THE BORE

General => The Superdeep Borehole => Topic started by: AdmiralViscen on April 12, 2008, 01:06:23 PM

Title: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: AdmiralViscen on April 12, 2008, 01:06:23 PM
When I saw a few seconds of the news last night and they were making a big deal about "Obama calling Pennsylvanians bitter," I thought it was a pretty lame line of attack. But I checked this out

[youtube=425,350]krztzebJgMc[/youtube]

And it seems like a pretty big dick move. Hm?
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Phoenix Dark on April 12, 2008, 01:09:02 PM
Obama's point was obvious, but easily spun in a negative manner if you want to; especially considering he's already considered arrogant, not concerned with the average blue collar worker. But his point was spot on imo, and anyone who has relatives in similar areas who have lost jobs will say the same thing. Whenever a politician airs out a state/community's dirty laundry some people are going to get upset.

It's not like he's going to win Penn anyway so I wouldn't be too concerned. I just wonder if some conservatives will try to find race in the comment *sigh*
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: AdmiralViscen on April 12, 2008, 02:08:28 PM
More like atheism.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Flannel Boy on April 12, 2008, 02:21:05 PM
Clearly, upper class liberals working in high status professions are not going to lose their jobs to third world illegal immigrants. It's so easy for them to look down on working class whites and call them bitter. 
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Candyflip on April 12, 2008, 03:39:14 PM
Quote
they cling to...religion

Oh god. He dun fucked up.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 12, 2008, 05:53:24 PM
Classic illustration of "a gaffe is when a politician tells the truth"
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: FlameOfCallandor on April 12, 2008, 07:22:57 PM
Obama's comments were very dumb. "


But its also dumb to think that the executive branch should somehow be able to revive the small towns across america.  :lol
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Phoenix Dark on April 12, 2008, 07:30:43 PM
Why are they dumb FoC?
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: FlameOfCallandor on April 12, 2008, 07:35:54 PM
Obama said Small town america is dumb because they hold on tow dumb value like guns and religion. That shows a total lack of understanding for the situation and a complete lack of awareness. He tries to generalize a situation by blaming them for being "intolerant towards immigrants"  ::) What would you say if Mccain said that Black people are bitter and that they cling to old fashion values like fried chicken and basketballs. It's absurd.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Fresh Prince on April 12, 2008, 07:42:06 PM
Clearly, upper class liberals working in high status professions are not going to lose their jobs to third world illegal immigrants. It's so easy for them to look down on working class whites and call them bitter. 
Apart from the illegal immigrant bit it's already happened to IT and soon to move on (if it hasn't already) to accounting, engineering and other professions. Go to some tech sites e.g. Slashdot and there are plenty of bitter IT people there.


Obama's done- the religion part's killed him. And oddly FoC is right about Obama's gross stereotyping.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: FlameOfCallandor on April 12, 2008, 07:53:58 PM
Also, what if Mccain said that black people should stop blaming white people for their problems? You think Jesse Jackson wouldn't have a field day with that?
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Candyflip on April 12, 2008, 07:55:54 PM
Also, what if Mccain said that black people should stop blaming white people for their problems? You think Jesse Jackson wouldn't have a field day with that?
LOL
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Phoenix Dark on April 12, 2008, 07:59:47 PM
Obama said Small town america is dumb because they hold on tow dumb value like guns and religion.

He never said that.

Quote from: FoC
What would you say if Mccain said that Black people are bitter and that they cling to old fashion values like fried chicken and basketballs. It's absurd.

Even you must realize that's an absurd analogy. 
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: FlameOfCallandor on April 12, 2008, 08:01:17 PM
Why not he basically scoffed at the idea that anyone who practices religion and likes guns (both specifically protected in the constitution) must be a small town ignorant.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Phoenix Dark on April 12, 2008, 08:04:13 PM
Why not he basically scoffed at the idea that anyone who practices religion and likes guns (both specifically protected in the constitution) must be a small town ignorant.

He didn't "basically" say anything of the sort. He merely stated the obvious: many rural working class people have been ignored by the government so long that they grow estranged from economic politics, and instead focus on issues that actually have meaning for them, issues that are there for them - guns, god, etc. And then he said it's not shocking that some become bitter and feel slighted with respect to issues like immigration.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: FlameOfCallandor on April 12, 2008, 08:04:28 PM
Hey PeeDee would this make you mad if Mccain said this.

Quote
But the truth is, is that, our challenge is to get black people persuaded that we can make progress when there’s not evidence of that in their daily lives. You go into some of these urban parts of Pennsylvania, and like a lot of urban parts of the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to basketball or rap music or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-white sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.

Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: FlameOfCallandor on April 12, 2008, 08:06:12 PM
He didn't "basically" say anything of the sort. He merely stated the obvious: many rural working class people have been ignored by the government so long that they grow estranged from economic politics, and instead focus on issues that actually have meaning for them, issues that are there for them - guns, god, etc. And then he said it's not shocking that some become bitter and feel slighted with respect to issues like immigration.

