Rendell: 'Bitter' flap of marginal import
PHILADELPHIA -- About that supposedly major flap over Barack Obama’s comments about “bitter” Pennsylvanians? Well, Hillary Clinton’s top surrogate here, Governor Ed Rendell, just told reporters that it’s not terribly significant – either in the primary, or the general election.
“I think it will cost a couple of points at the margin,” Rendell said of the primary race here, “but it’s not a sea change.”
And Rendell said it would mean even less in the general election if Obama is the nominee. “By the time November rolls around, I think this comment will be long forgotten,” he said.
Rendell has long been a politician who’s willing to speak his mind. Earlier in the campaign he raised eyebrows by saying, in contravention of Clinton’s argument against Obama's electability, that the Illinois senator would carry Pennsylvania against the Republicans, too. But his downplaying of the Obama controversy today would seem to undermine Clinton in a big way, given that her campaign has spent the last four days trying to blow it up as big as possible.
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Rendell proves his own arrogance. He puts party and politics above the feelings and interests of his constituents.
It's not up to Rendell to determine whether or not Obama's condescending remarks are significant. It's up to the people Obama was describing in an obviously condescending manner.
This is one comment I'm glad Rendell made. With the important issues at hand, it is pathetic to see so much media time and space given to allowing Clinton to try to blow this up (especially since Bill Clinton said something similar during his campaign). It is especially odd to see the two wealthier candidates trying to accuse Obama of being elitist.
It will hurt Obama. First it was NAFTAgate with Canada memos showing where he truly stands on this trade agreement.. Strike 1.
Then he insulted the Pennsylvania voters with bowling and feeding baby animals from bottles, so he could be" on there level" and would not appear to be "talking down to them". As if these hard core Democrats could not understand politics or issues! Strike 2.
So then he does start talking, and of course, not in Pennsylvania, and he does talk down to them...bitter small town Pennsylvania regarding their religion, hunting, and people different than themselves. And the tone in his voice was patronizing and condoscending. This was Strike 3 you're out. They will not vote for him.
The media has built this up as if it were the most important thing facing the USA. The Clinton campaign is desperate after having Hillary's Bosnia misremembering or perhaps a better word lies exposed; her campaign jumped on this like a dog on a bone. The media is no longer a source of news but one of endless speculation. The mendacity of both the media and the Clinton campaign is truly astonishing. But in the Bush 2 era everything is corrupt.
I'm not living in Pennsylvania, however I do understand the remark obama made. This was after outspending Clinton (2 to 1) in that state. His donors (who he is hitting up for more money) wanted to know why Pennsylvanians are not now swooning over him?
His answer is insulting even to me- Basically, he said it is THEIR FAULT not his. That they are a bunch of downtrodden thugs with god and guns waiting around for a government handout since the factory closed 25 years ago. That is the essence of his remark to the SF snarkies. It is totally obvious what he meant and he would not have sad it to their face. It implies he is highbrow and above them.
I guess the people he insulted along with the rest of us are so stupid that now his highly paid media plus all his well-paid political supporters like have to explain what he meant.
People may be bitter or whatever but the remark was probably an honest statement by obama about his real feelings. Why he has to save us from all the evil politicians – except him of course. He really thinks he is smarter than the average American. I disagree. I think he is not so smart but selective in his thinking and overly ambitious.
In the meantime they are sitting around in Pennsylvania cleaning their weapons and saying their prayers.
You know maybe the people there do get him. They get that he is arrogant, self-serving, over arching and condescending, not to mention an ego centrist. That he wants to BUY their vote through a media blitz and it’s all about obama. Yeah, he is the only human that knows what is going on- give me a break please.
DOES the term JUNIOR senator mean anything? Yes - it means he is a beginner at what he does not a seasoned professional.
I'd like to know where all the cash is coming from since the web system is so easy to manipulate. Of course all the media feeding at the trough don't want to know they just want to party.
Didn’t he already say he was a bonehead about his free piece of lawn and also that he sat in the pew but didn’t hear anything? Excuses, excuses, excuses. Do we really need a president that is so good at making excuses? I especially like how he points his finger at everyone else!
What's rich is that people say he will make a good president when there is no evidence of that. He, himself said he will change everything. The American system is not good enough for him - he can fix it all for us since we screwed it all up. He will have to do everything for those dumb midwesterners that are too stupid to understand him even when they hear and insult.
That is not a president that is a Dictator. Well in the name of change he knows what's best for us, right? If not it is our own fault and he will explain what he means since we are so stupid after all to really undertsand him.
I think Rendell is a realist like most of us. I am bitter and I am from Small town Va.
