I’ve moved from Wilkes-Barre, Pa to NYC. I had to drive 5hrs daily to get to a job in NYC. There’s mainly any good job in these small towns. I had to find a roomate in NYC. My family still lives In Wilkes-Barre. I got tired of the long travel. YES I’M BITTER, BITTER, BITTER!!!!! I want to be and work in Wilkes-Barre, PA not in NYC.
Multi- Millionare Hillary CAN NEVER UNDERSTAND. Why she should be Bitter? Tax Payers have been paying for her and family living expenses for the past 20+ years. I agreed with Obama. That was and is straight talk.
I’m BITTER!!!!!

Obama is right on-People are angry-not only in Pennsylvania-but in Oregon and Arizona that we have been ignored and left behind- small town america is bitter for being left behind by the Bush and Clinton administrations of old. The truth hurts-Obama is telling the truth!

Obama is telling the truth about people being bitter-the Clintons just lie and we are supposed to believe them?

i have lived in the hard coal regions of penna since 1968. obama is absolutely correct. first the coal went, then the shoe factories and the sewing factories went south. this is still very democratic but they have done little or nothing for the people. the hillaries of the world may say it is a campaign ploy or incorrect but just drive through ashland, shenandoah, mt.carmel, girardville, etc.and you will not have to ask if the people are bitter.

obamabots live and well trying to dismiss obamas arrogant statements about peoples culture and not getting it, explains where the “typical white person” remark comes from. Hillary says it best:

Geez, what next? PA is a great State with even greater people. The rural areas are enormously beautiful and the people very upbeat. Too bad that politics has to dash such a great place.

Geez again. I just read the other postings. America has been evolving for many decades. But, across the United States, people remain strong and determined to make a better country for us all. Hard times have been with us for many years with periods of prosperity mixed in. Candidates in this prez election should not be bringing us down by telling us how bad things are…we know…what we need is a recovery plan and action for those hardest hit…in Ohio…PA…etc.

Being in a mental state of bitterness for 2 seconds is bad mental hygiene. The people posting above who are bitter must know that the administrations of the previous Presidents and the present President did nothing to improve their living standard, true or false? What makes them think Obama will bring them relief? Let not the 2 seconds multiply.

LET THE ELITES KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN END GAME TOO …

1) CANCEL YOUR CABLE / SATTELITE TV: let the corporate media moguls (and their advertisers) know that you will no longer pay for their propaganda (and useless products).

2) DIVEST FROM WALL (“WAR”) STREET : the banking ELITE are systematically selling out the middle class to the lowest global bidder yet they still demand the average taxpayer to bail them out when times are tough.. start your own HEDGE FUND and invest in land, GOLD and SILVER.

3) START YOUR OWN BANK – buy a fire safe and fill it w/ cash/coin/metals etc.. don’t empower the banking ELITE to do funny things with YOUR MONEY.

4) SUPPORT & DEVELOP LOCAL ECONOMIES !
- support local ORGANIC growers or GROW some of your own FOOD;
- implement ALTERNATIVE ENERGY sources (wood, solar, hybrid autos etc ..)
- develop LOCAL means of commerce not based on fraudulent Federal Reserve Notes.

5) AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE BEGINS WITH YOU – healthy eating habits and exercise will create less demand on the system meaning lower costs. You’ll have plenty of time to work out once you UNPLUG THE TV DRUG.

6) STOP UNNECESSARY CONSUMPTION & STOP USING YOUR CREDIT CARD !

7) DECENTRALIZE ! – the global economy is nothing more than a ploy to centralize power, control and wealth into the hands of an elite few – blinded by misinformation, the American people are buying right into it – the rich get richer and the middle class is quickly becoming the working poor.

this is what we need to do

I don’t know about people of PA but I am having bitterness inside me. I am a small business owner things are so bad. I have piles of unpaid bills. Getting calls to make payment ASAP and all the late fees. I took some loan from a friend to pay my rent. Business is so bad. I have two small kids and I need so many things for them. I don’t worry about me but worry for my kids all the time.
And talking about bitterness that all I have. We are fighting only because we don’t have the money. faxed my resume so many places to earn some money to ease my pain but no response.

If you want to really see what small town america stands for, take a ride on 309 North. I am not bitter, I know that the only person that can help me is me, not some government hack that wants me to feel bad about myself so they can tell me only government can make me feel better. After reading some of the comments about no jobs in hometowns, so what. A person must do what is necessary to survive and get ahead. Please tell me what jobs government creates, what jobs does Obama say he can create to let people work and live where they grew up. The answer is simple, NONE. But some people will cling to big government coattails just to be taken care of so they don’t have to take care of themselves. As for holding faith when things get bad, after seeing the video of his spirital leader, I can understand why he has no faith.

