Clinton hits Obama over 'bitter' comments at CNN Compassion Forum

CNN: April 13, 2008
Clinton hits Obama over 'bitter' comments at Compassion Forum


Sen. Clinton wasted no time Sunday night before again criticizing Sen. Obama for his recent remarks about small town America.

GRANTHAM, Pennsylvania (CNN) — Minutes after Barack Obama tore into Hillary Clinton for criticizing his comments about some small-town Americans, the New York senator said again Sunday that those remarks about some could be seen as “elitist” and “patronizing.”

"But from my perspective the characterization of people in a way that really seemed to be elitist and out of touch is really something that we have to overcome," Clinton said at the Compassion Forum, airing on CNN.

"The Democratic Party, to be very blunt about it, has been viewed as a party that didn't understand and respect the values and the way of life of many of our fellow Americans," she said, adding that the fact that the comments came at a “closed door fundraiser in San Francisco” helped reinforce that impression.

She said that Obama was a good man, but compared him to unsuccessful Democratic candidates Al Gore and John Kerry. "We had two very good men, and men of faith, run for president in 2000 and 2004. But large segments of the electorate concluded that they did not really understand, or relate to, or frankly respect their ways of life," said Clinton.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/13/clinton-hits-obama-over-bitter-comments-at-compassion-forum/

husband are responsible for some of this (I will let others argue to what degree).

Case in point 1: Clinton's ROTC letter, more that a few vets (myself included) found the letter to be highly insulting and patronizing. He is reported to have written that he needed to protect his political viability. Hey wait just a minute, how many of us factory worker sons of WW2 vets who stood for the draft lottery had the same chance to dodge the draft that he did?? Or even wanted to,
many may not have wanted to go, but they went served came back and went about their lives the best they could.

I went in as voulenteer I ended up with a disability for my service, not complainig it was my choice to go, but I always wondered who went in Bill's place and got hurt or worse just so he could save his so called political viability.

If you think this went over well with the people Obama are talking about (in a really bad way I grant you) then you have not lived in a small town or in a rural area or not the son of a WW2 vet from a working class background, and/or have not had a lot of contact with vets (and if you say you have, then I will agree with you, but must of the ones I know or served with had a 7 to 1 negative view of the Democratic party, it was just a fact of life then).

Case in point 2: Again dealing with Bill, look however you wan to look at the Lewinski mess, their were some that were not died in the wool GOP types or so called christo-nazis of fascist (you know we would also do well to knock that kind of crap off also, if offends a lot of christians who find the GOP to be utterly worthless and resent being lumped in with that kind of outlook) who just looked at it and new something was just not right. And the Democratic party turned it's self into a pretzel to defend something that a lot of reasonable people found on some level offensive. I believe that impeachment was an overreach on the matter. But you have to admit that Bill never really acted contrite or made what most would consider a geniune attempt to aplogize to the nation over the matter.

While all this is going on people are making money on a tech boom that was getting set to burst.

Today I have a very good friend who retired from Chrysler and now his regular doctors vistits come out his hide (almost $400 he told me for the last one at a specialist).

He wonders why the Clinton's could not pass health care reform?? He does not buy the arguement that the GOP blocked it, because he notes that the Democrats had all majorities in both chambers, if the GOP can use small majorites to pass their garbage, Why he asks could Clinton have not done the same?

There is more but this is long enough, and you get the flavor of it.

(and I have not even got to the way Carter came off as a moralizer to some, or how some high profile Democrats elected typed or otherwise in the past years have contributed to the stereo type of an upper west side elitist)

I am sorry if I offend, but I come from a factory worker son's lower middle class background, and Barack was correct in his assesment about this sector of the electorate becoming angry/cynical and maybe it would be a good thing to deal with it instead of politicing it. I know that I have felt abonded except when it has come time for my vote, otherwise it is governing for and by either corporate interests, lawyers (trial lawyers especially), or other interests. NUTS we can even keep our streets plowed or salted for the last winter, because our mayor (a Democrat) would rather use tax money for a trolly that essientially goes no where or to build a Civil War museum (I do not recall the Confederates ever getting this far north but, I could be wrong). I am all for arts and parks etc, but first pay for need and required city services and do so within your means and if you must tax than expain why.

The stereo type took a couple decades to set it self in (it was well in place by the mid 80's) and IMHO not much has been done about fixing it.


Personnaly I never felt a reall good connection with Bill Clinton. I was happy that his overall stewerdship of the office and the peace and properity of his tenure. However I he always reminded me of that southern politician (I can not recall the name of the movie or book) who was string the public along and behind the curtains the only things that really mattered to him were his personal attainment of power, gathering of wealth, and image.

Is the politician you have in mind Huey Long?

but there was a movie from the late 50's I believe with Andy Griffith in it as a young southern politician who looks from the outside as being for the people and all honest and forth right, but by the end of the move you find he was really shallow and only in it for himself and his aggrandizement.

He is shown up for who he really is (I do not remember how) and exposed as slime he is by the end of the movie.

The movie was based on a best selling book of the time, and I have heard of it referred to when ever that sort of politician is found out.

BTW: Me and a friend were talking about long not that long ago, and we both agreed that his ass asian did the nation a great favor with his action.

The Killing of Long and RFK are 2 rare examples IMHO where had they lived US history would have been much different.:pals: