Comments on: Are People Bitter in Pennsylvania?

By: Karisa

Karisa — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:45:26 +0000

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)

By: jmkinpa

jmkinpa — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 14:42:45 +0000

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”?

By: Bubbles

Bubbles — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:37:55 +0000

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.

By: sam

sam — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:01:45 +0000

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.

By: John B

John B — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:38:59 +0000

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.

By: tom boyle

tom boyle — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:08:31 +0000

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

By: Kim Harris

Kim Harris — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:34:38 +0000

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.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:30:33 +0000

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.

By: Susan

Susan — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:08:26 +0000

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

By: Tony

Tony — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:05:41 +0000

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.

By: Donna from WV

Donna from WV — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:41:40 +0000

Obama just mispoke like Hill often does:)

By: Helen

Helen — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:32:09 +0000

” 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

By: roseann

roseann — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:15:38 +0000

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??

By: colleen

colleen — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:03:03 +0000

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.

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 22:47:08 +0000

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!

By: Cendo

Cendo — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 22:32:53 +0000

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.

By: Charles

Charles — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 22:30:31 +0000

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

By: Bubbles

Bubbles — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 21:23:40 +0000

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

By: Sheryl

Sheryl — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:59:09 +0000

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

By: Dale Bell

Dale Bell — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:54:36 +0000

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.

By: wendy lefebvre

wendy lefebvre — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:46:04 +0000

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.

By: Tessa

Tessa — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:38:58 +0000

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!

By: Z.D.

Z.D. — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:17:52 +0000

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.

By: BR

BR — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:15:32 +0000

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”.

By: Denise Velez

Denise Velez — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:11:03 +0000

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.