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Download | Play (h/t Heather)
Maybe because I’m a “San Francisco elite,” when I heard what Barack Obama said at a Marin County fundraiser about the difficulties inherent in reaching out to small town voters, I said, “And…?” Obviously, context is everything, and perhaps it was not as artfully phrased as it might have been. Are voters so fragile that having someone point out that there is antipathy and bitterness in many economically impoverished areas that makes it hard to connect to voters and encourage them to vote for you is somehow an elitist attitude? Are we so immature that we need candidates to pat us on our heads and say, “It’s okay, little voter, there, there…don’t let me bother your pretty little head with reality”? Really, which is more condescending?
But you wouldn’t have known that by CNN’s coverage on Lou Dobbs Tonight. Guest host Kitty Pilgrim spent the whole hour talking about how this could potentially devastate Obama’s campaign, bringing on concerned analysts and reporters alike to discuss how this shows Obama’s elitist attitude (my God, he declined a cup of coffee for a glass of orange juice…and he can’t bowl! That snob!). And while they acknowledged Obama’s response, they saw fit to focus on Clinton and McCain’s pouncing on this opportunity to go after Obama. At first, I was incredulous over the whole thing and figured that the media just needed something to talk about. But then I looked at the calendar.
Friday afternoon data dump. What came out of the White House this Friday? Bush sanctioned torture.
That’s right. While Kitty Pilgrim clutched her pearls for a full hour at the thought of poor voters in rural Pennsylvania being thought of as being bitter and distrustful of others because of their disaffection, she (and all the other talking heads and news shows) IGNORED the fact that our president has admitted that he committed a war crime. A crime for which other heads of state have found themselves in front of a war crimes tribunal in The Hague, but merited not even a yawn out of our media. Read what is less important to CNN than Barack Obama’s characterization (NSFW).
Talk about disaffection. At this point, I am of the belief that we need to put the heads of these media companies on trial as well for their complicity. Take the AOL Hot Seat below the fold:
Filed Under: Barack Obama, CNN, Fascism, Lou Dobbs, Media Bias
Tags: Barack Obama. AOL
No Trackbacks To “CNN Thinks Obama’s Words Are More Important Than Bush’s Torturing“
Oh yeah, “Kitty Pilgrim” and her pearls are a voice of the Yuengling drinking working class PA folks indeed!
Senator Obama spoke the truth and the truth hurts to those who have been dancing around it. Come here to Southeastern Michigan - ‘bitter’ is not a bad word, it is a reality.
People need inspiration and new ideas - to keep promising them jobs and other benefits that are never going to return in the same force is the lie, not Obama’s stating it like it is. Heck, even McCain said that when he was here for the primary (and Romney clobbered him by promising a return to the la-la land, by the way). Let’s talk about retraining, regrouping and moving forward instead.
Infrastructure, environment, superior healthcare - all of these can put countless people back to work if they are shown the way and the incentives are properly in place.
So tired of the feeding of illusions here in Motown (slowtown, for now) and elsewhere. We need progressive solutions.
Of course CNN sux. Why would anyone listen to them or take seriously anything they say.
Unless you just don’t know any better. So here it is folks.
Don’t listen to the TV. Not now not ever. Got it?
Somewhere, Jack Cafferty is getting hammered.
Spin in it anyway you want but disrespecting voters to a crowd of large donors in San Francisco is a huge mistake.
It changed the game.
“Axelrod: Obama Regrets But Won’t Apologize For His Remarks.”
Another huge mistake and this story will continue. Probably why they were screaming for Clinton drop out, voters seeing the real Obama.
It will be Obama that drops out.
Torturegate is just starting and it will get media attention with hearings.
…and what kind of name is Kitty Pilgrim?
I read that as ’sexually non-threatening female, that came over on the Mayflower.’
Is she a daughter of the DAR?
A double D - AR.
And as far as the torture sanctioning and possible (and looking more likely by the minute) crimes by this administration go, yes, the MSM has caved, but the Dem-run Congress is the entity who must NOT.
Otherwise, there is no justice here. The average American just does not have the legal tools or wherewithal to make the deserved hay of this crucial issue.
She spent an hour on Friday on it too. What was interesting to me is they just had 3 talking heads on the situation room say it was not a big deal, and then she came on and said it was the worst thing ever to come out of a politicians mouth.
Why not started put up the producers of each show that put such crap on. They are the ones deciding to put such bs on everynight.
God save us all, we’ve done the very crimes we hanged the Nazis and Japanese for at Nuremberg and Tokyo. What’s happened to America?
That’s why I’m so completely disgusted with all the major news networks. They’ve developed quite a talent for focusing on the inane and sensational. They’re not even worthy of calling themselves news networks. In fact, it’s no longer even infotainment. It’s just entertainment and trash. You’d think there wouldn’t be anything more important than talking about why it’s okay for the Bush administration to sanction torture and break the law.
Why do so many Americans find it difficult to deal with obvious truths. Why do they accept lies and incompetence but not accept that many Americans have every cause to be bitter.
Yes, I watched this with absolute fury. Could there be a bigger story that Bush sanctioned torture??? Oh, no….we have to instead twist the words of Obama and try to end his possible bid for the Presidency. This sickened me. I just want to throw my TV out the window.
The msm for the most part are owned by the same great companies that bring us war…. the president acts on behalf of these fat cats(the have mores) so of course they are staying away from news that implicates about a dozen ‘principles’ including dubya. Btw, most americans don’t want to believe it but they will be charged for war crimes at the Hague, as one important criteria for prosecution is that they, by a bill or law, will not (can’t) be charged in their own nation. I can’t wait!
“getalife” - the ‘disrespect’ (and actual ‘elitism’, i might add) is not in telling voters like it is, but rather in telling them they are supposedly happy and hopeful, when that is clearly not the case, and they need new circumstances and approaches.
come to SE Michigan, i’ll give you a tour of the shiny happy people!
c’mon - wake the f— up and stop with these platitudes and catch phrases.
Why is it so difficult for Obama supporters to hear that perhaps he did something someone else didn’t like? We constantly hear every faux pas of Hillary Clinton and her molehills are made into mountains. Is is so hard for some people to admit that perhaps all people are NOT perfect?
Miatch @ 6:
sounds like the marching orders are coming in loud and clear (through the ear piece)
Those Obama was talkling about (the economically disenfranchised that are manipulated into voting against their own best interest based upon wedge isssues (like religion in schools and gun control)) were going to vote for McCain anyway. Oh no Obama said something bad about being a gun-crazy christian!
I’m so sick of this shit I can’t stand it anymore. Our country is falling apart and all these people (I’m trying real hard to be civil) can talk about is equivalent to talking about someone with a pimple on his ass? The corporate media feels cornered and damn it if they are not going out without a fight. What’s going to happen after Obama wins this thing? Are these talking heads going to do a 360 and expect us to buy it? The fourth estate is dead, where in the hell do we go from here?
the munz @ 10:
yours is the clearest comment on here. right on. it’s amazing that with all of the BS that Bush and cheney and their ilk have thrown at this county that the enabling MSM would focus on this. or maybe it’s actually not so surprising. people are so complacent now about iraq and high gas prices, it’s a wonder what will actually make the folks really get angry. what will, we should wonder? apparently nothing this adminstration does, or any republican politician, will ever enrage the ‘bitter’ voters to get active or interested to change things. informed voters such as those who read this site should be more plentiful for then we could enact change with no problem. blasted complicit press.
Hey C&Lers. My latest video chronicles the top 10 reasons that I’m supporting Barack Obama, in response to some troll’s harrassment. I’d appreciate if you would take a look. Thanks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEFOJwiadmw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPJ_rWfOjj8
This the speech of Small town Blue Collar workering people! This is what Obama Meant to say in his speech. He was not talking about Bringing guns to church.
Obama said, “Cling to their Guns…”
Stick= Cling
stick to your guns (British, American & Australian, informal, American, informal)
to refuse to change your ideas although other people try to make you change them. David’s family were against him becoming an actor but he stuck to his guns. Stand by your guns and don’t let them talk you into working full time if you don’t want to.
See also: gun, stick
Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms © Cambridge University Press 1998
stick to your guns
to refuse to change your beliefs or actions. My parents want me to study accounting, but I’m sticking to my guns and majoring in philosophy.