I think Obama was right, people are bitter and frusteated, not only in small towns but everywhere. I don’t know what page Clinton and McCain are on, but everytime I go to the gas station, grocery store,etc., I get bitter. Our town also lost the biggest company we had to overseas..We blame the high gas prices and everything else on the Bush Administration and the lost jobs on the Clilntons. Clinton and McCain and the Republicans are so scared of Obama they jump on every little thing they hear. They know he can win……..

One of the greatest attributes of Ronnie Reagan was the positive, upbeat hope that he brought with him. Obama brings division in place of unity, hopelessness in place of optimism, vindictiveness in place of racial harmony and the confusion of inexperience in place of sound judgement.

My God inspires me and gives me guidance, my gun is a deterrent to those who have no God, and my VOTE will help keep this idiot out of office.

Well, maybe us folks in small town America, aren’t “classy” enough for Mr. and Mrs. Barrack Hussein Obama. Maybe we do get bitter at how out of touch our politicians are with the lives of real Americans. Lord knows we wouldn’t pay $400 for a haircut, even if we had the money – we have more sense than that. Maybe we do cling to our religious beliefs, but our leaders aren’t subversive. Maybe we do uphold our constitutional rights – we’re Americans for God’s sake. And unlike Obama’s missus, we’ve always been proud of this great nation. Maybe Obama has started to show his true colors – and they aren’t red, white and blue.

Before comments are made on your news programs concerning Barak Obama’s speech on rural small town PA, it would behoove you to visit this section of the state. You would find that there is bitterness and hopelessness where areas are left with no jobs forcing young people to move away and towns to stagnate.

People are left with no faith in their government and very little hope that the situation will be remedied. They do embrace their hunting, religion, sporting events and even their bigotry as a sustaining influence in their lives. These people who would like to find meaningful work in their areas continue to see their government cater to welfare recipients and those who make poor life choices.

Tom Ackerman
Bradford, PA

I have never been to Pennsylvania and so I am in no position to say whether the people there are bitter. However, I was raised in the 1980’s in a blue-collar part of the country in which almost everyone you knew was working for the oil industry, truckers, welders, oil field workers, etc.

When the bust hit and people lost their jobs and the economy sagged, we were upset, frustrated and BITTER that our government would be so heavily reliant upon foreign oil while there was an entire economy based on oil in our country that was falling apart.

If their situation was anything like ours, then they may indeed be bitter towards a government they feel has let them down and they might be cynical towards a politician talking about hope and change. That is perfectly understandable and it is perfectly understandable to recognize that and start having an honest conversation about it.

Isn’t the first step in creating a better tomorrow understanding what is wrong today?

Thanks Senator Obama for being honest. I am a bitter, unemployed college graduate, driving a 13 year old car with over 200,000 miles on it, and I have a six figure student loan balance. For the past two years, I have lived off 401(k), savings, and child support. I live in a small apartment with my 11 year old son, he sleeps in the one bed I own, while I sleep on the floor, because I can’t afford to replace my bed. Any job that I apply for is either below $10 per hour before taxes, or I’m over qualified. There’s not enough food to last me on a month to month basis. I am constantly borrowing money from relatives and friends, and getting extensions on monthly bills. Your message of Pennsylvanians clinging to religion and hope is the truth, hard felt, and much needed. Religion is something I turn to for hope, when all else has failed, often times I ask the all mighty “what did I do to deserve this”? I must be honest as well, and say that when things are going well, I don’t pray as much. I have recently shifted from the major political scene to local politics, where my voting voice can make a difference. I don’t own a gun, but if I did I would feel much safer in the crime ridden city I reside in. I commend you Senator Obama for speaking the truth. Those offended by your comments are out of touch with the blue collar workers of America.

Sheryl
Pennsylvania

Your reporter asking the wrong question-The people may well be bitter but is it making them cling to their guns, their religion and anger towards immigrants and people not like them- that’s the main point-

Well, I hope Barack Obama will remember

do, do, do, do , do,do , do

Small-Town Man don’t need him around anyhow!

Jeff

Sweet Home Bucyrus (Ohio)

many of these issues are dealt on the local level. get involved on local politics. on top of that, if you have suffered through 2 administrations with bad local economies and no job, then you deserve it. obviously you have done nothing to change your situation. move somewhere it is fairly easy to find work. it is amazing to me because i live in georgia and our housing market is down but commercial is still booming. it is easy to find work here. but the funny thing is in mid-term elections, we were one of the only states that stayed republican. even during our primary, we have been one of the only states that had more republicans show up to vote than democrats. about the only area around here that is having problems is downtown atlanta and we all see who is running the city. don’t buy into obama’s schemes. he is a politician and all politicians are crooked. please people , open your eyes!!!

