April 13, 2008
Annie Get Your Gun
STEELTON, PA -- Barack Obama launched on his own "shame on you" tirade tonight against Hillary Clinton, for hitting him hard and repeatedly about his comments that small town Pennsyvlanians "cling to guns" and religion and anti-immigrant sentiment because government hasn't served them.
Clinton, who has over the past two days, touted her family's roots in Scranton, PA, as working class and church-going, has also portrayed herself as a defender of the Second Amendment. Obama tonight questioned her commitment, saying she is playing politics with guns. He said she was trying to appear like "Annie Oakley."
In a fiery speech, Obama again defended his comments, which have dominated the political dialogue for the past 48 hours, and he hit Clinton for using what he said were using Republican talking points against him.
"She knows better," Obama said. "She knows better. Shame on her. Shame on her. She knows better."
Obama was introduced by Greg Bauer, president of the United Steel Workers, and Sen. Bob Casey, who provided strong defense of Obama as well.
Speaking of the Bethlehem Steel workers who recently lost their health insurance, Bauer bellowed: "So are there are a lot of pissed off people in this town? I'll say there are. And they should be. Because if there's an anger in one, there's an anger in them all."
"I know Barack Obama, I know his values," Casey added. "He's a man of character, of decency and honesty, and he's a man of faith."
The Clinton campaign released a statement calling Obama's evening remarks an "outburst" and saying that "the shame is his."
"For months, Barack Obama and his campaign have relentlessly attacked Hillary Clinton's character and integrity by using Republican talking points from the 1990s," spokesman Phil Singer said in a statement. "The shame is his. Sen. Clinton does know better -- she knows better than to condescend and talk down to voters like Senator Obama did. Senator Obama’s outburst won't change the fact that he has embraced his characterization of the millions of Americans who live in small towns."
(NBC/NJ's ASWINI ANBURAJAN)
Posted at 09:15 PM
Comments
He said she was trying to appear like "Annie Oakley."
Well she's more believable as Annie Oakley than he is as Joe Bowler, regular guy.
In a fiery speech, Obama again defended his comments, which have dominated the political dialogue for the past 48 hours...
I can't imagine why. He condescended to an entire class of voters.
...he hit Clinton for using what he said were using Republican talking points against him.
I guess when Obama's camp says Hillary will "say and do anything," that repeating a "Right Wing attacks" is ok. But if anyone knows anything about using Republican talking points, it's Barack Obama.
2006:
Democrats, for the most part, have taken the bait. At best, we may try to avoid the conversation about religious values altogether, fearful of offending anyone and claiming that - regardless of our personal beliefs - constitutional principles tie our hands. At worst, some liberals dismiss religion in the public square as inherently irrational or intolerant, insisting on a caricature of religious Americans that paints them as fanatical, or thinking that the very word "Christian" describes one's political opponents, not people of faith.
Whoops.
2008:
"You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in 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 guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."
This is the comment he defended tonight. I guess elitism is a-okay for Joe Bowler.
corinne | 04.13.08 10:30 PM
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MY FELLOW BITTER, STUPID, WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.
YOU MIGHT BE AN IDIOT, TOO :-(
If you think like Barack Obama, that WORKING CLASS PEOPLE are just a bunch of BITTER!, STUPID, PEASANTS, Cash COWS!, and CANNON FODDER. :-(
You Might Be An Idiot, Too!
If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.
You Might Be An Idiot, Too!
If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot, Too!
If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.
You Might Be An Idiot, Too!
If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!
You Might Be An Idiot, Too!
If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot, Too!
If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary’s than they had ever been before or since.
You Might Be An Idiot, Too!
If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot, Too!
If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..
You Might Be An Idiot, Too!
If you think all those Republicans voting for Obama in the Democratic primaries, and caucuses are doing so because they think he is a stronger Democratic candidate than Hillary Clinton. :-)
Best regards
jacksmith...
p.s.
If you don't know that the huge amounts of money funding the Obama campaign to try and defeat Hillary Clinton is coming in from the insurance, and medical industry, that has been ripping you off, and killing you and your children. And denying you, and your loved ones the life saving medical care you needed. All just so they can make more huge immoral profits for them-selves off of your suffering...
You Might Be An Idiot, Too!
You see, back in 1993 Hillary Clinton had the audacity, and nerve to try and get quality, affordable universal health care for everyone to prevent the suffering and needless deaths of hundreds of thousands of you each year. :-)
Approx. 100,000 of you die each year from medical accidents from a rush to profit by the insurance, and medical industry. Another 120,000 of you die each year from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don’t die from. And I could go on, and on...
jacksmith | 04.13.08 10:49 PM
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Well seems like Obama can't wait to further offend mid westerners. Annie Oakley was born in rural Ohio as Annie Mosey from parents who were from rural "Pennsylvania". Perhaps they believe that she too might have been a bit bitter because of her economic circumstances and turned in bitterness to guns... The midwesterners know manure when they see and smell it! And we don't need sarcasm being used against hardworking people, male or female, heroes of the midwest, being the barbs of sarcastic remarks. There was a lot more to the history of Annie Mosey "Oakley", who was born and died in rural Ohio, than musical productions like "Annie get your gun" referenced by the elitist press and candidates. Or do they wish to deny even this great lady her just due? People in Ohio and Pennsylvania should take note as to how their heroes are being looked down upon.
