is the same thing as “WHAT’S the Matter with KANSAS”
When Senator Obama was speaking in San Francisco about folks in small town Pennsylvania, he wasn't saying anything new nor anything unheard of. He was talking about some of the same issues raised in the best selling Book, “What’s the Matter with Kansas”, by Thomas Frank. http://www.tcfrank.com/wmk.html
In fact, Barack Obama discussed that very book with Charlie Rose back in 2004. Here’s the portion when he specifically addresses the topic at hand and the book; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a88wMPAWc90
For quite some time, Democratic politicians have attempted to understand why voters who don’t have health coverage and might wish to have it, would not vote for the candidate offering it as part of his campaign pledge, but would vote a the congressional candidate promoting tax cuts for the rich simply because he/she was pro-life. Or why they might vote for a Free Trade candidate because the candidate was pro second amendment or supported an amendment prohibiting the burning of the American flag.
Sen. Obama was simply explaining why the financially hard pressed often time vote on their wedge issues (and yes, that would be God, Guns, and Gays....doh!), instead of their best own economic interest. Barack, a candidate for President, may not have stated his thoughts in the most artful way possible, which he conceded, but it does appear that a wave of epic proportion involving those who would want to be offended have quickly made their voices heard. Obvious to any political observer, The Clinton and McCain Campaigns and the so ever willing media started fanning the flames of objection of Barack Obama’s utterances sooner than immediate, in quick accord.
The serious concern that I have with this intensely focused over-the-top “outrage” on this subject, is that, in essence, Obama is being judged as not worthy enough to speak on the state of our politics as it specifically relates to that group of voters, even though, he just happens to be running for President. Perhaps he should have gotten permission first--But more disturbing still, is that perhaps Barack’s real problem in reference to talking honestly about this often time discussed political subject is that some do not see him as being of the “ilk” of those he is talking about. It is possible that some do not consider him to have enough in common with that part of America, although his mother hailed from rural Kansas, and hence, half of his gene pool is of that “ilk”? Possibly. Could it be that because Sen. Obama is ½ Black, he is not afforded the ability to comment on those he might lead under an Obama administration according to those who set the rules; the true elitists.
Ironically, White politicians, pollsters, pundits and anyone and his/her mother have been seen commenting on the Black vote, the Hispanic vote, the Gay vote, the educated vote, the youth vote, the male and female vote for the last 3 months, in a manner that has not always been preapproved. At such times, the voters are efficiently segmented, dissected and analyzed, and long and short hypothesis are clinically formulated as to why those folks might have voted as they did. In some rare instance, campaign pollsters are given microphones in order to announce to the entire world ahead of time who will be voting for whom.
It is sad to say, that it appears that when it comes to a Black man, no matter that he could claim some of the same roots as those of whom he speaks of, he is simply not allowed that luxury, in particular if his chosen words appear unartful on their face.
But the fact that some would go as far as to say that this “endangers” his candidacy, and attempt to call this (another media produced) “challenge” for Candidate Obama, I must call them on that notion.
These people making such claims are in fact, the elitist playing Molehill politics with our nation. In their eagerness to shape our public opinion on these elections, they are the most obnoctious as they bring us their pile-on high drama manufactured political episodes. They are the reason that Wedge politics is alive and well and striving in America today. They are the reasons that we, the people, have become the cynics that result in only 55% of Americans participating in our political process. Are the “Rural Small town Voters” really “code” for White moderate swing voters that no-one except for White people can discuss? Emoting political correctness does serve a noble purpose at times, but after all that has been said about race, sex and creed in this election, I find this to be happening now most ridiculous!
Frenchie was born in Paris, France. She Currently lives in the California Bay Area and has been self employed as an accountant for the past 25 years. Frenchie has been married for 23 years and has raised two daughters, one in her last year of high school, and the other attends Harvard University.
. . . but Senator Obama, who's been trying to win here in Pennsylvania, just called us backwoods rednecked types -- and yup, that includes me -- backwoods rednecked hicks, just barely civilized types. It wasn't exactly his most Dale Carnegie of moments! Considering that it has been the Senator's rhetorical skills which have, in part, gotten him this far, such was surprising.
Now, he admitted that he should have expressed himself better, but I want no apologies: the man said exactly what he thinks, and I don't think anyone ought to apologize for telling the truth about what he thinks. Come my birthday, I'll be voting for Barack Hussein Obama, because, as bad as he is -- and he's pretty bad -- he's not as bad as Hillary Clinton. But come November, you can count on my vote going to John McCain.
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Dana Pico (5 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 135 comments)
on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 7:37:10 AM
. . . regardless of who wins in November. If the president set the price of fuel, we'd be getting it a lot more cheaply, because the president -- regardless of who he happens to be at any given time -- is a politician.
But oil prices are set by the economy, by the laws of supply and demand, and, currently, the decline in teh dollar. If either Senator Obama or Senator Clinton wins, you can count on much higher domestic spending, which will drive up the deficit, and drive down the dollar.
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Dana Pico (5 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 135 comments)
on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 12:44:17 PM
I guess not knowing Shite from shinola makes Mccain the more eloquent and experienced candidate for President in your corner of Pennsylvania. Oh...it's time for a pigeon shoot!! Gotta run.
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Hope Hofmann (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 7 comments)
on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 9:43:17 AM
Come my birthday, I'll be voting for Barack Hussein Obama, because, as bad as he is -- and he's pretty bad -- he's not as bad as Hillary Clinton. But come November, you can count on my vote going to John McCain.
How about not voting for any of these elitist scumbags who are in bed with big business. I find Obama is the worse of them all, because he takes all the corporate money in the most dodgy ways. The evidence has mounted up that Obama is a pro war, pro corporate, pro idustrial complex, anti civil liberties... etc etc. Frankly he is Black George Bush and you will all rue the day the guy wins. We have a choice right now, more of the same or make a statement. Your statement might actually win. We can say all these nice fluffy things about change, but if the guy keeps puffing out his pro war BS. Well, that is when he lost me and then I followed the money. Maybe he will do really well with all that bundled defence money. I love to watch the ObamaJugend justify everything he has said and done.
Now, why did I not lay into Hillary and McCain? Uh, that is pretty obvious. We know everything they are about. The problem is the more we find out what Obama is all about the more progressives should RUN AWAY. I do not care if you vote Nader, Barr, Gravel, McKinney.. or write in your favourite activist or luminary. It would be better than the three choices offered to us now.
Big surpirse , Obama is a lying two faced snobby elitist, boo hoo... do your research kids...you will not be happy..
Also, if you consider yourself a Republican and you are voting for John McCain...well leave the party now, because your not a Republican and those of us who are....we would like you to leave now. Republicans believe in Non intervionism, protection of civil liberties, the constitution, and limited federal government. Unless you start talking about no nation building, ending the central banking system, and peace through commerce, then get the hell out of the way Dana.
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Col (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 9 comments)
on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 9:48:14 AM
I'm so impressed you know the German name for Hitler Youth
Not.
The only thing noteworthy about your comment is the ugly way you used this word to describe those with whom you disagree. Too bad you didnt rely on facts and logic.
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Steven Leser (189 articles, 35 quicklinks, 32 diaries, 1263 comments)
on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 10:01:54 AM
. . . voting for the nominee of the Constitution Party in November -- if the election isn't close, and I could do so without helping the Democratic nominee -- but when I got their e-mail with their list of contenders for that nomination, I saw a list of (mostly) whacked out candidates.
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Dana Pico (5 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 135 comments)
on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 12:46:50 PM
Since you've gone on record here with your intention to cross over and vote against your party affiliation, I wonder if it is a felony in Pennsylvania too? Come January, Obama's justice department might just restore the rule of law in this country.
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Stephen Hart (1 articles, 1 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 23 comments)
on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 1:30:58 PM
than the efforts of Clinton and McCain to convince people that Obama's remarks should be taken as a personal affront, are those who actually took them as such. Frankly, I find the uproar over Obama's use of the word "bitter" overblown and disingenuous. Bitter is just another word for hostile, and there is no denying that hostility in this country has increased tremendously over that last few years. I see it everyday in the blogs of everyday Americans, in their letters to the editors, and in the comment sections of every on-line newspaper and TV website I visit. I hear the bitterness in the voices of family, neighbors and friends when they speak of how their government has failed them. I have watched as people, fed up with the direction in which this country is headed, have resulted in taking out their frustrations by adopting hot-button issues and directing their anger towards those on the opposite side of said issues. Sadly, average folks find it easier to argue with a familiar face or an anonymous blogger than to strain their voices towards a government that long ago stopped listening.