Obama’s latest comments about “bitter” rural Americans, just goes to show that he hasn’t the class to be my president.

After 20 years of listening to the bitter Rev. Wright, Obama should know bitter when he sees it.

These comments by Barrack Obama are insensitive and he can’t dignify this with his next day explanations. All we here from this man is explaining what he meant to say. Americans don’t want to be talked down to. Yes, jobs are important but I want to hear how he can bring jobs to the people not the elitist views.

Obama is so right on! This a non-story. It’s only for those out to assassinate his character and integrity as Fox News, of course, is always. He is only the messenger. Just like Rev Wright was the messenger. America’s foreign policy for the last 50 years brought the “chickens home to roost”. This exact phrase was uttered on Fox News by a fromer ambassador right after 9/11. What a bunch of wrapped in the flag hypocrites. Obama is so right. We can’t have a discussion of race in this country. We speak in “code”. What the heck does it mean “white blue-collar voters are not his demographic”? We can’t have a discussion of foreign policy in this country either. If anyone questions foreign policy they are quickly labeled traitors by Fox and the right-wing. Now we can’t have an honest discussion about the realities of the 21st century economics either? Go Obama! Tell it like it is! People are sick the empty promises and BS of election year politics. There’s so much to be done. If we want an industrial base ever again it will be in the green sector using technolgy to crerate wind turbines and solar panels for EVERY house. Get of the grid. Forget bio-fuels that do nothing in this country but drive up the price of food. We are not Brazil. Corn is not the right product. We should be using propane. There are hundreds of fleets of trucks that could be on that clean burning alternative. Why not? Why do we not have a hydrogen car? So much to be done. Obama is our only hope. He is this generation’s Bobby Kenneedy.

People are bitter and I feel sorry for them. Hillary lives in a fantasy world and a world of deception. She will say or do anything to win. I am sure she has spoken to people who are bitter and do look for something to escape. I just hate the phoniness. Barack is the poorest of all the candidates so how can we call him an elitist. Let us be realistic.

I think Obama is wrong aboout the bitterness in Pa., I have lived in a small town near Philadelphia for 54 years, I lost my job after 20 years, I worked at a paper factory, at first I was sad but not bitter, I now work for a major hospital it is the best job I have ever had . I personally think Obama will say anything about anyone and anything to try to get where he wants to better himself and his companions who are close to him, I think America really ought to step back and take a deep breath before voting for him, I am not a supporter of Obama and never will be I haven’t gotten over the Rev. Wright issue people should really have reservations after that fiasco came to light, what else is going to come out.

I don’t live in PA, and I’m bitter for exactly the reasons Senator Obama outlined. He told the truth, but perhaps the meadia, Clinton and McCain would have felt better had he “misspoke”. by the way, Hillary Clinton is last person to say anything about the comments of anybody. The media, Clinton and McCain have put a spin on Senator Obama’s remarks for their own political advancement. And do we even have to talk about McCain and the gaffe he made during his recent trip.

I’m glad that Senator Obama is standing by what he said.

Obama’s statement is a lame attempt to project the resentments he hears expressed on a daily basis by Rev. Wright and his wife on the general population. Pathetic. Who needs him. We already have Jesse Jackson.

I am sure if voters in Ohio could have a redo on their primary they would…Hopefully, Pa. will see her for what she is, and I believe wholeheartedly that Obama was not demeaning anyone. He was telling the truth as to how people feel due to the economic situation Bush and NAFTA have thrown us in .

I am still wondering why the media has not disucssed the way Hillary Clinton tried to laugh her way through that lie she was trying to cover for her husband getting $800,000 from an interest in Columbia. She and her husband talk to the public as if we were stupid. I do not believe anything Hillary says. If picking Obama’s words apart one by one is all Clinton and McCain have to combat Obama with, they truly are pituful. We do not need another Clinton in the Whitehouse…one embarassment was enough. Bill Clinton disgraced all american people and Hillary condoned it.

everytime obama opens his mouth he insults the people of the united states. now he insults the great state of pennslyvania. i grew up in pa and i still love it, even though i live in florida. i only hope that the people of pa see though his lies and vote for real experience and change with hilary. obama reminds me of my 8 yr old grandson, when he he doesn’t get his way. he stomps his feet and whins. he should get out of the race or else he’ll be responsible for mccain winning the election. i’m a die hard dem. but if obama gets the nom. i will cross party lines and vote for mccain.

One would have to wonder if those who are bitter are typical white people.