Maybe just maybe, some people fell "religion and guns" are important.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Fresh Prince on April 12, 2008, 08:07:37 PM
FoC, Obama's statements could very well apply to black people in rural towns as well. This issue is more about the rural and urban divide than race.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: FlameOfCallandor on April 12, 2008, 08:08:33 PM
FoC, Obama's statements could very well apply to black people in rural towns as well. This issue is more about the rural and urban divide than race.

Yea i completely understand that. I was just trying to get PeeDee to understand why some people might be offended by what he said.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: FlameOfCallandor on April 12, 2008, 08:14:48 PM
After this comment im almost certain that Mccain will be the next president.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Phoenix Dark on April 12, 2008, 08:18:59 PM
Hey PeeDee would this make you mad if Mccain said this.

Quote
But the truth is, is that, our challenge is to get black people persuaded that we can make progress when there’s not evidence of that in their daily lives. You go into some of these urban parts of Pennsylvania, and like a lot of urban parts of the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to basketball or rap music or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-white sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.



The fact that you are seriously add rap music and basketball to this is laughable. African Americans are among the most religious people in this country. Obama's comments don't apply to just white people - are you suggesting only whites live in rural areas? I've got second and third cousins who live in rural areas of the north and south, and I can't think of a better way to describe them than "bitter." And you know what? They would agree.

In no way did Obama knock people's religion or gun preferences
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: FlameOfCallandor on April 12, 2008, 08:24:14 PM
I'm not saying that his comments were aimed at white people Im only trying to make your thick skull realize why somebody might be offended by what he said.

Quote
The fact that you are seriously add rap music and basketball to this is laughable
No it's worse that he said religion and guns, two things specifically protected in the constitution. Yea those old country folk should support me cause I can lead them to the promise land. Dont worry about those old values you cherish.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: AdmiralViscen on April 12, 2008, 08:26:58 PM
He tried to say that their beliefs in gun rights and religion were based more on trying to find an outlet for their economic situation than some more rational basis.

And FoC definitely wasn't saying Obama's comment was racist.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Phoenix Dark on April 12, 2008, 08:28:15 PM
I understand why people could get upset over the comments, especially if they grossly take them out of context as you are.

Obama's comments were spot on, and I'd imagine most people have relatives in similar situations. He's not saying people turn to guns and god as crutches, he's saying they turn to the issues they can rely on, the issues that haven't and cannot be taken away.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: FlameOfCallandor on April 12, 2008, 08:29:16 PM
He tried to say that their beliefs in gun rights and religion were based more on trying to find an outlet for their economic situation than some more rational basis.

If Obama believes that then he is out of touch with small town america.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 12, 2008, 08:30:54 PM
Quote
You go into some of these urban parts of Pennsylvania, and like a lot of urban parts of the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to...antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-white sentiment

uh, in his March 18 speech in Philadelphia Obama basically did say that!

Quote
A lack of economic opportunity among black men, and the shame and frustration that came from not being able to provide for one's family contributed to the erosion of black families — a problem that welfare policies for many years may have worsened. And the lack of basic services in so many urban black neighborhoods — parks for kids to play in, police walking the beat, regular garbage pickup, building code enforcement — all helped create a cycle of violence, blight and neglect that continues to haunt us. [...] the memories of humiliation and doubt and fear have not gone away; nor has the anger and the bitterness of those years. [...] At times, that anger is exploited by politicians, to gin up votes along racial lines, or to make up for a politician's own failings. [...] That anger is not always productive; indeed, all too often it distracts attention from solving real problems; it keeps us from squarely facing our own complicity within the African-American community in our condition, and prevents the African-American community from forging the alliances it needs to bring about real change. [...] In fact, a similar anger exists within segments of the white community. [...] Just as black anger often proved counterproductive, so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle class squeeze [...]

This thread has convinced me that certain people should not be allowed to make analogies.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: AdmiralViscen on April 12, 2008, 08:32:27 PM
I understand why people could get upset over the comments, especially if they grossly take them out of context as you are.

Obama's comments were spot on, and I'd imagine most people have relatives in similar situations. He's not saying people turn to guns and god as crutches, he's saying they turn to the issues they can rely on, the issues that haven't and cannot be taken away.

I don't think he meant it, it was just another flub like 'typical white woman' and 'first time I love this country.' He should come out and explain himself yet again instead of scoffing about being out of touch in a speech.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: FlameOfCallandor on April 12, 2008, 08:32:41 PM
Obama can say that because he is black. I'm saying that if Mccain said that black people should stop blaming white  people, then the usual "black leaders" would be up in arms.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: bdoughty on April 12, 2008, 08:38:24 PM
PD...  Why run of to GAFFYWORLD and post what FOC said?  Come on man you are better than that.


What Obama said was wrong and that he trivialized their religious beliefs. Of course how dare an Obama supporter see any fault in what their candidate says. As if the man can do no wrong. Almost glad none of the mods at GAF will give me posting privileges in the OT section as it would have only lasted a few minutes.





Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: AdmiralViscen on April 12, 2008, 08:39:58 PM
Are you calling PD a blind Obama supporter?
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Phoenix Dark on April 12, 2008, 08:40:52 PM
Obama can say that because he is black. I'm saying that if Mccain said that black people should stop blaming white  people, then the usual "black leaders" would be up in arms.