I am bitter about Hillary campaign been chased by bill collectors, bitter about Bill Clinton taking over 800,000$ from Colombian trying to pass another NAFTA and take jobs away from America. I am bitter about a political candidate lying (mis-speaking) on Bosnia sniper fire and now she is a duck hunter. I think the Clintons are out of touch with reality. They are like any fanatic now they will say or do anything to win the election even if it means destroy the party. Rendell sees that and is coming to reality.
I think Rendell is a realist like most of us. I am bitter and I am from Small town Va.
I am bitter about Hillary campaign been chased by bill collectors, bitter about Bill Clinton taking over 800,000$ from Colombian trying to pass another NAFTA and take jobs away from America. I am bitter about a political candidate lying (mis-speaking) on Bosnia sniper fire and now she is a duck hunter. I think the Clintons are out of touch with reality. They are like any fanatic now they will say or do anything to win the election even if it means destroy the party. Rendell sees that and is coming to reality.
Hats off to Ed Rendell for his honesty....especially as a Clinton supporter.
Hillary's arrogance comes forth like a smoking gun....shots & beer....give me a break...They have no place in a serious conversation about the election for President. Her condesending tone is obvious and difficult to listen to.
I am a 64 year old white Jewish woman who says...onward OBAMA.
So, we now see that #1 and the rest of those who have always sought excuses to justify their "reason" for not liking Obama to continue to preach.
The world will see if America is truly racist or not. The world is watching Pennsylvania. These lame excuses will not do.
Jews will not vote for him, Italians will not vote for him, blue collar whites will not vote for him, successful Americans will not vote for him, patriots will not vote for him, angry feminists will not vote for him, those who know right from Wright will not vote for him, white southerners will not vote for him, republicans will not vote for him, gun owners will not vote for him, anyone who knows his wife will not vote for him, folks screwed by Rezko will not vote for him, people who pay their mortgages will not vote for him, those who support freedom for Iraq will not vote for him, those who believe in free trade will not vote for him, those who understand the danger of strong unions will not vote for him, folks happy in small towns across America will not vote for him, those who cherrish their religion will not vote for him, the list is endless.
Rendell is right. In fact Hillary was booed (see cnn video) today for going to that well once to often. And the fact is, people are bitter. I am bitter about paying $5 for a gallon of milk at Stop and Shop. I am bitter of getting only 10 gallons of gas for $33.90. What Barak says is actually pretty understandable. Not everyone disagrees or is offended by the point he was trying to make. I'll admit he could have worded it better, but hey maybe it was the sniper fire at the airport in San Francisco before the fundraiser that day that him off his game. Or maybe it was the fact that he realized Bill Clinton made more off of the Columbia government supporting what his wife says she is against than about he made in a year...
I have loved the Clintons for years and I am grateful to them
for all they have done for my family and my country.
I want to hear more about how Hillary will be her " Own" President.
I don't want to hear anymore about how bad Obama is...I want to hear
about how good Hillary is.
I am here in Michigan-my job is gone and my home is being taken away.
I am bitter-and I am angry. I thought Sen. Clinton knew this...this is why I thought about supporting her. Does she not know how angry we are for being ignored for so long? I am a 53 year old middle calss white woman from Michigan who is voting for Obama for Presdient after this crap.
Do you know how bitter I am that a woman who makes 109 million dollars is telling me that Obama( who is still paying off his student loans,) is insulting me?
If it isn't important then why is Clinton harping about it? Since he's one of her major supporters mabye he should be telling HER that!
It was actually the Clinton campaign which had the discussion with the Canadians about NAFTA. This was the part of the story that the press decided NOT to pick up after the story broke.
The media is useless. I cannot undertstand why almost a week has been devoted to this non-story! We the people are being chocked by the stupidity of Lou Dobbs, Sean Hannity, Wolf Blitzer, and much of the talking heads on TV, who are unable to figure out what matters and spend air time on trivialities!
Uncle Ed sees the writing on the wall. Obama is 99 percent likely to be the Democratic nominee, and the head of the party. If HRC wants to bet her career on a Hail Mary pass, why should Ed go down with her? C.Y.A. and Cut Your Losses. Hill looks like a loser, and Obama the winner. Meet the new boss.
Those who are making this a big issue are red necks and wouldn't have voted for a black man anyway.
As for the rest of voters, it's easier to pick an elitest than a liar or a warmonger.
PMC: I think you're judging a little too harshly on the Goodwill tour thing. It's not like we went to PA ONLY for photo ops like visiting farms and throwing gutterballs. He did hold townhall-style meetings at almost (if not) all of the stops that he made, where he did talk policy and issues.