Hillary and McCain are the one out of step with todays real situations. How can they offer hope and change if
they refuse to acknowledge the roller coaster feelings when someone loses thier jobs, with no new ones in
sight? how about the frustrations of the poor who are promised training and schooling and then nothing
happens? I dont know where they have been all this time and not seen this. we can not hope for any change
from these two as they dont even accept the fact that what Oboma says is true. anyone who cant understand
has never been in this situation. if anyone is degrading the people it is Hillary and McCain for not being
honest and forthright. Gwen

Obama said the key word that you need to high light. The word getting bitter. He didn’t say they are bitter,meaning not sweat people. I myself became bitter with the government over gas prices,health insurance, and immigration. And I’m sure this is nation wide, I mean the man you guys at weekend live interviewed the man in the diner that said people were bitter about losing their jobs and other issues. These things should be high lighted not Hillary’s supporters clapping to everything she says.

Perhaps its the mayor that is out of touch. Interviews with some of the voters say they are bitter. Sounds like Bush who didn’t know that the gas prices were outlandish.

As for Senator Obama, he told the truth. He was speaking about PA, but I have the same kind of bitterness and I don’t live in PA.

As for McCain, Clinton and the media; seems they are putting whaterver spin on the remarks of Senator Obama for their own advancement. As for McCain, who just had is own gaffe during his recent trip and needed the assistance of Liberman to correct him, and Clinton with her “misspeaking”, neither should be trying to correct anybody about anything that they have had to say.

Its good that Senator Obama is standing by his comments, THEY ARE TRUE and not just for PA. At least in this instance he didn’t “misspeak”, perhaps he should remind the people of McCain and Clinton’s spoken deeds.

I can be bitter about high gas prices, free money going to illegal immigrants (my tax money that Democrats want to increase for that purpose), the lack of jobs, and many other problems WITHOUT being labeled by some wealthy elitist politician as clinging to my guns and my religion because I am bitter. I have a gun for my own protection and religion because I believe deeply in God. The way Obama states it, small-town Americans must be clinging to religion the same way that Marxism-Leninism stated that religion is the “opium of the people.” I do not have anti-trade sentiment. In fact, I wish more companies would locate in Mexico and bring jobs to that country so that fewer would want to illegally immigrate here. Our major problem is the drugs being brought here to be consumed by both the wealthy and the poor. Our borders need to stop that as much or more as stopping those poor people who simply want a better life. I don’t use guns, religions, or anti-anything to explain my frustration. Obama could not be more out of touch with small-town America, and I deeply resent his comments. Oh, now, he’s trying to say that he did not say well what he meant. Well, whatever happened to the so-called expert at rhetoric who supposedly made “the speech of the century”? Or was it just supposed to be the speech of the decade, for I would hardly put that speech so filled with faux pas in the same league as King’s I Have a Dream or Kennedy’s inaugural address. Having a master’s degree in language and rhetoric, I can easily see through the “jewels” of his speeches to the fool’s gold. Obama doesn’t impress me!

I was stunned to read Barack’s comments made about small town Pennsylvania. I was born and raised in the coal towns of western PA. When he said how he sees me and my people (“clinging to guns, religion, unsympathetic to people who are different, anti-immigrant, anti-trade”) I know that he doesn’t know anything about us. He is talking about his own feelings. His condescending remarks are another revealing truth about him! He owes us an apology!

Mr. Obama’s remarks were incrediable offensive his assumptions that we cling to our relegion’s, guns and antipathy because we do not have jobs is degrading. We do have jobs, we remade ourselves, reinvented ourselves, reeducated ourselves and moved into the 21st century along with the rest of the country. He ignores low unemployement, disregards true faith, scorns the 2nd admendment and rejects any other opinion simply because HE THINKS HE KNOWS EVERYTHING. I thought his rise to fame was due to his ability to orate/speak pardon me but I am rather underwhelmed.

Wake up people, they are not just bitter in Pennsylvania they are bitter all over the country. the problem is that the white collar workers that are walking away from corporate America with hundreds of millions of dollars are out of touch with middle America who is struggling to afford the out of control fuel prices to even be able to get to work to feed their families. Of course they are bitter! And, they have every right to be bitter. Obama is the only honest candidate with the guts to say it like it is. I’m not sure if it is pure ignorance, selfishness, or lack of caring in people that choose to acknowledge the dire situation this country is in. Unitl people display the honesty and courage to admit things will not change. I too am bitter and dissappointed in what’s going on in this country. Both Barack and Michelle Obama are speaking the truth, unfortunately to deaf ears it seems. Wake up people, this is your last chance.

Carmen Woodyatt
Reno, NV

Hillary Clinton is the one who is insulting the intelligence of the American people- anyone who does not believe that the average working class American is not tired of being underserved , overlooked, and over- taxed is completely out of touch and really quite delusional in my opinion.

Yes, the average working class American is optimistic, resilient, and persistent when trying to care for themselves and their family, but that hope comes from within their own self not any hope that the current or past administrations have provided.

