Up until this year I'd never been involved in American Politics other than to vote and watch the Conventions because they are such high theatre. But this year I've paid attention. First, I started with the CNN talk shows, then a peek or two at FOX and most of the debates. I started looking back at some of the previous elections for President and noticed a trend. The republicans are very adept at providing the electorate with the bromide of wedge issues to distract voters from the issues that affect the very fabric of their lives. Thus the ballot initiative for a constitutional amendment on MARIAGE, that proliferated around the country in the 2004 general election.

Thus I was chagrined when Mrs. Clinton chose to use the comments made by Senator Obama as a wedge issue last Friday. She proclaimed to anyone who'd listen that Senator Obama was an elitist to have made such a remark. One has to be obtuse or very clever to see the remarks, mad in answer to a question as a put down of the good voters in Pennsylvania. It took a lot of parsing to make the statement sound stark. The use of the word 'bitter' make not be the most accurate description of a people who has lost almost everything their lives stood for, but it was not entirely off the mark. Those people who live in the small towns of Pennsylvania have good reason to be bitter toward the governing body in Washington DC. For almost three decades they have seen the policies coming from the Capital erode their way of life and remove their dreams of prosperity to other places and other countries.

To my mind Senator Obama was simply stating the diagnosis of the problem plaguing all Americans today. To not do so, is akin to going to a doctor with a severe headache, and said doctor saying I can solve your problem; here take these aspirin and it will be alright. To get to the problems of the ills within our country the causes must be examined as the doctor could have done with a brain scan. No problem we face today can be solved with looking at the contributing causes. The examination of the causes will reveal how to shape the solutions. If this national examination is not done, then the solutions offered in campaign speeches will only be a band aide from the politician who is simply seeking to be elected. If upon being elected said politician implements these solutions, it done with an eye to be reelected

The issue of 'bitterness in the population' is not important and does not deserve the attention it is being given. But my hat's off to Senator Obama for taking it on and weaving it into his message of hope and change.  It is my sincere hope that the good people of Pennsylvania understand that they are being played by a loosing Politian and vote on April 22nd in their own self interest.