Originally posted by kattraxx
So, apparently Obama feels people who have lost their jobs to "free-trade" are bitter.

SOME are. And with good reason. Their jobs have been shipped overseas. Their families are suffering. Why shouldn't they be bitter?

Before people get crazy about this, remember, he said, "You go into some of these small towns..." Some people DO feel this way. He's stating a fact. He's been there talking with them for days. He's relaying what he has found out. I'm from Ohio. I think what he's saying is true.

He didn't say anyone was racist.

[edit on 11-4-2008 by Benevolent Heretic]

A lot of people in my area lost their jobs when all the plants (there were many as recently as ten years ago) closed and moved to Mexico or overseas. There are no jobs to replace them, so they're working at McDonald's or Wal-Mart at half what they used to make or less. They are not anti-trade, but they are anti free trade--agreements like CAFTA and NAFTA--which they justifiably see as the cause of their losses. Many are religious; this is the Bible Belt and faith is very important to them. Some are xenophobic.

He may sound a little condescending, but what Obama says is mostly true.

Racist: "Those mexicans are taking our jobs"

Religious: "God, why can't I find a job?"

Guns: "If someone takes my job I'm going to shoot him."

Some people are bitter? Yep.

But .... - 'some people in these small towns are clinging to their guns and religion.'

Damn, that is so condenscending.

I can just see him saying that while looking down his nose and sniffing.

Newsflash Obama ... this is America. The constitution says we can have our guns and our religion. You have made comments that sound like you want to take away our right to bear arms. We won't let it happen. Oh .. and was your comment about religion because your girlfriend, Oprah, is spurting that whackadoo cult religion and you want everyone to join it? That isn't going to happen either. Not with me anyways.

What does the Second Amendment have to do with people losing their jobs? Obama expresses his gun control sentiment by insinuating that small town Americans who own legally registered guns are somehow a threat because they're bitter about losing their jobs and have misplaced their frustrations onto "immigrants". ???

His dishonest generalization "antipathy towards people not like them, or anti-immigrant sentiment" is blatantly as racist as it is misleading. There is a huge difference between immigration and illegal entry into our country. And he knows it, but continues to address the issue of illegal immigration as if Americans who are against it are racist. It's a legal issue, but he insists on attempting to make it a racial issue. Even those small town Americans who have lost their jobs can recognize the difference, Mr. Obama, despite your insinuations to the contrary.

He was clearly stereotyping small town Americans who have lost their jobs as bitter, frustrated, gun-toting, religious racists. And no one can spin it any other way. It was a grossly dishonest blanket generalization.

His campaign has been busy trying to spin his comments ever since they hit the internet, so it seems they feel the necessity clean up after him again, even if his followers choose to deny it.

One of the things rarely reported in the MSM is how policy affects small town people - and politicians rarely care because that's not where the big votes lie.

I don't know enough about obama to say whether his statement was patronising and ill-informed, stupid, or genuine feelings badly expressed.

Of course not understanding the nuaces of US speech patterns I can't be even close to an informed judgement.

That doesn't mean I don't enjoy reading other peoples opinions though

Originally posted by Sublime620
he's absolutely right, except for those two things.

He's absolutely right that some (many?) people are 'bitter'.

His statement about 'clinging to guns and religion' was very telling. Condenscending and out of touch.

His statement about people not wanting Illegal Aliens here was also very telling. He has no clue. None. People don't want illegals here because they COST US MONEY. They are bad for the USA.

Geeeeeeze .. this guy's lack of experience is showing.

Well I'd rather cling to religious morals and constitutional rights, since there's no work left to cling to, instead of jackin' and cappin' in the 'hood screaming "God damn America!"

On the immirgartion issue, I have been out of work for quite some time, and have been trying to get back into some labor work for the summer. Every contractor and landscaper I ever worked for has told me they can't hire me because I would cost them more than an illegal. Particulalry for the insurance doing treework.

[edit on 4/14/0808 by jackinthebox]

I've been living out of my car since Halloween and hacking a signal so I can post here on ATS with a "borrowed" computer. So the answer is, we don't live.

EDIT to add: And the decision was made to murder my unborn child as a result.

Also to add: I can't even get a job in a burger joint because I no habla.

[edit on 4/14/0808 by jackinthebox]

[edit on 4/14/0808 by jackinthebox]

Great thread Kattraxx...

Nothing surprises me anymore about any politician.

That's just another indicator to me that his judgment is totally skewed...but then again, he knows that none of the people he just lumped into that category and insulted are likely to vote for him anyway.

His only concern was sucking up to the "rich" Californians he was talking to at the time.

It's just like him... sitting in the pew of his church for 20 years now and claiming he "heard nothing." Give us all a break.

I am not just picking on Obama, trust me, they ALL will say and do anything to get elected...bottom line.