Senator Obama is the first candidate that has provided that HOPE to the average American! Why do you think the massive amounts of voters are going to the polls this election season?

Because there is cause for HOPE at this point. That HOPE is Barack Obama.

I believe quotes like these alomg with the fact he sat in a church for 20 years in a Church that spewed hatred towards White America. His wife Michelle’s comments about this being a mean country and only until now is she proud of her country. There is a pattern that Obama has shown he is arrogant and condascending and tries to make excuses. He tries to use craftes speeches but if you read between the lines you will see he is out of the main stream and working for the elite. His campaign was not just built on small donors there are many High Powered Groups bundling money to help him. I think he is more Arrogant than Bush he is just like his cousin Cheney. We will be in real trouble if he is elected. His judgement is highly questionable with his associates Rezko, Ayers, Wright as well as many others. He speaks about a speech to oppose the war we need to move on to how do we move on to a resolution not back to a speech given when he didn’t have a vote. This is troubling that the media makes excuses for him but I think a lot of people are starting to see the true Obama and deciding they don’t like what they see. This year is too important to take a chance on an empty headed Arrogant Elitist who will look down on most of us Americans. Vote either Hillary or Mcain Not Obama.

Wendy Lefebvre,
Sounds like you have a job, money in the bank, can afford gas, perhaps you don’t worry about food,
or better yet, maybe Hillary has shared her $109 million with you??? Sorry dear, you are definitely out of touch.

Yes, I believe people are bitter. It was a put down to people in the trenches who do and will rely on religion and most of all faith in the true and living God when hardship come. Thank God they do. This ought to alert everyone where his priorities are and help us all see that he is not the best candidate for the presidency.

O’Bama’s m.o.: telling us all how miserable we are. No, he’s not ready to be our President, yet. And I surely don’t think his wife deserves to be our first lady since she just recently became proud of our country for the first time!
Laura
Lubbock, TX

We can’t change past votes, but we can change the future! The time has come for voters to cast their votes for Senator Clinton. America is voting for a President, not a movement!

I think it’s time for John Edwards to endorse Senator Clinton. He ran for “small town America”, now he needs to take a stand for “small town Amerca

I think it’s time for the Superdelegates to endorse Senator Clinton! Talk is cheap and Senator Obama’s worth is rapidly declining!! Numerous democrats will NOT vote for him if he is the nomiee.
Superdelegates TAKE NOTICE!!

Many people who repond positively to Obama’s demeaning comments about mid-America are either (1. staunch supporters who would agree with whatever Obama says, or (2. those who believe the government is responsible for anything negative in their lives. Both groups are misguided in thinking the government can solve all their problems.

I am not a Hillary supporter, but I agree with her on this one. Those who are resilient and optomistic have a much brighter future than those who wait on “government” to fix everything.

To all of you perfect individuals, you must feel really great, because you have perfect folk in your lives – meaning no drug heads, prostitutes, gay folk, liars, theives, murders, rapist, heathens, that never said something out of line, people that you don’t especially like, you have perfect relationships, perfect children, you don’t know anyone with domestic violence issues, alcoholics, bipolar, on all levels and you have never ever, done anything to anyone or that was less than perfect, WOW, I don’t want anyone that is perfect as president, because guess what, they would surely be out of tourch.

As for “elitest”, that description better fits McCain and Hillary, but again maybe they’ll share ther multi-millions with anyone of you that ask. Senator Obama is closer to the American people than you think. After all his one little million is just a drop in the collection plate for Hillary.

Like a broken washing machine stuck on spin cycle, this incompetent (yet “highly intelligent”) snoot is always trying to recast his blunders. “What I meant to say was …. ” staring loftily of into space, nose held high. His abhorrence of regular (meaning non radical far left) whites is palpable. There are deep clouds of doubt in his eyes when he speaks, as being false is a heavy burden. Every word passes through layers of editing … he stammers and pauses — and moves on to his mantra of CHANGE. Just a word. He charges Republicans of using the politics of fear because he himself is so afraid. Hell, he is simply afraid of his own democratic ‘constituency’ revolting against him before Hillary drops out.

There will be Bitterness

I am sick of all these miracle workers telling us they can fix everything. Everyone of them have been in government and done nothing.

Obama is out of step with middle class americans. And unlike his wife, we have been proud of the U.S. for a long time. Its the no real choice, elected officials I am not proud of at all.

Sure wish there was a ballot box with “none of the above”.

Obama is the only candidate in touch with the deep rooted frustration and hopelessness of many Americans. I don’t know what world McCain and Clinton live in, but they are clearly out of touch. Americans hate immigrants because they believe resources are so limited there is not enough to go around. Americans lobby for and collect assault weapons not for hunting, but to protect themselves against other Americans. They turn to hate-speakers like Rod Parsley, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson and call it religion. Where is the elitism in telling it like it is. Elitist is when McCain assumes that everyone with a subprime mortgage either cheated or reached beyond their financial means. Elitist is when Clinton lies and says she ‘misspoke’. Out of touch? That does not describe Barack Obama, the next President of the United States of America.

