrong with that.

yes obama is right i live in a rual area we lost most our job here and now my husband is layed off for 6 weeks now. And back in the clinton days i had to file bankrupsy because we were turned down for a SBL. We had two floods here and no help under clintons. I had to shut down my bussines for 6 month to clea