April 14, 2008
Obama Won't "Walk Away" From Comments
WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama told reporters at a meeting of The Associated Press today that he had spoken inappropriately in characterizing some small town voters as "bitter" but that he wouldn't "walk away" from the broader point he was trying to make.
Obama quickly turned a reference to his comments into an attack on John McCain, whom he said he was happy to debate on the issue of who was more out of touch. Obama also said he believes it is possible for a Democrat to talk about God and guns without getting into trouble.
Asked if Hillary Clinton should drop out of the race, Obama praised her for being a formidable opponent while emphasizing that the odds of Clinton winning the nomination are long.
"You know there aren’t very many figures in American politics that can sustain 11 straight losses and hang onto a race, and raise $35 million dollars, and in that sense she’s unique," she said.
Obama said he's tried to be cautious during the campaign not to say anything the GOP could use against the Dems in the general election.
"Obviously it's a little easier for me to say that since I lead in delegates, in states and in popular vote," he said. "Sen. Clinton may not feel that she can afford to be as constrained, but I’m sure that Sen. Clinton feels like she's doing me a great favor because she’s been deploying most of the arguments that the Republican Party will be using against me in November, and so it's toughening me up."
During a question about troop withdrawals and the strength of al Qaeda in Iraq, Dean Singleton, chairman of the association, mistakenly referenced the terrorist leader as "Obama bin Laden."
Obama calmly picked up his water glass, sipped it and said, "I think you mean Osama bin Laden."
"If I just said that I'm so sorry," Singleton said.
Chuckling, Obama said it was part of the process he had gone through for the past year. That's "why it's so impressive that I'm still standing here," he joked.
(NBC/NJ's ASWINI ANBURAJAN)
Posted at 04:49 PM
Comments
she’s been deploying most of the arguments that the Republican Party will be using against me in November, and so it's toughening me up.
So sez the candidate who hasn't had a tough Republican opponent--ever. He has no clue what the GOP has in store for him.
corinne | 04.14.08 08:27 PM
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Nor has Hillary ever faced the GOP...remember she was busy serving tea and attending berthing sessions. It is one thing to stand by the side lines and another thing to play.
mary | 04.14.08 08:45 PM
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Nor has Hillary ever faced the GOP...remember she was busy serving tea and attending berthing sessions. It is one thing to stand by the side lines and another thing to play.
mary | 04.14.08 08:45 PM
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>>>Obama calmly picked up his water glass, sipped it and said, "I think you mean Osama bin Laden."
Excellently phrased. You can just visualize him responding in that exact manner. He's just the personification of cool.
>>>He has no clue what the GOP has in store for him.
I think he knows exactly what he is up against. Racism, slime, slander, lies. He's no neophyte.
Ethan | 04.14.08 10:22 PM
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Corrine:
Why do you think the GOP candidate is so tough? Obama won a primary in IL for the US Senate against 6 other candidates. Obama was at 9% name ID in July 2003 in IL.
And now he is on his way to winning the Democratic nomination for President. My money is on him.
RiverRed | 04.14.08 10:43 PM
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This is the biggest con among the many cons played by Hillary! In Ohio the lie was Nafta when it turns out her campaign contacted Canada. Bill brings up and tries to explain her numerous LIES about Bosnia, so she latches on to this elitist LIE! Before you pass judgment I suggest you hear the ENTIRE statement made by Obama recorded by the Hillary plant! His statements have been snipped into an insult when in fact he was defending small town America!!! Another big con from someone who lies naturally and stiffs small owners and workers by not paying even a $672.00 bill! Only the uninformed buy the lies of a horrible campaign!
John | 04.15.08 01:41 AM
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This is the biggest con among the many cons played by Hillary! In Ohio the lie was Nafta when it turns out her campaign contacted Canada. Bill brings up and tries to explain her numerous LIES about Bosnia, so she latches on to this elitist LIE! Before you pass judgment I suggest you hear the ENTIRE statement made by Obama recorded by the Hillary plant! His statements have been snipped into an insult when in fact he was defending small town America!!! Another big con from someone who lies naturally and stiffs small owners and workers by not paying even a $672.00 bill! Only the uninformed buy the lies of a horrible campaign!
John | 04.15.08 01:42 AM
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This is the biggest con among the many cons played by Hillary! In Ohio the lie was Nafta when it turns out her campaign contacted Canada. Bill brings up and tries to explain her numerous LIES about Bosnia, so she latches on to this elitist LIE! Before you pass judgment I suggest you hear the ENTIRE statement made by Obama recorded by the Hillary plant! His statements have been snipped into an insult when in fact he was defending small town America!!! Another big con from someone who lies naturally and stiffs small owners and workers by not paying even a $672.00 bill! Only the uninformed buy the lies of a horrible campaign!
John | 04.15.08 01:42 AM
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Hillary will say anything (like shooting little ducks, Bosnia) and do anything (drink shots and beers) to win. If her campaign is any measure of her qualifications on day one. I suggest the office be something like dog catcher! She has destroyed the democratic party due to her over inflated ego and having no ethical bounds! She has lost all respect and class and I doubt New York will ever reelect her as Senator! She needs to join Liberman as an outcast!!
John | 04.15.08 01:53 AM
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Hillary will say anything (like shooting little ducks, Bosnia) and do anything (drink shots and beers) to win. If her campaign is any measure of her qualifications on day one, I suggest the office be something like dog catcher! She has destroyed the democratic party due to her over inflated ego and having no ethical bounds! She has lost all respect and class and I doubt New York will ever reelect her as Senator! She needs to join Liberman as an outcast!!
JohnD | 04.15.08 01:55 AM
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From Google News: American Research Group poll, Clinton now leads Obama 57 percent to 37 percent. Previously, the two Democratic candidates were tied at 45 percent each in the statewide poll.
The VOTERS will determine what happens here. Doesn't matter what you or the pundits say. THEY heard him loud and clear, and they know they're not gun totin', fanatical, slobbering racists. Do YOU think they are?
Casey | 04.15.08 03:01 AM
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Obama tried albeit somewhat unsuccessfully to answer a question in a heartfelt way that like Negros of slavery time who also turned to Religion & Music due to oppression and hard times and that small town America has very little to look forward to and so too turned to religion and hunting as a normal outlet and sometimes blamed their plight on immigrants! This excercise in "honest" judgment has been blown out of all proportions and taken up by Hillary & McCain and some in the Media to exploit for political gain, albeit with dishonesty and distorted statements to demean Obama for being honest. We have to asks ourselves as Americans "would we rather have politicians that lie to us or ones that tell us the truth no matter what?" Hillary's current assertion that her father taught her to "shoot ducks" behind the cottage that her grandfather built on Lake Winona as a little girl smells alot like "Bosnian Sniper Fire!" And, now we have Bill Clinton going around with his current False take on "bitterness" as another example of another "lying politician", excuse my blatantness...with the following...
B. Clinton "[s]ays at campaign railly in Corydon, Indiana that throughout seven stops in North Carolina, 'Everywhere I go there are all these people with signs, saying I’m not bitter - I’m not bitter.' ABC’s Sarah Amos says his comments were well-received but 'not entirely accurate.' For instance, she says there were no signs at his rallies saying 'I’m not bitter,' as he claimed."
(Mark Halpern, The Page) -- This political couple has No Shame!
However, in light of the current fire storm and questionning and psychoanalyzing about the "bitterness" of small town America, maybe Obama has done us some good and we can finally bring or shed some light on just how bitter (or not) we really are and better yet -- the "Root Cause"!
Angellight | 04.15.08 09:06 AM
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