The NAFTA thing I feel is a wash because the Obama can just fire back about Clinton's own history with NAFTA.
Which leaves us with the bitter comment. But here I believe you sell it short again. Rather, to me it feels like two strikes in and of itself. First, people can infer that their culture, religious and otherwise, is a result of only economic issues (and telling anybody their faith is due to their job is not complimentary in any way). Secondly, it blankets PA with a xenophobic label which is untrue on the personal level.
Just to set the record straight, the Canadian governement now says that Obama's advisor did NOT make the statement reported.....
Why is Obama bowling and feeding baby animals bad--
Strike 1--Hillary was shown on public television drinking a shot if whiskey with a beer in the other hand--she looked a bit out of place---but besides that I did not appreciate the image it portrayed to my children--our presidental candidate with a shot of whiskey in one hand and a beer in the other. And who ever the man was with her made the remark every time we get together we start drinking...yes a good example...kindof reminded me of the old Clinton administration days-----
Strike 2--Then we have Hillary's advisor Mark Penn meeting with the Columbians in support of the free trade agreement and Bill making $800,00 backing the Columbian free trade agreement
Strike 3---Sniper fire in Bosnia
Strike 4---Ireland peace talks???
Strike 5---$110 million income---$10 million donated to charity named Clinton Foundation-=
Strike 6---$50 million from the Royal Saudi family and others to build Clinton's library
Want more
PMC ???????? PLEAE YOUR SHOWING YOU'R IGNORANCE IT WAS HILLARY CAMP THAT CONTACTED CANADA ,Well, the Canadian press is reporting that it was actually the Clinton campaign that sent word to the Canadian government not to take the anti-NAFTA talk to seriously.
Somehow, by the time the story made it to print, Canada’s conservative Prime Minister’s office had “leaked” a memo that said it was Obama’s campaign that was saying not to worry about NAFTA. The Clinton part of the story was ignored.
This begs two questions: what is Canada doing meddling in our election and why was the Clinton campaign’s involvement in this dropped from the story?
From the Globe and Mail:
“The news agency quoted that source as saying that Mr. Brodie said that someone from Ms. Clinton'scampaign called and was "telling the embassy to take it with a grain of salt."
The story was followed by CTV's Washington bureau chief, Tom Clark, who reported that the Obama campaign, not the Clinton's, had reassured Canadian diplomats.”, AS FAR AS INSAULTED THE PENN VOTERS PLEASE , EVEN Hillary Clinton’s top surrogate here, Governor Ed Rendell, just told reporters that it’s not terribly significant – either in the primary, or the general election.,ABOUT Barack Obama’s comments about “bitter” Pennsylvanians GUESS HE DIDN'T GET THE MEMO http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/04/rendell_bitter.html HILLARY WILL SAY AND DO ANY THING TO WIN INCLUEDING LIEING , MABE CHENEY SHOULD CHALLAGE HER TO A DOOL OF SHOOTING DUCKS
I think HRC not only looks desperate but also incredibly out of touch with how many Americans are feeling now -- with an economy that is destroying the middle class, making daily living so expensive and difficult, where we can't fix our own bridges and potholed roads because we are spending more money fixing the infrastructure of Iraq, the result of a war we didn't want and wasn't justified, with educational systems are slipping away, as are the jobs.
I am in Ohio, many I know are bitter and are looking for a real change, for someone to step in and really make a difference. Not someone who just whines and complains, takes money from the oil industries and other special interest groups, and now is bending over backward to show they're as common as the rest of us -- comeon HRC, talk about what matters.
Even Rendell has had enough of Hillary's "kitchen sink" philosophy. Her Bosnia Fantasy will play well with blue-collar John Wayne type Pennsylvanians who don't want another Toy Soldier in the White House.
So, as the media continues to hit Obama on his choice of words and is now calling him a racist and worse, let's hit back. Did you see Hillary Clinton put down that beer followed by a whisky chaser? She obviously had played that game before. How often and when? Does she drink? How often and what? The American people deserve to know! We don't need a 60-year old post-menopausal closet drinker in the White House -- we already have one!
I ama Jewish white male and voting for Hillary!
a vote for Obama is a vote for Hamas!
Obama supports and works with Hamas!
Hi Ed,
I just want to thank you for your humble and gracious support of Hillary reflected on Face the Nation. She certainly is the stronger and better candidate and no one knows this better than Barack. Why don't the rest of her supporters put it as plain and simple as you? You've got them all beat. Barack is intimidated by her! What is wrong with the rest of the Super Delegates; don't they care about our country? We were duped the last two Presidential electrions and if Barack gets the nomination, we will be duped again.
I apologize for blasting you in my last e-mail.