Fox News is missing the story: bitter is not the lede, kids.

As a native Western Pennsylvanian, being called bitter does not concern me; however, being stereotyped as a bigoted, Bible-thumping, gun-worshiping xenophobe is offensive. Note to Barack Obama: We don’t practice religion out of ignorance or for political expediency; gun ownership is protected by the Second Amendment; and we have plenty of (LEGAL) immigrants whom we welcome as our friends and neighbors. My beliefs help me cast a ballot, not hopelessness.

Kiss my Democratic primary vote for you goodbye, Mr. Obama, and the same goes for the general election as well. There is a huge disconnect in Obama’s claim to be a uniter and his association with divisive, hateful supporters and his own demeaning statements as well. In hindsight, I am sort of glad Obama chose to insult Pennsylvanians, Midwesterners and small-town folks all over the U.S.: Now I know who he really is. I am starting to detect a pattern…

Barrack’s comments are degrading and offensive. I am a Christian and not bitter! I am proud to be an American.

Regards,
Mike

People I know are frightened about the lack of vision and opportunity for their future. We are sad that our children will be burdened by the selfishness and destruction wrought by the political ‘leaders’, including the presidents of the last 30 years, destroying the infrastructure and economy of our country. The media distorts it all, to the detriment of all. I am ‘bitter’ but mostly deeply concerned about the economy, the state of education, health care, foreign policy, etc. of our country. We need truth and a leader who will be honest and speak to the best of who we can be. It is sad that we cannot believe in hope for the future — a new and different vision — because we have been so cynically manipulated into fighting between each other, red-blue, white collar-blue collar, guns-no guns, country-urban, etc. Continue our divisiveness at our own expense and loss. We, the People, lose at this game, run by the powerful to keep us emotional and divided rather than using our heads and thoughtfully engaging in real and honest discussions about the citizens we need to be to get the leaders we truly need. I am tired of this right-wrong, black-white. We need a new conversation with each other.

Senator Obama was painfully TRUTHFUL!!! I live in rural Louisiana and YES, there are a lot of people here and in all parts of America that are bitter with the direction that the American Government has taken which affects their lives! Average Americans are not being heard and for the first time in my life, someone has come along that knows what we are feeling and has the courage to speak out for ALL Americans! Too often, our issues and concerns are swept under the rug as if they don’t exist; this is what leads to mass frustration and makes hopelessness an integral part of daily life! I have been displaced by Hurricane Katrina and I am very BITTER because the government has dropped the ball in helping the citizens of it’s own country to get back to normalcy but is willing to spend trillions of dollars to build up IRAQ! I have hope now because I know, better than ever now, that Barack Obama is that man that understands the plight of average Americans and will allow our voices to resonate in the Oval Office!!! I thank him for understanding the stagnation that has taken place in the lower and middle classes but I thank God more, which has become my solace now, for sending us Barack Obama! He will make a GREAT President because he is in touch with ALL Americans and is willing to push the envelop even when he may be exploited for it because he knows that the only way we can heal is if our frustrations are identified! CHANGE can only happen when we are honest with each other and OURSELVES!!!

The truth hurts and it seems that everything Obama says is picked apart and twisted to make it spin out of control in an attempt to villianize Senator Obama! Well, what it really does is expose all of the people that really don’t want change and shows their TRUE COLORS!!! Spin that!!!

9 different railroad transportation centers were consolidated into one center in Pittsburgh PA. “Downsizing and relocation or job redirection are to be expected in today’s market. I guess the losers of this world might feel bitter but I did not see any losers in PA… the people there were upbeat and adaptable… I have lived all over this country and I found PA residents to be very friendly and accomodating and not bitter. I certainly don’t believe that most people turn to religion because they are angry.. unless you are drawn to a Jerimiah Wright kind of religious philosophy. People go to church because they have a belief in God, it is our right to have guns for sport, we don’t want to stop legal immigration just illegal immigration. Obama seems to have a Barrack warped opinion about “typical white people”

Dee, I think you got Sen. Obama mixed up with John Edwards, he’s the one with the $400 haircut. As for Barack Hussein Obama, his mother and father gave him his name, pretty much as I suspect your parents named you and most parents named their children. Perhaps someone you know or maybe even in your family made up some name to give a child that may one day be a milestone around his/her neck. How then is Sen. Obama the blame for his name and your disrespect. It is obvious that he was asked to consent at the time he was named.