Why do people who can't participate in a construction discussion on race rely on hypothetical analogies that grossly miss the point? First you stated the comments had no racial connotations, yet here you once again try to switch things into a race analogy to fit your poor argument.

Once again, Obama's comments apply to many black people, and many white people. It's not a race issue, it's about class and economy
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: bdoughty on April 12, 2008, 08:41:02 PM
Obama can say that because he is black. I'm saying that if Mccain said that black people should stop blaming white  people, then the usual "black leaders" would be up in arms.

That is true. Imagine if a white person said half the things that Charles Barkley says on air.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: bdoughty on April 12, 2008, 08:41:48 PM
Are you calling PD a blind Obama supporter?

 :D, No...  he has bigger issues with his candidate of choice.  I was referring to almost all of GAF.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Phoenix Dark on April 12, 2008, 08:42:08 PM
PD...  Why run of to GAFFYWORLD and post what FOC said?  Come on man you are better than that.


What Obama said was wrong and that he trivialized their religious beliefs. Of course how dare an Obama supporter see any fault in what their candidate says. As if the man can do no wrong. Almost glad none of the mods at GAF will give me posting privileges in the OT section as it would have only lasted a few minutes.



Welcome back. You've been gone a long time, so maybe you haven't heard that I don't shine shoes or support Obama
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: bdoughty on April 12, 2008, 08:44:34 PM
I know you are not an Obama supporter. I just mentioned you posting that reply over in the wolves den. The rest was a rant on the place you posted it.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 12, 2008, 08:47:37 PM
As PD pointed out this isn't even about race.  His recent remarks in San Fran are of a piece with his speech in Philly, politicians exploit justified bitterness among both white AND black people by diverting it in counterproductive ways.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: bdoughty on April 12, 2008, 08:51:53 PM
As PD pointed out this isn't even about race.  His recent remarks in San Fran are of a piece with his speech in Philly, politicians exploit justified bitterness by diverting it in counterproductive ways.

But could it not be about ideals and how he sees one group as far more intellectual than another. Or possibly just an attempt to raise more money?  Honestly is San Francisco really the pace for him to be making such remarks? It seems like he is pandering to them. That he will teach the inbred, nascar loving rednecks how to evolve into their "evolved" line of thought.

Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Phoenix Dark on April 12, 2008, 08:57:17 PM
As PD pointed out this isn't even about race.  His recent remarks in San Fran are of a piece with his speech in Philly, politicians exploit justified bitterness by diverting it in counterproductive ways.

But could it not be about ideals and how he sees one group as far more intellectual than another. Or possibly just an attempt to raise more money?  Honestly is San Francisco really the pace for him to be making such remarks? It seems like he is pandering to them. That he will teach the inbred, nascar loving rednecks how to evolve into their "evolved" line of thought.



Where are you getting that rhetoric? Obama is not looking down or judging anyone, nor is he criticizing people's focus on religion or guns. All he said was that due to the economic death of their surrounding they wind up turning attention to the issues that can't be shipped to China - guns and religion - and politicians often exploit that emphasis by focusing on scare tactics rooted in homophobia or "they're gonna take your guns!" rhetoric. That's all he said

Are you from Oklahoma? Do you know any people who populate the more rural areas of the state that have been hit hard by trade issues or jobs shipped over seas, or immigration? If you can't admit many of those people are bitter you are denying reality. He isn't using the term in a strictly negative connotation, he's merely diagnosing a social problem
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: FlameOfCallandor on April 12, 2008, 09:04:12 PM
PD...  Why run of to GAFFYWORLD and post what FOC said?  Come on man you are better than that.



 :lol :lol :lol PD posts my evilbore posts on GAF???  :lol :lol :lol :lol
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Flannel Boy on April 12, 2008, 09:04:30 PM
Clearly, upper class liberals working in high status professions are not going to lose their jobs to third world illegal immigrants. It's so easy for them to look down on working class whites and call them bitter. 
Apart from the illegal immigrant bit it's already happened to IT and soon to move on (if it hasn't already) to accounting, engineering and other professions. Go to some tech sites e.g. Slashdot and there are plenty of bitter IT people there.


Obama's done- the religion part's killed him. And oddly FoC is right about Obama's gross stereotyping.
What part of "high status" don't you understand? IT, accounting, and most engineering jobs are not high status.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: bdoughty on April 12, 2008, 09:20:48 PM

Where are you getting that rhetoric? Obama is not looking down or judging anyone, nor is he criticizing people's focus on religion or guns. All he said was that due to the economic death of their surrounding they wind up turning attention to the issues that can't be shipped to China - guns and religion - and politicians often exploit that emphasis by focusing on scare tactics rooted in homophobia or "they're gonna take your guns!" rhetoric. That's all he said

Are you from Oklahoma? Do you know any people who populate the more rural areas of the state that have been hit hard by trade issues or jobs shipped over seas, or immigration? If you can't admit many of those people are bitter you are denying reality. He isn't using the term in a strictly negative connotation, he's merely diagnosing a social problem


Rhetoric?  Correct me if I am wrong but would pretty much everything on here be rhetoric since none of us is the man behind the curtain, inside Obamas brain. I can only derive my opinion from things I have heard from Obama and his wife. They tend to play around with that "proverbial line" of what did they just say?  Proud of her country for the first time, etc, etc.