We urged, "stop illegal immigration." We got new laws that made it more difficult for US citizens to travel in or out of their own country, while our borders remain virtually wide open for foreigners. We scream, "enough is enough in Iraq." We are told to be patient, that one day we will win, and that victory will come...someday. We implore the powers that be to find a solution to the unprecedented job losses in manufacturing. We are answered with the biggest trade deficit in history. We demanded stricter oversight for credit and banking institutions. We got bankruptcy "reform" which hurts consumers, and as a "bonus" we got predatory lenders who contributed to the current fiasco in the housing market. We insist that our constitutional rights are not to be forfeited for any reason. We are told that we must sacrifice those rights for our own "protection."
As a result of the frustration of having their voices fall on deaf ears there are many bitter Americans. They take out their frustrations by grabbing onto a "cause" with vehemence. Whether that cause be guns, or immigration, or same-sex marriage, or the economy, or the war, or prayer in schools, the anger is escalating, the bitterness is palpable.
I live in small town America and rather than be offended by Obama's words, I applaud them. Bitter does not mean "backwoods", "redneck" or "hick", nor does it infer stupidity or naivety. Among other things, bitter does mean angry, alienated, morose, or sullen. I can relate to those feelings, as can many of my friends and neighbors. I am not offended by Obama's words. I am offended that McCain and Clinton want small town America to believe Obama meant to offend, that he is out of touch with what we think, believe and feel. If Clinton and McCain are unaware that everyday people are seething with anger, resentment and a sense of alienation where government is concerned, they are the ones out of touch. They could benefit from listening more to the residents of Anytown, USA and less to the big money lobbyists and advisers who run their campaigns. Only then might they recognize they are guilty of the elitism tag they're attempting to hang on Obama.
Eleanor Roosevelt said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." In this instance, McCain and Clinton are attempting to nudge along the sense of inferiority by suggesting that being called "bitter" is a personal affront. Only one who feels inferior should take it as such.
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TennMom (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 14 comments)
on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 11:52:16 PM
This is the best, most reasoned analysis I've seen of Obama's "bitter" comment. Unfortunately, we seem to live in an era of "gotcha!" in which no one can afford to be honest and straightforward, nor can they flesh out any complex problem or situation. Statements are taken out of context, which can distort the original meaning. The Reverend Jeremiah Wright's words are a prime example. His point is shunted aside, and he's made to look as if he hates his country. There's no consideration of the possibility that this man LOVES his country enough to protest, and protest vehemently, when he sees its grand founding principles distorted and perverted.
It's the insistence that ones patriotism can be affirmed by sporting a flag pin on ones lapel.
It's the leap of illogic that damns Obama for using the word "bitter" in reference to people whose jobs have disappeared, whose savings have evaporated, who can't afford to send their kids to college, who – thanks to NAFTA, thanks to government-facilitated union-busting, thanks to the whole "free-trade" fraud – are just barely scraping by. Who wouldn't be just a little bit "bitter"? To me, Obama exhibited an empathy that is startling in a politician, completely refreshing. Yet this bit of honesty, this articulation of FACT, is pounced upon, sliced, diced, and served up as proof of Obma's "elitism." 'Scuse me, but give me a break!
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L.M. Arndt (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 34 comments)
on Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 9:52:57 PM
As one of OEN's right wing regulars, your embrace of Hillary's talking points proves that this is another example of Obama-bashing that could come right out of the Bush/Rove playbook.
Your choice of supporting McCain shows you to be one of the people who continue to be loyal to things other than what is good for America. Your support of Bush and next, McCain has helpedto destroy our economy, our reputation as being a moral, good country, our international trustworthiness, our democratic freedoms, our constitutional rights. YOU are among the enemies of the nation the founders envisioni. YOU are among the enemies of america who are in the process of destroying the USA's lead as the most economically powerful militarily most powerful and morally most respected nation.
So smirk along, like your war criminal president and vice president. Go ahead. But history will drag you and your red state comrades down the toilet with Bush and cheney as the forces who fed the fires that consumed the USA the world loved and respected.
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Rob Kall (728 articles, 3775 quicklinks, 311 diaries, 1520 comments)
on Monday, April 14, 2008 at 8:32:40 AM
right on the money, Frenchiecat. Too bad the media didn't examine Bush and his war mongering cronies' claims of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq before a preemptive strike on Iraq. Seems those words would garner much more outrage than Obama speaking the truth - however 'unartfully' spoken. I am sick unto death of the media!