At lease he professes God, do you? You hate or dislike him for his name and cultural difference. Perhaps you should go to mnsbc and order the coversation on race that aired last evening “”Meeting David Wilson” it is a good education and it sounds like you could use the information.

Be open minded.

Many voters are biter about Washington insiders who close their eyes to the greed and corruption in the government and big business. Why the media should be helping Hillary Clinton capitalize on this is a bigger issue.

Caroline, you are as out of touch as McCain, Hillary and Bush.

Perhaps you are the one that should either move or travel to somewhere else and get a reality check. Perhaps since you feel the way you do, why don’t you sponsor someone to move to you properous location that they might find a better life, then talk.

I am a blue collar Democrate and I agree with Barack! I had to laugh when I heard Clinton and Mccains response. I think they are the ones who are out of touch with The Majority of the USA. I suppose though, If that is all they got then let them run with it and help catapolt Barack into the Whitehouse.

It think Obama was right. If Hillary and McCain don’t believe it they should go and interview people in PA themselves. My home state is MI, not only are the small town folks bitter so is the urban community. Take a look at Detroit and Flint, when GM sent jobs overseas and to southern states. Young people can’t get jobs. Flint is first on the list of most dangereous cities,i n the country. Darn right they are bitter and have a right to be!!!!
Shirley

By comparison Sen. Obama, is the poorest of all the candidates. So now who is the elite one??
Both McCain and Hillary are multi millionaires. Who is exaclty out of touch with whom?

People better wake up.

The poorest, the least so-called expereience of all the candidates, is yet the one with the best managed campaigned, hasn’t had to borrow money for the campaign, and has not thrown a party for the campaign using donation monies. Hillary, all that money and she couldn’t come out of her pocket to give her staff donuts and coffee. She’s had problems paying salaries and healthcae of her campaign workers, threaten to be sued for payment of her bills and collection procedures, and lets not forget her Bosnia attack, and of for those “bitter” folks in PA, she was involved in pushing through NFTA, and God forbide we have to suffer Bill again.

Sen. Obama from what he has demonstrated through his campaign can do the same in greater degree as president for the sake of us all.

I have relatives in small wns in PA nd they are some of the happiest people I know. Surethey have had hard times but bitter they are not. I live in Arizona and voted for Mr. Obama in the Primary but you can be sure that I will not be voting for himi the General Election. We keep finding out things about his man that tells me he does not love America.

Arzona

The Bitterness Of Barak Obama

A lot of what we see when we look at the world is actually rooted in how we feel about ourselves. Duh, right?

As crappy as things are under our current regime, the only bitterness I have encountered in the past few months is coming from Barak Obama, his wife, and his pastor.

This guy Obama didn’t grow up impoverished or marginalized. He had a nice family who sent him to the best schools. He wasn’t subjected to the ugliness of racism on the mean streets of Hawaii!

And his wife didn’t grow up impoverished either. Her family’s working class roots are not dissimilar from my own (although my own mother had to work because policemen don’t really make enough to keep 4 kids in shoes.)

The Obama’s and Rev. Wright seem to have done really well for themselves in this country, that while not perfect, offers more opportunity than any other place on earth. So where does all this Obama-bitterness come from? Michelle Obama’s college thesis is one big “woe is me”. Their pastor, well don’t even get me started on the amount of bitterness there.

Obama’s attempt to diagnose the psyche of middle class America–FAIL! I’m not bitter and I’m not clinging to anything. Pissed off? Sure, but that is not the same as bitter. I’m pissed because my government is corrupt and my civil rights are being stripped away and our national reputation is a joke and our economy is in the toilet.

As for bitterness, go take the log out of your own eye Obama before you start babbling about what you think is a splinter in mine.

Fox New keeps harping on the word “bitter.” I think this is a diversion from the real problem. Obama’s snide remarks about people and their relgion, their strong belief in the 2nd amenement and their feeling threatened by an invaision of illegal aliens, reflects his contempt for this large segment of American culture.

So, Hillary is incensed at Obama’s elitism? It would be fun for someone to reach into the archives and run some of her condescending views. Let’s start with her crack about mom’s that stay home and make cookies. Both the Democrats would love me; I only bake cookies when I’m done cleaning my gun.

What I resent most is having my religiousity characterized as a source of bitterness. The church I attend preaches love, not hate. Our pastor strives to tell the truth, not lies.

The problem with what Obama said is not whether or not people are bitter but his contention these “small town” people being bitter is what turns them to religion or their right to bear arms. This should be demeaning to anyone of faith and anyone that cherishes the rights provided in our Constitution. I bet those “small town people” that Obama speaks of were religious and valued their Constitutional rights long before they became “bitter” over the state of the economy.

GO HILLARY !
Obama is ARROGANT!!
This proves yet again that he cannot win due to his radical comments and radical “friends” – his judgment & background are just far too questionable to be President of the UNITED States.