There are plenty of other things that can't be shipped to China.  Family values, work ethic, community, love of the fellow man, etc, etc. He chose the exact things he wanted to say.

Oh and I am from and live in Texas, raised by a bunch of Okies.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Fresh Prince on April 12, 2008, 09:27:04 PM
What part of "high status" don't you understand? IT, accounting, and most engineering jobs are not high status.
Some IT and most engineering jobs are high status. Accounting depends on which field you choose. There's a reason why engineering grads and some IT grads are some of the highest paid grads coming out. As black people say money => power => respect.
I know you work at Ford but that's no excuse pretending IT and engineering aren't high status.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 12, 2008, 09:40:55 PM
as a Midwesterner I somehow think this will get more play in hardcore Republican states like Texas than in the Midwest or Rust Belt themselves
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Phoenix Dark on April 12, 2008, 09:50:06 PM

Where are you getting that rhetoric? Obama is not looking down or judging anyone, nor is he criticizing people's focus on religion or guns. All he said was that due to the economic death of their surrounding they wind up turning attention to the issues that can't be shipped to China - guns and religion - and politicians often exploit that emphasis by focusing on scare tactics rooted in homophobia or "they're gonna take your guns!" rhetoric. That's all he said

Are you from Oklahoma? Do you know any people who populate the more rural areas of the state that have been hit hard by trade issues or jobs shipped over seas, or immigration? If you can't admit many of those people are bitter you are denying reality. He isn't using the term in a strictly negative connotation, he's merely diagnosing a social problem


Rhetoric?  Correct me if I am wrong but would pretty much everything on here be rhetoric since none of us is the man behind the curtain, inside Obamas brain. I can only derive my opinion from things I have heard from Obama and his wife. They tend to play around with that "proverbial line" of what did they just say?  Proud of her country for the first time, etc, etc.

There are plenty of other things that can't be shipped to China.  Family values, work ethic, community, love of the fellow man, etc, etc. He chose the exact things he wanted to say.

Oh and I am from and live in Texas, raised by a bunch of Okies.


I agree that Obama and his wife has made puzzling comments more than a couple times, but this isn't one of them. Obama referenced two of the issues most exploited by politicians, and it made his point even more credible. It was a nuanced comment, one which must be looked at closely and thought about, not thrown away. We need to talk about this. You live in Texas, and place where many people are bitter about the same issues some rural Pennsylvanians are bitter about. All Obama did was attempt to start an honest, intelligent conversation on the issue yet some have rejected it, instead relying on their own insecurities.

Obama doesn't think anyone is "stupid", that's nonsense.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Flannel Boy on April 12, 2008, 10:01:33 PM
What part of "high status" don't you understand? IT, accounting, and most engineering jobs are not high status.
Some IT and most engineering jobs are high status. Accounting depends on which field you choose. There's a reason why engineering grads and some IT grads are some of the highest paid grads coming out. As black people say money => power => respect.

Money doesn't equal status. A plumber who makes more than a writer for the Times is nevertheless working in a low status job while the latter is working in a high status job.


I know you work at Ford but that's no excuse pretending IT and engineering aren't high status.

I never said I worked in a high status job, so that was a pointless jab (especially since this job is temporary). I could be working as a field laborer, but that wouldn't mean IT guys are working in a high status profession.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Phoenix Dark on April 12, 2008, 10:03:45 PM
Depends on what type of accountant you are. CPAs are in a good status
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: bdoughty on April 12, 2008, 10:45:26 PM

I agree that Obama and his wife has made puzzling comments more than a couple times, but this isn't one of them. Obama referenced two of the issues most exploited by politicians, and it made his point even more credible. It was a nuanced comment, one which must be looked at closely and thought about, not thrown away. We need to talk about this. You live in Texas, and place where many people are bitter about the same issues some rural Pennsylvanians are bitter about. All Obama did was attempt to start an honest, intelligent conversation on the issue yet some have rejected it, instead relying on their own insecurities.

Obama doesn't think anyone is "stupid", that's nonsense.

PD,

You lost me when you tried to compare Texas and rural Pennsylvania. Texas is a wee bit more diverse than you want to give us credit for. Plenty of differences in rural Texas and rural Pennsylvania.  Where I live, up north in the panhandle, most of the smaller towns/rural areas have hispanic communities populating 1/3, if not more of each town. How exactly would that compare to these rural Pennsylvania towns?  Or are you strictly referring to the redneck, white folks that populate Texas towns? I know you are/were homeschooled but it is obvious that you have a lot to learn about places you have never been with that attempt at a comparison.

Also are you sure that you are not a closet Obama fan because you seem to be making many claims for him.  I think most humans on this earth find at least one person or group to be stupid or inferior/lacking. Me thinks the Obamas are no exception.