Etymology: based on the military meaning of stick to your guns (= to continue shooting at an enemy although it puts you in great danger)
Blue Collar workers know just exactly what Obama meant in his speech; They live it every day.
“Workers won on this fight because they stuck to their guns.”
Snobs like Hillery Clinton and John McCain are idiots claiming to know how Blue Collar workers feel or talk; They don’t know shit from Shinola.
Not only are Blue Collar workers Bitter about Corporate America in Control of our government. They are also optimistic a change for the better will arrive soon. Most know they can’t get it from MORE OF THE SAME Clinton or McCain.
Chris Loss @ 11:
What can we do? We are slaves to our corporate overlords, there must be a revolution.
What I don’t get is all the “conservatives” wishing we were back in 1950 with the Beaver and yet denying that very lifestyle by the refusal to get wages back on track so that mom can stay home and go slowly insane while dad does his 9 to 5, comes home and demands supper and sex. Yeah, those were the days.
Seriously, bitter and disenfranchised, poor, homeless, hopless is the lot of the U.S. wage earner and the sooner people start realizing this the better we can fight it. Nobody talks about thrift or saving for a better life ’cause people are living hand to mouth while slowly going deeper into debt. And there ain’t no better life coming. It’s all down hill from here.
This isn’t the country I grew up in. Thank God my folks are dead and don’t have to see this.
I feel shellshocked at how far we have sunk. And the young ones, the kids are told to get a college education. For what? Better to be a plumber than an over educated bum.
Rant over.
“Pay no attention to the chimp and the robot behind the screen…”
“Well, we started to connect the dots, in order to protect the American people.” Bush told ABC New s White House correspondent Martha Raddatz. “And, yes, I’m aware our national security team met on this issue. And I approved.”…
Bush said the ABC report about the Principals’ involvement was not so “startling.”
He is claiming self defense.
Connecting the dots would be interviewing the ACLU that produced the documents, the destroyed torture tape and see if there are more torture tapes, and getting the participants under oath to testify.
wijg @ 17:
No, they’re not going to do a 360. They’re going to attack Obama daily, death by a thousand cuts, to try to wreck his administration so that he has no chance for a second term. The Clintons will willingly help out. Or, impeachment will be in the air. I said “try” though because if Obama gets in, we are going to rally round him. The corporate media will become even more ignored than it is today, and I predict that once the Clintons no longer are a power in the Democratic Party, that’s where you’ll see the 360. Are you sure you don’t mean a 180?
I grew up around rednecks and poor, uneducated whites. Many suffer from anti-intellectualism and dislike educated liberals for the following reason. A sizeable portion have the feeling that they aren’t as smart or as ‘good’ as these people. They also suspect that these people feel the same way about them. They therefore attempt to revel in not being like this, pointing out its excesses and narcissisms, and putting a premium on ‘common sense’ (often illogical) and what others they respect have told them. It’s pretty unfortunate.
For the life of me, I can’t figure out what’s wrong with saying that many Americans feel bitter. Hillary claimed that by saying that, Obama was talking down to them. Huh,how so?? I don’t see the big deal. She’s sounding more like a Republican every day, with the way she spins and distorts. You’re damn straight I’m bitter, I’m really bitter about what the Rethugs have done to this country. I’m bitter about the fact that we have an administration that has engaged in all sorts of unethical and illegal behavior with impunity. I’m bitter that the MSM refuses to do it’s job and defend this democracy. Seriously, why are they so afraid to confront this administration? What a bunch of greedy cowards. I’m truly beginning to wonder. Does Bush have the “goods” on everyone from all the illegal spying? Are they afraid of retribution? Are they afraid they’ll be targeted for assassination, renditioned, or maybe tortured? It’s sickening and astonishing. Why do the Democrats act so damn powerless? YOU BETTER BELIEVE I’M BITTER. WE AMERICANS HAVE PLENTY TO BE BITTER ABOUT. No offense, but go screw yourself Senator Clinton, and stop helping the enemy.