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Hope Hofmann (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 7 comments)
on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 8:15:51 AM
It's easy to get bitter, if you don't get the job you're after, the company downsizes, the taxes get too high, or management takes a new psychology course and decides to try out their newly gained 'wisdom' at YOUR jobsite(while fattening their wallets). All these plus the usual slings and arrows of outrageous fortune can potentially make one bitter, but if the options are laugh, scream, or 14-state killing spree, the best of all possible answers is laughter. If ya can't laugh at yourself, then get professional help. But caution, professional comedians don't come cheap, and you may end up wishing you'd just tried a little harder, there. We live in Interesting Times, where enlightened management and corporate high rollers have all sorts of ambitions that they'd like th' gummit to facilitate post-haste so they can make their 3PM tee-time. These people frankly don't give a rip if you show up for work tomorrow or not, and then there's people that think they're basically entitled to your job, because someone told them that, as disenfranchised-hyphenated-americans, they deserve your salary, even though they can barely read or write. My misgiving with Sen. Obama is that he's got some people trying to ride his coat-tails that might be given to such assumptions and views, and, having worked with some people as described above, my Word To The Wise is, 'get that resume hotted up, just in case', and go ahead and think about getting a lawyer if your jobsite starts manifesting 'creative management practices'. Forewarned is forearmed, I had to learn this one the hard way...otherwise I like Sen. Obama OK, I just want to know that he's on the level as far as jobs, economy, and so forth.
The national debt is climbing, international problems won't go away tomorrow by themselves, fraud and larceny have run amok in the halls of government, and there are many other issues facing our country and our citizens, they will not be solved simply by federal sops or rapidly-spoken glossy rhetoric, but rather as usual by WORK. Honesty is key, here...
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truthtruffle (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 91 comments)
on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 9:40:38 AM
You are right many small towners vote on wedge issues alone but so do urban folks.
I live in a town of about 130,000 people but work with many who commute from small towns. The small town folks are not bitter but rather uninformed. The younger ones are surprised when I tell them the job position they hold payed more 20 years ago at this same company. They tend to vote Republican because they can identify with the party. The wedge issues and the republicans display of pastimes such as ranching and bird hunting has won them over.
One may conclude that small towners are dumb from the above remarks but that is hardly the truth. They just like urbanites are far to busy to study candidates and review their performance to get an accurate assessment of what they really stand for. Basketball, football, NASCAR, Children, work and a huge list of other activities leaves little or no time for politics.
John McCain recently attended a NASCAR race as a promotional stunt to win over small towners. The truth is he would gladly ship their jobs to China, Strip them of their social security and give what remaining jobs are left to an illegal immigrant. Only a complete masochist would vote for such a man or party one might conclude. Well the sad thing is the Democratic party has proven itself to be much like McCain the past few years. So if your going to get screwed at least have someone you can identify with do the screwing.
As far as whats the matter with Kansas I read the book and my conclusion was what in the hell is wrong with the Democratic party. The Democratic party turned its back on its base years ago when Bill Clinton pushed through NAFTA and started catering to corporate interests rather than labor or common citizens. The Democratic party has no one to blame but themselves. Blaming it on voter ignorance is just passing the buck. The Democratic party and its leaders are bitter and ashamed of themselves for not sticking to their principles. Ignoring the needs of Average American citizens and catering to the wants of multinational corporations and illegal immigrants makes it hard for candidates to look small towners in the eye. Action on behalf of small towners will win them back. They are basically people just 30 miles away from becoming urbanites.
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Gary Denson (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 197 comments)
on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 10:06:10 AM
Hell, I'm full blown resentful! I am mad as hell that our Government is now, a CORPORATE KING and we are just mere slaves, filling their pockets while draining our own.
As a bottom feeder, rich ppl are looking tasty everyday.
Regarding Obama's words, they PALE in comparison to Dick Cheney's words. On a fishing trip in Wyoming he called blacks, "Niggers". Yes, in front of all the ppl in the boat. I have witnessed testimony. But corporate king media never exposes the truth about Dick, the Satan worshipping, money grabbing king he is.
Vote "third party" in the general election, and show the Dems and Repubs that Americans are taking their country back(or attempting). THE HIGHEST third party voting in this AMerican history would do more good than any protest ever thus far.
I stopped watching news because of this politicall campaign crap. Such JUNK for the mind. I watch CSpan and read news and call it good.
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shirley reese (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 211 comments)
on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 10:28:43 AM
Nothing aggravates me more than people going to church and voting the will of their pastor rather than looking deeply into the issues themselves. How ironic is it that people will vote for someone because they oppose abortion, but that same individual also happens to be a warmonger and liar?