You keep talking about "intelligent conversation" but my question is if that it was so important why not have this "intelligent discussion" in Pennsylvania, with the very people he is talking about? You know, to see what THEY think can be done to solve this quandary. What exactly can the people of San Fransisco do to help in this situation? Other than give him money and support for his campaign.

Motives should always be questioned. To me it is pretty obvious what his was but that is just me.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Fresh Prince on April 12, 2008, 10:47:25 PM
Of course plumbers aren't seen as high-status since they're seen as blue collar workers. The other professions are white collared.

Engineering, IT (depending in which field) and accounting (depending in which field) are considered high status to average person on the street.

Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 12, 2008, 10:58:17 PM
Who says he's not having the intelligent discussion in Pennsylvania?  Like I just showed, the remarks in SF are closely connected to his 3/18 speech on race issues which was given in Philadelphia, PA.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Phoenix Dark on April 12, 2008, 11:08:40 PM

I agree that Obama and his wife has made puzzling comments more than a couple times, but this isn't one of them. Obama referenced two of the issues most exploited by politicians, and it made his point even more credible. It was a nuanced comment, one which must be looked at closely and thought about, not thrown away. We need to talk about this. You live in Texas, and place where many people are bitter about the same issues some rural Pennsylvanians are bitter about. All Obama did was attempt to start an honest, intelligent conversation on the issue yet some have rejected it, instead relying on their own insecurities.

Obama doesn't think anyone is "stupid", that's nonsense.

PD,

You lost me when you tried to compare Texas and rural Pennsylvania. Texas is a wee bit more diverse than you want to give us credit for. Plenty of differences in rural Texas and rural Pennsylvania.  Where I live, up north in the panhandle, most of the smaller towns/rural areas have hispanic communities populating 1/3, if not more of each town. How exactly would that compare to these rural Pennsylvania towns?  Or are you strictly referring to the redneck, white folks that populate Texas towns? I know you are/were homeschooled but it is obvious that you have a lot to learn about places you have never been with that attempt at a comparison.

Also are you sure that you are not a closet Obama fan because you seem to be making many claims for him.  I think most humans on this earth find at least one person or group to be stupid or inferior/lacking. Me thinks the Obamas are no exception.

You keep talking about "intelligent conversation" but my question is if that it was so important why not have this "intelligent discussion" in Pennsylvania, with the very people he is talking about? You know, to see what THEY think can be done to solve this quandary. What exactly can the people of San Fransisco do to help in this situation? Other than give him money and support for his campaign.

Motives should always be questioned. To me it is pretty obvious what his was but that is just me.


The comparison is valid. The rural people of Pennsylvania share similarities with the rural people of Michigan, or the rural people of Texas. Of course there are differences, but it's a fact that the rural areas of this country have been hit hard by the economy for years - in the north and south, in the west and east. This is bigger than Pennsylvania. Just as it's bigger than race. A factory that closes in a rural town can cripple the entire town, no matter the state.

Why would Obama insult a bunch of these people to their face, especially considering his current position in the polls there? That makes no sense and you know it. Obama is too nuanced for his own good.

Ask anyone whether I'm a "closet" Obama fan. I slammed him on the Wright issue, and will continue to do so. I slam his followers for resembling a cult of personality, unwilling to consider the possibility that Obama is indeed human and not the perfect never-before-seen herald they treat him like. When he's the democratic nominee I'll get in line and support and vote for him, but it won't be blind following - he, like any other politician, deserves to be criticized
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: bdoughty on April 12, 2008, 11:12:01 PM
Who says he's not having the intelligent discussion in Pennsylvania?  Like I just showed, the remarks in SF are closely connected to his 3/18 speech on race issues which was given in Philadelphia, PA.

Nobody? Unless Hillary is saying that but I tend to ignore anything she says. The point is that his speech was in San Francisco, to DONORS and potential DONORS to his campaign and in private (or so he had hoped). It comes off to me like a schoolgirl whispering mean things to her friends about the ugly girl that they will never accept into their group.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24082427/ (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24082427/)

Let's recap with the use of bold. I copied this from MSNBC as to not taint the information by the hands of the Fox News Network.

At issue are comments Obama made privately at a fundraising gathering in San Francisco last Sunday.

Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: bdoughty on April 12, 2008, 11:14:28 PM

Why would Obama insult a bunch of these people to their face, especially considering his current position in the polls there? That makes no sense and you know it. Obama is too nuanced for his own good.


He didn't do it to their face.  He did it in private, to like minded liberals whose money he needs.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mayhill-fowler/obama-no-surprise-that-ha_b_96188.html (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mayhill-fowler/obama-no-surprise-that-ha_b_96188.html)

If it had been public would we not have seen videos of the speech all over youtube?  Instead of it being broken by someone recording it?
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: AdmiralViscen on April 12, 2008, 11:26:27 PM


I know you work at Ford but that's no excuse pretending IT and engineering aren't high status.

I never said I worked in a high status job, so that was a pointless jab (especially since this job is temporary). I could be working as a field laborer, but that wouldn't mean IT guys are working in a high status profession.