Michigan Voter | 04.13.08 10:59 PM
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You ask who is more believable.....I say "Joe Bowler." .....how does that sound.
By the way, you should learn to read what he said fully....then you miight understand what is meant by context "corinne"...I think it will help you write better comments.
Go Obama '08
Sally | 04.13.08 11:00 PM
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Well Joesmith - after reading your post I am confused. Who are you voting for? Bill or Hillary? You tout the achievements of the husband as if they guarantee the success of his wife. In fact, your entire post reads like Bill Clinton's 3rd term! No thanks. Let's give someone besides a Bush or a Clinton a chance. 20 years is long enough!
Marie | 04.13.08 11:33 PM
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We don't need no stinking context. We'll just take the words mix them up into whatever random order is most damaging to our opponent and try to use them against him. Obama didn't say anything against Annie Oakley, he just said that Hillary is NO Annie Oakley.
Imagine what the rest of the world thinks of us. One of the leading candidates to become president of the USA has become a duck shooting, whiskey drinking regular Joe overnight.
Only in America. Only in America.
John K | 04.13.08 11:42 PM
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DON'T BE DUPED !!!
Large numbers of Republicans have been voting for Barack Obama in the DEMOCRATIC primaries, and caucuses from early on. Because they feel he would be a weaker opponent against John McCain. With Hillary Clinton you are almost 100% certain to get quality, affordable universal health care very soon.
But first, all of you have to make certain that Hillary Clinton takes the democratic nomination and then the Whitehouse. NOW! is the time. THIS! is the moment you have all been working, and waiting for. You can do this America. “Carpe diem” (harvest the day).
I think Hillary Clinton see’s a beautiful world of plenty for all. She’s a woman, and a mother. And it’s time America. Do this for your-selves, and your children’s future. You will have to work together on this and be aggressive, relentless, and creative. Americans face an even worse catastrophe ahead than the one you are living through now.
You see, the medical and insurance industry mostly support the republicans with the money they ripped off from you. And they don’t want you to have quality, affordable universal health care. They want to be able to continue to rip you off, and kill you and your children by continuing to deny you life saving medical care that you have already paid for. So they can continue to make more immoral profits for them-selves.
Hillary Clinton has actually won by much larger margins than the vote totals showed. And lost by much smaller vote margins than the vote totals showed. Her delegate count is actually much higher than it shows. And higher than Obama’s. She also leads in the electoral college numbers that you must win to become President in the November national election. HILLARY CLINTON IS ALREADY THE TRUE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE!
As much as 30% of Obama's primary, and caucus votes are Republicans trying to choose the weakest democratic candidate for McCain to run against. These Republicans have been gaming the caucuses where it is easier to vote cheat. This is why Obama has not been able to win the BIG! states primaries. Even with Republican vote cheating help.
Hillary Clinton has been OUT MANNED! OUT GUNNED! and OUT SPENT! 4 and 5 to 1. Yet Obama has only been able to manage a very tenuous, and questionable tie with Hillary Clinton.
If Obama is the democratic nominee for the national election in November he will be slaughtered. Because the Republican vote cheating help will suddenly evaporate. All of this vote fraud and republican manipulation has made Obama falsely look like a much stronger candidate than he really is. YOUNG PEOPLE. DON’T BE DUPED! Think about it. You have the most to lose.
The democratic party needs to fix this outrage. Everyone needs to throw all your support to Hillary Clinton NOW! So you can end this outrage against YOU the voter, and against democracy.
The democratic party, and the super-delegates have a decision to make. Are the democrats, and the democratic party going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee to fight for the American people. Or are the republicans going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee through vote fraud, and gaming the DEMOCRATIC party primaries, and caucuses.
Fortunately the Clinton’s have been able to hold on against this fraudulent outrage with those repeated dramatic comebacks of Hillary Clinton’s. Only the Clinton’s are that resourceful, and strong. Hillary Clinton is your NOMINEE. They are the best I have ever seen.
“This is not a game” (Hillary Clinton)
Sincerely
jacksmith...
jacksmith | 04.13.08 11:45 PM
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Sorry I got the name incorrect the first time. But Jacksmith, we sure see different realities. The cross-over voting has really picked up since McCain became the presumptive nominee and the crossing over was suggested and led by none other than Rush Limbaugh - encouraging Republicans to vote for HILLARY - for just the reason you mention above! Because the Republicans already know they can beat her and Obama they are not so sure of.