81
81% believe we are headed the wrong direction
28% Approve of the Decider
26% Approve of the Do nothing Congress and the divisivness of the lock step morons of the GOP
I would say there may be some pissed off people in PA just like this pissed off CA resident.
the munz @ 10:
Patriotic “we’re number 1″ mentality is the reason. Americans despise criticism of any kind that does not flatter and hold them in highest regards. Other nations do not as a rule have this problem, but Americans have a copyright on it. It’s downright scary.
Fox news spent the whole f*%#ing day talking about this.
CNN just proved to me why they’re worse than Fox News — they’re more subtle and manipulative, and put enough fluff in to run the most successful pillow factory in the world.
Some interpretation of Obama’s words trumps confirmation of Bush’s treason and war crimes. If we don’t fix these problems, the rest of the world will fix them for us.
As a woman who lives in Pa. this is a load of crap. Yeah, I’m pretty bitter. But it is aimed at the true culprits. The MSM, Bush and his cronies and big business. Kitty, Kiss My Ass!
JoeMarasmus @ 19:
A great nutshell, Joe, especially the Obama resume parts. I wish you could link your videos every time someone accuses Obama of being an empty suit. Mondo important?
General_Rennenkampf @ 8:
A silent coup happened in the year 2000 because we never thought it could happen here. The question is …what are we going to do about it? A good place to start would be by taking back control of the media. The internet is a great, but television is still the main source of information for most people. Not everybody has the time or inclination to read. We were all brought up believing that you could pretty much trust what you heard on the evening news. Times have changed and those days are gone. We need to take back the airwaves from the propagandists.
Pilgrim is not the only one who made more of this than is there today. Malveaux was all over this morning endlessly along with the geek following Hillary. Of course Hillary is using this like it was manna from heaven, proving to anyone who doesn’t know it already what a real b***h she is. Obama is not saying anything that he has not been saying all throughout the campaign. But Hillary, thanks to the idiot Bill and his rantings bringing up her Bosnia bungle again, is desperate to change the subject and continue her attempt to destroy Obama by any means possible, even getting McCain elected so she can try again in 2012. She is so desperate that she is willing to do or say anything. Hopefully the people in the remaining primary states will see this for what it is, and soundly defeat this Republicrate.
I’m in rural PA and I”m pissed - I have been since 1994
Obama spoke the truth. Those who would like to take his words and perpetuate the small town stereotype, go ahead. This is one smalltowner who isn’t taking the bait.
… sorry about the ‘bait’ comment - trout season opened today…
@27 “Seth”, @28 “Spicegal” - read Thomas Frank’s “What’s the Matter With Kansas?” You’ll find it elaborates on your thoughts quite well…
We already KNOW that Bush sanctioned torture. That is NOT news and we already know that the Dem leaders in congress refuse to put accountability on the table.
Mr. Obama made his remarks to a group of very wealthy people where the press was not allowed. His disconnect is the issue. Hillary gets it right on this one, and his own words will be part of the attacks he will face relentlessly if he is the nominee.
Note that his dig at the Clinton Administration as part of the problem has been scrubbed from his rebuttal.
Motown @ 38:
Thanks for the suggestion. I already have, probably stole some of my thoughts from him :)
This nation is soooooo screwed!
@37 Bud, about where in PA?
I want to know who the POOR BASTARD is who has to watch these ass hats on cable and post them here? I got rid of my cable TV 3 years ago and it was the best thing I ever did.
There is a very interesting discussion on this subject at http://www.skewz.com/link/link_details/5942
I’ve pasted some of the comment here:
Let’s go through a few points here:
1. The reaction to this whole affair proves the point…again. The “Obama is an elitist” mantra is predictable. Politicians are pulling together a few classic mantras: San Francisco, Elite, Liberal, Obama, Religion-Hating, Anti-Christian, Anti-Rural, Anti-Gun…etc. What do these mantras mean? They are essentially divisive politics. The reaction to Obama’s comments proves his very point, but our media is unable to parse the obvious. Obama’s points are that when people get frustrated they cling to things they can control and they are more susceptible to us-versus-them politics. The them in this case are “San Francisco elitist liberals.” Just as in other parts of the world the United States is pitched as the source of all a third-world country’s woes, in our own country the populations on the coasts are portrayed in the same way. Obama’s point was that unless you have some concrete benefits