I think he was saying that working at Ford, you might see IT guys and engineers that you work with as low class, but they may esteemed elsewhere.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Phoenix Dark on April 12, 2008, 11:30:25 PM

Why would Obama insult a bunch of these people to their face, especially considering his current position in the polls there? That makes no sense and you know it. Obama is too nuanced for his own good.


He didn't do it to their face.  He did it in private, to like minded liberals whose money he needs.


My bad. Obama doesn't "need" money; I'd accept that explanation if this was Hillary.

Out of interest I checked Red State
http://redstate.com/

Nearly everything on the front page has to do with this comment, each blog post more delusional than the other
Quote

"Evidently, Cafferty and CNN have chosen to defend Obama by arguing that if economic conditions continue the way they are going, the small-town hicks of America could eventually become something akin to al Qaeda terrorists."

This of course is in reference to this CNN clip, posted at the site
[youtube=425,350]4G8dRMofHNs[/youtube]

All the guests perfectly explain the issue - the blogger once again takes shit out of context
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Flannel Boy on April 12, 2008, 11:33:45 PM
Of course plumbers aren't seen as high-status since they're seen as blue collar workers. The other professions are white collared.

Engineering, IT (depending in which field) and accounting (depending in which field) are considered high status to average person on the street.


I agree that engineering and IT are higher status professions than plumbing. I brought up plumbing simply to show you that it isn't as simple as "money => power => respect". Just because IT guys wear white collars and can make decent livings doesn't mean they are working in a high status profession. It is a respected profession, but not a high status one. (hint: women make the rules here)



I think he was saying that working at Ford, you might see IT guys and engineers that you work with as low class, but they may esteemed elsewhere.

This has nothing to do with my experience at Ford.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: bdoughty on April 12, 2008, 11:36:14 PM

My bad. Obama doesn't "need" money; I'd accept that explanation if this was Hillary.


Well gosh, if he does not need money then why spend a night in California with a bunch of rich folk, when it is obvious the people of Pennsylvania need his help more?

Neat video there of Wolfie and a slew of mouthpieces, now can you get me a video of Obama's speech at that private meeting?

Out of interest I checked Red State
http://redstate.com/

What were you expecting? A parade for Obama?

Oh noes I just went to
http://www.michaelmoore.com/ (http://www.michaelmoore.com/)

He was saying man things about republicans and taking advantage of soldiers who were killed in the war to serve his own purpose.

Whatever shall I do?
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Phoenix Dark on April 12, 2008, 11:39:41 PM
A part of it is out:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0408/Video_from_San_Francisco.html

Right before the "bitter" comment; I'm guessing the whole video will be out soon. His comments in that clip only reaffirm the point that wasn't insulting anyone, and instead giving "real talk" if you will
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: bdoughty on April 12, 2008, 11:45:38 PM
A part of it is out:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0408/Video_from_San_Francisco.html

Right before the "bitter" comment; I'm guessing the whole video will be out soon. His comments in that clip only reaffirm the point that wasn't insulting anyone, and instead giving "real talk" if you will

And he continues to kick himself in the mouth for saying it. I read the whole transcript of the speech. I still stand by my opinion as to why he said it. It does amuse me how he wants to keep race out of this yet for the 500th time we get to hear about being a "46-year-old black man named Barack Obama."
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: AdmiralViscen on April 12, 2008, 11:58:07 PM

This has nothing to do with my experience at Ford.

My comment had nothing to do with what you were saying about jobs.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Phoenix Dark on April 12, 2008, 11:58:39 PM
Malek sounds pretty bitter to me
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Fresh Prince on April 13, 2008, 01:13:18 AM
Ford = shitty company = shitty engineers

If we take Malek's use of women interest in men as a mate as a gauge of status then it not only matters what career you have but where you work and your job title is.

Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Phoenix Dark on April 13, 2008, 01:26:14 AM
I agree, although I doubt many women would dismiss a guy because he's an accountant. Accountants get paid a lot of money, and it's one of the easiest and best paying jobs you can get out of college. Me, Cheebs, and FA will be stacking paper in a few years :bow
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Trent Dole on April 13, 2008, 01:56:16 AM
I agree, although I doubt many women would dismiss a guy because he's an accountant. Accountants get paid a lot of money, and it's one of the easiest and best paying jobs you can get out of college. Me, Cheebs, and FA will be stacking paper in a few years :bow
But it's so fucking boring! I tried to do that shit and quit after the intro course. Blech.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: demi on April 13, 2008, 02:05:17 AM
Accounting is for the people who don't have real skills
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 13, 2008, 03:32:34 AM
I might have to learn something about accounting this year, because I might be RUNNING A COMPANY.  God help us all.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Bloodwake on April 13, 2008, 06:39:14 AM
Small town america's belief in guns and religion based on economics beliefs?