You also seem to have a distorted view of the numbers but whatever. You will soon have to face reality. But the youth of America has it RIGHT and don't seem to need your counsel.
"Hillary Clinton is your NOMINEE. They are the best I have ever seen." THEY? Oh yes, I forgot - Bill's third term. Sheesh.
marie | 04.14.08 12:01 AM
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The Clintons are right that life was good when Bill was in...we had jobs...we had them with Reagan, too. Jobs went south and things got bad after Bill and Hill pushed NAFTA and then left and never looked back at the consequences... laughing all the way to the bank, I guess.
Elen | 04.14.08 04:48 AM
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Poor Jack. Being paid by the Queen Hill to support her attacks, to spew lies and to confuse and confound the issues.
Tell me. Who earned $109,000,000 in 7 years, one of which the hubby spent out of work, recovering from heart surgery? Who lied about Tuzla, Bosnia? Ireland? Barack's religion? Who dug up his kindergarden paper? Who lied about NAFTA, not only about her opponent, but her own support in the White House? Who destroyed any chance at health reform, because of her arrogance, elitism, and stupidity? And who is the biggest recipient of health and insurance funding for HER presidency?
Jack, if you are going to spew, try facts at some point at time. Your mistakes, if they are that, are as transparent as Hillary's.
pastorAgnostic | 04.14.08 07:28 AM
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It is a twist of fate for Hillary that Barack's "bitter statements" have enabled the media and Americans to be distracted from the fact that she is a liar. Specifically, the Sniper Fire... Barack unknowingly played into her need to move people from the fact that she and Bill are habitual liars who will do and say anything for power.
People in this country are bitter and turning more to the areas that make them feel secure or less ostricisized, they are loosing jobs, have little or no health care, loosing their homes or have little means to provide for their families.
I believe his comments were taken out of context. And Hillary AKA Misses 'I mis-spoke' and "have been tired" is just a liar and aided in twisting his words.
AmericanGirl | 04.14.08 09:57 AM
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So who does Bo think he is with his poor attempt at comedy- Sheriff Bart from Blazing Saddles?
His arrogance has come through loud and clear lately
He is as conceited as his wife MO
Clinton seemed far more comfortable in her faith than the stuttering BO did
Betty | 04.14.08 10:09 AM
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From jacksmith: "With Hillary Clinton you are almost 100% certain to get quality, affordable universal health care very soon."
Talk about a fairy tale!! Clinton cares only about the game - only about becoming president - heck, she'd just as soon do it as a Republican, embracing the right-wing's agenda lock, stock and barrel (to use a gun analogy), if she thought that would provide her a better shot at the White House. Point is, she cares nothing about anything but the pursuit of power.
Make no mistake, Obama's a politician too and has plenty of ego and ambition (they all do), but that ambition is tempered by a solid core of honesty, integrity, and consistency. He's not perfect - certainly said a few stupid things along the way - but there is simply no comparison between the two candidates when it comes to the fundamental issues of honesty and integrity. As Bill Safire said years ago, the Clintons are congenital liars. I'm happy to take a risk on Obama and leave the Bush/Clinton years behind!
MikeyS | 04.14.08 10:15 AM
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For a guy who doesn't like guns, he sure shoots himself in the foot a lot.
flyover | 04.14.08 10:29 AM
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I find it fascinating that many people believe the tea drinking instead of beer woman. Her record is clear, so is her husband's. So if she is nominated I would like to see who sticks up for Hillieary when she stiffs the whole country and 4 years from now we are right back where we started. With nothing to show for the last 20 years. Get your minds right and stop accusing people before you actually get the whole truth I mean really its like grown folks looking to wikipedia for the facts!!!
Apersonwhocares | 04.14.08 11:23 AM
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It was extremely unprofessional, as well as unethical for Hilary Clinton to drink in public.
I understand that she was trying to "fit in" with blue collar people. But her actions were inappropriate. She was also wrong for her comments about shooting her gun. I agree with Sen. Obama; does she want to be Annie Oakley?
Incidentially, I live near the bar in Indiana where she "hung out with the fellows" last weekend. Sen. Clinton still could have proved her point by having an orange juice or a glass of (lite) wine. The media has belittled her for this faux pas. If she wins the nomination, this will come back to haunt her in the General Election. Do we really want a president who drinks in public? She left herself very vulnerable for the Republicans in November. Sen. Clinton is desparate and will do anything.
HILLARY, SHAME ON YOU (FOR YOUR UNPROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOR).
Gale G. | 04.16.08 04:25 PM
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Excuse those of us whose urban communities are plagued by weapons fire and dead children to be too busy grieving over their loss than to grieve over the gun rights of a minority of persons which might be lost through more efficient gun control.
That is a truth which is, yes, bitter.
Robert Campbell | 04.16.08 09:05 PM
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