Wedge issues are made so we lose sight of the real issues, those that affect our health and survival as a nation. Jeez, the public is often so gullible…
William Cormier
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William Cormier (111 articles, 5 quicklinks, 16 diaries, 276 comments)
on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 11:34:30 AM
There is a one party system, and it filters all the way down to the local level. And it's because people "are too busy" to be involved in politics.
We participate in the politics of distraction, watching the two year "selection" process of our next president while we completely avoid talking about the "issues".
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August Adams (10 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 387 comments)
on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 11:52:38 AM
As a white boy formerly from the sticks of South Jersey
I say what Obama said is absolutely right about rural America but I believe it deserves further explanation and in fact should be the real current front page news rather then this media crucifixion of a political candidate. I believe the real story (and the real harm) lies behind media consolidation, particularly in rural areas where clearchannel has (for the most part) dominated the airwaves for the past few decades. As the Center for Public Intergrity explains, "The company grew steadily through the 1980s and 1990s, and especially thanks to the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which eliminated national ownership limits on radio stations, and nearly eliminated them in individual markets. As of 2005, the Clear Channel reported that it owned 1,177 radio stations and had $3.5 billion in revenue from radio operations. It broadcasts in all 50 states and claims 110 million listeners every week."
I think clearwater, in it's own words says it better than anyone else possibly could......
"If anyone said we were in the radio business, it wouldn't be someone from our company," Mays told Fortune magazine in a now-notorious interview. "We're not in the business of providing news and information. We're not in the business of providing well-researched music. We're simply in the business of selling our customers' products."
What is even more important about media consolidation and what I see as the real eyeopener........
"The nation's top broadcasters have met behind closed doors with Federal Communications Commission officials more than 70 times to discuss a sweeping set of proposals to relax media ownership rules, the Center for Public Integrity has discovered."
"Some of the sessions included several commissioners and top staff, all gathered in one room to discuss the proposed rule changes with broadcasters. At some of the sessions executives from the nation's top broadcasters, such as News Corp./Fox, General Electric/NBC, Viacom/CBS and Disney/ABC, teamed together to lobby for the proposed changes."
"TEAMED TOGETHER!" Here lies the real travesty and the reason why people, not only in the rural areas, but everywhere are being misled. The rural areas(in every state in the nation) are particularly vunerable since they, for the most part, are a truly captive audience.
As Norman Mailer once put it, the politicians feed on the angry white male, those in fact who are angry without in many cases even understanding why they are angry. They are also the most likely group to no fault of their own, to have clearwater as their sole advisary when it comes to the news. I call it Rupert Murdoch country. So when the newspapers and media tell a basically captive audience illegal immigrants are the problem, they focus immediately on that because that is what they are constantly being told. It's why Bush yields an axe on Arbor day and why TIME Magazine puts it on their front cover. It's toying with testosterone, the visually intentional use of machismo that has been governing a whole lot of people in the wrong direction for some time now. It's what has so easily gotten us involved in an illegal, contrived war in Iraq. It is also what prevents people from protesting, not only about the war, but about torture, illegal domestic spying and the undermining of civil liberties. But when it comes to the illegal immigrant, now that has a major following! Just ask Lou Dobb's and CNN, who have gone out of their way to place the blame of all our woes on illegal immigrants rather then addressing the people who actually are to blame. No small wonder since major media has been helping to perpetuate these problems for quite some time now by either not reporting them or giving us fluff in place of the realities.
For those who say they are now swayed to vote for McCain because of Barrack's statements, I say you would probably have voted that way anyway, just like the elitists playing with your testosterone want you to! The same elitists who believe McCain has a better chance against Hillary then he does against Barrack. As long as people think, or more importantly are manipulated to think with their balls instead of their brains, they are giving the elitists (who do a whole lot of thinking where they should) exactly what they want.
Media consolidation is the main tool to this effort and as we have seen, they've been very successful with it. Just ask someone randomly on the street to recite the Bill of Rights or even the first amendment. What you will find 6 out of 7 times is that most don't even know what in the hell the Bill of Rights are! But they do know America is going to hell in a handbasket, mostly due to illegal immigration.
This entire major media blitz is making a mountain out of a molehille, just as the author suggests. It won't affect my vote. It is clear to anyone who can read, not only between the lines but beyond major media in general that we are being hoodwinked and have been hoodwinked for quite some time by those who call themselves fair and balanced. By all accounts, they are the ones deserving crucifixion, not Barrack Obama.
by
Michael Shaw (7 articles, 1 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 304 comments)
on Sunday, April 13, 2008 at 2:36:28 PM