Well, rednecks can use guns to steal from businesses, and the church tells them that if they give to God they will get it back tenfold when they never, ever do. Sounds accurate to me (it's a stretch, but yeah)
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: AdmiralViscen on April 13, 2008, 11:38:56 AM
Looks like what he said in frisco was just a shortened version of this:

[youtube=425,350]6oGF3cyHE7M[/youtube]

It'd be nice if he remembered that he was actually on a campaign, and stopped trying to shorten sentences in ways that keep blowing up in his face. Just say the whole thing!
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Flannel Boy on April 13, 2008, 01:44:12 PM
Malek sounds pretty bitter to me
There's no doubt that I'm bitter; however, I'm not delusional enough to believe that my lack of success with women has anything to do with my lack of a decent career. Most of the women my age really don't care about that too much yet.

I agree, although I doubt many women would dismiss a guy because he's an accountant.
Accounting is not a negative, but it's not a positive either! Other high status jobs are.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Phoenix Dark on April 13, 2008, 01:56:47 PM
It's a shame you use your bitterness as an excuse to fall back on drug use, atheism, and baby sacrificing  :'(
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: FlameOfCallandor on April 13, 2008, 02:21:46 PM
Peedee explain why my posts are important enough to post on GAF.  :lol
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: bdoughty on April 13, 2008, 05:45:21 PM
Can't wait for the debate Wed. 

Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 13, 2008, 10:22:34 PM
in the spirit of pd's forwarding foc's comments to gaf, here's a comment from Jim Henley on his blog that's germane to foc's absurd attempt to board this "controversy":

Quote
In fact, though, and truth value aside, because I don’t buy the strong version of Obama’s causal argument, the two cases make an interesting contrast that reflects very poorly on Ron Paul.

In each case, you have a political leader speaking to an in-group audience about an out-group. Obama tells the in-group, You should be more sympathetic to the out-group for reasons already contained within our ideology. Contrariwise, Paul goes out of the way to flatter the in-group for their hostility toward the out-group and even to foster it. (If you can possibly move away from those scary black people, do it before they kill you!) Paul’s team could have done exactly what Obama did - provide a sympathetic analysis of the out-group rooted in his own putative beliefs about the proper role of government. But when your main purpose is to dupe Willis Carto’s loser list out of its spare cash, you can’t afford to do that. A sympathetic argument from Paul’s team would have risked sounding patronizing, just as Obama’s remarks can be taken as patronizing, yes. But sounding patronizing is not as bad as, like Lew Rockwell was doing under his own name at the time, advocating that police should be encouraged to beat members of the out-group as part of their official function.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Mandark on April 14, 2008, 01:26:31 AM
And FoC won't know what to think when he finds out that...


spoiler (click to show/hide)
Henley's a libertarian!  Dun-dun-DUNNNNNNNNNNN
[close]
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Mandark on April 14, 2008, 01:48:20 AM
And I'll reciprocate by linking to this post (http://fromthearchives.blogspot.com/2008/03/youre-going-down-strawmen.html) and this followup (http://fromthearchives.blogspot.com/2008/03/ill-show-you-tediously-long.html) on Obama using the language of mediation.

I think tennin's right in 35 (though as a dirty, un-American Marxist OF COURSE he thinks the ruling class are using cultural divisions to pit the workers against each other).  Obama's campaign has largely been about trying to build a coalition that includes demographics that have been traditionally opposed to each other in American politics, instead of exploiting the animosities that are already in place.

He does it by acknowledging that everyone's had it rough, and that while the tribalist reactions are understandable, they're ultimately destructive and that a broader commitment to social welfare would be a much better, fairer solution.

I don't think a single person or campaign can re-align American politics to that degree, but he's right on the merits and it's probably a winning strategy for a liberal party in the long term.

Or any party.  The GOP's been banking on pale ressentiment for years, and it's biting them in the ass now.  They've hit peak honkey (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_oil) and the demographics aren't going to get better for them any time soon.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: FlameOfCallandor on April 14, 2008, 02:21:32 AM
And FoC won't know what to think when he finds out that...


spoiler (click to show/hide)
Henley's a libertarian!  Dun-dun-DUNNNNNNNNNNN
[close]

I dont even know who henley is, but he posts on Gaf so hes probably homo.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Mandark on April 14, 2008, 02:44:06 AM
And FoC won't know what to think when he finds out that...


spoiler (click to show/hide)
Henley's a libertarian!  Dun-dun-DUNNNNNNNNNNN
[close]

I dont even know who henley is, but he posts on Gaf so hes probably homo.