I have worked for 35 plus years and paid my taxes. I have lost jobs due to companies moving overseas and mergers. The problem is there is no candidate for the working man in the US. But what Obama said is not true. You always have to rely on your faith, you definitely can’t count on the government. I don’t believe in the “give it all away” attitude of the Democrats nor the power to the rich attitude of the Republicans. But at least the Republicans believe if you are willing to work for it you can achieve. That used to be the American Dream.

Hey, why just Pennsylvania and the Midwest? What about us redneck, snake handling, religious fanatic, gun-nuts in small towns in West Virginia? Sen. Obama, WE FEEL LEFT OUT!!!

Why doesn’t delve further into Barack Obamas’ background..Sixth sese tells many of us there is a lot of news we would be interested in a young man out of the blue is coming up with outrageous amounts of money backing him..Oprah doesn’t have that kind of money..His mentor; the Rev. did a job on him whether he believes it or not..Every once it pops up..The scary part is; this man may become the Leader of our wonderful Nation; and it will be too late…

No, “D”, I wasn’t getting anyone mixed up. If you had read my comments more carefully, you would see that I was referring to “politicians” being out of touch. Not just Obama. Obama does not get my disrespect because of his given name – no, that comes from his condescending rhetoric, and blatant disregard for small town American values. I don’t dislike him for his cultural differences – I don’t trust him because of his racially charged comments and the company he keeps.

As a working class American, I am indeed concerned about a lot of things that are taking place in our country. The economy is not as good as before Mr. Bush took office, and prices for food, gas, and utilities have skyrocketed while wages are stagnate, and good people are losing decent paying jobs. Things are tight for practically everyone that I know.

I wasn’t “bitter” until I read Barack Obamas comments. I am somewhat bitter now because an elitist politician named Barack Obama has framed these issues by making condescending remarks about a culture that he knows nothing about. I don’t “cling” to my religion. People like myself actually do find REAL hope in our Bibles, and not from some messianic politician’s rhetoric. Yes, there are big problems in America, but his insensitive remarks about rural culture indicates to me that Barack doesn’t “know what’s going on” as good as he thinks he does. From this “typical white person’s” perspective, Barack’s words are about as cheap as any of the dollar store items that I purchased this past week.

Yes i’m bitter, and it’s at all politicians in our government. They all vote along party lines and get nothing done for the americans that voted them into office. I don’t care if he is democrat or republican, if it is good for the american people, then why not vote for it. instead of going along with the views of the head of your party. Mr Obama and Ms clinton’s voting records prove they will keep the parties divided and nothing done again. Even if they have good ideals and say all the right things to the voters, bottom line is they can’t get both parties to come together. the president can’t change things by himself. he can block bad laws from being passed, but he can’t get anything done unless he can bring the congressman to come together. So i can’t vote for 4 more years of the same, not for their ideals, just for the fact they can’t get anything done either.

All I hear from the candidates is change, but none of them have a clue. Not one of them said what changes or how they will accomplish them. No matter who gets in we the middle class will be paying higher taxes. If people really want change they have to start changing there city, county, state and federal representatives who for the past for years have done absolutely nothing. Wake up people get the do nothings in government out of office. If you elect the same officials the results will be the same as the last four years, and it will not matter who is elected as president.

I just listened to the first interview by Ingle. The interviewees response was “yes,” he is bitter. And he explained why. The interview process is good as long as people from enough small towns is involved.

This could be enlightening. Some bloggers following this article are from small towns from around the US and have similar feelings of bitterness. This is a fact, but it doesn’t have to remain a fact. That is what Obama was trying to say.

If some people are offended by his words, so be it. There is more truth than there is anything offensive – unless you prefer being offended – it is a choice.

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 clean and and fix our store back up on my husbands paycheck no one would give us a loan. Bitter very very bitter with our goverment. I own a fishing and hunting store so now after 5 years were back on our feet with no help from banks, the goverment. we need change and that means all new faces in the congress the senate . Obama tells the truth but you news people run Obama down and praise Hillery and Mccaine. what about them and all there lies. You want a lier back in as a president or some one who tells you the truth. The clintons are wishy washey and cant be trusted. Macaine he is boreing all war war war there are others worst off then him i am a militery family also. I am in shade gap pa check out how rural there huntingdon county see how many jobs were lost here. My husband has to travel 44 miles to work. Jobs are not close here this gas and home fuel is killing us on price. $477 for 100 gallens of fuel to heat the house. Bitter yes yes yes

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.

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.

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 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?

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.

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 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!

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 .

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.

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.!

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.

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’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 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 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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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!!

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

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.

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!

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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”.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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!

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.

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??

” 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

Obama just mispoke like Hill often does:)

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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”?

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)