It was ridiculous for Republicans to claim that Americans today are happy as clams and not worried or bitter about war, the economy, their jobs and health care. The opinion polls say differently. And, the Republican charge that Obama was demeaning to small-town folks was also ridiculous. He was merely encouraging Americans to follow their common sense and vote for what will most benefit their lives instead of GOP wedge issues.
In San Francisco, Obama was speaking about classic Republican wedge issues. Religion, gun rights or same sex marriage are topics of limited importance in comparison to crucial, life-affecting concerns such as endless war, the decline of the American economy, lost job opportunities, losing health care and all the other miseries with which the Bush administration has burden us. Although of secondary importance, wedge issues typically provoke an emotional, knee-jerk reaction among voters. It’s a shell game for Republicans to spin Obama’s comments about their wedge issues to distract voters from their election-losing stance on the crucial issues. Republicans have long used wedge issues to get Americans to vote against their own best interests.
It was also disgusting for Hillary to jump on the Republican bandwagon and repeat their spin. Apparently, she will sell her Democratic soul to win this election.