HOW ARE YOU SO WRONG ALL THE TIME?
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: MrAngryFace on April 14, 2008, 03:25:33 AM
sniper fire etc etc..
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 14, 2008, 07:10:50 PM
Mandark: Love that blog you linked to, thanks.  The second post makes me think of Obama as Flora in Cold Comfort Farm.  I'd like to think social reform could work that way, but as a dirty Marxist I sort of can't.  Still, it's clear that his talk of unity etc. is something very different and more interesting than typical talk of bipartisanship, and that's something I took a long time to realize.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on April 14, 2008, 07:37:59 PM
wow, I somehow missed that there's been a brouhaha over the fact that Obama went to a diner and was offered coffee and asked for OJ instead. apparently this makes him "elitist" because coffee is the drink of the common man. HOW CAN ORANGE JUICE BE ELITIST. WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH OUR MEDIA.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Eric P on April 14, 2008, 07:43:12 PM
what?

i'm not tuned into the 24 hour newscycle so i miss this stuff

so i went and looked it up

Quote
Summary: On Hardball, while remarking on Sen. Barack Obama's reported request for orange juice after being offered coffee at an Indiana diner, David Shuster asserted: "t's just one of those sort of weird things. You know, when the owner of the diner says, 'Here, have some coffee,' you say, 'Yes, thank you,' and, 'Oh, can I also please have some orange juice, in addition to this?' You don't just say, 'No, I'll take orange juice,' and then turn away and start shaking hands." Host Chris Matthews agreed, "You don't ask for a substitute on the menu."

"have some coffee"

"no.  i'll have the duck l'orange, but with the barest hint of mint within the glaze."
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Phoenix Dark on April 14, 2008, 07:44:25 PM
"no.  i'll have the duck l'orange, but with the barest hint of mint within the glaze."

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ericprva/noel.jpg)
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on April 14, 2008, 07:48:50 PM
"Orange...juice? Sorry, I've never visited Martha's Vineyard, I know not of what you speak."
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Olivia Wilde Homo on April 14, 2008, 07:50:23 PM
Things change.

A century ago, the stronghold of socialism was in Oklahoma.  Before that, it was Kansas.

I think reaching out to the rural communities is essential.  A lot of them are drowning in many aspects and the policy of most politicians is to leave it untouched.  As economic opportunities in these downs dwindle from little to none, we're going to see dramatic changes.  I think we're already seeing it in a lot of places.  Living in Iowa, it seems like whenever industries closed up shop, meth labs went right in.  Although I am glad that meth labs are starting to decrease in number there, it is still a big issue.  I have personally seen towns that have been destroyed due to it.

The GOP essentially relies on the fact that the Democrats will focus more on urban issues and let the rural issues be handed to the GOP.  I would like to see the return of social policy that affects all Americans, not just people in cities.  Few Democrats have done enough to convince rural communities that they are worth voting for.  At best, their support is half assed, making it easy for the GOP to clean up with blue collar workers and rural communities.

Although it is getting to the point where people are more concerned about living paycheck to paycheck rather than guns and abortion.  Financial needs are quickly trumping GOP issues.  Obama's idea of unity is treading into uncertain waters as things have been this way since the Southern strategy of 1968.  Which is why I support Obama, who is at least making the effort to reach to more voters than in the past, where Democrats just relied on coastal states, swing states, and let the GOP have the rest.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Eric P on April 14, 2008, 07:50:46 PM
"no.  i'll have the duck l'orange, but with the barest hint of mint within the glaze."

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ericprva/noel.jpg)

do you even know who that is?
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Phoenix Dark on April 14, 2008, 07:55:41 PM
"no.  i'll have the duck l'orange, but with the barest hint of mint within the glaze."

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ericprva/noel.jpg)

do you even know who that is?

Frank Sinatra?
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: recursivelyenumerable on April 14, 2008, 07:55:51 PM
it's all thanks to TVC.  Word got out.
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Howard Alan Treesong on April 14, 2008, 07:56:45 PM
also while his quote sounds bad out of context, in context it's entirely accurate

people's lives suck and they are angry about it

NO SHIT

pretending that people are plucky and cheerful about outsourcing and downsizing and poverty is fucking distinguished mentally-challenged
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Eric P on April 14, 2008, 07:56:55 PM
"no.  i'll have the duck l'orange, but with the barest hint of mint within the glaze."

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v516/ericprva/noel.jpg)

do you even know who that is?

Stop being an elitist.

that man was a spy in his majesty's service and a virulent anti-fascist who met with our president to try and figure out how to get america to help stop the nazis.

and also gave us this

[youtube=425,350]vdEnxNog56E[/youtube]
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Eric P on April 14, 2008, 08:06:46 PM
i'm actually kind of glad i did what you said because this post is amazing


http://mysticbourgeoisie.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_archive.html
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Eric P on April 14, 2008, 08:34:35 PM
this whole blog is amazing
Title: Re: This Obama bitter stuff
Post by: Mandark on April 16, 2008, 02:29:29 AM
Mandark: Love that blog you linked to, thanks.  The second post makes me think of Obama as Flora in Cold Comfort Farm.  I'd like to think social reform could work that way, but as a dirty Marxist I sort of can't.  Still, it's clear that his talk of unity etc. is something very different and more interesting than typical talk of bipartisanship, and that's something I took a long time to realize.

Funny you mentioning that.  I've been wanting to post a "Shocking new footage of Obama's minister!" thread with an embedded youtube of Ian McKellan from the movie version preaching hellfire and damnation.  Unfortunately the masses are too lazy/uncultured to have uploaded one already and I'm too lazy/tech averse to do it myself.

Also, I went through about the same thing with Obama.  The rhetoric echoed David Broder and Ignatius too much for my tastes, but if you listen it turns out there's a coherent message behind it, and it's not Joe Lieberman's.