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"Small town" quote = Politico smear campaign?
The original article from HuffPo was rather favorable (even though Mayhill likes to repeatedly call Obama "cocky" but that's another story)
Has anyone noticed that Politico is rather rightwing and seems to SCOUR the news to pull a single quote out of context and make a big headline???
Seems like their MO, especially Ben Smith.
I also note they tend to hit Democrats and lay off McCain.
This Obama-bashing by the media is worrisome. They hit him over EVERYTHING. If he drops a napkin or sneezes, it's a big headline. If he makes a joke, it's top story on FoxNews. Meanwhile foumouthed troll McCain gets a pass and reporters actually bury unfavorable stuff as a favor to him.
Obama is in a tough situation. He has Hillary bashing him, McCain bashing him, rightwing media (almost all the MSM now) bashing him, and even Bush/Cheney taking swipes occassionally. Even when he's 100% correct, like with that Afghan soldier anecdote a while back, he's attacked until the facts prove him right.
I think more scrutiny needs to be put on WHO broke what story and WHY it is a story.
Comments (12)
That's because the MSM is the status quo, there purpose is to keep the system the same, and keep guys like McCain in power.
Hillary is a douche, she's no feminist by any means, she's more about keeping a divide among women and minorities than united them.
April 11, 2008 8:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Poor Senator Obama...he was taped saying snarky things about the "small town" people who cling to guns and religion because they're bitter and now all of his fans have to try to point out how smart, nuanced and brilliant he is and that's why we misunderstand what he said--we're not smart enough. Funny he didn't make those comments the past few weeks when he's been in the small towns with the people. No, he waited till he was in California speaking to well-off liberals, condescending to the plain folks.
He's a liberal, self-proclaimed "post racial" empty suit who will continue to self-destruct as time goes by. His supporters called for Clinton to pull out of the race so they could all blame her when McCain wins...they could then whine that if she were still in, they could have selected her at the convention...blah, blah, blah.
Words matter, Obama. Hope your fans realize that you're a Harvard lawyer who rarely misspeaks about anything before it's too late. If small town religious people go to church because they're bitter, what did you bond with Reverend Wright over?
April 11, 2008 8:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Words do matter.
And Obama spoke words of truth, not words to pander to an entire group of people who will be ignored post election once more by the panderers. Hillary Clinton's response was textbook pandering.
Anyody who takes an honest look at this conversation will recognize instantly that Obama is courageous enough to be honest with people when honesty might hurt, take the bold risk that some may react with offense on the premise that others will identify, and build on that statement, and hammer the pretense with enough truth that in the end we all live better for it.
April 11, 2008 10:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Does the lack of lobbyist influence imperil Obama's general election campaign?
He says that lobbyists won't run his white house.
I wonder if industry lobbyists are pulling the strings at the corporate run media? ie. GE = NBC, Disney ABC, Time Warner CNN, etc.
April 11, 2008 8:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
you bet they [status quo media lobbyist] are.
Hence why politicians like John McCain can survive with light media scruinty, "Teflon John" and make outrageous comments that never get blown up.
While every little word that Barack or in some case even Hillary make is made into a mountain and distorted beyond comprehension.
April 11, 2008 9:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey GOP troll, quick q:
"empty suit" = why?
Someone needs to explain the origin of this GOP talking point. I mean, he's obviously more accomplished than you.
Also: "wolf in sheeps clothing". I hear that from GOP trolls too. Are you guys working from the same script, or is this off of Limbaugh?
Seems like a lot of racial code, eg. affirmative action candidate, blacks obviously can't be more intelligent, be afraid of that black man etc.
April 11, 2008 8:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama is a major threat to the status quo. And they will do anything to undermine his candidacy. That's why McAnus always gets the free pass, while Obama gets hyper-scrutinized.
Be clear, Obama is the underdog here. And yet he is still winning the fight. That is absolutely remarkable! If the people have his back, he can win this thing.
However, if the people fall prey to the distortions and innuendo from the status quo, and become lax in our support of his mission, then we will get McAnus as president. And we will deserve what we get.
It really is that simple.
Can we support Obama, through the good times and the bad, to the very end?
Yes We Can.
April 11, 2008 10:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Reading comprehension is helpful here. Obama said nothing about people going to church. His point was that when people feel that the system doesn't work for them, and isn't helping them, as is the case in SOME small towns in PA and the midwest, they tend to become one-issue voters. They "cling" to whatever that one issue is, so that they do not have to face the reality that their elected politicians promise to help them, but always fail to actually do it.
I don't know if you really didn't get that, or if you just want to believe the worst. Your comments are a little over the top for a Democrat.
April 11, 2008 11:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
"I don't know if you really didn't get that, or if you just want to believe the worst. "
Huh? I get it, but Ben Smith at Politico doesn't. He pulls a quote about "guns" out of context just because he knows FoxNews and the MSM will eat it up.
April 11, 2008 11:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think you're right about this, ga medic, but I think you should clarify where you're placing blame. That was Obama's mistake: he wasn't blunt enough about who is to blame for this situation and why.
The previous administrations (Republican and Democratic) have been unwilling or unable to give top priority to improving the economic lot of our working class. Further, the Republicans have made a concerted effort to exploit issues involving religion, gun ownership, and racial/ethnic tensions to distract voters from the fact that they are being thrown under a speeding bus filled with passengers who are the richest beneficiaries of economic globalization.
Obama's statements were obvious to us but unfortunately too nuanced for the lazy, freak-show-loving MSM and the Obama haters (be they Republicans or Disciples of Hillary). His statements were not elitist or demeaning or racist (see title in the absurd post by TPM blogger and anti-Obama smear-merchant Matthew Weaver)
I think Obama should quit pulling punches and be blunt about it: the Republican Party has cynically used God, guns, gays, and "scary" brown-skinned people to distract "the bumpkins" whose towns are dead and dying because they're no longer economically viable.
April 11, 2008 11:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well said Laura. I think he should hut back harder on them, and spell it out.
April 13, 2008 1:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://ruralvotes.com/thefield/?p=1044
PA says Obama speaks truly.
April 13, 2008 2:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
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